Community News
Gillespie Council eyes hiring investigator
Gillespie Council seats re-elected aldermen, city officials
City Attorney Polo administered the oath of office to aldermen Jerry Dolliger, Frank Barrett and Dave Tucker as a group.
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night took under advisement the issue of hiring an investigator within the city police department to assist the Chief of Police in investigating crimes. Members of the Police Committee are to report back to the full council next month with more information regarding the issue and possibly a recommendation for action by the council. In the meantime, City Attorney Kevin Polo said he would consult with the Fraternal Order of Police, the union representing local police officers, to ensure that any action taken by the council falls within the parameters of the union contract.
The discussion followed a brief opening session leading up to the swearing in of city officials and aldermen who were re-elected in the April 4 consolidated election. City Attorney Polo administered the oath of office to Mayor John Hicks, City Clerk Frances Smith and City Treasurer Dan Fisher. Aldermen Jerry Dolliger, Frank Barrett and Dave Tucker were sworn in as a group. Diana Brickey, a third ward alderperson appointed in November 2016 after the resignation of Roger Dively, was elected to a two-year unexpired term but did not attend Monday night’s meeting. She reportedly will be sworn in later.
The city begins the 2017-19 term with one vacancy on the council.
The city begins the 2017-19 term with one vacancy on the council. Colin Mussatto, appointed in April 2016 to fill a vacancy created by the death of long-time fourth ward alderman Gus Ottersburg, chose to not seek election to the seat at the end of his appointive term. Mayor Hicks said he expects to appoint a replacement for Mussatto soon. In the meantime, he appointed Ald. Dolliger as the city’s ESDA coordinator, filling a position formerly held by Mussatto.
HIRING INVESTIGATOR
Police Chief Jared DePoppe presented the case for hiring an investigator, taking note of increasing numbers of crimes requiring investigation over the past three years. The criminal activity ranges from sexual assaults and domestic cases to thefts and drug cases. In addition, the police department is called upon to coordinate investigations of suspicious deaths, including homicides and suicides. Currently, DePoppe is the only investigator on the force and he proposed naming an investigator to assist him with those duties.
“Right now is the best time to do this,” DePoppe told the council. “I have officers capable of filing this.”
DePoppe said his preference is to move Laurie Gerdes from her position as a patrol officer working the midnight shift to the position of investigator. Under his proposal, she would be focus on investigations during the day shift Monday through Thursday, and work patrol during the day shift on Sunday.
“Obviously, I would need one additional officer to fill the open shift, so I’m asking for another officer, basically,” he said.
If the council approves the plan, DePoppe said he would have to post a vacancy for Gerdes’ current position. Most, if not all, applicants for the open position would be likely to come from among the city’s roster of five part-time police officers.
“I hope you know me well enough to know I don’t ask for something unless I really think we need it,” DePoppe said. “I think this would be in the best interest of the city. We are very busy with investigations and I don’t see that slowing down any time soon.” With two major highways running through the city, DePoppe said perpetrators and victims in a significant number of cases are people from out of town who are traveling to Gillespie or passing through. Investigating such situations requires traveling out of town to conduct interviews and piece together evidence, he said. For example, he said he currently is investigating a sexual assault case where both the alleged assailant and the victim are from out of town. “I can’t just go down the street to interview someone,” he said.
Having a dedicated investigator, DePoppe said, would streamline the process, allowing him time to perform other duties associated with the Chief’s position without slowing down investigations of pending cases.
Both DePoppe and City Treasurer Fisher said the city had an investigative position about 10 years ago.
Both DePoppe and City Treasurer Fisher said the city had an investigative position about 10 years ago. The person holding the position at that time resigned and while the position was not filled it remained as part of the contract with the Fraternal Order of Police. By contract, according to Fisher, the person named to the position would receive a salary increase of 25 cents per hour.
Fisher told the council that hiring a new full-time officer to step into the position vacated by Gerdes would cost about $42,000 per year, excluding overtime. The wage increase for the investigator would result in additional expenditures of about $1,000.
“Keep in mind that patrol officers are accruing overtime from organizing evidence and conducting interviews,” said Ald. Steve Kluthe, Police Committee chair. Overtime expenditures in the Police Department has been a concern of the council’s for several months. Reviving the position of investigator, Kluthe said, would be likely to trim overtime costs.
Kluthe suggested trying the program on a “probationary” basis for six to nine months.
City Attorney Polo administered the oath of office to Mayor John Hicks.
“When it comes back in six months, we could look at the numbers and see if the need is there,” he said. “I’m okay with doing that because you’ll see the need is there.”
Mayor Hicks, however, objected, saying the union probably would take issue with laying off a new full-time officer on the basis of a probationary review of the program. He said he would only support the proposal if the union agreed to letting the full-time officer go back to part-time and cutting the salary of the investigator if the council determines the program is not needed. “If they union says ‘no,’ then the answer is ‘no’,” Hicks said.
Ultimately the issue was referred back to the Police Committee with an eye toward returning to the council next month with more information. In the meantime, Polo said he would contact union representatives to determine what options would be mutually agreeable under the current contract.
STREET DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE
The issue of personnel costs was raised again later in the meeting when Street Department employee Dale Demkey asked about hiring an additional worker to help the department keep up with demands. Demkey said assigning a Water Department employee to help when needed has not been working out. The employee is rarely available to assist Street Department crews when needed. Demkey said the Department currently is short one employee because the council never filled a vacancy created by a resignation several months ago.
“The agreement was that we would have another person in the spring,” said Nathan Thornhill, another Street Department worker.
Fisher again cited cost as a major factor in deciding whether to hire another city employee.
“The thing that drives our expenses is salaries,” he said, adding that the city has hired additional employees at the lake and elsewhere within the past few months. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t hire another Street Department employee, but each department needs to make their case regarding what is needed and how it fits into the budget.”
Fisher said hiring a new full-time police officer plus a Street Department employee would add about $80,000 to the city’s annual personnel costs.
“Last fiscal year, we were $157,000 under budget,” Fisher said. “Those two people would eat up half of that.”
MACOUPIN ENERGY MINE ISSUE
City Attorney Polo reported that the council may have to call a special meeting to determine whether or not the city wants to appeal an Illinois Department of Natural Resources permit that would allow Macoupin Energy to expand the Maryan Mine operation to extend under or near portions of Gillespie Lake. The proposal was the subject of a public hearing in Gillespie in 2015. More recently IDNR released the permit and gave stakeholders a period of 30 days in which to file an appeal.
City Attorney Polo administered the oath of office to City Treasurer Dan Fisher.
Polo said he has been in contact with Gerry Marino, a mine subsidence engineer the city retained to offer advice on the issue. With the appeal deadline looming, Polo said Marino reported he has not received some needed information from IDNR. Among the missing information is the depth of the proposed mine tunnels. Subsidence events can affect surface topography within a thirty-degree radius of the collapsed tunnel, but to determine the size of the area that could be potentially affected, Marino has to know the depth of the mine. Polo said he is working on getting the missing information to Marino so Marino can render a recommendation to the city.
“We’ve got about nine more days before we have to decide how we want to proceed with this,” Polo said. “We may have to call a special meeting.”
No action followed a 20-minute executive session requested by Polo to discuss the possible acquisition of real estate.
WATER ISSUES
Resident Richard Mitchell appeared before the council to ask the city to consider an improvement to his residential water line when the city undertakes a program to replace aging water lines. Mitchell said he lives on Oak Street and his residence is the only household serviced by a four-inch water line that dead-ends at Springfield Street. Because of the limited movement of water through the line, the water often has a disagreeable odor and other problems.
“It smells like a sewer,” Mitchell said. “You can’t drink it. I’m constantly having to call to the Water Department to come out and flush the line. Last year my wife did laundry and had to do it all over.”
He asked that the city consider looping the line and tying into the Maple Street water line to eliminate the “dead spot” that affects water quality to his home.
Fisher said he has not seen blueprints for the proposed project but that he is relatively certain that the improvement Mitchell requested already is included.
Resident Mike Bertolis also appeared before the council with a complaint about the water main servicing his residence. He said he discovered that the turn-off valve in his house is inoperable when he was planning to do some work to his home last week. He called the Water Department to turn off the supply at the meter temporarily so he could replace his household shut-off, but found the meter could not be shut off because of its age.
“How can we get this situation taken care of so my water can be turned off in case I have an emergency?” Bertolis asked.
Hicks apparently misunderstood Bertolis’ question, saying replacing the valve would be Berolis’ responsibility because it was his side of the meter. Bertolis reiterated that he couldn’t replace the valve in his house until the meter is replaced.
“That meter has to be replaced and that’s all there is to it,” he said. “The meter is the problem.”
Once the question was clarified, Hicks said he would refer the problem to the Water Department.
CITYWIDE CLEAN-UP
A second raised by Bertolis sparked several minutes of discussion regarding a Citywide Clean-up program. Bertolis said it has been two years since the city sponsored a citywide clean-up program and he asked if the council would “consider giving us a break” and sponsor another clean-up program. He said the program was especially beneficial to seniors who may not be able to afford special trash pick-up for large items.
Hicks said the last clean-up cost the city upward of $8,500 and required 14 dumpsters, in part because people abused the service. Some people, he said, stockpiled trash in their garage or basement for up to a year waiting for an opportunity to bring it to city hall for the clean-up program.
“I don’t think the city should have to pay to haul away your junk when you’ve kept it for a year,” Hicks said.
“Well, I think people should use some common sense,” Bertolis said.
“But they don’t,” said Hicks.
“Last time, somebody kept junk in their basement and filled one whole dumpster,” Bertolis said. “I understand that. Things like that happen wherever you live.”
City Attorney Polo administered the oath of office to City Clerk Frances Smith.
Later in the meeting, Ald. Dolliger returned to the issue.
“Benld has one dumpster, Wilsonville has one dumpster,” he said. “We had 14. We had one guy tear off a room addition and kept everything in his garage for three months. He brought everything up here and said, ’Thank you very much, you just saved me $900’.”
“You guys do what you want,” Hicks said, “but I’m totally against it.”
BUSINESS LICENSE
The council tabled an application for a business license from Tom Pollard for a music/multimedia and sales enterprise to be located at 901 Broadway. The business would reportedly employ two people. Hicks expressed concerns about the safety of the building, particularly if Pollard plans to host performances at the venue. He recommended tabling the application until Fire Chief Larry Norville can inspect the premises and determine “if it’s safe to have people in there.”
ALLEY PROJECT
The council unanimously approved a project to address a drainage issue on Adams Street. Hicks said materials for the project will cost about $1,000 and labor will be provided by Street Department employees. The project will involve lowering the level of an alley, installing a collection box on the north side of the alley, installing a new culvert under the alley and under Adams Street, and recutting a drainage ditch adjacent to Adams back to Morgan Street.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Renewed the city’s “adopt-a-planter” program under which businesses, organizations or individuals can adopt a planter on Macoupin Street for $20 and plant it or decorate it with seasonal decor.
- Approved the purchase of a water line locator at a cost of $3,300 for the Water Department to replace one that failed.
- Approved an $11,900 contract for Fleming and Tawfall CPAs to conduct the city’s annual audit.
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Representatives of a food management company pitched their vision for reshaping school lunch and breakfast offerings at Community Unit School District 7 schools during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. Later, however, the head cook at BenGil Elementary School expressed doubts about what the company promised to deliver. “They make it sound like it’s all a gravy train,” said Jackie McKinney. “It’s not.”
No action followed a 20-minute presentation by Bill Fritcher, Business Development Associate, and Angie Eden, a food service worker, from Opaa! Food Management, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo. There was no clear indication whether the board or district administration is leaning toward contracting with the company.
Founded in 1978, Opaa! Provides food management services to more than 800 schools in 250 school districts spread out over seven states. The company serves 21 schools in Illinois, including the nearby Staunton, Litchfield, Jersey and Nokomis school districts. The company claims a 97 percent retention rate among its client schools.
Fritcher, a former administrator in the Neoga school district, said the company emphasizes home-cooked foods made from scratch. Opaa! provides both hot and cold entrees, and schools can tailor offerings to meet their needs and budgets. Hot entrees include items such as roast turkey, meatloaf, cheeseburgers, pizzas and spaghetti. The company also serves a variety of cold sub sandwiches. Again, depending upon the details of its contract with a school district, the company can provide a salad bar, along with fresh fruit.
Breakfast offerings can include hot or cold cereal, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. Some client schools offer a “breakfast on the go” option where students can grab a breakfast item during the mid-morning hours of the school day. As part of its service, Opaa! would provide an all-day “Gulp Station” with dispensers of lemonade, iced tea and water.
“There’s a lot of local control over menu items,” Fritcher said. “If a school doesn’t want us serving coffee to students, we don’t serve coffee.”
Fritcher said the school district would continue to set pricing for school lunches and breakfasts, collect payments and control the revenue stream. The district also would continue to own food service equipment and facilities. At a minimum, Opaa! would place it’s own employee as a food service manager, but other food service workers can be either Opaa! employees or employees of the school district. In either case, the school district would have final say over who is allowed to work in the school district.
“You’d have control of who is working in the school and is around your kids,” Fritcher said.
According to Fritcher, the company emphasizes presentation.
“We want the food to look good so kids will eat it,” he said. “We strive to make it enjoyable for the kids.”
Client schools submit photos of daily offerings to the home office for approval, Eden said. As an example, she cited an instance when she submitted a photo from Neoga that included broccoli as a side item. The home office said the broccoli looked too brown and demanded it be replaced with fresher produce.
Fritcher said the company employees an executive chef to create recipes and standards for food served to students. The chef has created a number of streaming videos used to train on site staff.
Key to the operation is a computer program for food management. Eden said the program monitors what food the district has in the freezer and pantry, and adjust menus to best utilize resources on hand. The program also provides a portal parents and students can access to see weekly menus.
A food management contract would be subject to state bidding requirements, according to Fritcher. To start the process, the district would create a Request for Proposals to solicit bids. If Opaa! Is the successful bidder, the company would offer a five-year fixed price agreement, renewable on an annual basis. Either party would be able to end the contract upon a 90-day notice.
During a public comment period, McKinney alleged Opaa!’s promises have not matched reality in nearby school districts. The head cook at Litchfield, she pointed out, quit soon after Opaa! took over. Pizzas and some other food items, she said, do not match the company’s claims.
“We were told this is not about the money, it’s about the choices,” she said. “If you want more options, someone needs to tell us.”
McKinney said she has been employed by the district in food services since 2002. The proposal to hire an outside food management company, she said, comes as “a slap in the face.”
McKinney predicted problems if the district contracts with Opaa!, particularly in the elementary school.
“I don’t see how our kindergarteners are going to be able to carry their own tray and serve themselves,” she said. “They’re going to drop their trays. We get our kids through the serving line in five minutes so they have time to sit down and eat. When they have to make their own tray, how long do you think that’s going to take?”
McKinney also predicted issues with food sanitation when young children with runny noses and/or dirty hands are expected to serve themselves from the food line.
McKinney said an outside company cannot be expected to know local students like local food service workers know them.
“I watch for a little boy who comes through my line every day because I know he doesn’t get food at home like he does here,” she said. “We’re here for the kids and I don’t think these people are.”
In a somewhat related matter which could facilitate transitioning to an outside food service, the board accepted with “regret” the retirements of head high school/middle school cook Penny Feeley and GHS/GMS cook Janice Hammann, both effective on June 30.
PERSONNEL
The board took action on a number of personnel issues following an executive session of about one hour.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to rehire the following fourth-year teachers and grant them tenure for the 2024-25 school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Lievers, Alex Newton, Pete Visintin and Jacob West.
The following non-tenured staff were hired for the 2024-25 school year: school nurse Rachel Bouillon, fifth grade teacher Radeana Gentzyel, speech pathologist Kaylee Collins, special education teacher Jaiden Braundmeier, kindergarten teacher Jessica Yeager, fist grade teacher Sydney Owsley, band teacher Brad Taulbee, chorus teacher Ben McCullough, Tim Biggs, special education teacher Cory Bonstead, and Dalton Barnes.
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board rehired the following tenured teachers for 2024-25: Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Urban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Hobaugh, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tieman, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jamie Schmidt, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Geddes, Lisa Ballinger, Amber Allan, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Tammy Garde, Nate Heinrich’s, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamar, Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth Thackery, Shanna Conner, Matthew Browner, Jeremy Smith, Rachelle Prough, Jarrod Herron, Jill Stole, Korben Clark, Kayla Wills, Nikki Browner, Kevin McNichols, Katie Orange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nelhs, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Schuette, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, David Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bully, Whitney Page and Stephanie Bray.
The board accepted “with regret” the retirement of BenGil Elementary teacher Dana Tieman, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation for purposes of retirement of GMS paraprofessional Ella May Roemer, effective at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and posted the position as vacant.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school paraprofessional Darian Gill, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted Gill’s resignation at the GHS/GMS cheerleading coach and posted that position as vacant.
Board members unanimously agreed to post vacancies for the following summer school positions: high school math, English and drivers’ education; middle school math, English and science; and six elementary positions. Additionally, the board posted two summer school food service positions.
The board accepted “with regret” the resignation of long-time GHS head women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted the resignation of Korbin Clark as GMS seventh-grade basketball coach and posted the position as vacant.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Eaker as a volunteer assistant dance coach, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board agreed to appoint Foley Seferi and James Bryant a volunteer assistant high school football coaches, pending verification of certification and a background check.
By a unanimous vote, the board accepted the resignation of district custodian Owen Parker, and posted the position as vacant. The board also voted to post vacancies for two full-route bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year, and hired Billie Bowles as a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
REPAVING
The board awarded a $62,524 contract to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., Wilsonville, to repave five district parking lots. DeLaurent was the low bidder for the project. The contract will be paid from proceeds of a $1.6 million alternate revenue bond sale for capital projects.
Supt. Shane Owsley reported that he is starting to gather estimates for other upcoming projects to be underwritten with bond revenue, including a project to refinish the high school gym floor, a project to reline the all-weather track and a major HVAC project.
SURPLUS WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board accepted a list of surplus weight room equipment and agreed to offer the equipment for sale via sealed bids. The equipment, which includes stationary bikes, running machines, free weights, benches, dumbbells and racks, was replaced with new equipment as part of a recently completed project to renovate and re-equip the weight room.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board unanimously approved early graduation requests for Maria Alger, Eliana Barrios-Madison, Owen Baugh, Gage Bonds, Abby Carter, John Q. Halterman, Eva Hidden, Felicia Lambert, Emma Luckshis, Ashley Markulakis, McKenna Montoro, Kaden Reiffer, Abigail Sharp, Jayden Stangle, Cooper Wentler, Ashton Whitlow and Avery Young. The students will be allowed to graduate at the end of their eleventh year of high school at the end of the current school year, provided all graduation requirements have been met.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized high school women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, who is retiring after a career of 16 seasons. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted that Gray led this year’s team to the Sectional Tournament in Beardstown after winning their first regional championship since 2012. The team also won its first County Tournament since 2002, and celebrated 26 wins—the most ever.
During the Carlinville Rotary’s All-Star Game, Gray was named Rotary’s Coach of the Year.
“On behalf of CUSD 7 and all you former players, we express much gratitude for your many years of service, dedication, leadership, wisdom and professional demeanor on and off the court,” Rosentreter told Gray.
Also during the District Focus, a group of fifth graders told the board about their recent field trip to Busch Stadium, where they learned about practical math applications and other subjects.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Gave final approval to the 2024-25 school calendar, calling for the first day of school attendance on Aug. 14 with the last day of school set for May 29, or earlier if no emergency days are used.
- Approved a schedule of board meeting dates for the coming year. The board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month with the open session beginning at 7 p.m. The December meeting is set one week earlier on Dec. 16 to avoid conflict with the winter break.
- Awarded the annual bid to supply fuel to low bidder M & M Service Co., Carlinville.
- Voted to renew the district’s annual membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Rescheduled the April board meeting from Monday, April 22, to Tuesday, April 23, to avoid a conflict.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to Madison Street and Wilson Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was out in the 400 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a domestic battery. Regan M. Treadway, 22, of Hillsboro was arrested for domestic battery.
Gillespie Police Department assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with a criminal investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of South Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning. Charles H. Daubman, 62, of Gillespie was issued a citation for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer during normal patrol in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Benld noticed a trunk open on a vehicle. The officer made contact with the owners and they secured the trunk after checking it.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to illegal dumping.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory in reference to a civil standby.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Easton Street in reference to a civil standby.
The School Resource Officer called in requesting assistance in reference to a female student that had left the school.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to Route 4 by the nursing home to check on a person on a bike with no lights.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Route 138 in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Gillespie Street in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a dog at large.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an animal complaint.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Benld. Logan G. Lawson, 22, of Roodhouse was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare. David E. Schmidt, 46, of Staunton was issued citations for speeding, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Spruce Street in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Jersey Street in reference to an open line 911 call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Candace N. Carlen, 36, of New Douglas was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 200 block of West Oak Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious noise.
An officer was dispatched to West Dorsey Street and South Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to a medical assist.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Esha V. Bhatt, 30, of Edwardsville was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Nicole L Richey, 34, of Wilsonville was issued a citation for speeding and expired registration.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of 9th Street in Benld in reference to a suicidal subject
An officer was out with a suspicious person at Main Street and Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Elm Street. Walter L. Vester, 29, of Gillespie was arrested on a Glenn Carbon warrant for larceny.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Jordan L. Jett, 23, of Hillsboro was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to aggravated assault. Levi T. Kroll, 34, of Carlinville was arrested for aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and operation of a vehicle with suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to LJ Avenue where multiple vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone. After multiple announcements asking them to move, two vehicles remained and received citations. Jeromy J Moore, 47, of Greenfield and Matthew E. Raffety, 52, of Bunker Hill were issued citations for parking in a no-parking zone.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a domestic battery. Mitchela P. Zbornak, 34, of Gillespie was arrested for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak Street in reference to an ordinance issue for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Oak Street in reference to a possible burglary.
The School Resource Officer called in reckless driving in the high school parking lot.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to retail theft and criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a loud vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to a suspicious person.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Oak for a 911 untraceable call the officers checked the area and were unable to find an emergency.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to down wires at Dorsey Road and 1st Street in Mt. Clare. Ameren was contacted to remove the wiring.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Community News
Denby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
Carlinville attorney Thomas Denby easily sailed to victory in a three-way race to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Macoupin County in Tuesday’s Primary Election balloting.
Denby captured 63.26 percent of the Republican vote, easily besting Jonathan Verticchio’s 23.46 percent and Aaron Bellm’s 13.28 percent. In terms of raw vote numbers, Denby landed 2,534 votes to Verticchio’s 940 votes and Bellm’s 532 votes.
There were no judicial candidates for the race on the Democrat side of the ballot.
As a result of Tuesday’s election, Denby is likely to step into the office being vacated Resident Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2006, when he narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kevin Polo. It’s unclear whether or not the Democrat Central Committee can legally name a candidate to run against Denby in the General Election this fall, meaning Denby is the likely successor to Deihl.
There were no surprises locally in the Presidential races. Macoupin Democrats favored incumbent Joe Biden with 89.62 percent of the vote, while Republicans cast 83.39 percent of their votes for former President Donald Trump.
Although no longer a candidate, Nikki Haley gained 12.18 percent of the Republican vote. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Ryan Brinkley each took less than three percent of the Republican vote. On the Democrat side, Biden’s support was eroded by 10.28 percent of the vote shared by Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and Frank Lozada.
A total of 5,741 voters cast votes in the Macoupin Primary, representing 18.67 percent of the county’s 30,757 registered voters. That could indicate a softening of interest in the Biden/Trump rematch. In 2016, when Trump and Hilary Clinton were nominated, a stunning 45.82 percent of Macoupin’s voters cast ballots in the primary election. Four years later, 23.54 percent of the county’s voters participated in the primary, despite restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Republican nomination for U.S. Congressional Representative for the 13th District, Joshua Loyd took 57.28 percent of the Macoupin vote, compared with 42.72 percent for Thomas Clatterback. The Congressional vote mirrored voting district-wide in which Loyd took the nomination with 55.9 percent of the total vote. Loyd will take on freshman Representative Nikki Budzinski on the Democrat side, who ran unopposed for the nomination.
A number of county races were unopposed. On the Democrat side, incumbent Jordan Garrison took 1,387 votes for State’s Attorney, while incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya took 1,471 Democrat votes. On the Republican side Amy J. Ashby took 3,448 votes to be nominated for Circuit Clerk. Ashby becomes the likely successor to Democrat Lee Ross who is stepping down.
Though not likely, both parties could name candidates to run for county offices in November. Otherwise Garrison, Kravanya and Ashby will run unopposed for the General Election. A win by Ashby would make her the second Republican constitutional officer in the Courthouse. Two years ago, County Treasurer Amber McGartland became the first Republican elected to a Courthouse office since A.C. “Julie” Bartulis served as Treasurer in the 1960s.
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