Community News
School board eyes improvements to vocational facilities
As part of a District Focus segment, the board heard from Katherine “Katie” Prange, a high school English and accounting teacher who has been heavily involved in studying the Holocaust.
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted Monday night to seek bids for nearly $500,000 in improvements to the high school vocational classroom space. Approximately $400,000 in vocational education funds released to the school district by the state would be coupled with a $50,000 Life Safety improvement matching grant to pay for the project if the board decides to proceed. Ultimately, Supt. Joe Tieman told the board, the district would be able to buy improvements worth a half-million dollars with an investment of only $50,000 in local funds.
In addition to extensive discussions regarding the vocational building project, the board heard a report from a local teacher whose expertise in Holocaust studies has provided local students with unique insights into the Holocaust and its historical significance, discussed a proposed realignment of the South Central athletic conference, and handled a number of routine actions regarding personnel.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board vote unanimously to seek bids to remove and replace the roof on the existing vocational education building. That action was followed by a unanimous vote to seek bids to expand the building with a 30-by-76-foot addition, with options to increase the size of the addition to 40-by-76 feet or 60-by-76 feet. In conjunction with those actions, the board authorized Tieman to apply for a 50,000 state matching grant and approved application for a Life Safety amendment.
“We have $400,000 in the bank to be used for vocational education,” Tieman said, referring to a state grant recently announced by State Sen. Andy Manar. That money, coupled with the $50,000 maintenance grant and the district’s $50,000 in matching funds, would cover the estimated cost of the roofing and expansion project with $15,000 to spare.
“We can use that $15,000 to buy a piece of equipment or something else we need,” Tieman said.
Tieman reported that school architect Tom Hyde had prepared cost estimates for the project. Those estimates put the cost for re-roofing the existing building at $120,000. Hyde estimated the cost of a 30-by-76-foot addition at $284,000. Architectural fees, engineering fees and contingency reserves would bring the total cost of the project to $485,000.
Tieman said that extending the existing building by more than 30 feet would require relocating a greenhouse currently located south of the vocational building. Hyde’s estimates for building larger expansions, including relocating the greenhouse, came it at $595,000 for a 40-by-76-foot expansion, or $758,000 for a 60-by-76-foot addition.
Bidding the project will give the board the numbers it needs to consider whether or not to proceed with the project. “The price tag for this could come in $100,000 less or it could come in $100,000 more (than Hyde’s estimates),” Tieman said. “If the numbers come back right,” Tieman said the board could then vote on proceeding with the expansion.
If the board chooses to go with an addition larger than 30 feet, Tieman said it may have to make a decision on how to pay for it. “If we go over half a million for a larger addition, we will have to think about where those funds will come from,” he said.
If bids come in that are consistent with the architect’s estimate and if the board chooses to go with the smaller addition, Tieman said the entire project can be accomplished with an investment of only $50,000 in local money. “We can do this with just $50,000 of our own money,” he said. “To me, we’re getting a half-million project for $50,000.”
Depending upon how the bids come in, Hayes encouraged board members to consider going with a larger addition. The $400,000 grant that is driving the project, he said, may well be a one-time opportunity.
“We may never see that money again,” he said, noting that a 40-feet addition would add more than 3,000 square feet and a 60-foot addition would add upward of 4,000 square feet. “With this new consortium we have, we could become a vocational education hub. We’d have the room to do it. Now is the time to do this.”
Hyde is expected to develop bidding specifications, advertised for bids and make a more detailed presentation to the board when bids are in hand.
HOLOCAUST STUDIES
As part of a District Focus segment, the board heard from Katherine “Katie” Prange, a high school English and accounting teacher who has been heavily involved in studying the Holocaust. Prange holds a master’s degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies and has made multiple trips to Europe to view concentration camps and speak with survivors. Those experiences have enabled her to bring speakers who are Holocaust experts to the Gillespie school district to speak to and interact with students.
She was among those attending an observance of the 7th anniversary of the liberation of the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp, along with more than 200 Auschwitz survivors, earlier this year. She wrote about the experience in an essay published Feb. 2 in the State Journal-Register.
“Their message to us,” Prange told the board, “was to let the world know, to keep their stories alive and for those of us who hear their stories to bear witness.”
After receiving a scholarship from the Candles Museum, founded in 1995 in Terre Haute, Ind., Prange became a friend of museum founder Eva Moses Kor, on of twins upon whom Joseph Megele conducted cruel experimentation. Prange recalled traveling with Kor to Poland and later to Romania where Kor’s family was the only Jewish family in a small community. There Prange met one of Kor’s childhood friends who “stood by as a Christian and watched Eva and her family being deported” by the Gestapo. She said the experience was “probably one of the most impactful moments of my life.”
Among the speakers Prange has brought to the school were Carl Wilkens, the only American to stay behind in Rwanda during the 1995 genocide who saved more than 400 orphans, and the director who crafted a documentary film about Eva Kor.
She said she recently secured a grant to provide students with pages salvaged from diaries written by young students during the Holocaust.
“Being able to walk in the footsteps of the survivors makes it easier for me to talk to kids about tolerance and what hatred can do and how easily it can spread,” Prange noted.
Tieman said Prange is “just one example of teachers on our staff who do things differently and go above and beyond the classroom.” He said her efforts to explain the Holocaust to high school students is especially important as the national memory of the Holocaust fades. He said 60 percent of high school students nationwide have never heard of the Holocaust. In the past five years, the number of Americans who believe the Holocaust never happened has doubled from seven percent to 14 percent.
SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE
Tieman notified the board that East Alton-Wood River, a former member of the South Central Conference for athletics, has formally applied to rejoin the conference. At some point, he said, he will ask the board to take a position on whether or not to favor the school’s admission into the conference.
Adding East Alton-Wood River would bring the total number of schools in the conference to 11 and could pose significant issues in regard to scheduling games. He said the Gillespie High School football program currently plays an all-conference schedule, competing with the other nine schools before reaching the end of the season. Adding a school, he said, would put the school in the position of having to rotate competitors from one year to the next.
If a second team comes forward with a request to join, bringing the total number of teams to 12, Tieman said it would create the potential for creating two six-team divisions. If even more schools were added, it would create a potential for creating divisions assigned according to the size of the schools.
“At this point, this is in its infancy,” Tieman said. “At some point, we would like the board to weigh in. I’m going to be hard to convince this would be a better set-up than what we have now.”
Dennis Tiburzi, a former athletic director, said an 11-member conference would pose a multitude of problems. “I doubt the conference would vote to have an 11-team conference without adding another one to make it 12 teams.”
Weye Schmidt asked about the potential for the conference to admit East Alton-Wood River and kick-out another school to retain a 10-team conference.
“That could happen,” Tieman said. “It has happened, but I don’t foresee that happening with this situation.”
PERSONNEL
The board met in executive session for about 80 minutes before returning to open session and taking action an a number of personnel issues.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to extend contracts by one year for all three building principals—Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto, Middle School Principal Jill Rosentreter and High School Principal Sean Owsley—and voted unanimously to increase salaries for all three administrators in accordance with the appropriate salary schedule for the 2020-21 school year.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Janelle Cherry as a substitute bus driver, and hired Jason Brown as a district custodian.
The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Pam Strausbaugh as a paraprofessional (classroom aide), effective Feb. 19, and voted unanimously to post the position as vacant.
Board members also voted unanimously to post an open position for a Title I reading teacher position with a preference for a candidate with a reading specialty certificate and an open position for a Technology Integration Specialist.
OTHER ACTION
On the recommendation of the Superintendent, the board voted to participate in the Golden Apple Accelerator program which provides opportunities for holders of bachelor degrees to accelerate the acquisition of a teaching certificate. Tieman said the emphasis of the program is on certifying teachers for Spanish, science, math and other hard to fill specialties.
Under terms of the program, the district agrees to provide one day a week off for participating employees to attend on-campus programs. The bulk of the coursework, however, will be offered online. The district also is agreeing to commit $4,000 per candidate for two years of teacher mentoring in the event the board hires a person who obtained a teaching certificate through the accelerator program. Tieman emphasized the district is not obligated to hire anyone who uses the program to obtain a teaching certificate.
Board members also unanimously approved a seniority list for teachers. Tieman said the list had been reviewed and approved by the teachers union. The list is no longer required by law. Answering a question from a board member, Tieman said the list is not a criteria for selecting teachers for Reduction In Force. In the event of a RIF, the district relies upon evaluation grades for non-tenured teachers.
The board also unanimously approved a Threat Assessment Plan which identifies protocol for responding when a student is believed to be in danger of harming themselves.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
Comments
-
Community News4 weeks agoBenld Council enacts ordinance against water meter tampering
-
Community News3 weeks agoSchool district apparently eyeing food management service
-
Community News4 weeks agoDenby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
-
Police News3 weeks ago
Gillespie Police Report: March 17-23, 2024