Community News
School board hears recommendations for school improvement
Michelle Smith, speaking as President of the local teachers union, addressed the school board on behalf of the teachers about concerns and remedial strategies the union have following the lackluster report card data.
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education listened for nearly three hours as teaching staff outlined issues affecting standardized test scores and recommendations for improving student academic performance during a special meeting of the board on Wednesday night.
Supt. Joe Tieman said the session was “a fantastic meeting.”
“We will take the suggestions that were brought up and address them as best we can within our budget constraints,” he said.
REPORT CARD RESULTS SPARK DISCUSSION
In November, members of the board and administrators held a lengthy discussion about the district’s state “report card,” which showed only 29 percent of the district’s students met or exceeded academic standards based on results of the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) testing for elementary grades through eighth grade and ACT scores for high school students. The report card, prepared annually by the Illinois State Board of Education for all school districts in the state, indicated that academic performance for Community Unit School District 7 lagged behind statewide averages by five percentage points overall.
Board President Mark Hayes called the numbers “alarming,”
At the time, Board President Mark Hayes called the numbers “alarming,” adding that Community Unit School District 7 was at the bottom of the list academically among schools in Macoupin County.
The same report card revealed that the district’s graduation rate was 72 percent, compared with a statewide average of 86 percent. CUSD 7 spent $5,218 per student for instructional costs, compared with a statewide instructional spending averaging $7,712. Operational spending per student also was below average at $10,916, but Tieman told the board in November that the district’s operational expenditures are among the highest in Macoupin County on a per student basis.
UNION PRESIDENT ADDRESSES BOARD
In December, High School teacher Michelle Smith, speaking as President of the local teachers union, asked for an opportunity for teachers to address the board about concerns and remedial strategies to address the lackluster report card data. A month later, following up on a closed-door special meeting, the board voted to advertise for candidates for the high school principal’s position. Though Lori Emmons, who has served as principal since 2013, is expected to be reassigned, she continues to serve as principal for the time being. The board has given no public explanation for the expected reassignment, though the action closely followed the release of the state report card data. Emmons was not among the more than 40 staff members attending Wednesday night’s special meeting with the board.
Smith said uncertainty about future leadership at the high school level is at least one of the concerns
Speaking on behalf of the teaching staff, Smith said uncertainty about future leadership at the high school level is at least one of the concerns teachers expressed during meetings to develop a list of strategies and concerns to present to the board.
“We’re glad to see the school board is asking questions,” Smith said, reading from a prepared opening statement. “We want to continue the dialogue among all three entities (teaching staff, administration and school board). For the long run, that is what will result in improvement.”
Continuing her opening statement, Smith expressed frustration on the part of teaching staff when it comes to setting academic goals and developing strategies to reach them.
“We’re more reactive, rather than proactive,” she said, adding that if the board and administration had been following long-term data from the district, they would not have been “alarmed” by the results of the school report card in November. “We see a direct correlation between student work and test scores.”
Later in the meeting, Tieman suggested the gold standard for student academic performance should be the Illinois Learning Standards, which do not necessarily coincide with the content of assessment testing.
“I don’t want you to teach to the test, I want you to teach to Illinois Learning Standards,” Tieman said. “If that’s your guiding light, then I can live with the test scores. My charge to you is to not teach to the test but to prepare students for the test. Tests can change. The Learning Standards endure.”
TEACHERS EXPRESS CONCERN
According to Smith, teachers obviously are concerned about shortages in staffing resulting from budget shortfalls. The reductions in staff resulting from the district not filling vacancies have cut into planning time and the time teachers have to meet and strategize during the school day. She said some teachers have been reticent about responding to questions from the board and administration because of a perceived threat of intimidation. Moreover, she said teachers feel they have gotten mixed messages from the board and administration regarding the goals they are expected to achieve. “We feel we get pulled in multiple directions,” she said.
We feel we get pulled in multiple directions
Smith described concerns on the part of teachers about the practice of “social promotion” in lower grades, the practice of moving students on to the next grade level even though they may not have the requisite skill levels. The practice, she said, is “exponentially” problematic as students fall further behind as they are promoted to upper-grade levels. Elementary Principal Angela Turcol defended the practice, reporting that retention involves a complicated process that results in only a handful of students being retained to repeat a grade at the elementary level. Over four years, she said, there were 52 applications from teachers to retain students. Of those, only 31 were approved and of those, only 28 students were held back after consulting with the students’ parents. Deficiencies among students who are “socially promoted,” Turcol said, generally can be addressed in the next grade level.
“Retention does go on, but it’s not widespread,” she said. “The research shows that it’s ineffective. Their likelihood of getting through graduation doesn’t increase. Once you get into the upper elementary grades, it’s hard to justify because it does not work.”
Still reading from her prepared statement, Smith said teachers are frustrated about outdated technology, limited student access to computers and issues with internet connectivity. She said some teachers lose as much as 15 minutes of class time waiting for programs to load because of limited bandwidth or WiFi issues. Limited experience with computers, in fact, was identified as one reason students scored lower than average on PARCC and SAT tests last year. This year, students will go back to using pencils and paper for the critical assessment testing.
At the high school level, Smith said, there is a “fear of the unknown” stemming from expected leadership changes. Moreover, she said social issues such as increased drug use and dysfunctional family lives have had a great impact on student attendance and performance.
Additionally, Smith said teachers do not always have timely access to student performance data from the state in order to adjust teaching strategies to address apparent weaknesses.
“It’s hard to shift strategy when you don’t have data on time,” she said.
Finally, she said, teachers are anxious to collaborate with the school board and administrators to set clear goals.
“We would like to continue to analyze data and get on the same page with you,” she said.
Board members were provided with detailed summary sheets from each of the attendance centers regarding teacher concerns and recommendations for school improvement.
Board members were provided with detailed summary sheets from each of the attendance centers regarding teacher concerns and recommendations for school improvement.
During the discussion with board members, Smith addressed whether teachers are expected to teach skills or “teach to the test”—teaching specifically tailored to help students do well on assessment tests.
“If we go for increasing test scores we may see a decrease in the graduation rate,” she said, because research confirms, “those things go together.”
Several board members said they want teachers to teach skills, but also provide students with test-taking strategies to help them translate that knowledge into positive test scores.
“We can teach tricks of the trade” for taking tests, Smith said. For example, if the test calls for students to answer 40 questions in 39 minutes, teachers can teach students how to answer questions quickly and ultimately score higher on the test. Motivating students to do well on assessment tests also is an issue, she said.
“They have no stake in it,” she said. “It’s hard for them to see the value in it.”
BOARD MEMBERS WEIGH IN
Board member Weye Schmidt said he was shocked to learn that more than 20 percent of incoming freshmen are unprepared for high school. In the past year, a dozen freshmen were held back for one grade because they didn’t have enough academic credits to become sophomores.
“If 23 percent of freshmen students aren’t ready, it shouldn’t be a surprise if 23 percent do poorly on the test,” Smith noted.
We’re here to talk about what can be done with what we have. We have to think outside the box.
While district students scored relatively well in the area of reading and language, Construction trades teacher Mark Goldasich said there are a substantial number of students who have limited reading skills.
“The SAT test is written at a 13th-grade level,” he said. “If you have a student who reads at a fourth-grade level, there’s no way he can pass that test.”
Teachers from all three attendance centers expressed frustration about staffing cuts, but Board President Mark Hayes said the district does not have the budget to hire more teachers at this time.
“If we want to have better test scores, we have to have the staff to make that happen,” said Smith. “Staffing is a major concern. We’re doing more with less staff. If you compare our test scores with the best school in the county you have to consider that school has a higher staffing level.” Lack of staffing, she said, makes it difficult for teachers to intervene with individual students who are struggling in particular subject areas. It also makes it virtually impossible to carve out room for remedial classes to help students having problems in basic areas such as reading or math.
“We don’t have the money to hire more staff,” Hayes said. “We’re here to talk about what can be done with what we have. We have to think outside the box.”
“Part of the purpose of this meeting was to identify obstacles,” Schmidt offered. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with identifying obstacles (in order to determine ways of dealing with them). We have to have the roadmap in place or we’re not going to get where we want.”
“We are in this together,” Board member Jenni Alepra said. “I hear you about financial constraints. It’s frustrating. We need to throw that out and we need to work harder. We aren’t going to get the things we want because of finances. We have to make lemonade out of lemons.”
We are committed to giving you everything we possibly can
Until Wednesday night, Smith said, teachers have gotten “mixed messages” about what the board and the administration expect of them.
“Teach to the test is what we’ve heard, even though the board says that’s never been the case,” she said. “Give us a goal and we’ll go for it. All the data will show that the single most important factor in student success is the classroom teacher. We are committed to giving you everything we possibly can.”
SUPERINTENDENT REINFORCES ENCOURAGEMENT
Tieman told the teachers that he and the board will take their concerns and suggestions seriously.
I will never back off challenging everyone to move forward.
“Your concerns are being heard and I think tonight has been very productive in terms of bringing us together,” he said. “I’ll never accept that we don’t all want to get better. In the conversations I’ve had, I didn’t hear one teacher say they were satisfied with the status quo. I will never back off challenging everyone to move forward.”
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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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