Community News
Tempers flare at Benld City Council meeting
Tax referendum eyed to salvage Police Department
(L-R): Mayor Jim Kelly and Alderman Peyton Bernot (archived photos)
Benld Ald. Peyton Bernot proposed a referendum to increase property taxes as a means to keep the Benld Police Department in place Monday night during the council’s regular meeting, and tempers flared as Mayor Jim Kelly broke a tie vote to pave parking lanes along Central Avenue at a cost of $83,500. Because of the number of visitors attending, the meeting was moved out of council chambers and into the Benld Civic Center.
Noting that the city is prohibited from significantly raising tax rates due to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), Bernot proposed seeking voter approval to raise property taxes for the purpose of Public Safety. Generating $30,000 in additional revenue from Benld’s $8.3 million total equalized assessed valuation would require a tax increase of about 40 cents per $100 of EAV; an increase of about 63 cents would be needed to generate $50,000 in new revenue. According to data compiled by Bernot, a $30,000 increase in the levy would increase the municipal tax liability by about $491.44 for owners of a $90,000 home with an assessed valuation of $30,000. The same owner would see his or her municipal tax bill increase by $563.70 with a $50,000 increase in the levy.
PTELL limits Macoupin County municipalities to increase their total levies by no more than five percent or by the consumer price index, whichever is less. Bernot said the current CPI is 2.1 percent, meaning that next year’s total tax levy is projected at $106,000. At that level, the municipal tax rate would total about $1.25 per $100 of EAV. The rate would go to about $1.64 to generate an additional $30,000 in revenue—an increase of about 30 percent. To realize $50,000 in new revenue, the rate would jump to $1.88—an increase of approximately 50 percent.
“There are two ways of putting a referendum on the ballot,” Bernot said. “One is by a resolution from this council, the other would be by a citizen-driven petition.”
“There are two ways of putting a referendum on the ballot,” Bernot said. “One is by a resolution from this council, the other would be by a citizen-driven petition.”
During a public meeting last month, Bernot said, someone on the council “made the statement that we have to give the public a chance to voice their opinion before we make a decision. I think this would be a referendum not only for a property tax increase but also whether or not they want to keep the police department.”
City Attorney Rick Verticchio noted that the deadline for getting a referendum on the November ballot has passed.
“It would be on the April ballot,” Bernot acknowledged. If the referendum was approved in April 2019, it would be 2020 before the city would realize new revenue from a property tax hike.
In the meantime, Verticchio suggested the possibility of compiling data on the EAV for Benld homes so residents could contact city hall to confirm how a potential tax increase would affect their tax bills.
“If the Police Department is disbanded, would the taxes stay the same or would they go down?” Ald. Teressa Tucker asked.
“You can always vote to lower your levy,” Verticchio answered.
“If it’s passed, we don’t have to use it,” Bernot added. “The referendum would only give us the authority to increase the levy. We don’t have to levy that amount.”
Bernot segued into a discussion of a possible tax referendum from an agenda item calling for a discussion of cost-cutting measures.
“I asked to put that on the agenda,” Bernot said. “I think it should stay on the agenda until we decide what we’re going to do. I think there should be a monthly discussion on what we can do to cut costs.”
In a related matter, Bernot reported that in the process of researching his tax referendum proposal he discovered that Cornerstone Realty, owned by Tim Loveless, owns a number of rental homes in Benld on which he has claimed an owner-occupied exemption.
“What would be the proper action?” Bernot asked Verticchio. “Benld is losing tens of thousands of dollars.”
“Since you’ve compiled the information, why don’t you get me a list,” Verticchio advised. “I’ll take it to the Supervisor of Assessments and him we want those stricken” from the list of owner-occupied properties.
Also related to the Police Department, the council voted unanimously to accept a resignation, effective July 24, from Benld Police Department Sgt. Jared Carlen. In his letter to the council, Carlen said he was resigning for “personal reasons that I believe limit my ability to fulfill my duties.”
TEMPERS FLARE OVER PARKING LANE ISSUE
Bernot and Mayor Kelly angrily confronted each other in the lead-up to a vote on whether or not the city should spend $83,500 to resurface parking lanes on Central Avenue when the Illinois Department of Transportation repaves the Illinois Route 138 alignment through the downtown area of the city. Ultimately, Kelly broke a tie vote to approve the measure contingent upon IDOT agreeing to spread out repayment for three years. The argument was intense enough to prompt Verticchio to advise the Mayor that he would be entitled to call for a vote to eject Bernot from the meeting. The confrontation focused on whether or not the council reached a consensus last month when Kelly presented details of the project.
Kelly reported that IDOT had opened bids for the project and that the city’s share of the cost would be $83,500 if it chooses to participate. He said IDOT wanted the city’s response within a week. Options open to the city were to do nothing, repave parking lanes for the entire length of the street or chose specific sections to repave at a lower cost.
“The letter I sent to the gentleman said that the feedback I got from the council was that we would do it all if we could stretch it out over three years because it would be a hardship for us to pay it all in one year,” Kelly said. He said IDOT has not responded to his request to pay the city’s portion over three years. He asked for a motion authorizing him to tell IDOT that the city would proceed with the project but only if IDOT would accept payments over a three-year period. The expenditure would come from the city’s Motor Fuel Tax coffers.
“Who did you get direction from on the council?” Bernot demanded. “Exactly who? I never said this. I don’t think Brian (Frensko) or (Lance) Cooper said this!”
“I read the letter and I said we had to give them an answer,” Kelly said, recalling last month’s meeting when the issue was first presented. “The consensus I got from the council was that we would do the whole thing if the payments could be spread out over three years.” He said, however, IDOT had not yet answered his request to accept a payment schedule.
Ald. Teressa Tucker concurred with Kelly’s recollection, but Bernot countered: “I would have remembered $83,000.”
“I was sitting right there, Peyton,” Tucker said, but Bernot continued to insist the council gave Kelly no direction on the issue.
“Fine!” said Kelly, rapping his gavel on the table. “We’ll vote on this right now. I’m not going to fight this.”
“It’s $83,000!” Bernot shot back. “You just had a meeting last month to decide the fate of the Benld Police Department!”
Bernot disputed Kelly’s assertion that the matter was on the agenda last month. City Clerk Terri Koyne confirmed that while the issue was not a formal agenda item, it was discussed under the “Correspondence” section of the agenda.
“No decision was made and you just said it was the consensus of the council like it was a done deal,” Bernot argued.
“I don’t care one way or another what we do,” Kelly responded. “But we need to stop bickering and make a decision.”
“Do the parking lanes need to be done?” Bernot asked.
Kelly responded that IDOT gave the city three options, one of which was resurfacing the parking lanes for the entire length of the street. “My understanding was that we would go with the option if we could pay our portion over three years,” Kelly said, adding that IDOT had not yet answered that question.
“So you want us to vote on something without a piece of information?” Bernot argued.
Kelly explained again that he was looking for a motion to participate in the project contingent upon IDOT accepting payments over three years. “If we don’t get the three years, we’ll do something else,” Kelly said.
“Can we just table this until we get an answer (from IDOT)?” asked Ald. Cooper.
“They wanted a response two weeks ago,” Kelly stated.
Breaking the deadlock, Ald. Jim Tilashalski moved to accept the proposal contingent upon IDOT agreeing to a three-year payment plan. Ald. Mickey Robinson seconded. Brought to a vote, Ald. Robinson, Tilashalski and Tucker voted “yes,” and Ald. Frensko and Cooper voted “no.”
“I’m not spending $83,000 on parking lanes,” Bernot said when his name was called. “I don’t think the parking lanes are that bad.”
“How do you vote?” Kelly demanded.
“No,” Bernot said. “My vote is ’no’!”
“It’s three to three,” Kelly announced. “I vote ‘yes’.”
“That’s a slap in the face of the voters and you know it!” Bernot shouted, red-faced.
“What voters?” Kelly shot back.
“The voters that stood in this room a month ago!” Bernot countered.
“Don’t raise your voice to me!” Kelly warned.
“I’m not raising my voice,” Bernot came back. “You want me to raise my voice? I’ll raise my voice.”
The outburst prompted City Attorney Verticchio to advise the mayor that he has “the power to hold council members to a standard of decorum. If a council member does not exercise proper decorum, you can call for a vote to have him or her removed.”
“I vote ‘yes’,” Tucker quipped, but Kelly advised he was not asking for such a vote. Kelly told the BenGil Post that Bernot apologized to him after the meeting.
UNION REQUEST REJECTED
By a vote of 4-2, the council rejected the request of a union representative who wanted to standardize employee anniversary dates as Jan. 1.
“My opinion, I don’t feel it’s good to re-open a union contract when we are going to start renegotiating,” Mayor Kelly said. The current contract expires in March and Kelly said the city would reopen negotiations in January. “To me, you never reopen a contract unless it’s going to help both sides,” he said. “I don’t see that this will.”
Ald. Bernot, however, said he had drafted a memorandum of understanding between the city and the union, which if approved, would implement the change. He asked Verticchio for a legal opinion on the memorandum.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” Verticchio said. But he noted that two employees already were allowed to change their anniversary dates to Jan. 1, one of whom has since left city employment. In those cases, accrued vacation time was pro-rated for the year prior to the change. “Is there anything wrong with it legally? No,” Verticchio commented. “But this doesn’t appear to resolve that issue.”
“I think the time to rectify this would be when the new contract comes up,” Tilashalski commented.
Bernot then moved to approve the memorandum.
“Are we going to pro-rate vacation time?” asked Koyne.
“This says we will give everybody vacation time to Jan. 1 regardless of when they started,” Kelly observed. “I’ve heard a motion, I have not heard a second.”
Ald. Frensko offered a second to bring the matter to a vote. Tucker, Tilashalski, Cooper and Robinson all voted “no.” Bernot and Frensko cast the only two affirmative votes.
CITY PROPERTIES
On a motion by Bernot, seconded by Tilashalski, the council voted to accept a bid of $3,900 to demolish the so-called Gillette Property in the 100 block of South Fourth Street and remove the debris. One other bid of $3,984 was received from Mike Ranger.
No bids were received from potential buyers for city-owned properties at 711 Rose Street and 416 South Main Street.
Since neither property was sold, Bernot asked Verticchio who is responsible for property taxes on the parcels. If the parcels had been sold, Verticchio said, the city would be responsible for a pro-rated share of the taxes with the buyers responsible for the remainder. “If you’re going to hold onto them, you can have the property taxes removed for future years because they are city-owned property,” he said. “Since you attempted to sell it by offering it for bid, you can contract privately is someone wants to make us a private offer.”
“Like a neighbor or something?” Bernot asked.
“Yes,” said Verticchio, “but right now we need to file the paperwork with the Department of Revenue” to exempt the properties from property taxes.
Verticchio also reported that an evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Sept. 5, regarding the Gima Property in the 100 block of South Fourth Street. He said he would need a representative from the city council to testify about the city’s contention that the property is a public nuisance.
BUSINESS LICENSES
The council approved business licenses for Patrick Marsh, who plans to open Custom Classics LLC at 501 East Central Avenue, and Anthony Lubrant, who plans to open Lubrant Studio at 210 East Central Avenue. Marsh told the council that he plans to continue to offer mechanical and maintenance services in addition to custom bodywork and automotive painting at his business.
LIBRARY BOARD CHANGES
The council accepted the resignation of Carol Wright from the Benld Public Library Board of Trustees and approved the mayor’s appointment of Don Chapman to fill the vacancy.
TRUNK OR TREAT
The council gave permission to close the first block of South Main Street from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Oct. 28, for a Trunk or Treat event sponsored by the Benld Public Library. This will be the fourth year for the event. Previous year’s events have seen upward of 300 youngsters participating.
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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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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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