Community News
8 Hours of Nonstop Free Entertainment at CCCC Fall Festival
To see the full page flyer, click here!
From Bluegrass sound to Big Band music, from Classic Country to Elvis Rock ‘n Roll the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Festival, on Saturday, September 24, will present nonstop free musical entertainment on the Benld City Park Stage. Festival goers are encouraged to come early and bring lawn chairs to use in the stage pavilion. The musicians all cooperate in trying to make the festival a continuous round of musical sounds as the spotlight moves from one group to another.
The entertainment provides the opportunity for music enthusiasts to sit back and listen or be more active and sing or dance along.
The music begins at 7:00 a.m., to help set the mood for all the vendors and participants who are still setting up, with Joe Powell, a favorite of young and old. Joe Powell, of Granite City, IL, is a one-man act who croons and whistles standards, “oldies” and pop songs with a clear, sweet sound.
At 9:45 the Will Black Orchestra woos listeners with the sounds of Dixieland and dance music from the 40’s and 50’s. The Will Black Orchestra returns this year led by William Winkelblack of Gillespie who started his first band in 1949. The band which includes piano, drums, string bass, trumpet, tenor saxophone, clarinet and trombone features retired musicians from Gillespie, Edwardsville, Staunton, Raymond, Nokomis and Springfield.
Moving on around 11:15 a.m. to the Heartland Band, which will again feature Illinois State Fiddle Champion 14 year old Mikayla Roach of Mulberry Grove. The Heartland performs country classics which at the Summer Concert Series had the audience dancing under the covered pavilion. Rich Thacker is leader of the band and plays lead guitar and does lead vocals. Rich is from Litchfield. Mel Davis from Litchfield, plays bass guitar. Rick Stanbery, from Bluff City plays drums.
At 1:00 p.m. the ever favorite Steve Davis, this year with his band the Memories of Elvis will continue the free entertainment for another three hours from the stage. This is Davis’s eighth consecutive year at the Fall Festival where he will sing, in full “Elvis” regalia, the rock and roll classics that Elvis made famous in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Davis who grew up in the Brighton area has perfected the Elvis style and serenades his overflowing audiences. Davis has had the opportunity to develop an exciting band from a group of talented and experienced musicians from the St. Louis area.
The band consists of drummer Mike Safron, a St. Louisan who has had varied musical experience from playing with Chuck Berry and then Bo Diddley. Safron had his own band “Pavlov’s Dog,” which did an album “Pampered Menial,” a platinum-selling record in Europe and Australia. Lead guitar Ray Schulte, a native of St. Louis, has played with Bob Kuban, toured with Tony Orlando and Dawn’s band, played alternative rock as well as taught music and is constantly composing his own compositions. Singer and keyboard played, Royal has worked with Ray Schulte for many years is now part of the Steve
Davis family of musicians. Royal who is also a music teacher has toured Europe as well as the United States and has played and sung in many styles from country to alternative rock. Timothy J. Duggan is a St. Louis bassist who come from a family of musicians and feels at home with a variety of musical styles from classical music to jazz to rock and many more. He has worked with Steve Davis since 2007. Tom O’Brien plays soprano, alto and tenor sax, flute and clarinet. Tom was a teacher of instrumental music for five years early is his career and has played with many bands and done solo acts.
For more information about all of the activities of the Fall Festival and the Tour de Coal Bike Ride, the Chamber web site www.coalcountrychamber.com provides times, activities and contacts.
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SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time and part-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2025 semester. Part-time students are enrolled in six to 11 credit hours while full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.
Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. The excerpt below features Macoupin County students.
FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Bunker Hill – Logan R. Helling
Carlinville – Reid P. Evans*, Brody M. Reif
Gillespie – Maris E. Brill, Austin L. Grace*
Girard – Max Allen*, Katie Angulo*, Mick B. Downs*, Josh Hagerman, Reed Lewis, Michael S. Prose*
Mount Olive – Jakobb E. Brown*, Georgia G. Kampwerth
Palmyra – Alexis R. Bowman*
Staunton – Paige N. Horstmeyer*, Michael J. Matesa*, Lauren R. Mathis, Brandon Mo
Virden – Zorah E. Austin*, Michaeh N. Barnhouse*, Maddie Carver, Jackson R. Pierce*, Morgan C. Snell*, Grant M. Strickler, Courtney N. Ulinski*
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Benld – Christopher Young*
Carlinville – Alex C. Nance*, Jerry D. Nance Jr.*
Gillespie – Jessica L. Tiek*
Girard – Lindsey J. Ferguson*, Jackson R. Henke*, Natalie Moriconi*
Mount Olive – Kara A. Harmon*, Justin D. O’Neill*, Hayden Wylder*
Virden – Candace L. Carlile*, Lillian M. Carlile*, Natalie M. Little*, Josie P. Patterson, Luciano Pierce*
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The 2:18 Missions Team, a dedicated local outreach group based in Gillespie, is excited to announce its upcoming cookout fundraiser to support its community initiatives. The event will take place on Saturday, June 21st, at Randy’s Market in Benld.
From approximately 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy delicious homemade food while supporting a worthy cause. The menu will feature pork chops, pork burgers, hot dogs, and refreshing water — perfect for a summer day of good food and fellowship.
“All proceeds from this event will go directly toward our mission efforts to serve and uplift our community,” said a spokesperson for 2:18 Missions Team. “We’re grateful for the support of our neighbors and look forward to seeing everyone there!”
Come out to Randy’s Market in Benld on June 21st to enjoy a tasty meal, support local endeavors, and connect with others in the community.
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CARLINVILLE, IL – On June 14th, concerned citizens are invited to join a coalition of grassroots organizations to nonviolently protest in front of the Macoupin County Courthouse at 201 E. Main St. in Carlinville, IL, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. This protest is one of over 1,400 protests taking place nationwide with millions of participants as part of the NO KINGS National Day of Action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.
Trump’s unconstitutional actions include suppressing free speech, detaining people for their political positions, deporting American citizens, defying the courts, and much more – all while enriching himself and his billionaire allies.
“Now Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14th. This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his image as a strongman, while paying for it with taxpayer dollars.”, said Kelley Hatlee, a volunteer organizer with the Macoupin County 50501and Indivisible movements. “Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of attention, the NO KINGS nationwide protests make action everywhere else the story of America on June 14th: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.”, said Hatlee.
“We’re showing up together as neighbors, friends, and fellow community members to say NO to authoritarianism and yes to a government that serves everyone,” said Chelsa Pruden, a volunteer organizer with Macoupin PRIDE and Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible. “We’re tired of watching powerful people trample our rights and our voices. This protest is about reminding everyone, especially those in power, that real strength comes from the people.”
Participants are encouraged to make protest signs that convey their personal messages. Packaged, nonperishable food items will be accepted for donation to local food pantries to help low-income families who will be hit hardest by Trump’s policies.
The NO KINGS protest in Carlinville is organized by a volunteer coalition of the Macoupin PRIDE and the Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible grassroots movements. The coalition has created a Facebook page titled “Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible” for concerned citizens to follow.
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