Community News
9 athletes named All-Stars by Telegraph
Coach Michele Smith receives Coach of the Year
Being a Miner is not something any athlete at Gillespie High School takes for granted. The term is not handed out to just anyone. It is earned. It entails your heart sanctioned to the game you love and whether its gold or silver, a Miner does not give up until the season is over.
Sam Wasylenko
Gillespie had a tremendous year this year, especially the women. The girls’ soccer team played in the regional championship, the closest they ever came to the ship. The softball team won their regional and conference this year. The track girls won their conference, their county, and their sectional. Needless to say, the numbers from this year are indelible and will rank among the best years in Gillespie athletics.
Although, the raw stats do not reveal who these women really are. They are clutch performers, they are determined, they are motivated, they are exceptional ballplayers, and they are exceptional kids. Their season is not defined by their postseason success. Yeah, it’s a disappointment watching the soccer team lose in the championship after beating the same team three times before. Yeah, it’s a disappointment watching the softball team be denied a super sectional game. But, you cannot forget what else the teams have done.
The soccer team opened their season with a first place trophy at the Metro Cup and played superb all season long. The track girls broke school records meet after meet and had one lady place in State competition. The softball girls had a 13 game win streak during the mid-season. This is what defines success for a Miner and what suggests a great year for Gillespie.
Payton Anderson and Laura Halpin.
And a great year for Sam Wasylenko, Payton Anderson, Abbie Cline, Molly Gray, Laura Halpin, Tateum Rosentreter, Alexis Burns, Allison Goldasich, and Tyler Ross it was. All nine girls made a mark this season and were named All-Area First-Teamers by the Alton Telegraph in the 2012 Spring Riverbend All-Stars edition.
Sam Wasylenko, senior, made it for soccer. An asset to the team as some refer to her. Wasylenko helped carry the Miners to great start on the season while being a striker on the offensive side. She was always a threat to score and was always bobbing around the net. Wasylenko earned All-Section Honorable Mention awards from the IHSA soccer coaches.
Payton Anderson, Abbie Cline, Molly Gray, and Laura Halpin all carried the softball team. Anderson, Cline, and Halpin were all seniors for the Miners while Molly Gray was a sophomore. Anderson boasted 52 RBI’s for the team while recording over 18 extra base hits for the year. She earned a spot on the first team all-conference team as a short-stop this season and will go on and play at Missouri Baptist in the fall.
Cline also will go on and play college softball at Austin Peay State. Hitting in the number three spot most of the time, Cline recorded 26 RBI’s and 42 runs while being named a spot on the first team all-conference team as a catcher.
Abbie Cline
Halpin supported the Miners on the mound this season with a 23-6 record and a 2.47 ERA. Halpin was also named a first team spot on the all-conference team and a chance to play in the State Journal Register All-Star Classic along with Abbie Cline and Payton Anderson.
The young gun, Molly Gray, was also named by the Telegraph. Being just a sophomore, Gray has 2 years of softball left to produce for the team. She hit in the lead-off spot for the Miners and batted in 27 base runners over the course of the season. She stole 27 bases and was also named to the first team all-conference team for the Prairie-State Conference.
(L-R): Tyler Ross, Allison Goldasich, Alexis Burns, Tateum Rosentreter
Last, but not least, the 4×800 team comprised of Tateum Rosentreter, Alexis Burns, Allison Goldasich, and Tyler Ross. The relay team broke their record four times ending with a 15th place in state with a time of 10:04.11. Overall, the girls had a tremendous season and, as a whole, were the first girls’ team to win Conference, County and Sectionals in the same year.
Now it is the coach’s turn. Michelle Smith, softball coach, was named small school coach of the year. Smith achieved all 3 of the team goals this year: 20 victories, conference championship, and regional championship. Smith has coached the Miners to a 141-55 record over her time at Gillespie and a chance to coach Prairie-State Conference team in the All-Star game. Smith’s goal for next year will be “reloading” as the Miners will lack a player in the number one position next year.
Winners, champions, and believers. Boom, boom, and boom. Gillespie has them. The Miners made a statement this year and it was definitely one for the books, but next year will bring another season. And with another season will be more challenges, new goals, and new players.
Molly Gray
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The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a 14-mile patching and resurfacing project on Interstate 55 from Litchfield to the Macoupin/Madison County line begins Monday, April 21. Work is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Additionally, ramps for Litchfield (exit 52), Mount Olive (exit 44) and Staunton (exit 41) will be resurfaced. Most of the work is expected to take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
Lane closures are expected, and message boards will be used to direct traffic through the work zones. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Benefits of this project include a smoother driving surface.
To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.
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George Kuchar of Eagarville is the winner of The Partnership for Educational Excellence 2025 Grand Raffle. The prize is $5,000.
“Education is important. I want to help these students get on in life,” says George, who is the owner of Kuchar Combine, an international agribusiness based in Mt. Olive.
Grand Raffle ticket sales kicked off this year at The Partnership’s “For the Love of Education” annual trivia contest in February. When welcoming the trivia players that evening, Donna Prevedell, vice president and a charter member of education foundation, asked participants: “What would we do without you? Your steadfast trust and generosity are the only resources The Partnership has ever had. Our very first major donor, John Schmidt, said that he would support us only if we could prove that we had solid community backing – which you immediately gave and continue to give 33 years later! Thank you.”
The result is The Partnership’s investment of more than $1 million donor dollars into the students of CUSD7. “We treasure your trust and humbly pass on your generously-shared, hard-earned dollars to our children – our future,” she said addressing CUSD7 staff and teachers, past scholars and parents, and dozens of new and established donors in attendance.
“It’s such solid donor support that allowed The Partnership to increase its scholarships from $1,000 to $2,000 last year. All we could afford in 1992 was three $250 scholarships. Friends and neighbors like you have made it possible to increase that nearly tenfold,” she said.
Another milestone was reached in 2024: a record 38% of the GHS graduating class was awarded scholarships.
The Partnership for Educational Excellence is a 501(c)3 education foundation. All donations are tax deductible. For more information and to donate: www.thepartnership7.org
Several Partnership directors gathered Saturday 12 April at Lumpy’s Restaurant in Gillespie where cook Mary Gray drew George Kuchar’s name from 500 tickets.
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FELONIES
Kaytlin Hudgins, 29 of Carlinville, is charged with burglary and causing a child to be endangered in connection with a March 23 incident.
Jacalyn Walker, 35 of Carlinville, is charged with theft ($500-10k), six counts of official misconduct/forbidden act, and five counts of wire fraud in connection with multiple incidents.
Michael J. Sullivan, 38 of Collinsville, is charged with aggravated battery of a child less than 13 and causing bodily harm in connection with an April 3 incident.
Emiliano R. McGill, 20 of Litchfield, is charged with criminal damage to property ($500-10k) in connection with an April 11 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Brett S. A. BilBruck, 19 of Hettick, is charged with possessing a firearm without a valid FOID in connection with an April 5 incident.
Mya R. Stewart, 20 of Wilsonville, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a March 22 incident.
Timothy A. Dugger, 23 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon in connection with an April 10 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jonathan A. Graves, 33 of Wilsonville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an April 2 incident.
Michael T. Mitchusson, 32 of Virden, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a March 28 incident.
Michelle A. Meyers, 49 of Staunton, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 28 incident.
William E. Rhodes, 56 of Litchfield, is charged with fleeing/attempting to elude an officer and expired registration in connection with a March 31 incident.
Lauren R. Washburn, 40 of Godfrey, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 30 incident.
Steven J. Henn, 33 of Highland, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 27 incident.
Jacob A. Roof, 41 of Springfield, is charged with driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage, improper passing on the shoulder, changing lanes without signal, exceeding speed in a school zone, obstructed windshield, and expired registration in connection with an April 3 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Stephanie G. Emery versus Jacob L. Emery
- Stacy Schuette versus Clay Schuette
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Joseph Daniel Baum of Mount Olive and Cynthia Maria Aberle of Staunton
- Aaron Michael Bush and Candise Lynn Spurgeon, both of Bunker Hill
- Joseph Andrew Rosentreter of Rock Island and Madison Elizabeth Schneider of Brighton
- Alexander Nicholas Overby and Madison Delany Shanks, both of Springfield
- Bobby Jay Gilmer and Melindajoe Violet Heigert, both of Staunton
- Matthew William Hartsook and Brooke Ann Buffington, both of Carlinville
