Community News
BenGil teachers in running for Teacher of the Year
3 Teachers from CUSD #7
Madison annually sponsors a “Teacher of the Year Contest” where residents can nominate their favorite teacher for this award. To nominate a teacher, you must complete an online nomination form and provide a description of how this instructor has made a difference in the lives of his or her students.
Qualified candidates must be employed by a school district in Madison’s service area during the calendar year for the contest period. Qualified nominations are posted to Madison’s website for voting. The two teachers who receive the highest number of votes during the contest period will each receive a $500 cash award and plaque. In addition, each teacher’s homeroom class will receive a free pizza party, compliments of Madison Communications.
Candidates are nominated based on one or more of the following criteria. Nomination forms include details which outline how the teacher demonstrated outstanding leadership in one or more of these areas:
- Nominee made a significant contribution to student advancement in one or more academic areas.
- Nominee initiated a program which resulted in measurably higher student achievement levels.
- Nominee and/or nominee’s program significantly impacted student morale, well-being and/or attitude.
- Nominee dedicated extra-curricular time, performing above and beyond standard expectation levels for his or her teaching responsibilities.
Mrs. Gail Niehaus(Pre K), Mrs. Marcia Johns(Elementary), and Mrs. Sharon Wernle(Elementary) are the three teachers from CUSD #7 that were nominated. Mrs. Niehaus was nominated by Kathy Fellin because she has been “instrumental of the structuring of the Pre-K program in the CUSD #7.” After 30 years, she still maintains a passion for the primary education of our children.
Fellin went on to say that she, “has a nineteen year-old daughter that was fortunate to participate in the district’s Pre-k program, and I believe this contributed to the strong foundation that started our educational career. I now have my fourth child in this program and Mrs. Niehaus still displays the excitement of teaching them new things. It is a structured and inspirational setting. Mrs. Niehaus encourages parent participation, which I feel contributes to family benefits. Her personality contributes to the excitement and inspiration of the children’s educational career.”
Marcia Johns, who teaches fifth grade, was nominated by Ann Miller. “She cares about her students and makes the extra effort to make each child feel important and successful.”
Finally, Sharon Wernle who teaches fourth grade was anonymously nominated because “She cares about her all her students. She is very funny. She is not like other teachers. She is like a best friend you can tell her anything.”
To cast a vote for any nominated teacher from CUSD #7, you must hit the submit button located at the bottom of the “Teacher Nomination” profile posted on Madison’s web site. Limit one nomination and one vote per person per election period. Qualifying votes must be submitted through Madison’s web site by no later than 4:00 p.m., April 21st, 2012. To vote for your favorite teacher, click here.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
Comments
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
