The only bank in Benld will close its doors for good on November 18, 2022, at 5:30 p.m.
Associated Bank notified its customers of the closure at 218 East Central Avenue in Benld in a letter dated August 18. The bank cited customers’ banking preferences to digital services and drive-thru options. The bank purchased First Staunton Bancshares Inc. or First National Bank in Staunton in 2020 after announcing the purchase in July 2019 in a deal valued at $76.3 million.
“It’s definitely going to hurt the city and our residents,” Benld Mayor Jim Kelly told The BenGil Post. “We have a lot of older people in the community that don’t do well with technology who rely on the local bank.”
Additional details weren’t released in the short letter sent to customers and Kelly said the city received a very similar letter the bank sent to their customers. The letter said safe deposit box customers will be communicated with in a separate forthcoming letter. The ATM will reportedly remain functional and active as long as Associated owns the building.
Mayor Kelly said he and the council are already hard at work trying to attract a new bank saying the city wants and needs a local bank. If Associated isn’t interested in selling its location to another bank, Kelly said the city has options available for either a new bank or an existing bank willing to open a satellite location in the community.
“We aren’t going to stop working until we exhaust all opportunities and avenues,” Kelly concluded.
In addition to Benld, Associated Bank is reportedly closing its locations in Mt. Olive, Belleville, and Millstadt. The closest Associated branch for BenGil residents will be Staunton after the Benld branch closes.
United Community Bank is now the only local option for BenGil residents with a banking location in Gillespie as well as its loan processing department.
Heritage Health Gillespie announces it has changed ownership. Renamed Gillespie Health & Rehab Center, the 100-bed subacute and skilled nursing facility provides a broad spectrum of care, including long- and short-term care and rehabilitation, in an intimate and compassionate environment.
The new ownership team is a group of individuals who are skilled nursing facility managers and operators based in Illinois. The ownership change was effective July 1, 2023, and Heritage Health was the seller.
“In these challenging times, it is very reassuring that our new ownership team has years of know-how, shared values and a great group of experienced experts – based right here in Illinois – to support our care team,” said Kim Schardan, the facility’s CEO/administrator.
Gillespie Health & Rehab Center, at 7588 Staunton Rd., in Gillespie, Ill., will benefit from the hands-on attention that comes from a smaller, but very skilled “non-corporate” ownership and management team. The team has overseen operations at similar-sized care centers, in rural and suburban communities in Illinois and the Midwest, and brings many new ideas that have been very successful at other facilities.
“Our new owners view Gillespie Health & Rehab Center as a world of family and friends,” said Schardan. “They share core principles and standards that reflect the people and beliefs of our region: Genuine Hometown Care, Community Integration, and Employees are Family.”
Gillespie Health & Rehab Center is known for its focus on providing hometown care with a commitment to fully integrating with the healthcare needs of the Gillespie, Ill., community. As it continues to grow, the center will benefit from working with a skilled, hands-on regional ownership team.
“The ownership group has significant experience in overseeing operations at similar-sized care centers in rural and suburban communities,” Schardan noted. “We anticipate incorporating new ideas that have been successful at their other facilities as we work to advance our mission of excellence in care.”
About Gillespie Health & Rehab Center
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Gillespie Health & Rehab Center is a 100-bed subacute and skilled nursing facility in Gillespie, Ill., and offers long-term care, short-term care, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehab-to-home, speech therapy, hospice care, and respite care. The center is currently accepting new admissions for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. For further information, please contact (217) 839-2171 or visit the Gillespie Health & Rehab Center website at www.gillespiehrc.com.
Enjoy a spring buffet at JoDanni’s Amore on Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. The buffet will include pork chops, chicken spiedini, house salad, garlic rolls, scalloped potato, pasta con broccoli, vegetable medley, drink, and key lime cupcake for dessert.
The price for a ticket is $25. Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, March 30.
For tickets, contact Catherine Young at 217-825-8488 or Mary Griffel at 217-556-5456. The meal is sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Gillespie.
Great joy took place on Sunday, March 12, 2023, as members of the United Methodist Church of Gillespie witnessed and celebrated six young people being baptized and/or confirmed at the 10:30 a.m. church service.
The students professed their faith in Jesus and became members of the church.
The new members include Clayton Bethard, Izzy Manus, Lydia Lowry, Makenna Martin, Marshall Garwood, and Wyatt Rondi.