Community News
Benld Council awards trash hauling contract to Republic Sanitation
Benld residents will continue to have their trash picked up weekly by Republic Sanitation Services but the price will increase slightly as of April 1 following action taken Monday night during a brief special meeting of the council.
The city’s current contract with Republic is set to expire March 31.
Mayor Jim Kelly opened bids during February’s regular monthly meeting of the council but referred the issue to committee with an eye toward making a decision during a special meeting. Bids were received from Republic, Community Sanitation of Medora, DC Waste and Recycling, Inc. of Hillsboro, and SPS Waste of Staunton. After analyzing the bids, however, Kelly said Monday night that only Republic and DC Waste met the parameters of the bidding specifications.
Representatives of both companies attended the meeting.
Council members voted unanimously to accept Ald. John Balzraine’s motion to award the contract to Republic with a provision that Republic agrees to a five-year contract in lieu of a three-year contract.
Republic will continue to pick up waste on a weekly basis and will continue to pick up recyclable materials as well.
Corrie Ward of Republic told the council the company does not earn “surplus” cash from recycling in response to a question from Ald. John Tilashalki. She affirmed that Republic does get paid for recyclable materials but that the amount the company collects basically is enough to cover the cost of offering the service.
Residents who have regular service with a 95-gallon receptacle will see their cost increase from $15.50 a month to $17.79; seniors with the same level of service will see their cost increase from $13.17 to $15.72. Persons with a 65-gallon receptacle will see their monthly bill increase from $13 per month to $17.79, the same as the 95-gallon service, while seniors using a 65-gallon receptacle will see their cost increase from$11.05 to $15.72, also the same as the 95-gallon service. There is no extra fee for persons who also participate in the recycling program. The cost for an extra cart will remain at $5 per month across the board.
DC’s base prices on a five-year contract were slightly lower than Republic’s but did not include an extra $11.01 for recycling services. DC’s charge for extra carts also was nearly double that of Republics.
Benld is one of the few municipalities in the area that contracts with a single vendor to provide city-wide trash pick-up services, adding the cost of trash pick-up to monthly water bills. Apart from limiting the number of heavy waste hauling trucks using, and possibly damaging, city streets and alleys, the program ensures that all city residences have regular trash pick-up. Further, the bidding process ensures residents have trash pick-up at a lower price than most surrounding communities.
The price increases going into effect on April 1 are the first for Benld residents in five years.
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FELONIES
Ronald R. Arnold, 35 of Gillespie, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a December 28 incident.
Kenneth E. Ray, 39 of Bethalto, is charged with aggravated fleeing while involving the disobedience of two or more official traffic control devices, fleeing/attempting to elude officers, speeding 25-34 mph over the limit, and driver’s license expired more than a year in connection with a December 19 incident.
Jacklyn M. Wichman, 30 of Decatur, is charged with possession of methamphetamines (< 5 grams) in connection with a December 30 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Levi R. Ladendorf, 31 of Staunton, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a July 17, 2023 incident.
Demian E. Ellis, 46 of Benld, is charged with battery/making physical contact in connection with a December 30 incident.
Steven D. Lewis, 33 of Virden, is charged with two counts of violation of a protection order in connection with a December 30 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jason A. Keffer , 28 of Standard City, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a December 23 incident.
Daniel R. Gooding, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a December 28 incident.
Douglas D. Davis, 27 of Benld, is charged with driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and expired registration in connection with a December 26 incident.
Brandon E. Swarringin, 26 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a December 21 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Terry L. Lumma versus Robert L. Lumma
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Pietro Lentini of Carlinville and Anna Jean Triplett of Greenfield
- Morgan Barber and Emilee Bridgwater, both of Benld
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Summer Repertory at Carlinville is pleased to announce the return of a comedy play to the stage. Performances of Ripcord will be held January 17 and 18th at 7:30 PM and January 19 at 2 PM at Blackburn College Bothwell Auditorium.
Ripcord, by David Lindsay-Abaire, is based in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. The rivalry of odd couple roommates Abby and Marilyn, results in high stakes comedy of conflict for control of territory.
Cindy Rice and Joe Hardy bring their combined experience directing the small cast of seasoned actors.
Rice, who has directed place and musicals In Illinois and Texas, spent 15 years co-directing musicals at North Green high school.
Hardy, who began acting at age 7 with notable roles in Summer Repertory Theatre’s Shrek The Musical, The Little Mermaid , and Suessical, has also performed at several Springfield, Illinois, theaters. He has a BA in Theatre Performance from SIUE.
Tickets for Ripcord may be purchased at the door only. Ripcord is rated PG-13. For more information, see Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College Facebook page.
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The Partnership for Educational Excellence is gearing up for an exciting trivia night on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
The lively evening is the education foundation’s one-and-only fund raiser. Proceeds will allow The Partnership to continue programs benefitting all CUSD7 students. Since 1992 the it has awarded more than $1 million to the improved and continuing educations of local students.
Since 1992 every student in every classroom in CUSD7 has benefitted from classroom mini-grants, school-wide academic grants, and – over the past three years – district-wide grants of $90,000 for improved and enhanced student computers.
In addition, The Partnership offers individual $2,000 academic tuition scholarships to GHS graduates enrolled in accredited state and private, academic and trade colleges and universities. In 2024, a record 40% of GHS graduating seniors received these awards.
The “For the Love of Education” Trivia Night will be held at the Gillespie Civic Center, 115 North Macoupin (behind City Hall). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the competition begins at 7:00 p.m.
Mulligans will be for sale; games and lightning rounds will keep the evening lively; and a variety of door prizes will be awarded. Contestants are invited to bring their own beverages and snacks. Alcoholic beverages are permitted with a photo I.D.
In addition, The Partnership’s annual Grand Raffle will kickoff. Two “early bird” winners will receive $100 each on February 15. Their tickets will remain eligible for the grand prize of $5,000 on Saturday 12 April 2025. The fee is only $100 per table, up to 10 people per team.
There are four ways to register:
- phone Director Mary Griffel at 217-556-5456;
- visit www.thepartnership7.org to register online or to print out a mail-in form;
- write to The Partnership, P.O. Box 125, Gillespie IL 62033.
