Community News
Big Turnout for HEIDI Fundraiser
HEIDI presents the K-3rd grade a new computer for the classroom.
Around three hundred twenty-five people turned out for the HEIDI dinner and auction that was held Saturday, October 22 at Gillespie Civic Center in Gillespie.
“It is great to see this many people come out and support us,” Artie Herron, who serves on the board of directors for HEIDI, said, “The community never fails.” HEIDI, which is an acronym for Helping Every Individual Develop Independence, is a foundation started by Gerald and Sandi Brand in honor of their daughter Heidi.
Heidi Brand, 32, of Gillespie passed away Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 12:45 PM at Hillsboro Area Hospital. Heidi was a member of Citizens Coalition of Disabled Individuals. She strived for equality for the disabled and handicapped, volunteered at Heritage Manor, City Clerk’s Office and the school all in Gillespie, and also volunteered at various places in the Springfield area. Heidi enjoyed making crafts with perlor beads and making flower arrangements.
HEIDI is strictly focused on the special needs group and is not just limited to school district #7. “With all the support of the people here, we are going to do just that [support specials needs children],” Gerald Brand greeted the guests with. Brand opened the night of events as he thanked everyone for coming out and supporting the foundation.
Sandi Brand then took center stage and explained what HEIDI does. “We started this to help disabled individuals develop independence,” Sandi explained. We want to help those individuals that grow up and fall in the cracks where there are no programs to help them develop, Sandi went on to say. Sandi explained that their daughter, Heidi, was a recipient of that. “She fell in those cracks, a lot” according to Sandi. HEIDI is working with special education district which includes several surrounding towns and has had several offers to move on to help educate these special needs children.
One of the events included a live auction.
HEIDI gave their first presentation Saturday night to Clair Hammans and Gina Frensko who educate special needs children from grades kindergarten through third grade. As both educators are trying to get these children reading and learning the basics, the program lacks a computer. With that, HEIDI presented Clair and Gina a brand new Dell computer for classroom use. “We want to start educating these kids at an early age, so this is perfect,” Sandi said, “These kids deserve it!” These are the things we are going to do, Sandi closed with.
HEIDI, which was founded this year, adopted Heidi’s spirit, vision, and her dream as ther goal and mission to ensure that those individuals with special needs receive those resources that they need to help themselves achieve the independence and successes in life for which they strive and deserve.
The fundraiser, which lasted nearly 5 hours, consisted of a dinner by Berhardts, a live auction, a silent auction, and a performance by Southern Blend grossed nearly .
Southern Blend played as numerous people danced and sang along.
The HEIDI foundation would again like to extend their deepest thanks to the community. “We could not do this without the community,” Gerald Brand closed with, “We are really happy with the results from the event.” According to Gerald Monday evening, the dinner and auction cleared $9,000 in profit. Brand will announce at a later date an exact amount after credit card transactions have been processed.
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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
