Community News
Business Spotlight: Fireside Eye Care
Contributed by Build Benld
Dr. Shawna Heddinghaus, Optometrist, has been serving the area for twelve years and looks forward to providing quality eye care to the Benld and Gillespie residents for years to come. Born and raised on a Missouri farm, she feels right at home in this community of hard working and down to earth good citizens.
Today, her practice Fireside Eye Care is located in her former residence, originally the Fireside Restaurant and Inn at 600 South 8th Street, Rt 138 in Benld, IL. During business hours they can be reached at 1-217-835-7724, and for more information visit their website at www.firesideyeycare.com.
In April of 2008, Dr. Heddinghaus and her husband decided to move their family to Edwardsville to be closer to her husband’s firm in St.louis. The idea of moving her Gillespie business to her former home came at the perfect time. The Heddinghaus team completed construction modifications to accommodate the Eye Care exam rooms, reception, waiting room and display and fitting area all while maintaining the beauty, original design and rich character of the 1947 structure.
As a patient of Dr. Heddinghaus myself, I love the atmosphere and beauty of the office at Fireside Eye Care. It is definitely the high quality care and thorough examinations that have kept me as a very satisfied patient. Dr. Heddinghaus truly puts her patients needs ahead of everything else and her caring and professional manner separate her from most others in her field.
Dr.Heddinghaus is also very proud to offer her patients the very latest in technology and eye care. Most recently she completed a continuing education course in Advanced Testing for Macular Degeneration, now the leading cause of blindness in people age 60 and older. She is thrilled that that they can offer this testing on a local level and that older patients don’t have to drive to Springfield or St. Louis for services that they can have done close to home here in Benld.
The great staff at Fireside is also caring and professional and take pride in providing patients the absolute best care possible.
Being very committed and involved in the community, Dr. Heddinghaus is a member of the Benld-Gillespie Rotary Club, Partnership for Educational Excellence Board Member, Coal Country Chamber of Commerce, member and a past recipient of the CCCC Business of the Year Award. To ensure that local students get regular eye exams, she also works very closely with with the local school district.
As a proud supporter of the Build Benld Committee, Dr. Heddinghaus makes an effort to attract more people and businesses to a nice small town with a great history and potential. She was a runner in the First Annual Paws on the Run event early this spring and is one of the business sponsors for the Kids (Family Fun) Day in the Benld City Park (July 23, 2011).
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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.
