Carlinville Plaza will host its Ninth Annual Tour de Milk bike ride on September 30, 2023. Tour de Milk is named in honor of Prairie Farms Dairy which has been producing milk in Carlinville since 1938.
The purpose of the ride is twofold: to bring awareness to the Route 66 Bike Route and other routes in the Carlinville area, and secondly to raise money for two local charitable efforts. Proceeds will benefit The Carlinville Area Food Pantry and Carlinville Winning Communities’ Beaver Dam Bike Trail effort.
The ride will feature 33 and 66 mile routes. The Tour de Milk will start at Carlinville Plaza, weaving through The Square, Historic Sears Homes, Blackburn College and Illinois Rt. 66. The Tour de Milk is sponsored by Carlinville Plaza, Prairie Farms, Blackburn College, Boente Shell Stations, First to the Finish, Wheel Fast, and the City of Carlinville.
According to Scott Stinson, “Carlinville has multiple biking options including the Illinois Rt. 66 Bike Trail, the proposed Beaver Dam and ITS trails, and a brand new Amtrak station. We are excited to highlight those with this event!”
The deadline for registration is September 29 at 12:00 pm. The entry fee is $30. This fee enters the rider into a raffle for a new bike courtesy of Wheel Fast Bicycle Company. Registration can be completed at www.bikereg.com/tourdemilk
During their Employee Appreciation Week celebration in October, the employees at Madison were challenged to donate non-perishable items for the local food pantries as part of a team bonding exercise.
The Madison employees collected a total of 10 milk crates and multiple boxes of food. The items were then divided evenly between the Mt. Olive Care Center, the Bunker Hill Food Pantry, and the Staunton Helping Hands Center. These donations are just a small part of Madison’s commitment to care for the communities that they serve.
Along with donating to the local food pantries, Madison is also sponsoring the Community Hope Center’s Christmas Toy Drive once again. Please help spread the love to a child for Christmas by donating a new and unwrapped toy for girls and boys ages 0-12.
Toys will be accepted anytime until December 6th in their main office lobby located at 21668 Double Arch Road in Staunton.
To learn more about Madison’s services call 800-422-4848 or visit gomadison.com.
The fifth grade at Ben-Gil Elementary recently had a pumpkin decorating contest as a fundraiser to help support Project Kid Kare. The fifth grade students decorated a pumpkin as an activity with their parents during a Parent Involvement Day.
Each of the classes’ pumpkins were displayed on tables. All the students in the school could vote for their favorite table of pumpkins using spare change. The table that received the most money votes, won the contest.
Students were able to vote multiple times for their favorite table using change or $1 bills. The fifth grade students raised a total of $334.37 and donated the proceeds to Project Kid Care. This act of kindness will bring smiles to many faces of the students in school. Project Kid Kare helps students in the CUSD #7 who are unable to purchase school supplies each year.
In a stunning display of athletic prowess and determination, Chaz Oberkfell, a junior at Gillespie High School, crossed the finish line first at the 2024 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A State Cross Country Championships, securing his victory with an impressive time and personal best of 14:31.9.
Rounding out the top five was senior Nicolai Martino of Winnebago (14:33.9), senior Gabriel McLain of Benton (14:33.9), sophomore Maxwell Kirby of Peoria Notre Dame (14:47.7), and senior Andrew Kurien of Rockford Christian (14:54.8).
The championship race, held at the scenic Detweiller Park, drew competitors from across the state, all vying for the coveted title. Oberkfell showcased his exceptional talent and training and was in second place before securing the first place spot toward the end of the race.
Oberkfell’s victory is a testament to his relentless dedication and the support of his coaches and teammates. Throughout the season, he has consistently demonstrated remarkable speed and endurance, often finishing races well ahead of his competitors.
The Gillespie community turned out in full force to support the team with many friends, family members, and fellow students cheering the team on Friday morning when the team bus was escorted through town and again on the sidelines Saturday morning. The triumph victory not only highlights Oberkfell’s personal achievements but also brings recognition to Gillespie High School’s cross country program. The team has shown tremendous growth over the past few years, and this victory is a significant milestone.
Also representing Gillespie in the state championship race were Carter Sies (16:59.4), Marshall Garwood (17:03.3), Hank Fletcher (17:15.4), Nolan Hostettler (17:23.9), Matthew Plovich (17:37.4), and Lucca Kapp (17:40.1).