Members of the Community Unit Community School District 7 Board of Education voted Monday night to commit to a five-year lease for three new school buses, agreed to make middle school softball a school-funded sport and approved an amended 2021-22 district budget. With an aging bus fleet threatening to siphon money for repairs, the board […]
Benld Council approves sidewalk bid
In a relatively brief meeting, the Benld City Council on Monday night accepted a $16,785 bid to replace the sidewalk around the Benld City Hall, agreed to a one-time plan to pick up storm debris from residences, and dealt with a minor controversy over the purchase of five concrete planters. City Property Chair John Balzraine’s […]
Gillespie Council approves appropriation, hires police officer
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved a $14 million appropriation ordinance for the current fiscal year, hired a new city police officer, and accepted the resignations of two city employees. Totaling $13,933,250, the annual appropriation covers anticipated spending for the fiscal year that began May 1 and nearly double last year’s […]
Benld Council accepts sewer project bid
Members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously Monday night to award a $619,347 contract for a long-awaited sewer improvement project to Haier Plumbing and Heating, Inc., Okawville. Jesse Maynard, an engineer with HMG Engineering, said Haier provided the lowest of five bids received from potential contractors. Bids were opened May 5 and ranged from […]
Gillespie Council eyes derelict properties
With a new city attorney in place, the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted to draft a resolution dealing with public nuisance properties and heard from a group of Gillespie Middle School students advocating for volunteerism to address community issues. Early in the meeting, Mayor John Hicks introduced Rick Verticchio as his appointment to […]
School Board names successor for Alepra
Two weeks after accepting the resignation of Vice President Jenni Alepra from the board, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night named Amanda Ross, Gillespie, as Alepra’s successor and elected Weye Schmidt as the board’s new Vice President. Alepra resigned last month after nearly two decades of service to the […]
Turner plan to tackle teacher shortage becomes law
Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats SPRINGFIELD – A measure State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) championed to allow school districts to hire substitute teachers with a short-term license for longer periods of time was signed into law Wednesday. “The pandemic has caused many aspects of our society to adapt – especially our schools,” Turner said. […]
School board member Alepra resigns
Community Unit School District 7’s Board of Education on Monday night accepted the resignation of a long-serving member and approved a new class schedule for the 2022-23 school year designed to provide additional instruction time without increasing the amount of time teachers are on the clock. Board President Mark Hayes said it was “with a […]
Benld sells surplus property for potential commercial development
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to accept Derek Tiburzi’s high bid of $30,000 for six lots formerly occupied by First National Bank in the 200 block of East Central Avenue. The two-story brick structure that formerly occupied the site was razed by the city last month. Tiburzi submitted the […]
Macoupin County’s most famous citizen
Macoupin County’s most famous citizen has plenty of places named in his honor. John M. Palmer, who served as governor of Illinois, U.S. Senator, and Civil War major general, left a formidable legacy in state political history. Palmer lived in Carlinville from 1838-1867 and while many locals know little of him, his memory lingers in various […]
Gillespie Council moves forward with TIF district, votes to approve skidsteer purchase
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve ordinances creating the city’s second Tax Increment Financing District, approved a five percent increase in water rates charged to satellite water customers, and approved a controversial purchase of a Bobcat skidsteer along with new tread tracks for the machine. In separate actions, […]
Tax relief plan will put money back in families pockets
Contributed article by the Illinois Senate Democrats SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus unveiled a $1.8 billion tax relief plan to put money back in people’s pockets – a proposal State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is proud to support. “Just as families began to bounce back after the financial impact of the pandemic, they were […]
Voters have choice to receive automatic mail ballot each election
Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan recently announced that the state had approved giving voters the choice of receiving a mail ballot each election without applying each time. Voters wanting to be placed on the permanent vote by mail list are required to apply for that list. Once they apply, they will remain on the list […]
Benld Council approves union contract, offers condemned properties for sale
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved a three-year contract with the Laborers Union covering the city’s three maintenance workers and voted to offer for sale three properties on Central Avenue that are or soon will be in the city’s possession. Without taking formal action, the council also agreed to make Benld […]
Bourne sponsors bill to lower prices at pumps
Contributed content by the Illinois House Republicans SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) is co-sponsoring legislation to provide relief for families being hit by skyrocketing gas prices. House Bill 5723 caps the sales tax on gas at 18 cents per gallon for motor fuel and 80% of that amount for gasohol and biodiesel blends. […]
TIF district consultant fields questions during public hearing
The Gillespie City Council took another significant step toward establishing a new Tax Increment Financing district, conducting a public hearing on the issue prior to Monday night’s regular council meeting. The hearing, a required step before formally establishing the district, was scheduled for 30 minutes but Keith Moran of Moran Economic Development, Edwardsville, fielded questions […]
Amid anticipated increasing costs, Benld Council moves to seek bid for sewer improvement project
With expected increases in the cost of materials, members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously to seek bids for an extensive sewer improvement project on the city’s east side. The city has been approved for a $505,000 Community Development matching grant administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The city is […]
Gillespie City Council rejects Canna Theater offer
After months of sometimes acrimonious debate, the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted 4-3 to reject the Assembly of God Church’s offer to transfer ownership of the deteriorating Canna Theater to the city. Ald. Dona Rauzi cast the deciding vote, saying she was “torn” between accepting or rejecting the offer. Despite the vote, Mayor […]
Gillespie School Board rescinds student masking mandate – for now
Meeting in special session Monday night, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to rescind its long-standing policy requiring students and staff to wear face coverings on campus. The action comes just days after Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow signed a 29-page temporary restraining order on […]
School board updated on interactive academic improvement program
Administrators updated school board members on the impact of an online academic improvement platform during a meeting of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night. The discussion was a focal point of an otherwise brief and fairly uneventful meeting. The board took formal action to extend Supt. Shane Owsley’s contract, […]
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