Arlene Anna Butts, 68 of Litchfield, died at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO on Thursday, May 25, 2023. She was born on August 27, 1954, in Mt. Olive to Louis Pauge and Viola Eickmeyer Pauge. She married Larry G. Butts on July 7, 2000, in Gillespie. She was a factory assembler in the boat and motor parts […]
Death of Harold Raymond Stokes
Harold Raymond Stokes, 83 of Litchfield, passed away at his residence on Saturday, May 27, 2023. He was born in East St. Louis on July 9, 1939, a son of Harold William and Mary Elizabeth (Warren) Stokes. He graduated from Litchfield High School with the Class of 1957 and served in the Illinois National Guard. […]
Gillespie Police Report: May 21-27, 2023
SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023 An officer initiated a traffic stop at Staunton Road and Charles Street. Donald E. Ruyle, 50, of Benld was arrested on a Macoupin County warrant for failure to appear for domestic battery. An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal […]
Death of John J. Fraelle
John J. Fraelle, 72 of Benld, died at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 8:19 am. He was born on September 10, 1950, in Litchfield to John J Fraelle and Emily Carter Fraelle. He married Lynn Bray Fraelle on October 27, 1989, in Carlinville. He was retired after having been a foreman […]
School board authorizes $1.6 million bond sale
After more than an hour of debate, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted 5-2 Monday night to approve a resolution authorizing the sale of $1.6 million in alternate revenue bonds to finance capital improvement projects, including safety projects, over the next three years. In a separate action, the board […]
Death of Mary Ann Bertels
Mary Ann Bertels, 88 of Dorsey, died at Anderson Hospital, Maryville on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 2:00 am. She was born on January 16, 1935, in Carlinville to George Koster and Florence Knetzer Koster. She married Lorman Bertels. She was a clerk for Carlinville Farm Bureau and Dorsey Post Office. She is survived by her […]
World War II airman returns home to Illinois after 80 years
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Eighty years ago American service members were engrossed in a great conflict pitting the United States and its Allies against Nazi-controlled Germany and the Axis powers. On August 1, 1943, a smalltown southern Illinoisian, 32-year-old Tech. Sgt. Harold Kretzer, was fighting in the skies over Ploiești, Romania, to starve the Nazi war machine of […]
Death of James A. Smith
James A. Smith, 76 of Staunton, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 4:02 am. He was born on March 18, 1947, in Litchfield to Kenton Smith and May Yakos Smith. He married Cheryl J. (Cherry) Smith on June 7, 1980, in Benld. He was retired after having been a dispatcher […]
Matter of Balance to begin May 30 in Gillespie
Many people experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to help people manage falls and increase their activity levels. The Macoupin County Public Health Department through funding provided by the Area Agency on Aging Lincolnland (AgeLinc) will be offering a Matter of Balance Workshop beginning Tuesday, […]
Death of Kay Ann Purdy
Kay Ann Purdy, 81 of Gillespie, died at Community Memorial Hospital, Staunton on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 9:15 pm. She was born on July 22, 1941, in East Chicago, IN to Henry Wagner and Irma Johanntosettel. She was married to and divorced from the father of her four children. She then married Theodore “Ted” Cummings […]
Gillespie Police Report: May 14-20, 2023
SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2023 An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Charles Street in reference to a theft. Jessica M. Reiman, 38, of Gillespie was arrested on two Macoupin County warrants for bad checks and for driving while license was suspended. An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference […]
Death of Cecil J. Brackman
Cecil J. Brackman, 97 of Staunton, passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023, at his residence in Staunton with family by his side. He was born on February 15, 1926, in Bunker Hill, a son of the late William Frederick and Carrie (Fletcher) Brackman. He married Viola Davison on February 14, 1948, in Staunton and […]
Italian-American Days celebration takes place Memorial Day weekend
The Italian Club of Benld, a non-profit organization, would like to invite everyone to the Benld City Park on May 26, 27 and 28 to celebrate the 69th Annual Italian-American Days Festival. The festival is known throughout the state of Illinois for its Italian foods and games. The weekend begins on Friday, May 26 with […]
Death of Curt L. Hicken
Curt L. Hicken, 73 of Gillespie, died at his residence on Thursday, May 18, 2023. He was born on October 30, 1949, in Litchfield to Neal Hicken and Mary Lucille Keck Hicken. He married Elizabeth Jean Clark Hicken on January 1, 1999, in Gillespie. He was a technical writer for Boeing and an outdoor writer. He was a […]
County purchases new building for voting center across from courthouse
Macoupin County voters will have a new place to early vote in person starting in 2024, County Clerk Pete Duncan announced recently. The County has purchased an office building just across the street from the Courthouse in Carlinville that will serve as the Macoupin Voting Center. Utilizing the grant the Election Office received as being […]
Miller graduates from SIUE
Contributed content Lindsey Miller graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on May 5 with a Master of Science in Accounting. She will be pursuing a CPA license while working for Anders CPAs & Advisors as an Outsourced Accountant. She is the daughter of Sam and Ann Miller of Carlinville and the granddaughter of Dale and Rosemary […]
Death of Janet Meininger
Janet Meininger, 75 of Plainview, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 9:05 pm. She was born on November 16, 1947, in Alton to Kenneth Foreman and Irene Myers Foreman. She married Steven A. Meininger on April 16, 1980, in Galacia, IL. She was owner and operator for J & S Tires. […]
Death of Herbert C. “Herb” Sievers
Herbert C. “Herb” Sievers, 74 of Staunton, passed away at 11:37 PM on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born on June 20, 1948, in Litchfield the son of the late Charles F. and Vera (Gerdes) Sievers. He married Linda Pass on April 25, 1970, at St. […]
Benld Library hosting crafts, activities on Wednesdays during summer
Get “Excited To Read” this summer at the Benld Public Library. Participants can drop in from 10 to noon on Wednesdays during June and July for fun crafts and activities. Macoupin County Health will be offering programs on select Fridays during the summer. Use your library card to check out books and read for fun […]
Benld Council strengthens building permit ordinance
Meeting a day after record rainfall flooded streets and basements in Benld, the Benld City Council on Monday night approved an ordinance amendment to beef up enforcement of building permit requirements for construction projects and briefly discussed the city’s response to the previous night’s flooding. The amended ordinance, unanimously approved by the newly seated city […]