If you’re looking for where to catch fireworks this weekend, we have you covered with many displays this weekend and one next weekend. Fireworks return in full force this July 4 with shows planned in many local communities and beyond. Local shows include Gillespie, Wilsonville, Litchfield, and Carlinville with other shows planned for Girard, Greenfield, […]
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 […]
Gillespie Public Cemetery plotted, marked thanks to many individuals
By Steve Joyce There are a lot of questions that are asked of public libraries and one has stumped Gillespie Public Library for years is “where is ‘this person’” buried in the Gillespie Cemetery? Until this past summer, the answer is “I have no idea”. The Gillespie City Cemetery land was originally set up just […]
Litchfield Colonel retires after nearly 40 years of service
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – A journey that began when he was still in high school ended this month when Illinois Army National Guard Col. Craig Holan of Litchfield retired from the military after 37 years of service during a ceremony on May 14 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Holan joined the Army in his junior year of high […]
Downtown Gillespie buzzing Saturday with run, car show, Corvettes
Downtown Gillespie was buzzing on Saturday, May 14 thanks to an effort by Grow Gillespie and the Central Illinois Corvette Club. Beautiful weather allowed the day’s festivities to go off without a problem starting with an 5k walk and run. The spring chicken-themed 3.1 mile walk and run took place throughout town starting near the […]
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 […]
Italian American Days returns in 2022
The Italian Club of Benld, a non-profit organization, would like to invite everyone to the Benld City Park on May 27, 28, and 29 to celebrate the 68th Annual Italian-American Days Festival. The festival is known throughout the state of Illinois for its Italian foods and games. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 […]
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, […]
Staunton Area Ambulance among grant recipients
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced today the recipients of the 2022 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $2.5 million was awarded to 104 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting […]
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 […]
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 […]
County final multiplier announced
SPRINGFIELD, IL, – Macoupin County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because […]
Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders seeking volunteers
Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders (LLABB) is looking for new volunteers to assist with our bird banding operations. A volunteer orientation session will be offered on Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Trutter Center on the Lincoln Land Community College Campus in Springfield. LLABB is a group of dedicated and licensed banders […]
Gillespie library hosting annual quilt show entire month of April
The Gillespie Public Library is hosting their annual quilt show during the month of April. The bibrary welcomes all quilts to be displayed for viewing. Please drop off quilts during the week of March 28- 31. Viewing would be available during the entire month of April. Call the library with any questions at 217-839-3614.
School board renews building principals’ contracts, tables action on renewing skyward software
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night recognized this year’s crop of Illinois State Scholars, heard an extensive presentation regarding the school district’s bond status, and agreed to hire an area accounting firm to conduct the district’s annual audit. But the board balked at renewing a contract with […]
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