To the Editor: In response to Mr. Ken Snider’s letter published in your newspaper, as the Mayor of the City of Benld, I am providing the following information for clarity.  Previously to the Special Meeting of April 17, 2020, a public meeting was held in July of 2018 to discuss a proposal from the City […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought home health and safety responsibilities as never before.  In this regard, the Montgomery County Board (MCB) has even more issues to handle for its residents.  Among these, the Board is aware that Deer Run Mine has started mining coal with coal trains leaving the area.  Coal miners are back to […]

Am I the only one that thinks this police deal was a dirty trick and my rights were infringed upon “again”? The very least you could have done was have a legitimate meeting. That way when I had my chance to voice my opinion, you could have snickered in my face instead of behind my […]

Dear Editor,      On July 30, 2018, a special meeting of the Benld City Council was held at the Benld Civic Center which was well advertised and thus well-attended by the citizens of Benld. The purpose of the meeting was Benld Mayor Jim Kelly’s proposal that the Benld Police Department be dissolved and police services be […]

As many of you know by now, both the Gillespie and Benld city councils have agreed to a contract for the Gillespie Police Department to take over patrol and investigative duties for the citizens of Benld. While this change will not take full effect until June 1, 2020, I wanted to take the opportunity to […]

Hello, I wanted to reach out kindly on behalf of Stefanie Smith for Congress. I have long been torn in politics but these last few months I have learned my true political identity. I stand with Stefanie Smith. She has proven that no matter what a person goes through or where they come from, they […]

State government bureaucracy doesn’t have a great reputation for efficiency, but in recent months we’ve seen lapses in the administration of state government that are unacceptable. When it comes to our most basic rights, like the right to keep and bear arms or the most sacred institutions – like free and fair elections – there […]

Dear editor, It is important that residents attend the Public Hearing for the Renewal of Shay 1 Mine Permits held at the Macoupin County Courthouse, 201 E. Main St. Carlinville, IL 62626 at 5:30 PM on Thursday, December 12, 2019.  This meeting covers the renewal of Permits No. 56, 209, 265, 291, and 419 as […]

This summer, my colleagues and I traveled the state to talk to regular citizens affected by the skyrocketing cost of insulin, a crippling financial burden for thousands of families in Illinois, and to garner support for legislation to make Illinois the second state in the country to cap the price of insulin. We knew it […]

Residents are invited to attend this very important meeting concerning the environmental outcomes of coal mining at Shay 1 Mine. The unlined Refuse Disposal Areas 5 and 6 add to the contamination of groundwater in the area. This contamination will continue along with additional toxins from coal ash deposits. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources […]

All around Illinois, farmers are increasingly showing how to improve conservation on their land – one important Star Rating at a time. The S.T.A.R. Program, short for Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources, was created in 2017 through the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District to promote sustainable farming. Participating farmers and landowners learn how to […]

Could the City of Gillespie place so-called “infrastructure” on your doorstep? Hmm, makes me wonder. I am writing this to awaken the residents of Gillespie to the actions of the City placing a 250KW SOLAR FARM in a residentially zoned area, less than 90 feet from my front door. The City claims a provision of […]

Illinois Governors are to prisons as peanut butter is to chocolate. The two just seem to go together. Whether former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s prison sentence is commuted or not, (I don’t believe it should be) one thing is for certain –Illinois’s long history of political corruption and insider influence peddling is once again in the […]

Dear Educational Community, It is an honor and a privilege to welcome you to another school year in Community Unit School District #7. The faculty and staff stand ready to provide all students an outstanding, well-rounded education. I ask that you join me in continuing the tradition of excellence in CUSD #7. I am very […]

When it comes to Interstate highways, Illinois has the third most Interstates in the nation. New York has 31 Interstates, while California and Texas both have 25. Illinois comes in third with 24 Interstates. There is no question that Illinois, with its location in the center of the country, is a transportation hub in the […]

Dear Editor, Benld Native, Johnny Seketa comes home to Benld from his residence in South Carolina every year and volunteers for the Memorial Weekend celebration. I am writing this letter to express my thanks for everything he does in preparation for the City’s annual Italian American Day celebration. From cutting the city’s grass, painting fire […]

The future of energy policy in Illinois could soon be here. The major utilities, clean energy proponents and others are all pushing legislation at the state Capitol that could greatly impact how we receive energy in our homes and businesses around the state. As the debate continues this spring, we have one word of caution: […]

To our family and friends, Thank you. During a time like this, we realize how much our family and friends really mean to us. Thank you for your visits, texts, calls, flowers, food, and donations to the American Diabetes Association and the Partnership for Educational Excellence District 7. Your expression of sympathy will always be […]

Miners fans, After a successful inaugural meeting, the Gillespie Football Boosters are having a second meeting on Monday, April 22 at 6:30 in the Ben-Gil Cafeteria. We are encouraging anyone wanting to help the football programs to participate. Sincerely, Jake Bilbruck GHS Head Coach