With the 2020-21 school year just concluded, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education met briefly in special session Monday to adopt new math and science curricula for BenGil Elementary School and hire several key positions for the 2021-22 school year. Board President Mark Hayes said earlier he was convening a […]
Gillespie Council approves $7.2 million appropriation ordinance, debates ambulance dispatching counteroffer
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a new appropriations ordinance to govern spending during the current fiscal year. Though not a budgetary document, the state-mandated annual appropriations ordinance sets spending ceilings for specific line items for the fiscal year. This year’s ordinance authorizes expenditures of $7.2 million, compared with […]
Mississippi man charged with trafficking cocaine in Macoupin County
A Mississippi man was stopped in Macoupin County on Monday, June 14 by Illinois State Police and charged later in the day by Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison with multiple drug charges. Garrison announced late Monday afternoon Marc Wash, 43 of Mississippi, was charged with controlled substance trafficking (class X felony), possession with intent […]
Macoupin County Courthouse News
Cases filed during May 23 – May 29, 2021. Visit the “Court News” category under the “Community News” tab for other editions. FELONIES Christian Lyerla, 24 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated battery to a pregnant or handicapped person in connection with a May 22 incident. Derrick Hurley, 35 of Mt. Olive, is charged with […]
Macoupin Art Collective receives a facelift
The Macoupin Art Collective has added even more color to their building at 115 E Main Street in Staunton with a facelift. The nonprofit purchased the former Mancell Music Building in July of 2019 and has been working tirelessly to renovate and reimagine its use. With the mission of “art to all,” The MAC has […]
Litte Miss, Mini Miner pageant kicks off Black Diamond Days on Friday
The Little Miss and Mini Miner pageant will kick off Gillespie’s annual Black Diamond Days festival this Friday, June 4. The pageant will be held at 6 p.m. at the Gillespie Methodist Church. Black Diamond Days is being held at Gillespie Lake for the first time in its history and will be held Friday, Saturday, […]
Bus driver urges higher pay for drivers, board authorizes sale of residential lots
Former district teacher Steve Joyce made an impassioned plea to the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night urging the board to consider higher pay for bus drivers. Since retiring from teaching, Joyce has been employed as the Gillespie Public Library librarian and also drives a full bus route for the […]
Final county multiplier announced
SPRINGFIELD – Macoupin County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0196, 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 […]
Memorial Day Services canceled in Benld, Gillespie
For the second consecutive year, Memorial Day observances at Benld City Cemetery have been canceled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, according to the Cemetery Board and City of Benld. Gillespie Mayor John Hicks made the same announcement for Gillespie’s services saying “one more year” without a Memorial Day observance. He added Gillespie is looking at […]
Benld Council seats re-elected officials, eyes maintenance truck purchase
The Benld City Council on Monday night saw the swearing-in of recently re-elected aldermen and officers but otherwise dealt with routine business during a relatively brief monthly meeting. City Attorney Rick Verticchio, asking officeholders to place their right hands on his mother’s Bible, administered oaths of office to newly re-elected Mayor Jim Kelly, City Clerk […]
Vaccination sites in Illinois ready to administer vaccine to ages 12-15
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced vaccination locations across the state are prepared to administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to youth ages 12 through 15 years after the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) voted today to recommend its use. The announcement comes following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent expansion of […]
Gillespie Council eyes proposed new fireworks ordinance
A newly seated Gillespie City Council on Monday night got its first glimpse of a proposed ordinance to govern the use of fireworks within the city limits. The draft ordinance is a response to numerous complaints last year regarding allegedly irresponsible fireworks displays, some of which endangered private property. Additionally, the council awarded several facade […]
County launches license and permit hub
At the direction of the Macoupin County Board, the county’s website now has a single page for information and applications for any licenses and permits a county office may issue. While the number of licenses and permits may not be large, knowing which office to apply for one can be confusing for a business or […]
Macoupin County to change property tax payments to four installments
Property tax payments will become more affordable and easier in Macoupin County starting in 2022. Property owners in the county will be able to pay their property taxes in four installments instead of two that has been the norm for many years. The change that will take affect next year is a new policy implemented […]
Gillespie teachers union wants to separate in-classroom and online instruction
Michelle Smith, President of the local Federation of Teachers union, addressed the Gillespie CUSD 7 school board Monday evening to express the union’s desire that remote teaching and in-classroom teaching will be approached separately in the coming school year. Smith thanked the administration and Board of Education for their support of teachers and students during […]
School Board hires summer school teachers, offers district-owned city lots for sale
Gearing up for an expanded program, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night approved hiring teaching staff and non-certificated staff for this year’s summer school. The action followed formal certification of election results and swearing-in of three members re-elected to their seats during the consolidated election earlier this […]
Gillespie man faces multiple felony charges in fatal crash
A 31-year-old Gillespie man faces charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (class 2 felony), reckless homicide (class 3 felony), aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (class 4 felony) and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (class A misdemeanor). Gillespie Police Department announced Monday afternoon that Tyler Semplowski, 31 of Gillespie, […]
Staunton hospital to offer vaccination clinic on May 1
Community Hospital of Staunton is offering a Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for anyone that is 18 years of age or older. The patient does not have to live in Macoupin County. They can accept up to 100 patients for this clinic and the patient must make […]
Thompson inducted into Academic Honors Society
Blackburn College student Rayanne Thompson of Gillespie has been inducted into the College’s chapter of Alpha Chi. A national honor society, Alpha Chi recognizes students who excel academically residing in the top 10% of their junior or senior class and are elected by Blackburn faculty on the basis of academic achievements and character. Rayanne and […]
Benld Council approves new library board liaison, amends rental agreement to reflect COVID restrictions
Benld City Council members on Monday night approved Mayor Jim Kelly’s appointment of Ald. John Balzraine to serve as the council’s liaison to the Benld Public Library Board of Trustees and voted to amend the rental agreement for city-owned facilities to reflect current COVID restrictions. The council ratified Kelly’s appointment of Balzraine shortly after the […]
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