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City of Benld renews Post Office lease for 6 months in exchange for $1

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City of BenldThe Benld City Council approved the United States Post Office’s request to renew their lease with the City of Benld for six more months in exchange for $1 of rent. Council members split their decision 3-3 with objection from Jim Tilashalski, Teresa Tucker and Brian Frensko, but Mayor Gloria Sidar voted in favor of approving the renewal during the city’s March meeting held last Monday, March 16.

Mayor Sidar explained the city hoped for a permanent solution upon entering the initial agreement with USPS in 2013, but Sidar said her previous contact person has since retired. The new contact person for Benld is “very helpful” and Mayor Sidar believes a better lease will be made in the upcoming months.

I am not letting that post office go, we will never get it back if we do.

Alderwoman Tucker objected due the lease length. “Six months is a long time, why can’t it be three months,” Tucker questioned.

Alderman Tilashalski agreed with Tucker and also said the $1 lease should be annulled if the city and USPS makes an agreement during the six months. Mayor Sidar explained USPS requested the 6-month lease to use that time to negotiate a better deal for the city, the $1 rent would be effective for the entire lease despite any tentative agreements made between the City of Benld and USPS.

“The person I am working with now really wants us to have a fair deal,” Mayor Sidar closed. “I am not letting that post office go, we will never get it back if we do.”

Blue Carpet Corridor

Build Benld spokesperson Lynn Fraelle greeted the board with final plans for the Route 66 Blue Carpet Corridor event scheduled for June 13 and 14. Fraelle explained Benld is having a craft fair in the open lot next to Toni’s Restaurant in Benld and the group believes they have enough space for 18 tents.

Fraelle continued by asking if Build Benld could install a white vinyl fence behind the dancers and Route 66 sign saying Build Benld would hire Bauer Electric to install lighting as well. After Fraelle explained the group will take care of all the associated costs, the city council ultimately approved the installation of fencing.

Resident tries to opt out of citywide trash

Joe Mishanec greeted the council last Monday with a disability slip from his doctor in an attempt to opt out of the citywide trash service. Board members explained it is outlined in the trash contract with Flowers that they will pick up the trash bin for any disabled or elderly resident. “Just set your trash on your front porch and they will pick it up from there,” Alderman Jim Kelly explained.

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You’re creating a hardship for me and then you are offering me assistance.

“I have a note from my doctor,” Mishanec responded. “I live a block away from farm land. The animals will come by and get my trash. I don’t see it as a possibility. I can’t see myself cleaning up trash after the animals get into it.”

He continued by saying he doesn’t produce enough trash to be bothered by the citywide trash service. “I fill up one Walmart bag full of trash every two months. It’s not worth $26 a month for me, it’s not fair,” Mishanec closed. “You’re creating a hardship for me and then you are offering me assistance.”

Teresa Tucker says a 6-month lease with USPS is too long.

Teresa Tucker says a 6-month lease with USPS is too long.

City passed resolution to protect full government funding

The council passed Resolution 2015-18 prepared by the Illinois Municipal League to protect full government funding. Mayor Sidar explained the Illinois government is proposing to cut funding by 50% which would be nearly $74,000 loss for the City of Benld.

“We cannot afford to lose $74,000,” Mayor Sidar explained. “We have very little sales tax and we are locked in as far as real estate taxes are concerned. We cannot afford to lose anything. It’s going to impact us drastically – we will have to look at reducing the hours of our police force.”

Sidar closed by saying the City of Benld has many things that need to be fixed, but cannot be fixed currently. “We have things that need to be repaired and we can’t repair them,” she closed. “There’s only so much you can do with 50 cents. I know Bunker Hill and Girard are considering going away with their police force if this happens.”

Old Business

The city approved to purchase two security cameras to be placed inside city hall for a total cost of $300. The cameras will be able to have playback and be digitally recorded and monitored remotely.

The city also unanimously approved to give the city employees a 3-month trial period to see if they could handle the upkeep required for the city’s website. Mayor Sidar explained the office help was taught how to add minutes and make changes and at the time of the meeting last week, Gina Frensko felt like she would be able to handle the additional work.

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Gillespie teen wins drive safe Chicago video contest

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Wins $2,000 Prize and Video She Created will Air on 160 TV Stations Nationwide

CHICAGO – Emily Bergen, 16, a student at Gillespie High School in Gillespie, has won the annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest.  Antonio Knott, 15, of Merrillville High School in Merrillville IN, placed second in the voting, and Noelani Elizalde, 17, also from Merrillville High School, was third. 

Sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, teens from Illinois and surrounding states were invited to submit ideas for a 30-second PSA about sharing the road with other passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians.

Three finalists were selected and each worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second TV public service announcements.  The public was then able to vote for their favorite online.  More than 1,400 online votes were cast.

The winner received $2,000 and will be featured on nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. The first runner-up got $1,000 and the second runner-up won $500.  All three finalists’ teachers received $100 gift cards.

Bergen’s winning PSA shows a young driver starting her car and pressing a “share the road” button.  As she drives, an AI voice warns her of a bicyclist, a pedestrian and children in a school zone. The voice then reminds her, “Cars don’t come with devices like me, which is why you need to know how to share the road.”

“The carnage on our roads can be reduced if drivers remain aware of others who share the road,” said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving. “We think the creative ideas about sharing the road from our Drive Safe Chicago winner and runners-up convey that message effectively.”

“Although today’s new cars are safer than ever, with technological advances that are proven to help avoid crashes,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts, “drivers must still be aware of others they are sharing the road with, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrians.”

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The National Road Safety Foundation says driver error accounts for 94 percent of all fatal crashes, with speeding and driver distraction among the leading factors.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads and highways in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of injuries and an estimated annual cost of more than $340 billion.

View Bergen’s winning video below:

Bergen’s video is also featured center on the National Road Safety Foundation’s website with the runners-up videos to the right and to the left: https://m.shortstack.page/NLxMqT

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L&C announces fall 2024 honors lists

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Lewis and Clark Community College

Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List.

Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. Below is an excerpt containing students residing in Macoupin County.

President’s List

BENLD – Ryleigh L. Phillips; Zander E. Rieffer; Emily R. Schoen; Tristen B. Wargo;

BRIGHTON – Brandon M. Adams; Ike D. Austin; Lainie L. Behrends; Reagan Beilsmith; Ian C. Brantley; Tina M. Brass; Lane Cox; Madison P. Fenstermaker; Hunter D. Gillis; Hailey Gula; Alexis R. Harrop; Gavin Humm; Thomas D. Kunz; Nicholas O. McGee; Audrey A. Perkins; Ava J. Pulley; Alyssa J. Schuchman; Addison Strohbeck; Sydney A. Valdes; Abby Van Doren; Piper L. Voorhees; Madelyn E. Zarges;

BUNKER HILL – Alex Betts; Grant J. Burch; Kayleigh K. Butler; Abigayle L. Collins; Denise Deias; Braden T. Fulton; Dillon M. Guess; Maya R. Henfling; Hannah J. Herrmann; Madalynn Hilyard; Madelyn Landreth; William Manar; Kaylee L. Richert; Andrew Sanner; Abby N. Spraggs; Noah A. Thyer;

CARLINVILLE – Jack E. Beard; Matthew J. Eldred; Jack Goby; Stephanie K. Harding; Gabriel R. Henson; Alexsis A. Kalaher; Weston E. Kuykendall; Lillian McCurley; Emerald Ondrey; Joanna M. Roemer; Jessica N. Strubbe; Karleina J. Tipps; Samuel L. Wilson;

GILLESPIE – Lauren E. Bertagnolli; Ean L. Davis; Lanie G. Doty; Kennedy G. Helmkamp;

MEDORA – Aubrey M. Reno; Anneliese M. Shatley; Haleigh Sinclair;

SHIPMAN – Alyssa L. Beck; Gracie B. Darr; Addison A. Jeffers; Tyson Kahl; Josiah A. Schuette; Bailee A. Sorgea;

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SOUTH ROXANA – Lyndsey M. Johansen; Caden O. Lara; Savanah M. Stogsdill;

STAUNTON – Julie A. Aloisi; Samantha R. Anderson; Zane P. Anderson; Shane Baker; Lilly M. Bandy; Grace Bekeske; Gianna Bianco; Carson G. Buffington; Kiersten L. Carlson; Karla J. Castillo; Izabella Claussen; Lillian Dothager; Olivia M. Favre; Eli J. Henke; Alexis A. Hester; Samantha D. Hoffman; Harold I. Irvin, III; Dylan Jarden; Korryn O. Keehner; Nicholas L. Raphael; Alexis P. Schaaf; Brady Seelbach; Carli L. Skinner; Cole Sternickle; Tyler J. Thompson; Lilly Trettenero; Lillyan S. Troeckler;

Dean’s List

BENLD – Ridge A. Braundmeier; Kaitlynn E. Conner; Elizabeth M. King; Alyssa S. McCollum; Marria D. Middleton; Alyssa F. Schuette;

BRIGHTON – Garrett R. Beuttel; Troy J. Brooks; Emily Y. Cambron; Jacob G. Carpenter; Lucy Childress; Olivia Cody; Logan T. Crane; Tristyn N. Ditterline; Kaylin G. Gerard; Cooper J. Hagen; Ashlyn K. Hall; Evan Hanold; Samuel J. Harshbarger; Amelia R. Hines-Pattan; Ella J. Kadell; Daylin M. King; Kayla A. Lemarr; Tucker Mayhew; Elizabeth L. Milford; Stacey M. Mynatt; Blythe E. Roloff; Jordan R. Short; Shiann Vinson; Grace A. Wylde;

BUNKER HILL – Cole T. Burch; Hanna N. Heeren; Madelynne K. Heflin; Taylor Miklavic; Katelyn J. Miller; Abigail G. Scott;

CARLINVILLE – Boedy E. Baker; Emily A. Barbre; Zachary Chapman; Ella R. Clevenger; Alana N. Dixon; Alison J. Dixon; Nathan Dyer; Addison Eldred; Saralynn I. Joiner; Henry S. Kalaher; William G. Meyer; Chloe A. Payne; Amy L. Pocklington; Jack Rives; Lanna P. Vanderpoel; Ella C. Wise; Braley M. Wiser;

GILLESPIE – Reese E. Bussmann; Regan E. Bussmann; Addie M. Hayes; Karter Mix; Adrianne B. Niemeyer; Grace J. Vandoren; Shannon L. Wright;

MOUNT OLIVE – Libbie M. Nowell;

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PIASA – Anna C. Fink;

SHIPMAN – Kaden G. Cottingham; Rocky Darr; Kathryn M. Mueller; Sayuri Owada; Rocky J. Rose;

STAUNTON – Rylee K. Baugh; David S. Dann; Belle M. Darte; Jacob A. Dillon; Vivienne Dothager; Sean T. Fleming; Kennedy L. Legendre; Zander MacHota; Savannah M. Missey; Nicholas Monahan; Nicole M. Narup; Kelley Perrine; Christopher S. Pritchett; Alivia Royer; Katie N. Schalk; Lakesi Settles; Priya E. Siegfried; Justin A. Smith; Kylie A. Tomso; Whitney Weller;

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Gillespie to host blood drive on Feb. 17

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Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, February 17 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.

To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. Appointments are requested.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.  For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/23/24 are eligible to give at this drive.

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