Community News
Class of 2012 graduates 68 students
Either we will find a way, or we will make one.
In a ceremony long on tradition with a few moments of serendipity, Community Unit School District 7 awarded diplomas to 68 graduating seniors during commencement exercises on Sunday afternoon in the Gillespie High School gym.
Valedictorian Abbie Cline highlighted the ceremony as she delivered her valedictorian address. “Take a second to remember everything that happened in this high school because this will be the last time we are all here together at once,” Cline opened. “It was a great four years. We are part of one of the best classes to pass through this high school.”
Her address described Cline’s emotions upon saying goodbye to high school and preparing for the future. “We are like a family,” she explained. “Girls sports have been phenomenal, but it isn’t all about sports. We all supported Dallas on his way to becoming number one in physics during the WYSE competition.”
Ben Parish carries Sam Wasylenko out of the gym in conclusion of the ceremony.
Cline went on to thank her class for making high school enjoyable. “You will always be remembered,” Cline added. “You were the best class. We were always supporting each other, we are sexy and we know it.” Cline offered advice to her classmates. Always set goals for yourself, she noted, and never forget what we had here.
Class members gave Cline a standing ovation at the conclusion of her address. As grins and smiles were popular among the classmates, teachers offered their last congratulations to the students saying “good luck in the future, you were a great class.”
Others thanked the students. “You’ve made my job fun,” Paine said. “I’m grateful for being able to be a part of your lives.”
Speaking to the class, Tiburzi noted that the class is already leaders. “You have survived everything we have thrown at you,” Tiburzi said as he talked about the class moto. “Now you will make a new path.” He said the class already had demonstrated leadership in a number of areas, including academics, fine arts, vocational education and sports.
“Know we are very proud of you and wish the great of success in life,” Tiburzi said. “Your class has survived everything from death of classmates to classmates in car accidents.” Cline‘s co-valedictorians, Richard Mock, Adam Schmidt, and Michael Taylor, offered traditional valedictorian addresses.
“I want to thank everyone that has helped us get here this afternoon,” Mock told his classmates. “I want to thank my classmates, high school would have been boring without you guys. We are awesome.” Mock went on to share that the class needs to move forward and wish them best of luck.
Steven Wolf watches as the high school choir sings "2012".
In a speech laced with casual humor, Schmidt acknowledged the end of his and his classmates’ high school career. “It’s hard for me to believe it is truly over,” he said. “It was hard work and we are a great class. High school would not have been as fun without you guys.” The class has always been close, according to Schmidt. Every day was a good day to him. “I honestly say I wish I could come back next year.”
Michael Taylor gave the final farewell and struggled realizing it is finally happening. “Not long ago, I was the young man in the back of the room playing in the band and wishing the ceremony would speed up so I could go home,” he opened. “Here it is now; I wish I was still back there.” Life must go on, he advised, we have a bright future ahead of us.
“We are prepared for the future,” Taylor added. “Our class moto truly describes us.” Taylor asked the class to thank everyone who has led them in the right direction. He offered God’s blessing on his classmates and America in closing.
Board President Mark Hayes presented diplomas as board member Weye Schmidt read the names of graduates. Schmidt stepped forward to present his son, Adam Schmidt with his diploma.
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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.
The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.
From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.
Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.
Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.
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Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Macoupin County as a residential structure fire broke out in the 200 block of West Dean Street, Virden, resulting in the death of a male victim, the Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya announced.
The individual was pronounced deceased at 10:06 AM but the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, as authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025. The coroner’s office indicated that a press release will be issued following the autopsy and the positive identification of the victim.
WAND reported a second victim died after being transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon who confirmed a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male were the victims.
The fire reportedly started around 9:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed when first responders arrived. Two people were reportedly rescued and life flight was requested but were not available due to the foggy weather conditions.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, involving multiple agencies including the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office, the Virden Police Department, the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
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Come and join us for an exciting afternoon of trivia as we support our local 2:18 Missions! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5 PM for an event that promises fun, camaraderie, and a chance to make a difference in our community. The event will be held at DeStefane Community Center in Benld, 201 East Central Avenue.
Teams of up to 10 people can participate for just $100 per table. Whether you want to reserve your table in advance or simply show up on the day of the event to pay at the door, we welcome all trivia enthusiasts to join in the competition!
Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the game—just please remember, no alcohol is allowed. For your convenience, we will have bottles of water available for purchase.
The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The first-place team will take home a prize of $150. Plus, bring some dollar bills to participate in “Heads and Tails” games during breaks and to buy mulligans for your team.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying a lively trivia challenge. To reserve your table or for more information, contact Kristin at 217-691-7469.
Let’s make this a memorable event for our community and the 2:18 Missions!
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