Community News
Council hears complaint about solar energy field construction, votes 4-2 to terminate Water Department employee
Posts for the construction of a solar energy field line the property adjacent to a homeowner and south of the citys water plant.
Accompanied by his attorney, a city resident vowed to fight the City of Gillespie’s solar energy field project “as far as I can” during the city council’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. The council also agreed to complete an application to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a $318,000 Community Development and Assistance Program grant that basically will reimburse the city for funds formerly held in a Revolving Loan Fund that the state required the city to close out.
George Link, accompanied by his attorney Jared Giuffre, who also is Link’s son-in-law, told the council that construction of a solar energy field on property adjacent to his home threatens to reduce his property value and interfere with his enjoyment of his home. The council accepted a low bid of approximately $387,000 from Illinois Solar in May to install a field of solar panels to provide power for the municipal water treatment plant, contingent upon the city finding a suitable location for the field. Two months later, the council voted to spend $24,000 to acquire six lots on the south side of the water plant from Community Unit School District 7 as a site for the solar field, and construction on the project recently began. The lots are located directly across the street from Link’s home in the 400 block of Pearl Street.
Link said he has invested a quarter of a million dollars in building his home and making improvements to his property. The solar field now under construction, he complained, is only 50 feet from his property line and less than 100 feet from his side door. He said he’s had no concerns about being within a block of water plant but suggested the solar field will have a negative impact on his property’s value.
“You’ve blighted that whole area,” he said. “Twenty years ago, I had a chance to buy that property. I moved over a block because I didn’t want to be next to the water plant.”
According to Link, the area is zoned for single-family residences. “To me, this (solar field) is an industrial use that doesn’t need to be in a residential area.” He said he spoke to local developer Kevin Sievers who owns the property behind the solar field on which he had planned to build new homes. “He’s not happy about this either,” Link said.
He said he had researched the locations of other solar fields in Illinois and found that the majority of them are sited one-half mile to three miles away from the nearest residential areas. As an alternative, he suggested situating the solar field behind the water plant or on the building’s roof.
Link also complained about potential health risks associated with the electro-magnetic field around the power generating field. EMFs have been linked with higher incidences of cancer in some areas. “I don’t want to have to spend the rest of my life having to worry about this installation 90 feet from my door,” he said. He also expressed concerns about the project’s potential to interfere with radio reception in the area. “Who’s going to maintain this plant and address those concerns?” he asked.
Responding to Link, Mayor John Hicks said the solar field location is zoned for light industrial use. Additionally, City Attorney Kevin Polo said, the city has other municipal infrastructure in residential areas in other parts of the city, suggesting the city government is exempt from some zoning requirements.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher said project managers considered alternate locations for the field, including the roof of the water plant, and determined the six lots on the south side of the water plant was the optimum location. Moving the field to the rear of the plant would require making the field 30 percent larger to meet power generating needs because of differences in the amount of sunlight the two locations receive. He scoffed at the idea of suspending the project because the city is obligated to pay back the cost of the project over the next seven years. Fisher said the project cost totals about $450,000, which presumably includes the cost of property acquisition.
“If we were to end that project today,” Fisher said, “we would have to raise everyone’s water rate for $2.45.” Funds to pay back the loan, he said, will come from the $50,000 per year in estimated cost savings the solar field is expected to generate for the water plant operation.
Link said he was especially angered by the council’s “lack of respect” for nearby property owners. “You’re not having any consideration for surrounding property owners,” he said. “When I bought that property from the city it was nothing but a field. I put my hard work into it. Tonight is not the end of this. I intend to fight this as far as I can. This is unacceptable.”
CDAP GRANT APPLICATION
On a motion by Ald. Dave Tucker, seconded by Ald. Wendy Rolando, the council voted unanimously to apply for a Community Development Assistance Program grant in the amount of $317,736.07, which will effectively reimburse the city for funds the city returned to the state last year when It dissolved its Revolving Loan Fund program. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity required the city to close out the revolving loan program when the state decided it would end its support of such programs for small communities.
The action followed a brief public hearing held prior to the council meeting during which Fisher explained details of the action.
By reimbursing the money in the form of a CDAP grant, the city can use the funds for civic improvement projects which must be completed within two years. Fisher said a likely use for the funds will be subsurface work that needs to be done before the city potentially embarks on completing a streetscape project proposed by the Grow Gillespie organization in downtown Gillespie. That project would include reconfiguring parking spaces, the addition of green spaces and other amenities designed to attract new businesses to downtown Gillespie. Subsurface work would include projects such as storm sewer improvements and installing underground utilities.
EMPLOYEE TERMINATION
Voting 4-2, the council terminated an unindentified Water Department employee. The action followed an hour-long executive session to discuss employee disciplinary action and the sale of real estate.
There was no public discussion of the employee’s alleged infraction.
Ald. Tucker, Ald. Rolando, Ald. Dona Rauzi and Ald. Bill Hayes all voted in favor of termination. Ald. Jerry Dolliger voted against the measure, as did Ald. Frank Barrett after a moment of indecision. Ald. Rick Fulton did not attend Monday’s meeting.
BLACK DIAMOND DAYS LABOR DAY EVENT
A discussion about the success of the Black Diamond Days Labor Day Lake Bash became somewhat heated after an alderman questioned the amount of money the city spent in support of the event. Teressa Pettit, president of the Black Diamond Days Committee, said the two-day event was “a great success for us.”
“Our Saturday alone was better for us than our whole Black Diamond Days this year,” she said. “We’re very proud of what we did out there.”
She said a shuttle bus providing transportation from the city to the lake worked out very well to get attendees to the festival site while limiting the level of vehicular traffic at the lake.
Pettit said a number of people asked committee members if the event would be an annual affair, and she said the consensus of the committee was that they would continue to sponsor a Labor Day event at the lake in the future.
Ald. Rauzi questioned Pettit about changing quiet time at the lake campground from 11 p.m. to midnight to accommodate the band playing for the event. Lake manager Gary Thornhill said volunteers “pre-called every camper and none of them had a problem with it.”
Rauzi then turned her attention to costs the city may have incurred in conjunction with the event. With police and lake employees on hand, personnel costs could exceed $1,000, according to Rauzi. But Thornhill countered that the lake employees involved with the event volunteered their time and were not “on the clock.” Rauzi said she understood that two Street Department employees delivered the Black Diamond Days stage to the festival site and set up the stage. Ald. Dolliger, who also serves on the Black Diamond Days Committee, said the stage was delivered to the lake but was not set up and was not used for the event.
Other organizations could expect city support for their events because of the level of support the city has extended to Black Diamond Days and the Lake Bash, Rauzi said. “We can’t afford to do this two or three times a year for one organization,” she said. She noted that when the committee sought permission for the Lake Bash, there was a discussion about the organization reimbursing the city for its costs. Proceeds from the event reportedly were donated to the Gillespie Fire Department.
“The city has always kicked in for Black Diamond Days because it was something for the people,” Mayor Hicks said. “I don’t mind helping to the point that it helps the city.” He said the events bring out-of-town visitors to the city and contributes to the economy.
Pettit returned to the meeting after the executive session and presented the council with a check for $123.22 to cover the cost of paying two Street Department workers for the time they spent delivering the stage to the lake.
“This really has me upset,” she said. “We’ve tried to keep Black Diamond Days going for the community. We have gone above and beyond to keep it going.” She said committee members paid for food served during the Lake Bash out of their own pockets. She said Ald. Barrett volunteered time during the Lake Bash to run the Wheel of Fortune, but she asked why other aldermen and city officials did not attend or help with the event.
Rauzi said she brought up the issue only because it had been a point of discussion during the meeting when the council granted permission to use the lake for the Lake Bash.
Ald. Dolliger said he’s served on the committee for many years and that the committee has given back to the community many times in the past. The committee was responsible, he said, for erecting welcome signs at the city limits several years ago. “Back then we were selling 300 barrels of beer,” he said. “Now we’re lucky if we sell 90.”
Pettit promised that the 2020 edition of Black Diamond Days will be improved over this past summer’s event. First and foremost, she said, the group will bring back carnival rides for the downtown street festival.
RENTAL CABIN PROPOSAL SQUELCHED
Tempers again flared after Ald. Barrett again proposed using the Gillespie High School building trades class to build a rental cabin for campers at Gillespie Lake. The receipt of a $20,000 insurance settlement for damage to a lake pavilion makes it feasible to proceed with the project at this time.
“There’s no reason we shouldn’t do this,” he said.
Ald. Rauzi questioned the feasibility of the project, however. With 1,200 acres of water surface, the City of Litchfield has only two rental cabins at Lake Lou Yeager. With only 500 acres of surface area, she doubted the addition of a rental cabin would be a practical move for the city. The cabin would provide a camping facility for persons who “can’t afford a camper,” Barrett said. No bedding or other amenities would be provided, though the structure would be air-conditioned.
“I don’t understand your problem with this,” Barrett told Rauzi.
Rauzi responded that expenditures at the lake outstrip revenues virtually every month. “We’re $8,000 in the hole this month,” she said. “Last month we were $4,000 in the hole.”
“I’ve got to go with Dona on the cabin,” Fisher said. “What I’ve said over and over again is that you need to make a plan and show the council how it fits into your plan.”
“Down the road we might be able to do something like this,” Ald. Hayes said. At the moment, he said the city has more pressing needs for money, including the ongoing water infrastructure project, a failing roof on the Civic Center and additional needed work at the lake spillway. “What’s the public going to say if we go out there and start building cabins. I’m not against building a cabin but right now is not the right time.”
CIVIC CENTER ROOF
After several minutes of discussion, the council authorized hiring an engineer to develop specifications and drawings to reconfigure Civic Center bathrooms to comply with ADA requirements for disabled persons. Mayor Hicks said he could give up the Mayor’s office space to make more room for revamping bathrooms.
Ald. Rauzi briefly reported about continuing problems with the Civic Center roof. Ultimately, she said, the entire roof needs to replaced. Making spot repairs has not proven effective because of the deteriorated condition of the roof. Hicks said the solution to the issue would be to construct a peaked roof over the entire complex to eliminate a valley between the original Civic Center and a later addition, but he worried that the cost of the change would be prohibitive.
Ultimately, the council agreed to have an engineer design a new peaked roof and develop cost estimates for the project with an eye toward making a decision on whether or not to proceed at a later date.
The council deferred a decision on authorizing the Police Department to remodel a portion of the Police Station to reduce the size of the waiting room and expand the space for dispatchers pending the receipt of additional bids. Police Chief Jared DePoppe said he had bids from two contractors and was awaiting a bid from a third vendor.
Council members voted unanimously to give the committee power to act on accepting a bid to demolish a blower housing located along the Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail to make way for an easement to accommodate an Ameren power transmission line.
POLICE CHIEF’S HEALTH
Police Chief DePoppe publicly discredited a persistent rumor that he is ill. He said he typically doesn’t respond to rumors but that the rumor that he is suffering from cancer has become so widespread that he felt compelled to announce that he is healthy.
“It’s not true,” DePoppe said. “I did lose some weight. I worked very hard to do that to get healthier and be a better Chief of Police. I don’t think I’ve been this healthy in 10 years. Normally I’d ignore the rumor but I wanter to make it very clear that I am not sick.”
NEW BUSINESS COMING TO GILLESPIE
The council heard briefly from Dave Schmidt who has applied for a business license to open a new business in the 300 block of South Macoupin Street to buy, sell and trade cellular phones, electronic games and movies. The new business, expected to open in October, will be called “Dootzy’s.”
“I did this before in Trenton and in Collinsville and it worked out very well,” Schmidt said.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved an ordinance authorizing the sale of a city-owned home at 205 Francis Street. The property was acquired by the city as a result of a public nuisance case. The home will be offered contract-for-deed with a provision that the buyer make necessary improvements to bring the structure into compliance with city building codes.
- Approved an ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Macoupin County Public Health Department’s Maple Street Clinic to provide employee drug testing, vaccinations and other services. Police Chief DePoppe outlined the nature of the agreement during last month’s meeting of the council.
- Authorized payment of $661,635.41 to Haier Plumbing and Heating and $19,681.60 to Curry and Associates Engineers for work completed to date on the water infrastructure improvement project.
- Approved a lake lot lease transfer for 2 Circle Drive to Kevin and Colette Edson.
- Voted to declare a vacant home at 903 S. Madison as a public nuisance and proceed with legal action to abate the nuisance.
- Authorized expenditure of $1,315 to pay for repairs to a sewer line in the 900 block of Clinton Street that was severed during the construction of the water infrastructure improvement project.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
