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County Board Votes to Cut Pay & Size

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Board to be reduced by one-third following 2012 election; both moves expected to save County near $40,000 annually.

Macoupin County After being debated for nearly an hour Tuesday, with a vote of 18-5-1, the Macoupin County Board chose to follow through on the results of a public referendum and reduce the number of County Board members from 27 to 18.

“In my opinion, it is our duty to follow through with the wishes of the voters of Macoupin County,” said Chairman Andrew Manar.  “We asked the voters what they wanted and regardless of how difficult it may be to take this path as individuals, it is no time for selfishness. Reducing the size of the County Board is about taking the action that is in the best interest of the citizens of Macoupin County.  I want to commend my colleagues on the County Board for making the right decision”

Manar’s proposal to reduce the Board by one-third comes as a result of a public referendum that the people of Macoupin County voted on in the 2008 General Election.  The idea to put the question of whether or not to reduce the Board size to the voters was originally considered in a “Financial Blueprint” that Manar presented to the Board in early 2008 following the closure of several local coal mines.  Tuesday’s vote was the first opportunity the Board had to address the results of the referendum (where nearly 62% of the voters were in favor of the reduction) as State law provides that each county board is required to determine its size following a decennial census, or only every ten years.

In addition to passing an ordinance to reduce the size of the County Board, an additional ordinance debated at Tuesday’s Board meeting considered cutting the monthly salaries of Board members by 5%. The county ordinance, which was adopted unanimously, will reduce the monthly per diem received for attending monthly Board meetings, the stipend for attending committee meetings, and the salary allotted to the Chairman.

“By adopting this ordinance, we are showing the people of Macoupin County that we continue to be serious about taking every step that we can to maintain our balanced budget,” said Manar.  “We understand that this is a time where taxpayers expect their board members to make disciplined decisions and be fiscally responsible.”

Combined, both measures are expected to save taxpayers between $35,000 and $40,000 on an annual basis.  Manar noted that the County’s general fund spends about as much money in the current fiscal year as it did in 2001.

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The two ordinances adopted by the Board are the latest in a series of steps over the past four years that have been designed to protect core services of county government, while at the same time continuing to seek maximum efficiency and reductions in spending where possible in the County budget.

“For the past several years, we as a Board have demanded that County officials preserve services for county residents and achieve savings whenever possible by streamlining their office operations to become more efficient.  Today, the County Board took a big step by saying that we hear and accept what the voters have to say and we, too, have to do more with less.  I am proud of my colleagues; we made the right decision,” said Manar.

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CUSD 7 News

Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship

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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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Community News

Macoupin County residential fire claims multiple victims on Saturday

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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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Missions group to host trivia fundraiser on March 30

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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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