Community News
Food Co-op offers a new way to shop in BenGil area
Order by Monday to receive the delivery Thursday
Jean Strausbaugh, administrator of Heritage Health of Gillespie, helps bag orders up for pickup.
In early November of this year, Micki Chappelear of Heritage Health looked into starting a food co-op in the Benld/Gillespie area. Chappelear got the idea from the Hillsboro co-op and thought it would be a great addition to the community. Before initializing the plans, she checked with local food retailers to make sure they were not offended by the program. “This is a great way for families to experience fresh fruit and vegetables all year long at such a reasonable price and great convenience”, says Micki.
Micki also added it was initially devised to help faculty at Heritage Health. They recently started a new wellness program for the staff and encourage each other to eat healthy and live healthy lives. In the next couple months, Heritage Health will offer a wellness room for their faculty complete with treadmills and exercising equipment to assist them in their journey to being healthy. After a tremendous response from the faculty, Chappelear thought it would be a great addition to the community.
Both Gillespie and Hillsboro are part of the St. Louis Area Community Helpings Co-op program which is run by volunteers of the community and makes no profits. Deliveries are made every two weeks to each of their current groups around Illinois and Missouri.
Micki Chappelear says it is great for families to experience fresh fruit and vegetables all year long,
The next pickup for Gillespie will be Thursday, December 6. Deliveries are on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Orders for the December 6th order must be placed by Monday, December 3. Orders are delivered to Ageless Fitness Center and can be picked up from 3:30 to 4:00. Items must be picked up during that time frame, after hour arrangements are not being accepted at this time.
To become a customer of the co-op, go to the St. Louis Area Community Helping’s website and create an account. Choose Gillespie under the group section. Payment is made with the customer’s credit/debit card or through a PayPal account.
No long term commitments or membership fees are entailed with registration. Customers may order as often as they would like. The program will stay available if the response is continually good. If it gets to the point where nobody is utilizing the program, it is possible the program will be dissolved.
Costs vary by item with the best buy being the product basket at a price of $23.50.The price of the assortment of fruits and vegetables is $21.50 with an additional $2.00 charge to cover delivery and fuel surcharge. Prices on eggs and product change quite frequently, so a price you see one week may be different the next week. Taxes are built into the cost of the basket already.
Contents of the bag change every delivery and depend on the product pricing and availability. According to the website, a basket of produce can feed a family of four for two weeks. Shiela Cooze, Activity Director at Heritage Health, told us that she even orders with someone else because the baskets are so large. “There is no way I could eat all of that by myself, so I order with a friend.”
Other items are also available such as sweets, grains, and granola. The co-op program does not go against the “Shop-Local” initiative. The items are all supplied by a local vendor that supplies some of our local markets and restaurants in town. All of the items are the freshest available as the season permits.
Chappelear added that volunteers are always welcomed and in need to help the Gillespie group. When the deliveries are dropped off, the group needs help assembling the bags for pickup. To volunteer, contact Micki Chappelear at Heritage Health at 839-2171.
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A devastating house fire in Virden on Saturday, February 15 has left the community mourning the loss of a father and his two sons. The fire occurred in the 200 block of West Neal Street and was reported by a passerby around 9:20 in the morning.
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed that Kyle James, 34, and his 13-year-old son, Hunter James, were pronounced dead at Springfield Memorial Hospital following the tragic incident on Saturday morning. The fire also claimed the life of 10-year-old Jacob James, who was pronounced dead at the scene by Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday. All victims succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Jacob was a sixth grader at the Springfield Sangamon Area Special Education District (SASED), while Hunter was an eighth grader who attended school in Auburn. Both boys were part of the North Mac school district. Kyle was known in the community as a cook at Jo’s Place, a local restaurant in Virden.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding areas including Chatham, Auburn, and Girard, responded to the scene in an attempt to control the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with the State Fire Marshal now leading the inquiry.
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Community News
Record turnout at Partnership for Educational Excellence trivia night, Grand raffle kicked off
BACK ROW: Nolan Hayes, Blake Hayes; Matt Irwin; Ashlen Hayes; Heather Hayes.
The Partnership for Educational Excellence raised nearly $4,500 at its “For the Love of Education” Trivia Night on Saturday, February 15 at the Gillespie Civic Center. The evening’s highlights included a record turnout of 25 tables, great participation in the latest Grand Raffle kickoff, and generous donations from winning teams and absentee “Out to Recess” businesses.
The evening is the Partnership’s one and only fund raiser to support programs for CUSD7 students: district-wide classroom grants and academic tuition scholarships for GHS grads. The current school year marks a three year $90,000 gift to CUSD7 for student computers. And an all-time record was set last year when 38% of the GHS Class of 2024 won college scholarships.
The winning Hayes family team scored a 94% “grade” and donated back their $150 prize. The third-place team of Semplowski family and friends, dedicated their $50 prize to the ongoing Travis Semplowski scholarship. Almost all team scores were in the 90% and 80% range.
“Early Bird” drawing of raffle tickets sold that night gave $100 each to Steve Joyce and to Tracy Wilhoit. Their Grand Raffle tickets also make them eligible for the final $5,000 prize to be drawn on Saturday, April 12, 2025. If not all tickets are sold, the prize will be a 50/50 split. Tickets are available from any Partnership director. Volunteer Cindy Brummett assisted with ticket sales. Ten attendees won gift cards purchased by The Partnership from local merchants.
In addition to 25 tables of players, several long-time business and professional sponsors bought “absentee” tables through The Partnership’s “Out to Recess” program: Gene Hebenstreit of Victory Lane Ford in Litchfield; Nick Kravanya DDS of Kravanya and Boente dental offices in Carlinville and Litchfield; Wally Ottersburg of Daley Bruckert Chevrolet in Staunton; Boente Shell Station in Gillespie; Kasten-Goodman Insurance Agency in Carlinville; and Rick Verticchio Law Offices in Carlinville and Gillespie.
The Partnership wishes to thank its all-volunteer board of directors. On hand that night were Vice President Donna Prevedell, Treasurer Rose Tebbe, Secretary Rosie Emmenderfer, Founder Nancy Grandone, Susan Stromsland, and Mary Kay Griffel. Other directors who contributed to the evening’s success but were unable to attend Ken Tebbe, Carole Scheller, Ann Marie Bauer Ross, Julie Zirkelbach, Katie Ronald, and President John Fassero.
Special kudos go to the third and fourth generation Partnership volunteers who did stellar work as runners, carrying answer sheets from players to graders Norah Seraphin (9th grade), Augie Seraphin (7th grade), Eve Seraphin (4th grade) – all grandchildren of Donna and Bob Prevedell; and Mackenzie Jo McFarland (4th grade), great granddaughter of Rose and Ralph Tebbe.
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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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