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Four set to be inducted into “Wall of Honor” this year

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Wall of HonorGillespie High School will induct four members to the school’s “Wall of Honor” program on April 19, 2015. New members are inducted every spring at the annual event recognizing their contribution and impact to the community.

Nominations for the award were accepted for three months in 2014 before the Wall of Honor committee selected this year’s inductees. In addition to attending or graduating from a Gillespie school, nominees have to be out of school for 20 years, exemplified citizenship and contributions to society, and must have distinguished his or her self through the community or profession.

This year’s inductees are Dr. Cheryl Cavallo, Dr. William Frinsko, Dwayne Pomatto and Ed Saracco. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. inside the Gillespie High School gymnasium on April 19, 2015.

Cheryl Cavallo

Cheryl Cavallo

Dr. Cavallo, worked as assistant professor emerita of physical therapy at St. Louis University and previous to that, she worked as chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department for 10 years at St. Mary’s Health Center in Richmond Heights.

Dr. Cavallo received numerous awards and recognitions during her teaching and service career as an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at St. Louis University where a colleague described her as having “a servant’s heart”.

Dr. Cavallo’s accomplishments stretched beyond the classroom or clinical setting. She devoted time to helping students and supported the Reinert Center for Teaching Excellence. She recruited staff and students to donate their time and she gave generously of her time and professional services at home and abroad. Her awards include:

  • The Helen Holsum Whealan Service Award
  • 5-time winner of St. Louis University’s Student Government Association’s “Faculty Excellence Award”
  • Recipient of Saint Louis University’s “Nancy McNier Ring Award for Outstanding Teacher”
  • Louis University Woman of the Year 2011
  • School of Allied Health Professions Outstanding Teacher
  • Louis Community College at Meramec Teaching Innovator Award winner

William Frinsko

William Frinsko

Dr. Frinsko was an accomplished educator from 1950 until his retirement in 1984 having taught at the elementary, secondary, and university levels. Dr. Finsko was on the ACLU board in Normal/Bloomington and, while at Wayne State University in Detroit, he directed the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at South Releford Township.

In addition, he was an active officer of the local chapter of the Illinois Higher Education Association at Illinois State University in Normal and received the Bone Distinguished Teacher Award in 1969 from Illinois State University.

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Wanting to honor the three-hundred plus servicemen and women from Benld, Eagarville, Sawyerville, and Mt. Clare, Dr. Frinsko created the Permanent Military Display (housed in the Benld Civic Center) that includes portraits and records of this area’s heroes. Dr. Frinsko’s contributions to education and community serve as an inspiration to future generations.

Dwayne Pomatto

Dwayne Pomatto

Mr. Pomatto defines “small community living.” His accomplishments in high school included honorary captain of the baseball team for 4 years, volunteer for school and various charitable organizations and caretaker of facilities following sporting events. Pomatto was also an enthusiastic participant in all GHS pep rallies and sporting events.

After graduating high school, he has been an inspiration to community members and a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church – participating in all of its activities. Pomatto has been a member of the Lions Club for fifteen years, has donated his efforts to the Coal County Chamber of Commerce for 15 years of its 16 year existence, assisted in every Black Diamond Days Festival, has collected and distributed Christmas Baskets for the Needy and from 1994-2012, he assisted in maintaining Gillespie’s welcome signs and landscape islands.

Pomatto also helps city and civic organizations decorate for every holiday as well as supporting local politicians. Dwayne ran the mile race in the Special Olympics for 12 years and is a project director/developer of the Simon Pomatto Memorial Park. With energy and enthusiasm, Dwayne has also accomplished other acts of generosity that are too numerous to list.

Ed Saracco

Ed Saracco

As a lifelong resident of Benld, a Gillespie High School teacher for 27 years, Benld Elementary School Principal, and an advocate for the children of the district, Mr. Saracco has contributed significantly to CUSD #7 and his community. In addition to serving as a GHS coach and sponsor, he served on the GHS All-Weather Track Committee, was a Wall of Honor Founding Committee member and political liaison for CUSD #7 to lobby for state and federal aid after the mine-subsidence collapse of Benld Elementary School. Saracco was also selected for Who’s Who Among American Teachers Award in 1999.

Saracco’s community efforts include working for 2 years to remove dangerous boxcars that rested near a community playground in Benld, service to the Benld Fire Department for 25 years, holding the position of Cahokia Township Trustee for 34 years and Supervisor for 6 years. Saracco is a 50-year member of the Italian Club of Benld, which funds/completes many projects city-wide as well as producing the Italian American Days Festival.

He is a Benld Cemetery Board Member, previously was a Benld Sports League Member after coaching for 7 years and is a member of the Benld Homecoming Committee. As a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Saracco is member of the building and grounds committee and oversaw the church painting project. Saracco’s life long accomplishments are an inspiration to students and community.

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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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