SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time and part-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2025 semester. Part-time students are enrolled in six to 11 credit hours while full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.

Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. The excerpt below features Macoupin County students.

FULL-TIME STUDENTS

Bunker Hill – Logan R. Helling

Carlinville – Reid P. Evans*, Brody M. Reif

Gillespie – Maris E. Brill, Austin L. Grace*

Girard – Max Allen*, Katie Angulo*, Mick B. Downs*, Josh Hagerman, Reed Lewis, Michael S. Prose*

Mount Olive – Jakobb E. Brown*, Georgia G. Kampwerth

Palmyra – Alexis R. Bowman*

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Staunton – Paige N. Horstmeyer*, Michael J. Matesa*, Lauren R. Mathis, Brandon Mo

Virden – Zorah E. Austin*, Michaeh N. Barnhouse*, Maddie Carver, Jackson R. Pierce*, Morgan C. Snell*, Grant M. Strickler, Courtney N. Ulinski*

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Benld – Christopher Young*

Carlinville – Alex C. Nance*, Jerry D. Nance Jr.*

Gillespie – Jessica L. Tiek*

Girard – Lindsey J. Ferguson*, Jackson R. Henke*, Natalie Moriconi*

Mount Olive – Kara A. Harmon*, Justin D. O’Neill*, Hayden Wylder*

Virden – Candace L. Carlile*, Lillian M. Carlile*, Natalie M. Little*, Josie P. Patterson, Luciano Pierce*

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SPRINGFIELD, IL – Macoupin County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there was no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures. Farmland is assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value and not subject to the state equalization factor. 

Assessments in Macoupin County are at 33.10% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2024 taxes, payable in 2025. 

Last year’s equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.

The final assessment equalization factor was issued after a public hearing on the tentative factor. The tentative factor issued on 27-Mar-2025 was 1.0000.

The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.

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If the three-year average level of assessment is one-third of the market value, the equalization factor will be one (1). If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one (1). And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one (1).

A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease. Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year to provide services to local citizens. If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase.

The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume. That individual’s portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier.

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The Gillespie High School Miners softball team captured the regional championship with a 9-5 victory over conference rival, Staunton High School. The team’s impressive performance on both offense and pitching helped secure their spot in the sectional semifinals being played in Vandalia this week.

Sadie Sholtis led the charge on the mound, delivering a stellar performance with just one earned run, five strikeouts, and no walks over the course of the game. Her dominant pitching kept the Bulldogs at bay and was instrumental in the Miners’ success.

Offensively, the Miners showcased their depth and resilience highlighted by Sholtis’ 2-for-5 performance with a homerun and three RBIs. Delaney Taylor led the charge with an outstanding 4-for-5 effort at the plate, including a double and an RBI.

Laci Schuckenbrock added to the offensive onslaught with a 3-for-4 game featuring a double, while Macie Wright went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, providing clutch hits when needed. Ava Rakers also contributed with a 2-for-4 performance and Paxton Reid chipped in with a 1-for-4 effort and an RBI.

With this win, the Miners advance to the sectional semifinals, eager to continue their successful season. Gillespie faces Newton (24-2) on Tuesday in Vandalia at 5:30 p.m. in a 2024 sectional championship rematch. In 2024, the Miners were beating Newton 2-1 in the sectional championship before the Eagles tied the game in the 7th inning and went on to win in extra innings.