Community News
Gillespie Council approves levy, sets May 1 labor celebration
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved a property tax levy for 2020 taxes to be collected in 2021 amounting to more than $357,000, and agreed to close a portion of Chestnut Street on May 1 for a labor celebration in connection with the dedication of a historic site market to be installed at the Canna Theater, formerly the Colonial Theater.
Approval of the levy was preceded by a brief public hearing. State law requires a public hearing when a taxing body’s levy request exceeds the previous year’s tax extension by five percent or more. The new levy exceeds last year’s extension by less than five percent, but the city opted to voluntarily convene a public hearing.
The levy, unanimously approved on a motion by Ald. Frank Barrett, seconded by Ald. Rick Fulton, calls for raising $357,532 from property taxes next year. Though not insignificant, local property taxes account for only a fraction of the city’s annual expenditures. The appropriation for the current fiscal year’s expenditures, for example, totals about $17 million.
Broken down by fund, the levy request for Corporate purposes totals $53,639, compared with $55,847 levied last year; $25,247 for Police, compared with $24,045 last year; $34,206 for Streets and Bridges, compared with $32,577 last year; $9,772 for Emergency Services and Disaster Administration, compared with $9,307 last year; $57,009 for Liability Insurance, compared with $54,294 last year; $14,659 for Parks, compared with $13,667 last year; $3,258 for the Municipal Band, compared with $3,103 last year; $102,619 for Social Security, compared with $97,732 last year; and $52,123 for the Public Library, compared with $49,641 last year.
Gillespie and other taxing bodies in Macoupin County are subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) which limits increases in the annual levy to no more than five percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. Because the CPI typically is less than five percent, the final levy normally is less than the levy request. The current CPI is estimated at 2.3 percent.
The County Clerk is responsible for setting the actual tax rate for local taxpayers by calculating the rate necessary to generate as much of the levy request as allowed by law when applied to the current equalized assessed valuation.
MAY DAY CELEBRATION
On a motion by Ald. Dave Tucker, who also serves as voluntary director of the Illinois Coal Mining Museum in Gillespie, the council voted unanimously to close a portion of Chestnut Street for a May 1 labor celebration. Also on Tucker’s motion, the council voted to expend $138 for an ornamental post on which to mount a historic site plaque at the Canna Theater.
Tucker said the $3,800 cost of the bronze plaque is being underwritten through the University of Illinois. The plaque will commemorate the formation of the Progressive Mine Workers of America in the late 1930s during a meeting of mine workers at what was then known as the Colonial Theater. The PMWA was formed as a break-away from the United Mine Workers of America, then controlled by John L. Lewis, when local miners clashed with the UMWA over contractual concessions Lewis made to mine owners.
“May 1 is a significant date in labor history,” Tucker noted, explaining the choice of dates for the event.
Among organized laborers, May 1 is designated as International Laborers Day, commemorating organized labor’s declaration for an eight-hour workday on May 1, 1886.
Tucker said the celebration will feature a formal dedication of the plaque, a grand re-opening for the remodeled Coal Museum, along with vendors and other activities. Grow Gillespie will be involved in the event, which is being promoted by the River Bend Tourism and Visitor Bureau, and other organizations.
PEACE CORPS ADVISORY BOARD
With the council’s consent, Mayor John Hicks appointed Ald. Tucker and Ald. Barrett as the council’s representative on a five-member advisory council to direct work undertaken by a Peace Corps Fellow being assigned to the City of Gillespie early next year for an 11-month contract.
A Peace Corps Fellow from Western Illinois University is expected to arrive next month and will live in Gillespie for the next 11 months to work with non-profit organizations such as Grow Gillespie and the Caring Center on community development projects. The city’s $5,000 commitment will be shared by the city and Grow Gillespie.
In a related matter, City Treasurer Dan Fisher announced that the state has approved a $1 million grant application submitted by the city to implement a streetscape improvement project developed by Grow Gillespie.
“In the past week, the City of Gillespie has been approved for $1,400,000 in state funds,” Fisher said. “That’s pretty good.”
RESTAURANT/BAR CLOSING ISSUE
Dave Link, owner of Lumpy’s bar and restaurant, appeared before the council to advocate enforcement of the Governor’s ban on indoor service at local bars and restaurants. The Governor imposed the ban last month in response to dramatic increases in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the region.
“I’ve been closed since Nov. 1,” Link said, noting that other hospitality businesses in the community have continued business as usual in spite of the ban. The Governor’s order allows outdoor dining and bar service only, or take-out food orders. “We’ve had 61 people die in Macoupin County. We have one business here having bands all the time.”
Link said the police chief told him there was nothing local authorities could do to enforce the ban
“It seems funny to me that Carlinville was able to go around and tell their restaurants and bars that they had to close down,” Link said. “I don’t understand why we can’t get out here and tell our places they can’t be open.”
He said he was told earlier that the council expected to hold a special meeting to address the issue, but that meeting never took place.
Link also criticized the County Board’s recent vote to eschew enforcement of the order in the County, saying the board lacked the courage “to back it’s own Public Health Department.”
“I don’t think it’s fair that we have one business owner who is responsible and closed down, and we have two others that are still open,” Ald. Fulton commented.
Ald. Bill Hayes noted that Springfield authorities forced offending businesses to close down and pay fines soon after the Governor’s order was issued.
Responding to a question from Ald. Dona Rauzi, Link said a rumor that it was easier for him to close down because he had received a mitigation grant to cover his expenses. “I have not applied for a grant and I have not received a grant,” he said.
Mayor Hicks suggested that he could send a letter to offending businesses advising them that he would “jerk their liquor license” if they continued to violate the Governor’s order. But he stopped short of confirming that he would actually send letters anytime soon.
“You can’t pound common sense into peoples’ heads,” Hicks said. “They don’t believe this is real. They don’t believe it until they actually get sick themselves.” In the meantime, Hicks said, restaurants in nearby Staunton are advertising that they are open for indoor dining.
Police Chief Jared DePoppe said the police department’s hands are tied. Police cannot enforce the Governor’s order without a city ordinance to back it up, he said. Link reported that Carlinville police did not threaten to arrest or cite restaurant and bar owners, but simply advised them of the order and asked them to comply.
WATER CONSTRUCTION COMPLAINTS
Link also was among several local residents questioning actions taken by Haier Plumbing and Heating as the city’s extensive water infrastructure replacement project nears completion.
“My understanding is that they’re finishing up a year ahead of schedule,” Link noted. “How much money is the city going to get back from Haier Plumbing for all the work our city workers have done?”
Fisher explained the council will consider the company’s final bill next month. Before that time, he said city officials and Haier representatives will meet to negotiate the final bill. He said the original contract did not include cleaning up properties after water lines were installed, leaving that responsibility for city workers. However, there are other issues that could reduce the size of Haier’s final payment—namely damages caused by Haier employees or contractors.
Chris Releford said he was among local property owners who sustained property damage in connection with the water infrastructure project. He said Haier replaced water lines at his residence on April 14 and, without his knowledge, severed his home’s sewer line. He told council members he was unaware of the damage until last month at which time he rented an eel to open the line.
In attempting to open the line, he said he discovered that backfill material had entered the damaged sewer line. He said he wanted to be reimbursed for seven months of sewer service and the cost of renting the eel.
“I was told I needed to make a claim against the company,” Releford said, adding that he did not want to wait for the city to negotiate a settlement with Haier. “My claim isn’t against the company, my claim is against the city.”
Ald. Jerry Dolliger said Releford’s experience was not unusual. Haier contractors damaged several residential sewers during the project. Each time, instead of repairing the damage, contractors “threw a bag of cement over the top and covered it up.”
At the Releford residence, Dolliger said city workers spent 48 hours finding and repairing the break. “That could all have been alleviated if they had said, ‘We hit your sewer,’ and fixed it right then,” Dolliger said.
“All we can do is submit your claim,” Hicks told Releford. “They (Haier) have insurance.”
Ald. Hayes, however, noted the city had preemptively paid other claims in recent months. “They damaged other sewers and we paid for them,” he said.
Ultimately, Releford was told that he needed to file a formal claim to be considered for reimbursement.
“Whether we pay for it or they do, you have to submit a claim form,” Fisher told Releford. “That’s the policy. As far as the time frame, we’re going to resolve all of these issues by early January.”
In addition to additional time put in by city workers, Dolliger said the Fire Department is “out about 250 hours.”
“We never sent them a bill,” Dolliger said. “Maybe we should look into that.”
City officials were more dismissive of a complaint lodged by Mike Polo, who farms a parcel on the west side of the city. He said shut-off valves previously were located below grade which allowed him to farm the land. When a new line was installed, he said, Haier located the shut-offs above ground.
Fisher said the above-ground shut-offs comply with current construction standards. A 59-year-old easement agreement, he said, “gives the city the right to install shut-offs in a manner” that complies with current construction standards.
Both Hicks and Fisher alleged Polo cleared and farmed a platted but undeveloped portion of Handy Street without the consent of the city.
“We’d like to be good neighbors and work with you but the bottom line is we have more of a claim against you for what you did to Handy Street than you have against us for what you’re alleging,” Fisher said.
Ald. Tucker asked if the shut-offs could be relocated below ground. Fisher said they could but doing so could make them vulnerable to damage from farming operations if someone were to plow too deep.
“Our obligation is to make the water system work right,” Fisher said. “Lots of farmers farm around above ground utilities.”
COUNCIL VOTES TO WAIVE PROPERTY LIEN
On a motion by Ald. Tucker, the council voted unanimously to draft an ordinance to conditionally release a lien against the property that formerly housed True-Value Hardware, and to give the Public Works Committee power to act on approving the ordinance later this month. The action ostensibly gave prospective buyer Bill Toprani assurance that he would not be responsible for the lien if he successfully negotiates a contract to purchase the building for his business.
The lien resulted from an unpaid portion of an Economic Development loan the city made to the former owners of the building.
“I think the feeling on the part of most council members is that if you were in there paying property taxes and sale taxes, that $3,500 would disappear in a heartbeat,” Mayor Hicks told Toprani. He added, however, that releasing the lien would require formal action on an ordinance.
Fisher told Toprani the ordinance would release the lien contingent upon Toprani developing the property as a going business concern.
No action followed an executive session called to discuss personnel and collective bargaining issues.
Comments
Representatives of a food management company pitched their vision for reshaping school lunch and breakfast offerings at Community Unit School District 7 schools during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. Later, however, the head cook at BenGil Elementary School expressed doubts about what the company promised to deliver. “They make it sound like it’s all a gravy train,” said Jackie McKinney. “It’s not.”
No action followed a 20-minute presentation by Bill Fritcher, Business Development Associate, and Angie Eden, a food service worker, from Opaa! Food Management, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo. There was no clear indication whether the board or district administration is leaning toward contracting with the company.
Founded in 1978, Opaa! Provides food management services to more than 800 schools in 250 school districts spread out over seven states. The company serves 21 schools in Illinois, including the nearby Staunton, Litchfield, Jersey and Nokomis school districts. The company claims a 97 percent retention rate among its client schools.
Fritcher, a former administrator in the Neoga school district, said the company emphasizes home-cooked foods made from scratch. Opaa! provides both hot and cold entrees, and schools can tailor offerings to meet their needs and budgets. Hot entrees include items such as roast turkey, meatloaf, cheeseburgers, pizzas and spaghetti. The company also serves a variety of cold sub sandwiches. Again, depending upon the details of its contract with a school district, the company can provide a salad bar, along with fresh fruit.
Breakfast offerings can include hot or cold cereal, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. Some client schools offer a “breakfast on the go” option where students can grab a breakfast item during the mid-morning hours of the school day. As part of its service, Opaa! would provide an all-day “Gulp Station” with dispensers of lemonade, iced tea and water.
“There’s a lot of local control over menu items,” Fritcher said. “If a school doesn’t want us serving coffee to students, we don’t serve coffee.”
Fritcher said the school district would continue to set pricing for school lunches and breakfasts, collect payments and control the revenue stream. The district also would continue to own food service equipment and facilities. At a minimum, Opaa! would place it’s own employee as a food service manager, but other food service workers can be either Opaa! employees or employees of the school district. In either case, the school district would have final say over who is allowed to work in the school district.
“You’d have control of who is working in the school and is around your kids,” Fritcher said.
According to Fritcher, the company emphasizes presentation.
“We want the food to look good so kids will eat it,” he said. “We strive to make it enjoyable for the kids.”
Client schools submit photos of daily offerings to the home office for approval, Eden said. As an example, she cited an instance when she submitted a photo from Neoga that included broccoli as a side item. The home office said the broccoli looked too brown and demanded it be replaced with fresher produce.
Fritcher said the company employees an executive chef to create recipes and standards for food served to students. The chef has created a number of streaming videos used to train on site staff.
Key to the operation is a computer program for food management. Eden said the program monitors what food the district has in the freezer and pantry, and adjust menus to best utilize resources on hand. The program also provides a portal parents and students can access to see weekly menus.
A food management contract would be subject to state bidding requirements, according to Fritcher. To start the process, the district would create a Request for Proposals to solicit bids. If Opaa! Is the successful bidder, the company would offer a five-year fixed price agreement, renewable on an annual basis. Either party would be able to end the contract upon a 90-day notice.
During a public comment period, McKinney alleged Opaa!’s promises have not matched reality in nearby school districts. The head cook at Litchfield, she pointed out, quit soon after Opaa! took over. Pizzas and some other food items, she said, do not match the company’s claims.
“We were told this is not about the money, it’s about the choices,” she said. “If you want more options, someone needs to tell us.”
McKinney said she has been employed by the district in food services since 2002. The proposal to hire an outside food management company, she said, comes as “a slap in the face.”
McKinney predicted problems if the district contracts with Opaa!, particularly in the elementary school.
“I don’t see how our kindergarteners are going to be able to carry their own tray and serve themselves,” she said. “They’re going to drop their trays. We get our kids through the serving line in five minutes so they have time to sit down and eat. When they have to make their own tray, how long do you think that’s going to take?”
McKinney also predicted issues with food sanitation when young children with runny noses and/or dirty hands are expected to serve themselves from the food line.
McKinney said an outside company cannot be expected to know local students like local food service workers know them.
“I watch for a little boy who comes through my line every day because I know he doesn’t get food at home like he does here,” she said. “We’re here for the kids and I don’t think these people are.”
In a somewhat related matter which could facilitate transitioning to an outside food service, the board accepted with “regret” the retirements of head high school/middle school cook Penny Feeley and GHS/GMS cook Janice Hammann, both effective on June 30.
PERSONNEL
The board took action on a number of personnel issues following an executive session of about one hour.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to rehire the following fourth-year teachers and grant them tenure for the 2024-25 school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Lievers, Alex Newton, Pete Visintin and Jacob West.
The following non-tenured staff were hired for the 2024-25 school year: school nurse Rachel Bouillon, fifth grade teacher Radeana Gentzyel, speech pathologist Kaylee Collins, special education teacher Jaiden Braundmeier, kindergarten teacher Jessica Yeager, fist grade teacher Sydney Owsley, band teacher Brad Taulbee, chorus teacher Ben McCullough, Tim Biggs, special education teacher Cory Bonstead, and Dalton Barnes.
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board rehired the following tenured teachers for 2024-25: Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Urban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Hobaugh, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tieman, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jamie Schmidt, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Geddes, Lisa Ballinger, Amber Allan, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Tammy Garde, Nate Heinrich’s, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamar, Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth Thackery, Shanna Conner, Matthew Browner, Jeremy Smith, Rachelle Prough, Jarrod Herron, Jill Stole, Korben Clark, Kayla Wills, Nikki Browner, Kevin McNichols, Katie Orange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nelhs, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Schuette, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, David Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bully, Whitney Page and Stephanie Bray.
The board accepted “with regret” the retirement of BenGil Elementary teacher Dana Tieman, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation for purposes of retirement of GMS paraprofessional Ella May Roemer, effective at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and posted the position as vacant.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school paraprofessional Darian Gill, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted Gill’s resignation at the GHS/GMS cheerleading coach and posted that position as vacant.
Board members unanimously agreed to post vacancies for the following summer school positions: high school math, English and drivers’ education; middle school math, English and science; and six elementary positions. Additionally, the board posted two summer school food service positions.
The board accepted “with regret” the resignation of long-time GHS head women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted the resignation of Korbin Clark as GMS seventh-grade basketball coach and posted the position as vacant.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Eaker as a volunteer assistant dance coach, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board agreed to appoint Foley Seferi and James Bryant a volunteer assistant high school football coaches, pending verification of certification and a background check.
By a unanimous vote, the board accepted the resignation of district custodian Owen Parker, and posted the position as vacant. The board also voted to post vacancies for two full-route bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year, and hired Billie Bowles as a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
REPAVING
The board awarded a $62,524 contract to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., Wilsonville, to repave five district parking lots. DeLaurent was the low bidder for the project. The contract will be paid from proceeds of a $1.6 million alternate revenue bond sale for capital projects.
Supt. Shane Owsley reported that he is starting to gather estimates for other upcoming projects to be underwritten with bond revenue, including a project to refinish the high school gym floor, a project to reline the all-weather track and a major HVAC project.
SURPLUS WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board accepted a list of surplus weight room equipment and agreed to offer the equipment for sale via sealed bids. The equipment, which includes stationary bikes, running machines, free weights, benches, dumbbells and racks, was replaced with new equipment as part of a recently completed project to renovate and re-equip the weight room.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board unanimously approved early graduation requests for Maria Alger, Eliana Barrios-Madison, Owen Baugh, Gage Bonds, Abby Carter, John Q. Halterman, Eva Hidden, Felicia Lambert, Emma Luckshis, Ashley Markulakis, McKenna Montoro, Kaden Reiffer, Abigail Sharp, Jayden Stangle, Cooper Wentler, Ashton Whitlow and Avery Young. The students will be allowed to graduate at the end of their eleventh year of high school at the end of the current school year, provided all graduation requirements have been met.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized high school women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, who is retiring after a career of 16 seasons. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted that Gray led this year’s team to the Sectional Tournament in Beardstown after winning their first regional championship since 2012. The team also won its first County Tournament since 2002, and celebrated 26 wins—the most ever.
During the Carlinville Rotary’s All-Star Game, Gray was named Rotary’s Coach of the Year.
“On behalf of CUSD 7 and all you former players, we express much gratitude for your many years of service, dedication, leadership, wisdom and professional demeanor on and off the court,” Rosentreter told Gray.
Also during the District Focus, a group of fifth graders told the board about their recent field trip to Busch Stadium, where they learned about practical math applications and other subjects.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Gave final approval to the 2024-25 school calendar, calling for the first day of school attendance on Aug. 14 with the last day of school set for May 29, or earlier if no emergency days are used.
- Approved a schedule of board meeting dates for the coming year. The board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month with the open session beginning at 7 p.m. The December meeting is set one week earlier on Dec. 16 to avoid conflict with the winter break.
- Awarded the annual bid to supply fuel to low bidder M & M Service Co., Carlinville.
- Voted to renew the district’s annual membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Rescheduled the April board meeting from Monday, April 22, to Tuesday, April 23, to avoid a conflict.
Comments
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to Madison Street and Wilson Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was out in the 400 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a domestic battery. Regan M. Treadway, 22, of Hillsboro was arrested for domestic battery.
Gillespie Police Department assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with a criminal investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of South Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning. Charles H. Daubman, 62, of Gillespie was issued a citation for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer during normal patrol in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Benld noticed a trunk open on a vehicle. The officer made contact with the owners and they secured the trunk after checking it.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to illegal dumping.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory in reference to a civil standby.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Easton Street in reference to a civil standby.
The School Resource Officer called in requesting assistance in reference to a female student that had left the school.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to Route 4 by the nursing home to check on a person on a bike with no lights.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Route 138 in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Gillespie Street in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a dog at large.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an animal complaint.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Benld. Logan G. Lawson, 22, of Roodhouse was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare. David E. Schmidt, 46, of Staunton was issued citations for speeding, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Spruce Street in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Jersey Street in reference to an open line 911 call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Candace N. Carlen, 36, of New Douglas was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 200 block of West Oak Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious noise.
An officer was dispatched to West Dorsey Street and South Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to a medical assist.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Esha V. Bhatt, 30, of Edwardsville was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Nicole L Richey, 34, of Wilsonville was issued a citation for speeding and expired registration.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of 9th Street in Benld in reference to a suicidal subject
An officer was out with a suspicious person at Main Street and Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Elm Street. Walter L. Vester, 29, of Gillespie was arrested on a Glenn Carbon warrant for larceny.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Jordan L. Jett, 23, of Hillsboro was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to aggravated assault. Levi T. Kroll, 34, of Carlinville was arrested for aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and operation of a vehicle with suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to LJ Avenue where multiple vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone. After multiple announcements asking them to move, two vehicles remained and received citations. Jeromy J Moore, 47, of Greenfield and Matthew E. Raffety, 52, of Bunker Hill were issued citations for parking in a no-parking zone.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a domestic battery. Mitchela P. Zbornak, 34, of Gillespie was arrested for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak Street in reference to an ordinance issue for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Oak Street in reference to a possible burglary.
The School Resource Officer called in reckless driving in the high school parking lot.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to retail theft and criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a loud vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to a suspicious person.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Oak for a 911 untraceable call the officers checked the area and were unable to find an emergency.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to down wires at Dorsey Road and 1st Street in Mt. Clare. Ameren was contacted to remove the wiring.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
Community News
Denby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
Carlinville attorney Thomas Denby easily sailed to victory in a three-way race to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Macoupin County in Tuesday’s Primary Election balloting.
Denby captured 63.26 percent of the Republican vote, easily besting Jonathan Verticchio’s 23.46 percent and Aaron Bellm’s 13.28 percent. In terms of raw vote numbers, Denby landed 2,534 votes to Verticchio’s 940 votes and Bellm’s 532 votes.
There were no judicial candidates for the race on the Democrat side of the ballot.
As a result of Tuesday’s election, Denby is likely to step into the office being vacated Resident Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2006, when he narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kevin Polo. It’s unclear whether or not the Democrat Central Committee can legally name a candidate to run against Denby in the General Election this fall, meaning Denby is the likely successor to Deihl.
There were no surprises locally in the Presidential races. Macoupin Democrats favored incumbent Joe Biden with 89.62 percent of the vote, while Republicans cast 83.39 percent of their votes for former President Donald Trump.
Although no longer a candidate, Nikki Haley gained 12.18 percent of the Republican vote. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Ryan Brinkley each took less than three percent of the Republican vote. On the Democrat side, Biden’s support was eroded by 10.28 percent of the vote shared by Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and Frank Lozada.
A total of 5,741 voters cast votes in the Macoupin Primary, representing 18.67 percent of the county’s 30,757 registered voters. That could indicate a softening of interest in the Biden/Trump rematch. In 2016, when Trump and Hilary Clinton were nominated, a stunning 45.82 percent of Macoupin’s voters cast ballots in the primary election. Four years later, 23.54 percent of the county’s voters participated in the primary, despite restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Republican nomination for U.S. Congressional Representative for the 13th District, Joshua Loyd took 57.28 percent of the Macoupin vote, compared with 42.72 percent for Thomas Clatterback. The Congressional vote mirrored voting district-wide in which Loyd took the nomination with 55.9 percent of the total vote. Loyd will take on freshman Representative Nikki Budzinski on the Democrat side, who ran unopposed for the nomination.
A number of county races were unopposed. On the Democrat side, incumbent Jordan Garrison took 1,387 votes for State’s Attorney, while incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya took 1,471 Democrat votes. On the Republican side Amy J. Ashby took 3,448 votes to be nominated for Circuit Clerk. Ashby becomes the likely successor to Democrat Lee Ross who is stepping down.
Though not likely, both parties could name candidates to run for county offices in November. Otherwise Garrison, Kravanya and Ashby will run unopposed for the General Election. A win by Ashby would make her the second Republican constitutional officer in the Courthouse. Two years ago, County Treasurer Amber McGartland became the first Republican elected to a Courthouse office since A.C. “Julie” Bartulis served as Treasurer in the 1960s.
Comments
-
Community News3 weeks agoSchool district apparently eyeing food management service
-
Police News4 weeks ago
Gillespie Police Report: March 17-23, 2024
-
High School Sports3 weeks ago
Gillespie Varsity Miners Steamroll Nokomis and fall to New Berlin
-
High School Sports4 weeks ago
Gillespie Varsity Softball Racks up 3 Wins this Week