Community News
Gillespie Council approves mower purchase
Meeting in special session Tuesday night, the Gillespie City Council voted 6-1 to buy a used front-deck mower at a cost of $24,000 to be funded in equal amounts from Street Department, Sewer Department and Water Department funds.
Mayor Landon Pettit said the 2018 John Deere 1575 TerrainCut commercial mower was offered by a private seller from Murrayville on Facebook Marketplace. He said a special meeting was needed to approve the purchase because the seller would only hold the item until Wednesday morning.
During the council’s regular meeting last week, Pettit briefly discussed purchasing a front deck mower with snow removal attachments to clear downtown sidewalks and sidewalks leading to Community Unit School District schools. Conventional wisdom had been that the city should not clear sidewalks because of liability issues. Pettit said he checked with the city’s insurer and found that conventional wisdom was untrue; clearing sidewalks does not increase the city’s liability exposure.
Because of the $65,000 price tag for a new front deck mower with attachments, the council generally agreed to postpone any purchase until a later date. In the meantime, the used John Deere appeared on Facebook at about a third of the cost.
“I don’t think we’re going to find another deal like this,” Pettit said Tuesday night. “It’s built like a miniature combine; it’s almost industrial.”
The mower does not come with snow removal attachments. Pettit said a new snow removal broom would cost $6,500, while a snowblower attachment would ruin $7,500. He mentioned that city might be able to buy used snow removal equipment for significantly less.
Council members briefly discussed selling one of three zero-turn mowers owned by the city to help defray the cost of snow removal equipment before next winter. The city’s zero-turn mower has about 1,500 hours on it and is valued at an estimate $6,000 to $10,000. Ald. J.Q. Halteman said he favored keeping the zero-turn and continuing to use it in order to minimize the accumulation of hours on the John Deere front-deck mower.
After nearly 20 minutes of discussion, Ald. Wendy Rolando moved to approve the purchase, with a second from Ald. Frank Barrett. Ald. Barret, Ald. Rolando, Ald. Bob Fritz voted in favor of the measure. Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller and Ald. Bill Hayes, participating in the meeting by phone, also cast positive votes. Ald. Dona Rauzi voted “no.” Ald. Dave Link was absent.
City workers planned to drive to Murrayville to bring back the mower on Wednesday.
Comments
2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
Comments
The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
Comments
The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
