Community News
Gillespie Council authorizes lawsuit against water infrastructure contractor
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to authorize City Attorney Rick Verticchio to send a notice of the city’s intention to sue to Haier Plumbing and Heating, Okawville, the general contractor for the city’s $10 million water infrastructure improvement project completed nearly two years ago.
The action followed a 15-minute executive session to discuss legal issues.
The potential lawsuit stems from the company’s alleged failure to pay more than $32,700 in property damage claims stemming from Haier’s work in Gillespie. Verticchio told the BenGil Post that Haier’s insurer paid three or four claims totaling about $3,000, but stopped making payments when claims apparently exceeded expectations. Six pending claims remain unpaid.
The largest of the pending claims amounts to about $22,000 filed by Adam Kilduff whose home was extensively damaged when his basement was flooded with raw sewage. Kilduff appeared before the council early during Monday night’s council meeting to complain about the delay in obtaining reimbursement for his claim.
Kilduff said his home sustained extensive damage when a work crew severed a sewer line, causing raw sewage to flood his finished basement. He said he has photographs of himself, Mike Ranger and a Ranger employee wearing hip boots and standing in two feet of raw sewage that flooded his basement. While the sewer line was repaired and sewage was removed from the basement, repairs to the finished basement remain undone pending a settlement.
“I just want to get this straightened out,” he said. “Here I am up here almost three years later with the same problem.”
He said his claim was $15,000 when he first filed but has ballooned to $22,000 because of recent increases in lumber prices.
Verticchio told Kilduff the council planned to address the issue later in executive session to determine “how much, if any, they are willing to pay.” Initial claims were paid by the city and later reimbursed by Haier.
Notifying Haier of the city’s intent to sue is a first step toward actually filing a lawsuit against the company. The city’s contention is that Haier is obligated by contract to pay the damage claims. If the issue progresses to a lawsuit, the suit presumably will seek a judgment sufficient to pay the pending claims.
ALDERPERSONS SWORN IN
Before addressing agenda items, newly elected and re-elected council members were sworn in and seated, including newly elected Ward 2 Ald. Dave Link. Verticchio administered the oath of office, using his mother’s Bible for the ceremony, to Link, and re-elected council members Ald. Wendy Rolando, Ald. Dona Rauzi and Ald. Billy Hayes.
Link, who defeated challenger Bryan Waggoner 76-53 in the Consolidated Election last month, steps into a seat vacated by Rick Fulton who chose to not seek re-election.
Hayes was re-elected to represent Ward 3 and Rolando was elected to represent Ward 4, both without opposition, while Rauzi defeated challenger Jared Link, 108-53, to represent Ward 1.
NEW POLICE OFFICER HIRED
On the recommendation of Police Chief Jared DePoppe, the council voted unanimously to hire Elijah Dannebrink, Staunton, as a full-time police officer. The council previously voted to pay for Dannebrink’s Police Academy training, which DePoppe said the candidate completed on Monday.
Earlier in the meeting, as alderpersons reviewed the monthly police report, Chief DePoppe noted an increase in overtime expenditures due in part to having only two full-time officers on the roster. Dannebrink’s hiring brings the number of full-time officers to three.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
Council members voted unanimously to declare three properties located at 606 East Chestnut Street, 301 Spruce Street and 1200 South Macoupin Street as public nuisances. The action authorizes City Attorney Verticchio to send notices to the property owners demanding they abate the nuisances within a specified period of time.
Ald. Razzi praised Verdicchio for his work in helping the city clean up derelict properties over the past year since becoming the City Attorney.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to do,” Rauzi said. She said five derelict houses have been torn down or are in the process of being torn down. The city has acquired three properties as a result of condemnation proceedings.
“People are paying attention now,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we’ve made a lot of progress. This has all been since Rick came on as City Attorney and I can’t thank him enough.”
FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE
With two dissenting votes, the council approved an amendment to a recently implemented ordinance governing food truck operations in the city. The amendment clarifies the fee structured to denote that food truck vendors must pay an initial fee of $100 which covers four days of operation, plus $25 for each additional day in excess of four.
Ald. Rolando and Ald. Landon Pettit voted against the amendment, ostensibly over objections to the fee structure.
Earlier in the meeting, food truck operator Grace VanDoren approached the council with an objection to the fee structure. She indicated she would like to set up in Gillespie more often but has found the fee exorbitant. Carlinville, she said, charges no fee whatsoever, while other surrounding communities charge fees that are more lenient.
“It’s deterring businesses like mine,” she said.
Ald. Pettit seemed to agree with VanDoren’s objections.
“I did some math here,” he told the council. “If she set up five days a week, 52 weeks a year, she’d be paying us $6,500. That’s ridiculous.”
“If you want to reassess, you’d have to go back and rescind the ordinance,” Mayor John Hicks told the council, “which can be done.”
SURPLUS PROPERTY BIDS
With one dissenting vote and two aldermen voting “present,” the council agreed to accept a high bid of $2,000 from Mike Bellovich for a city-owned lot located behind the Superbowl bowling alley. Superbowl owner, Harold Besserman, had asked the city to sell the property with the intention of using it to erect a solar panel field to provide some of the electrical power for his business. Bellovich, however, bested Besserman’s bid of $100 for the parcel.
There was a moment of confusion when newly seated Ald. Link moved to accept Besserman’s bid.
“You realize you’re selling to the substantially lower bidder?” Verticchio questioned.
Link then clarified that he intended to make his motion to sell to the higher bidder.
Brought to a vote, the motion passed with Ald. Rolando voting “no,” and Ald Pettit and Ald. Frank Barrett both voting “present.”
In a somewhat related matter, Rolando reported she is compiling a list of surplus equipment that potentially could be offered for sale via sealed bids. She asked city department heads to review equipment currently owned by the city to document which pieces of equipment are no longer being used.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE SWING
Before the meeting adjourned, the council unanimously approved Ald. Rolando’s motion authorizing the Mayor to sign a check to pay for a concrete slab to install a donated wheelchair-accessible swing in the playground at Big Brick Park.
Early in the meeting, Tyler Link, representing HEIDI (Helping Every Individual Develop Independence), addressed the council about the status of the swing the organization donated to the city two years ago. Link said he had checked several times about plans to install the swing but had gotten a “run around” from city officials.
“I’m going to be blunt,” Link said. “This was two years ago and it’s still in the shed. Can we have it back? We have other municipalities that would be glad to take it.”
Mayor Hicks said the city had delayed installation as the city considered a larger renovation project for the park which would include the swing. Ald. Rolando said there also had been issues with finding money in the budget to cover the $2,000 estimated cost of installing a concrete pad for the equipment. At one point, money set aside for the swing was diverted to a sewer project, she noted.
More recently, however, a Darts for Kids event raised money for the project. While that money has not yet come to the city, according to Rolando, it will be enough to pay for the installation.
Link accepted Rolando’s commitment to get the swing installed when the Darts for Kids donation comes to the city.
FIBER OPTIC ISSUES
While taking no formal action, the council discussed at length issues arising from the installation of fiber optic cable in Gillespie, and issues with disconnected water customers restoring connection on their own.
Ald. Bob Fritz said the company installing the cable has been causing problems in the city, including property damage and other problems. Street Department Supervisor Dale Demke said there are areas where the company has installed the cable over the top of city water lines. In some places, the line has been installed between the shut-off valves for fire hydrants, some of which are slated to be relocated as part of the upcoming Streetscape project.
Ald. Rauzi said she was able to track down the head of the company, who agreed communication has been an issue with the installation in Gillespie. She asked aldermen to give her a list of problem areas which she can then convey to the company. Rauzi said the representative she spoke to claimed to have provided the city with a contract but no one has apparently seen the contract. As of Monday night, Rauzi said, she had not received a copy of the contract that was promised to her.
The cable installation is part of a federal project to expand broadband services to rural areas, meaning the city cannot collect franchise fees on the service. Despite the federal involvement, however, the city should be in a position to assign easements and otherwise ensure the installation does not result in property damage nor interfere with city services.
Ald. Fritz also noted a problem with disconnected water customers reconnecting their services without authorization. Tampering with a water meter, he noted, is prohibited by city ordinance and can result in a $300 fine. He urged more diligence in pursuing legal action against persons who reconnect water services that have been disconnected.
“Plus they are stealing water,” Verticchio added, noting that violators could be referred to the States Attorney’s office for criminal charges.
Water Plant Operator Dave Pickett said city workers could put a lock on meters when services are disconnected, but he cautioned against removing the meter.
“I don’t want to start yanking meters,” Pickett told the council. “Some of these people are ‘frequent flyers,’ if you know what I mean.” Repeatedly removing and reinstalling meters could lead to mechanical malfunctions down the road.
Mayor Hicks reported that the former Street Department shed has been razed but the former Police Department building remains standing and could be salvaged.
“I believe it’s worth saving,” Hicks said.
The building had a shared wall with the city shed, which would need to be replaced to make the building weather tight and a short retaining wall would need to be replaced. Following the meeting, several council members went to the site to look at the building and assess its potential for salvage.
In other action, the council voted to donate $500 to the Black Diamond Days Committee to help pay for bands to perform during the festival, set for the first weekend of June at Gillespie Lake.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Community News4 weeks agoBenld Council enacts ordinance against water meter tampering
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Police News4 weeks ago
Gillespie Police Report: March 10-16, 2024
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Community News3 weeks agoSchool district apparently eyeing food management service
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Community News4 weeks agoDenby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters