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Gillespie Council purchases 2 new police cars

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Council also receives 2 donations for planters on Main Street

Jim Turney from Turney Plumbling shows council members how plumbing has evolved.

During a regular scheduled meeting on October 9, police commissioner Steve Kluethe explained to the council he contacted the Missouri Highway Patrol. They have a fleet program and the City of Gillespie could purchase two 2010 Ford Crown Victoria’s for 30 months a 1.9% provided by United Community Bank of Gillespie.

That would be a total of $1,042 each month for both vehicles which range between 50,000 and 55,000 miles each. For the last nine months, the police department has been averaging $710 for repairs each month. “That is just to keep them running, that is not to fix anything,” Kluethe clarified. The police department has 3 fleet cars over 120,000 miles.

Temporary fixes would be new transmissions in the two fleet cars that are done. The cost would total $6,000 after the labor in both cars. “It still would not guarantee anything,” Kluethe said. “I say start with new cars and stop taking risks on these old ones. Once we get two new cars in the fleet, we can hopefully start a rollover plan.” Dan Fisher explained the finances are there if the council wishes to make the move.

The Black Diamond Days Committee donates $1,000 to the City of Gillespie to use for planters on Main Street.

The police department puts on nearly 21,000 miles on each car per year. They average 65 miles per shift. The police vehicles from Missouri have the police package in them already. Fisher explained he would like to see a new car bought in the next calendar year. With that being said, Kluethe motioned to buy the 2 vehicles from Missouri Highway Patrol. The motion was passed 7-0.

In other new business, the council received two donations for new planters on Main Street, a plan devised by John Ronald. Black Diamond Days and the Beautification Committee donated $1,000 and $2,257.82 respectively to the project. “We are finally in a position to give back to the city a little bit,” Tobi Libbra, president of the Black Diamond Days Committee, stated. Jerry Doliger, on behalf of the Beautification Committee, explained the check dissolved the group.

Dave Tucker, mayor pro temp for the evening, stated there is a plan in the works for decorating Main Street with some planters. “This will go a long way to getting that project done and a lot faster,” Tucker expressed.

CUSD #7 Superintendent Paul Skeans and district architect Tom Hyde informed the council of the latest sewer projects at the new elementary site and how Kelly Street will impact the city. Skeans explained the sewers were viewed via camera and cleared of any roots “or what not.” All the sewers were then smoked and there is going to be a liner put inside the sewers. The district is also upgrading the lift station in the area to make sure it is 24/7 operative by powering it by a diesel generator.

“We believe all the problems will be eliminated once everything is done,” Skeans added. The liners will prevent the water from infiltrating the sewer system. The generator on the lift station will also be upgraded with a diesel generator. All of the pumps and control panel will be rewired. The pair advised the council that the school is expected to be complete in April of 2013.

Tom Hyde explained there will be new paving on the side of the road on Kelly Street to improve the entrances to the school. But, Kelly Street is an oil and chip road. Skeans would like to pave Kelly Street. The project would total $45,000. “We feel that is important because of the bus and car traffic,” Hyde explained. Skeans questioned if the city could afford to split the pavement in half with the district. “We are upgrading all of the sewers and we are not asking for any help with this, but we think this will help with maintenance of Kelly Street,” Skeans closed.

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Dan Fisher questioned whether or not the pumps in the lift station were being replaced or not. Hyde explained he was told they were in good condition with “many years of service left.” Fisher explained it is pointless to put all the work into the lift station and leave 10 year old rebuilt pumps to operate it.  Hyde explained he would get a second opinion on the pumps and the council decided to look over their finances to see if assistance was available.

Water Line
Jim Turney explained he fixed a water line on Park Avenue in August of 2011. “I got digging and it turned out to be a lead line,” he explained. “We came back the next day and ran a water line into the house.” Approximately 9 months later, the resident got a letter that the line must be copper or lead. Jim Turney then got approval from the mayor. “I was told if I did it again, use copper.” About 3 weeks later, the homeowner got another letter saying to change the line.

The Beautification Committee donated $2,257.82 to the City of Gillespie to use for planters on Main Street.

Turney explained where plumbing has gone today. Turney showed council members a plastic tubing rated for 200 pounds of pressure and is approved by the Illinois State Plumbing Code. The piping is expected to last 100 years. “There is no lead, there is not chlorine, or anything. It is actually green approved,” Jim explained. He went on to explain that he will do whatever the city wants him to do, but he will be putting in an inferior product if he puts in a copper line. Turney asked the council to look over the ordinance and update it, basically.

Miscellaneous
The council transferred lake lot 370 to Greg Doliger.

Chief of Police Jared DePoppe explained the police department brought about $4,000 to the city last month. He also went on to recommend Jeremy Bradford as a part time police officer. “I have spent a lot of time talking to him. We did a complete background check and checked his references. He already has all of his certifications and training he needs. He has a good resume,” DePoppe explained. Bradford was hired 6-0.

Greg Maynard was asked to attend after receiving multiple building code violations from the city inspector. Maynard explained he resides in Alton, Illinois and just acquired the property 6 weeks ago. He plans to open a playground installation company. Maynard asked if he could wait until November to get the violations fixed. The council approved his request 6-0.

The second nuisance abatement case is on 704 Gillespie Street. The owner is represented by Rick Vertichio. City Attorney Kevin Polo explained they requested time until December 1, 2012 to fix the house up. After that date, they acknowledge the city to proceed in a nuisance abatement proceedings.

John Ronald explained he was going to check out the planters for Macoupin Street as soon as possible. The Black Diamond Days Committee has offered to take care of all the planters on Main Street. Ronald suggested the flowers will be purchased from Gillespie High School or Walnut Garden. The planter costs $50 each with $200 delivery charge. A motion to purchase an undetermined amount of well casings was approved 7-0.

Kevin Polo announced that the city’s health insurance quote increased 7% from last year. Bob Brock is going to shop around, take applications, and other things as he does every year to get the lowest possible quote. Polo also suggested having the ordinance book updated by American Legal Publishing. The cost would be nearly $5,000 and would update all the codes. The book has not been updated in 4 years. “The price is only going to go up the longer we delay,” Polo explained. He went on to say they put it in the appropriate place, index it, and they make a copy on a CD to search for it online.

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Next Meeting: The Gillespie City Council will meet next on November 13, 2012 at 6 o’clock in the evening.

 

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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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