Community News
Gillespie Council to resume water shut-offs in November
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted Wednesday night to resume water shut-offs for delinquent customers as of Nov. 14. The council also approved a deal with Adam Tallman, owner of Dingers batting cages, to expand the parking lot at the Gillespie Police Department station, agreed to investigate a complaint about alleged stormwater diversion from the site of a new Macoupin County Housing Authority Development and agreed to look into alleged noise ordinance violations on the city’s north side.
The meeting was moved from its regular time on Monday night to Wednesday due to the Columbus Day Holiday.
After he gaveled the meeting to order, Mayor John Hicks asked to observe a moment of silence in memory of former Gillespie Mayor Howard Carney who died earlier in the week at the age of 86. Carney served as mayor for two decades, presiding over the construction of the current Gillespie Civic Center and other improvements. The front door of the city hall was draped in black Wednesday in memory of Carney.
“We probably won’t be able (to go to the cemetery or funeral home) to show our respects because of this COVID thing,” Hicks commented.
During the regular order of business, Hicks recommended resuming water turn-offs and penalty assessments for water customers who are delinquent on their water bills. Penalties and shut-offs have been suspended since March per order of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker due to financial hardships created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The motion to resume “regular business” practices regarding water bills was made by Ald. Dave Tucker, seconded by Dona Rauzi, was unanimously approved.
Ald. Frank Barrett questioned whether the city should resume at this time since some city residents remain unemployed as a result of the pandemic. “We have some people who haven’t been paid since March,” Barrett said.
Hicks, however, said many of the water accounts that are currently delinquent belong to customers who were habitually late prior to the pandemic restrictions. “They’re taking advantage now,” he said.
POLICE PARKING DEAL
While a formal resolution will be prepared for the council to consider in November, council members agreed in principle to a deal between the city and Tallman to increase the size of the parking lot at the city police station. Tallman’s Dingers batting cage business property backs up to the rear of the police station property. Under the agreement, the city will approve a $13,500 facade improvement grant to Tallman to be funded from Tax Increment Financing district funds. In return, Tallman will transfer a 55-by-70-foot parcel to the north of the police station and will pay to have the area rocked and fenced for use as a parking lot by the police department. As part of the agreement, Tallman will have a first right of refusal if the city should ever opt to sell the current police station building. The deal should result in additional parking space for as many as six cars.
“It’s going to be a big help for us with the way our department has grown and with people coming to the station,” Police Chief Jared DePoppe said.
“Adam is going to pay all the expenses to develop that area for parking,” City Treasurer Dan Fisher noted. “It’s not just rock. He’ll have it excavated to put down a base and he will hire local contractors.”
WATER DIVERSION ISSUE
Mayor Hicks agreed to contact the Macoupin County Housing Authority and consult with city engineers Curry and Associates after hearing concerns from Richard Fenton, who lives on Easton Street near a new housing authority development on the city’s southeast side. Fenton said he favors the development, believing it ultimately will increase property values in the area, but he expressed concerns about the volume of water he believes will be diverted from the building site to lower areas in the neighborhood which already are prone to flooding. He said paved parking lots and downspouts from expansive roofs on the housing development buildings will increase the volume of water down Handy Street and ultimately Easton Street where he resides.
“They are increasing the flow of water,” Fenton said. “What they’re doing there is not in compliance with any law or rule.” State law, he said, precludes property owners from making changes that will change the flow of water to lower adjacent lands. The increasing flow, he continued, will likely result in damage to streets for which the city ultimately will be responsible.
“They’re increasing the water flow illegally,” Fenton said. “If my property gets flooded, I will sue somebody.”
In addition to the increased water flow, Fenton said the Housing Authority plans to install P-traps in the ditch which will result in standing water and promote mosquito populations in an area already plagued with mosquitos in the summer.
Ald. Wendy Rolando said the city should take responsibility for working with the Housing Authority to resolve any potential problems with the water floor.
“With it being a county project, I don’t think he (Fenton) should have to be the go-between between the city and the county,” she said. She added it would be prudent to address the issue and resolve it while the project is still under construction.
“I think we have a responsibility to protect him (Fenton) as much as possible,” Ald. Rick Fulton said.
Ald. Jerry Dolliger said he talked with a contractor on the project and asked where the water is going to go. “He said, ‘I don’t know’,” Dolliger reported, adding the contractor said he believes the Housing Authority will have to build a release pond to collect and slow the discharge of water.
Fisher said the city will need to consult with its engineers to determine how much of a problem exists and how it can be best addressed. “There’s no more water being generated from that site but the velocity of the water is the key factor,” he said. “We have to rely on someone like Roger Curry to check the numbers and see if he agrees (with the Housing Authority) and, if not, tell us where we need to go from there.”
NOISE ISSUE
Ald. Rauzi agreed to contact a resident in the 700 block of North Clinton Street regarding neighbors’ complaints of excessive noise. A neighbor appeared before the council said the resident plays music at high volume “every day.” At times the music can be heard as far as four blocks away and “rattles the windows” of residents’ homes. Another neighbor said the lyrics of some of the music the resident plays includes profanity. Because the resident reportedly has a history of becoming aggressive with neighbors who have complained in the past, Rauzi said she would take a police officer with her when she approaches him.
WATER METER COMPLAINT
The council took no action on concerns expressed by Dave Link regarding the policy for reconnecting water meters that are being replaced as part of the expansive water infrastructure improvement project. Link said he owns seven lots, primarily in the downtown area, that previously had water meters. One of the lots has a building on-site and two others, Link said, will soon have buildings on them. The others are vacant. Link said he had previously been told that if a property had a water meter at the time of the infrastructure project, the meter would be replaced as part of the project. More recently, however, he learned that if the meters are replaced at this time, he will be charged a $29 minimum usage fee each month even though the meters are not active. The alternative, he said, would be to wait until the meters are needed and pay a $300 per meter tap-on fee for each connection.
“I asked the question, ‘If we have meters now will we have meters when they’re done?’ and I was told ‘yes’ by Dan Fisher,” Link said. He strongly objected to paying another tap-on fee because “those properties have already paid a tap-on.”
Fisher said the city is bound by rules established by the USDA’s Rural Development program which is financing the bulk of the water infrastructure project. Those rules preclude the city from reconnecting inactive meters.
“I’ve talked to the engineers a couple of times because you are not the only one in this situation,” Fisher said. “Rural Development says that the property has to be capable of producing income and my understanding is that your lots are not.”
“We’re trying to develop a healthy downtown,” said Ald. Tucker. “Whether it’s in the guidelines or not, I don’t think charging another tap-on fee is in keeping with that. If this came to a vote, I would vote to waive the fee.”
Tucker acquiesced when the issue was discussed under the regular order of business. Fisher further explained that Link was one of nine property owners facing the same situation. Seven of the nine have already either paid tap-on fees or started paying minimum monthly billing.
“If we change the policy, we’d have to refund that money,” Fisher said. In addition, the city would need to either extend the contract or hire another contractor to reinstall the meters that were the focus of Link’s complaint.
“So,” Tucker concluded, “we’re stuck with the USDA guidelines.”
AMBULANCE DISPATCHING BILL
Without taking a formal vote, the council agreed to send a follow-up invoice to the Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service in the amount of $15,000 for dispatching services during the year. In the past, the Ambulance Service “donated” $5,000 to the city annually, ostensibly to defray the cost of dispatching services. The last $5,000 donation was received in October last year. Because of the additional burden on dispatching services created by the Ambulance Service extending its service area into Mount Olive and Carlinville, the city asked for compensation in the amount of $15,000.
The issue has been a point of controversy between the ambulance service and the city for several months. The ambulance service counter offered to pay $10,000 and reported it is exploring an alternative resource for dispatching ambulances.
“I think we ought to send another bill,” said Ald. Tucker. “That’s what the council voted for. That puts the ball in their court.”
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
The council met in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss personnel issues at the request of Police Chief DePoppe. Later, the council returned to executive session to discuss personnel issues at the request of Ald. Tucker. No action followed either closed-door session.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Voted to spend $1,058 for two self-closing doors on the shower house at Gillespie Lake. Plans are to install another two doors next fiscal year.
- Voted to install a door on the north side of the Illinois Coal Museum building at a cost of $2,400 with the Grow Gillespie organization to pay half the cost.
- Voted to formally close the city’s Revolving Loan Fund program, paving the way for a $327,000 reimbursement from the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
- Voted to approve payments totally $416,272.97 to Haier Plumbing and Heating and Curry and Associates Engineers for costs associated with the water infrastructure improvement project.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
