Community News
Gillespie council votes ‘yes’ to City-Wide cleanup
John Fassero advised the council of the 2 events the Municipal Band will be playing at this year.
Jim Alderson brought up the city-wide cleanup event to the council during a regular scheduled meeting on April 8, 2013. Alderson explained “everyone wants it.” Mike Bertolis added it was a little expense, but the council owes it to the community. “At least give the city this, we pay taxes,” Bertolis explained. “Give us a little something.” The late cleanup for Gillespie was in the fall of 2009.
Alderson investigated the issue and said the only open date left for Flowers was on Saturday, May 25. Flowers could possibly arrange to have it Friday as well, but Saturday is the best date for the company as so many communities have already booked weekends. In 2009, the City of Gillespie used ten 30-yard dumpsters and one 20-yard dumpster at the lake.
If the council chooses to have the cleanup on May 25, the last dumpster has to leave Gillespie by 2 o’clock. They would drop the dumpsters off around 6 or 6:30am leaving Gillespie 7am-2pm open for drop-offs. The council agreed there would be no curbside service added and council members would have to help out during the day to save on police wages.
Alderson explained employee costs for the day would be around $1,000 since the city needs a backhoe operator and a bobcat operator to smash the junk down to get the most in the dumpsters. Overall, the cost would not exceed $8,000 Alderson explained, but he was going to check with other trash companies. The council made a motion to investigate the clean-up, but approved a motion to have the city wide cleanup on May 25 spending up to $8,000.
Emergency Warning
Jerry Grandone voiced his concerns with the warning siren not being heard on the West side of town.
Jerry Grandone explained he has lived on the west side of town for 43 years and he never hears the sirens go off when a storm is rolling in. “If it’s quiet, I can hear it,” Grandone explained. “Storms come in from the west, not the east.” He went on to add the problem is 700 kids on the west side of town right now. “I am not here for me; there are a lot of kids and people on the west side of town.”
Grandone explained the sirens are hard to hear if there is a 10 mile wind. Dave Tucker explained the sirens are for the people outside as the school has an early warning system. Tucker explained he tried to surface the issue as well, but it is a county issue and not a city issue. Steve Kluethe explained the council needs to reapproach the possibility of a new plan in addition to the current systems being used right now. “This has been going on for years and I am not considered about me, I am considered about the kids,” Grandone explained.
Committee Reports
Frank Barrett explained the insurance company doesn’t want to give the city any money for a pavilion since they sent us $69,000 four years ago and the city should have enough money left over to build the $38,000 pavilion. “I would like to put my project on hold until we can come up with some more money,” Barrett closed.
Barrett also nominated John Knowles to fill in at the lake to avoid overtime hours for other lake employees. The council approved the decision 5-0. Frank also reported the lake is down 0.5 inches.
New Business
The council approved MPACT’D request 5-0 to close Kelly Street on May 8 from 8am-3pm where they are having a Road Safety Rally. In addition, FFA is sending 3 kids to Washington and the council thought it would be nice to send them with spending money. The council voted to send each kid with $50 each since they will be doing all the work on the planters on Macoupin Street.
The council brought up the Farmer’s Market ordinance #13-5 questioned in March. The ordinance clarified the business owner would be responsible and on site of all markets. In addition, any citizen growing produce can sell the produce on the same property it is grown on. The new ordinance was passed 5-0. Ageless Farmer’s Market is now a go!
Municipal Band
John Fassero explained the Municipal Band is under new leadership and notified the council of the band’s budget for 2013 consisting of a performance at the Memorial Day service and at Black Diamond Days. The 2013 budget totals to $2,500 for the two performances and music.
New Wave Communication – Franchise Agreement
Bill Flowers, with New Wave Communication, explained the franchise is being acquired by a new ownership group planning on taking over on May 1, 2013. “Any change of ownership has to be approved by the councils,” Flowers explained. He asked the council to approve a resolution to move on with the acquisition.
City attorney Kevin Polo explained he had an issue with two sessions of the agreement advising Flowers to take it the owners to get a response back with Polo. The council would move forth with it once New Wave responded to Polo. Flowers closed with mentioning New Wave customers would not notice any changes as billing would remain the same and it would come from the same people.
Police News
Chief of Police Jared DePoppe notified the council of a business in town receiving four $1 counterfeit bills. He said he doesn’t think the issue is going to be a problem. DePoppe went on to add the police department collected $3,500 from February court fines, $100 in ordinance fines, $285 in towing fees. Overall, the revenue from March totaled to $4,500. DePoppe also explained the department salvaged the old Impala and two other cars from the impound lot for $1,150.
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A former Carlinville High School football standout has signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots.
Kyle Dixon, a record-setting receiver at Culver-Stockton, an NAIA program in Canton, Missouri, inked the deal with New England after being passed over in the NFL Draft April 23-25.
Dixon was seen as an outside shot at being selected in the draft. He reportedly had visited at least one team, including Indianapolis, and was the subject of Internet speculation from various writers on his potential.
At Culver-Stockton, Dixon named to the American Football Coaches Association – NAIA All-American team. He was also a Heart of America Athletic Conference first team pick for the second straight year.
The 6-4, 216-pound Dixon was fourth in the NAIA with 83 receptions and third with 1,282 receiving yards in 2025.
New England advanced to last February’s Super Bowl, losing to Seattle.
It was the tenth Super Bowl appearance in the last 25 seasons for the Patriots, one of the NFL’s marquee teams over the last quarter-century.
New England won six Super Bowl titles in that span. The Patriots also played in the Super Bowl after the 1985 and 1996 seasons.
Though most undrafted free agents have an outside chance of sticking on NFL rosters, some future superstars began that way. Notable UDFAs include NFL Hall of Famers Kurt Warner, Warren Moon, Antonio Gates, Adam Vinatieri, and John Randle.
In 2025, eight NFL teams had at least three starters who had been UDFAs coming out of college.
The Patriots are known for their development of UDFAs. The franchise has had sixty starting players who were undrafted free agents from 2011-25, more than any other team in the NFL.
At Carlinville High School from 2015-18, Dixon finished in the top 20 in Illinois High School Association history in single-season receiving yards and touchdowns, career touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards, and career interceptions on defense.
An all-state selection as a defensive back, Dixon was an all-South Central Conference pick as a receiver. He was also a two-time all-SCC pick in baseball.
Prior to Culver-Stockton, Dixon played baseball at SIU-Carbondale, SIU-Edwardsville, and Georgia Gwinnett College.
Dixon will try to become just the third Carlinville product to play in the NFL.
The others were Leland “Tiny” Lewis, who appeared in 14 games over the 1930-31 seasons with Portsmouth (now the Detroit Lions) and a now-defunct Cleveland franchise, and Mike Seyfrit, who played in 13 games for now-defunct franchises in Toledo and Hammond in 1923-24.
(Tom Emery may be reached at ilcivilwar@yahoo.com or 217-710-8392).
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Community News
Illinois treasurer to help Macoupin County residents reclaim $8.6 million in unclaimed funds on May 13 at Gillespie Library
Staff from Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office will be at the Gillespie Public Library on Wednesday, May 13, to assist residents in reclaiming money through the I-Cash program. The state estimates that about 64,700 people and businesses in Macoupin County have unclaimed cash or property totaling $8.6 million, with statewide totals reaching $5 billion dollars.
A spokesperson noted that many people may not realize they’ve overlooked an investment account or a final paycheck, and that the thousands of names in the state’s database show it happens more often than people might think. The message emphasizes that this money belongs to Illinois residents and should be in their bank accounts rather than the state’s. The planned event will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gillespie Public Library, located at 201 W Chestnut Street, Gillespie, IL.
Attendees can expect on-site assistance with the I-Cash process, which helps residents search for unclaimed funds and pursue claims through official channels. The I-Cash program is described as a state-level initiative designed to reunite Illinois residents and businesses with unclaimed funds such as lost wages, refunds, or insurance benefits.
Individuals can search the state’s database for their name, name of business, or nonprofit online as well: https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/
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The Macoupin County Historical Society will host a drive-through chicken fried chicken dinner starting at 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at the MCHS grounds located at 920 W. Breckenridge, Carlinville.
Serving will continue until 7 p.m. or until food is sold out.
Meals are $12 each and include a chicken fried chicken breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and a roll.
“We offered a chicken dinner last year and were sold out within a couple of hours,” said Dan Hauter, MCHS President. “My advice is to come as early as possible to make sure you can buy a meal.”
Serving will be drive-through only. No walk-up orders will be taken.
Persons who wish to dine on the grounds may park their vehicle after getting their order and dine in the pavilion adjacent to the Red Barn. Water and soda will be available for purchase or customers may bring their own non-alcoholic beverage.
Proceeds will benefit the Macoupin County Historical Society.
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