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Gillespie Hires 2 Full Time Police Officers

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Dave Link expressed his concerns about the demolition of the buildings.

After 90 minutes in executive session, the council returned for open action. With a motion made by the police commissioner, the council voted to hire two officers. Under a recommendation from Gus Ottersburg, the council hired Josh Cravins and Eric Howard as two new full time police officers for the City of Gillespie. The starting date for both men are as soon as possible, but Mayor Hicks advised they attend a City Council meeting to introduce themselves to the Council.

After all of the reports were accepted, council members heard from an array of visitors:

  • Mr. Gerald Cross was in attendance to check on his bid he submitted for the lot on corner of Spruce and Shelby. He came to answer any questions anyone might have.
  • Ed & Julie Zzar were in attendance to receive ownership of lot 6 on Western Lane in the Gillespie Lake area. With a 8-0 vote, the motion was carried and the ownership of the lot was transferred to the Czars.
  • Dave Link came to talk about the progress of demolition of the building on Macoupin Street. The council is going to try and salvage the front of the buildings, but it is looking like it will be done after it has been a complicated process. Dave wanted to keep the front of the buildings because it is tied into the north building.
  • Bob Fritz expressed concerns about the money raised from derelict buildings when the grass was mowed or other deeds. Bob recalls the account had 2-3k dollars in the account when he was alderman and he asked if the council could donate half or even all of the money to the cemetery as they are struggling.

In other executive session, the city decided the bid of $1,800 from Gerald Cross on the two lots on Shelby and Spruce was too low for the City to consider. The City has to have at least a 80% bid. The Council advised Cross to rebid once the bidding process has restarted.

The council then presented Chief of Police Jarod DePoppe with a plaque after the Trinity Baptist Church presented the City of Gillespie as well as Gillespie Police Department in honor of protecting the citizens of Gillespie. On behalf of the City, the council presented the plaque to the Chief of Police for the department.

In other business, the council received a letter back from their insurance company stating it was a bad idea to go forth with the walking trail the Macoupin County Health Department had presented to the city in last month’s meeting. The insurance company stated since the path did not have designated markings it was a bad idea. Mayor Hicks said the Health Department can proceed with marking the bike trail since it is a walking trail.

Gus Ottersburg presents DePoppe with a plaque.

In new business, the council received information from the Gillespie High School yearbook to advertise in the upcoming edition. The Council voted 8-0 to advertise for the same amount they have paid in the past.

Roger Divley expressed citizen concerns about a city clean up day. With lack of funds available to fund the $10,000 clean-up, the City will not be able to provide the service to the citizens this year.

Frank Barrett wants to name a lane coming off of Spanish Needle Lane, but Barret is going to gather more information after further discussion. Barrett wants to develop some of the lake property as only 3 cabins have electricity. Barrett would like to see electricity ran to other cabins as well, but the cabin owners have agreed to fund the project. The project would not cost the city any money at all, but it would provide electricity to the weekend-stay cabins.

Barrett has also contacted the insurance of the IP Building. Barrett asked the company if they would release the $15,000 if the city decided to build a new building. The insurance company said yes, the money would be released and under Barrett’s recommendation: the building should be built at Welfare Park. The meeting is scheduled Wednesday to hear about further opinions. The building would be funded by a loan along with the $15,000 insurance money. The building would house a batting cage and possibly other services that would be provided to students of CUSD #7. “I am just trying to make the community better,” Barrett stated. With instruction from the council, Barrett was advised to check on some other details and bring it up again at another council meeting.

Gus Ottersburg advised the council of a city wide trash pickup that was instated by a surrounding community. Under the 5 or 10 year contract that the city would have to sign, the city would charge the residents a flat fee per month. The community that Ottersburg referred to charged community members $14 per month. $13 of the dollars went to the trash company and the other dollar went to the city for administrative costs. Under the 5 year contract, the city would get: 5 roll off dumpsters, free recycling center, city wide cleanup and the trash service would only increase if the diesel fuel increased. The contract listed is from Area Disposable and would only be offered to residents. School, apartments, and businesses would not be included under the city trash pickup.

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Mayor Hicks grins as he hears concern over the city trash pickup idea.

Jerry Doliger informed the city that a new gear box for the brush hog was ordered. The one now is junk, reconditioned it was $850 and then with labor and installation included, it evened out around $1,000. Chairs in the civic center are low. The Civic Center had 500 at one time, but only 375 can be accounted for now. Doliger advised the council that 100 more should be ordered for big events, like weddings and gatherings, so the the city would not have to borrow chairs from Benld or anywhere else.

In closure, John Ronald asked how much money was in the beautification account. None of the council members had any knowledge. Ronald also advised that the city should charge residents a $10 fee to host a yard sale. Residents could not have a yard sale without a “yard sale permit” posted. The council also discussed a plan to build a central yard sale announcement sign. The sign could be built on the cities new main street property and only yard sale signs could be posted. With the construction of this sign, residents could not post announcements on any other light post in town which has been a problem since most signs posted are not removed after the sale is over.

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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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