Community News
Gillespie Police Report: May 21-27, 2023
SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Staunton Road and Charles Street. Donald E. Ruyle, 50, of Benld was arrested on a Macoupin County warrant for failure to appear for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a medical call.
Shane D. Robbins, 37, of Benld was arrested on a warrant out of Macoupin County for failure to appear to register as a sex offender.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street. William C. Cooper, 39, of Gillespie was arrested for driving while his license was suspended.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Edgar Street in Eagarville. Michael J. Allen, 18, of Gillespie was arrested for driving while his license was suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft from a vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to criminal damage in the 100 block of Main Street in Benld.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to an animal complaint in the 400 block of Henrietta Street.
An officer was dispatched to Second Street and Clark Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of Madison Street in reference to a medical call.
An officer was dispatched to North 6th Street and Eiler Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 400 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to suspicious activity.
MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of Southern Street. James P. Licklider, 54, of Mt. Olive was arrested for driving while his license was suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of Alton Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of South Hard Road in Benld in reference to dumping trash. Theodore H. Hopper, 51 of Gillespie was issued citations for dumping garbage upon real property and driving while his license was suspended.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department in reference to a juvenile issue in the 700 block of Abba Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of 8th Street in Benld in reference to a civil issue.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Route 4 and Walnut Street in Benld. Benjamin S. Shepard, 28, of Moro was issued citations for expired registration of vehicles on truck and trailer.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Maple Street in reference to suspicious circumstances.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 400 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to North Hard Road in Benld in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass.
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 400 block of South Macoupin in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Henderson in Eagarville. Chevelle G. Crawford, 19 of Benld was issued citations for disregarding a stop sign, open title failed to complete owner, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 100 block of South Hard Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a business check.
An officer was dispatched to Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to juveniles in the roadway.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Baker Street in reference to a medical call.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of West Maple Street in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 8th Street in Benld in reference to a vehicle blocking the alley.
An officer spoke with a male in reference to a civil issue in the 500 block of South Hard Road in Benld.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2023
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of West Oak Street in reference to a medical call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Springfield Road and Elm Street in East Gillespie. Jacob A. Bloome, 44, of Carlinville was issued citations for expired registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Burton Street in reference to a death investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Charles Street in reference to found property.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Charles Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central and 2nd Street in Benld. Danasia R. Allen, 23, of Collinsville was issued a citation for the operation of a vehicle without evidence of registration.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Central in Benld in reference to an alarm sounding.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Park Street in Benld in reference to an ordinance issue of burning after hours.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Lake at the boat ramp in reference to a boat on fire.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of South Street in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a wellbeing check.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Francis Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a civil standby.
An officer spoke with a male at Springfield Road and Elm Street in East Gillespie in reference to threats.
An officer was dispatched to Broadway Street and LJ Avenue in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to Welfare Park to pick up an item that was found.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 Block of Francis Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to West Chestnut Street in reference to suspicious circumstances.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Broadway Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to South Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to an ordinance issue in Mt. Clare and was directed to City Hall.
An officer spoke with a female at Gillespie Police Department in reference to threats made with an electronic device.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Osie in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning.
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2023
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Wilson Street in reference to a domestic dispute. Chad A. Pritchard, 38, of Benld was arrested for criminal damage to property.
Jennifer L. Pickett, 41, of Gillespie was issued a citation for disobeying a stop sign at East Spruce Street and Second Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of South Madison Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning.
An officer spoke with a female at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a wellbeing check.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to fraud.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 1300 block of Staunton Road for a male walking in and out of traffic.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Maple Street in reference to an alarm sounding.
An officer during normal patrol was out with a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot in the 900 block of Broadway Street.
FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023
An officer was dispatched to the 2200 block of Staunton Road in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Springfield Road and Elm Street in East Gillespie. Matthew W. Stoops, 31 of Bunker Hill was arrested for no driver’s license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operation of vehicle with expired registration, possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a medical call.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to reckless driving.
An officer spoke with a female at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
An officer spoke with a female at Gillespie Police Department in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Central in Benld in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Maple in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer assisted an alderman with an ordinance issue in the 1400 block of South Madison Street.
SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023
An officer was out in the 100 block of North Macoupin Street with subjects in a dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a medical call.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of South Main Street in reference to an ordinance issue. Latisha L. Conner, 32, of Gillespie was arrested on two warrants first being out of Macoupin County for possession of a controlled substance and the second out of Montgomery County for failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine.
An officer was dispatched to South 4th Street and South Main Street in Benld in reference to four-wheelers up and down the roadway.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Park Avenue in reference to a report of paintball guns being fired.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Illinois Street and Walnut Street in Benld. Joshua L. Lyons, 32, of Benld was issued citations for driving while license were revoked, disregarding a stop sign, resisting peace officer, and illegal transportation of alcohol.
An officer was dispatched to Bishop Drive at Gillespie Lake in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to 1100 block of Staunton Road in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to South 7th Street in Benld in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Maple Street in reference to an alarm sounding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a suspicious male in the 500 block of South Macoupin Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Springfield Road in reference to a wellbeing check.
An officer was out in the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld with an intoxicated pedestrian.
An officer was dispatched to Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to reckless driving.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
Gillespie voters will have an opportunity to vote on whether or not the City of Gillespie can impose a one percent retail sales tax for Public Safety purposes as a result of action taken by the city council Monday night. Council members voted unanimously to approve a resolution prepared by City Attorney Rick Verticchio to put the question on the April 1 consolidated election ballot. The question will be presented in conjunction with the election to choose the mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and three aldermen.
The council discussed the issue of seeking a Public Safety sales tax during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 9 and during a continued meeting on Dec. 23, at which time there was speculation the city could implement the tax via resolution only without seeking voter approval. The resolution presented Monday night confirms that voters can weigh in at the ballot box on whether or not to impose the tax.
“This is just a resolution so we can have that question on the ballot,” Verticchio told the council.
During the December meetings, Treasurer Dan Fisher said the city agreed to seek the tax during collective bargaining negotiations with the police officers union. The expected $200,000 will help cover additional costs associated with local police joining the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund system for retirement benefits, as well as the cost of adding additional police officers to cover police protection services in satellite communities. Benld Ald. Jerry Saracco told the Benld Council last month that satellite communities also were being asked to consider seeking a Public Safety sales tax to help defray police protection costs, but there appeared to be no interest on the part of the Benld Council to follow Gillespie’s lead.
In addition to the tax question and city officials, the consolidated ballot also will include elections for three Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education members, as well as township officials.
POLICE STATION PROGRESS
On a motion by Ald. Dave Link, seconded by Ald. Dona Rauzi, the council unanimously voted to release $59,199.26 to contractor John Watson, Gillespie, to pay subcontractors for remodeling work at the new Gillespie Police Station at 124 N. Macoupin St., the former location of Gillespie Chiropractic directly across the street from City Hall.
Rauzi reported the city had paid Watson $9,000 to start the remodeling project. The additional money will be used to pay various vendors such as Glass Cutters, Carlinville, and Carpani Computers for installing computer networking and internet systems.
The council also approved a $1,998.85 change order request for the project to cover the cost of reopening exterior stairs that the previous owner had enclosed. The additional money will cover the cost of siding, framing, lighting and replacing stairs that were removed when the entry was enclosed.
In a related matter, the council formally declared as surplus property a desk that the previous owner left behind and to transfer the desk to Watson. Rauzi said the desk had little value and that no other city office had a use for it. She said the options for disposing of it were to either give it to Watson or store it at the Civic Center.
With the same action, the council declared as surplus unused roof trusses which will be offered for sale via sealed bids.
GRANT MANAGER BILL
On Fisher’s recommendation, the council agreed to pay Fuel Growth Group’s bill of $137,550 for billing and consulting services associated with grant management services related to $3 million in federal grants and $1 million in state grants awarded to the city for its downtown streetscape project. Fisher said the agency’s bill is based on an hourly rate totaling 7.5 percent of the $4 million in grant awards.
Verticchio said he plans to contact the vendor regarding its new contract due to concerns he has about some of the contract’s wording. He said the contract calls for an hourly rate up to $257,000 after the first installment of 50 percent is paid.
“I don’t have any great problem with the contract,” Verticchio said, adding that he wants to revise the contract so the city does not owe the balance if the billable hours do not reach $257,000. “In all probability, we will get to that amount, but I want to make sure that if we don’t reach $257,000, we won’t owe them the full amount.”
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No action followed a brief executive session requested by Ald. Frank Barrett, Lake Chairman, to discuss personnel. While the nature of the discussion was not specified, it is likely the closed-door session focussed on replacing Gary Thornhill, long-time Lake Manager who recently resigned to take another job.
In a related matter, Barrett told the council he is getting pricing from Carpani Computers for a new point-of-sale computer and printer for the Lake Store.
“When Gary left, we were using his computer and printer at the store,” Barrett said, explaining the need for new equipment.
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
Council members briefly discussed the status of a new communications tower, construction of which is likely to start this year. The council previously entered into a franchise agreement to lease property for the tower, which will provide services for AT&T cell phone transmissions and other providers. Ald. Wendy Ottersburg said the company revised its plan to add 20 feet to the tower’s height to expand its range.
Water Plant Operator Dave Pickett said he is eager for the tower to be completed as it will allow the Water Department to implement a computer program enabling the Department to control water flow from the pumping station to the Water Plant without having to physically travel to the pumping station.
“It will be a huge savings for us,” Pickett said.
AUDIT ACCEPTANCE
Upon Fisher’s recommendation, the council voted unanimously to accept the city’s official audit. In a departure from past practice, no representative of the auditing firm appeared before the council to present the audit findings. Fisher said the audit showed the city to “be in the black” but did not mention whether or not the auditor made any other findings.
COUNCIL RADIOS
Mayor John Hicks reported that two-way radios previously issued to city council members are unaccounted for and asked aldermen who might still have a radio to return them to City Hall. He said the radios were issued to aid with communications in the event of an emergency.
“Somewhere along the line, some of them disappeared,” he said.
SNOW REMOVAL
Ald. Bob Fritz, answering criticisms voiced on social media, clarified that the city does not have responsibility for removing snow on sidewalks. He said people were upset because city workers did not remove snow on sidewalks in the area of CUSD 7 schools.
“Those are not our responsibility,” Ald. Rauzi noted.
Ald. Landon Pettit said that when he worked for the city, city workers were advised by the city’s insurance provider to leave sidewalks alone.
“The insurance company told us not to do that,” he said. “Once we clean them off, any liability for them is on us.”
CEJA MEETING
Fisher told the council he plans to meet with CEJA grant partners at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall to discuss CEJA expenditures and closing out the grant. The federal Climate and Equitable Jobs Act grant of $1.1 million was awarded last summer. The City of Gillespie retained $70,248.57 with the remainder allotted to various local units of government, including: Village of East Gillespie, $51,654.72; City of Benld, $58,721.50; Village of Eagarville, $50,684.28; City of Staunton, $80,929.61; Gillespie Public Library, $70,248.57; Benld Public Library, $58,721.50; Gillespie Township, $73,458.48; Cahokia Township, $69,004.42; Community Unit School District 7, $98,167.33; North Mac CUSD 34, $98,584.12; Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service, $133,202.60; Village of Royal Lakes, $51,038.87; City of Bunker Hill, $60,102.51; Village of Mount Clare, $51,878.67; and Brushy Mound Township, $53,919.08.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is a federal program to mitigate against economic conditions that result as the nation moves away from fossil fuels to embrace renewable, “green” energy sources. The local grant award is related to job losses resulting from the idling of Shay Mine No. 1, formerly Monterey Mine No., 1. Each entity was awarded $50,000 plus additional funds based on “job loss” and “revenue loss” factors.
Comments
FELONIES
Ronald R. Arnold, 35 of Gillespie, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a December 28 incident.
Kenneth E. Ray, 39 of Bethalto, is charged with aggravated fleeing while involving the disobedience of two or more official traffic control devices, fleeing/attempting to elude officers, speeding 25-34 mph over the limit, and driver’s license expired more than a year in connection with a December 19 incident.
Jacklyn M. Wichman, 30 of Decatur, is charged with possession of methamphetamines (< 5 grams) in connection with a December 30 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Levi R. Ladendorf, 31 of Staunton, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a July 17, 2023 incident.
Demian E. Ellis, 46 of Benld, is charged with battery/making physical contact in connection with a December 30 incident.
Steven D. Lewis, 33 of Virden, is charged with two counts of violation of a protection order in connection with a December 30 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jason A. Keffer , 28 of Standard City, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a December 23 incident.
Daniel R. Gooding, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a December 28 incident.
Douglas D. Davis, 27 of Benld, is charged with driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and expired registration in connection with a December 26 incident.
Brandon E. Swarringin, 26 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a December 21 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Terry L. Lumma versus Robert L. Lumma
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Pietro Lentini of Carlinville and Anna Jean Triplett of Greenfield
- Morgan Barber and Emilee Bridgwater, both of Benld
Comments
Summer Repertory at Carlinville is pleased to announce the return of a comedy play to the stage. Performances of Ripcord will be held January 17 and 18th at 7:30 PM and January 19 at 2 PM at Blackburn College Bothwell Auditorium.
Ripcord, by David Lindsay-Abaire, is based in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. The rivalry of odd couple roommates Abby and Marilyn, results in high stakes comedy of conflict for control of territory.
Cindy Rice and Joe Hardy bring their combined experience directing the small cast of seasoned actors.
Rice, who has directed place and musicals In Illinois and Texas, spent 15 years co-directing musicals at North Green high school.
Hardy, who began acting at age 7 with notable roles in Summer Repertory Theatre’s Shrek The Musical, The Little Mermaid , and Suessical, has also performed at several Springfield, Illinois, theaters. He has a BA in Theatre Performance from SIUE.
Tickets for Ripcord may be purchased at the door only. Ripcord is rated PG-13. For more information, see Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College Facebook page.
