Community News
Holiday Sparkle Comes to Gillespie
Holiday Sparkle will be in downtown Gillespie on December 2 and 3
The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce has activities planned for Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3.
Holiday Sparkle Open House will run from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, December 2 and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. All during this time, downtown eateries will have special discounts and participating businesses will have special offers.
During the Holiday Sparkle Open House Hours, downtown businesses will be conducting sales and specials in their stores on both days. Downtown Gillespie businesses are going to showcase Holiday Sparkle with colorful displays of Christmas themes and enticing specials of the season while the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce Choo Choo chugs up and down Macoupin.
Holiday shoppers and visitors can ride the Choo Choo free and stop in the retail shops to enjoy the warmth and the bargains.
The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce will host the Twelfth Annual Snack with Santa at the Illinois Valley Rehab Center at 217 E. Walnut (next to the Gillespie Police station) from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 4. Santa will arrive at 8:30 at the Illinois Valley Rehab Center for Snack with Santa. He will stay until 11:30 to visit with each of the children attending and hear their special requests for Christmas. During the Snack with Santa, digital pictures of the child with Santa will be taken in front of a Christmas background. Clients and staff of the Illinois Valley Rehabilitation Center will do their usual beautiful decorating of the background.
Each child will receive a snack courtesy of Casey’s General Store, Prairie Farms, Papa Jo Danni’s Pizzeria, 1st BancFinancial, Greg Craine, Agent, Country Financial, Tina Olroyd, Financial Representative,and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 4547 of Gillespie. Each child will be given a ticket for a free ride on the CCCC Choo Choo and a free bag of food for the animals. There is a donation of $5 for Snack with Santa which includes the digital photo, the snack, ticket to ride the Choo Choo, and ticket to buy a food bag.
Ride the Coal Country Chamber Choo-Choo from one end of town to the other, take the children to the Reindeer Petting Zoo, along with Alaskan Reindeer, children can pet full grown hump-backed camels, miniature donkeys as well as pygmy goats.
Snack with Santa, the CCCC Choo Choo, Holiday Sparkle, and the Reindeer Petting Zoo and caroling will provide an opportunity for consumers to “Shop Local, Buy Local”, for celebration, and for enjoyment during the holiday season.
More information on Snack with Santa, the Choo Choo and other activities of the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce can be found on web site: www.coalcountrychamber.com. Please leave a message at 839-4888 if you wish to contact the Chamber or email at mrer@madisontelco.com.
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SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time and part-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2025 semester. Part-time students are enrolled in six to 11 credit hours while full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.
Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. The excerpt below features Macoupin County students.
FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Bunker Hill – Logan R. Helling
Carlinville – Reid P. Evans*, Brody M. Reif
Gillespie – Maris E. Brill, Austin L. Grace*
Girard – Max Allen*, Katie Angulo*, Mick B. Downs*, Josh Hagerman, Reed Lewis, Michael S. Prose*
Mount Olive – Jakobb E. Brown*, Georgia G. Kampwerth
Palmyra – Alexis R. Bowman*
Staunton – Paige N. Horstmeyer*, Michael J. Matesa*, Lauren R. Mathis, Brandon Mo
Virden – Zorah E. Austin*, Michaeh N. Barnhouse*, Maddie Carver, Jackson R. Pierce*, Morgan C. Snell*, Grant M. Strickler, Courtney N. Ulinski*
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Benld – Christopher Young*
Carlinville – Alex C. Nance*, Jerry D. Nance Jr.*
Gillespie – Jessica L. Tiek*
Girard – Lindsey J. Ferguson*, Jackson R. Henke*, Natalie Moriconi*
Mount Olive – Kara A. Harmon*, Justin D. O’Neill*, Hayden Wylder*
Virden – Candace L. Carlile*, Lillian M. Carlile*, Natalie M. Little*, Josie P. Patterson, Luciano Pierce*
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The 2:18 Missions Team, a dedicated local outreach group based in Gillespie, is excited to announce its upcoming cookout fundraiser to support its community initiatives. The event will take place on Saturday, June 21st, at Randy’s Market in Benld.
From approximately 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy delicious homemade food while supporting a worthy cause. The menu will feature pork chops, pork burgers, hot dogs, and refreshing water — perfect for a summer day of good food and fellowship.
“All proceeds from this event will go directly toward our mission efforts to serve and uplift our community,” said a spokesperson for 2:18 Missions Team. “We’re grateful for the support of our neighbors and look forward to seeing everyone there!”
Come out to Randy’s Market in Benld on June 21st to enjoy a tasty meal, support local endeavors, and connect with others in the community.
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CARLINVILLE, IL – On June 14th, concerned citizens are invited to join a coalition of grassroots organizations to nonviolently protest in front of the Macoupin County Courthouse at 201 E. Main St. in Carlinville, IL, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. This protest is one of over 1,400 protests taking place nationwide with millions of participants as part of the NO KINGS National Day of Action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.
Trump’s unconstitutional actions include suppressing free speech, detaining people for their political positions, deporting American citizens, defying the courts, and much more – all while enriching himself and his billionaire allies.
“Now Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14th. This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his image as a strongman, while paying for it with taxpayer dollars.”, said Kelley Hatlee, a volunteer organizer with the Macoupin County 50501and Indivisible movements. “Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of attention, the NO KINGS nationwide protests make action everywhere else the story of America on June 14th: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.”, said Hatlee.
“We’re showing up together as neighbors, friends, and fellow community members to say NO to authoritarianism and yes to a government that serves everyone,” said Chelsa Pruden, a volunteer organizer with Macoupin PRIDE and Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible. “We’re tired of watching powerful people trample our rights and our voices. This protest is about reminding everyone, especially those in power, that real strength comes from the people.”
Participants are encouraged to make protest signs that convey their personal messages. Packaged, nonperishable food items will be accepted for donation to local food pantries to help low-income families who will be hit hardest by Trump’s policies.
The NO KINGS protest in Carlinville is organized by a volunteer coalition of the Macoupin PRIDE and the Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible grassroots movements. The coalition has created a Facebook page titled “Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible” for concerned citizens to follow.
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