Community News
Holiday Sparkle returning to downtown Gillespie; Council approves $410,000 ARPA spending plan
Holiday Sparkle, an annual Christmas season tradition until the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce dissolved about five years ago, is returning to downtown Gillespie this year through the efforts of several local business owners. During the regular monthly meeting of the Gillespie City Council Monday night, city aldermen agreed to waive the rental and cleaning fees for the Gillespie Civic Center to host Holiday Sparkle activities, and gave permission for the group to use the gazebo at Pomatto Memorial Park adjacent to City Hall, use city streets for a 5K Holiday Sparkle run, and hold a lighted parade on Macoupin Street.
Local citizens Tammy Beecher and Jennifer Parker told council members idea to revive the Holiday Sparkle resulted from a recent conversation with business owners. Because of the brief window of time for planning, the women said the past couple of weeks has been a whirlwind of activity as ideas and plans for the event came together.
“Well, this is your first year,” Mayor John Hicks commented. “This will give you something to build on next year.”
The reimagined Holiday Sparkle is set for Saturday, Dec. 17. Despite the truncated planning time, event organizers have put together a full day of activities, beginning with the arrival of Santa Claus that morning. Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children and hear Christmas wishes at the Pomatto Park gazebo. Children also will receive a small treat from Santa to take home.
Beechler arrangements have been made to purchase Christmas tree ornaments for BenGil Elementary students to decorate, which will then adorn a community Christmas tree on the corner of Pine and Macoupin Streets in the empty lot next to United Community Bank. A lighting ceremony is being planned for Sunday, November 27 at 6 p.m. Crafts for children to complete will be available at the Civic Center on the day of the event.
“We’ve had a lot of people volunteer to help,” Beechler said. The Masonic Lodge, for example, has agreed to donate hams for a giveaway. Costumed characters will be roaming the downtown business districts and children will be given punch cards to punch when they have their picture taken with the characters. Completed punch cards will be entered in a drawing for prizes at the end of the day.
Organizers also plan to sponsor a Christmas lighting contest for local homeowners. Addresses for homes in the running will be published so residents can vote for their favorites.
The Holiday Sparkle 5K run is set to start on Chestnut Street near the former Canna Theatre, proceed south on Montgomery Street to the bike trail and back. At the nearby Giving Garden, a firepit will be available for visitors to make s’mores.
Other features planned or confirmed for the event include a story hour at the Gillespie Library, a petting zoo, craft and food vendors, face painting, an indoor movie, and a train operating through downtown. Downtown businesses plan to decorate their stores for Christmas along with the planters along Macoupin Street. Donation boxes will be available to collect food for underprivileged families. Food vendors, including kettle corn, will be located downtown as well.
The Holiday Sparkle was an annual event under the sponsorship of the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce until that organization dissolved about five years ago. Beechler said Grow Gillespie is sponsoring the event this year in order to buy insurance coverage for the day.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Ald. Dona Rauzi, whose motion to allow the group to use the Civic Center free of charge was unanimously approved. The council also approved Rauzi’s motion to allow the organizers to use city streets for the 5K run and to donate $500 to help subsidize the event.
ARPA SPENDING PLAN
After a brief presentation by City Treasurer Dan Fisher, the council unanimously approved a proposed spending plan for $410,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by the city. The spending plan is subject to approval by the federal government.
Fisher said the funds are intended to be used for permanent infrastructure that municipalities probably would not be able to undertake without the funding. The tentative spending plan includes money to upgrade an existing lift station for the city sewer system and build a new one to service an area of vacant lots near the water treatment plant where the city hopes to encourage developers to build new homes. The plan also includes $100,000 for ADA-compliant playground equipment and other improvements at Big Brick Park and $25,000 for improvements at Welfare Park. The plan also allocates $25,000 for campground improvements at Gillespie Lake.
“There’s supposed to be an economic development component to some of what we do,” Fisher said, noting that some communities are setting aside money for grant programs to help civic organizations undertake projects resulting in permanent capital improvements.
Ald. Rauzi asked if some of the money could be used to help pay for remodeling costs associated with moving the Police Department to space being vacated by the Fire Department at the Civic Center.
“It’s difficult to use this money for an existing building,” Fisher said. “It can be done, though.”
The spending plan presumably will be subject to review by individual committees, which could suggest further refinements. Once finalized, the city is obligated to conduct a public hearing on the spending plan before submitting it to federal authorities.
Fisher said getting information about the ARPA program has been difficult because the federal administration for ARPA is understaffed. Administration of the program has largely been relegated to individual states. Fisher said he has been working primarily with a liaison to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in the Governor’s office.
Though unrelated to the ARPA program, the council also unanimously approved Ald. Wendy Rolando’s to file a pre-application with the U.S. Department of Agriculture with an eye toward obtaining funds through the Rural Development program to replace the raw water intake at Gillespie Lake. The intake reportedly was temporarily upgraded several years ago to raise the intake above the level of sedimentation on the lake bottom. A permanent upgrade apparently would ensure the intake is high enough to prevent sediment from entering the water treatment plant.
CREDIT CARD FEE
After several minutes of discussion and debate, the council voted 7-1 to impose a three percent fee credit card and debit card purchases. The fee will not only impact water customers, but also persons who buy rock or pay for other goods and services with a credit card or debit card.
Fisher said the city is incurring considerable expense for fees paid to credit card companies for using their services, and that some customers, especially at the lake, are using cards to make unacceptably small purchases.
“Standard practice would be to set a minimum purchase,” Fisher said.
Ald. Landon Pettit said the lake concession already has a minimum purchase policy for $5
“Even $5 is pretty low,” said Fisher, adding that he had seen credit card purchases as small as $1.25 at the lake.
“I that we were going to put an ATM out there,” Pettit said, adding that an ATM would alleviate the city from paying credit card fees at the lake.
Fisher argued that city needs to recoup its cost and that charging a fee for using a credit card is not unusual.
“Last month we had $200 in credit card fees on water bills,” Fisher said. “That’s not an insignificant amount. My recommendation would be to have a minimum purchase amount and a credit card fee.”
A motion to impose a three percent surcharge on credit card purchase was approved 7-1 with Pettit voting no.
“I think we’re looking at a whole lot of headaches and complaining over something I would call the cost of doing business,” Pettit said.
AMBULANCE DISPATCH CONTRACT
On a motion by Ald. Rauzi, the council voted unanimously to direct City Attorney Rick Verticchio to contact the Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service to advise the organization the city will increase it’s fee for providing dispatching services to $1,500 per month as of Jan. 1.
Rauzi said the city previously reached an agreement with the ambulance service to provide dispatching services for $1,000 per month on the condition the service found another dispatching service. The former contract was extended to August after ambulance officials assured the city the ambulance service would contract with Staunton Community Hospital to provide dispatching services for $750 per month. To date, however, the ambulance service has not ended its relationship with the Gillespie Police Department.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
On a motion by Ald. Rauzi, the council voted to declare the long-vacant building at 300 South Macoupin Street a nuisance property, authorizing Verticchio to contact the owner to abate the nuisance. Rauzi said the neighboring business shares a common wall with the derelict building and fears his property could be impacted by further deterioration of the two-story brick structure next door.
The council also took action to declare the former Dollar General Store location at 109 S. Macoupin Street a nuisance property.
Verticchio said the court is ready to give permission for the city to raze or clean-up five residential properties previously declared public nuisances. He asked council members to give him the names of neighboring property owners who might be interested in acquiring the condemned properties, in which case arrangements might be made for the interested parties to initiate the abatement at no cost to the city.
STOP SIGNS
Council members approved the installation of four-way stop signs at the intersection of Osie and Green Streets but deferred approval of stop signs in the 500 block of Plum Street, pending the recommendation of the Police Chief.
A group of mothers who live on Plum appeared before the council to say they feared for the safety of their families on Plum Street due primarily to traffic congestion before and after school hours at Community Unit School District 7. One said she had seen school buses using Plum Street in violation of an agreement between the city and the school district.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Residents George Schardan and Terrell Ford appeared before the council to complain about conditions on South Street and an ordinance citation, respectively.
Schardan said contractors used an inferior grade of rock chips for a motor fuel tax maintenance project on South Street, resulting in excessive amounts of dust in the neighborhood. Additionally, the roadway “rippled” after traffic resumed on the street.
Fisher told Schardan that Street Department workers have been focused on other projects and have not been able to tend to the South Street situation.
“The ripple usually isn’t solid,” Fisher told Schardan. “The usual procedure is to sweep up rock” to over the ripples.
“We’ll talk to our street guys,” Ald. Rolando said. “They aren’t here tonight so it won’t be rectified tonight.”
Schardan continued to press his complaint, saying he was prepared to take further steps if the situation was not resolved.
“We’ll talk to the Street Department and see if it can be fixed,” Verticchio commented. “If they can’t fix it, I’m sure we’ll see you back here in December.”
The council took no action on Ford’s request to dismiss an ordinance citation and refund a fine he already paid. Ford said he was cited for the illegal discharge of a firearm on the basis of a complaint from his neighbor. He said he paid the fine because he was told fighting the citation in court would cost him more than the fine.
Ford alleged the citation was invalid because neither alderman from his ward had signed it. Further, he alleged another neighbor was willing to sign a statement saying the complaining witnesses complaint was untrue. Under questioning by the mayor, Ford said he had used a pellet gun to shoot a squirrels on his property.
Ford said squirrels had caused considerable property damage, including chewing through the fuel lines on his vehicle. He presented a nuisance animal permit he had obtained from the Department of Natural Resources.
Mayor Hicks read the permit and reported the permit was for live trapping only. When Ford argued his pellet gun was not technically a firearm, both Hicks and Verticchio said the ordinance defined it as a firearm because it fires projectiles that could pose a hazard to neighbors.
“I don’t know what you expect us to do,” Verticchio said. “You say you want to appeal, but nothing was filed with the court. There’s nothing for you to appeal. You pled guilty.”
Ford said he paid the fine but did not plead guilty.
“That’s what pleading guilty is,” Verticchio said.
Hicks advised Ford to confine his squirrel control efforts to trapping only in the future. “Go to Rural King, get a couple of traps and trap them,” Hicks said.
DAMAGE COMPLAINT FORM
Verticchio presented a form for city residents can use to file claims for damage done to their property during a recently completed water infrastructure project. Several residents have complained that workers for Haier Plumbing and Heating caused damage to their property which has not been resolved. The city’s contract with Haier required the company to restore residential properties disturbed during the project to the original condition.
Verticchio said the city is making no guarantee that property owners’ complaints will be resolved. The form simply gives the city a standard format for submitting multiple claims to Haier’s insurance company for reimbursement to residents for damage allegedly caused by the company. Verticchio said paying the claims will be in the hands of the insurance company.
Residential claims for damage are due to the city by Dec. 31. Forms are available at City Hall.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Hired Christian Abner as a full-time police officer on the recommendation of Police Chief Jared DePoppe. Abner had been on the part-time roster and recently completed full-time Police Academy training. The council previously approved sending two other candidates for Academy training with an eye toward hiring them as full-time officers when they complete training.
- On the recommendation of Mayor Hicks, approved installing a water meter at a water line terminal on the Lake Road before the line crosses an agricultural field to service a rural residence. Hicks said the meter will allow the city to monitor for possible leaks in the line crossing the field.
- Authorized payment of $251,701.45 to Korte & Luitjohan Contractors for work completed on an extensive renovation at the city water treatment plant. Fisher noted the city is holding about $12,000 due on the contract pending acceptance of the project.
- Approved a reimbursement to the city from Tax Increment Finance funds in the amount of about $19,000 for payments previously made to Shade Solutions, Ind., Patrick Riley Farm & Industrial Painting, and Young’s Roofing for work completed at the Civic Center.
- Agreed to contract with Clean Uniforms to provide clean entry rugs every two weeks at four entrances to the Civic Center at a cost of $620 per month.
- Authorized a final payment of $812.04 from the TIF fund to Shade Solutions, Inc.
- Authorized payment of $258 from TIF funds to Moran Economic Development.
- Authorized payment of $690 from TIF funds to Young’s Roofing.
- Authorized a payment of $19,981 from TIF funds to United Community Bank, part of a multi-year agreement for the city to acquire property from UCB.
Comments
Representatives of a food management company pitched their vision for reshaping school lunch and breakfast offerings at Community Unit School District 7 schools during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. Later, however, the head cook at BenGil Elementary School expressed doubts about what the company promised to deliver. “They make it sound like it’s all a gravy train,” said Jackie McKinney. “It’s not.”
No action followed a 20-minute presentation by Bill Fritcher, Business Development Associate, and Angie Eden, a food service worker, from Opaa! Food Management, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo. There was no clear indication whether the board or district administration is leaning toward contracting with the company.
Founded in 1978, Opaa! Provides food management services to more than 800 schools in 250 school districts spread out over seven states. The company serves 21 schools in Illinois, including the nearby Staunton, Litchfield, Jersey and Nokomis school districts. The company claims a 97 percent retention rate among its client schools.
Fritcher, a former administrator in the Neoga school district, said the company emphasizes home-cooked foods made from scratch. Opaa! provides both hot and cold entrees, and schools can tailor offerings to meet their needs and budgets. Hot entrees include items such as roast turkey, meatloaf, cheeseburgers, pizzas and spaghetti. The company also serves a variety of cold sub sandwiches. Again, depending upon the details of its contract with a school district, the company can provide a salad bar, along with fresh fruit.
Breakfast offerings can include hot or cold cereal, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. Some client schools offer a “breakfast on the go” option where students can grab a breakfast item during the mid-morning hours of the school day. As part of its service, Opaa! would provide an all-day “Gulp Station” with dispensers of lemonade, iced tea and water.
“There’s a lot of local control over menu items,” Fritcher said. “If a school doesn’t want us serving coffee to students, we don’t serve coffee.”
Fritcher said the school district would continue to set pricing for school lunches and breakfasts, collect payments and control the revenue stream. The district also would continue to own food service equipment and facilities. At a minimum, Opaa! would place it’s own employee as a food service manager, but other food service workers can be either Opaa! employees or employees of the school district. In either case, the school district would have final say over who is allowed to work in the school district.
“You’d have control of who is working in the school and is around your kids,” Fritcher said.
According to Fritcher, the company emphasizes presentation.
“We want the food to look good so kids will eat it,” he said. “We strive to make it enjoyable for the kids.”
Client schools submit photos of daily offerings to the home office for approval, Eden said. As an example, she cited an instance when she submitted a photo from Neoga that included broccoli as a side item. The home office said the broccoli looked too brown and demanded it be replaced with fresher produce.
Fritcher said the company employees an executive chef to create recipes and standards for food served to students. The chef has created a number of streaming videos used to train on site staff.
Key to the operation is a computer program for food management. Eden said the program monitors what food the district has in the freezer and pantry, and adjust menus to best utilize resources on hand. The program also provides a portal parents and students can access to see weekly menus.
A food management contract would be subject to state bidding requirements, according to Fritcher. To start the process, the district would create a Request for Proposals to solicit bids. If Opaa! Is the successful bidder, the company would offer a five-year fixed price agreement, renewable on an annual basis. Either party would be able to end the contract upon a 90-day notice.
During a public comment period, McKinney alleged Opaa!’s promises have not matched reality in nearby school districts. The head cook at Litchfield, she pointed out, quit soon after Opaa! took over. Pizzas and some other food items, she said, do not match the company’s claims.
“We were told this is not about the money, it’s about the choices,” she said. “If you want more options, someone needs to tell us.”
McKinney said she has been employed by the district in food services since 2002. The proposal to hire an outside food management company, she said, comes as “a slap in the face.”
McKinney predicted problems if the district contracts with Opaa!, particularly in the elementary school.
“I don’t see how our kindergarteners are going to be able to carry their own tray and serve themselves,” she said. “They’re going to drop their trays. We get our kids through the serving line in five minutes so they have time to sit down and eat. When they have to make their own tray, how long do you think that’s going to take?”
McKinney also predicted issues with food sanitation when young children with runny noses and/or dirty hands are expected to serve themselves from the food line.
McKinney said an outside company cannot be expected to know local students like local food service workers know them.
“I watch for a little boy who comes through my line every day because I know he doesn’t get food at home like he does here,” she said. “We’re here for the kids and I don’t think these people are.”
In a somewhat related matter which could facilitate transitioning to an outside food service, the board accepted with “regret” the retirements of head high school/middle school cook Penny Feeley and GHS/GMS cook Janice Hammann, both effective on June 30.
PERSONNEL
The board took action on a number of personnel issues following an executive session of about one hour.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to rehire the following fourth-year teachers and grant them tenure for the 2024-25 school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Lievers, Alex Newton, Pete Visintin and Jacob West.
The following non-tenured staff were hired for the 2024-25 school year: school nurse Rachel Bouillon, fifth grade teacher Radeana Gentzyel, speech pathologist Kaylee Collins, special education teacher Jaiden Braundmeier, kindergarten teacher Jessica Yeager, fist grade teacher Sydney Owsley, band teacher Brad Taulbee, chorus teacher Ben McCullough, Tim Biggs, special education teacher Cory Bonstead, and Dalton Barnes.
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board rehired the following tenured teachers for 2024-25: Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Urban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Hobaugh, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tieman, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jamie Schmidt, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Geddes, Lisa Ballinger, Amber Allan, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Tammy Garde, Nate Heinrich’s, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamar, Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth Thackery, Shanna Conner, Matthew Browner, Jeremy Smith, Rachelle Prough, Jarrod Herron, Jill Stole, Korben Clark, Kayla Wills, Nikki Browner, Kevin McNichols, Katie Orange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nelhs, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Schuette, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, David Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bully, Whitney Page and Stephanie Bray.
The board accepted “with regret” the retirement of BenGil Elementary teacher Dana Tieman, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation for purposes of retirement of GMS paraprofessional Ella May Roemer, effective at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and posted the position as vacant.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school paraprofessional Darian Gill, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted Gill’s resignation at the GHS/GMS cheerleading coach and posted that position as vacant.
Board members unanimously agreed to post vacancies for the following summer school positions: high school math, English and drivers’ education; middle school math, English and science; and six elementary positions. Additionally, the board posted two summer school food service positions.
The board accepted “with regret” the resignation of long-time GHS head women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted the resignation of Korbin Clark as GMS seventh-grade basketball coach and posted the position as vacant.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Eaker as a volunteer assistant dance coach, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board agreed to appoint Foley Seferi and James Bryant a volunteer assistant high school football coaches, pending verification of certification and a background check.
By a unanimous vote, the board accepted the resignation of district custodian Owen Parker, and posted the position as vacant. The board also voted to post vacancies for two full-route bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year, and hired Billie Bowles as a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
REPAVING
The board awarded a $62,524 contract to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., Wilsonville, to repave five district parking lots. DeLaurent was the low bidder for the project. The contract will be paid from proceeds of a $1.6 million alternate revenue bond sale for capital projects.
Supt. Shane Owsley reported that he is starting to gather estimates for other upcoming projects to be underwritten with bond revenue, including a project to refinish the high school gym floor, a project to reline the all-weather track and a major HVAC project.
SURPLUS WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board accepted a list of surplus weight room equipment and agreed to offer the equipment for sale via sealed bids. The equipment, which includes stationary bikes, running machines, free weights, benches, dumbbells and racks, was replaced with new equipment as part of a recently completed project to renovate and re-equip the weight room.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board unanimously approved early graduation requests for Maria Alger, Eliana Barrios-Madison, Owen Baugh, Gage Bonds, Abby Carter, John Q. Halterman, Eva Hidden, Felicia Lambert, Emma Luckshis, Ashley Markulakis, McKenna Montoro, Kaden Reiffer, Abigail Sharp, Jayden Stangle, Cooper Wentler, Ashton Whitlow and Avery Young. The students will be allowed to graduate at the end of their eleventh year of high school at the end of the current school year, provided all graduation requirements have been met.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized high school women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, who is retiring after a career of 16 seasons. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted that Gray led this year’s team to the Sectional Tournament in Beardstown after winning their first regional championship since 2012. The team also won its first County Tournament since 2002, and celebrated 26 wins—the most ever.
During the Carlinville Rotary’s All-Star Game, Gray was named Rotary’s Coach of the Year.
“On behalf of CUSD 7 and all you former players, we express much gratitude for your many years of service, dedication, leadership, wisdom and professional demeanor on and off the court,” Rosentreter told Gray.
Also during the District Focus, a group of fifth graders told the board about their recent field trip to Busch Stadium, where they learned about practical math applications and other subjects.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Gave final approval to the 2024-25 school calendar, calling for the first day of school attendance on Aug. 14 with the last day of school set for May 29, or earlier if no emergency days are used.
- Approved a schedule of board meeting dates for the coming year. The board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month with the open session beginning at 7 p.m. The December meeting is set one week earlier on Dec. 16 to avoid conflict with the winter break.
- Awarded the annual bid to supply fuel to low bidder M & M Service Co., Carlinville.
- Voted to renew the district’s annual membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Rescheduled the April board meeting from Monday, April 22, to Tuesday, April 23, to avoid a conflict.
Comments
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to Madison Street and Wilson Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was out in the 400 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a domestic battery. Regan M. Treadway, 22, of Hillsboro was arrested for domestic battery.
Gillespie Police Department assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with a criminal investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of South Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning. Charles H. Daubman, 62, of Gillespie was issued a citation for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer during normal patrol in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Benld noticed a trunk open on a vehicle. The officer made contact with the owners and they secured the trunk after checking it.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to illegal dumping.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory in reference to a civil standby.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Easton Street in reference to a civil standby.
The School Resource Officer called in requesting assistance in reference to a female student that had left the school.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to Route 4 by the nursing home to check on a person on a bike with no lights.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Route 138 in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Gillespie Street in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a dog at large.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an animal complaint.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Benld. Logan G. Lawson, 22, of Roodhouse was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare. David E. Schmidt, 46, of Staunton was issued citations for speeding, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Spruce Street in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Jersey Street in reference to an open line 911 call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Candace N. Carlen, 36, of New Douglas was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 200 block of West Oak Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious noise.
An officer was dispatched to West Dorsey Street and South Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to a medical assist.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Esha V. Bhatt, 30, of Edwardsville was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Nicole L Richey, 34, of Wilsonville was issued a citation for speeding and expired registration.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of 9th Street in Benld in reference to a suicidal subject
An officer was out with a suspicious person at Main Street and Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Elm Street. Walter L. Vester, 29, of Gillespie was arrested on a Glenn Carbon warrant for larceny.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Jordan L. Jett, 23, of Hillsboro was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to aggravated assault. Levi T. Kroll, 34, of Carlinville was arrested for aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and operation of a vehicle with suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to LJ Avenue where multiple vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone. After multiple announcements asking them to move, two vehicles remained and received citations. Jeromy J Moore, 47, of Greenfield and Matthew E. Raffety, 52, of Bunker Hill were issued citations for parking in a no-parking zone.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a domestic battery. Mitchela P. Zbornak, 34, of Gillespie was arrested for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak Street in reference to an ordinance issue for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Oak Street in reference to a possible burglary.
The School Resource Officer called in reckless driving in the high school parking lot.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to retail theft and criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a loud vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to a suspicious person.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Oak for a 911 untraceable call the officers checked the area and were unable to find an emergency.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to down wires at Dorsey Road and 1st Street in Mt. Clare. Ameren was contacted to remove the wiring.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Community News
Denby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
Carlinville attorney Thomas Denby easily sailed to victory in a three-way race to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Macoupin County in Tuesday’s Primary Election balloting.
Denby captured 63.26 percent of the Republican vote, easily besting Jonathan Verticchio’s 23.46 percent and Aaron Bellm’s 13.28 percent. In terms of raw vote numbers, Denby landed 2,534 votes to Verticchio’s 940 votes and Bellm’s 532 votes.
There were no judicial candidates for the race on the Democrat side of the ballot.
As a result of Tuesday’s election, Denby is likely to step into the office being vacated Resident Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2006, when he narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kevin Polo. It’s unclear whether or not the Democrat Central Committee can legally name a candidate to run against Denby in the General Election this fall, meaning Denby is the likely successor to Deihl.
There were no surprises locally in the Presidential races. Macoupin Democrats favored incumbent Joe Biden with 89.62 percent of the vote, while Republicans cast 83.39 percent of their votes for former President Donald Trump.
Although no longer a candidate, Nikki Haley gained 12.18 percent of the Republican vote. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Ryan Brinkley each took less than three percent of the Republican vote. On the Democrat side, Biden’s support was eroded by 10.28 percent of the vote shared by Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and Frank Lozada.
A total of 5,741 voters cast votes in the Macoupin Primary, representing 18.67 percent of the county’s 30,757 registered voters. That could indicate a softening of interest in the Biden/Trump rematch. In 2016, when Trump and Hilary Clinton were nominated, a stunning 45.82 percent of Macoupin’s voters cast ballots in the primary election. Four years later, 23.54 percent of the county’s voters participated in the primary, despite restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Republican nomination for U.S. Congressional Representative for the 13th District, Joshua Loyd took 57.28 percent of the Macoupin vote, compared with 42.72 percent for Thomas Clatterback. The Congressional vote mirrored voting district-wide in which Loyd took the nomination with 55.9 percent of the total vote. Loyd will take on freshman Representative Nikki Budzinski on the Democrat side, who ran unopposed for the nomination.
A number of county races were unopposed. On the Democrat side, incumbent Jordan Garrison took 1,387 votes for State’s Attorney, while incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya took 1,471 Democrat votes. On the Republican side Amy J. Ashby took 3,448 votes to be nominated for Circuit Clerk. Ashby becomes the likely successor to Democrat Lee Ross who is stepping down.
Though not likely, both parties could name candidates to run for county offices in November. Otherwise Garrison, Kravanya and Ashby will run unopposed for the General Election. A win by Ashby would make her the second Republican constitutional officer in the Courthouse. Two years ago, County Treasurer Amber McGartland became the first Republican elected to a Courthouse office since A.C. “Julie” Bartulis served as Treasurer in the 1960s.
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