Community News
Holiday Sparkle set for December 5 and 6 in downtown Gillespie
Youngsters will be able to give Santa their list at the CCCC’s Holiday Sparkle.
The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Sparkle is scheduled for Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6 in downtown Gillespie. The Holiday Sparkle open house will run from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, December 5, and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday. All during this time, downtown eateries will have special discounts and participating businesses will have special offers.
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 the area. Holiday shoppers and visitors can ride the train free and stop in the retail shops to enjoy the warmth and the bargains.
The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce will host the 16th Annual Snack with Santa at the Illinois Valley Center at 217 E. Walnut from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 6. Santa will arrive at 8:30 at the Illinois Valley 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, a digital picture of the child with Santa will be taken in front of a Christmas background. Each child will receive a snack of Prairie Farms milk or juice and a treat from Casey’s General Store served by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 4547 of Gillespie.
Each child will also be given a ticket for a free ride on the CCCC Choo Choo. There is a donation of $5 for Snack with Santa which includes the digital photo, the snack, a ticket to ride the Choo Choo, a goodie bag and a letter mailed to him or her from Santa.
Across the street from Snack with Santa is the Illinois Valley Barn in the garden gift shop where delightful crafts which are handmade by clients of Illinois Valley are displayed and offered at special prices for this event. The shop will be open for business on December 6 from 9 a.m. until Noon.
The exotic petting zoo will be held next to United Community Bank in Gillespie with regular stops by the train. Besides the Alaskan Reindeer, full grown hump-backed camels, zebu, and water buffalo can be petted and fed by the children from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday.
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In a decisive finish that underscored his rising dominance in Illinois Class 1A cross country, senior Chaz Oberkfell of Gillespie High School claimed the state title with a time of 14:31.10 at the IHSA State Cross Country Championships held at Detweiller Park on Saturday, November 8.
Finishing just behind Oberkfell, sophomore Evan Knobloch of Toulon (Stark County) crossed the line in 14:46.25, placing second. Rounding out the top five were senior Blake McLeese of Tuscola (14:46.45), senior Luca Bryja of Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy) with 14:48.38, and senior Elijah Teefey of Pleasant Plains at 14:49.02.
This victory marks Oberkfell’s second IHSA Class 1A state championship. He also won the state crown as a junior in 2024 with a time of 14:31.87. In his sophomore year, he finished 21st with a 15:21.43 season-best time.
Looking ahead, Oberkfell is set to compete in the New Balance NXR Midwest Regional Championships on Sunday, November 16, at the LaVerne Gibson Course in Indiana. The meet serves as a critical stepping stone toward the national championships, and Oberkfell will look to carry his state momentum into the regional stage.
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The community is invited to participate in a family-friendly, drive-thru charity event aimed at keeping local students warm this winter. The “Warm Up Our Kids” drive-thru takes place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Karmak Campus, located at 1 Karmak Plaza, Carlinville, IL and is sponsored by Karmak and Carlinville Area Hospital and Clinics.
Additional drop-off boxes will be available at the following locations to maximize participation and convenience:
- Sullivans in Carlinville, Gillespie, and Litchfield
- Pharmacy Plus in Girard
- Sav-Mor Pharmacy in Virden
- CAH&C Clinic sites in Gillespie, Girard, Carlinville, and Virden
- Briar Rose in Litchfield
- Brave Hazel in Carlinville
- Oh-So Cute Boutique in Virden
Drive through the event route and drop off much-needed supplies listed below. All donations will directly benefit students in the participating school districts, helping ensure every child has the warmth and essentials they need to face the winter season. Community support help bridge gaps and bring tangible, immediate relief to families in need.
Join us in spreading warmth and goodwill this December. The Ben Gil Post and community partners look forward to seeing you at the Karmak Campus drive-thru.
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A Macoupin County jury found Jeffrey D. Brown, 50, of Sawyerville guilty of aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the shooting death of Rodney Messerly, 42, also of Sawyerville, authorities said.
The verdict was delivered a little before 6 p.m. on November 4, 2025, after a days-long trial led by Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan J. Garrison. Brown now faces a mandatory prison sentence ranging from six to 30 years with the sentence to be served at 85 percent. The sentencing will take place on January 12, 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the incident unfolded on September 17, 2024, when Brown called 911 claiming Messerly had entered his home. Responding deputies found Messerly deceased on the front stoop outside the residence. Brown testified that Messerly had forced his way into the home, and he fired in self-defense inside the residence.
Surveillance video played to the jury depicted portions of the confrontation: Messerly speaking with Brown at the door outside the residence before Messerly pushes inside—off-camera for a stretch—followed by four gunshots fired from within the home. Messerly is seen falling back onto the front steps.
A video interview of Brown with Lt. Ryan Dixon of the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department revealed Brown stated he took three steps back inside the residence before firing the initial shots. Forensic pathologist Dr. Nathanial Patterson testified that the first four shots would have been fatal. Approximately seven seconds pass before Brown fires a final shot from inside the residence, striking Messerly in the chest as he yells an expletive.
Garrison offered condolences to Messerly’s family, calling the incident a “horrible situation” and noting that the healing process is just beginning for those affected. He described Messerly as having been experiencing delusions at the time of the incident and emphasized that the last shot was not in self-defense, characterizing it as an act of vengeance.
Brown faces additional charges in unrelated matters: Armed Violence (Class X felony) and Production of Cannabis Plants (Class 4) in 2024CF228, and Resisting Arrest Causing Injury to an Officer in 2024CF252.
Public sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2025. Prosecutors cautioned readers that charges are not proof of guilt and that Brown is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
