Community News
Illinois National Guard headquarters turns 117
The Illinois National Guard Headquarters at Camp Lincoln in Springfield celebrated its 117th birthday July 6 and officials invited local businesses and government officials to learn how to do business with the federal government.
“As we continue to celebrate the Illinois National Guard’s 300th year, I urge each of you to take the time to look at the history of where the Illinois National Guard came from,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff. “Just last week we commemorated the first shot fired at Gettysburg and that was an Illinois National Guardsman. Look at the history of Santa Anna’s leg, the 106th Cavalry rescuing the Belgium King, and what we accomplished in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II. Every time you look at the things we’ve done throughout our history, it really is amazing. Today is an event which commemorates the anniversary of the start of Camp Lincoln.”
In 1885 Governor Richard J. Oglesby appointed a 5-person board to seek out a permanent base of operations for the Illinois National Guard. Springfield competed against Highland Park, Waukegan, Wilmington, Oregon, Quincy, Ottawa, and Kankakee. The cost of the initial 160 acres was $18,100, of which Springfield residents raised $3,100 and the city paid $15,000. The first building constructed on Camp Lincoln was a horse stable for 100 horses, a quartermaster house and an icehouse.
Today, Camp Lincoln is home to the 233rd Military Police Company, the medical detachment headquarters, Company C, 634th Brigade Support Battalion, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment, 232 Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3637th Maintenance Company, Recruiting and Retention Battalion headquarters and several smaller units, including the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) which serves as the training facility for the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, as well as Information Technology, Culinary Arts and transportation reclassification courses plus other classes and seminars.
“Today there are more than 550 full-time employees and approximately 2,000 traditional Illinois National Guard members in Springfield,” said Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Director of Public Affairs, Illinois National Guard. “That translates into approximately $70 million in annual payroll for Sangamon County.”
Alessia said the second portion of the event was to educate local businesses and officials on how to do business with the federal government.
“We are always interested in doing business with local businesses,” Alessia said. “If we can help out local businesses and the local economy that is what we’d like to try and do.”
Lt. Col. Mark Williams, supervisory contract specialist, U.S. Property and Fiscal Office for Illinois, presented an overview of the requirements for a business to participate in government contracting programs.
“In fiscal year 2022, the Illinois National Guard had approximately $4.8 million in small business-eligible contracts,” Williams said. “To date in fiscal year 2023, the Illinois National Guard has approximately $17.6 million in small business-eligible contracts.”
Williams said businesses and government entities must be properly registered and have identification numbers, and if competing for contracts specified for small businesses, meet the business size standards set by the Small Business Administration. Businesses must also register with SAM, the official United States government system for contract opportunities, maintain compliance, and meet cybersecurity requirements.
“To sell goods and services to the government, you must meet certain requirements,” Williams said. “It is not a same day approval system, so if you see a contract you would like to bid and the closing date is tomorrow, you won’t be able to bid on that contract (unless you are already registered to do business with the federal government through SAM.gov).”
Williams talked about set-asides for government contracting programs.
“Some government contracting programs are available only for businesses which meet the requirements for specific categories, such as small businesses, women owned businesses, small, disadvantaged businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses,” he said. “Businesses must meet certain requirements to be placed in one of those categories, but there are benefits available for these businesses.”
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The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a 14-mile patching and resurfacing project on Interstate 55 from Litchfield to the Macoupin/Madison County line begins Monday, April 21. Work is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Additionally, ramps for Litchfield (exit 52), Mount Olive (exit 44) and Staunton (exit 41) will be resurfaced. Most of the work is expected to take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
Lane closures are expected, and message boards will be used to direct traffic through the work zones. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Benefits of this project include a smoother driving surface.
To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.
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George Kuchar of Eagarville is the winner of The Partnership for Educational Excellence 2025 Grand Raffle. The prize is $5,000.
“Education is important. I want to help these students get on in life,” says George, who is the owner of Kuchar Combine, an international agribusiness based in Mt. Olive.
Grand Raffle ticket sales kicked off this year at The Partnership’s “For the Love of Education” annual trivia contest in February. When welcoming the trivia players that evening, Donna Prevedell, vice president and a charter member of education foundation, asked participants: “What would we do without you? Your steadfast trust and generosity are the only resources The Partnership has ever had. Our very first major donor, John Schmidt, said that he would support us only if we could prove that we had solid community backing – which you immediately gave and continue to give 33 years later! Thank you.”
The result is The Partnership’s investment of more than $1 million donor dollars into the students of CUSD7. “We treasure your trust and humbly pass on your generously-shared, hard-earned dollars to our children – our future,” she said addressing CUSD7 staff and teachers, past scholars and parents, and dozens of new and established donors in attendance.
“It’s such solid donor support that allowed The Partnership to increase its scholarships from $1,000 to $2,000 last year. All we could afford in 1992 was three $250 scholarships. Friends and neighbors like you have made it possible to increase that nearly tenfold,” she said.
Another milestone was reached in 2024: a record 38% of the GHS graduating class was awarded scholarships.
The Partnership for Educational Excellence is a 501(c)3 education foundation. All donations are tax deductible. For more information and to donate: www.thepartnership7.org
Several Partnership directors gathered Saturday 12 April at Lumpy’s Restaurant in Gillespie where cook Mary Gray drew George Kuchar’s name from 500 tickets.
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FELONIES
Kaytlin Hudgins, 29 of Carlinville, is charged with burglary and causing a child to be endangered in connection with a March 23 incident.
Jacalyn Walker, 35 of Carlinville, is charged with theft ($500-10k), six counts of official misconduct/forbidden act, and five counts of wire fraud in connection with multiple incidents.
Michael J. Sullivan, 38 of Collinsville, is charged with aggravated battery of a child less than 13 and causing bodily harm in connection with an April 3 incident.
Emiliano R. McGill, 20 of Litchfield, is charged with criminal damage to property ($500-10k) in connection with an April 11 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Brett S. A. BilBruck, 19 of Hettick, is charged with possessing a firearm without a valid FOID in connection with an April 5 incident.
Mya R. Stewart, 20 of Wilsonville, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a March 22 incident.
Timothy A. Dugger, 23 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon in connection with an April 10 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jonathan A. Graves, 33 of Wilsonville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an April 2 incident.
Michael T. Mitchusson, 32 of Virden, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a March 28 incident.
Michelle A. Meyers, 49 of Staunton, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 28 incident.
William E. Rhodes, 56 of Litchfield, is charged with fleeing/attempting to elude an officer and expired registration in connection with a March 31 incident.
Lauren R. Washburn, 40 of Godfrey, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 30 incident.
Steven J. Henn, 33 of Highland, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 27 incident.
Jacob A. Roof, 41 of Springfield, is charged with driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage, improper passing on the shoulder, changing lanes without signal, exceeding speed in a school zone, obstructed windshield, and expired registration in connection with an April 3 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Stephanie G. Emery versus Jacob L. Emery
- Stacy Schuette versus Clay Schuette
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Joseph Daniel Baum of Mount Olive and Cynthia Maria Aberle of Staunton
- Aaron Michael Bush and Candise Lynn Spurgeon, both of Bunker Hill
- Joseph Andrew Rosentreter of Rock Island and Madison Elizabeth Schneider of Brighton
- Alexander Nicholas Overby and Madison Delany Shanks, both of Springfield
- Bobby Jay Gilmer and Melindajoe Violet Heigert, both of Staunton
- Matthew William Hartsook and Brooke Ann Buffington, both of Carlinville
