Community News
Italian-American Days celebration takes place Memorial Day weekend
The Italian Club of Benld, a non-profit organization, would like to invite everyone to the Benld City Park on May 26, 27 and 28 to celebrate the 69th Annual Italian-American Days Festival. The festival is known throughout the state of Illinois for its Italian foods and games.
The weekend begins on Friday, May 26 with the park opening at 4:00 p.m. Connor Family Amusements will offer Carnival Arm Bands from 6 to 10 p.m. allowing anyone to ride as often as they like for $25. The OWLZ will provide music for your listening and dancing pleasure from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
On Saturday, May 27, the Benld Italian Club Car Show will kick off that day’s festivities. The event will be held in the Benld City Park, rain or shine, with registration being held from 8 to 11 a.m. The registration fee is $20. Professional judging begins at noon with trophies being presented after judging. The first 70 entries will receive a car show T-shirt and a dash plaque sponsored by Kravanya Funeral Homes. Food and refreshments will be available for sale on-site.
Saturday’s activities will continue with the park opening at 11:00 a.m. Carnival Arm Bands will be offered again from 12 to 4 PM and again from 6 to 10 p.m. for $25. Music will be provided by Jorrells from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 28 is the highlight of the weekend. Between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., one ton of free spaghetti will be served at the park’s lunch stand. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day. Fat Chance will perform from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Syner-Gee will follow from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. and Big Shake Daddies will perform from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Also, on Sunday afternoon from 12 to 4 p.m., Carnival Arm Bands will once again be available for $25.
The Bocce Ball Tournament will be played on Sunday starting at 12 noon. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. in the beer stand. Carnival Arm Bands rides will be offered again from 6 to 10 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, there will be plenty of food, rides, drinks, and fun. Italian specialties including tortellini soup, homemade Italian salami, meatball sandwiches, bagna caulda, and cannolis will be available in the Specialty Stand, where you will also be able to purchase various Italian novelty items including the annual festival shirts.
The lunch stand will provide favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and Italian beef. The fish stand will be serving fish sandwiches and fries every evening.
Bingo will be played every night beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Come out and celebrate 69 years of Italian heritage with us on Memorial Day Weekend. Benld is located 50 miles south of Springfield, IL and 45 miles north of St. Louis, MO on Illinois Route 138, two miles west of Interstate 55. If you have any questions, please call (217) 825-7052.
You may follow us on Facebook at Benld Italian-American Days.
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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
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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.
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The Partnership for Educational Excellence is gearing up for an exciting trivia night on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
The lively evening is the education foundation’s one-and-only fund raiser. Proceeds will allow The Partnership to continue programs benefitting all CUSD7 students. Since 1992 the it has awarded more than $1 million to the improved and continuing educations of local students.
Since 1992 every student in every classroom in CUSD7 has benefitted from classroom mini-grants, school-wide academic grants, and – over the past three years – district-wide grants of $90,000 for improved and enhanced student computers.
In addition, The Partnership offers individual $2,000 academic tuition scholarships to GHS graduates enrolled in accredited state and private, academic and trade colleges and universities. In 2024, a record 40% of GHS graduating seniors received these awards.
The “For the Love of Education” Trivia Night will be held at the Gillespie Civic Center, 115 North Macoupin (behind City Hall). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the competition begins at 7:00 p.m.
Mulligans will be for sale; games and lightning rounds will keep the evening lively; and a variety of door prizes will be awarded. Contestants are invited to bring their own beverages and snacks. Alcoholic beverages are permitted with a photo I.D.
In addition, The Partnership’s annual Grand Raffle will kickoff. Two “early bird” winners will receive $100 each on February 15. Their tickets will remain eligible for the grand prize of $5,000 on Saturday 12 April 2025. The fee is only $100 per table, up to 10 people per team.
There are four ways to register:
- phone Director Mary Griffel at 217-556-5456;
- visit www.thepartnership7.org to register online or to print out a mail-in form;
- write to The Partnership, P.O. Box 125, Gillespie IL 62033.
