Community News
Jack Burns speaks to Rotary
Burns is currently a command sergeant major in the 108th Sustainment Brigade in the National Guard.
The Area Rotary met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, November 1st at Toni’s Restaurant in Benld. Joe Tieman, Assistant Superintendent of CUSD #7, introduced Jack Burns to the Rotary after the luncheon.
Mr. Burns has spent over 25 years in the school district, according to Tieman. Mr. Burns is a high school teacher where he teaches social studies, geography, college level world history, and mechanical drafting. Along with his years of dedication to education, Jack has done “an outstanding job in the sports arena.” Jack is the head coach of girls track and also an assistant football coach.
“Prior to our new track, Jack won conference and county championships,” Mr. Tieman noted, “This says a lot about his coaching ability, since we did not even have a track at the time.” Along with all these things, Mr. Burns also is the chairperson of the safe schools committee at CUSD #7. According to Tieman, Mr. Burns was very instrumental in establishing a “state-of-the-art school security plan.”
Above all others engagements, Mr. Burns is currently a command sergeant major in the 108th Sustainment Brigade in the National Guard and that is the main reason he was called on to speak at Tuesday’s luncheon.
Jack opened his speech by reminding the Rotarians about upcoming Veteran’s Day, November 11, and gave insight that it was once called Armistice Day until Eisenhower changed it in the 1950’s. “Veteran’s Day recognizes all soldiers who have served while Memorial Day honors soldiers that have gave their life,” Jack said.
Being a history teacher at Gillespie High School, Mr. Burns plays an active role in commemorating Veteran’s Day. On Veteran’s Day, Ms. Olson organizes a flag ceremony with the local VFW for the students. “In my history classes, I teach the kids about these two holidays [Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day],” Jack explained, “And at the end of the school year around Memorial Day, I take my students to Benld Cemetary and mark the graves with flags.” The students get to count this project as community service, according to Burns.
Jack went on to explain a new scholarship program which was introduced by Vicki DeWitt. DeWitt approached the school last year about a grant funded through the World War II Veterans of Illinois. To apply, the student is to interview a WWII Veteran and then edit/create a video of the interview. Many other stipulations apply. GHS took part in this scholarship fund for the first time last year and tied for first while receiving second place and numerous other honorable mentions.
The Illinois National Guard, which Burns plays a pivotal role in, contains over 10,000 soldiers. “A lot of people do not understand how military is broken down,” Burns explained, “There are 44 armories in Illinois.” Anyone of those armories can have between 40-400 soldiers. In Illinois, there are 5 major commands, according to Burns. “I have 2,500 soldiers in my brigade and I go to over 14 armories,” Jack said.
Burns explains how David Dickie received his medal of honor.
“Illinois has played a major role in the last 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Burns explained, “Many soldiers have deployed from Illinois.”
As a command sergeant major, Burns has done two tours in the war. His first tour was in Germany and his greatest enemy was German beer. “Trying to keep my soldiers out of trouble was my biggest task,” Burns said as he laughed. The second tour was in Iraq, where he was there for 18 months.
On a higher level, Burns went on to explain two local medal of honor winners. Both of the local medal of honor winners are buried in the Gillespie Cemetery. “This is the highest medal you can receive in the military,” Burns said.
The medal of honor was started during the Civil War. The two local soldiers who received this prestigious medal are Patrick Pentzer and David Dickie.
In closing, Jack explained how the two locals received their medals. Pentzer was a Captain in Company C, 97th Illinois Infantry. Pentzer was among the first to enter the enemy’s entrenchments, he received the surrender of a Confederate general officer and his headquarters flag.
Dickie on the other hand, was a Captain, in Battery M, 15th New York Heavy Artillery. Dickie refused to leave the field, remaining in command after being wounded by a piece of shell, and led his command in the assault on the enemy’s works on the following day.
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Wins $2,000 Prize and Video She Created will Air on 160 TV Stations Nationwide
CHICAGO – Emily Bergen, 16, a student at Gillespie High School in Gillespie, has won the annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest. Antonio Knott, 15, of Merrillville High School in Merrillville IN, placed second in the voting, and Noelani Elizalde, 17, also from Merrillville High School, was third.
Sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, teens from Illinois and surrounding states were invited to submit ideas for a 30-second PSA about sharing the road with other passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians.
Three finalists were selected and each worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second TV public service announcements. The public was then able to vote for their favorite online. More than 1,400 online votes were cast.
The winner received $2,000 and will be featured on nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. The first runner-up got $1,000 and the second runner-up won $500. All three finalists’ teachers received $100 gift cards.
Bergen’s winning PSA shows a young driver starting her car and pressing a “share the road” button. As she drives, an AI voice warns her of a bicyclist, a pedestrian and children in a school zone. The voice then reminds her, “Cars don’t come with devices like me, which is why you need to know how to share the road.”
“The carnage on our roads can be reduced if drivers remain aware of others who share the road,” said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving. “We think the creative ideas about sharing the road from our Drive Safe Chicago winner and runners-up convey that message effectively.”
“Although today’s new cars are safer than ever, with technological advances that are proven to help avoid crashes,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts, “drivers must still be aware of others they are sharing the road with, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrians.”
The National Road Safety Foundation says driver error accounts for 94 percent of all fatal crashes, with speeding and driver distraction among the leading factors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads and highways in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of injuries and an estimated annual cost of more than $340 billion.
View Bergen’s winning video below:
Bergen’s video is also featured center on the National Road Safety Foundation’s website with the runners-up videos to the right and to the left: https://m.shortstack.page/NLxMqT
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Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List.
Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. Below is an excerpt containing students residing in Macoupin County.
President’s List
BENLD – Ryleigh L. Phillips; Zander E. Rieffer; Emily R. Schoen; Tristen B. Wargo;
BRIGHTON – Brandon M. Adams; Ike D. Austin; Lainie L. Behrends; Reagan Beilsmith; Ian C. Brantley; Tina M. Brass; Lane Cox; Madison P. Fenstermaker; Hunter D. Gillis; Hailey Gula; Alexis R. Harrop; Gavin Humm; Thomas D. Kunz; Nicholas O. McGee; Audrey A. Perkins; Ava J. Pulley; Alyssa J. Schuchman; Addison Strohbeck; Sydney A. Valdes; Abby Van Doren; Piper L. Voorhees; Madelyn E. Zarges;
BUNKER HILL – Alex Betts; Grant J. Burch; Kayleigh K. Butler; Abigayle L. Collins; Denise Deias; Braden T. Fulton; Dillon M. Guess; Maya R. Henfling; Hannah J. Herrmann; Madalynn Hilyard; Madelyn Landreth; William Manar; Kaylee L. Richert; Andrew Sanner; Abby N. Spraggs; Noah A. Thyer;
CARLINVILLE – Jack E. Beard; Matthew J. Eldred; Jack Goby; Stephanie K. Harding; Gabriel R. Henson; Alexsis A. Kalaher; Weston E. Kuykendall; Lillian McCurley; Emerald Ondrey; Joanna M. Roemer; Jessica N. Strubbe; Karleina J. Tipps; Samuel L. Wilson;
GILLESPIE – Lauren E. Bertagnolli; Ean L. Davis; Lanie G. Doty; Kennedy G. Helmkamp;
MEDORA – Aubrey M. Reno; Anneliese M. Shatley; Haleigh Sinclair;
SHIPMAN – Alyssa L. Beck; Gracie B. Darr; Addison A. Jeffers; Tyson Kahl; Josiah A. Schuette; Bailee A. Sorgea;
SOUTH ROXANA – Lyndsey M. Johansen; Caden O. Lara; Savanah M. Stogsdill;
STAUNTON – Julie A. Aloisi; Samantha R. Anderson; Zane P. Anderson; Shane Baker; Lilly M. Bandy; Grace Bekeske; Gianna Bianco; Carson G. Buffington; Kiersten L. Carlson; Karla J. Castillo; Izabella Claussen; Lillian Dothager; Olivia M. Favre; Eli J. Henke; Alexis A. Hester; Samantha D. Hoffman; Harold I. Irvin, III; Dylan Jarden; Korryn O. Keehner; Nicholas L. Raphael; Alexis P. Schaaf; Brady Seelbach; Carli L. Skinner; Cole Sternickle; Tyler J. Thompson; Lilly Trettenero; Lillyan S. Troeckler;
Dean’s List
BENLD – Ridge A. Braundmeier; Kaitlynn E. Conner; Elizabeth M. King; Alyssa S. McCollum; Marria D. Middleton; Alyssa F. Schuette;
BRIGHTON – Garrett R. Beuttel; Troy J. Brooks; Emily Y. Cambron; Jacob G. Carpenter; Lucy Childress; Olivia Cody; Logan T. Crane; Tristyn N. Ditterline; Kaylin G. Gerard; Cooper J. Hagen; Ashlyn K. Hall; Evan Hanold; Samuel J. Harshbarger; Amelia R. Hines-Pattan; Ella J. Kadell; Daylin M. King; Kayla A. Lemarr; Tucker Mayhew; Elizabeth L. Milford; Stacey M. Mynatt; Blythe E. Roloff; Jordan R. Short; Shiann Vinson; Grace A. Wylde;
BUNKER HILL – Cole T. Burch; Hanna N. Heeren; Madelynne K. Heflin; Taylor Miklavic; Katelyn J. Miller; Abigail G. Scott;
CARLINVILLE – Boedy E. Baker; Emily A. Barbre; Zachary Chapman; Ella R. Clevenger; Alana N. Dixon; Alison J. Dixon; Nathan Dyer; Addison Eldred; Saralynn I. Joiner; Henry S. Kalaher; William G. Meyer; Chloe A. Payne; Amy L. Pocklington; Jack Rives; Lanna P. Vanderpoel; Ella C. Wise; Braley M. Wiser;
GILLESPIE – Reese E. Bussmann; Regan E. Bussmann; Addie M. Hayes; Karter Mix; Adrianne B. Niemeyer; Grace J. Vandoren; Shannon L. Wright;
MOUNT OLIVE – Libbie M. Nowell;
PIASA – Anna C. Fink;
SHIPMAN – Kaden G. Cottingham; Rocky Darr; Kathryn M. Mueller; Sayuri Owada; Rocky J. Rose;
STAUNTON – Rylee K. Baugh; David S. Dann; Belle M. Darte; Jacob A. Dillon; Vivienne Dothager; Sean T. Fleming; Kennedy L. Legendre; Zander MacHota; Savannah M. Missey; Nicholas Monahan; Nicole M. Narup; Kelley Perrine; Christopher S. Pritchett; Alivia Royer; Katie N. Schalk; Lakesi Settles; Priya E. Siegfried; Justin A. Smith; Kylie A. Tomso; Whitney Weller;
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Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, February 17 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. Appointments are requested.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/23/24 are eligible to give at this drive.
