Connect with us

Community News

Macoupin Military Support Group

Published

on

The Macoupin Military Support Group started in November 2006. Our goal is to support our County Military and their families. Our mission is to provide support to Macoupin Military persons, stationed overseas or in hospitals, and their families. The group bolsters morale by means of letters; care packages and offers encouragement to their families.

While we always need to remember to thank our past veterans and current soldiers there are several days throughout the year that specifically honors them.  Two of these days occur in May.  This year May 19th is Armed Forces Day and May 28th is Memorial Day.  Armed Forces Day is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces.  It typically falls on the third Saturday in May, near the end of Armed Forces Week.

On August 31, 1949, Louis Johnson, who was the United States’ Secretary of Defense, announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. It became an official holiday in 1962.  Memorial Day honors our soldiers who have died in our nation’s service.  Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

It was first observed on May 30, 1868; when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  Locally, the Military Support Group will be present at events each of these weekends.  Saturday May 19th we will be having a Shop for a Soldier Day at the Dollar General in Gillespie.

Memorial Day weekend we will have a table at the Strawberry Festival in Carlinville.  Come visit us at one or both of these events to help us thank our soldiers by writing thank you notes and providing donation items for our care packages.

If you know of a military person serving overseas that is from Macoupin County that is not receiving a care package from us please let us know so we can get him/her on our list.  If you would like to help pack boxes the group meets at 500 West Main Street in Carlinville (across from Casey’s) the second Tuesday of each month starting at 6:00 p.m.

A business meeting follows at 7:00 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to come to one or both.  Our next meeting will be Tuesday May 8th at 6:00.  If you would like more information about the group please contact us at Macoupingmsg@gmail.com or call Christine Goldstein at 217-854-5298.

Advertisement

Our mail address is P.O. Box 322 Carlinville, IL.  Also, please check out our website http://www.carlinvilleonline.com/mmsg/ and Facebook page for more information.

Share this story

Comments

comments

CUSD 7 News

Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship

Published

on

In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.

The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.

Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.

Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.

Advertisement
Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Community News

Macoupin County residential fire claims multiple victims on Saturday

Published

on

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Macoupin County as a residential structure fire broke out in the 200 block of West Dean Street, Virden, resulting in the death of a male victim, the Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya announced.

The individual was pronounced deceased at 10:06 AM but the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, as authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025. The coroner’s office indicated that a press release will be issued following the autopsy and the positive identification of the victim.

WAND reported a second victim died after being transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon who confirmed a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male were the victims.

The fire reportedly started around 9:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed when first responders arrived. Two people were reportedly rescued and life flight was requested but were not available due to the foggy weather conditions. 

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, involving multiple agencies including the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office, the Virden Police Department, the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Community News

Missions group to host trivia fundraiser on March 30

Published

on

Come and join us for an exciting afternoon of trivia as we support our local 2:18 Missions! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5 PM for an event that promises fun, camaraderie, and a chance to make a difference in our community. The event will be held at DeStefane Community Center in Benld, 201 East Central Avenue.

Teams of up to 10 people can participate for just $100 per table. Whether you want to reserve your table in advance or simply show up on the day of the event to pay at the door, we welcome all trivia enthusiasts to join in the competition!

Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the game—just please remember, no alcohol is allowed. For your convenience, we will have bottles of water available for purchase.

The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The first-place team will take home a prize of $150. Plus, bring some dollar bills to participate in “Heads and Tails” games during breaks and to buy mulligans for your team.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying a lively trivia challenge. To reserve your table or for more information, contact Kristin at 217-691-7469.

Let’s make this a memorable event for our community and the 2:18 Missions!

Advertisement
Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Trending

×

We need your support. If you value having timely, accurate news about your community, please become one of our subscribers. Subscribe