Community News
Manar asks Governor to scrap budget
Bunker Hill, IL – After listening to Governor Pat Quinn’s budget address Wednesday afternoon, Macoupin County Board Chairman and candidate for State Senate in the 48th District Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), urged the Governor to rethink the plan and start over. While Manar and the Quinn don’t see eye to eye on many of the proposals outlined Wednesday, Manar supports closing tax loopholes for large corporations and eliminating the natural gas tax for Illinois small businesses and middle class families. The Governor and the General Assembly should mirror the approach Manar has practiced as Macoupin County Board Chairman of mandating efficiencies and cutting waste, while protecting key priorities.
“The budget Governor Quinn laid out Wednesday illustrates exactly what’s wrong with Springfield. Most of the cuts are aimed at Downstate, while most of new investments are not.”
There Governor proposed closures for state facilities and offices in Decatur, Carlinville, and Litchfield. However, only one school district in the 48th District is authorized by the Governor to receive school construction funds.
“It’s time to stop coddling Chicago and to get to work putting together a budget that reduces the deficit and ensures our economy can grow Downstate.”
One example of the Governor’s misplaced priorities is the proposal he put forth regarding closing six of the seven Adult Transition Centers in the state, including a facility in Decatur. Only the North Lawndale Adult Transition Center in Chicago was not targeted. Adult Transition Centers (ATCs) provide supervision, sanctions, reintegration programs, and educational programs to those convicted of non-violent crimes. Those programs include GED and basic education courses to reduce repeat offenders.
“The ATC facility in Decatur is far cheaper than a minimum security prison. It requires that non-violent offenders take the steps necessary to gain employment, pay taxes, and therefore contribute to reducing our deficit. Cutting this facility only leads to more prisoners re-offending, which further burdens taxpayers,” Manar said. “My fear is that this plan doesn’t reduce the deficit, it just shifts money from one part of the Illinois Correctional Department’s budget to another,” added Manar. “I’d like to hear more from the Governor about how he thinks creating more overcrowded prisons helps the budget and why he believes Chicago’s ATC facility is more important than Decatur’s. Obviously, the Governor and I don’t see eye to eye on this issue. ”
A 2007 study found that Adult Transition Centers in Illinois reduced recidivism rates, the rate at which prisoners re-offend after release and have to return to a correctional facility, by as much as 40 percent. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, the average annual cost of an inmate at Decatur’s ATC facility is nearly half that of an inmate at a minimum security prison also located in Decatur, $20,912 and $38,171 respectively.
Despite Manar’s disagreements with large parts of the Governor’s budget, Manar is supportive of tax reform that ensures that large corporations pay as much as working families. The money gained from this reform can ensure that important relief is provided to middle income families and small businesses from the elimination of Illinois’ natural gas tax to help the Downstate economy grow.
Andy Manar has experience successfully working through a budget crisis as Macoupin County Board Chairman. Facing sharply declining tax revenues in previous years, due in part to the closure of two of the county’s three active coal mines, Manar found a way to close double digit funding gaps while avoiding sales tax increases, service cuts, and layoffs.
Under Andy’s leadership, the size of the Macoupin County Board was cut by one-third and a costly pension plan that had been in place for elected officials was repealed. While the Board cut spending, it also preserved services by mandating efficiencies in each Department.
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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.
