Community News
Manar joins Blackburn College, Golden Apple to announce new partnership program to address regional teacher shortage
Contributed article by the Illinois Senate Democrats.
Teacher residency program to begin in 2020-2021 school year
CARLINVILLE – State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) joined officials from Golden Apple and Blackburn College on Wednesday for the announcement and signing ceremony of the Golden Apple Accelerators Program, a new teacher residency and licensure program to more quickly prepare highly-qualified teachers in areas of the state where they’re most needed, including Central Illinois.
The Accelerators program is recruiting college seniors not already in a teacher preparation program and those looking to change careers who already hold a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must commit to four years of teaching in Southern, Central or Western Illinois.
In the program’s first year, 50 candidates will begin their training in the summer of 2020, earn their teaching license by summer of 2021, and enter the profession of teaching in the 2021/22 school year.
“The promise of public education starts with bright and highly-qualified classroom leaders. While we work to address the root causes of our teacher shortage, the Accelerators program will help usher talented young professionals into the Central and Southern Illinois classrooms that need them the most,” Manar said. “I was proud to advocate for this innovative new partnership in the General Assembly, and I know it will have a positive impact on Illinois students for years to come.”
The program is part of a series of initiatives proposed by Manar to remedy Illinois’ teacher shortage. Manar drummed up bipartisan support to include $750,000 in funding for the Accelerators teacher residency program in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Blackburn College hosted the event at its Lumpkin Learning Commons. Speakers included State Senator Andy Manar, Golden Apple President Alan Mather, Blackburn Interim President and Provost John McClusky, Regional Office of Education (ROE) No. 40 Superintendent Michelle Mueller, Blackburn Professor and Former Golden Apple Scholar Michelle Stacy, and Blackburn Education Department Chair Cindy Rice.
“The teacher shortage crisis demands our immediate attention as it poses a real threat to the future of students in every corner of our state, especially the most vulnerable who are from economically challenged communities with underfunded and under-resourced schools,” said Golden Apple President Alan Mather. “There is no greater priority facing the education community today, and as an organization that has successfully championed this work, we are positioned to meet this head on and are very excited to count Blackburn College and ROE 40 among our partners.”
“Partnering with Golden Apple to address the Illinois teacher shortage crisis is a natural fit for Blackburn and our excellent Education program,” said John McClusky, the recently-appointed Interim President of Blackburn College. “As the only student-managed work program in the nation, Blackburn has always sought to find innovative solutions for systemic problems. That’s why we are excited and honored to join with Golden Apple on the ‘Accelerators’ program to help solve Illinois’s teacher shortage. Students deserve excellent teachers and Golden Apple is a proven leader in the space.”
The Accelerators program will provide a one-year residency and training program, allowing immediate additional teaching assistance to understaffed districts while preparing the new teachers for classroom work.
Golden Apple is partnering with Blackburn College, Eastern Illinois University and ROEs 3, 13, 39, 40 and 47. Partnering ROEs will provide a valuable residency placement to an Accelerator; place a mentor teacher from the district with the Accelerator; allow for appropriate release time to complete university coursework; and hire and offer career development resources for the Accelerator in the two years following the residency.
Program participants will receive:
- A $30,000 stipend to apply towards coursework or housing as they pursue their teaching license
- Teaching licensure within 15 months
- A one-year residency and training program in a targeted partner school district in Southern, Central or Western Illinois
- Coursework at a partner university
- Job placement in a partner school district in Southern, Central or Western Illinois
- Instruction from award-winning educators
- Mentoring support for the first years of teaching
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Community News
County marks 250th Anniversary of Declaration with reading and archive projects at Spring Festival on May 23
The Macoupin County Historical Society (MCHS) is hosting the first in a series of local celebrations & activities on May 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at the Spring festival highlighting the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The public is encouraged to attend a reading of the Declaration aloud at the Red Barn Pavillion.
Following the reading, participants and the public will be encouraged to have a conversation about what’s important to them, their families and to America examining the past and looking at the future.
Attendees may also enter a Birthday Wish for America & sign the America @ 250 Macoupin County Time Capsule book. The book will become a permanent archive of the Macoupin County Historical Society.
Individuals, families, & friends can also be a part of “Community Conversations” recorded by Illinois Voices 250, a Story Telling group affiliated with Illinois Humanities. The recordings will take place in all 102 counties in Illinois. Illinois Voices 250 will be on site most of the day at the Historical Society Spring Festival. The stores recorded will be digitalized and become a permanent part of the Library of Congress.
Those interested in participating are welcome to bring family and friends into a casual conversation about their life story. Both projects were made possible through a grant from Illinois Humanities to Carlinville Winning Communities, a local non profit organization that supports activities in the community. It’s a very successful partnership between Carlinville Winning Communities, Illinois Humanities and the Macoupin County Historical Society, said Mary Tinder, who is coordinating the activities.
This year, 2026, is also a time to “Bring Back the Strawberries”, a specialty desert from the Red Barn Kitchen. For many years, strawberry shortcake was the signature desert at the festivals. The MCHS Board of Directors and Red Barn Kitchen Crew chose this historic occasion to put them back on the menu.
“Fifty Years of Festivals” has helped finance operations for MCHS and we are working towards another fifty years, said board member Patty Ambrose, Vendor and Outreach Coordinator for MCHS. These activities are free, open to the public and accessible. The two-day festival is May 23, 24, 2026 at the Macoupin County Historical Society, 900 West Breckenridge Street, Carlinville, Il.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie 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, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
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) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
