Community News
MEDP Names Dean Plovich Young Leader of the Year
MEDP Annual Dinner sells out first fundraising event
Carlinville – The who’s who of Macoupin County made their way to the Gillespie Civic Center Thursday night for the first Macoupin Economic Development Partnership fundraising dinner. Two hundred and forty nine tickets were sold at the event originally planned for 100.
Gillespie Chief of Police, Dean Plovich, took top honors of the night. Plovich was named Macoupin Made Young Leader of The Year by current MEDP President Julia Watson. He has been with the Gillespie Police Department since 2006. He is married to Cate Plovich. They have one son Matthew, 2, and he has one daughter Alex, 16. The family resides in Gillespie.
The Top 25, Under 45, chosen by an independent panel included Jenna Morrison of Carlinville, Pete Duncan of Gillespie, Barkley Hassard of Staunton, Rev. Jeremy Wood of Bunker Hill, Brad Skertich of Staunton, Lee LoBue of Carlinville, Ronald Paul of Chesterfield, Natalie Johnson of Mt. Olive, Brian Zilm of Carlinville, Erin Martin of Brighton, Paige Wheeler of Divernon, Brad Ambuel of Carlinville, Jeff Hunn of Shipman, Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, Lari Vanderpoel of Carlinville, Ryan Ocepek of Staunton, Regina Byots of Gillespie, Jordan Garrison of Carlinville, David Cisler of Staunton, Laura Dabbs of Jerseyville, Dr. Poonam Jain of Staunton, Nick Wieseman of Bunker Hill, Keely Rucker of Staunton and Louise Jett of Carlinville.
Featured Young Leader, Pete Visintin of Gillespie spoke on the motivations of entrepreneurs saying, “The difference between entrepreneurs and everybody else is entrepreneurs believe something better is possible…and they have courage to take action.”
Bob Schwartz, President of Madison Communications, Paul Boente, Head Salesman of Cubby Hole and Donna Yokley, Owner of Taylor & Soapes were the highlighted business leaders who conducted the business panel: “Entrepreneurship: A Road Less Traveled.”
MEDP Annual Dinner Event Sponsors included: Ameren Services, Carlinville Area Hospital, Carlinville National Bank, First Congregational Church, Frontier Communications, John Hicks Maytag-City of Gillespie, Karmak, Laborer’s Union Local 338, Lewis & Clark Community College, Macoupin County Housing Authority & The Village at Morse Farm, Madison Communications, Richard Schien, Senator Deanna Demuzio, Sheriff Don Albrecht, Shipman Elevator Company, TwinnCo Real Estate, Ltd., Village of Brighton and Watson Law Office.
MEDP’s goal is to attract new business and development that brings good paying jobs, contributes significantly to the tax base, and overall helps strengthen and diversify the economy. To learn more about MEDP visit www.macoupinpartners.com.
Front Row Left to Right: Paige Wheeler, Erin Martin, Natalie Johnson, Dean Plovich, Laura Dabbs, Regina Byots, Keely Rucker. Middle Row: Lee LoBue, Jordan Garrison, Jeff Hunn, Louise Jett, Nick Wieseman, Rev. Jeremy Wood. Back Row: Andy Manar, Bart Hassard, David Cisler, Brian Zilm, Ryan Ocepek. Not Pictured: Jenna Morrison, Pete Duncan, Brad Skertich, Ronald Paul, Brad Ambuel, Lari Vanderpoel and Dr. Poonam Jain
MEDP Executive Director Shari Albrecht, Macoupin Young Leader of the Year Dean Plovich, MEDP President Julia Watson. Back Row: Featured Young Leader Pete Visintin, Event chairmen Don Boeckenstedt and Richard Schien.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a 14-mile patching and resurfacing project on Interstate 55 from Litchfield to the Macoupin/Madison County line begins Monday, April 21. Work is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Additionally, ramps for Litchfield (exit 52), Mount Olive (exit 44) and Staunton (exit 41) will be resurfaced. Most of the work is expected to take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
Lane closures are expected, and message boards will be used to direct traffic through the work zones. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Benefits of this project include a smoother driving surface.
To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.
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George Kuchar of Eagarville is the winner of The Partnership for Educational Excellence 2025 Grand Raffle. The prize is $5,000.
“Education is important. I want to help these students get on in life,” says George, who is the owner of Kuchar Combine, an international agribusiness based in Mt. Olive.
Grand Raffle ticket sales kicked off this year at The Partnership’s “For the Love of Education” annual trivia contest in February. When welcoming the trivia players that evening, Donna Prevedell, vice president and a charter member of education foundation, asked participants: “What would we do without you? Your steadfast trust and generosity are the only resources The Partnership has ever had. Our very first major donor, John Schmidt, said that he would support us only if we could prove that we had solid community backing – which you immediately gave and continue to give 33 years later! Thank you.”
The result is The Partnership’s investment of more than $1 million donor dollars into the students of CUSD7. “We treasure your trust and humbly pass on your generously-shared, hard-earned dollars to our children – our future,” she said addressing CUSD7 staff and teachers, past scholars and parents, and dozens of new and established donors in attendance.
“It’s such solid donor support that allowed The Partnership to increase its scholarships from $1,000 to $2,000 last year. All we could afford in 1992 was three $250 scholarships. Friends and neighbors like you have made it possible to increase that nearly tenfold,” she said.
Another milestone was reached in 2024: a record 38% of the GHS graduating class was awarded scholarships.
The Partnership for Educational Excellence is a 501(c)3 education foundation. All donations are tax deductible. For more information and to donate: www.thepartnership7.org
Several Partnership directors gathered Saturday 12 April at Lumpy’s Restaurant in Gillespie where cook Mary Gray drew George Kuchar’s name from 500 tickets.
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FELONIES
Kaytlin Hudgins, 29 of Carlinville, is charged with burglary and causing a child to be endangered in connection with a March 23 incident.
Jacalyn Walker, 35 of Carlinville, is charged with theft ($500-10k), six counts of official misconduct/forbidden act, and five counts of wire fraud in connection with multiple incidents.
Michael J. Sullivan, 38 of Collinsville, is charged with aggravated battery of a child less than 13 and causing bodily harm in connection with an April 3 incident.
Emiliano R. McGill, 20 of Litchfield, is charged with criminal damage to property ($500-10k) in connection with an April 11 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Brett S. A. BilBruck, 19 of Hettick, is charged with possessing a firearm without a valid FOID in connection with an April 5 incident.
Mya R. Stewart, 20 of Wilsonville, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a March 22 incident.
Timothy A. Dugger, 23 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon in connection with an April 10 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jonathan A. Graves, 33 of Wilsonville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an April 2 incident.
Michael T. Mitchusson, 32 of Virden, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a March 28 incident.
Michelle A. Meyers, 49 of Staunton, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 28 incident.
William E. Rhodes, 56 of Litchfield, is charged with fleeing/attempting to elude an officer and expired registration in connection with a March 31 incident.
Lauren R. Washburn, 40 of Godfrey, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 30 incident.
Steven J. Henn, 33 of Highland, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 27 incident.
Jacob A. Roof, 41 of Springfield, is charged with driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage, improper passing on the shoulder, changing lanes without signal, exceeding speed in a school zone, obstructed windshield, and expired registration in connection with an April 3 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Stephanie G. Emery versus Jacob L. Emery
- Stacy Schuette versus Clay Schuette
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Joseph Daniel Baum of Mount Olive and Cynthia Maria Aberle of Staunton
- Aaron Michael Bush and Candise Lynn Spurgeon, both of Bunker Hill
- Joseph Andrew Rosentreter of Rock Island and Madison Elizabeth Schneider of Brighton
- Alexander Nicholas Overby and Madison Delany Shanks, both of Springfield
- Bobby Jay Gilmer and Melindajoe Violet Heigert, both of Staunton
- Matthew William Hartsook and Brooke Ann Buffington, both of Carlinville
