Community News
MPACT’D Presents Safe Driving Day
State Attorney Jordan Garrison speaks to students about traffic laws and court procedure.
MPACT’D hosted a safe driving day March 18th at GHS where the students learned about the consequences of irresponsible driving. MPACT’D, Miners Preparing And Caring for Teen Driving, is headed by Mrs. Jennifer Brown (driver’s education teacher) and Ms. Mary Kirk along with students Sydney Koniak (senior) and Abbie Cline (junior). MPACT’D’s mission is to promote safe driving in our community.
Patterson Friese attempts to walk with an intoxicated simulator.
The purpose for this event was to inform and encourage our students to make and become aware of the results of their decisions behind the wheel. The event featured two classroom sessions with featured speakers, which included State Attorney Jordan Garrison, Kathy White from IDOT, FFA teacher Rick Spencer, and Lieutenant William Wheeler (retired GPD officer). The second half of the day students listened to a presentation. It was entitled “Ashley’s Story” and was presented by Dave Kaeb, first EMT to arrive on the scene, and her parents: Cathy Waddell and Rudy Waddell. Ashley was a fifteen year old from Tremont, IL. Her and two others were involved in a high speed single car collision that ended their 3 lives. The presentation has been presented over 75 times, to over 32,000 people.
The group was formed in the 2007-2008 school year through Operation Teen Safe Driving sponsored by IDOT, Allstate and Ford Driving Skills for Life.
The group has been successful in creating a safe driving program that encompasses the entire community. In the last four years, MPACT’D has received over $13,000 in grant money to fund their initiative. Those grant monies were used to create programs that included a mock crash, a mock court trial, road to reality, community safety days, elementary safety promotions, as well as various informational days for GHS. The group has been recognized as a top school in the State of Illinois as well as has received national recognition through Operation Teen Safe Driving.
You can become a fan of MPACT’D on Facebook as well as request speaking engagements or request help for an event.
Cathy White from IDOT speaks to students about the top 10 distractions while driving.
“As a driver education teacher, sponsor, and member of this community – I believe it is my calling to impart in our students atmosphere of positive driving choices and the impact that their choices affect their tomorrow. I have personally felt the loss that come with poor driving decisions. I do not wish that pain and hurt that comes with that loss for anyone. Through encouraging our students to be safe drivers, we not only create a better community but also a safer community.” – Mrs. Jennifer Brown (Advisor)
FFA Teacher, Rick Spencer, demonstrates tractor and farm safety.
“Always wear your seatbelt and never text and drive! Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction. 18% of fatalities are from a cell phone in distraction-related crashes.” – Sydney Koniak (Co-Advisor)
“This day has truly inspired me to drive safer and be a better driver.” – Dylan Frillman
“The safe driving day made me realize you may not be the irresponsible driver, but the other drivers on the road could be or the person you are riding with – those are the people you have to be cautious about. Like Ashley Waddell, she had no decision but yet her life was ended from a simple bad decision from the person she was riding with.” – Adam Wagner
Cathy & Rudy Waddell and EMT Dave Kaeb present "Ashley's Story."
The Oldsmobile Alero that Ashley was riding in on September 28, 2005.
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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
