Community News
School district to partner with city on Safe School Routes grant application
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to collaborate with the City of Gillespie in filing an application for a Safe Routes to School grant.
If awarded, the grant will help subsidize infrastructure improvements to improve safety for students who bike or walk to school. In addition to building safer routes to school, the grant is aimed at encouraging students to walk or bike to school for physical fitness. The grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
A total of $12 million has been appropriated for the grant program to fund up to $250,000 for infrastructure projects or $100,000 for non-infrastructure projects. The application period opens Aug. 1 and continues through Oct. 2.
Supt. Shane Owsley told the board that projects underwritten by the grant must “start from the schoolhouse door.” With that in mind, the priority would likely be extending a sidewalk along Illinois Route 16 to Benld Elementary School and the district’s soccer fields.
The Safe Routes to Schools grant program is offered every other year, meaning the next grant cycle will be in 2027. Applicants can opt to seek funding for multi-phase projects, meaning this year’s application could be drafted for Phase I of a larger plan to be continued in subsequent years.
“In fact, they like those kinds of applications,” Owsley said. Subsequent projects have to be within a two-mile radius of the school. Owsley said the city hopes to dovetail the Safe Routes to School project with the ongoing Streetscapes Project to improve safety for students downtown, in the area of the city library and other locations we students gather to walk or bicycle to school.
PARENT-FUNDED SPORTS POLICY
The board placed on first reading a proposed policy to govern school-funded sports. The document apparently is an attempt to formally codify previous verbal agreements for parents to self-fund various athletic programs.
The tentatively proposed policy requires parents to fund 100 percent of a parent-funded sport program, including coaches’ stipends, uniforms, travel expenses, officiating expenses and tournament entry fees. For the board to approve a new parent-funded program, applicants must be able to show they can financially support the program for a minimum of two years, submit a petition of interest demonstrating enough students are interested to field a team, and must provide a signed declaration that the team will abide by all school district rules and policies, including policies regarding equal access and non-discrimination.
Applications to establish a new parent-funded program must be filed by July 1 prior to the school year. Likewise, applications to renew existing parent-funded programs must be submitted by July 1 and must include the same supporting documents as a new applicant.
The policy asserts that parent groups will have no authority over the selection of coaches or other aspects of managing the team. Coaches will be considered employees of the school district and be paid salaries pursuant to the current collective bargaining contract.
On an annual basis, the school district will review existing parent-funded sports and determine whether or not the district is financially able to transition them to district-funded programs.
The policy will be presented again in August for final approval.
PERSONNEL
Following a one-hour executive session the board voted unanimously to hire Karen Robertson, Staunton, as a district speech and language pathologist. Robertson, coming to CUSD 7 from the Staunton School District, will step into a vacancy created by the resignation of Kaylee Collins in May. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders, and a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology, both from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.
Board members also voted to hire Foli Seferi as a district paraprofessional, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
The board accepted the resignation of Anthony Kravanya an assistant Gillespie High School Mens Basketball coach, and posted the position as vacant.
With the start of the 2025-26 school year less than a month away, the board took action to fill several coaching positions.
- Jill Kelly was hired as the Gillespie Middle School cheerleading coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
- Billy Gill was hired as an assistant volunteer high school football coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
- Liz Thackery was hired head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country team.
- Jake Kellebrew was hired as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program.
- Michael Otten was hired as an assistant coach for the parent-funded high school golf program.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Approved a prevailing wage resolution obligating the district to hire contractors who pay their employees the prevailing wage as determined by the Department of Labor. The resolution previously was mandated by state law but has become voluntary in the last two years.
- Approved the district’s Consolidated District Plan, a document the district is required to file with the State Board of Education to maintain eligibility for federal Title program funds.
- Heard a report from Supt. Owsley noting that Ryan and Kelly Fisher had donated $2,000 to the district to pay for school lunches for students who cannot afford them.
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Community News
“History Belongs to All of Us”: Focus of Carlinville Community Conversation Series starting May 4
“History Belongs to All of Us,” a three-month series of events and activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence and emphasizing Illinois’ role in seizing liberty for the American people will kick off Monday, May 4, and continue through July 16, 2026.
The series is project of Carlinville Winning Communities funded by a grant from Illinois Humanities. The events will encourage participants to examine and discuss the Declaration of Independence and other primary historical documents through facilitated conversations, according to Mary Tinder, a Macoupin County Historical Society & Carlinville Winning Communities board member.
Carlinville Winning Communities was one of only 13 entities statewide to receive an Illinois Humanities grant to support the Community Conversations Series.
We are fortunate to have received Illinois Humanities funding for this unique project, With 2026 being the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 100th anniversary of Route 66, it is altogether fitting to explore where we’ve been and where we’re going, as well as to reflect on both and the cultural impact of our independence, Tinder said.
In keeping with the “History Belongs to All of Us” theme, several of the presentations and discussions will emphasize the role of Native Americans and the impact of American independence on Native American and other cultures.
Program topics will be explored through presentations by Illinois Humanities Road Scholars, live readings of historic documents, art, music and discussions. The programs are free to attend and all venues are handicapped accessible.
The series kicks off with “Illinois in the Revolutionary War,” a presentation by local historian and author Tom Emery, at 7 p.m., Monday, May 4, at the Macoupin County Historical Society’s Ruyle Genealogy Building, 920 W. Breckenridge St., Carlinville. Emery will lead a discussion of information included in his most recently published book, Illinois in the Revolutionary War.
“There was more to the war in Illinois than most people realize,” said Emery. “Revolutionary action took place in many parts of the state, and it was a struggle for all involved. It shows how hard many Americans worked for liberty.”
A discussion of Nicholas Welch’s 1812 Land Grant and the Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, better known as Black Hawk, leader of the Sauk/Sac Indian tribes, is set for 7 p.m., Monday, June 1, in the Anderson Home parlor on the Macoupin County Historical Society grounds. Under the Land Grant program, the government set aside more than five million acres in western Illinois to compensate American war veterans with large tracts of land. Though Welch never set foot in Illinois, the granting of land to him displaced Black Hawk from his home in the area of present-day Rock Island. The facilitated discussion will focus on original historic documents, juxtaposing Welch’s land grant with Black Hawk’s experience.
Because of the smaller, more intimate venue, reservations are required. RSVP to marytinder1@gmail.com to reserve a seat.
“Relive the Mother Road: The Edwards Trace,” a collective analysis of documents and a look at contemporary research will be led by Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Anna Sielaff, Friday afternoon, June 26, during an Old Fashioned Route 66 Jubilee on the Macoupin County Courthouse lawn. Sielaff will discuss the 3,000-year-old Edwards Trace, used by Native Americans and early Illinois settlers, that stretched from Cahokia to Peoria. Portions of the trace run through Macoupin County, and some sections lay along the original alignment of Route 66. Imagine Rural Arts also will lead an art project in connection with how the trail was marked.
The Old Fashioned Route 66 Jubilee event runs from noon into the evening with food, musical performances, literary presentations, games, food and other activities.
The date is significant for Carlinville and Route 66 since 6/26/26 happens to be our zip code! The Jubilee offers a variety of experiences and taking a deeper look at the Edwards Trace and the Mother Road is an interesting way to explore local history on this unique date and location, Tinder noted.
Continuing on to the July 4th holiday, Macoupin County high school and college students will read the Declaration of Independence aloud in the main courtroom of the historic Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville at 10 a.m. The event also will feature a display of more than 30 historic flags provided by the George Rogers Clark Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. A facilitated discussion will follow the reading and participants will be invited to sign the “Macoupin County America @ 250 Time Capsule” book. The book will then be on display at the Macoupin County Historical Society, said Andrea Duncan, one of the organizers.
A unique and somewhat mysterious artifact from Macoupin County will be the subject of a presentation at 7 p.m., Monday, July 6, at the Historical Society’s Ruyle Genealogy Building. Sharon Breyden and husband Tommy Breyden will display and discuss the Black Hawk Tablet, uncovered in the 1940s on a farm near Hettick. The odd inscriptions on the lead medallion suggests Black Hawk and an early Macoupin settler formalized an agreement to peacefully coexist in central Illinois.
For the final program of the Carlinville Community Conversations series, Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Kim Sigafus, a member of the Ojibwa Native American tribe, will present “We the Native People” at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 16, at the Historical Society’s Ruyle Genealogy Building. The focus is on Native Americans at the time the Declaration of Independence was signed. The interactive program will use traditional story-telling and music to help audience members understand the groundswell changes in Native American culture and lifestyle resulting from American independence and subsequent western expansion.
For more information and details about the “History Belongs to All of Us” series, contact Carlinville Winning Communities Board members, Andrea Duncan, (217) 204-1446, or Mary Tinder, (217) 825-9699.
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Macoupin County Public Health Department announces 2026 Gold Standard Award Recipients for food safety and service
Macoupin County Public Health Department (MCPHD) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Gold Standard Award in food safety and service. The Environmental Services department congratulates 33 Macoupin County establishments that earned this prestigious honor, out of 306 licensed food service establishments in the county. This achievement reflects an exceptional commitment to excellence in food safety, sanitation, and customer service.
“We are thrilled to recognize these facilities for maintaining the highest standards of food safety and protecting the health of our community,” said Derrek Tiburzi, MCPHD Environmental Services Director. “Being recognized among this distinguished group highlights the dedication these recipients have to ongoing quality and accountability in food service.”
Gold Standard Award recipients span a diverse range of food service operations, from grocery delis and bakeries to full-service restaurants and hotels. The list below showcases the establishments that met the Gold Standard criteria for 2026:
- South Macoupin Head Start
- Walmart Deli/Bakery
- Medora Intermediate School
- GG’s Smokehouse
- Big Skillet Catering
- Ray’s Tater Wagon
- Carlinville Intermediate School
- Sips Coffee (Carlinville)
- Besserman SuperBowl
- GG’s Smokehouse Mobile Unit
- DeStefane Event Center
- TJ’s Liquor Store
- St. Alphonsus
- Gram-way Cattle & Hay
- Bunker Hill Municipal Building
- North Mac Middle Intermediate & Middle School
- Virden First United Methodist Church
- Carlinville Zion Lutheran Church
- Catholic Charities
- McEuen Farms
- Memorial Christian Church
- Hogan’s Hamlet
- Griffel Farms Beef
- Centennial 6 Farms
- Kazoo Coffee
- Mel’s Place
- Mt. Olive Care Center
- Northwestern Food Pantry
- CVS Pharmacy
- Green Room Gaming
- Virden Community Center
- Camp Hugh
- Beaver Dam Café
This recognition not only highlights the exceptional performers but also reinforces the broader importance of high standards in food service and sanitation. MCPHD’s Food Service and Retail Food Sanitation program continues to monitor and support establishments to ensure safe, healthy dining experiences for Macoupin County residents and visitors.
For more information about MCPHD’s Food Service and Retail Food Sanitation program, please visit: https://mcphd.net/food-service-and-sanitation-program/
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The Benld Library will host a book signing for Bree Ireland’s debut novel, “Eroded Ember” on Saturday, April 18 from 10 to 11 am. Bree Ireland is the pen name for local resident Bree DePoppe. Bree is a young adult author from Gillespie with a strong love for romance and fantasy. Her writing first began at the age of eleven, and by thirteen, she knew storytelling was her passion.
“Eroded Ember” is a young adult fantasy romance set in a small town named Crescent City, CA, where the mystical redwoods meet the ocean. A seventeen-year-old-girl gets accepted as a park ranger in the expansive forest, where she quickly discovers the trees are large enough to hide anything, and she is not as alone as she thinks.
“Eroded Ember” will be released on April 11 through Amazon on and IngramSpark for hardcover and paperback, and the eBook is currently on pre-order on Amazon. The library will have a limited number of books available for purchase the day of the signing.
Although the book is for young adults, all ages will enjoy the story and setting. For more information about the signing please contact the library at 217-835-4045 or visit booksbybree on social media.
