Connect with us

Community News

Post Prom draws over 100 for Ford Drive One 4 UR School

Published

on

Mindy Savant chooses to drive the 2012 Ford Escape.

The Post Prom Committee at Gillespie High School worked with Drew Ford for this years Drive One 4 UR School. Their event on Saturday, September 24, resulted in over 100 test drives for a total donation of about $2,000.

The Drive One 4 UR School program was developed as a fun, engaging way to help high schools raise money to support their sports and extracurricular activities. Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealerships partner with local high schools to conduct test-drive fund raising events. For every valid test-drive completed, Ford Motor Company will donate $20 to the participating high school, up to $6,000!

Once the event was over, forms were taken by Drew Ford and from there they were prepared to be sent off to Ford. Ford will then validate each license and make sure no one from the same household participated since only 1 member per household was able to register. Once Ford has the total calculations, they will send Post Prom a check and also send out the $100 Best Buy gift card. Anyone who participated was eligible for the gift card drawing.

The process could not have been any smoother as we participated in the event ourselves. It only took about 20 minutes from start to finish. Once a participant arrived, he or she filled out a form and then was able to pick from 4 Ford vehicles supplied by Drew Ford of Gillespie. After the test drive was over, there were another 10 questions to be answered and then the test drive was complete! Each successful test drive earned $20 for Post Prom.

Post Prom is held after Prom each year at Gillespie High School. Post Prom takes a large amount of dedication for all those involved and is a year round fundraiser. Funds are raised to host the students after Prom for about 6 hours. During the 6 hours, students can play a variety of games, eat, and win prizes. Everything is provided by Post Prom and only costs $10 a student to register.

Volunteers from Post Prom get everything ready to make the process quick and easy.

The registration fee provides the student with a pair of boxers and other free gifts just for attending.

Funds are then used to rent equipment or games that will get to utilized by the students after Prom. The rest of the funds are used to provide food and drinks as well as purchase prizes for the students that are won via raffle. Prizes are the most popular item at Post Prom because there are always so many.

Prizes range from Oakley sunglasses to a tool chest on wheels or even Cardinal tickets to fishing polls and camping gear. There is something for everyone at Post Prom.

Post Prom would like to thank every individual that gave up 20 minutes of their Saturday to drive a Ford vehicle for the program.

Advertisement

Share this story

Comments

comments

CUSD 7 News

Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship

Published

on

In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.

The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.

Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.

Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.

Advertisement
Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Community News

Macoupin County residential fire claims multiple victims on Saturday

Published

on

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Macoupin County as a residential structure fire broke out in the 200 block of West Dean Street, Virden, resulting in the death of a male victim, the Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya announced.

The individual was pronounced deceased at 10:06 AM but the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, as authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025. The coroner’s office indicated that a press release will be issued following the autopsy and the positive identification of the victim.

WAND reported a second victim died after being transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon who confirmed a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male were the victims.

The fire reportedly started around 9:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed when first responders arrived. Two people were reportedly rescued and life flight was requested but were not available due to the foggy weather conditions. 

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, involving multiple agencies including the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office, the Virden Police Department, the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Community News

Missions group to host trivia fundraiser on March 30

Published

on

Come and join us for an exciting afternoon of trivia as we support our local 2:18 Missions! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5 PM for an event that promises fun, camaraderie, and a chance to make a difference in our community. The event will be held at DeStefane Community Center in Benld, 201 East Central Avenue.

Teams of up to 10 people can participate for just $100 per table. Whether you want to reserve your table in advance or simply show up on the day of the event to pay at the door, we welcome all trivia enthusiasts to join in the competition!

Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the game—just please remember, no alcohol is allowed. For your convenience, we will have bottles of water available for purchase.

The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The first-place team will take home a prize of $150. Plus, bring some dollar bills to participate in “Heads and Tails” games during breaks and to buy mulligans for your team.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying a lively trivia challenge. To reserve your table or for more information, contact Kristin at 217-691-7469.

Let’s make this a memorable event for our community and the 2:18 Missions!

Advertisement
Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Trending

×

We need your support. If you value having timely, accurate news about your community, please become one of our subscribers. Subscribe