Community News
Public Library is “almost done”: Benld Council Meeting
Veteran’s Memorial Ceremony Slated for January 21
Toni Wargo from the library visited the council meeting on January 9th to update the council on the work being done. The project started in September of 2011 and is “almost complete,” Wargo said of the work. The library has been a mess the entire time the work has been underway and it is still a mess, according to Toni. “I would like to tell you all that Jim Savant has been a huge help to us,” Toni informed the council, “He worked there and he was always there when we called for advice or input.”
The project at the library started at $29,000 and finished with a total bill of $69,000. A nice donation came from the Frank Bertetti Foundation, which was very helpful. “The job got complicated because they kept finding things wrong,” Wargo explained. They started out by putting 13 piers under the library on the parking lot side. That worked out fine, so they were going to do some grouting and mud-jacking. That work would have cost $29,000.
Mike Hedricks questions Andy Hopper about his new business.
When the crew started digging, there were voids under the floor of the library. “Big voids,” Toni clarified. Helitech went back to the drawing board from there and came back with some unfortunate news. “We don’t think the building will hold,” Wargo said of Helitech’s thoughts. Of course, they do not know for sure, but it was not safe.
After that, the library changed their mind and opted for better grouting and more grouting. After starting that grouting, they came back with some more unfortunate news. “They wanted us to use permeation grouting now,” Wargo explained, “Which is grouting that you put in after you already grout so it fills the smaller cracks and crevices.” The library decided that move would be the best, so they did it on the back half of the building because there was a basement there. In the spring, the library will undergo some tuck-pointing on the side next to the parking lot.
Mary Newman, head librarian, filed for a grant about a year and a half ago for the amount of $25,000. The library received the grant, but has been unable to use it due to all the other ongoing problems. Since the work has been finished, a painter has came in and painted the whole place while a laminate floor was installed. The library is going to replace the back door with a brand new one and replace the locks on the front door. All the windows will have a sun screen shade. A new circulation desk will be purchased if funds are still available from the grant.
Toni Wargo went on to say that the library is in need of a new sidewalk. Most of the sidewalk was already torn up, so the rest was torn out and the area was leveled. Rock was brought in and leveled on top off the ground. Wargo went on to ask if the city could help with the new sidewalk or decide to purchase parking blocks for a summer job. “It is something that needs to be done and anything the city could do to help would be appreciated,” Wargo closed.
Mickey Robinson explains that the emergency exit lights are required to light up.
Vickie Laughlin invited all the aldermen and the mayor to come visit the library. “It is really a nice place,” Laughlin said. The library will order a book if you need one and can have it in about three days. There is a lot of things going on at the library and all the helpers are proud of it.
Lynn Fralle from Build Benld advised the council that the Veteran’s Memorial Sign was installed in Veteran’s Park in front of the tank on Benld Main Street. The press conference for the sign is scheduled on Saturday, January 21 at 11:00am. Fralle went on to ask if a notice of completion of new improvement be handed out with the building permit and returned to the city clerk of Benld or sent to the SOA office in Carlinville. “They are not getting that information and by right, they are supposed to be getting it,” Fralle explained.
Andrew Hopper then spoke the council about getting a business license for a business he is wishing to start. The business would be at his property on 8th street and it would be just an automotive repair shop inside of his single care detached garage. Hopper explained that it would be something he would do on the weekends. No cars would be sitting outside, according to Hopper, and all cars would be properly tagged. The fairly big workstation would be used to repair one or two cars at a time. After much speculation, the city passed the business license with a 6-0 vote.
The only committee report came from Mickey Robinson. Robinson opened with an abandoned house on North 5th Street. Mickey went on to show pictures of the property and asked if a city building inspector would check it out. After discussion from the council, Hedricks advised Mickey that the property is on Walnut Street and not 5th Street. Bernot went on to advise Robinson that the pictures were dated back from 2005.
Robinson then went on to say that the civic center has 27 tables in “operating condition.” He has a few organizations that would donate a total of $500 to purchase about 10 new tables for the center. “The table would be a strong, sturdy table that would be in good condition,” Robinson stated. A motion was passed 6-0 that Robinson could purchase tables pending donations from civic organizations.
In other property news, the emergency exit light bulbs in the civic center were replaced. Robinson would like to see a buffer and scrubber rented to “get the center in running condition for the main usage season.” There has been a few stains that have been spotted and a few spots were bubble gum is stuck to the floor. Since then, a required deposit will be collected for rental of the civic center. The deposit will be refunded if nothing is wrong, but the organization will not get their money back if the center is not in the same condition it was prior to the organization entering.
In closing, the council accepted resignation of part-time police officer Eric Howard 6-0 effective 12-12-2011.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
Comments
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
