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Public Library is “almost done”: Benld Council Meeting

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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.


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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.

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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.

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Gillespie teen wins drive safe Chicago video contest

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Wins $2,000 Prize and Video She Created will Air on 160 TV Stations Nationwide

CHICAGO – Emily Bergen, 16, a student at Gillespie High School in Gillespie, has won the annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest.  Antonio Knott, 15, of Merrillville High School in Merrillville IN, placed second in the voting, and Noelani Elizalde, 17, also from Merrillville High School, was third. 

Sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, teens from Illinois and surrounding states were invited to submit ideas for a 30-second PSA about sharing the road with other passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians.

Three finalists were selected and each worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second TV public service announcements.  The public was then able to vote for their favorite online.  More than 1,400 online votes were cast.

The winner received $2,000 and will be featured on nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. The first runner-up got $1,000 and the second runner-up won $500.  All three finalists’ teachers received $100 gift cards.

Bergen’s winning PSA shows a young driver starting her car and pressing a “share the road” button.  As she drives, an AI voice warns her of a bicyclist, a pedestrian and children in a school zone. The voice then reminds her, “Cars don’t come with devices like me, which is why you need to know how to share the road.”

“The carnage on our roads can be reduced if drivers remain aware of others who share the road,” said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving. “We think the creative ideas about sharing the road from our Drive Safe Chicago winner and runners-up convey that message effectively.”

“Although today’s new cars are safer than ever, with technological advances that are proven to help avoid crashes,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts, “drivers must still be aware of others they are sharing the road with, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrians.”

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The National Road Safety Foundation says driver error accounts for 94 percent of all fatal crashes, with speeding and driver distraction among the leading factors.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads and highways in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of injuries and an estimated annual cost of more than $340 billion.

View Bergen’s winning video below:

Bergen’s video is also featured center on the National Road Safety Foundation’s website with the runners-up videos to the right and to the left: https://m.shortstack.page/NLxMqT

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L&C announces fall 2024 honors lists

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Lewis and Clark Community College

Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List.

Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. Below is an excerpt containing students residing in Macoupin County.

President’s List

BENLD – Ryleigh L. Phillips; Zander E. Rieffer; Emily R. Schoen; Tristen B. Wargo;

BRIGHTON – Brandon M. Adams; Ike D. Austin; Lainie L. Behrends; Reagan Beilsmith; Ian C. Brantley; Tina M. Brass; Lane Cox; Madison P. Fenstermaker; Hunter D. Gillis; Hailey Gula; Alexis R. Harrop; Gavin Humm; Thomas D. Kunz; Nicholas O. McGee; Audrey A. Perkins; Ava J. Pulley; Alyssa J. Schuchman; Addison Strohbeck; Sydney A. Valdes; Abby Van Doren; Piper L. Voorhees; Madelyn E. Zarges;

BUNKER HILL – Alex Betts; Grant J. Burch; Kayleigh K. Butler; Abigayle L. Collins; Denise Deias; Braden T. Fulton; Dillon M. Guess; Maya R. Henfling; Hannah J. Herrmann; Madalynn Hilyard; Madelyn Landreth; William Manar; Kaylee L. Richert; Andrew Sanner; Abby N. Spraggs; Noah A. Thyer;

CARLINVILLE – Jack E. Beard; Matthew J. Eldred; Jack Goby; Stephanie K. Harding; Gabriel R. Henson; Alexsis A. Kalaher; Weston E. Kuykendall; Lillian McCurley; Emerald Ondrey; Joanna M. Roemer; Jessica N. Strubbe; Karleina J. Tipps; Samuel L. Wilson;

GILLESPIE – Lauren E. Bertagnolli; Ean L. Davis; Lanie G. Doty; Kennedy G. Helmkamp;

MEDORA – Aubrey M. Reno; Anneliese M. Shatley; Haleigh Sinclair;

SHIPMAN – Alyssa L. Beck; Gracie B. Darr; Addison A. Jeffers; Tyson Kahl; Josiah A. Schuette; Bailee A. Sorgea;

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SOUTH ROXANA – Lyndsey M. Johansen; Caden O. Lara; Savanah M. Stogsdill;

STAUNTON – Julie A. Aloisi; Samantha R. Anderson; Zane P. Anderson; Shane Baker; Lilly M. Bandy; Grace Bekeske; Gianna Bianco; Carson G. Buffington; Kiersten L. Carlson; Karla J. Castillo; Izabella Claussen; Lillian Dothager; Olivia M. Favre; Eli J. Henke; Alexis A. Hester; Samantha D. Hoffman; Harold I. Irvin, III; Dylan Jarden; Korryn O. Keehner; Nicholas L. Raphael; Alexis P. Schaaf; Brady Seelbach; Carli L. Skinner; Cole Sternickle; Tyler J. Thompson; Lilly Trettenero; Lillyan S. Troeckler;

Dean’s List

BENLD – Ridge A. Braundmeier; Kaitlynn E. Conner; Elizabeth M. King; Alyssa S. McCollum; Marria D. Middleton; Alyssa F. Schuette;

BRIGHTON – Garrett R. Beuttel; Troy J. Brooks; Emily Y. Cambron; Jacob G. Carpenter; Lucy Childress; Olivia Cody; Logan T. Crane; Tristyn N. Ditterline; Kaylin G. Gerard; Cooper J. Hagen; Ashlyn K. Hall; Evan Hanold; Samuel J. Harshbarger; Amelia R. Hines-Pattan; Ella J. Kadell; Daylin M. King; Kayla A. Lemarr; Tucker Mayhew; Elizabeth L. Milford; Stacey M. Mynatt; Blythe E. Roloff; Jordan R. Short; Shiann Vinson; Grace A. Wylde;

BUNKER HILL – Cole T. Burch; Hanna N. Heeren; Madelynne K. Heflin; Taylor Miklavic; Katelyn J. Miller; Abigail G. Scott;

CARLINVILLE – Boedy E. Baker; Emily A. Barbre; Zachary Chapman; Ella R. Clevenger; Alana N. Dixon; Alison J. Dixon; Nathan Dyer; Addison Eldred; Saralynn I. Joiner; Henry S. Kalaher; William G. Meyer; Chloe A. Payne; Amy L. Pocklington; Jack Rives; Lanna P. Vanderpoel; Ella C. Wise; Braley M. Wiser;

GILLESPIE – Reese E. Bussmann; Regan E. Bussmann; Addie M. Hayes; Karter Mix; Adrianne B. Niemeyer; Grace J. Vandoren; Shannon L. Wright;

MOUNT OLIVE – Libbie M. Nowell;

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PIASA – Anna C. Fink;

SHIPMAN – Kaden G. Cottingham; Rocky Darr; Kathryn M. Mueller; Sayuri Owada; Rocky J. Rose;

STAUNTON – Rylee K. Baugh; David S. Dann; Belle M. Darte; Jacob A. Dillon; Vivienne Dothager; Sean T. Fleming; Kennedy L. Legendre; Zander MacHota; Savannah M. Missey; Nicholas Monahan; Nicole M. Narup; Kelley Perrine; Christopher S. Pritchett; Alivia Royer; Katie N. Schalk; Lakesi Settles; Priya E. Siegfried; Justin A. Smith; Kylie A. Tomso; Whitney Weller;

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Gillespie to host blood drive on Feb. 17

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Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, February 17 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.

To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. Appointments are requested.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.  For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/23/24 are eligible to give at this drive.

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