Community News
School board approves $12,000 project to improve infield drainage at baseball diamond
Board member Billy Carter discusses the baseball field project.
CUSD 7 board members authorized the expenditure of up to $12,000 from revenue generated from a new Macoupin County School Facilities Sales Tax to improve drainage from the problematic baseball field infield area.
In a unique arrangement, baseball coach Jeremy Smith agreed to pay the funds back to the district over a period of about five years from fundraising activities. Baseball is one of several athletic programs dependent upon fundraising activities on the part of players, parents and supporters.
In an announcement posted on social media, coach Smith said any community members, baseball alumni or community organizations wishing to help the baseball program repay the expense to the school district will be recognized at the baseball complex purportedly by a longterm sign or similar recognition. “We could have the money paid off quicker or do more in improvements to the field,” Smith said of utilizing the donations.
Supt. Joe Tieman said the project seems to be the most cost-efficient approach to resolving drainage issues on the field. The field is prone to accumulating standing water during periods of wet weather, which typically coincide with the baseball season. Tieman said coaches and supporters sometimes resort to digging holes in the field in an attempt to drain storm water from the field. Still, the field may remain too wet to play for a week or more, forcing the district to sometimes move games to other venues.
Tieman said several options for resolving the issue have been discussed in the past but have been rejected primarily due to the cost. Those options have included the possibility of installing permanent pumps to remove water at a cost of about $25,000 and a proposal developed by Ohio State University with a price tag of $50,000.
The option approved Monday night calls for a multi-phase project to start this fall. District workers will apply a herbicide to kill the grass on the infield area, after which trenches will be dug and ordinary field tile installed to carry water away to a ditch on the south side of the field. Once the tiling is installed, workers will bring in dirt to build up the infield’s elevation and new sod will be laid to complete the field.
Tieman said the tiling is expected to cost $1,300 to $1,500. The district expects to spend about $4,000 on bringing in dirt and grading the infield, and another $4,000 for sod. The baseball program will pay the funds back to the district at a rate of about $2,500 to $3,000 annually.
“I think it’s a good fix for the price,” Maintenance Director Rob Graham told the board. District maintenance workers will provide much of the labor, along with volunteers from the community.
[pullquote]In the long run, the school district wins. It won’t cost the taxpayers any money.[/pullquote]“I think we’ve come up with the best solution we can,” said Billy Carter, who serves on the Building and Grounds Committee. He was enthusiastic about the arrangement calling for the baseball program to pay back the funds over time. “In the long run, the school district wins. It won’t cost the taxpayers any money.”
Board member Dave Griffel expressed concerns about draining the filed into the ditch on the south side, noting the ditch would then carry water east through a residential area. He said he would prefer taking the storm water to a ditch on the west side which ultimately empties into a ditch along Illinois Route 16. He recommended having a professional tiling company install the tile to ensure proper installation and drainage.
“I’ve had several thousand acres of farmland tiled,” he said, adding that he believed the district could use a professional installation crew without spending significantly more money.
Board members unanimously authorized the project on a motion by Bernot, seconded by Billy Carter, both of whom serve on the board’s Building and Grounds Committee. The project was referred back to the committee to hammer out details such as where the drainage should be directed.
Anyone interested in donating to the baseball program should contact head coach Jeremy Smith using his school email (jsmith@cusd7.org) or by calling Supt. Joe Tieman at 839-2464.
OTHER PROJECTS FROM NEW SALES TAX INITIATIVE
Also utilizing funds expected to accrue from the new sales tax initiative, the board agreed to hire DeLaurent Construction Co., Wilsonville, to asphalt a 7,500-square-foot parking area west of the existing high school agriculture building at a cost of $29,998. The lot will be used for teacher and staff parking during school days and will provide parking for football fans on nights when home games are scheduled. The lot is located directly across the street from the football field.
The board also agreed to re-gravel the student parking lot on the east side of the high school/middle school complex at cost of $14,648.
Tieman identified the parking lot projects as short-term needs the district needs to address. Ultimately, the School Facilities Sales Tax is expected to generate about $400,000 which must be used for permanent capital improvements. The district should start receiving disbursements from the tax starting in October. Since the fiscal year will be underway, school officials expect to receive only about $265,000 for the first fiscal year. Tieman noted the board has committed 20 percent of the new revenue to servicing construction bonds.
To help guide how the new revenue is used, Tieman suggested the board may want to appoint a committee to work on recommendations for long-term projects the district may want to accomplish with the sales tax funds.
[pullquote]Tieman reported that the Building and Grounds Committee already has tentatively discussed the need for creating a dedicated science lab at the high school level and addressing a drainage issue between the administration building and middle school.[/pullquote]Tieman reported that the Building and Grounds Committee already has tentatively discussed the need for creating a dedicated science lab at the high school level and addressing a drainage issue between the administration building and middle school. The science lab project, he noted, would require consulting with the school architect to develop options for consideration and cost estimates. To finance the project, Tieman said the board may want to consider holding some funds in reserve over a period of a few years.
“With our budget constraints and the uncertainty with state funding, there is no good time to spend money on parking lots or a baseball field,” said Bernot, who serves on the Building and Grounds Committee, “but this board has always been proactive.”
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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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Community News
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.
