Community News
Sheriff Don Albrecht updates Area Rotary
Scammers are relentless
Macoupin County Sheriff Don Albrecht spoke to the Benld Area Rotary during a regular luncheon on Tuesday, May 29. He updated the group on scams and the sheriff department.
The agency Albrecht oversees is a county wide operation for Macoupin County which is 864 square miles they patrol. He oversees 50 employees in the 7th largest county in Illinois which includes the correctional staff, court security, detective division, patrol division, telecommunication, and office administration.
Albrecht also mentioned that the sheriff’s office took over 911 for Macoupin County last November. “When you call 911, hopefully you get a good response from our agency,” Albrecht said. “I went from 7 telecommunicaters to 12.”
The sheriff department has 15 patrol deputies while only 3 are on the road at any given point. They back up the local agencies when they need it and sometimes assist with major cases when local departments do not have investigators.
According to Albrecht, the department works with registered sex offenders and the new registered child homicide offenders. “Fortunately, we do not have any registered child homicide offenders yet,” Albrecht noted. “There are plenty of sex offenders. Get online and check them out.”
Most recently, the sheriff office received money from a grant and crime stoppers to purchase ballistic vests for sheriff officers. The grant the county obtained was for $3,000 and then with the crime stoppers $3,500 donation, the office was able to gather $6,500. The office used the other $4,000 from bond fees they collect. “We have 21 vests in use and all were purchased without tax payer money.”
Sheriff Albrecht noted that domestic problems have been a big issue for the department recently. He blames the trouble on the economy. “Everyone is happy when they are not fretting for money,” he explained. Domestic violence issues pretty much go up with the downturn in the economy as well as thefts and scrap metal theft, according to Albrecht.
Recently, the state has passed some laws that the scrappers have to identify people and keep records of who brings what in. This sometimes makes it easier for the sheriff’s office. A few years ago, Albrecht brought the initiative to the Illinois Sheriff Organization for scrappers to require a photo identification shown on any scrap over $100 and to keep a record of it. “It worked, but then they just bring it in by $50 increments,” Albrecht said. “There is a way around everything.”
“The criminal mind thinks about everything,” Albrecht explained. “If they would just go out and work, it would be a lot less trouble for them.”
Albrecht then updated the Rotary on scams that have been popular lately. “The scams work because of greed of ignorance,” Albrecht noted. “Humans are very greedy.” The scammers are relentless; they send out postcards, emails, letters, or anything that will draw attention.
Scammers are “relentless” and they tag on to anything that is popular whether it be Opera, Reader’s Digest, tsunami victims, or anything. “They can come from people in different countries,” Albrecht closed.
There is nothing out there for free, according to Albrecht. Nobody will give out anything for free that cost you money. “That is the big key, no one is giving you anything for free after you pay for it.” He went on to warn that forwarded emails can give you a big virus.
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2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
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The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
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The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
