Community News
Black Diamond Days may return to downtown for 2024
Gillespie’s Black Diamond Days festival could return to the downtown commercial district if the city council approves a resolution seeking permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to close a section of Illinois Route 4 to accommodate the struggling festival.
Ald. Landon Pettit, who also serves as a member of the Black Diamond Days Committee, said bringing the festival back downtown was a possibility during the regular monthly meeting of the city council Monday night.
“We were told that once we lost our permit to close Macoupin Street, we could never come back,” Pettit said. “It turns out that that is not true.” To return to the downtown area, he said, would only require the city council to seek IDOT’s permission to close a section of Illinois Route 4, which coincides with Macoupin Street.
“I’m dead set against it,” said Ald. Dave Link, who owns Lumpy’s Bar and Grill downtown. “For all the years it was downtown, we were basically shut down for the weekend.” He suggested contracting downtown merchants to see whether or not they favor bringing the festival back.
“Don’t do that,” City Attorney Rick Verticchio counseled. “Have a public meeting. That way, if they want to come up and talk to us, they can.”
Mayor John Hicks said he would set a date for a public meeting in October, official notice of which will be published in local news outlets.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher said another issue could be the start of construction on a long-anticipated Streetscape Project to improve downtown aesthetics. Fisher was confident, however, the festival could be worked around any construction that might be underway.
Promoted as “Macoupin County’s Original Festival of Coal,” the festival began as an annual summertime ritual more than 40 years ago. It was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a group of volunteers attempted to revive the festival, relocating it to Old Gillespie Lake. A last-minute cancellation forced the festival to open without a carnival for the first time this year. Organizers brought in inflatable “bounce houses” to entertain younger festival-goers as an alternative to traditional carnival rides.
“Being out at the lake, we’ve lost substantial amounts of money every year, trying to keep it going,” Pettit said. “Every year we hear that people want it back downtown.”
He said the committee has been bolstered by several new members who “have stepped up to help us.”
Council members voted unanimously, with Ald. Pettit voting “present,” to waive the vendor permit fee for vendors participating in Spooky Halloween Fright at Gillespie Lake in October. Teresa Pettit told the council that the organizing committee would ask vendors to voluntarily donate $20 to be given to the Lake Fund. She also notified the council that the group is securing a $1 million liability insurance policy as required by the city.
The event is set for Friday evening, Oct. 20, and all day on Saturday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 28. In addition to vendors, the event will feature bounce houses, games and crafts for kids, a chili cook-off, a wings cook-off, a fishing tournament, bonfires, and a “haunted” trail. There will be a cakewalk, best costume contests and a best decorated campsite contest. Additional activities include a scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, raffles, 50/50 drawings, a trunk or treat event and a costumed Halloween parade.
Pettit said she wasn’t previously aware that the organizers needed city permission for the event.
“Like so many things, it comes down to communication,” Verticchio said, advising Pettit to approach the city in advance for future events on city property. “You come up here and tell them what you want to do and chances are is no one is going to say ‘no,’ because this looks like a very nice event that is going to make the community better.”
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
The council met in executive session for 35 minutes before addressing the agenda. The closed-door session officially was called to discuss personnel, litigation, real estate and collective bargaining, but may have focused on the status of litigation against several nuisance properties.
Upon returning to open session, resident Ellen Collman complained about her property being declared a public nuisance without prior notice. She said she has been making progress toward cleaning up the property and said she would like to have the declaration withdrawn.
“Not one person sitting at this table has spoken to me about this,” Collman said.
Ald. Link, who asked for the nuisance declaration originally, said the property owners had cut grass and weeds in the back and removed most of a dilapidated fence, but there was still trash and debris that remained to be removed. He said he had talked with neighbors who told him the property had been in a state of poor maintenance for as long as nine years.
Verticchio told Collman there was no reason to withdraw the nuisance declaration, describing it essentially as an incentive for property owners to clean up their property to avoid litigation. While the notice gives the property owners 30 days to comply, he said it was common practice to give the owners more time if they are actively working to abate the nuisance.
“My experience is that when the city issues a formal notice, the property owner goes out and fixes it,” Verticchio said. “If you do that, that’s it. When it’s cleaned up, you’ll get a letter telling you the property is no longer a nuisance. I guarantee you that as long as you keep working on it, this group is not going to have me file an action in court because they don’t want to spend any more money on me to do that.”
In other action, the council declared property at 411 West Chestnut and 503 West Chestnut as public nuisances.
Later in the meeting, the board authorized payment of Tax Increment Financing Funds in the amount of $1,385 to Netemeyer Engineering, Aviation, for completing engineering evaluations for buildings at 109 South Macoupin and 300 South Macouipin. Both buildings have previously been declared public nuisances. The owner of 109 South Macoupin reportedly offered to donate the building to the city but city officials wanted to confirm what it would cost to stabilize the building before accepting it.
Ald. Dona Rauzi reported that the tax-buyer that acquired a nuisance property at 508 Park Avenue is exploring the feasibility of razing the structure.
Council members also briefly discussed the status of the former Canna Theater, recently acquired by a private party who has plans to renovate the building as a performance venue. Fisher reported that he talked to the new owner and learned she expects to first repair the roof and a water damaged wall to stabilize the building, and is in the process of cleaning out the interior.
GOLF CART RULES
After several minutes of discussion the council voted unanimously on separate motions to require golf courts operated in the city limits to be fitted with seatbelts, and to reduce the minimum age for golf court operators from 18 to 16, with the provision that the operator has a valid driver’s license. Both provisions will take effect on Jan. 1 when golf court permits are renewed.
Ald. Landon Pettit questioned whether or not young children riding a passengers in golf courts should be secured in a car seat. He said he had observed young children riding in golf carts who were simply strapped in with a seatbelt. He said he worried about a child slipping out from under the belt and being injured.
Verticchio advised that city police charged with enforcing such an ordinance could not be certified to determine whether the seat is properly installed because golf cart seats are not designed to accommodate a child safety seat.
Fritz asked if the city could be held liable for a child’s injury or death if it did not require child safety seats.
“You’d have greater liability if you require car seats and some kid gets bounced out,” Verticchio said. “Some smart lawyer would say, ‘Hey, the kid would have been fine if the city hadn’t said they had to be in a car seat’,”
PARKING ON LJ AVENUE
On the direction of the council, Verticchio said he would prepare an ordinance which, if approved, would ban parking on LJ Avenue during sporting events.
Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller initially asked for new No Parking signs to replace faded signs on LJ Avenue, but asked that the new signs to ban parking at all times rather than during school hours. The street runs between the Gillespie High School campus and the football field, and becomes congested with parked cars during football games.
“People park on both sides and it basically becomes a one-way street,” she said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve had a kid run out in front of me from between parked cars.”
Verticchio said he would prepare a draft ordinance for the council’s consideration in October. In the meantime, Mayor Hicks said he would contact the school to see if they would agree to barricade the street during sporting events.
Ald. Fritz also suggested approaching the school district to see if it would consider donating a couple of half-lots on Park Avenue, previously listed as surplus, to the City of Gillespie. The district apparently received no bids from private buyers to acquire the half-lots. Having them, Fritz said, would give the city access to Bear Creek to cut brush and otherwise maintain the waterway. Verticchio said the school district could transfer the properties via an intergovernmental agreement if it so chooses.
MFT BID LETTING
An announcement by City Treasurer Fisher that the Illinois Department of Transportation is letting bids for the Motor Fuel Tax program on Oct. 21 sparked a brief discussion about the type of rock used for the city’s street maintenance program. Fisher said IDOT will open bids for furnace slag to be used on city streets because it causes less dust than traditional rock chips.
Ald. Pettit, however, said he had seen a product called “purple rock” in use and deemed it equal to or superior to slag. Purple rock, also called Iron Mountain Track Rock, is considered an alternative for slag since sources for furnace slag are dwindling.
Fisher said the bidding specifications approved by the council earlier call for slag and that it might be possible to seek bids for purple rock next year.
CHESTNUT CULVERT
The council referred to the Street Department a request to install a new culvert at Chestnut and Handy streets for correct a water flow issue that arose after the construction of a public housing complex in the area.
Ald. Pettit said the new intake is above the level of the water flow, causing rain water to back up into neighboring yards. He said it may take as many as four culverts to correct the issue. Mayor Hicks asked the Street Department to assess the issue and determine the best and most cost-effective way to address it.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Agreed to set the standard fee for business licenses at $25 per year to streamline bookkeeping. The city formerly had a schedule of fees ranging from $12 to $25 depending upon the type of business.
- Accepted a new lease agreement for a cellular tower at Gillespie Lake under which the tower owner wills pay $1,000 per month, an increase of $250 from the previous contract.
- Accepted a bid of $300 to repaint pedestrian striping on Kelly Street at BenGil Elementary School.
- Agreed to donate an old communications tower at the former Gillespie Police Department to the Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service.
- Gave the Mayor power to act on accepting bids for 21 surplus radio units previously used the Police Department.
- Agreed to pay an outstanding bill from TDI Concrete from Tax Increment Financing Funds, provided the contractor provides proof of paying its employees prevailing wages.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
