Community News
Village of Wilsonville purchases insurance for July 4th fireworks display
For 24 years the Village of Wilsonville sponsored Independence Day fireworks displays without having purchased liability insurance.
“Our insurance about had a fit when they saw that,” Village President Jeff Rhodes told village trustees during the regular monthly meeting of the board Tuesday night. Rhodes said he purchased a policy through the Illinois Municipal League’s shared risk program at a cost of $1,000 to cover this year’s fireworks display. “Apparently for the last 24 years when we had fireworks we didn’t have any insurance. If a house burns down or someone gets hurt, we’d be liable.”
“Do you need a motion (to approve the purchase),” Trustee Roland Rife asked.
“I already bought it,” Rhodes said. “It was either that or not have the Fourth of July.”
The Fourth of July celebration is an annual tradition in Wilsonville. Featuring food, beverages, games and children’s activities, this year’s celebration also will be an observance of the village’s centennial. Rhodes told trustees that trophies have been purchased to be presented to winners of the washers tournament and corn hole tourney. Youngsters going through an inflatable obstacle course also will be eligible for awards, and Rhodes said he purchased participation ribbons “so every kid that goes through that will get something.”
The celebration will conclude with a firework display. Licensed pyrotechnical Karl Pachesa of Wilsonville will ignite the display as a volunteer. Rhodes said Pachesa is retired and while he has insurance for himself, he doesn’t provide insurance coverage for the village.
Rhodes also reported he made an emergency expenditure of $4,256.20 to address a faulty air release valve that was causing raw sewage to leak out of a manhole on the Bob Wilhoit property on Liberty Street.
“Bob called me and said we had sewage leaking out of a manhole,” Rhodes said. He said he took the manhole cover off and found the manhole itself filled with sewage. White Sanitation was hired to pump out the sewage to give workers access to the sewer to find the problem which turned out to be an air release valve with several holes in it. Parts, labor and pumping totaled $4,256.20.
Newly elected Trustee Bill Molinar suggested having trustees periodically check manholes to see that they are functioning properly. Rhodes agreed in principle but said checking the manholes might not have avoided the problem. “The blueprints don’t show an air release valve there,” he said. “I didn’t even know there was a manhole there. Bob didn’t either.”
During a discussion regarding needed repairs at Shady Oak Park, the board voted unanimously to give Molinar permission to work with volunteers to clean and refurbish the old fish fryer with an eye toward having a fish fry at some future date. “It won’t be this year, maybe next year,” Molinar said.
[pullquote]The board voted unanimously to give permission to to clean and refurbish the old fish fryer with an eye toward having a fish fry at some future date[/pullquote]
“I’ve talked to people around town and they really don’t want to see the fish stand go away,” Molinar said. “Don’t ask me why, but I’m a fan of it, too.”
The park used to be the setting for annual fish fry sponsored by the city but it has been a number of years since the building or the fryer has been used. Molinar said the building needs some repairs, including repairs to the roof. He said he also has investigated repairing the bingo stand and believes it can be addressed by patching the roof as opposed to a complete re-roofing project.
Per Molinar’s request, Rhodes reported he contacted the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding water standing on the highway following heavy rains. He said state officials did not offer any immediate solution.
Molinar said he believes some of the problem may be due to blockages in a drainage ditch to the north of the highway. The debris, he said, dropped into the ditch during tree trimming activities undertaken by Ameren. He suggested having a work day for trustees and volunteers to clean out the debris and see it that improves water flow.
“I’d give a day or two,” Molinar said. “it doesn’t both me.”
“We’ll do that, then,” Rhodes responded. “We’ll make a work day.”
“There’s water problems all over town,” Molinar said. “We need to take care of them.”
Rhodes also reported that the village purchased $192 worth of landscaping stones that Dianne Sloan will use to re-landscape around a sign within the triangle at the north end of Wilson Street.
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Community News
County marks 250th Anniversary of Declaration with reading and archive projects at Spring Festival on May 23
The Macoupin County Historical Society (MCHS) is hosting the first in a series of local celebrations & activities on May 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at the Spring festival highlighting the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The public is encouraged to attend a reading of the Declaration aloud at the Red Barn Pavillion.
Following the reading, participants and the public will be encouraged to have a conversation about what’s important to them, their families and to America examining the past and looking at the future.
Attendees may also enter a Birthday Wish for America & sign the America @ 250 Macoupin County Time Capsule book. The book will become a permanent archive of the Macoupin County Historical Society.
Individuals, families, & friends can also be a part of “Community Conversations” recorded by Illinois Voices 250, a Story Telling group affiliated with Illinois Humanities. The recordings will take place in all 102 counties in Illinois. Illinois Voices 250 will be on site most of the day at the Historical Society Spring Festival. The stores recorded will be digitalized and become a permanent part of the Library of Congress.
Those interested in participating are welcome to bring family and friends into a casual conversation about their life story. Both projects were made possible through a grant from Illinois Humanities to Carlinville Winning Communities, a local non profit organization that supports activities in the community. It’s a very successful partnership between Carlinville Winning Communities, Illinois Humanities and the Macoupin County Historical Society, said Mary Tinder, who is coordinating the activities.
This year, 2026, is also a time to “Bring Back the Strawberries”, a specialty desert from the Red Barn Kitchen. For many years, strawberry shortcake was the signature desert at the festivals. The MCHS Board of Directors and Red Barn Kitchen Crew chose this historic occasion to put them back on the menu.
“Fifty Years of Festivals” has helped finance operations for MCHS and we are working towards another fifty years, said board member Patty Ambrose, Vendor and Outreach Coordinator for MCHS. These activities are free, open to the public and accessible. The two-day festival is May 23, 24, 2026 at the Macoupin County Historical Society, 900 West Breckenridge Street, Carlinville, Il.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie 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, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
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) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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