Community News
Wilsonville Board approves $9,000 electrical project
With one dissenting vote, the Wilsonville Board of Trustees voted Monday night to approve a $9,000 contract with Bauer Electric to replace light fixtures and substandard wiring in the Wilsonville Community Center. Village President Annetta Veres said Tom Bauer of Bauer Electric had provided her with information about a state-funded incentive program administered through Ameren that will enable the village to recoup up to 80 percent of the $2,500 cost of LED light fixtures included in the $9,000 quote.
Trustee John Veres reported the old wiring does not meet building codes and is, in some instances, dangerous. An examination of the wiring revealed some areas where the wiring was scorched from overloads in the past, he said. Some of the wiring servicing the bathrooms, he noted, was actually an old extension cord that had been cut apart and spliced into the wiring. “It’s a wonder that building hasn’t burned down,” he said.
Bauer will replace existing wiring with wiring that meets building codes and is properly encased in conduit. He also will replace light fixtures with more energy efficient LED fixtures, replace receptacles and perform other needed electrical work. President Veres said she will complete and submit the application before the April 15 deadline to get the Ameren rebate on the cost of the lighting fixtures, adding that the new lighting fixtures are expected to result in significant savings on monthly electric bills for the building.
Brought to a vote, the measure passed 4-1 with Trustee Pam Zaksas casting the only dissenting vote. Trustee David Day was absent.
In a related matter, President Veres reported that work on renovating Community Center bathrooms, which included making the bathrooms ADA-compliant, has been completed.
[pullquote]Bauer will replace existing wiring with wiring that meets building codes and is properly encased in conduit[/pullquote]
“They look amazing,” she said. “Everyone involved—all the contractors and all the volunteers—have done a great job. There was a lot of volunteerism down there.”
SIREN GRANT APPROVED
President Veres reported to the board that a USDA grant application to fund the purchase of a new emergency siren for the village has been approved. She said she expects to meet with Rural Development administrators soon to finalize the grant paperwork.
[pullquote]The $20,000 grant will cover more than two-thirds of the $29,000 cost of the siren.[/pullquote]
The $20,000 grant will cover more than two-thirds of the $29,000 cost of the siren. In February, the board voted unanimously to purchase the siren from Global Technology Systems, contingent upon the success of the grant application. The new siren will be mounted on a 60-foot pole and will have a range of 1,000 yards. In addition to sound, the siren will have a flashing light that will be activated when the siren is sounded for persons who have hearing disabilities. The siren also will have encoding equipment enabling police officers to activate the siren from their squad cars without having to go to the Village Hall to manually activate the system.
“A huge portion of our new siren is paid for,” Veres said. “This is great news for our community.”
CD REINVESTMENT
On a motion by Trustee Veres, seconded by Trustee Bob Carr, the board voted unanimously to invest $15,000 in General Funds in a 29-month Certificate of Deposit at an interest rate of 1.25 percent within 10 days after a $13,000 General Fund CD matures on April 13. The existing 12-month CD was earning a rate of .55 percent.
President Veres reported that she has contacted the accounting firm of Flemming & Tawfall to determine whether or not the company would be willing to perform next year’s audit on site, in lieu of removing financial documents from the Village Hall, and, if so, what the village would be expected to pay for the audit. She said she already has received a quote from a Hillsboro firm that would be willing to conduct the audit locally. Flemming & Tawfall has performed the audit for the past several years. Choosing a firm to perform the audit is expected to be on the board’s agenda for its May meeting.
ROCK DONATION
The board voted 4-1 to donate four loads of crushed rock to Sam Whitworth, who is working on rehabilitating a garage on property he owns. President Veres and Trustee Veres noted that Whitworth donated several hours of labor to install a drop ceiling at the Community Center. Zaksas voted “no” on the measure, questioning the wisdom of setting a precedent of compensating volunteers.
OTHER ACTION
Monday night’s meeting, held the night before the Consolidated Election, was relatively brief. In other action, the board:
- Approved donation of $100 to the Gillespie High School Post Prom organization.
- Approved the use of the Community Center for a Community Easter Egg hunt set for Saturday, April 8.
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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.
