Members of the Benld City Council voted 4-1 Monday night to approve a municipal property tax levy in the amount of $113,081.76 for 2020 property taxes to be collected in 2021. The levy is approximately $5,000 less than last year’s levy due primarily to the mid-year deactivation of the Benld Police Department. Complying with the […]
Macoupin Art Collective to add mural to Staunton building
The Macoupin Art Collective (MAC) is pleased to announce funding from the Healing Illinois Grant made possible in partnership with The Chicago Community Foundation. This opportunity will enhance Staunton through public art that exemplifies the interconnectedness of the community while creating a conversation about inclusivity through a large outdoor mural located at 115 East Main […]
Macoupin County Courthouse News
Cases filed during November 8-14, 2020. Visit the “Court News” category under the “Community News” tab for other editions. FELONIES Derek Horrighs, 31 of Virden, is charged with causing between $500 and $10,000 of criminal damage to government property in connection with an August 7 incident. MISDEMEANORS David Depper, 34 of Hillview, IL, is charged […]
Manar honors life of former Gillespie Mayor Howard Carney
Contributed content by the Illinois Senate Democrats. SPRINGFIELD – In response to the passing of former Gillespie Mayor Howard Carney, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) filed a resolution in the Illinois Senate to honor his life and service to Gillespie and Macoupin County. A retired coal mine manager for Monterey Coal Co., Howard Carney […]
Gillespie Coal Museum receives building improvement grant
LITCHFIELD— State Senator Andy Manar and State Representative Avery Bourne announced today that the City of Gillespie will receive a $33,800 state grant to assist with improvements to the Gillespie Coal Museum. The Coal Museum is one of 43 museums across the state that were recently awarded funds through the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants […]
Annual live nativity to be a drive-through event
Come experience the journey to Bethlehem to see the Christ child in a new and different way. Due to Covid 19, the annual live nativity at Griffel Farm will be a drive through event for this year only being held on Sunday, December 6, 2020, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Your journey includes the angel […]
Death of Maxine Willhoit
Maxine Willhoit, 84 of Staunton, died Tuesday, November 17, 2020, at Heritage Health in Staunton. She was born on February 4, 1936, in Dorchester, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clifford & Laura (Brachman) Partridge. She married Donald L. Willhoit on October 22, 1950, and he passed away on May 19, 2009. She […]
Death of Edward Charles Rodemeyer
Edward Charles Rodemeyer, 85 of Edwardsville, passed away Saturday, November 14, 2020, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville. He was born on September 14, 1935, and grew up in Boystown, Nebraska to the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rodemeyer Sr. He married Mary M. Long in February of 1961, and she passed away on November 17, […]
Death of James Allen Gristy
James Allen Gristy, 66 of Benld, died at his residence on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at 6:46 p.m. He was born on October 22, 1954, in Denver, CO. He was a supervisor for a cleaning company. James loved jogging, animals, sports, music and family. He is survived by his mother, Margaret Moats of Springfield; siblings, […]
Death of Everett Lee Bourland
Everett Lee Bourland, 80 of Gillespie, died at his residence on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at 5:44 p.m. He was born on January 1, 1940, in Collinsville to Jesse Bourland and Nina (Moore) Bourland. He married Patricia (Smith) Bourland on June 28, 1963, in Collinsville. Everett retired from the Dome Railway Service in Wood River as a […]
Gillespie Police Report: November 8-14, 2020
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020 An officer initiated a traffic stop at Trolley Street and Short Street in Benld. Brent K. Thacker, 40, of Benld was issued a citation for illegal possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle. An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street of Benld regarding criminal damage to property. […]
Death of Eula J. Hawkins
Eula J. Hawkins, 87 of Staunton, passed away Saturday, November 14, 2020, at Heritage Health in Staunton. She was born on April 8, 1933 in Conway, Arkansas, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Hubert and Fannie (Graham) Evans. She married Murlin A. Hawkins on July 14, 1954, and he passed away on October […]
Gillespie 4H club continues meeting virtually
The 4×4 4H Club based in Gillespie would like to remind families that while we may be in uncertain times, your child(ren)’s safety is still the top priority. While they may not be meeting in person for a while, the fun and educational experiences don’t stop. To learn more about 4H and how you can […]
Death of Sharon N. (Dooley) Castiglione
Sharon N. (Dooley) Castiglione, 79, passed away at 1:39 a.m. on November 11, 2020, at Carlinville Rehabilitation and Health Care. Sharon was born on December 21, 1940, in Alton, the daughter of Oran and Isla Dooley. She married the late Gene Castiglione in 1972. Sharon was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Gillespie […]
Death of Helen England
Helen England, age 88 of Edwardsville, passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville. She was born July 10, 1932, in Benld, the daughter of the late Mitro and Julia (Pellock) Kluchka. Helen married her husband of 51 years, James “Buddy” England on May 12, 1950, he preceded her in death […]
Driver services facilities to close from Nov. 17 until Dec. 7 due to COVID-19
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding the public that Driver Services facilities statewide will be closed for in-person transactions effective Tuesday, Nov. 17, and will reopen on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. White is encouraging the public to take advantage of online services. In an effort to reduce […]
Death of Joann Harris
Joann Harris, 67, of Staunton, IL, died at Heritage Health of Staunton, IL on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 8:00 pm. She was born January 6, 1953, in Staunton, IL to Vernon Harris & Elsie (Basso) Harris. She worked at Chrysler Automotive on the assembly line. She loved her animals, friends and family. Joann was […]
Death of Charles Robert “Bob” Heyen
Charles Robert “Bob” Heyen, 90 of Dorchester, died at his residence on Friday, November 13, 2020, at 10:45 p.m. He was born on January 16, 1930, in Carlinville to Louie Richard Heyen and Carrie Emma (Alexander) Heyen. He married Patty (Huddlestun) Heyen on May 12, 1950, in Shipman. He was an electrician and lineman for MJM Electric […]
Gillespie Council hires legal counsel for labor issues, agrees to participate in year-long peace corps program
Meeting primarily via the Zoom remote conferencing platform, members of the Gillespie City Council on Thursday night voted to partner with Grow Gillespie to bring a Peace Corps community development specialist to Gillespie for 11 months and agreed to hire outside legal counsel to work on labor relations issues. The meeting was reconvened from an […]
Local resident serves in Colorado senator race
Sawyerville resident and republican Christopher Hicks served as the regional field director on the 2020 re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Cory Gardner in Jefferson County, Colorado. Gardner received 44.2 percent of the votes and lost the race to his democrat challenger John Hickenlooper who received 53.5 percent of the votes. In Colorado, Hicks was responsible […]