Coal Country Times Permit No
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Macoupin County’s second largest newspaper Reaching every home and business in Gillespie, Benld, and surrounding communities PRSRT STD U.S. Postage P A I D Carlinville, IL Coal Country Times Permit No. 317 CR-RT 105P.O. South Box Macoupin 25, Gillespie, Street, Illinois Gillespie, 62033 Illinois 62033 [email protected]@[email protected] 50¢ Volume 9, Number 4 (217) 854-2534 Friday, May 5, 2017 Library hosting Storm leaves many in Gillespie without power supermarket sweep Wednesday, April 26, marked Gillespie Public Library is hold- the beginning of a series of thun- ing its seventh annual Supermarket derstorms that overtook the area Sweep contest. Tickets cost $5 each and caused flood warnings to be or three for $10 and will be available issued across Macoupin County. throughout May at the library, from According to IPEM Coordina- any library trustee or member of tor for the Macoupin County Friends of the Library, or at Randy’s Emergency Management Agency Market in Gillespie and Benld. Only James Pitchford, from Wednesday 300 tickets will be sold. The win- to Monday morning, more than six ner’s name will be drawn June 2. inches of rain fell throughout the The winner will get 2.5 minutes to county. do a Supermarket Sweep-style shop- Pitchford said there were storms ping spree at Randy’s Market. Over covering all 865 square miles of the years, winners have collected the region. “We started with heavy between $300 and $800 worth of rain on Wednesday. Thursday was groceries. Last year’s winner was light, then storms came on Friday Mindy Savant. and Saturday,” he added. “Ma- coupin Creek, Otter Creek, Ca- hokia Creek and Joe’s Creek are First Baptist Church all flooded and covering some of to hold bake sale the roads.” Pitchford additionally men- First Baptist Church will host a tioned that the areas that were bake sale from 9-11 a.m., Saturday, hit the hardest included Brigh- May 13, in the parking lot of United ton, Carlinville, Girard, Virden, Community Bank in Gillespie. Pro- Staunton and Nilwood. These ceeds from the sale will support a In the 900 block of South Madison in Gillespie, a fallen tree landed on some power lines towns had storm damage and mission trip to Spain in the fall. and damaged a utility pole during Saturday’s storm. Many in Gillespie were left without trees down. He said, “The primary power for several hours due to storm damage. threat was flooding rain, called Craft fair, flea flash flooding. This impacted it went over their spillway.” amount of damage took place dur- low-lying roads were impassable roadways and waterways. Otter Fortunately, Pitchford clarified ing the four day event. “Several due to high water on them. A cou- market set May 13 Lake was placed in their emer- that no emergency action was homes were hit by falling trees and ple of homes had windows broken The seventh annual Build Benld gency dam management plan and needed and no injuries were re- tree limbs. Power lines and poles out by debris hitting them. Route craft fair and flea market will be monitored the level of the water as ported to him. However, a large were broken off and many of the [See STORM on page 11] held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Satur- day, May 13, at Benld Civic Center. The event will feature more than CUSD 7 students place in three grade levels at County Bee Italian-American 40 vendors selling a variety of flo- Regional Office of Education held Zion Lutheran, first; and Alexia Eighth grade: John Mize III, Wolf rals, jewelry, purses, kitchen and the annual Macoupin County Spell- Emelander, Ben-Gil Elementary, Ridge Elementary, first; and Tori Days set for cooking utensils, lotions, scents, es- ing Bee Friday, April 28, at Carlin- second. Hartson, Carlinville Middle School, May 26-29 sential oils, household items, hand- ville Middle School. Sixth grade: Lacee Bramley, second. made crafts, wood crafts, handmade First and second place winners Northwestern, first; and Colton Other CUSD 7 students earning a The Italian Club of Benld rugs, food, clothing and more. were as follows. Bultema, Gillespie Middle School, spot among the county’s top spellers will host the 64th annual Ital- Homemade Italian beef and bar- Fourth grade: Ellie Wilson, Ben-Gil second. were Delaney Taylor, fourth grade, ian-American Days festival becue sandwiches, hot dogs, des- Elementary, first; and Ford Klocke, Seventh grade: Natalie Pesaven- fourth place; Levi Hatlee, seventh Friday through Monday, May serts and drinks will be sold all day. Wolf Ride Elementary, second. to, Mt. Olive, first; and Makenna grade, third place; and Sydney Bires, 26-29, at Benld City Park. Fifth grade: Adrienne Meade, Wilkinson, Bunker Hill, second. eighth grade, third place. The park opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 26. Swyear Corley to speak at Amusements will offer carni- val armbands from 6-10 p.m., Gillespie Library allowing attendees to ride as Gillespie Public Library will host much as they want for $22. a presentation by author Kevin Cor- Agent 99 will perform from ley, who has written two novels on 7:30-11:30 p.m. coal mining in Illinois, at 6:30 p.m., On Saturday, May 27, the Monday, May 15, at the library. park will open at 4 p.m. Car- Corley, a former history teacher nival rides will be $2 each in Christian County, has a bach- from 4-10 p.m. Music will be elor of arts degree in social science provided by the All Mixed Up and a master of arts degree in his- band from 7:30-11:30 p.m. tory. With extensive research, he Sunday, May 28, is the high- has given presentations throughout light of the weekend, with one central Illinois on coal mining and ton of free spaghetti served at the coal wars. the park’s lunch stand from 11 Corley’s presentation will in- a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Musical en- clude archival coal mine photos, tertainment will be provided audio clips of oral history inter- Pictured above are CUSD 7 students who placed first or second in their grade level at the by the Bagna Caulda Combo views and brief readings from one Regional Office of Education Spelling Bee. From left to right are Ellie Wilson, who placed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Avery of his books. For more information, first among fourth graders; Alexia Emelander, who placed second among fifth graders; [See ITALIAN on page 11] call the library at (217) 839-3614. and Colton Bultema, who placed second among sixth graders. CoalCoal CountryCountry TimesTimes Drop off news items, ads, payments, questions, or comments. DROPBOX AT All items MUST include name, Sullivan’s Drugs address, and phone numbers. 113 S. Macoupin St. Gillespie As always, you can reach us by phone, fax, or email P. 217-854-2534 F. 217-854-2535 E. [email protected] GBAAS acknowledges recent donations Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Richard and Mary Ann Russell, William and Joyce Alberty, Thomas Service received the following me- Harold and Lori Valerio, Marilyn and Marthee Rizzi, David and Cathy morial contributions in April. Heyen, Larry and Sharon Heyen, Coonrod, Dennis and Sonja Baker, In memory of Georgette Failoni: Donna Easton, Mary Halpin, Shel- David and Deann Park, Leslie and Mary Ann Pollo, Ann Cheslok, Ja- don and Sue Weinberg, Brian and Sandra Fear, Frank Wargo, Michael nis and Michael Bitter, Gary and Lisa Engelke, Gary and Marsha and Lisa Polo, Suzanne Stewart, Barbara Bray, Patricia and Allyson Bauer, Cathy and Pete Visintin, Da- Dale and Anne Gansz, and Gary and Whitworth, and Ron and Nancy vid and Mary Griffel, Kent and Su- Pat Matevey. Bray. san Tarro, Alan and Mag Rolando, The ambulance service is a 501(c) In memory of Joseph Knetzer: Robert and Mary Segarra, Jim and (3) not-for-profit corporation, mak- Mark and Brenda Lowe, Anne and Mary Jo Bunge, Roger and Gail Nei- ing all contributions tax-deductible. Dale Gansz, Joe Knetzer, and cash haus, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Donations and memorials may be donations. Graham Correctional Center Em- mailed to 208 Charles St., Gillespie, In memory of Evelyn Nadler: Jule ployee Benefit Fund, Pam Schaefer, IL 62033. The ambulance service and Virginia Lienard. Wayne and Roberta Heyen, Orville responded to 180 calls for service in In memory of Harold Heyen: and Bernean Franke, Roger Suhling, April. County holds three committee meetings Three of Macoupin County agenda: one approving the re- be used for that purpose. Thompson named March Board’s committees met Tuesday, sults of the oil and patch letting The committee discussed op- May 2. and one approving the execution tions for how to proceed, such The Executive Committee set and amendment of a Section 5311 as having the county pay for the Student of the Month the agenda for the monthly board grant agreement for the health de- maintenance from another source Gillespie High School senior Rayanne Thompson was named meeting, to be held Tuesday, May partment. or passing the maintenance re- United Community Bank’s Student of the Month for March. 9. Guests will be Peggy Garri- Other new business includes an sponsibility on to the 27 town- Here, Thompson (left) receives a gift card from UCB represen- son of Macoupin County Public amendment regarding the Emer- ships. It was noted that some of tative Beth Peebles. Health Department, as well as son Airline project and the West the townships might be willing representatives of Honey Point Central Development dues for and/or able to pay for the expense, Township regarding their MFT 2017.