Local teen dies following accident on Drive In Road
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Macy Haar The community is mourning the passing of a Central Community High School junior.
Clinton County Coroner Phillip Moss confirmed that Macy Haar, 16, of Germantown, died from a car accident on Friday, May 9, in rural Breese.
According to a press release from the Clinton County Sheriff's Department, four vehicles left the Central Community High School parking lot and drove east on Old US Highway 50, then turned south on Drive In Road, rural Breese.
All four vehicles continued south on Drive In Road. About 1/2 mile south of Highline Road, the lead vehicle, a 2023 Polaris Ranger UTV occupied by passenger 16-year-old Carly M. Tassallo of Albers and driver Haar, started swerving for unknown reasons. The vehicle directly behind, a 2018 Honda Pioneer UTV, driven by a 16-year-old from Breese, pulled to the left and attempted to pass the Ranger. Its passengers included a 15-year-old from Breese, and a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, both from Aviston.
As the Pioneer pulled alongside the Ranger, the Ranger accelerated, making it more difficult for the Pioneer to pass it. While both UTVs were side by side headed south, a northbound vehicle was approaching.
Emergency personnel were on the scene of a fatal accident involving two utility task vehicles and a truck on Drive In Road in rural Breese on Friday, March 9. Photo by Matt Wilson The Pioneer was able to accelerate enough to pull in front of the Ranger on the southbound side of the roadway. At, or just before the Pioneer merged toward the southbound side of the roadway, the Ranger braked hard causing a control loss.
As the Ranger skidded out of control, a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by a 16-year-old from Albers, was directly behind the Ranger and attempted to avoid a collision and pulled toward the northbound side of the roadway.
The Silverado sustained damage above the rear passenger side wheel. The Ranger continued skidding out of control, eventually striking a ditch and ejecting Haar onto the roadway.
All of those who were involved or witnessed the crash stopped and assisted by rendering aid to the injured, or giving testimony to what they remember seeing.
Tassallo was hospitalized and released.
The Illinois State Police was contacted, and an accident reconstruction team was dispatched to the scene. Clinton County Sheriff Dan Travous said the Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction team will have a more detailed description of the actual crash in the months to come.
Four individuals honored at Breese City Council meeting
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Sandy Hemann was honored for four years as the Breese City Clerk/city collector and 36 years with the city during the Breese City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 6. Hemann is pictured with Mayor Kevin Timmermann. Photo by Matt Wilson Four individuals were honored during the Breese City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 6.
City Clerk/city collector Sandy Hemann is retiring. Aldermen Bob Berndsen, Bryan Eversgerd and Bill Fischer all served their final council meeting. All four of them received plaques for their service to the city.
Hemann has been with the city as the clerk for the last four years.
"She has been very helpful to myself and the council," Breese Mayor Kevin Timmermann said. "She has done an excellent job."
Hemann has been with the city for 36 total years. Timmermann got on the council in 1989 and Hemann was Timmermann's first hire.
Hemann's last official day is May 30.
"She has been greatly appreciated and I thank her for everything," Timmermann said.
Bryan Eversgerd, LEFT, was honored for four years on the Breese City Council. Eversgerd is pictured with Breese Mayor Kevin Timmermann. Photos by Matt Wilson Berndsen came to the council in 1975 and has been with the city for 50 years. While Berndsen was on the council, the city went through water replacements, sewer replacements, built a brand new water tower and built a new water plant. The capacity of the power plant has grown to where they can now pick up the whole community if the power goes down.
"Bob has been a big force in Breese utilities and he has done an excellent job," Timmermann said. "I will deeply miss him and thank him for everything he has done for us."
Fischer has been with the council for 24 years.
"He has really contributed to this council and this community," Timmermann said.
Fischer has served on about every committee on the council, with the latest being the zoning board. Timmermann said Fischer has taken on some tough situations and handled them well. 
Bill Fischer, LEFT, was honored for 24 years on the Breese City Council. Fischer is pictured with Breese Mayor Kevin Timmermann. Eversgerd has been a member of the council for four years. He is the finance committee chair.
"He has really contributed to this council," Timmermann said. "You don't find individuals like this all of the time."
Timmermann said Eversgerd put the council in a different direction and budgets became easier. Eversgerd also did a lot for the contract negotiations.
"It used to be like 'Oh my gosh, we have to do this again,'" Timmermann said. "He made it enjoyable. His presence here has been greatly appreciated."
Timmermann praised the work of all four outgoing city employees and council members.
"If you take a look at this and start adding up their years, it is about commitment and pride," Timmermann said. "You have to go ahead and think about the future and we need young people to step up. You can always sit back and complain, you can always sit back and wonder why they made a certain decision. But the biggest thing is to get involved. If you don't like something run for a council chair or run for mayor. The biggest thing is get involved and take pride in your community."
Carlyle softball moves to 8-7 overall with 2-0 win over Wesclin
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Win on the mound - Junior Ava Meyer threw a complete game five-hitter with six strikeouts in the Carlyle softball team's 2-0 win over Wesclin. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON The Carlyle softball team moved to 8-7 overall and 4-3 in the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division with a 2-0 home win over Wesclin on Tuesday, May 6.
The Indians scored both of their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Senior Sophia Hoffmann stole second base with two outs. Senior Faith Weaver singled to score Hoffmann. Junior Kyra Beckemeyer tripled to score Weaver to put Carlyle up 2-0.
Sophomore Ava Meyer retired three of the four batters she faced in the sixth inning and retired the side in the seventh inning to give Carlyle the victory.
Both teams had chances to score runs early.
A Weaver double put runners on second and third base with one out in the first inning for Carlyle. Wesclin pitcher Maria Kahrhoff struck out the next two batters.
Lexi Hooks singled and moved to second base on an error to start the second inning. With one out, Carlyle senior catcher Daisy Brammeier threw out Hooks trying to steal third base.
Carlyle loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning after Beckemeyer and Brammeier both singled and Eversgerd walked. 
Two hits - Junior Kyra Beckemeyer had two hits, including a double, with one RBI in the Carlyle softball team's 2-0 win over Wesclin. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON Hooks caught a fly ball in left field and then threw home to get out Beckemeyer for the double play. Kahrhoff got the next Carlyle batter to fly out to end the threat.
Meyer threw a complete game five-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk. Beckemeyer had two hits, including a triple, with one RBI. Weaver had two hits, including a double, with one RBI and one run scored. Brammeier had two hits. Meyer had a hit.
Arianna Middleton had two hits for Wesclin.
Red Bud won the conference with an 8-2 record. Carlyle and Chester are both 4-3 in the conference.
Carlyle and Wesclin played again on Tuesday at Wesclin. Carlyle hosted Du Quoin for senior day on Wednesday. Carlyle plays at Chester on Thursday. Carlyle hosts a tournament on Saturday.
Carlyle has the No. 6 seed for the postseason and will play its regional in Greenville. Carlyle plays No. 3 seed Robinson on Wednesday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 23.
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