New screens, same tradition: Carlyle KC Hall bingo gets a modern boost
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
Out with the old and in with the new. Carlyle Knights of Columbus members hold an electronic bingo flashboard sign dating back over 50 years while underneath the new, digital sign at the Carlyle KC Hall. From left: KC financial secretary Ron Kordick, Grand Knight Robert Lemanski (behind the older screen) and Ken Voegeli, bingo chairperson.
For more than five decades, bingo has been a staple at the Carlyle Knights of Columbus (KC) Hall, drawing people together for an evening of games, prizes and fun.
Now, the Carlyle Knights of Columbus is investing in a major equipment upgrade designed to enhance the experience while preserving one of the community's longest-running traditions
The upgrade comes after organizers determined much of the existing bingo equipment had reached the end of its service life.
"Our equipment was getting really old," said Knights of Columbus bingo chairman Ken Voegeli, who began spearheading the project about a year and a half ago. "You couldn't get parts for it (the old machine) anymore."
Much of the older bingo equipment had been in service for decades, with some components dating back at least over 50 years, since the 1970s. The older system included a bingo ball mixer that used air blowers to randomly mix and draw balls, electronic flashboards, and bingo cards.
Voegeli said the organization spent more than a year researching options and planning for the upgrade after attendance began to decline several years ago.
"We were averaging around 75 players a couple years ago," he said. "Now we're averaging about 110 players every Wednesday night."
Ken Voegeli, bingo chairperson, and Carlyle KC Grand Knight Robert Lemanski stand next to an old, outdated bingo machine that the Carlyle KC Hall used for over 50 years. They just installed new, updated equipment to give the community a better bingo experience.
Part of that growth can be attributed to changes made to the weekly bingo program, including increased payouts and the addition of more lightning rounds.
"We pay about $900 in lightning rounds before we even start bingo," Voegeli said.
The hall also offers 50/50 and regularly awards free bingo cards as well.
The new system includes updated software, electronic bingo tablets and multiple 65" television displays that will clearly show the numbers as they are called.
Organizers said the Carlyle Knights of Columbus will be the first bingo operation in Clinton County to utilize the large-screen display system.
Despite the addition of modern technology, organizers emphasize that traditional bingo will remain at the heart of the experience.
"We don't want to scare people away," Voegeli said.
Players will continue to have the option of using traditional paper cards, electronic tablets or a combination of both. The electronic tablets will be available starting July 1, and organizers can help with the tablets (if needed). The new bingo ball machine still features the blower-style that randomly selects bingo balls, just as the older one had done for decades.
First Great Bottlecap Bike Race is a success
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Riders prepare to take off for the Great Bottlecap Bike Race on Saturday, June 6, in Carlyle. 
Two bikers compete in a cookie-decorating contest. Friends of Carlyle Lake president Kim Hammel said the inaugural Great Bottlecap Bike Race was a success and they hope to keep the event going in the future.
There were 45 individuals who participated in the race against time on Saturday, June 6 in Carlyle. All 45 of those individuals finished the 11 challenges in under the three hour time limit.
"This first-time event was a huge success," Hammel said. "The weather was wonderful and everyone had a great time riding their bikes and performing challenges. We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time, resources, and enthusiasm to make this year's event a memorable experience for participants."
Karen Schubert shows the cookie she decorated at Oh So Sweet Bakery and Cafe during the Great Bottlecap Bike Race on Saturday, June 6, in Carlyle. The riders took off from the Carlyle Lake Visitors Center and went to 11 different sites where they had to perform challenges.
In the Carlyle Lake area destinations, the riders had to travel to West Access Marina and tie a nautical knot; then go to Carlyle Dam spillway overlook for a water safety activity; then to Governors Run Golf Course for a putting competition; and then to Tractor Supply for a cornhole game.
In the downtown Carlyle destinations, the riders had to go to Flamingo Tavern and lasso a keg; then on to Carlyle IGA for a fruit-throwing competition; then to Oh So Sweet Bakery and Cafe to decorate a cookie; then to Constitution Bank to roll pennies; to Clinton County Historical Society to answer a historical question; to Case-Halstead Public Library to look up a book; and then to Riverside Outdoors for axe throwing.
The riders returned to the Excel Bottling tent at the Visitors Center to end the competition.
The competition was not a race against other riders; it was a race to complete all of the tasks in under three hours.
Since all of the individuals completed the challenges in under three hours, they all received a six pack of assorted Excel Bottling soda.
Participants in the Great Bottlecap Bike Race roll pennies at Constitution Bank in Carlyle.
They also had a chance to win more prizes.
All of the funding from the event goes to the environmental programs and projects at Carlyle Lake.
The race was put on by the Friends of Carlyle Lake, a group that works in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project to foster environmental stewardship and enhance overall visitor experience through educational, interpretive services.
Sponsors for the event were Excel Bottling Company in Breese, The Cyclery and Fitness Center in Edwardsville, Constitution Bank in Carlyle, Oh So Sweet Bakery and Cafe in Carlyle, Kingdom Financial, River Entertainment in Carlyle, The Sign Shop in Hoffman and Carlyle Animal Hospital.
Express gets summer season off with a pair of wins over Trenton
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
The Aviston Express got their 2026 summer off in fine fashion with a pair of wins over rival Trenton on Thursday and Friday. They also blew away the Jerseyville Legion Post 492 on Monday at home.
The Express are currently 3-0 on the season and they play at Christian County on Wednesday. They are participating in a Play 9 Tournament over the weekend in the Metro-East.
In the Play 9 Tournament, the Express will play the Granite City Tribe on Thursday at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex at 1:40 p.m. On Friday, they will take on the US Nationals Midland 17U Red at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville at 7:40 p.m.
On Saturday, the Express will play the PSA Knights 18U at Plummer Park in Edwardsville at 5:20 p.m. and the St. Louis Naturals at 7:40 p.m.
Out at one — Aviston shortstop Rowdy Sussenbach sends a throw to first base in the Express’ 6-5 win over Trenton on Thursday. Sussenbach had a pair of hits as the Express took two this week over the Miners. Aviston 17, Jerseyville 0 (5 innings): The Express played a strong all-around game in their rout over Post 492 on Monday.
Four pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout with Drake Curry getting the victory with two innings where he allowed one hit and no walks with two punch outs. Miles Browne, Benny Lehman and Conlan Haar each tossed a shutout inning with five combined punch outs.
Eleven Express hitters had one hit with Ethan Wheelan having a double and Haar adding a triple. Max Albers walked twice and scored. Lehman walked twice and scored three times. Haar added two RBI.
Jerseyville had a single to lead off the game and then were shut down from there.
Meanwhile, the Express got a run in the bottom of the inning when Lehman reached on a fielding error and moved to third base on a wild pitch. He crossed the plate on a single from Browne for a 1-0 lead.
They sent 16 hitters to the plate in the third inning where they plated 10 runs.
Carter Spaeth, Rowdy Sussenbach and Clayton Gaetti had RBI singles in the inning where Aviston was handed eight walks and led 11-0.
Starting with a win — Aviston middle infielder Conlan Haar sends the ball to the right side in the Express’ 6-5 win over Trenton on Thursday. Haar walked in the contest where Aviston scored the final four runs. They got six more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Lehman and Browne each walked in front of an RBI single from Curry and a two-run triple from Haar. Craig Schroeder followed with an RBI single to right before Wheelan doubled in another run. Brady Ceto ended the scoring with an RBI single up the middle. Aviston drove in nine runners with two outs in the victory.
Aviston 12, Trenton 1 (5 innings): Bryce Wieter and Clayton Gaetti took care of the Gator on Friday in the Express’ home win at The Hill.
Wieter went the distance, allowing just one earned run and one hit on two walks and eight punch outs in 70 pitches.
Gaetti sparked the offense as he went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double, a stolen base, three runs scored and three batted in.
Benny Lehman was 2-for-2 with two singles, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Wieter added two singles, an RBI and a run scored. Rowdy Sussenbach had a walk, an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Joseph Corbitt was 1-for-1 with an RBI for the Gator. Freddy Durbin was saddled with the loss in three innings of work.
After a scoreless top of the first inning, Gaetti smacked a triple to the gap and crossed the plate on a single from Lehman for a 1-0 lead.
The Aviston offense went back to work in the bottom of the third inning when Conlan Haar walked and Sussenbach reached on an error to make it 2-0. Gaetti connected on an RBI single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.
Lehman followed with a single before Wieter plated Gaetti with an RBI single to right. Craig Schroeder came through with a sacrifice fly for a 5-0 lead after three innings of action.
The Express put the game away in the fourth inning when Haar singled with two outs and Sussenbach drew a walk. Gaetti struck again with a two-run single up the middle for a 7-0 lead.
Lehman walked and Wieter singled another runner in before Drake Curry was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Carter Spaeth reached on an RBI walk before Haar was hit by a pitch to score the 12th run of the contest.
Wieter lost his no-hit bid in the seventh inning when Grant Moody reached on a dropped third strike and Deion Washington walked. With two outs, Corbitt singled in Grant Moody before Wieter got a fly out to Landon Toennies to end the contest.
Opening day — Aviston starting pitcher Brady Ceto sends in a curve ball in the Express’ 6-5 win over visiting Trenton on Thursday. Ceto and the Express swept Trenton with wins on Thursday and Friday. Aviston 6, Trenton 5: The Express had to battle for the win in their season-opener on Thursday against the visiting Gator.
After Brady Ceto retired the Gator in order in the first inning, the Express’ offense went to work in the bottom of the frame.
Benny Lehman led off with a rocket triple to the right-field line before scoring when Miles Browne reached on a fielding error. Browne crossed the plate on a single from Rowdy Sussenbach for a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Trenton went to work in the second inning when Freddy Durbin reached on a two-out walk before Logan Haselhorst and Lucas Flanagan each singled to get within 2-1. Carter Boekman reached on a walk. Collin Adams doubled to the game to give Trenton a 4-2 lead. Carson Markwell added a single to make it 5-2.
Aviston got a single tally in the third inning when Sussenbach walked, stole second and scored on a wild pitch to trail 5-3.
The Express took the lead for good in the fourth inning when Clayton Gaetti singled with one out before Landon Toennies walked. Gaetti crossed on a wild pitch to get within 5-4 before a two-run single from Sussenbach gave the Express a 6-5 lead.
The other way — Trenton shortstop Lucas Harriss sends the ball the other way in the first inning of the Gator’s 6-5 loss to Aviston on Thursday. Harriss was 0-for-3 with a walk in the setback.
Sussenbach struck out the side in the fifth inning before striking out two more batters in the sixth inning and the seventh inning to earn the victory.
Sussenbach got the win in five innings of relief with no earned runs on one hit, four walks and 11 strikeouts. He was 2-for-2 with two walks, one run and three batted in.
Lehman had the only extra base hit with his triple in the first. Sussenbach had three stolen bases while Gaetti and Landon Toennies each scored a run and singled.
Collin Adams took the loss when he allowed four earned runs on five hits, five walks and four punch outs in four innings of work.
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