Bakery in New Baden sells to a new owner
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
A local bakery in New Baden is scheduled to reopen next month.
Ryan Shores from Saint Louis Group Business Brokers said that an asset purchase agreement is in place for Berkemann's Baker's Dozen in New Baden. They are expected to close on the deal the first half of March and reopen a few days after.
Kristen Rogers is the prospective new owner of the bakery. She is a 2011 Wesclin High School graduate who was hired to work at Berkemann's Baker's Dozen in 2011. Rogers is currently in Virginia but will be moving back to New Baden with her two sons while her husband continues serving in the Air Force.
"I am so excited for this opportunity," Rogers said. "I just sit in my house every day and just think about the things that I can do with the bakery. And having my family support behind me just makes me even more excited. And then seeing the community and how welcoming they have been, has just made this so much better."
She has previously worked as a nurse. Rogers said she does not have any prior experience running a bakery and is just "living on a dream" right now.
"I wasn't looking for a bakery," Rogers said. "I just saw that the bakery was for sale and everything in my heart just kept telling me 'You have to buy this bakery.' I'm so glad I did. I don't have any negative thoughts of 'Am I doing the right thing?' I know that I'm doing the right thing."
After graduating from Wesclin, Rogers went to culinary school at Kaskaskia College for a semester. She ended up changing her major to nursing and went to the University of North Alabama where she graduated with her bachelor's degree.
In January, Paul Berkemann made the difficult decision to sell Berkemann's Baker's Dozen.
Paul's wife, Janet, is having health issues and was in the intensive care unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Paul said looking after his wife is his top priority. With the current family circumstances, Paul said he is unable to provide the day-to-day attention required to both support his wife's needs and operate the bakery.
Paul has owned Berkemann's Baker's Dozen for 25 years. He had the grand opening of the bakery on July 15, 2000.
To put more attention on helping his wife, Paul closed the bakery on Nov. 9 and it has not reopened.
Polar Plunge returns to Carlyle Lake Feb. 28
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal Reporter
The UNCOMN UGLIs at last year's Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics at Carlyle Lake. The Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Illinois will return to Carlyle Lake on Feb. 28.
A tentative schedule has registration opening at the Mariners Village (1 Resort Dr. in Carlyle) at 9 a.m., the Pre-Plunge Party at 10 a.m., costume parade at 11:30 a.m., and the plunging starting at noon.
Come out in your best Plunge costume and party it up before starting the plunge, and what a party it will be.
There will be food, drinks and games for everyone.
For the costume parade, the athletes will be rewarding one team and one individual with the Golden Plunger award for best costume.
There are 14 teams registered so far for this year's plunge. Team names are just as interesting as the costumes they put together for the plunge, including Wacky Warriors, UNCOMN UGLIs, and Scott AFB Aim High-Drive Cold.
O'Fallon Police Department is also registered, and, so far, has the most amount of money raised at over $21,000. O'Fallon Police Department also raised the most money last year for the event, raising over $56,000 for the cause.
The Polar Plunge in 2025 had raised $120,000 for Special Olympics at the time of the event. Overall, plungers raised more than $3 million for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois, exceeding their goals and setting a new record.
There are 145 individuals who have officially registered for the Polar Plunge. Last year, there were 235 individuals signed up and 160 who actually took the plunge at the Polar Plunge at Carlyle Lake. The Carlyle Lake water temperature was 33°, and a backhoe was brought in last year to break the ice in the lake prior to the plunge.
So far, this year, there is over $40,500 raised, with a goal of $110,000. However, donations are still coming in.
This is the 27th year of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois.
This year's presenting sponsor is the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois. Statewide sponsors include Jewel Osco, Gallagher and United Airlines.
Lady Cougars have perfect season
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
In transition — Central senior forward Taylor Trame runs in transition for the Cougars who opened postseason play this week. They hosted the Class 2A Regional as the #2 seed in the sectional complex with a 25-3 record. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Central Cougars girls basketball team finished their regular season in fine fashion with a running clock victory over Freeburg on Thursday to secure a perfect 10-0 season in the Cahokia Conference’s Mississippi Division.
Central ended the regular season with a 25-3 record with two losses to top-ranked Nashville and the other to Alton in the first game of the season. They have won 14 of their past 15 games.
The Cougars opened postseason play on Monday, Feb. 16 when they play Columbia at 6 p.m. in the Class 2A Central Regional semifinal.
Central 67, Freeburg 40: The Lady Cougars invoked the running clock in their regular season finale on the road on Thursday.
The Cougars had nine players in the scoring column with three in double figures as they finished Cahokia Conference in perfect fashion.
The senior core of the purple started things in fine fashion with Taylor Trame, Lexy Santel, Lily Butler and Lexi Morris scoring all 15 points for CHS in the frame.
After Madi Spinner drained a three-pointer to start the contest, the Cougars missed on their first two shots before Natalie Whitworth made it 5-0 with a drive through the lane.
Butler got the Cougars going with a drive 90 seconds into the contest before a Freeburg turnover resulted in a drive from Trame for a 5-4 deficit with two minutes gone.
Conference champs — Central senior guard Lexi Morris and the Lady Cougars finished the regular season with a 25-3 overall record that also saw them go a perfect 10-0 in Mississippi Division play. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Another FCHS turnover led to a pair of free throws from Morris to give the Cougars their first lead of the contest. Spinner followed with a layup for the Midgets to regain a 7-6 lead over CHS.
Santel regained the lead with a runner through the left side of the lane before Whitworth answered for a 9-8 lead.
The Cougars scored the final seven points of the quarter which started with a steal and two free throws from Santel with three minutes left in the opening frame.
Trame hit for the final five points with a three-pointer and a deuce with CHS leading 15-9.
The Cougars outscored the Midgets 19-11 in the second quarter as they opened up a double-digit lead.
Santel started things with a three-pointer from the top of the key. She followed with another three-pointer and a pair of free throws later in the frame.
Spinner hit two three-pointers for FCHS in the second quarter while they were only 3-of-8 from the line.
Central got a three-pointer and a drive from Morris while Trame hit a drive and two free throws with Mallory Shubert hitting a deuce, as Central led the Midgets 34-20 at the half. Trame had 11 points and Santel had 12 points. Spinner had 11 for Freeburg.
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