Celebrating America250 ... Freedom, Fireworks & Fun
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor & Matt Willson - Breese Journal Reporter
America’s 250th birthday is bringing communities across Clinton County together this summer as residents celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial with parades, fireworks, live music, family activities and patriotic displays.
The county-wide celebration is already well underway. Festivities kicked off with the New Baden June Jamboree on June 19-20, followed by the Carlyle Lake Fireworks Spectacular and Trenton’s America250 celebration this past weekend.
The patriotic spirit continues this week with the Albers Blastoff Parade and Fireworks on July 3, Clinton County Celebrates Freedom in Aviston on July 5, and numerous other community events are planned throughout July as local towns and organizations commemorate America’s 250th birthday.
Albers
Albers Blast Off Parade and Fireworks! The Albers Blastoff Parade and Fireworks will be on July 3. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks will be at 9 p.m.
Food and drinks at the Albers American Legion begin at 4 p.m. Music by The Buzzards will be from 7:30-11 p.m.
The Village of Albers and Albers Commercial Club proudly announce fallen local heroes Coxswain Harold Stukenberg and PFC Alphonse Eilermann as their 2026 Albers Blast-Off Parade grand marshals.
The families of Stukenberg and Eilermann accepted the honor on behalf of the men at the Stukenberg-Eilermann American Legion Post 1026.
“There is no one more deserving of this privilege on America’s 250th anniversary,” Albers Village President Steve Schomaker said. “The Village of Albers is very honored to recognize the outstanding service of these hometown heroes.”
Members of the Stukenberg and Eilermann families will be leading the Blast-Off Parade, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Same route, new direction: The parade route will be the same as always, however, the direction is reversed from previous years. The route will be leaving Memorial Dr. in Albers, head north on N. Franklin St., then east on Debra Dr., south on N. Commercial St., then west on W. Dwight St., north on N. Franklin St., and ending back at Memorial Dr. Follow the red, white and blue arrows on our Village of Albers streets! Call Brenda at 618-248-5154 at Albers Village Hall with any questions.
There will be no parking on N. Bertha St. on the day of the event.
Prizes will be awarded to the best entry in the parade for the following categories: Overall, Family, Business/Organization, Tractor, Vehicle and Mayor’s Choice.
Contact Gina (618-567-4349 or email:
Parade entries are asked to enter Albers from State Route 161 at N. Bertha St.; volunteers will be directing parade entries. All entries will line up at American Legion Post #1026.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the “Albers Blast-Off Parade and Fireworks!” on Friday, July 3!
Keep up on all the news about Albers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/villageofalbers.
Aviston
A replica of soldiers and horses is featured outside of the Aviston American Legion. The Clinton County Celebrates Freedom event will be July 5 at Aviston American Legion Post 1239. Doors open at 2 p.m. The ceremony honoring the heroes begins at 6 p.m. and will last about an hour.
Ivan Markus, Bob Ottensmeier and Dale Rakers from Aviston American Legion and Joe Langenhorst from Germantown American Legion, along with others, are spearheading the event. Bob Eversgerd also has been key in providing displays and information for the event.
There will be posters listing all of the Clinton County soldiers who died during World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Civil War and the Middle East wars.
Members will be speaking about the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and major U.S. wars, conflicts and interventions since 1989.
They are going to fire three canons off and there will be a 21-gun salute. The canons will be back in the trees behind the Legion, and there will be a path that people can follow to look at the canons.
Military items and uniforms will be on display. They are hoping to get a lot of items on display so people can walk around and look at them.
Two America 250 quilts will be raffled off at the event.
The Sons of the American Legion are taking care of all the food outside. The bar at the Legion will be open.
The event also will feature a 50/50 raffle and a band/DJ.
Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs.
Stop dumping: Clinton County Animal Control pleads for public's help as shelter faces growing strain
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
Clinton County Animal Control rescued this nursing mother dog and her litter of six puppies that were found dumped and abandoned last month at Grasher Creek Access on the east side of Carlyle Lake. Clinton County Animal Control is asking pet owners to help reverse a growing animal overpopulation problem after an especially difficult week that has pushed the shelter closer to capacity.
In a social media post, Tony Petrea, Animal Control warden, said he has recently responded to numerous cases involving abandoned dogs, unwanted kitten litters and dogs left behind in vacant homes, all of which are placing increasing pressure on the county's resources.
"In the last week, we have had to deal with a lot. Dumped dogs, kitten litters, dogs left in a house — you name it," Petrea wrote in a recent social media post, on behalf of Clinton County Animal Control.
Among the most troubling cases occurred in early June, when someone abandoned a nursing mother dog and her litter of six puppies at the Grasher Creek Access on the east side of Carlyle Lake.
According to Petrea, whoever left the dogs also discarded a bag of dog food despite knowing rain was in the forecast and placed a puppy pad on the ground before abandoning the animals.
Earlier last week, Animal Control responded after receiving a report that four dogs had been dumped along Jolliff Bridge Road near Linn Street in Centralia.
Petrea said those incidents, along with an increase in unwanted kitten litters and pets left behind in homes, have overwhelmed the shelter and staff.
He believes many of the recent surrenders and abandonment cases are economically driven, with some owners unable to afford the cost of caring for their pets.
Petrea said situations like these quickly overwhelm the shelter, contribute to compassion fatigue among staff, force difficult euthanasia decisions and can ultimately require the shelter to close intake because of limited space.
"There isn't a single animal in our shelter that chose to be there," the post continued. "They are there because people made a choice involving the animals that put them there."
Petrea is encouraging residents to spay and neuter their pets, avoid irresponsible breeding and provide proper veterinary care.
He noted that Clinton County Animal Control offers low-cost spay and neuter clinics. More information is available through the Clinton County Animal Control website, https://clintonco.illinois.gov/county -offices/animal-control/.
Petrea also said local veterinarian Dr. Kenny Brown is working to establish a new 501(c)(3) organization that will provide additional low-cost spay and neuter services.
For pet owners experiencing financial hardship, a community pet food pantry in Carlyle offers free dog and cat food during designated distribution times. More information is available through the "Pet Food Pantry" and "Rescue Me ... Friends of Clinton County Animal Control" Facebook pages.
"Please spay and neuter your pets, please don't allow irresponsible breeding, and please vet the animals you have and treat them the way they deserve," Petrea said. "Our numbers are going in the wrong direction. Please help us reverse that."
Aces drop two games to tighten up CCL regular-season standings
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Mother Nature forced all three Clinton County League contests to one field on Sunday with the trio of games being played in Aviston.
The regular season got a jumble effect when Beckemeyer upset Bartelso and the Aviston Aces were swept by Bartelso and Trenton.
Trenton sits atop the league standings with a 4-3 record while Bartelso and Aviston are square at 5-4 with Beckemeyer checking in at 2-5.
The teams will take this weekend off for the Fourth of July holiday before coming back to action on Sunday, July 12 with four games on the schedule.
Out at one — Bartelso infielder Braden Robertson sends a throw to first base in the Barts’ 12-5 loss to Beckemeyer in the first of two for Bartelso on Sunday in Aviston. They rebounded to beat Aviston in the second game. Trenton 8, Aviston 6: The Aces’ bats went silent over the final three innings in their home loss on Sunday at The Hill.
Aviston managed just three hits on the afternoon while they committed three of the game’s four fielding errors. They were handed eight free passes in the loss. The game featured 15 walks.
Brent Timmons had a double for Aviston while Austin Rakers and Carter Truong each had singles for their three hits. Chase Lewis walked twice while Rakers pilfered a base.
Reed Braundmeier was saddled with the loss as he went the distance and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits, seven walks and eight punch outs.
Jonathan Barnes was the man on offense for the Miners with two doubles, a single, a walk, a run scored and two batted in. Drew Frey added two singles, two runs scored and an RBI.
Harrison Rakers and Owen Szpila each walked twice and scored two runs. Reid Hendrickson had three RBI. Johnny Hilmes had a single and two stolen bases.
Brady Maltbie was the winning pitcher in relief of Conner Riggs. Maltbie went 4-2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on two hits, six walks and two strikeouts.
Aviston, the visiting team on the scoreboard, got two runs in the top of the first inning, despite just having one hit.
Austin Rakers and Chase Lewis walked while Truong singled to load the bases. Timmons walked for a 1-0 lead before Drew Potthast cashed in a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
Trenton scratched two runs in the bottom of the inning with the help of some miscues from the Aces.
Harrison Rakers led off with a walk before Szpila singled to the right side. Hendrickson reached on an error in the infield for the first run. Barnes doubled in the other run as the game was square 2-2 after one.
Aviston took a 5-2 lead in the top of the third inning when Brock Hill, Potthast and Lucas Deimeke each walked with one out. Levi Brening was hit by a pitch for a 3-2 lead before Griffin Thomas walked for a 4-2 lead. Austin Rakers followed with an RBI ground out off Maltbie, to give Aviston a 5-2 lead.
Trenton chipped away from there with a single from Frey to lead off the bottom of the third inning before scoring on another double from Barnes to get within 5-3 after three innings of play.
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