Vince Wesselmann may have been wearing something similar to this when he was last seen walking in Breese in April 2011. He was last seen by family members on Holy Thursday, April 21, 2011. This Saturday will mark seven years since family members of Vince Wesselmann last saw him. Yet they, along with local police, are still searching for any information that would lead them to the missing Breese man or an explanation of what happened on that fateful day.
Vince was reportedly last seen at around 11 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2011, walking near Breese Grain Co. on North Walnut and First streets in Breese. However, the validity of that sighting remains uncertain. Police do know that the last time anyone from Vince’s family saw him was on Holy Thursday, April 21, 2011.
Vince was planning to put new flooring in his home, and his brother Jerry Wesselmann had helped him tear out the old floor on Thursday afternoon.
Concerned family members, who had not heard from Vince since that Thursday, notified the police on Saturday, April 23, 2011.
A search began later that evening by the Breese Police Department, the Breese Fire Department, EMS personnel, the Clinton County Emergency Service and Disaster Agency (ESDA), the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, family members and friends.
Volunteer firemen and police officers from nearly every department in the county were called in to assist, along with a plane from the Illinois State Police, nine search dogs from Gateway Search and Rescue and other agencies, search-and-rescue squads from Eureka and St. Charles, Missouri, and countless volunteer citizens. Sonar equipment and boats were also used to search flooded areas, to no avail.
Breese Police Chief Bob Fix says the investigation still remains open, and he wishes someone would come forward.
“If anyone has any information, they can call us and remain anonymous,” Fix said. “They can call the Breese hotline (526-7226) and ask to speak with me or someone else or call the sheriff’s department (594-4555), or send a letter, anything. I truly believe there are one or two people out there who have some information.”
Three years ago, in an effort to urge anyone with information to come forward, Clinton County Crimestoppers doubled the reward in the missing persons case to $10,000. The reward is for any information or knowledge of Wesselmann’s disappearance that will lead police to his current whereabouts.
Family members continue to pray for answers and have hope that someone will come forward with more information.
Clinton County Board chairman Bob Fix signed a proclamation at the board meeting Monday night recognizing the month of April as Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness Month. Pictured with Fix is Pam Bird (center), advocate coordinator, and Lisa Metcalf, counselor, of the Centralia Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies (S.A.F.E.) office. Personnel matters affecting elected and appointed officials topped the agenda of the April 16 meeting of the Clinton County Board.
In three split votes, the board approved three ordinances establishing: revised health insurance benefits; annual wage increases for 2020-2024; and starting salaries for any elected or appointed officials taking office on or after Dec. 1, 2018.
According to the health insurance ordinance, the county board has determined that it is “financially necessary and appropriate to uniformly establish the premium contribution rates for health insurance coverage paid by elected and appointed officials (including contractual employees) and to adopt by county ordinance a policy that all county officials have the same health insurance coverage, and pay the premium rates, as all other county employees.”
Previously, elected and appointed officials paid $100 per month for family insurance which covered the employee along with their spouse and children, where applicable.
With the revision, elected and appointed officials will pay 50 percent of the same proportion of health insurance premiums as all other county employees on Dec. 1, 2020 and the same proportion as all other employees by Dec. 1, 2021. Newly elected and appointed officials are the exception in that they will automatically pay the same proportion of the premium as other employees when they take office on Dec. 1, 2018.
The board voted 9-5 to approve the new health insurance plan with board members Steve Heiligenstein, Keith Nordike, Craig Taylor, Matt Cain and Duane Nordike voting in opposition.
Prior to voting on the insurance, the board opened up the floor for public comment.
Matt Rakers of Aviston said he understands the board’s concerns about cutting costs.
“That’s important,” Rakers said. “Be careful though about how far you’re willing to go with these cuts.”
He stressed that the current department heads and employees are doing a great job, yet the board continues to decrease vacation time and benefits.
“I’m a bit biased right now because my wife works in the courthouse, but this is one of the best I’ve ever seen in my 50-plus years in the county,” Rakers said. “They’re doing a great job, everyone’s doing a great job, but it starts with the people, and if you continue to chip away at their benefits, you’re going to lose good people.”
He added, “It’s one thing to toe the line and keep things where they’re at, but it’s another thing to take things away that were given to them when they took these positions.”
BREESE JOURNAL PHOTO | JEREMY CHAWGO
Just clearing the bar — Mater Dei high jumper Carly Etter clears 5’0” in the Highland Invitational last Thursday afternoon. The jump of Etter was good enough to capture first place in the event.
BREESE JOURNAL PHOTO | JEREMY CHAWGO
Good exchange — Central relay runner Jessie Hempen (on right) hands the baton to Paige Brueggeman on the second leg of the 4x100-meter relay last Thursday in the Highland Invite. The Cougars edged Highland for first place in the event. Both the Central Cougars and Mater Dei Lady Knights track and field teams participated in the Highland Invitational last Thursday in Bond County with the Cougars taking third place and the Lady Knights earning fourth place.
Host school Highland took the team title with 140 points followed by Freeburg with 75 points, Central with 72 points, Mater Dei with 47 points and Civic Memorial with 34 points.
Central had four first-place efforts while Mater Dei checked in with one. Central had four second place efforts with MD getting two.
Emily Von Bokel was the only local athlete to place first in two events as the Central sophomore won the 100 high hurdles with a time of :18.2 and also the 300-meter hurdles with a time of :54.9.
Central’s Taylor Pavich won the discus with a heave of 84’7.” She was also fourth in the shot.
The Central 4x100-meter relay team edged Highland for the top time with a :53.1.
Carly Etter was tops for Mater Dei in the high jump after she cleared 5’10.” Piper Heiligenstein was second best in the field with a jump of 4’8.”
Central claimed second place in the 4x200-meter relay with a time of 1:57.4 and second place in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:37.1.
Central freshman Brianna Markus claimed second place in the shot with a toss of 33’2” and a third place effort in the discus with a throw of 82’3.”
Central’s Kristen Ess was second best in the field in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:46.8.
Mater Dei got a second-place effort from Katie Toennies in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet. Elyse Faust was second best for MD in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 13:38.6.
Central’s Regan Albers claimed third place in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 13:48.1. She was also third best in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 6:24.5.
Mater Dei’s Mallory Emig was third best in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of :56.9 and also third best in the 100-meter high hurdles with a time of :19.7.
| Fri., Apr. 13 |
451.37 |
| Sun., Apr. 15 |
450.94 |
| Tues., Apr. 17 |
450.36 |
| Apr. 11 | .00 |
| Apr. 12 |
.00 |
| Apr. 12 |
.00 |
| Apr. 14 |
1.25 |
| Apr. 15 |
.08 |
| Apr. 16 | trace |
| Apr. 17 |
.00 |
