Carlyle man killed in one-car crash
- Details
- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal Reporter
Mackenzie Stockard A Carlyle man was killed following a one-vehicle crash last Thursday, east of Clinton County.
According to Illinois State Police Troop 8, a preliminary investigation indicated that on Jan. 22 at approximately 1:34 a.m., a Volkswagon SUV was traveling eastbound on US-50, near Creek Road, left the roadway, and rolled over.
One occupant — Mackenzie G. Stockard, 33, of Carlyle — was confirmed deceased, and two other occupants were transported to a local hospital with injuries. Stockard was a passenger in the vehicle.
The road was closed for an extended period of time and reopened at approximately 7:10 a.m.
Clinton County Coroner Phillip Moss said Stockard was pronounced deceased at the scene at 3:35 a.m.
An autopsy has been performed on Stockard and results will be available at a later date.
The crash is still under investigation and there is no further information.
Memorial services were held Tuesday at Nordike Funeral Home in Carlyle.
Mackenzie is survived by his parents Tim and Suzanne Stockard of Carlyle; two brothers, Nicholas (Valerie) Stockard of Carlyle and Dustin (Jamie) Stockard of Licking, Missouri; two sisters, Kristin (Matt) Sullins of Licking, Missouri, and his Ava Stockard of Carlyle.
Also surviving are his "special siblings" — Andrea, Wyman, Emily, Abby, and Sam Sheets, all of Carlyle, his maternal grandparents, Murlen and Mary Garner of Keyesport, and his paternal grandmother, Patti Stockard of Springfield, Missouri.
Mack also leaves behind two uncles, Jason (Tracy) Garner of St. Louis and Joe Stockard of Houston, Missouri, and one aunt, Carol (Wayne) Lowrance of Springfield, Missouri. He also leaves three cousins, Paige (Jacob) Theising, and Grace and Jack Garner.
While Mack leaves behind countless family members, friends, coworkers and cohorts (far too innumerable to mention), his most cherished title was "Uncle Mack" used only by Caroline, Miles, and Hudson Stockard, all of Carlyle. Mackenzie spent most of his time creating, cooking, and baking with them, and will be sadly missed by them.
According to his obituary, "Mack" lived his life selflessly serving everyone around him constantly seeing to the needs of others. Those who know and loved Mackenzie can attest to his kindness, warmth, and cheerful acceptance of others.
Clinton County Circuit Clerk: Speeders targeted and ticketed often in 2025
Rod Kloeckner Clinton County law enforcement radar guns were locked and loaded in 2025.
Clinton County Circuit Clerk Rod Kloeckner reports his office filed 1,824 traffic tickets last year, the most in six years. Of those tickets, just over half (919) were of the speeding variety.
“Speeding tickets are perennially the most common traffic ticket officers write,” Kloeckner said. “Last year, however, the speeding charge dominated the traffic docket.”
Law enforcement issued 619 more traffic tickets in 2025 than it did in 2024, when 1,245 were issued. It was the most since 2019, when 2,159 tickets were written.
Traffic tickets emanate from the 10 local municipalities that have police departments in Clinton County — Carlyle, Breese, Trenton, Aviston, Germantown, New Baden, Albers, Beckemeyer, Centralia and Wamac — along with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois Department of Conservation and the Illinois State Police (ISP).
The Sheriff’s Department wrote the most speeding tickets with 248 followed by Trenton (211), Illinois State Police (195), Breese (128), Aviston (33), Centralia (27), New Baden (21), Carlyle (20), Germantown (18), Albers (16), Wamac (two).
One particular stretch of road was ripe for speeders. New U.S. Highway 50 — which bisects the county starting just outside Trenton and ending north of Carlyle where it intersects with Illinois Route 127 — was a point of emphasis for both the Sheriff’s Department and ISP.
“We received a ton of traffic tickets from drivers on new 50,” said Kloeckner, noting that recent fatalities and serious accidents on that highway may have prompted the additional attention from law enforcement. “Both the county and ISP stepped up their patrols there. Drivers who choose to speed there are doing so at their risk, not to mention risking the lives of others.”
Cougars take second at Nashville; Peppenhorst scores 1,000th career point
- Details
- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Leading scorers — Central senior Conlan Haar goes to the basket against the defense of Mater Dei senior Gavin Peppenhorst in the Cougars’ 10-point win. Haar had 16 points while Peppenhorst had 25 points. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO It was a competitive week for both the Central and Mater Dei boys basketball teams with Central claiming second and MD claiming fourth at the annual Nashville Invitational Tournament at the Assembly Hall.
The Cougars took down Mater Dei and Marion in pool play while Mater Dei beat Marion to go 1-1 in pool play.
Entering the championship game on Saturday, both Central and Nashville were looking for their 12th tournament title, only to see the Hornets dismantle the Cougars in the title game. The Cougars were 2-0 against Nashville in their previous two title game clashes.
Central’s Conlan Haar, Bryce Wieter and Wyatt Schrage each were selected to the All-Tournament Team while Gavin Peppenhorst earned the honor for Mater Dei.
Peppenhorst, also reached the 1,000 point mark in his career early on, in the Knights’ third-place loss with Mascoutah on Saturday.
Central is currently 15-7 on the season and they are scheduled to host Belleville East on Wednesday night and Roxana on Friday night.
Mater Dei is currently 12-12 on the season and they were scheduled to host Madison on Tuesday and will play at Teutopolis on Friday night.
Nashville 66, Central 33: It was all Hornets and Maddox Ritzel in the title game on Saturday morning in Washington County.
Central managed just five points in the first quarter with both coming from senior Conlan Haar on a three and a drive.
Lay it in — Mater Dei senior Gavin Peppenhorst sends in a transition bucket in the Knights’ 50-40 loss to rival Central on Wednesday in Nashville. Peppenhorst had 16 of his 25 points in the second half. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Meanwhile, Ritzel came out inspired with three drives, a three-pointer and a free throw while Palmer Renken hit two three-pointers as the rout was on at 16-5 after one quarter.
Wyatt Schrage got going for the Cougars in the second quarter with three short jumpers, while Haar hit for another five points.
However, Ritzel, Renken, Gannon Turner and Blake Brooks each hit three-pointers in the second frame as they led 33-20 at the break. Ritzel had 14 points while Haar had 10 for CHS.
Haar hit a three-pointer in the third quarter while Jackson Kampwerth and Schrage had the only other two buckets as Nashville pulled away.
Ritzel hit five field goals in the frame while Brenton Bultman added a three-pointer with NCHS leading 50-27 entering the final frame.
Ritzel ended the second half 9-of-9 from the field with four more buckets in the final frame while Max Reeder got a bucket.
Haar and Craig Schroeder hit three’s for Central to end the contest.
Haar paced the Cougars with 16 points on 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line. Schrage added eight points. CHS was 13-of-32 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line with 10 turnovers.
Ritzel hit for 35 points on 14-of-20 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Renken had nine points. NCHS was 24-of-40 from the field that included them hitting on 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. They were 7-of-9 from the line with four turnovers.
Page 1 of 2
