Season of giving Berkemann's Baker's Dozen in New Baden to open briefly this Saturday amid temporary closure
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal Reporter
Berkemann's Baker’s Dozen in New Baden will reopen briefly this Saturday, Dec. 20, from 8 a.m. until noon, or until supplies last, offering (un)baked items to the community at no cost. Berkemann's has been temporarily closed since last month following a family medical emergency. For 25 years, Berkemann's Baker’s Dozen in New Baden has been part of the holiday and Christmas season, and this Christmas, owner Paul Berkemann faces uncertainty but is choosing to give back to the community in the spirit of giving.
Berkemann's Baker's Dozen bakery has been temporarily closed since early November due to a family medical emergency.
Paul's wife, Janet Berkemann, has been in intensive care at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
In a heartfelt message recently shared on the bakery's Facebook page, Paul explained that while Janet continues to heal, her recovery will take longer than originally hoped.
For a business that has been part of the New Baden community for 25 years, the closure has been difficult. Yet, in the true spirit of Christmas, Paul Berkemann has chosen to give back.
Berkemann's Baker's Dozen will open briefly this Saturday, Dec. 20 from 8 a.m. until noon, or until supplies last, offering (un)baked goods to the community at no cost.
"In an effort to give back to my local community for the past 25 years of everyone supporting my home town business (and to reduce my current stock), I am planning to open Berkemann’s Bakery (this) Saturday," Paul wrote.
There is no per-person limit, and donations are entirely optional. For those who wish to contribute but cannot attend in person, donations can be made via Venmo to an account owned by Paul's sister, Rosemary Berkemann-Trimble (@berke manngal).
Available items that Paul Berkemann plans to have available include large and small pecan and pumpkin pies (unbaked), various flavors of specialty cakes, various flavors of cupcakes and muffins, angel food cakes, various types of bread, brownies with and without pecans, pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting and much more.
All the above items have been preserved in the commercial grade freezer.
Paul Berkemann continues to ask for prayers and sends a Merry Christmas message to all.
Berkemann's Baker's Dozen is located at 115 W. Hanover Street in New Baden.
Eversgerd named new Supervisor of Assessments
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Clinton County Clerk Vicky Albers, LEFT, swears in Jacqueline Eversgerd as the new Supervisor of Assessments during the Clinton County Board meeting. Photo by Matt Wilson Jacqueline Eversgerd was sworn in as the new Clinton County Supervisor of Assessments during the Clinton County Board meeting on Monday, Dec. 15.
Eversgerd takes over for Linda Mensing, who retired at the end of May.
Eversgerd, who is from Germantown, has worked in the Supervisor of Assessments office since 2022. She started as the keeper of exemptions and after the GIS tech retired, she stepped into that position.
The Supervisor of Assessments is a unique position because it requires a state examination and there also are prerequisites to that examination. Clinton County Board president Brad Knolhoff said the state examination is a very difficult test. The exam was offered in Clinton County at the end of November.
Eversgerd passed the exam.
"I'm grateful that Jacqueline took the initiative to take the exam, but I'm also proud to say that she passed the exam," Knolhoff said. "Jacqueline will be a great asset to the office. Based on the conversations I've had with her, she is excited to take on the role."
Knolhoff said the Supervisor of Assessments is not an easy office to manage. He believes Eversgerd will be a fair supervisor of assessments and will take all things into consideration.
The Supervisor of Assessments appointment comes every four years. She is starting mid-term, so she will have three years left in the four-year cycle.
Knolhoff made the motion to make Eversgerd the Supervisor of Assessments effective Dec. 16. Nelson Heinzmann seconded the motion. The motion unanimously carried.
"This is a big deal. We are here to support you in every way your office needs," Knolhoff said. "We look forward to working with you."
Eversgerd was sworn into the position by County Clerk Vicky Albers.
Also during the meeting, the board approved the semi-annual reports from the circuit clerk's office and the county clerk's office.
Peppenhorst puts in career-high 41 points in Knights’ overtime thriller
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Have a night — Mater Dei senior guard Gavin Peppenhorst puts in one of his 16 buckets in Saturday’s 65-63 thriller over visiting Pinckneyville. Peppenhorst had a career high 41 points in the victory for MD. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Mater Dei Knights boys basketball team has been playing some inspired basketball after winning two of their three games last week including an overtime thriller over state-ranked Pinckneyville.
The Knights also defeated Highland and fell on the road to Marion. MD is now 4-4 on the season and played at Belleville East on Tuesday before hosting Gibault this Friday at the Dennis V. Trame Center.
Mater Dei 65, Pinckneyville 63 (OT): The Knights got a hot individual effort to offset a strong post game from the Panthers on Saturday at Fred Rakers Court.
MD senior Gavin Peppenhorst had a career contest with 41 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. The guard was 16-of-27 from the field which included 3-of-5 from the arc.
Not to be outdone was the duo of the Panthers Ty Laur who hit for 27 points and 10 rebounds while teammate Tyler McConnell scored 25 points with eight rebounds in the loss.
The game went back-and-forth throughout the contest with the Knights running out to a 7-2 lead behind a three-pointer from AJ Poettker and two buckets from Peppenhorst.
Pinckneyville got a bucket from McConnell, the first of his five in the quarter while Poettker dialed long range again for a 10-4 lead.
“I knew going into the game that we were polar opposite teams,” said MD head coach Cory Arentsen. “They are huge and we are not.”
Eye it up — Mater Dei senior forward Reagan Woomer eyes up a three-pointer in the Knights’ overtime win over Pinckneyville on Saturday in Breese. Woomer had 10 points, three steals and three rebounds for MD. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO McConnell went back to work with three straight layups for a 10-10 game midway through the quarter.
Peppenhorst hit a three-pointer while Jack Reynolds and Roman Zambrencia each had buckets. PHS got a bucket from McConnell and Laur while Carson Meagher hit a triple at the buzzer with the teams tied 17-17 after eight minutes of action.
With the last second three, the Panthers scored the second quarter with the first eight points to conclude an 11-0 run and a 25-17 lead with 5:40 left in the first half.
Peppenhorst hit two buckets between a Reagan Woomer baseline jumper as MD got within 25-23 with three minutes left.
Laur hit both ends of free throws while MD got things tied up with a jumper from Woomer and a drive from Peppenhorst for a 27-27 game with 100 seconds left.
McConnell got the final two buckets of the half as Pinckneyville led 31-27 at the break. Peppenhorst had 13 points while Laur had 11 points and McConnell had 14 for the Panthers at the break.
Peppenhorst went off in the third quarter, hitting for 18 points while the Panthers duo went for 12 points.
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