Breese mayor Charlie Hilmes calls on the Clinton County Board to dismiss Dr. Deanna DuComb from the Board of Health following her asking what he called a “slanderous” question. DuComb herself (pictured at left) attended the meeting to deliver a rebuttal. (Photo by Melissa Wilkinson) Breese mayor Charlie Hilmes made an appearance at the Clinton County Board meeting on Monday, March 18, where he delivered on a promise to formally request the dismissal of Dr. Deanna DuComb from the Clinton County Board of Health.
Hilmes announced his intent to call for DuComb’s dismissal at the March 5 Breese City Council meeting after replying publically to a question asked by DuComb regarding whether or not the county health department should be moved to Breese from Carlyle. DuComb asked whether the county’s African-American residents would feel safe coming to Breese after dark, asserting that to move the health center to Breese would disenfranchise the county’s poor minorities.
Hilmes said he believes the quote to be “slanderous” and alleged that DuComb posed the question purely to keep the health center in Carlyle. Hilmes contacted DuComb about her question several weeks ago, asking her to make a formal apology to the city of Breese. After DuComb refused, Hilmes told the Breese Council that he would call on the board to dismiss her.
“Breese is not a movie about the 1950s and ’60s. Breese is a town that takes great pride in what it has managed to accomplish over the last 50 years. What I’ve seen since 1960 is people who have moved into our community becoming involved in churches, schools, organizations and then passing this involvement on to their children,” said Hilmes at the county board meeting. “We want to keep those children in Clinton County. I do believe Dr. DuComb’s statement doesn’t represent the reality in Breese … I ask the board to dismiss Dr. DuComb from any and all appointed positions in Clinton County. I truly believe she does a disservice to the county as a whole.”
DuComb, who practices dermatology in Carlyle, was also in attendance at Monday night’s meeting to speak in her own defense. DuComb asserted that Hilmes “extrapolated” several untrue statements from her question, which she said was posed after researching the population of Breese. Much of DuComb’s research involved school data, in which it was reported that Breese has very few African-American students attending school within city limits.
“I’m an inquisitive person by nature. I think it’s relevant. if we’re not allowed to ask a question, what kind of community are we? If we ask good questions we get good answers, we solve problems and move forward,” said DuComb.
Breese Journal Staff Report
Settle the ball — Mater Dei’s Faith Rackers is caught between Carbondale’s Torrey Taylor (25) and Rose Kippenbrock as she tries to gain possession in the Lady Knights’ 6-2 win over the Terriers last Tuesday in Belleville. Rackers had one goal and four assists in the win. (Photo by Bruce Hixon)
The Mater Dei Lady Knights soccer team had an up and down start to their season as they won two matches while dropping three others at the Metro-Cup Classic in Belleville and Freeburg.
Mater Dei plays at Gordon More State Park when they challenge Alton Marquette on Thursday before playing Wesclin at home on Saturday morning.
Mater Dei 5, Father McGivney 1: The Lady Knights got another hat trick in their breeze of a win at home on Monday.
MD junior Faith Rackers had three goals and an assist in the win to account for seven points.
Shannon Lampe had a goal and an assist for the Lady Knights who also got an assist from Ellen Antonacci.
Macy Hoppes netted the lone goal for the Griffins on an assist from Lauren Meyer.
Gabby Kramer made six saves to earn the win in the net for Mater Dei who outshot the Griffins 17-7.
Gibault 1, Mater Dei 0: The Lady Knights had no offense in their loss in Freeburg in overtime on Saturday.
Gabby Kramer took the loss in the net for Mater Dei as she made 10 saves.
Marion 3, Mater Dei 2: The Lady Knights dropped a close contest last Friday in Belleville.
Ellen Antonacci had a goal for the Lady Knights while Faith Rackers had a goal and an assist in the loss. Gabby Kramer made 10 saves in the net for MD.
Mater Dei 6, Carbondale 2: Shannon Lampe scored three times, Lainey Kramer added a pair of goals and Faith Rackers also cracked the scoring column as the Lady Knights picked up their first win of the season with a 6-2 triumph over the Carbondale Terriers last Tuesday at Belleville East.
Scenes from Monday night’s Schuette’s Market total store liquidation sale
Top left: Shoppers were given a form to write down the shelf prices of items. A 50 percent discount was applied to all purchases during checkout. Top right: Ski was among the first item to sell out Monday night, as early shoppers took advantage of their favorite drink priced at 50 percent off. Bottom: early shoppers wait outside Schuette’s Market on Monday, March 18. After allowing customers to preview the items, Kues Bros. Auction Co. required all shoppers to sign waivers releasing Kues Bros. from any consequences of accidentally purchasing or consuming expired goods. Shoppers were then assigned numbers and told to wait outside the store until called. (Photos by Melissa Wilkinson) Kues Bros. Auction Co. held a total store liquidation sale for Schuette’s Market in Breese this Monday and Tuesday.
Grocery chain owner Mike Schuette filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 7, 2018, announcing the closing of his two final stores — Troy and Breese — two hours before the workday ended the previous evening. Several other stores closed previously, including a Carlyle store closed in August 2016. Kues Bros. was hired to clean up the Breese store — which was abandoned with all groceries still inside —and organize the sale of the property and all dry goods remaining in the store.
On Monday, shoppers were permitted to purchase dry food items and household goods at 50 percent off shelf price. On Tuesday, Kues Bros. auctioned off large machinery including meat grinders, saws, industrial kitchenware and even vehicles.
| Fri., March 15 |
446.60 |
| Sun., March 17 | 447.75 |
| Tues., March 19 | 448.51 |
| March 13 | .02" |
| March 14 | 1.49" |
| March 15 | .00" |
| March 16 |
.00" |
| March 17 | .00" |
| March 18 | .00" |
| March 19 | .00" |
