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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
A local bakery in New Baden is scheduled to reopen next month.
Ryan Shores from Saint Louis Group Business Brokers said that an asset purchase agreement is in place for Berkemann's Baker's Dozen in New Baden. They are expected to close on the deal the first half of March and reopen a few days after.
Kristen Rogers is the prospective new owner of the bakery. She is a 2011 Wesclin High School graduate who was hired to work at Berkemann's Baker's Dozen in 2011. Rogers is currently in Virginia but will be moving back to New Baden with her two sons while her husband continues serving in the Air Force.
"I am so excited for this opportunity," Rogers said. "I just sit in my house every day and just think about the things that I can do with the bakery. And having my family support behind me just makes me even more excited. And then seeing the community and how welcoming they have been, has just made this so much better."
She has previously worked as a nurse. Rogers said she does not have any prior experience running a bakery and is just "living on a dream" right now.
"I wasn't looking for a bakery," Rogers said. "I just saw that the bakery was for sale and everything in my heart just kept telling me 'You have to buy this bakery.' I'm so glad I did. I don't have any negative thoughts of 'Am I doing the right thing?' I know that I'm doing the right thing."
After graduating from Wesclin, Rogers went to culinary school at Kaskaskia College for a semester. She ended up changing her major to nursing and went to the University of North Alabama where she graduated with her bachelor's degree.
In January, Paul Berkemann made the difficult decision to sell Berkemann's Baker's Dozen.
Paul's wife, Janet, is having health issues and was in the intensive care unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Paul said looking after his wife is his top priority. With the current family circumstances, Paul said he is unable to provide the day-to-day attention required to both support his wife's needs and operate the bakery.
Paul has owned Berkemann's Baker's Dozen for 25 years. He had the grand opening of the bakery on July 15, 2000.
To put more attention on helping his wife, Paul closed the bakery on Nov. 9 and it has not reopened.
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal Reporter
The UNCOMN UGLIs at last year's Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics at Carlyle Lake. The Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Illinois will return to Carlyle Lake on Feb. 28.
A tentative schedule has registration opening at the Mariners Village (1 Resort Dr. in Carlyle) at 9 a.m., the Pre-Plunge Party at 10 a.m., costume parade at 11:30 a.m., and the plunging starting at noon.
Come out in your best Plunge costume and party it up before starting the plunge, and what a party it will be.
There will be food, drinks and games for everyone.
For the costume parade, the athletes will be rewarding one team and one individual with the Golden Plunger award for best costume.
There are 14 teams registered so far for this year's plunge. Team names are just as interesting as the costumes they put together for the plunge, including Wacky Warriors, UNCOMN UGLIs, and Scott AFB Aim High-Drive Cold.
O'Fallon Police Department is also registered, and, so far, has the most amount of money raised at over $21,000. O'Fallon Police Department also raised the most money last year for the event, raising over $56,000 for the cause.
The Polar Plunge in 2025 had raised $120,000 for Special Olympics at the time of the event. Overall, plungers raised more than $3 million for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois, exceeding their goals and setting a new record.
There are 145 individuals who have officially registered for the Polar Plunge. Last year, there were 235 individuals signed up and 160 who actually took the plunge at the Polar Plunge at Carlyle Lake. The Carlyle Lake water temperature was 33°, and a backhoe was brought in last year to break the ice in the lake prior to the plunge.
So far, this year, there is over $40,500 raised, with a goal of $110,000. However, donations are still coming in.
This is the 27th year of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois.
This year's presenting sponsor is the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois. Statewide sponsors include Jewel Osco, Gallagher and United Airlines.
