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EDWARDSVILLE — Officials announce that Madison County’s Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance (ERAP) program is ending after more than two years. “The program helped thousands of people with their rent and utility bills who were impacted by COVID,” Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. Since March 2021, Madison County Community Development (MCCD) administered more than $11.6 million in ERAP assistance to more than 2,500 households. The program will end at the end of the month. MCCD Director Chris Otto commended the staff for all their hard work on ERAP. “This group routinely put in 10-hour-plus days to keep up with the workflow and flood of applicants,” Otto said. Board member Denise Wiehardt and chair of the Grants Committee said the pandemic was hard on everyone, especially for those who lost their jobs and couldn’t pay their rent or utility bills. She said that ERAP helped people from being evicted. “We saw a real need for this program,”

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford has announced that on April 23, 2023, during the evening hours, the Alton Police Department was notified of a missing person identified as Madalyn K. Shafer. Chief Ford said Madalyn was last seen by a friend at 11 a.m. on April 23, 2023. The friend had not seen Madalyn for most of the day and was unable to contact her. The friend also noted that Madalyn’s vehicle was missing from her residence. Madalyn is described as a 26-year-old white female from Alton. She is approximately five feet ten inches tall and weighs around 200 pounds. She was last observed wearing blue plaid pajama pants, a blue t-shirt with “Special Olympics” on the front, and white Croc-style shoes. She has three tattoos one on each of her thighs of a Tarot Card and one on her abdomen of the Staff of David. Madalyn’s vehicle, a white, Toyota Rav 4, was located unoccupied today outside the city limits of Alton. Friends and family are concerned for Madalyn’s

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WOOD RIVER - Freshman Gina Truax has displayed significant potential this track and field season for the East Alton-Wood River High School Oilers. Gina is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. “Gina has worked very hard, listens to her coaches, and is highly energetic,” EAWR girls track and field head coach Russ Colona said. “To get a record in the second meet is crazy. We usually have to calm her down rather than push her to go, she is so energetic and driven. She has a good competitive spirit and a good nose for the finish line. We are looking forward to seeing how far she can go.” Gina said she feels she is off to a really great start this season in outdoor track. “I have not had a lot of supervision in hurdles in middle school and was kind of self-taught,” she said. “Now in high school, the coaches are working with me a lot and I love the more individualized attention. The hurdles are something I have

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ALTON — Argosy Casino Alton is expanding its gaming space in new and exciting ways with opening of “The Music Hall”. With the opening of The Music Hall, Argosy will now boast over 500 of the latest slot machines and be able to offer new and existing players a brand-new play area. “We have heard from so many of our guests – when are you going to expand your gaming floor?” said Randy Peterson, Vice President and General Manager of Argosy Casino Alton . “We are so pleased to be able to expand our offerings to give our players what they’ve asked for. Our slot and facilities teams have worked very hard to create this space and we are so pleased with the results!” The area will officially open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special drawing to celebrate the opening.

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CHICAGO – The Lotto jackpot for tonight’s drawing is now a whopping $14,150,000. This is the largest Lotto jackpot in nearly three years, when a lucky Illinois player scooped up $16.5 million in June 2020. Lotto is an Illinois-only game with three chances to win a million dollars or more with every drawing. So far this month, two Lotto players have won $1 million each, but the jackpot has kept growing. In total this year, over 2.5 million winning Lotto tickets have been sold, netting players about $10.9 million in prizes. Lotto is played three times a week with drawings on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The next prize draw is tonight, April 24 at 9:22 p.m. CT. Lotto tickets are $2 each, and players have the option to add Extra Shot for an additional $1 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes. With over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State, Illinois Lottery players can conveniently pick up a ticket at their local store - or they can login to the

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JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community High School senior Gabe Axley signed recently with Sydenstricker Nobbe John Deere Technical School in Wentzville, MO. Only 25 students out of 200 applicants were selected for this 9-month program. He will pay $0 tuition, $0 room, and board, and receive wages while training. "We used this signing opportunity of a model student, Gabe, to hear from Ben Poletti with SNP to inspire underclassmen industrial arts students," Jersey Community School District said in a comment.

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JERSEYVILLE - Bea Weaver is still going strong as she just turned 100 years old. Recently, her family and friends had a special day for Bea at Jerseyville Manor. "Bea celebrated her special day at Jerseyville Manor hosting an open house with more than 50 guests," Jerseyville Manor officials said. Bea was asked an important question on what is the secret to such longevity. She responded with one word: "Happiness." Jerseyville Manor officials closed by saying, "100 never looked so good! Congrats to Bea on becoming our most recent centenarian."

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ALTON - Workers are visible each day at the old Alton Post Office location on Belle Street with the site restoration in its final stages. Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois, who owns the property, made this statement about the present work: "Following Illinois American Water's sewer and water line improvements along Belle Street, Ameren is now finishing final site restoration and grading at the former Alton manufactured gas plant site in preparation for sale and/or beneficial re-use for the community. "The property was recently divided into two parcels to support development, while also allowing for an easement so Illinois American Water can access and maintain the Piasa sewer that bisects the site."

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ALTON - The first Alton City-Wide Litter Cleanup of 2023 proved to be a big success as volunteers pitched in to help clean up the Alton area. The event is organized each spring and fall by Pride, Inc. and Executive Director Pat Stewart said she hopes the event can spread the word against littering. “Any help we can give this community to keep it clean, to educate people about littering, I think the more youth groups we get our here especially, hopefully they’ll take it back and spread the word to their friends and family and think twice before you roll your window down and throw something else out of it,” Stewart said. Over 50 organizations participated in this spring’s cleanup, covering their assigned areas all over Alton. Stewart said community members are also highly involved in the event, and that she enjoys seeing residents take pride in their neighborhoods. “The community involvement is fantastic,” she said. “A clean neighborhood

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EDWARDSVILLE - In response to the increased demand and limited number of individuals entering the professional surveying workforce, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Engineering (SOE) is announcing the formation of a new four-year degree in land surveying and geomatics. This is the only four-year degree for land surveying that offers a direct pathway to professional licensure in several Midwestern states. “This program is offered to a broad base of students as it has integrated focused coursework from our surveying specialization, geography and civil engineering programs,” said John Cabage, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Construction. “We hope that through this program at SIUE, we can help increase the number of individuals entering the professional surveying field.” The gift of more than $214,000 in equipment from Seiler Instrument enabled SIUE to launch this degree program with leading edge technology.

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ALTON – The Riverbend Rotary Club is delighted to announce a special community prayer event, taking place at 8 a.m. May 4, 2023, at The Lovejoy, located at 401 Piasa Street, Alton. This free event encourages community members of all faiths and backgrounds to come together in a show of unity and support for the people and institutions that keep our town thriving. Local dignitaries will offer prayers for various aspects of our community, including government, teachers, police officers, and the media. Attendees will be treated to light refreshments and the opportunity to connect with fellow community members in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. For more information about the event, please visit the Riverbend Rotary Club's Facebook event page. No RSVP is required. About Riverbend Rotary Club The Riverbend Rotary Club is dedicated to making a difference in the local community through service projects, fundraisers, and events that bring people together. Their mission is to promote

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CARLINVILLE - This past Saturday, the following students participated in the ICTM (Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics) State Math Contest. They had qualified for the event by having excellent scores at the regional level: Freshmen: Riley Owsley, Elyse Eldred, Anna Petrovich, Taylor Brandenburg, Isabella McCarthy, and Hannah Truax Junior: Tyler Summers Seniors: Charlie Wilson and Hayden Truax

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EDWARDSVILLE – Earlier this month, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) hosted its 16 th Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony. Nearly 100 guests gathered for the celebration, including scholarship donors and student recipients, along with SON administrators, faculty and staff. This time-honored tradition is held to recognize the shared aspirations and achievements of scholarship sponsors and recipients. “On behalf of the entire SIUE School of Nursing Community, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 16 th Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony,” said Patti McDonald, senior director of development, during the opening remarks. “We are so glad you are here and thank everyone for being part of and continuing this time-honored tradition for the SIUE School of Nursing. You have formed a powerful partnership that will advance the future of nursing through our region, state and world in the years to come.” “We wer

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GLEN CARBON – The Village of Glen Carbon and its volunteer committee, the G.L.E.N. (Gardening, Landscape and Enhancing Nature) Committee has announced its plans to hold a Miner Park Tree Planting on Sat., Apr. 29 at 10 a.m. The planting will occur between the two baseball fields by the playground at the park located at 194 S. Main Street. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Since 1972 the Arbor Day Foundation has advocated for the planting of trees to encourage a greener future for communities. Trees play a key role in the creation of a healthier environment because they clean our air, filter our water, slow storm surge and provide shady spots that can be about 10 degrees cooler for humans and animals alike. Abby Kansal Schack, chairperson of the G.L.E.N. Committee, is looking forward to working with a local Girl Scout Troop on the tree planting at Miner Park. Mayor Marcus will also be present at the beginning of the celebration to read the

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ST. LOUIS, April 21, 2023 - Schnuck Markets, Inc. has issued an allergy alert on select Schnucks Pretzel Schticks because the products may contain undeclared milk - a known allergen. People who have an allergy or sensitivity to milk could run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. Schnucks customers are urged to check for: Schnucks Dill Pickle Pretzels Schticks 10 oz. UPC: 41318-25268 Lot code: D0052023 Lot code: D0132023 Lot code: D0142023 Lot code: D1182022 Lot code: D1232022 Lot code: D1812022 Lot code: D1872022 Lot code: D2902022 Schnucks Honey Mustard Pretzels Schticks 10 oz. UPC: 41318-25266 Lot code: D0112023 Lot code: D0172023 Lot code: D0182023 Lot code: D1582022 Lot code: D1932022 Lot code: D1942022 Lot code: D1952022 Lot code: D2882022. Affected products may be returned to the nearest Schnucks store for a full refund or exchange. Customers with questions may contact the Schnucks Customer Care team at 314-994-4400 or 1-800-264-4400.

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GRAFTON - The Parks Committee and volunteers conducted a parks cleanup day on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023. Grafton Parks Committee Chairwoman, Cheryl Rawe, and her husband, Mike, met the volunteers at The Grove Memorial Park at 9 a.m. Saturday. The goal for the morning was to clean and re-paint the Two Rivers mural painting in the concrete welcome circle at the park entrance. The city provided the paint and equipment and the volunteers quickly organized and started work. “It is exciting to see all our parks getting cleaned up and revived for the upcoming season,” said Rawe. “Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in making Grafton a beautiful place.” The Boy Scouts of Troop #59 met at the same time in Mason Hollow Park under the leadership and supervision of Scout Committee Chairman, Ray Hasty. Their mission was to prepare and stain the wooden pavilion in the center of the park. The Scouts quickly erected scaffolding and using portable electric

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Will County man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison for burglarizing businesses and stealing cash from video poker machines. The plea is part of an ongoing burglary case Raoul announced in 2022 following a joint investigation with the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Police (ISP) and several local law enforcement agencies. Brian Morgan, 42, of Plainfield, Illinois, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Lee County Circuit Court Thursday after pleading guilty to one count of Class 1 felony theft. Morgan was also sentenced to nine years in prison, to be served concurrently, after pleading guilty to one count of Class 2 felony burglary. Morgan is currently in prison, serving a separate sentence in connection to unrelated charges. “Members of this burglary ring allegedly targeted bars, restaurants, social clubs and other small businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines. They broke into dozen

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PIASA - Southwestern Middle School announced its 3rd Quarter Honor Roll lists. To view them, please click the link below: Southwestern Middle School 3rd Quarter Honor Roll

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GODFREY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that intermittent daytime lane closures on Godfrey Road, from Airport Road to Homer Adams Parkway, weather permitting, will begin at 7 a.m., Monday, April 24. One lane of traffic will remain open in both directions at all times. The closures are necessary for pavement resurfacing, and work is expected to be complete by the end of September. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during the lane closures. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey Community Middle School Youth Activation Committee is honoring first responders by hosting them for free donuts and coffee on Tuesday, April 25 from 8 a.m. to 8:40a.m. The event is for all Jersey County first responders, including Jersey County EMTs, firefighters, and law enforcement personnel. Substance Use Prevention Services (SUPS) Grant Coordinator Rita Robinson said the goal of this event is to honor the “local heroes” of Jersey County. “Sometimes our kids think of heroes as the Hollywood stars or cartoon characters, and what’s true is our local heroes, our first responders are our local heroes,” Robinson said. The Youth Activation Committee is comprised of JCMS Students who are recognizing substance use prevention next week. One of the daily activity plans was to have a dress-up day where kids would dress up as first responders, but they decided to invite actual first responders to honor them this way instead, Robinson

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