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ALTON - The Christmas Eve Middletown Neighbors Luminaries event is returning to the Middletown Historic District of Alton for its 21st year. This year’s event will be held on Christmas Eve, with luminary lanterns being placed and lit at 4:30 p.m. The longstanding community tradition is marking its return with over 5,000 luminary lanterns, which will be placed all throughout Middletown, said event chairperson Shannon Sholar. It marks the perfect opportunity to drive or stroll through the historic district. “The drive-through or walkable illumination has become a Christmas tradition and destination for many families,” Sholar said. “Block captains organize and set up each block and are instrumental in making it all happen!” In addition to “block captains,” the event is made possible through bag donations from Duke Bakery, Middletown Neighbors, and support from the community. “We are very fortunate to have Duke Bakery donate all o

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic senior Max Cogan has emerged as one of the area’s top bowlers so far this season. He is the Explorers’ boys bowling captain and is a Tucker’s Automotive Repair & Tire Male Athlete of the Month for Marquette. Cogan thanked his teammates, parents, and coaches for their assistance in his bowling career. Cogan recently recorded a score of 267 at a match. He said he loves hanging out with friends and family in his off-time. Cogan added that his involvement in sports has shown him how to work together as a team and be there when other people need him. “I plan to play football in college, but I am undecided yet on where to go,” he said. “I am interested in going to college to study movie production.” The Marquette senior has been on the high honor roll all four years and is in the school's National Honor Society. He said there is "nothing" he enjoys "more than being with family and playing sports.”

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GRAFTON - Santa’s Chocolate Express will be returning to Grafton this Saturday, Dec. 3. The event is a great way to stroll through and explore Grafton while picking up some sweet treats and shopping locally. Registration is open at the Grafton Visitors Center from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the day of the event. All participants will receive a starter bag of chocolate when they register and can collect additional chocolate at participating Grafton businesses, which are marked as “Official Chocolate Stops” on maps that will be provided. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at The Grove Memorial Park to greet children and pose for photos from noon to 2:00 p.m. Jersey State Bank will also offer hot chocolate in the park. Tickets are $15 in advance, but go up to $20 on the day of the event. Tickets include free shuttle service throughout Grafton, a complimentary treat at each participating business, and a holiday shopping bag with a selection of chocolates as well as a holiday

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ALTON - Alton Main Street and Jacoby Arts Center are partnering to present First Fridays, a late-night art and shopping experience which spans 21 locations across the Downtown Alton district. This event is held on the First Friday of each month during the fall, providing you with an opportunity to check out new shops and galleries and visit familiar favorites to experience art and great promotions at each business. This is the last Frist Friday of the 2022 season, so don’t miss out on the great specials for your holiday gift-giving. Participants are offering a variety of discounts, refreshments, and giveaways. Everyone who has their passport stamped at 10 locations will receive a $10 gift certificate to any participating business. Free parking is available in the lot next to Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway, and a free shuttle bus will be provided from 5:00-9:00 p.m., running a continuous loop between all participating locations. Find "Where’s Wadlow" hidden

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GLEN CARBON - Jackson Rodgers, a senior forward for the boys' basketball team at Father McGivney Catholic High School, had a solid performance in the Griffins' home opener on Nov. 29, leading the Griffins with 18 points in a 53-46 loss to New Athens in the team's home opener. Rodgers, overall, is off to a great start, averaging 16.3 points and 0.5 rebounds per game, as is considered one of the team's top seniors on a veteran-laden team that is hoping to do well in the 2022-23 season. The Griffins started out 3-1, finishing second in the Mulberry Grove Thanksgiving tournament, losing to St. Elmo in the final, going into the game against the Yellowjackets. For all of his efforts, both on and off the court, Rodgers has been named a Byron, Carlson, Petri and Kalb Law Firm male Athlete of the Month for Father McGivney. Rodgers, who plays for head coach Todd Strong, felt that although the Griffins did some good things during the game, the team didn't play all that well against New Athens

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois congratulates Lindsey Lankford from Glen Carbon, Illinois for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout—a designation she earned by providing sensory support to students with disabilities. Lindsey worked in the special education classroom at her school for six years. She also joined Key Club, which planned community events – including events for students with disabilities. Lindsey noticed some struggles that students with special sensory needs faced, so she centered her Gold Award project around making these students feel supported. Lindsey created three sensory walls on wheels that were given to a library, a high school, and a middle school. The walls offer a variety of sensory toys and items that appeal to a variety of sensory needs. She also created an educational video to build awareness and understanding of special sensory needs. Lindsey learned valuable life skills when completing her impactful project. “This projec

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BELLEVILLE - Rudolph might not have been able to join in all the “reindeer games,” but area residents can. The St. Clair County Transit District, in conjunction with Citizens for Modern Transit and Metro Transit, will host “Reindeer Games” on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Belleville Transit Center, which is located at 800 Scheel Street in Belleville. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a live reindeer, games, snacks, crafts and a commemorative photo. Children will also receive a goodie bag. Those in attendance will be able to see a live reindeer before making a reindeer craft, playing reindeer-themed games, taking a photo and enjoying cookies, milk, juice and water. The Belleville Transit Center is accessible via MetroLink; three, fixed MetroBus routes, including 1–Main Street-State Street, 15–Belleville-Shiloh-O’Fallon and 16–St. Clair Square; the SCTTD Flyer Service. There is also a spacious

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05) today introduced the Corporate Crime Database Act , bicameral legislation that requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to collect, aggregate, analyze, and publish comprehensive data on federal corporate criminal enforcement actions. Currently, there is no comprehensive national data collection on corporate crime and no centralized database of federal enforcement actions against corporations that the public can view. “We believe that comprehensive, national data collection and a searchable public database of the results of federal enforcement actions against corporations and individual actors engaging in corporate misconduct would provide better oversight, inform DOJ’s corporate criminal prosecution practices, and demonstrate the effectiveness of corporate sanctions—which is exactly what our bill aims to do,”

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SPRINGFIELD – Jewelry, collectible coins, sports memorabilia and historic souvenirs are among the more than 450 unclaimed property items to be auctioned online from December 5 through December 9. “Our online auction is a wonderful opportunity to discover rare and memorable finds, either for yourself or for that special someone who will appreciate them as gifts,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in Illinois. “You won’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home to participate in the auction.” Items to be auctioned include collectible, .999 fine silver coins commemorating important milestones for two Disney characters: Mickey Mouse’s 60 th anniversary and Snow White’s 50 th anniversary. Among the other items for auction are watches, rings and necklaces; an 1899 U.S. $20 Liberty Head gold coin; a .999 fine silver Michael Jordan basketball card and a .999 fine silver commemorative

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department conducted a traffic safety campaign Nov. 18-28 reminding motorists to buckle up and drive sober and there were two DUI arrests. The “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization was conducted by The Edwardsville Police Department and other state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois to reduce highway fatalities. During the campaign, Edwardsville Police Department also issued the following violations: One uninsured motorist Two speeding citations One distracted driving citation “Our Officers patrol year-round to keep motorists buckled up and impaired drivers off the roads,” said Lt. Barry Jones. “We do this to save lives and ensure all of us make it home safely at the end of the day.” The Thanksgiving enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation and is part of th

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SPRINGFIELD— Nearly 33% of Illinois’ population age 65 and older live alone; and 20% of residents report having difficulty with self-care such as running errands, visiting a doctor or grocery shopping, according to the Illinois Department of Health Services. Informal caregivers – those who are unpaid – assist others with daily living activities such as getting groceries, travel to medical appointments and cooking. Typically, these caregivers are a spouse, partner, family member, friend or neighbor. As part of November’s National Family Caregivers Month, HSHS Home Care Illinois is providing tips for caregivers, who often face their own health problems and are under severe emotional stress and physical strain. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance , 17% say their overall health and well-being has gotten worse as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. Amy Frederking, director of post-acute care for HSHS Illinois, says caregiving can be overwhelmin

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dennis Mares, PhD, professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, released a Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) guide, Gunshot Detection: Reducing Gunfire through Acoustic Technology , in early November, highlighting acoustic gunshot detection systems, which are sensors designed to recognize the acoustic pattern of gunfire. “Gunfire alerts by such systems enable police to respond faster and to a more precise location of gunfire,” said Mares. “The guide examines how agencies implement gunshot detection systems and provides insights to agencies interested in implementing their own systems and initiatives. In addition, the guide pays particular attention to best practices in responding to and investigating gunshot alerts.” With a majority of gunfire going unreported by the public, the technology is on track to become standard in large police departments. The technology is relatively new in law

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ALTON - On November 8, 2022, Mississippi Valley Christian School held its second annual induction ceremony for the Riverbend Chapter of the American Christian Honor Society. Gray Sapp, son of Herbert and Julie Sapp of Jerseyville, and Kristen Vaughn, daughter of Mark and Jennifer Vaughn of Bunker Hill, were honored by the secondary student body, faculty, family, and friends. Based on their academic achievements and evidence of personal character and service, the two sophomores were welcomed and challenged by the existing Honor Society members in a symbolic candle-lighting ceremony and were pinned by their parents. The ACHS was founded in 1979 by the American Association of Christian Schools to A dvance Christian Scholarship, C hallenge Christian leadership, H onor Christian character, and S timulate Christian service.

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces lane closures in both directions of I-270 between IL 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2022, weather permitting. One lane in each direction will remain open throughout the weekend. This work is needed to do bridge deck repairs. All lanes will be opened on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 5:00 a.m. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. 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. The contractor on this project is Walsh Construction Company II, LLC of Chicago, IL. 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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ALTON - As expected, the walk-through night at Christmas Wonderland at Alton’s Rock Springs Park was rated as “magnificent.” Dick Alford, the head Grandpa Gang team member, said he received several compliments about the light display his organization has constructed for this Christmas season. The walk-through night ran from 6-9 p.m. Monday and it was packed with people the entire time. The suggested donation Monday night for the 1 1/2-mile display was $1 per person. There were no vehicles allowed in the park Monday night, only walkers. Drive-through Christmas Wonderland hours resume at 6 Tuesday night to 9, then are 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5-9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through December 27. Alford said the Christmas Wonderland display opened the Friday after Thanksgiving and to date, attendance has been exceptional, along with positive remarks. “We had three or four really good nights, which was about the same as last year and we have received

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School English teacher Nickie Pontious has been selected as one of Emerson’s 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients. She is among more than 80 teachers from across the St. Louis metropolitan area who are being recognized this year through the program as examples of truly outstanding educational excellence. "I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” Pontious said. “There are so many teachers deserving of recognition for the work they do every single day, so I am especially grateful for this opportunity.” The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards, now in its 33rd year, is one of the St. Louis region’s most recognized teacher recognition programs. Emerson proudly sponsors this program as a way of helping the St. Louis community express their collective admiration and gratitude for their dedication to teaching the area’s students. “We are extremely proud of Nickie for being named a recipient

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office obtained a guilty plea in a case against a Cook County OB-GYN who fraudulently charged Illinois’ Medicaid program for services that were never provided. In a case being prosecuted by Raoul’s office, Dr. Monique Brotman, 52, of River Forest, pleaded guilty in Cook County Circuit Court today to misdemeanor vendor fraud. Brotman was ordered to pay full restitution up front, and she will be excluded from the Medicaid and Medicare programs for a minimum of five years. She was also sentenced to complete five days of community service. “Thousands of Illinois residents rely on Medicaid for their health care. Defrauding the people of Illinois by misusing needed Medicaid resources will not be tolerated,” Raoul said. “I am committed to working with the Illinois State Police to identify Medicaid fraud and hold those who engage in it accountable.” Raoul alleges that

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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy was joined by Chief James Whiteford as well as many other fire department staff and city officials Tuesday morning to hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new East Fire Station. The $5.1 million, 8,400-square-foot station will be located at 7407 Governors Parkway and will be the city’s third station. It comes shortly after the completion of the new-and-improved Public Safety Building on Main Street in 2017. The Public Safety Building serves as the city’s police and fire department headquarters. The other two stations are located at 783 NW University Drive on the campus of SIUE, and at 340 Montclaire Avenue. Chief Whiteford explained that these existing stations are much along the north and south of the city limits, however, Edwardsville has grown tremendously from east to west, requiring a new station to keep dispatch times as quick as possible, with citizen safety being a number one priority. “The

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Stratton announced today a historic agreement to pay off the remaining $1.36 billion unemployment insurance loan balance, replenish the fund for the future, and protect benefits for working families. The agreement will save taxpayers an estimated $20 million in interest costs that would be due next September and preserves hundreds of millions of dollars in future federal tax credits for Illinois employers. The agreement between representatives from business, labor, bipartisan members of the General Assembly, and the state, will contribute more than $1.8 billion in state funds to the unemployment insurance trust fund, which includes the payment of the remaining federal loan balance borrowed under Title XII of the Social Security Act. The remaining $450 million will be placed into the trust fund from state funds as an interest-free loan. As the loan is repaid over the next ten years, funds will be deposited directly into the

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EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville issued a North Buchanan Street work update Tuesday afternoon: The block of North Buchanan Street between East Vandalia Street and Hillsboro Avenue is closed today (Tuesday, November 29) while the road is patched at the East Vandalia intersection, the city said. "It is expected to reopen by early Wednesday morning for those who need to access that block," the city added. "This is another step in the huge project to upgrade the very old water main along North Buchanan Street between Vandalia and Union streets. The new water main (a 12-inch pipe that will serve the area far better than the original 4-inch cast iron main) is in place, and we’re in the process of switching over everyone’s service to that main before we can get the road patched. "We know it’s taking a while, that it’s messy and disruptive, and we sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience and apologize for the inconvenience. A few hurdles have cropped up

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