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ALTON – Although Alton Memorial Hospital was unable to hold its annual Employee Awards Banquet again this year because of the pandemic, the hospital was still able to honor several of its top staff members during the recent Health Care Week. Cathy Wagner, manager of Surgical Services and the Cardiac Cath Lab, won the 2021 Leadership Award, as voted on by AMH senior leaders. “Cathy checked many of the boxes in 2021,” said AMH President Dave Braasch. “She demonstrated characteristics in getting results, integrity, continuous improvement and building customer-focused teams. During the most recent COVID surge, she routinely jumped in to lend a hand in staffing where needed. With all the disruptions, Cathy dealt fairly with everyone and listened to everyone’s input before making the final decision. Her response was poised and deliberate, always putting the patients first.” Wagner said that winning the award was a surprise to her because of all the grea

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CHICAGO – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced the return of more than $43,000 in unclaimed property to St. Andrew Ukrainian Church in Bloomingdale. The Treasurer’s Office recently found the unclaimed money and reached out to church officials to return it. The gorgeous Ukrainian Orthodox church, which is a cultural and religious center for Chicago’s west suburban Ukrainian community, has stepped up its charity work in Ukraine following the unprovoked and immoral Russian invasion. Unclaimed property, also known as I-Cash, refers to money or accounts within financial institutions or companies in which there has been no activity for several years. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, unpaid life insurance benefits, the contents of safe deposit boxes and other items. In the case of St. Andrew, the Treasurer’s Office discovered the church was owed the money while conducting unclaimed property compliance audits of companies.

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ST. LOUIS - The transit advocacy organization Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) has announced plans for its next virtual “Talking Transit” event, which is set for Thursday, June 9, at 8:30 a.m. via ZOOM. This event will highlight new initiatives underway through Metro Transit to expand accessibility and further improve safety and security on the St. Louis region’s public system, which is comprised of MetroLink light rail, 59 MetroBus routes, and the Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit fleet. The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required and can be completed online at www.cmt-stl.org . Those in attendance will learn about the latest plans associated with the Northside-Southside MetroLink Study with St. Louis City and St. Louis County, the new Secure Platform Plan and the service profile of the organization moving forward. The panel discussion will feature Taulby Roach, President and CEO of Bi-State Development which operates Metro Transit for the

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ST. LOUIS - The CEO of St. Louis-based ProCare Health, a leader in the bariatric supplement market with a focus on after-surgery nutritional needs, is announcing the launch of a new supplement website. Nick Wiegand is one of four founders of WellRabbit, an e-commerce site dedicated to selling only physician-vetted products from qualified manufacturers. “I’ve launched several brands from the ground up. This gave me insight into just how many companies there are that offer counterfeit, substandard, or even dangerous supplements. There had to be a safe place for consumers,” said Nick Wiegand, the President of WellRabbit. “There are two goals for WellRabbit. We protect the consumer by giving them a high-quality product, and we protect the industry by making sure only authentic goods are sold.” WellRabbit was founded out of CEO Dr. Jeffrey Hendricks’ desire to help his sister, Teresa, beat breast cancer and live a healthier life. By taking integrative

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MARYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces a right lane closure on I-55/70 WB between Illinois 159 and 13-mile marker in Maryville Thursday, May 19, 2022, weather permitting, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. These restrictions are needed to allow access for the weigh-in-motion vendor to perform repairs to the weigh-in motion sensors at the Weigh Station on I-55/70 in Maryville. Warning Lights of Southern Illinois will be providing traffic control. Full access will be restored by 5:00 PM. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow IDOT on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on

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ALTON – The YWCA of Southwestern Illinois will once again host Free Girls Circle programs at its location at 304 E. Third Street, Alton. This program focuses on the promotion of growth within the youth, families, and the community. "The program places emphasis on generating, re-establishing, and encouraging the continuance of healthy relationships," YWCA of Southwestern Illinois Executive Director Dorothy Hummel said. "The topics that are discussed relate to everyday issues that girls may have experienced or will possibly encounter in the future. This program consists of a knowledgeable facilitator that is equipped in providing guidance and preparing the girls with useful information for shaping their future." For many years, girls have been faced with discrimination, put down because of their physical appearances, challenged emotionally, and judged on their choices and opinions by society, Hummel said. "The 'Being a Girl' unit highlights the advantages of being a girl," sh

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois celebrated the outstanding volunteers and Girl Scouts who exemplify our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place at the first annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony. The ceremony was held on Sunday, May 15 at the DoubleTree Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Girl Scouts, volunteers, and their families from the 40-county jurisdiction gathered together to celebrate this year’s award recipients. “What a day to celebrate! Days like today make me very proud to be a Girl Scout,” said Loretta Graham, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. “These amazing volunteers and girls truly represent what Girl Scouting is all about – being a champion of girl ambition and making the world a better place,” Graham added. Seventeen Girl Scouts wer

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COLLINSVILLE - After a distinguished 20-year career in the energy sector and 45 years of business and civic leadership, Richard J. Mark, chairman and president, of Ameren Illinois, announced his intention to retire on Aug. 1, 2022. Upon reaching a final decision, Ameren leaders will announce Mark's successor. "Richard has been a difference-maker for our company, having served in leadership positions for both Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois," said Martin J. Lyons, Jr., president and chief executive officer, of Ameren Corporation. "He has always focused on doing what's best for our customers and I extend my gratitude for his many contributions to Ameren and our communities." Mark was promoted to president of Ameren Illinois in 2012 after 10 years in executive leadership for Ameren Missouri. Since joining Ameren Illinois, he has helped shape constructive regulatory policy that has modernized the energy sector in the state. Under his direction, Ameren Illinois has undertaken a transformative

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THE CONVERSATION - The Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1, and the Gulf of Mexico is already warmer than average . Even more worrying is a current of warm tropical water that is looping unusually far into the Gulf for this time of year, with the power to turn tropical storms into monster hurricanes. It’s called the Loop Current , and it’s the 800-pound gorilla of Gulf hurricane risks. When the Loop Current reaches this far north this early in the hurricane season – especially during what’s forecast to be a busy season – it can spell disaster for folks along the Northern Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida. If you look at temperature maps of the Gulf of Mexico, you can easily spot the Loop Current. It curls up through the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba, into the Gulf of Mexico, and then swings back out through the Florida Strait south of Florida as the Florida Current, where it becomes the main contributor to the Gulf Stream. The

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JERSEYVILLE – On May 24th, at 5 pm, the City of Jerseyville, in partnership with local community donors and the national consulting organization known as the National Fitness Campaign (NFC), will be unveiling the City’s new Fitness Court® at Jerseyville’s Lions Club Park. The construction of this recreational innovation has reached completion at the corner of North Jefferson and East Spruce streets, also known as Lion’s Club Park. This is a free-of-charge community resource featuring seven functional training zones as well as a supporting mobile app and will offer locals and visitors alike with a no-cost option to work on their health and wellbeing. The free app, “Fitness Court,” is available for both iOS and Android and affords users with a coachin-your-pocket style platform adaptable for all fitness levels. On this evening we invite the public to join the City Council, Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department, Representatives from Jersey

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ST. LOUIS — Baseball season is in full swing, and that means it’s once again time to roll up a sleeve to help save lives. Join the Cardinals, Bally Sports Midwest, and the American Red Cross at the 19th annual St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive June 14-16 at 22 locations in the St. Louis, Greater St. Louis, Metro East, and Southwestern Illinois areas. Everyone who attempts to donate will receive a limited-edition St. Louis Cardinals ‘Knock It Outta The Park’ T-shirt and bonus item while supplies last. The Cardinals Blood Drive always comes at a critical time of year. The last two years presented new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and over the last month presentation of donors has continued to decline. Those who have a desire to help save lives can step up to the plate and participate in this year’s event. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 16,500 blood donations have been collected at the Cardinals Blood Drive. This year our goal is to collect

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There has not been a confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District since 2015, with the previous administration never putting forward a nominee to fill this role. WASHINGTON – Tonight, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Rachelle L. Crowe to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on her confirmation: “We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Rachelle Crowe to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. After seven years without a confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, Ms. Crowe has the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to serve with distinction.” Ms. Crowe’s biography from the White House is included below: Rachelle L. Crowe: United States Attorney Nominee for the Southern District of Illinois Rachelle L. Crowe has served

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ALTON - Take in the breathtaking views from 150-feet high at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Dr., Hartford, which re-opens for the season Thursday, May 19. The Tower will be open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are available every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Tower will be open from May 19 through Oct. 30. It will reopen again for Eagle Season 2023 in January and February. The Confluence Tower is operating under a partnership between the Village of Hartford and the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower is a popular attraction for the Village of Hartford and it really welcomes people to the first part of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to Hartford and the Tower,” Hartford Mayor Bill Robertson said. The Confluence Tower was built to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of the historic

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SPRINGFIELD – The State of Illinois is taking a series of important steps to help families get the safe formula they need in response to the current, nationwide infant formula shortage. In coordination with the USDA Food & Nutrition Service, Illinois retailers are being encouraged to set aside formula for low-income families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has also trained caseworkers to assist families with formula questions IDHS Help Line at 1-800-843-6154. The Help Line is designed for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC customers primarily but is open to all residents of Illinois. “The ongoing formula shortage has brought undue stress into the lives of new parents, and my administration will do everything in our power to help families maintain access to formula,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’ve partnered

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BETHALTO - A new Scooter’s Coffee location is coming to Bethalto. Peter Gariepy, who co-owns the Bethalto location with his wife Karishma, said he hopes for construction to be complete in mid-July. The Bethalto Scooter’s location will be built on the former site of the Amoco gas station - its address will be 102 W Bethalto Drive once construction is completed later this summer. “This location was actually identified Scooter’s Corporate as a high-growth and very promising location. My wife and I, we live across the river … we had been working with Scooter’s and absolutely loved the concept and we wanted to work with them in the St. Louis area,” Gariepy said. “Scooter’s said, ‘Hey, there’s this location in Bethalto that we think will be absolutely perfect. It’s at a high-traffic intersection … and we think that you should check it out.’” At only 630 square feet, Gariepy said customers

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker signed HB4383 into law, banning the sale and possession of so-called ‘ghost guns’ statewide. ‘Ghost guns’ refer to unserialized, privately made firearms that are often sold as a set of parts to be assembled at home, allowing prohibited purchasers to circumvent background checks. Ghost guns cannot be traced by conventional means and can be created on a 3-D printer, leaving no record of their ownership. “The people creating, selling, and purchasing these firearms know that they’re working to circumvent common-sense gun laws that ensure guns stay out of the hands of traffickers, abusers, and convicted criminals,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We are seeing these unseralized guns being built in basements by those who should never have had access to such dangerous weapons and then used to commit heinous crimes, and it must be stopped to keep Illinoisans safe.” Illinois is a trailblazer the fight against ghost

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ALTON - Senior Services Plus will host a free health fair for senior citizens from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Senior Service Plus, located at 2603 N. Rodgers Ave. in Alton. Debbie Frakes of Senior Service Plus said there will be free health screenings and 40 vendors present. She said the Older Adults Health Council is coordinating the event. TRIAD, will also be present, with many other agencies. She said there will also be drawings for baskets and giveaways and those who want breakfast or lunch can get it in the Senior Service Plus grill. Seniors should leave with info on a wide variety of topics from the event. Those present can also tour the Wellness Center at the facility. Multiple health agencies will be in attendance. Frakes said those in addition to the health screenings and giveaways, seniors will be able to learn about health care, wellness, legal issues, and much more.

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ALTON - A new law aimed at improving the safety of transportation for foster children was signed into law on Friday. The legislation was sponsored by State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) on behalf of a local foster parent following concerns shared with her about the safety of children under the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). “I knew something had to be done when a constituent shared with me that foster children were either not being picked up on time or not being picked up at all by transportation providers,” said Rep. Elik. “Children under state care depend on transportation providers that will pick them up on time. There is no excuse for our youth in care to be left without a ride home.” Public Act 102-795 sponsored by Rep. Elik provides that transportation services to children and families must comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Drivers must submit to a fingerprint-based criminal

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MADISON COUNTY - Madison County Jail Officer Rhealyn Butler recently graduated from the St. Clair County Correctional Officer's Training Academy Class #120. Butler graduated with 33 other classmates from around the state of Illinois. Captain Kristopher Tharp and Captain Steve Ridings were present to celebrate her accomplishment with her friends and family. Officer Butler was also the recipient of the "Rangemaster's Award for Most Improved" for her hard work during the academy's firearms training. "We are proud of Jail Officer Butler and her accomplishments," Madison County Sheriff John Lakin said. "Congratulations to all of the graduates of Class #120."

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EDWARDSVILLE – As you travel through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Lovejoy Library, you will see that libraries are evolving to be utilized by students in new ways with technology, opportunities for greater collaboration and engagement, maker-spaces, and other possibilities. Library and Information Services (LIS) is advancing under the direction of Interim Dean Eric Ruckh, PhD, who brought his proven history of service and thoughtful leadership to the role on January 1. Lovejoy Library, in particular, is at the heart of the Edwardsville campus core, and is thriving as a central force in the University’s student engagement and success initiatives and academic excellence broadly. “Our faculty and staff of LIS have been working to envision how we can fully embody a 21st century library rooted in excellence, committed to equity, and dedicated to student success and learning,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD

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