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EAST ST. LOUIS – Armon R. Simpson, 18, and Jamariante N. Burgess, 19, both of East St. Louis, Illinois, have been charged by superseding indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking, Carjacking, and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Both men have been ordered detained pending trial. According to court documents, between July 12, 2021, and August 5, 2021, Simpson, Burgess, and others, conspired to commit armed carjackings, including three carjackings in the Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern District of Illinois. The final carjacking prior to their arrest occurred on August 5, 2021. Burgess and Simpson approached a vehicle in downtown Saint Louis, Missouri, displayed firearms at the passengers, and forcibly took their vehicle. Afterwards, they fled to East St. Louis, Illinois, where they shot a man walking in an apartment complex and then discarded the stolen vehicle. If convicted, Simpson and Burgess face up to 15 years imprisonment on the Carjacking charge

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Depression in young people is vastly undertreated. About two-thirds of depressed youth don’t receive any mental health care at all . Of those who do, a significant proportion rely on antidepressant medications. Since 2003, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that young people might experience suicidal thinking and behavior during the first months of treatment with antidepressants. The FDA issued this warning to urge clinicians to monitor suicidal thoughts at the start of treatment. These warnings appear everywhere: on TV and the internet, in print ads and news stories. The most strongly worded warnings appear in black boxes on medication containers themselves. We are professors and researchers at Harvard Medical School , the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and University at Buffalo. For over 30 years, we have been studying the intended and unintended effects of health policies on patient safety. We have found that FDA drug

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SPRINGFIELD – Today marks the three-year anniversary of the 2019 fatal shooting at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Illinois. Since this mass shooting, the Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to advance the cause of greater safety from gun violence on numerous fronts. ISP continues to close historical gaps in firearms-prohibiting records review and analysis. This includes nearly eliminating the long-standing backlog of potential firearms-prohibiting information from state and federal databases that could correlate with persons attempting to obtain firearms including criminal records and mental health records. Unanalyzed records have been reduced by 97% with ISP reviewing over 140,000 records in two years since 2019. In 2021 alone, the ISP thwarted over 25,000 attempts to illegally obtain a firearm – a record number. The ISP also revoked over 70% more FOID cards in 2021 than 2019, with 17,457 cards revoked in 2021. With the signing of bi-partisan gun safety legislation

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Melissa & Richard from Jerseyville Date Met/Started Dating: August 4, 2014 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to Carlinville and spent the weekend together. Date Married: August 4, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We enjoy spending time with our family, we love music, we own a DJ business together and we enjoy working side by side, we love going on vacation and planning float trips and being around our friends, but most of all just spending time together. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Never go to bed angry, always put yourself in the other person's shoes before you do something drastic that might affect your relationship, be faithful, kiss like teenagers, complement each other, and always remind your partner how much you love them and never stop slow dancing.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Josh & Ashley from Shipman Date Met/Started Dating: September 2, 2011 Briefly Describe First Date: Went out for dinner & drinks. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Family trips, camping, concerts, and breakfast dates. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship : There is no love without forgiveness & there's no forgiveness without love.

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Revenue today highlighted the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program which allows qualified seniors to defer all or part of their property taxes and special assessment payments on their principal residences. Seniors needing assistance paying their property taxes have until March 1st to apply for the program. The program, which works like a loan, allows qualified seniors to defer a maximum of $5,000 per tax year (including both first and second installment payments). Deferred amounts are borrowed from the State of Illinois, who pays the tax bill to the County Collector’s Office. Interest on the amount paid by the State accumulates and a lien is placed on the property for all deferred tax payments and interest, payable upon death of the homeowner, at the time the home is transferred to a new owner, or sooner, if the program participant chooses to pay off the deferred tax payments and interest. “I encourage all eligible

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ALTON - The Alton Community Service League, a nonprofit group focused on volunteerism, is now accepting grant applications from not-for-profit organizations interested in applying for monetary grants. Forms are available by contacting Carol Morris at cmorris191@sbcglobal.net , calling 530-2276 or 462-4063, or mailing your request to Alton Community Service League, P.O. Box 211, Alton, Il. 62002. Completed forms must be postmarked by March 14, 2022. Grant recipients will be announced in May. Alton Community Service League has raised funds for area beautification and non-profits for over 64 years. The ACSL was able to have their main fundraiser this year--Gift Wrapping at the Mall. A special thanks to all who supported us. The last fundraiser of the year is TJ’s Pizza. Contact any ACSL member if you would like to place an order. Anyone who would like to donate to the Alton Community Service League may do so at: Alton Community Service League, P.O. Box 211, Alton, IL. Available

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BETHALTO — 1st MidAmerica Credit Union is pleased to announce Julius Sims as the new Regional Manager. Sims comes to the credit union with over 15 years of experience in financial services. With his previous experience as a market manager, Sims will be an excellent addition to the operations team at 1st MidAmerica. Through the years, Sims has held both member-facing and back office positions at financial institutions that will lend him a unique perspective in his role. “I’m excited to get started at 1st MidAmerica. I’m looking forward to helping and coaching the leaders of the operations team,” Sims said. Sims resides in Florissant. He volunteers with the National Black MBA Association, with his church and other various organizations. 1st MidAmerica Credit Union has a mission of exceeding member expectations. Additional information can be found at www.1stMidAmerica.org .

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Lauren and Cazic from South Roxana Date Met/Started Dating: May 22, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: We hung out at his house and made food. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Going out to eat, gaming together, watching movies. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always communicate, even if you don’t know how always try your best at it. Don’t go to bed angry!

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EDWARDSVILLE - The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (NCERC at SIUE) recently welcomed two new Visiting Research Fellows: Blas Quiroga III and Krystin Polhemus. Funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the nine-month fellowship program is intended to provide training and hands-on experience to prepare the next generation of engineers and scientists for work in mid- to high-skill jobs in the bioeconomy. “NCERC is pleased to announce the hiring of Blas Quiroga III and Krystin Polhemus as NCERC’s newest Visiting Research Fellows,” said NCERC Executive Director John Caupert. “NCERC benefits greatly from mentoring recent college graduates who have specialized areas of study in biology, chemistry and engineering. NCERC extends a special thank you to the Illinois Corn Marketing Board for providing the funding necessary to conduct the fellowship program.” Quiroga, a graduate of Texas A&M University and Cleveland

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Terry and Lorna Laws from East Alton Date Met/Started Dating: January 1, 1985 Briefly Describe First Date: Dinner, drinks, and the rest is history. Date Married: February 4, 2001 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Spending time with our family and close friends. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: A good marriage is falling in love many times with the same person.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Donald and Doris Ferguson from Jerseyville Date Met/Started Dating: August 20, 2011 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to Wild Country. Date Married: December 30, 2011 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Playing Pokémon go and spending time with our kids and family. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication and listening to each other.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Jonathon & Tiffany White from Dow Date Met/Started Dating: March 14, 2008 Briefly Describe First Date: Our first date was at Applebees. Date Married: May 26, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We enjoy going to demo derby with our kids! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always be there for one another no matter what the situation might be.

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EDWARDSVILLE - With dedicated passion for developing children both emotionally and intellectually and for supporting parents and caregivers, the SIUE Early Childhood Center (ECC) has been recognized by the Illinois Head Start Association Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development with a $2,000 grant for its Parent Cafés. Parent Café workshops provide a safe space for parents and caregivers to talk about the challenges and victories of raising a family. The space is moderated by a parent specially trained to be the Parent Host. “Our work with children and families is grounded in our commitments to nurturing trusting relationships, and Parent Cafés foster our mission,” said ECC Director Rebecca Dabbs MacLean. “We are devoted to growing a deeply connected community that recognizes student potential and values parental and caregiver contributions.” “Parent Café workshops are especially valuable because they allow fo

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ITASCA – The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has teamed up with Donate Life Illinois – a coalition of Illinois organ, tissue, and eye donation and transplantation organizations – to encourage high school students to get educated about donation and “Say Yes” to joining the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry whether online or upon receiving their driver’s license at an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Service Facility. The “Say Yes” campaign launching on National Donor Day , February 14, marks the fifth annual partnership to raise awareness, encourage donor registration and celebrate Illinois student-athletes, their families, and communities for saying “yes” to organ, tissue, and eye donation. Programs at all 44 IHSA finals events in 2022 will promote “Say Yes” with information on how to register as an organ, tissue, and eye donor. Illinois donation officials, donor families, and transplant

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ST. LOUIS - City Museum is hosting an in-person Job Fair on February 18 - 21, 2022. The popular attraction also has been named a finalist in the USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Awards. JOB FAIR AT CITY MUSEUM Part-time and seasonal positions are available for floor staff, retail associates, facilities and groundskeepers, and members of the food and beverage team. Interested workers can apply line now at https://www.citymuseum.org/about-us/employment/ or in-person on Friday, February 18, Saturday, February 19, Sunday, February 20, or Monday, February 21 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Resumes are encouraged but not required. Weekend and evening availability is preferred. Wages begin at $12-13 per hour and applicants must be 16 years of age or older. The perks of working at the City Museum include a fun environment, free admission for employees and their friends and family, tickets to other attractions and events in St. Louis, monthly prizes, and free access to other Premiere Park

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GODFREY – Prospective students are invited to learn more about becoming a Trailblazer and experience campus during Lewis and Clark Community College’s Spring Discover Day, Monday, Feb. 21. Future Trailblazers will be able to speak with financial aid and academic advisors, tour campus, find info on the programs they’re interested in, and even experience a taste of student life with free food, fun and giveaways. “Discover Day is always a great experience, whether you’re thinking about attending college in the fall or even further down the line,” Recruiter Amy Bowling said. “It’s an excellent chance to gain a lot of valuable information about the benefits of attending Lewis and Clark and the enrollment and financial aid processes, wrapped in a fun and engaging campus event.” L&C Student Activities will provide the food and entertainment for the open-house style event. Guests are free to come and go as they please, but are encouraged

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois State Police (ISP) District 11 has announced a Trooper arrested Juan Martin Mercado, a 30-year old male from Peoria, IL who was wanted for questioning for Predatory Criminal Sexual Abuse involving a 14-year-old female and was also a suspect in a parental abduction of a five-year-old female. On February 12, 2022, ISP District 11 communications received a call from the Peoria Police Department about trying to locate a GMC Yukon that was driven by Mercado. At approximately 3:02 a.m., a District 11 Trooper observed a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle in question and conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 70 near Packers Avenue in St. Clair County. The driver, Juan Martin Mercado was taken into custody without incident and the five-year-old female was taken into protective custody. Mercado was transported to District 11 headquarters and custody was turned over to the Peoria Police Department. The juvenile is in the process of being reunited

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ALTON - Reggie and Teresa Pearson of Alton met on June 28, 2013, at a special place - the Alton Belle Casino. "He was sitting next to me asking me how to play games in the casino," Teresa said. "My answer was simple: put your money in and pull the handle." One thing led to another and a little over a year later, Reggie and Teresa were married on August 28, 2014. The Alton couple shares a lot of things in common starting with going to church. "We also love to travel and do some occasional gaming at the casinos," she said. A trip to a casino always sparks memories of how they met. Teresa shared advice on what it takes for a happy, healthy relationship for a couple: " Take time to listen to each other’s personal goals and also set couples' goals," she said. "Be kind to each other and all arguments are not fair; accept a critique and make it work."

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ALTON - Darin and Amy Withrow share a love of a show many couples seem to watch over and over - The Office re-runs. The Alton couple has been married since December 12, 2020. The two met on June 13, 2018. “He helped me move and then we got cheeseburgers at Mini Corral,” Amy said of their first date. “We both love playing Scrabble and watching re-runs of The Office. He is originally from Jerseyville and I am from Alton. We talk and laugh together often! Darin and I are very much in love. Every day with him is a dream come true, really.” When asked who their favorite Office show characters were, she said, “I know my favorite is Kevin Malone and his is Michael Scott. Every single episode of The Office is hilarious. There are so many quotable lines from the show.” Amy’s advice to other couples who want to be successful is to "talk and laugh together. Be quick to learn and slow to speak. Always be ready and willing to admit when you are wrong

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