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Couples names: Brendan Lee & Blake Eldon City: Cottage Hills Date met or started dating: August 14, 2021 What makes your relationship special? Our relationship is special because we are always open about our relationship. This lifts such a heavy weight off of our shoulders and lets us truly enjoy each other's true selves! Share a memory you have made together: We have many memories but one that sticks out to me is a vacation we were on in Punta Cana, this was an all-inclusive resort. The performers pulled the two of us on stage and had us dancing in front of everyone! We were careless and had the night of our lives. I wish I could relive this night over and over.

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Couples names: Larry Beneze & Jill Heinemeier City: Edwardsville Date met or started dating: Marc h 3, 2020 What makes your relationship special? We make the perfect couple. Share a memory you have made together: We went to Moonlight Beach California it was so amazing and beautiful.

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ALTON - With tourism on the rebound in southwest Illinois, it is now time for the region to shine in 2023, Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau announced at the bureau’s annual Tourism Summit held today at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Speaking to a sold-out venue of over 370 attendees, Jobe noted that while 2022 saw an increase in travelers and traveler spending in the region, the addition of new tourism products and strong destination marketing will be key to growth in 2023. The Bureau also presented a series of awards to businesses in Collinsville, Edwardsville, Alton and Grafton as well as former State Senator Rachelle Crowe and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Why does tourism matter?” Jobe said during his presentation. “Our regional economy depends on tourism – it means thousands of jobs for our residents, millions in economic activity for businesses and millions more in local taxes to our communities.

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ALTON - Alton Memorial Hospital, a member of the Siteman Cancer Network, will have its next free monthly skin cancer screenings from 4-5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. The screenings are by appointment only in Suite 101 of Medical Office Building A on the AMH campus. Call 618-463-7220 or visit www.altonmemorialhospital.org, then go to Classes & Events to register. The skin screenings the rest of 2023 (fourth Tuesday of each month through October), will be from 4-6 p.m. This one only will end at 5:15. Because of physical distancing, a limited amount of people will be allowed inside the office at one time. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment and do not bring another person with you unless it’s necessary. Being proactive is the one step to early detection. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. People with fair skin, light-colored hair, green or blue eyes, and people who freckle easily are at the greatest risk. Excessive sun exposure, blistering burns before

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New research from Penn State University suggests simply asking young people about suicide increases the chance they will get connected with mental health services. The research underscores the need for everyone to watch out for their loved ones' mental health. Health care providers, too, continue to try to chip away at the mental health crisis across the country. And the numbers drive home the point: The National Institute of Mental Health says nearly one in five adults suffers from a mental illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was the 10 th -leading cause of death among all Americans. The CDC says in 2020, someone took their own life about once every 11 minutes on average. The suicide lifeline says for every one person who dies by suicide each year, 316 people seriously consider it. The lifeline has fielded more than 20 million

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ALTON - Ameresco, Inc. recently announced its partnership with the City of Alton, Illinois to develop and install a 5 megawatt AC (MWAC)/7 megawatt DC (MWDC) solar array on the site of a local closed municipal landfill in Alton. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed by the end of this year. The solar installation is designed to deliver approximately $1 million in revenue to the City of Alton and surrounding local businesses over the course of its lifetime. Within the first year, the project is expected to generate approximately 10,000 MWh of electricity, reducing Alton’s carbon footprint by over 7,000 tons. “Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming, directly impacting communities through adverse weather events – including the increased flooding we’ve experienced here in Alton,” said Alton Mayor David Goins. “Though global warming is a worldwide problem, this project will benefit our city through local job

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Letter To The Editor: A good philosophy to have for your life is to use whatever gifts you have received to serve others. Many times people equate a phrase like that to mean sharing their material wealth or possessions. The famous artist Pablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” I would encourage you to look into sharing your time and talents to help others. Think of using your talents as a way to focus on using your strengths rather than focusing on your weaknesses. Studies have shown remarkable improvement in people’s quality of life when they utilize their strengths/talents for a good cause. Those improvements include a boost in self-confidence, increased energy, and overall improved health and wellness. This can sound too good to be true, but sharing our time and talents with other people can create more lasting life fulfillment. It is actually a win-win situation. We get to exercise our talent

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), and Tom Cole (R-OK-04) to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars, and reassert Congress’ Constitutional role in deciding whether and when to send our service members into harm’s way. This bill would also enhance the relationship the United States now has with a sovereign, democratic Iraq. “The Constitution is clear – only the U.S. Congress has the power to declare war. But for too long, Congress has refused to take this charge seriously,” said Durbin. “Presidents of both parties have taken advantage of outdated AUMFs to justify military action without congressional

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST), participated in her first CST hearing as Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation today and questioned Southwest Airlines and other industry executives on the failures of the airline during the 2022 holiday travel season. She called out Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines, for the company’s lack of transparency, the unacceptable wait times that customers were forced to experience and its refusal to heed warnings that could have helped prevent this meltdown before it ever happened. You can find Duckworth’s opening remarks here and her witness question line here . In her opening remarks as Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, Duckworth said: “We must crack down on carriers that have gotten away with predatory practices that treat customers like suckers and view passengers

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today voted to condemn the Chinese Communist Party for violating U.S. sovereignty with their spy balloon last week. The resolution passed the House unanimously. “Last Friday, I stood in my front yard infuriated, watching the Chinese Communist Party’s spy balloon cross the sky above Southern Illinois,” said Bost. “I am proud that the Republican-led Congress stood strong and voted unanimously today to denounce this blatant violation of our airspace and national sovereignty. It was a remarkable contrast to President Biden’s State of the Union Address, where he buried a brief, one-minute reference to China nearly an hour into his speech. The president needs to wake up and understand the Chinese Communist Party is the greatest threat our nation faces; and due to his weak leadership, this enemy expects to face zero consequences for its actions.”

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Family-owned Smart Owl Coffee, launched two years ago from Springfield and took the local coffee scene by storm. Now, the company, offering supplement-infused organic coffee designed by doctors and backed by science, has created a liquid mushroom extract to add to your cup of Joe. Why? Because the mushrooms in Smart OWLChemy Red Drops offer health benefits, including immune system support, heart health, blood sugar control, gut health, brain/mood health, and more. “Mushrooms offer so many health benefits,” said Smart Owl Coffee co-owner and face of the company, Faith Valenti. “While we still have a lot to learn, scientific researchers have proven that the six mushrooms in our Red Drops can help provide tangible health benefits.” Consuming the concentrated liquid-based extract of the fruiting bodies of mushrooms is a great way to amplify the benefits. The mushrooms contained in Smart OWLChemy Red Drops include: Agaricus - native to Brazil,

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide in the area of Ashbrook Drive and Golden Drive in the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors which resulted in the death of an adult male. The deceased has been identified as Ian Hayes, 20 years of age, of the 5900 block of Sir Edward Court in Florissant, Missouri 63033. On February 9, 2023, at 12:09 AM, City of Bellefontaine Neighbors police officers responded to a call for service for shots fired in the area of Ashbrook Drive and Golden Drive. Officers located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside a vehicle. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. City of Bellefontaine Neighbors police officers requested St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons Detectives lead the investigation. The investigation is active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police

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GLEN CARBON - The new Chick-fil-A in Glen Carbon opened its doors to a large group at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Vehicles were already lined up ready to be the first customers in the drive-thru and a pair of people were the first at the door to enter the restaurant. The new restaurant is located at 2319 Edwardsville Road, Glen Carbon. Tamara was one of the first to visit the new location and said she was "excited" that she would be one of the first 100 customers and receive a prize and also thankful to be able to have a Chick-fil-A breakfast. "I like their breakfast and am going to have a breakfast biscuit this morning," Tamara said. The new Chick-fil-A hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, closed Wednesday, and open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Friday, February 3, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Antjuan Potts, 26 years of age, of the 1600 block of Oliveto Lane in Hazelwood, Missouri 63042, for two counts of Statutory Rape Second Degree, two counts of Statutory Sodomy Second Degree, and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. A booking photo of Potts is attached. Potts is being held on $500,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. The probable cause statement says between August 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020, one of the incidents occurred with a victim less than 17 years old. Between Jan. 1, 2020, and June 23, 2022, the second incident occurred with a victim less than 17 years old. The defendant filmed one of the situations, police said. St. Louis County Police investigators said they believe there are additional victims of the defendant. If you have information, please contact St. Louis County Police detectives at 314-615-5400. To remain anonymous o

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Metro East Mayhem Youth Rugby Program is returning for 2023 and will meet for both contact and non-contact sessions for the fall and spring. Non-contact sessions will be held for boys and girls ages 6-10, and contact sessions will be held for ages 10-13. The program will meet on Sundays from March 26 to May 7 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. All sessions will be held on the grass fields of Plummer Family Park, located at 3501 Sports Park Drive in Edwardsville. Head Coach Nick Pierce-Cramer said kids do not need to be Edwardsville residents to participate - the program will accept kids from all over the Metro East. “Part of our goal is to really expand rugby in the Metro East, so we currently have kids from Belleville, Carlinville, and just around the area,” he said. The cost to sign up for contact rugby is $75 per player, or $40 per player for non-contact rugby. Those interested can register online at this link , under “Youth Sports,” then

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EDWARDSVILLE - While the totality of the reported labor shortage is vast and complex – only 5.7 million unemployed Americans to fill 10 million open positions – a number of factors point to in-home care professionals for older adults as both essential to the needs of the skyrocketing aging population and as a potential solution to help ease the workforce strain in other sectors. Home Instead®, the leading provider of in-home care for older adults, is appealing to America’s workforce to consider a career in caregiving. With a current workforce of 65,000 Care Pros, Home Instead franchises across 50 states and Canada hope to hire more than 25,000 care professionals in 2023. To help solve the need for care professionals locally, Home Instead is hosting hiring open houses to fill more than 50 permanent part-time and full-time in-home care professional positions in the Metro East area. Tuesday, February 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Edwardsville Home

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HARDIN - At 10:28 p.m. on February 2, 2023, 2023, a deputy with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Illinois Route 96 in Mozier, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation, the driver, Johnny L. Chapman, age 38, of Louisiana, Mo., was arrested for the following offenses: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving While License Suspended, Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle. Additionally, a passenger, Maureessa D. Addington, age 31, of St. Paul, Virginia was arrested for the following offenses: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. Chapman was arrested without incident and lodged at the Pike County Jail. Addington was arrested without incident and lodged at the Jersey County Jail. Retherford Is Arrested In Carrollton For Calhoun Warrant At 11:51 p.m. on February 6, 2023, Kara R. Retherford, age 43, of Carrolton, Illinois was arrested by Law Enforcement Officials fro

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ALTON - The Illinois Department of Transportation announces intermittent daytime lane closures in both directions of IL 143, (the Berm Highway) between the Clark Bridge and IL 3 beginning on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, weather permitting. A minimum of one lane in each direction will remain open throughout all work on the project. This project is needed carry out guardrail replacement. Work at this location is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2023. 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 Lovewell Fencing, Inc. of Davenport, IA. 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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SPRINGFIELD – This Super Bowl Sunday, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and numerous local police and sheriff’s departments across the state are taking a timeout to spread two very important safety messages to the public – “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket.” “Before your party or the game starts, designate a sober driver or make other arrangements for a safe ride so that you, your passengers and everyone on the roads can return home safely,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Impaired driving is always preventable by simply choosing the right play ahead of time or calling an audible and handing off your keys.” If you’re driving this weekend, safety should be your No. 1 priority. When it’s time to leave the party, make sure your designated driver is sober. Remember that walking impaired also can be dangerous,

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - February 1 kicked off the first day of the second-annual 'Love Illinois Local' campaign to highlight the need for the continued support of local independent businesses across the state. With 200-plus businesses and causes involved, the statewide membership encourages the public to shop locally during the tough months for small businesses. “Now is the time that local independent businesses can suffer,” said Illinois Local co-founder Gemma Long. “So, last year, we launched the first Love Illinois Local campaign, which runs February 1-14 and features a member and their business every day in an effort to remind communities to support local.” This year, members featured include, Smart Owl Coffee, Bailey Family Insurance, Jewelry by Rachel Lauer Thomas, FindingFlowerChild, Little Lincoln’s Toy Store, Lillian Geneva Boutique, The Strawberry Finch, Bobby Shaw Building and Remodeling, Luminary Counseling and Solutions, Rose Aesthetic & Wellness

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