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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Police (ISP) is in the process of awarding $1 million in grants to 32 local law enforcement agencies across Illinois to conduct firearm enforcement efforts to help keep firearms out of the hand of individuals who pose a significant threat to themselves or others. “While the Illinois State Police has had great success in reducing expressway shootings in the Chicago area compared to this time last year, we continue to face a gun violence epidemic in this country and we need every possible resource at our disposal to combat it,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These grants to local law enforcement agencies can help prevent a potential tragedy in our communities and I want to thank agencies across the state who have signed up to help with enforcement efforts.” In July, ISP offered grants to law enforcement agencies to conduct enforcement operations for individuals whose Firearm Owner Identification Card have been revoked or suspended

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ALTON - The Illinois Daughters of American Revolution Alton Ninian Edwards Chapter received some sensational news that they are chosen to represent the State of Illinois in the America 250 Quilt display. An announcement was made at the Illinois Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Conference that the Alton Ninian Edwards DAR Chapter's quilt block design was chosen. The embroidered quilt block was crafted by six members of the Alton DAR Chapter. It will be shipped to the NSDAR in Washington, D.C., and will be sewn into an America 250 Quilt with other state quilt blocks. The quilt block is bordered by the beautiful wildflowers of Illinois, in red, gold, and blue. Carol Borner, Regent Ninian Edwards, NSDAR Alton, said the quilt will travel the country to prepare for the America 250 Semiquicentennial Celebration that will take place in July 2026 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the country. Shown in the photo above is from the left, Debbie Killebrew,

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Friday, September 16, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Marvin Bailey, Jr., 22 years of age, of the 8800 block of Alva Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63121, for Burglary First Degree and Stealing $750 or More. A mugshot of Bailey is attached. Bailey is being held on $50,000 cash only, no 10% bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: On September 15, 2022, at 2:38 AM, the Defendant, acting with others, threw a rock through the window of Bloc Dispensary located at 2093 Smizer Station Road. They then entered and proceeded to steal hundreds of pieces of merchandise with an aggregate value over $750. Surveillance footage of the burglary shows that the thieves used a khaki brown Glock handgun with a light attachment as a flashlight during the burglary. The Defendant’s phone was

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EDWARDSVILLE – Nearly 300 third and fourth graders from nine area elementary schools gathered on the campus of Metro-East Lutheran High School this week for the annual MELHS Field Day. Metro-East Lutheran High School (MELHS) has hosted the annual Field Day event for third and fourth-grade students for many years, but due to the pandemic has not been able to hold the event for the past few years. “We were glad to be able to bring Field Day back this year,” said Dr. Jay Krause, principal of MELHS. “This event is just one more way we strive to be partners in education with the many high-quality elementary schools in the surrounding area.” During this year’s event, students competed in activities ranging from tug-of-war and relay races to basketball shootouts, jump rope contests and sack races. MELHS students volunteered their time to help make the event a success. Elementary schools from Edwardsville, Collinsville, Hamel, Prairietown, Bethalto,

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JERSEYVILLE - This year’s Gold Star Mothers & Family Ceremony is scheduled for 2-3 p.m. Sunday, September 25, on the grounds of the Jersey County Courthouse, located at 201 W. Pearl St. in Jerseyville. A Gold Star mother/family is one that has lost a son or daughter in active service to the U.S. Armed Forces, and the ceremony is meant to honor those lost loved ones. Teresa Molloy-Burkman, a Gold Star family member, said it’s always “heartwarming” to see the community show their support. “It’s very heartwarming to see the folks that turn out to honor the mothers and the families of our fallen. It’s a different sort of Mother’s Day … it’s just a way to let folks know that you haven’t forgotten,” she said. “It’s an honor, but it’s not one you wish on everybody. Nobody wants to be a Gold Star family member, that’s for sure. But it’s an honor to remember, and it’s very humbling

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WOOD RIVER - Paid-On-Call firefighter Jeremy Strohmeier has devoted a lot of his life to service in the Wood River community. The Wood River City Council on September 19 recognized Strohmeier as he plans to retire after 20 years of service to the department. Wood River Fire Department Chief Todd Stahlhut said: "We are forever grateful for the time Jeremy dedicated to the department and appreciate his efforts and commitment to the job! "A special thank you to Jeremy’s family for their support during the years. "We recognize their sacrifices and appreciate all you’ve done and allowed Jeremy to do." Chief Stahlhut closed by saying: "We greatly appreciate your time, commitment, and dedication to the city and hope you enjoy the extra time, job well done!"

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ALTON - Dick Bold, owner/operator of six local McDonald's stores located in Alton, Bethalto, Godfrey, Edwardsville, and Hamel was honored by the North Alton Godfrey Business Council Tuesday morning. He was awarded a commemorable plaque from the president of the NAGBC, Zeke Jabusch. The plaque reads: In recognition of the numerous contributions to consumers and community inspired activities in Alton, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Godfrey, and Hamel, we salute Dick Bold of the Bold Enterprises Inc dba McDonald's Restaurants. Born in Alton with residency in Bethalto, Wood River, and Edwardsville, Dick acquired his first McDonald's franchise in Bethalto in 1992 and now is the proud owner of five additional stores in the named communities. An inspiration to all who choose to work hard in their quest for success. Dick stands as a model of astute businessman, entrepreneur and a fine gentleman living by the guiding principle of "Always delivering more than expected, quality is the best business

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, September 27, at 4 p.m. at the James J. Greenwald Administration Building at 3200 Maryville Road in Granite City, Ill. Pursuant to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the Board of Education will immediately go into Closed Session for the purposes of conducting interviews for a Board Member vacancy. The regularly-scheduled Board Meeting will follow at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on the GCSD9 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GCSD9.net . For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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CHICAGO - As part of his continuing plan to carefully unwind the state’s COVID-19 executive orders, Governor Pritzker today updated testing requirements for school and childcare personnel, rescinding the requirement that unvaccinated employees in these sectors test twice weekly. This change goes into effect Friday and is made on the advice of medical experts, based on their careful consideration of the current conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and is in line with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance. “Vaccination continues to be the most effective tool we have against COVID-19, and I’m proud that millions of Illinoisans have taken advantage of these life-saving vaccines – they have given us the ability to adjust these requirements,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “I continue to urge everyone in the state to stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, including getting the recently released bivalent booster shot. Although the current state of the

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Note: Kateryna Savienkova is a Jersey Community High School senior and Future Leaders Exchange Program student from Ukraine. JERSEY COUNTY - Over the years, people from countries far from Ukraine have been treating it with a particular misconception, established by misleading news, articles, books, and political views. The point of this article is not to shame somebody for lack of knowledge or a different opinion but to tell the truth from the perspective of a Ukrainian. Here’s the list of mistakes that I’ve heard the most during my exchange year. 1. Ukraine has always been a part of Russia and got its independence only in 1991 No. The best way to prove this is to find a map of Europe in the 5-10th centuries. It can be seen that Kyivan Rus’ existed in its shape in the years 882-1240, separately from the Moscov Kingdom. Kyivan Rus’ is the Ukrainian oldest cultural ancestor, this state was almost twice as big as modern Ukraine and was ruled by Rurik Dynasty

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ALTON - For only the ninth time in its more than 100-year history, the Alton Godfrey Rotary Club has announced that it will honor a person with the Service Above Self Award this fall. The 2022 winner is a long-time community volunteer and current head of the Grandpa Gang, Dick Alford. The award will be presented at a dinner at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Alton. The Alton-Godfrey Rotary honor, named after legendary community leader Dr. Gordon Moore, incorporates the Rotary watchwords and is presented to a non-Rotarian who exemplifies the spirit of placing service to others over personal gain. This year’s winner, while presently serving as the head of the Grandpas Gang, the Christmas volunteer group that raises over $50,000 a year for various Riverbend charities, has a long history of service. Starting with his time in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart, to efforts in Haskell Park, the Alton Park Board, the American Legion, as

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WOOD RIVER - For St. Louis Metro residents, the long wait is nearly over for authentic New York-style boiled bagels at C and B Boiled Bagels, a new wholesale bakery and retail “Bagel Bar” based in the heart of Downtown Wood River with “Bagel Bar” locations in the works for St. Louis, MO. Opening on 62 E Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, Illinois, C and B Boiled Bagels will open its doors to the community in December of 2022, serving up exceptional Bagels, Schmears, and Bagel sandwiches as well as wholesale delivery to Local Cafes and Coffee shops throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Launching with the mission to deliver not only traditional NY Style Boiled Bagels but a myriad of composed cream cheese “schmears” C and B Boiled Bagels will also have over a dozen composed vegan Schmears from Plant Based Pantry available both on sandwiches and to go. But what also distinguishes C and B Boiled Bagels from other bagel bakeries is the ownership. Working

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CENTER SQUARE - A shortage of nurses has been developing in Illinois for many years and officials say things could get worse. The COVID-19 pandemic caused nurses to retire or leave the profession, but there were regional shortages before then, especially in downstate rural Illinois. According to the 2022 Trends in Nurse Staffing survey, more than 25% of respondents said they have more than 100 current openings for nursing positions. In 2019, only 9% reported over 100 openings. “Hospitals need cost-effective solutions to assist with the nursing shortage, including temporary and permanent recruitment, better and flexible shifts, and the increased usage of international nurses,” the report said. Susan Swart, executive director of the Illinois Nurses Foundation, said with fewer nursing students coming into the pipeline, the shortage will be compounding. “We are not producing enough nurses to fill the vacancies, so by 2025, the estimation is we are going to be short

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O'FALLON, IL. - September is Healthy Aging Month and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and HSHS Medical Group are recommending ways that you and your loved ones can age healthfully. The way our bodies and minds age is not always out of our hands. While we may not be able to completely control the physical environments that we live and work in, such as home, office, school, or the grocery store, we can still choose to engage in regular physical activity, healthy eating, and forming strong social connections, all of which can help us to age healthily. “As you age, it is important to be consistent with your checkups to minimize the number of hospital stays and admissions that you experience,” said HSHS Medical Group Family Nurse Practitioner Deanna Weinacht, APRN. “It can also assist in the early diagnosis of many chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.” Healthy aging is also about maintaining a healthy brain. According to th

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Blues Captain Ryan O’Reilly and Blues for Kids, the charitable trust of the St. Louis Blues, are seeking nominations for the 90’s Mighty RO’R program. The program, now in its fourth year, provides a memorable game experience to St. Louis area youth who display the core character traits of courage, compassion, leadership, perseverance, and respect and use them to make a positive impact in their family, school or community. “Growing up, my mom and dad instilled many great values in me and taught me the importance of being a positive influence on my environment and the people in my life,” said Blues Captain Ryan O’Reilly. “St. Louis is a great city with a bright future and this program helps to shine a light on the youth that are leading the way in our community.” A selection committee will review nominations and select one winner for every Blues home game. The winner will receive 4 game tickets, in-game recognition

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GLEN CARBON - September 24 marks the kick-off for Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ Nut, Candy, and Magazine (NCM) Program! Girl Scouts will be selling tasty treats and magazine subscriptions through October 23 rd . “As troops start their new Girl Scout year, the annual NCM Program is a great way for them to raise start-up funds,” said Katie Grayling, Director of Product Programs. “In addition to raising funds for their activities, girls also learn valuable life skills in the process,” Grayling added. Girls who participate in the NCM Program learn 5 life skills - goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics – while raising money for their Girl Scout adventures. Girl Scouts today dream big and want to make the world a better place. When you make a purchase from a Girl Scout, you are being a champion for girl ambition and helping her pursue her dreams. Customers will be able to select from usual favorites –

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WOOD RIVER – Today, Democratic Candidate for State Senate Kris Tharp (IL-56) announced the endorsements of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the Illinois Education Association (IEA). “Teachers dedicate their lives to our children, acting as role models and offering guidance, and we have a responsibility to fairly compensate them and equip them with the resources they need to shape our future generations,” said Tharp. “Teachers are the backbone of our communities, and as State Senator, I will always prioritize protecting their right to unionize and ensure safe and healthy learning environments.” “Kris Tharp is a dedicated public servant who understands the importance of education and the dedication of the teachers and staff who work in our schools,” said IFT President Dan Montgomery. “The IFT has endorsed Senator Tharp because we know he will be the advocate students and teachers need in Springfield.” “Senator

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Saturday, September 17, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Brandon Holbrook, 30 years of age, of the 3100 block of Nebraska Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri, 63118, for three counts of Statutory Rape Second Degree and six counts of Statutory Sodomy Second Degree. A Mugshot of Holbrook is attached. Holbrook is being held on $500,000 cash only, no 10% bond. Please note, that charges are merely an accusation, and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: On September 12, 2022, an investigation was initiated regarding an inappropriate relationship between the suspect, Brandon Holbrook, and the 14-year-old victim. Of note, the suspect was a substitute teacher at Bernard Elementary School when he initially encountered the victim. Through investigation, it is believed the suspect began grooming the victim through social media platforms on

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SPRINGFIELD — The NFIB Illinois PAC has endorsed Jennifer Korte in the 112th District Illinois House race. The political action committee is comprised exclusively of NFIB members. “Our members support candidates who support small business. Jennifer Korte has shown that she understands the challenges facing Illinois’ job creators,” said NFIB State Director Chris Davis. “Our members believe Jennifer Korte will work to create, protect, and maintain an environment where small businesses can thrive and create jobs.” The NFIB Illinois PAC’s endorsement is critical to Jennifer Korte’s campaign. Small-business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members, and acquaintances to go to the polls. The PAC’s support is based on Korte’s policy positions and record on small business issues. “Small business owners across Illinois are experiencing generational inflation,

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ALTON - A capacity crowd of cancer survivors, their family members and care teams filled the conference center at Lewis & Clark Community College on September 15 as OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center recognized and celebrated survivorship. The annual Cancer Survivors Celebration featured in-person testimonials from cancer survivors, as well as several heartfelt videotaped patient stories. Additional highlights of the evening included a musical performance by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, plus survivor recognition by years – from day old survivorship to 40+ years. Angie Halliday, nurse manager for the OSF Moeller Cancer Center, paid tribute to the survivors. “You are a cancer survivor from the day you are first diagnosed with cancer. Some of you are currently undergoing active treatments, some have recently finished treatment and some finished treatment many years ago. “No matter where you are in your journey, you are

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