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ALTON - Reese Plont, a senior outside hitter for the Alton High School girls' volleyball team, has provided much leadership and encouragement to her teammates this season, in which the Redbirds are currently 11-13-1 after Alton's loss to the Tigers 25-17, 25-10 in a Southwestern Conference match played Oct. 11 at Lucco-Jackson Gym. Plont has been one of the team's statistical leaders this season, serving up 82 points and 20 aces, also having 134 kills with 19 blocks, 21 assists and 229 digs as the season goes into the final two weeks before the IHSA Class 4A playoffs start later this month. For her efforts both on and off the court, Plont has been selected as the school's Riverbender.com Auto Butler female Athlete of the Month for October, 2022. Plont, who plays for head coach Dan Carter, felt that her team did have some good moments and worked well together as a team, but were missing some key parts due to injury and with another player on a college visit. I think we worked well

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EDWARDSVILLE - The famed Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make its way back to Illinois from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, at the Leclaire Parkfest in Edwardsville. The Wienermobile was at the Edwardsville and Godfrey Schnucks stores this week and at each location attracted a large crowd. A fleet of motor vehicles shaped like a hot dog on a bun, called "Wienermobile," is used to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products in the United States. The first Wienermobile was created by Oscar Mayer's nephew, Carl G. Mayer, in 1936. Donations were being accepted for the United Way however it is completely free to go and get a picture with the Wienermobile.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The new Metro East Mega Storage at 5222 Chain of Rocks Road, Edwardsville, has opened a new business that will cater to large vehicles and larger items in general with covered parking. A ribbon cutting was held by the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce at the Metro East Mega Storage facility this week. Kim Bridges, one of the owners, said her company has been in the mini-storage business for 23 years. “We will also have covered parking and units up to 14 x 50 for larger storage needs,” she said at the ribbon cutting. “We are very excited to offer this type of facility for the region. We have had strong support from Glen Carbon and Edwardsville.” The new business offers climate control, an onsite manager, a security camera, drive-up access, parking, a gate and RV parking. For more information, call (618) 205-8335 or visit metroeastministorage.com .

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Name: John W. Kirkman Jr. Hometown: Mt. Carmel Years of Service: 1941-1945 KIA: No Branch: Army and Airforce Rank: Sergeant Wars: World War II Message: Aircraft repair and maintenance Submitter's Name: Nancy Elson

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Name: Danielle Stacy Hometown: Bethalto Years of Service: 2006-2011 KIA: No Branch: US Marines Rank: Sergeant Wars: Afganistan Conflict Message: Thank you for your service Submitter's Name: Selena Eads

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Name: Jon Chester Hometown: Godfrey Years of Service: 2001-2006 KIA: No Branch: US Marines Rank: Staff Sergeant Wars: Iraq Conclift Message: Thank you for your service Submitter's Name: Selena Eads

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URBANA, IL. — For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Illinois Foundation reports new business topping $400 million. That figure and other Fiscal Year 2022 data from the Foundation and the University of Illinois System were announced today at the 87th Annual Business Meeting of the University of Illinois Foundation, an event that shares and celebrates the impact of private support for the U of I System. The Foundation posted $371.5 million for cash* gifts and $467.7 million for new business** in FY22—the fifth year running new business exceeded $400 million. This year’s new business figure is the second highest in history, second only to 2018 which recorded $498.5 million. Alumni and friends contributed $257.5 million of the new business total, illustrating their continued commitment and unwavering support for the University of Illinois. The largest percentage of cash gifts reported in FY22—74 percent or $275 million—was designated

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CHICAGO - Illinois Lottery players have two chances to become a mega-millionaire this weekend as the multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball, approach a combined jackpot of $1 billion. The Mega Millions jackpot for tonight’s drawing now stands at $494 million- the second-largest jackpot of 2022, while the Powerball jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing is an estimated $454 million - the game’s largest since April 2022. Just two months ago, a $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot, which marked the third largest lottery prize in U.S. history, was won with a single ticket purchased at the Speedway gas station in Des Plaines. In addition to the historic billion-dollar jackpot, four other Illinois residents have won prizes of $1 million or more with Mega Millions and five players have won prizes of $1 million or more with Powerball so far this year. In total, Mega Millions and Powerball players have purchased over 4.5 million winning tickets and won nearly

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CHICAGO – The Illinois State Police (ISP) joins law enforcement agencies across the nation in the campaign to recognize October 15, 2022 as “Slow Down, Move Over Day.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a proclamation designating October 15, 2022 as Move Over Day in Illinois, which aligns Illinois’ law designed to promote safe driving behavior and encourage motorists to move over for all vehicles stopped on the side of the roadway. “This ‘Slow Down, Move Over Day,’ I am thinking about emergency responders, like Chicago Firefighter Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who lost their lives while saving others,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These deaths are as tragic as they are preventable. And this day—and every day—I remind the great people of Illinois to support our first responders and our fellow motorists by slowing down and moving over.” ISP is committed to reducing traffic crash fatalities and limiting the risk of

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WASHINGTON, DC — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) met this week with Ukrainian Soldier Oleksandr Chaika, who is receiving care at Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics (MCOP) in Silver Spring, Maryland. Duckworth and Van Hollen toured MCOP, met with Oleksandr and highlighted the continued need for U.S. support for the people of Ukraine. Photos from the meeting are available here . Oleksandr, a Ukrainian athlete, choreographer, acrobatics coach and teacher, joined the Ukrainian military shortly after Putin began his unjustifiable war on Ukraine. Oleksandr was deployed to the Luhansk region where he lost his leg to an explosive. Oleksandr has now received a prosthetic leg as part of MCOP’s Operation Renew to serve Ukrainian military personnel. “It was an honor to meet with Oleksandr—not just to be able to thank him for his sacrifices during Putin’s unjustifiable war, but also to speak

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ALTON - At 3:49 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2022, officers from the Alton Police Department responded to the 800 block of East 7th Street and contacted Catherine L. Wisniewski. Officers found that Wisniewski had an active warrant for her arrest for Unlawful Failure to Register as a Sex Offender through the Madison County Sheriff’s Office from 2019. Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said the further investigation by the Alton Police Department revealed that Wisniewski was residing in the 800 block of East 7th Street, Alton, Illinois, without registering this address since the middle part of 2020. Wisniewski was taken into custody and held at the Alton City Jail. On October 11, 2022, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Wisniewski with Unlawful Failure to Register as a Sex Offender (2nd Subsequent Offense). Bail for Wisniewski was set at $30,000. “This investigation began with a tip from the public," Deputy Chief Ford said. "The Alton Police Department

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives and the Accident Reconstruction Unit are investigating a fatal motor crash in the 9800 block of Halls Ferry Road which resulted in the death of an adult female. On October 13, 2022, at 12:20 PM, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a motor vehicle accident in the 9800 block of Halls Ferry Road. Arriving officers located two motor vehicles involved in a motor vehicle crash. Preliminary investigation revealed a gold-colored Chevrolet Cavalier was traveling southbound on Halls Ferry Road and was attempting to turn left into a parking lot near the intersection of Halls Ferry and St. Cyr, when it was struck on the passenger side by a gray-colored Toyota Camry traveling northbound. The Chevrolet Cavalier was occupied by the driver only. The Toyota Camry was occupied by the driver and two passengers. The driver and passengers suffered minor injuries.

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ALTON - Alton City Council approved a sign honoring Bishop Samuel E. White on 13th Street at Wednesday night’s meeting. The sign ordinance had passed through the Alton Committee of the Whole on Monday night. White has marked 48 years with Monroe Memorial Church in Alton. The street sign ordinance was adopted by a unanimous 7-0 vote. Alton Mayor David Goins also read a proclamation that detailed many of Samuel E. White’s major accomplishments, and awards during his career with Lewis and Clark Community College and as pastor at Monroe Memorial. The proclamation and street name are positive reflections of his life in honor of his 76th birthday, the mayor said. White is known for his time as a student mentor, helping found the Urban League and Coalition Of Concerned Citizens Of Madison County, and for many contributions to the community. The mayor also read a proclamation to Beverly Farm for their years of devotion and care for adults with developmental disabilities. He said

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - The 30th Annual Leclaire Parkfest will be held Sunday, October 16, from noon to 5 p.m. at Leclaire Park in Edwardsville, Illinois. The annual festival, a celebration of the Leclaire National Historic District, is a long-standing fall tradition. The festival will kick off this year with music by the Gaslight Squares, a St. Louis band with a special blend of Ragtime and Jazz. New this year is a 1920s-themed children’s parade. Participating children are asked to wear costumes or carry homemade signs to portray a 1920s-era Carrie Nation, a flapper, or a Gatsby character. They might also portray an activist marching for the woman’s right to vote. The parade begins at the corner of Hale Avenue and Lake Drive at noon and will circle the entire park. Trolley tours of the historic district will be back with tickets sold from the Friends of Leclaire booth for $1 (children) and $1.50 (adults). Due to COVID, walking tours were substituted for the trolley last year.

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Name: Steven Kapcoe Hometown: Monroe, Michigan Years of Service: 1990-2016 KIA: No Branch: Army Rank: Captain Wars: Afganistan Medals/Honors Earned: - Bronze star - Meritorious service medal - Army commendation x3 - Defense achievement medal - Army achievement medal - Good conduct medal - Nations defense service medal w/star - NATO service - Afghan service with 3 stars - Military outstanding volunteer service medal - Army service ribbon - Overseas service ribbon x 2 - Global war on terror service medal - Joint meritorious unit medal x 2 - Meritorious unit medal Message: The kids and I are so very proud of your years of service. Submitter's Name: Mary Kapcoe

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ALTON - Alton High School freshman Stella Cowan received some big news this week when she learned she was the winner of the Alton Halloween Parade Poster Contest. She was selected out of numerous entries. Stella said she was really surprised by the announcement. “I was shocked,” she said. “There were some good entries, so I was really proud to win.” The Alton freshman student said she has always loved art. “My grandpa - William Cowan - is an amazing artist. He inspired me to become an artist. We have a special relationship through art," she said. "He likes to use a lot of different mediums. He is doing a lot of watercolor painting right now.” Lexi Browning, Stella’s Alton High art teacher, said she thinks Stella is “amazing.” “I am very proud of the fact that she is a freshman and she took the project so seriously and worked so hard,” Browning said. “She is very creative and intelligent. Stella is so pleased

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Name: David Eckhouse Hometown: Rosewood Heights Years of Service: 1966-1968 KIA: No Branch: Army Rank: Spec 4 Wars: Vietnam Medals/Honors Earned: Purple Heart, CIB, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal Submitter's Name: Mary Eckhouse

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Name: Michael R. Morrow Hometown: Grafton Years of Service: 1971-2004 KIA: No Branch: Army Rank Colonel Wars: Desert Storm and War on Terror Medals/Honors Earned: Joint Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters (6 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Good Conduct, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Campaign and Service ribbons and the Parachutists and Ranger badges.

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Name: William Clinton Hargrave Hometown: Edwardsville Years of Service: 1967-1969 KIA: No Branch: Marines Rank: CPL Wars: Vietnam Submitted By: Beth Hargrave

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ST. LOUIS - Six local craft breweries in southwest Illinois are collaborating on a week of fun and beer during the Great Rivers & Routes Craft Beer Week Oct. 15-22. Kicking off the week of beer celebrations is the Craft Brew Fest at Old Herald Square in Collinsville Saturday, Oct. 15. Sample more than 40 different beers, coffee from local roasters, enjoy live music and shop vendors during the fest which runs from Noon to 4 p.m. Tickets for the Craft Brew Fest are $30 for beer and coffee samples, $10 for coffee samples only and admission is free for all designated drivers. Tickets can be purchased here . Then, throughout the week visit the participating breweries and enjoy Keep the Glass specials and craft brews from master brewers. “Craft beer is a big deal in southwest Illinois and for the last five years we have celebrated our local brewers with Craft Beer Week,” Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau said. “This year the brewers

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