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OTTERVILLE - By day, Maggie Bick is a Jerseyville West Elementary School teacher, but in her free time, she loves spending time doing outdoor activities on a family farm - recently, she and her daughter Olivia had a mushroom hunt to remember. Some of the Morrell mushrooms found on that day are showcased above, held by Maggie and her daughter on their farm in Otterville. Maggie said they ended up discovering 42 total mushrooms in the one particular day of hunting. To make the day even more special, it was Olivia's first time mushroom hunting at the age of 3 years old. Maggie said her daughter could barely contain her excitement when she found the huge mushroom. "One of the mushrooms weighed 7.5 ounces. We have never found any this big," she said. "We found most of these next to an Elm tree that was dying. We found a whole hill just covered by mushrooms. Four or five years ago, we found a great batch, but nothing like this. We were really excited to prepare them and eat them." Morel

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WOOD RIVER - During a heated Public Comment portion of the last Wood River City Council meeting , residents heavily criticized three councilmen - Jeremy Plank and newly-elected David Ayres and Bill Dettmers - for their behavior and obstruction of Mayor Tom Stalcup’s appointments at the last meeting. Pastor Dave Landry, who ran for City Council last election, referred to the councilmen as “The Angry Three.” “It’s time to stand up to these bully tactics of Jeremy, Dave, and Bill, and take our city back from outsiders who never grew up in Wood River and have no interest in Wood River’s success,” Landry said. “I’m not scared of bullies. I’m not scared of your money, I’m not scared of your tactics, I’m not scared of the anger that you stir up. “‘The Angry Three’ have no clue and haven’t even asked what great things are being developed in Wood River - only their own personal agenda …

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ALTON - A vibrant and courageous little girl named Maelani has captured the hearts of the Alton community. At just five years old, Maelani's life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with stage 4 Ganglioneuroblastoma on March 8, 2023. The "Benefit for Mighty Mae" hopes to make a difference, providing Maelani with the support and resources she needs to overcome her battle with cancer and shine brighter than ever before. Mae's diagnosis sent shockwaves through her family, but amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope emerged. Many locals are familiar with Maelani's devoted mother, Kennedy Barnett, who is known for her warm heart and infectious smile. Kennedy, who works at Sonny's Main Street in Brighton and Josephine's Tea Room in Godfrey, had to put her work on hold to be by her daughter's side during this trying time. To support the family during this challenging journey, a benefit is being organized in Maelani's honor. At noon on Saturday, June 10, 2023, the community will

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WOOD RIVER - Some members of the Wood River City Council have responded to public comments criticizing them at their meeting last Monday. The councilmen were accused of being “outsiders” stopping the city’s success and much more, but claim these and other comments were not exactly true. Pastor Dave Landry referred to councilmen Bill Dettmers, David Ayres, and Jeremy Plank as “outsiders who never grew up in Wood River and have no interest in Wood River’s success.” Councilman Jeremy Plank said that in his case, that is only partially true. “I’ve lived here since 2005 - I did not grow up here, that is true, but I’ve had a long footprint in Wood River and want to respect all opinions in the community, but certainly that does not negate my ability to make effective decisions for our voters.” Councilman Bill Dettmers said he’s also lived in Wood River since 2005, but his wife was born and raised there, he has several

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O'FALLON - Since 1978 Andria’s Steakhouse-O’Fallon, Illinois has touched many lives - from patrons dining at the establishment to employees building roots within their community. Each year members of Andria’s staff take off to spread their wings onto their next adventure after graduating high school. Not only do these graduates leave a mark on the establishment during their time working, but Andria’s has also given them the opportunity to extend their roots in the community. “Before working at Andria’s, I did not realize how many people that I personally knew would be dining at my tables. I have lived in O’Fallon for most of my life, and being at Andria’s has made me realize how connected I am with my community. Having a job here has shown me that the residents of O’Fallon are my family, and I will be leaving many of the people that have made me the person I am today,” says Jackson Glover, busser with Andria’s. “Jackson’s

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ULLIN – The Illinois State Police arrested 42-year-old Samuel L. Lewis from Cairo, IL, on charges approved by the Alexander County State’s Attorney’s Office (ACSO) for First Degree Murder (Class X Felony). On May 9, 2023, at approximately 11:58 p.m., the Illinois State Police (ISP), Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 7 was requested by the Cairo Police Department to investigate a shooting which occurred on the 2400 block of Sycamore Street in Cairo, IL. Lafayette D. Woods, a 34-year-old male from Cairo, IL, was pronounced deceased as a result of the shooting. On May 16, 2023, following a thorough investigation, Samuel Lewis was arrested on First Degree Murder charges by ISP DCI Zone 7, with the assistance of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Department, and the Cairo Police Department. Lewis is currently in custody at the Tri-County Detention Center in Pulaski County on a $2,000,000 bond warrant. If you have any information on the events that

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GRAFTON - Aerie's Resort is proud to announce that they are now offering online bookings for all of their attractions. This exciting news means that families looking for summer fun can easily plan their visit to the Midwest's best resort with just a few clicks of a button. Aerie’s opened Illinois’ first Zipline Canopy Tour in 2012, and the Grafton SkyTour aerial lift has been wowing visitors with incredible views since 2019. In the fall of 2022, we opened the first Alpine Coaster in the state, and more exciting attractions are on the way. Now, with the convenience of online booking, guests can reserve their spot at any of these amazing attractions with ease via smartphone, laptop, or any internet-connected device. The online booking process is simple and user-friendly. Customers can easily navigate the Aerie's Resort website and select their desired attraction, date, and time. Once their booking is confirmed, they can sit back and relax, knowing that their adventure at

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CHICAGO – Ameren Illinois’ proposed four-year electric rate hike should be slashed by at least $492 million, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) announced Monday, citing expert testimony it filed. "While a utility has to maintain its system, Ameren should not get a blank check,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. "Our expert witnesses combed through Ameren’s rate-hike proposal and cut out the fat, including an excessive profit rate for shareholders. We are hoping other parties will be able to recommend further reductions.” Ameren customers can visit CUBHelpCenter.com to sign a petition to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) against the proposed increase. On January 20, Ameren Illinois filed for a four-year, $1.3 billion rate hike with the ICC. For a customer who uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually (or about 833 kWh a month), the hike would increase Ameren delivery rates by an average of roughly $6.27 a month eac

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College held its inaugural State of Trailblazer Nation event Monday, May 15, closing the 2022-2023 academic year on a high note. Sessions were held at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – the former being an internal event for L&C team members, and the latter for the general community. Both comprised comments from President Ken Trzaska, and leaders from mover teams representing the four key directions (KD) of the college’s strategic plan. "The college first started this journey in early Spring 2021 with an internal survey to team members about what efforts we should start, stop and continue as an institution,” he said. “The outcomes of that initial feedback eventually became these four key directions.” KD1: Expect Enrollment and Retention Improvements KD2: Invest in Program and Curriculum Development KD3: Build a Transparent and Inclusive Campus Culture KD4: Broaden Community and Educational Collaboration

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt is pushing for tax credits for electric vehicle manufacturers as part of the General Assembly’s final revenue package. This will incentivize electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy investments in Illinois and will pave the way for significant economic growth and a cleaner, more sustainable future for the state. “Tax credits for electric vehicle and renewable energy manufacturers will result in economic prosperity in our state,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “In addition, this will send a clear message that Illinois is open for a favorable business environment and committed to sustainable innovation.” Senate Bill 2576 would establish tax credits, known as Renewable Energy Vehicle credits, for qualifying electric vehicle and renewable energy manufactures that make substantial investments in capital improvements and maintain a strong workforce. To qualify, businesses must invest a minimum of $500 million

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PONTOON BEACH - As weather heats up and schools begin releasing for the summer, Madison County Transit (MCT) is pleased to once again offer Madison County students ages 18 and under free rides on all MCT public buses with the 2023 MCT Summer Youth Pass. The MCT Summer Youth Pass is valid from Memorial Day to Labor Day and allows students in kindergarten through 12 th grade the opportunity to ride MCT for free all summer long. “For 15 years, the MCT Summer Youth Pass has provided Madison County students with a free and safe way to access summer jobs, classes, community resources, shopping areas, pools, parks, and more.” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “I want to thank the MCT Board of Trustees for their continued support of this program for our young people.” MCT’s Summer Youth Pass program was created in 2008 to provide affordable transportation access for Madison County youth and their families, and accounts for more than 550,000 boardings o

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CHAMPAIGN – Busey Bank is committed to building strong communities. Each year, we offer financial support toward continuing education endeavors to applicants of all ages and educational backgrounds through the Busey Bank Bridge Scholarship. “We are proud to support the educational aspirations of students across our footprint through the Busey Bank Bridge Scholarship,” said Sandy DeMond, Senior Vice President – Director of Community Banking. “We recognize the financial challenges that come with continuing education and hope to ease that burden for students and their families. By investing in their education, we’re not only helping the students themselves, but also our communities as a whole.” Through the Busey Bank Bridge Scholarship Fund, $25,000 in the aggregate will be awarded annually. Funds will be disbursed through 10 individual scholarships of $2,500 throughout the Busey Bank service areas. Applicants must reside in one of the

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GRAFTON - Jersey County Circuit Clerk Daniel Schetter presented Grafton Police Chief Eric Spanton and Mayor Morrow with a check in the amount of $5,000 at the City Council meeting on May 16. Schetter’s goal was to help the smaller cities in Jersey County to bolster government services, and Grafton is one of the beneficiaries. The gift was made possible through his office from traffic ticket revenue in the county. “We need to work together to help each other and to make our communities safer for everyone,” Schetter said. Chief Spanton said, “This money will be used to purchase new handheld radios with improved reception, which will enhance officer safety and allow quicker response time.” The county provided funds last year to transition Grafton police cruisers from analog to digital radios. “We are very grateful for the continued support from the county,” said Mayor Morrow. Grafton City Council meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each

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ALTON – Marquette Catholic’s star-studded seven had a well-attended sendoff to the IHSA Class 1A State Track and Field Meet on Wednesday morning at the high school. Explorers’ Head Girls Track and Field Coach Tim Turnbeaugh said it was a wonderful turnout and a great gathering with about 50 people in attendance. “Today is a memorable day,” Turnbeaugh explained. “They gave us rosaries and we have a celebration and then they will give the kids a fine meal tonight. Marquette treats the girls like the champions they are. They won a lot of meets this year as a team. The girls won the Staunton Invitational, the conference meet, the East Alton-Wood River Relays, and tied for first at the East Alton-Wood River Invitational. We have freshmen going to state on the team which makes it addictive for everyone else.” Senior Sammy Hentrich leads the Explorers state qualifiers and will participate in the long jump, triple jump, and 4 x 200 relay team. Hentrich

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GODFREY - A large portion of the Godfrey Village Board of Trustees meeting on May 16 was spent discussing the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024. A proposed $1.1 million deficit raised a few questions from trustees, who also debated the future health of the village’s finances. Mayor Mike McCormick said that as long as he’s been mayor, the village has always included a deficit in its budget, but has never actually gone into a deficit. He attributed this to department heads who include projects in the budget that don’t get completed. “We’re OKing a budget to go ahead and overspend by $1.159 million,” Trustee Rich Lauschke said. “Why don’t we tighten it up to where we’re really going to spend it? Because we did the same thing last year, and I think we’re betting that the capital projects don’t get done and therefore we end up not spending as much money, but we have given approval to go into a negative budget.”

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PIASA - Southwestern Middle School announced its PBIS Students of the Month for April. Photographed above, from left to right, are Brody Gable, Landon Luebbert, Alexis Hart, Kimorie Lahai-Pumagoi, Ari Davenport and Wyatt Reno. They were nominated according to the word of the month - Trustworthy. Also, for being Respectful, Responsible and Saf, they all received a Dairy Queen lunch of their choice.

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BELLEVILLE - To encourage residents of all ages to stay active this summer, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) – in partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) – is once again sponsoring its Summer Riding Program. The program allows participants to track miles and earn prizes as they bike, walk, wheel, run, skate or skip along the MetroBikeLink System, which boasts 14 miles of continuous trails and bike paths adjacent to the MetroLink alignment in Southwestern Illinois. Registration is now open and can be completed at www.scctd.org . The summer-long effort officially gets underway on Saturday, May 20, with a “Day on the Trails” event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Belleville Transit Center. This event is free and open to the public. “This program is much like those offered through libraries incentivizing kids to read, but instead of reading a certain number of minutes to earn prizes, participants track miles on the MetroBikeLink System,”

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford has provided an update on the shooting that occurred in Alton on Tuesday afternoon. This was his updated report: "At 2:59 p.m. on May 16, 2023, the Alton Police Department received a report of a gunshot being fired in the 2600 block of Maxey Street, Alton, Illinois. "Officers responded and located one male subject who had been shot. The male subject was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later to a St. Louis area hospital for additional medical care. His injuries are non-life threatening. "While at the scene, an armed suspect was encountered. Officers showed great restraint in safely taking the suspect into custody. Physical evidence related to the shooting was recovered. The suspect is currently in custody at the Alton City Jail." Ford continued and said the Alton Middle School was placed on a brief lockdown simply out of an abundance of caution until officers could determine the area was safe. "There was never any active

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GODFREY - The Godfrey Village Board of Trustees welcomed two new members at their meeting on May 16, including new trustees Craig Lombardi and Mike Fisher. Karen McAtee was reappointed to the board, while trustees Ben Allen and Virginia Woulfe-Beile officially stepped down. Allen thanked his fellow trustee and Mayor Mike McCormick, saying he greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve on the Village Board. I want to thank this council for letting me serve with them. I’ve truly enjoyed it, I’ve learned a great deal,” Allen said. “I’m really proud of some of the things that we’ve gotten done, I consider all you people close friends and I’m happy to have served with you. Mr. Mayor, it’s been a privilege and you are a friend and always will be a friend. You’ve done a great job and I appreciate you appointing me six years ago … I’ve enjoyed this process.” Woulfe-Beile was also thankful for the opportunity

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ALTON - These are some views of construction work going on at the Old Wedge Bank location that will become the Wedge Innovation Center in the 600 block of East Broadway. The new venue will become an entrepreneurial and business accelerator, incubator, digital hub, and co-working space. The Wedge will be designed as an accelerator, incubator, co-working space, and digital hub focused on social impact innovation and specializing in livability, clean tech, and climate tech to benefit everyday lives. The Wedge will support early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship, and financing. It will house startups, space for individuals or teams, and more established companies that want to accelerate their businesses or develop new technologies, products, or systems. AltonWorks is collaborating with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) on management and operations for The Wedge. A total of $3 Million of the $21 Million project for the Wedge Innovation Center is

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