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CHICAGO - The Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office ("CROO") announced today the official commissioning of the Disparity and Availability Study for adult use cannabis licenses in Illinois as required by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act ("CRTA"). This kickoff begins 12 months of research that will result in a report to the General Assembly and Governor. More about this initiative can be found on the CROO’s website . The Disparity and Availability Study (“Disparity Study”) will collect and analyze data and will report on whether discrimination exists in the Illinois cannabis industry. If there is a finding that discrimination exists, the Disparity Study will evaluate the impact of the discrimination on the State and its residents regarding entering and participating in the State’s cannabis industry. The Disparity Study will include recommendations for reducing or eliminating any identified barriers to entry. The CROO Disparity Study will measure accessibility,

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ALTON - The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois and the City of Alton’s 4th Ward Alderwoman and Committee are calling for volunteers to support two litter clean-ups in celebration of President’s Day! These litter clean-ups will help rid the environment of debris that harms habitats, threatens aquatic life, pollutes our rivers, and endangers coastal environments. Learn more and register to volunteer at one (or both!) of the river clean-ups at sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades/events . The first clean-up is hosted by the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois and will launch from Clifton Terrace Park at 9:00 am on Monday, February 20. This clean-up will focus on removing litter and debris along the Great River Road between Clifton Terrace and Stanka Lane. The second clean-up will launch at James Killion Park at 11:00 am on Monday, February 20, and is co-hosted by the City of Alton’s 4th Ward Alderwoman, Rosetta Brown, and Committee. “The

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ST. LOUIS - The SITE Improvement Association Board of Directors has elected Steve Roden as its new President, Kurt Unnerstall as Vice President, and Kevin Klette as Secretary/Treasurer for 2023. Immediate Past President Pat Moriarity will continue to serve on the board’s Executive Committee. Roden is President of Roden’s Landscaping, Inc., and previously served as the board’s Secretary/Treasurer. Unnerstall is President of KJ Unnerstall Construction Company. Klette is General Manager of St. Louis Paving Division at Byrne & Jones Construction. In addition, two new members have been elected to the board. They include: Mike Shepard of Collins and Hermann, Inc., representing the Specialty Division; and Adam Guthrie of Baxter Farms and Nurseries, representing the Landscaping Division. Five other board members have been re-elected to two-year terms, including: Kevin Klette representing the Asphalt Paving Division; Rick Scharf of Scharf Construction Co., LLC,

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Couples names: Briana and Joe, he calls me “Mouth” because I always have something to say, and I call him PawPaw because he is 9 years older City: Bethalto Date met or started dating: May 2, 2022 What makes your relationship special? Defying all odds of both of us being addicts in recovery, meeting within a program and building a bond, working on ourselves to be better people. Blending families— he has a two year old and four year old and I have a 9 year old. All BOYS. We both have full custody of our children and we raise them together as a whole. Recovery has changed our lives and our childrens’ lives; allowing them to grow up without trauma, in a loving and supportive environment. I feel our relationship is so special— because it is built so well on a foundation of respect and recovery. Share a memory you have made together: Buying a home and raising our children in it together. Raising three boys isn’t for the weak, but we do i

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Couples names: Nathan & Tonya Hunn City: Carrollton Date met or started dating: October 15, 2010 Date married: January 26, 2012 What makes your relationship special? We just click, there is something about us, the way we think, feel, love, argue, no matter what we are doing everything is done with intensity. Our feelings for each other grow stronger every day! Share a memory you have made together: The greatest thing we have made together is our family, we started out with 4 children between us both and have a total of 9 together now that we are raising or helping raise. We both have a strong love for children and feel that every child deserves a loving family and it doesn’t always mean by blood! We have learned over the years Family is what you make it and that is all that matters at the end of the day. (One child is not in picture and can not be placed on social media) but is definitely part of our Family.

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Couples names: Dorothy & Mike Stice City: East Alton Date met or started dating: July 7, 1997 Date married: March 7, 2000 What makes your relationship special? Knowing I married my best friend. Share a memory you have made together: The day we welcomed are first grandbaby .

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Couples names: Michelle Jennings and Mike Dickerson City: Godfrey Date met or started dating: April 17, 2021 Date married: What makes your relationship special? We started talking as friends neither one of us were looking for a relationship, we met that first night and have been together ever since. Truly believe paths in life happen for a reason. Share a memory you have made together: Remodeling our home, events with our now blended family, countless friends and adventures that are never ending.

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Couples names: Tori & Matthew City: Cottage Hills Date met or started dating: June 30, 2012 Date married: June 18, 2016 What makes your relationship special? We are always there for each other no matter what. Through hard times and good times. Share a memory you have made together: Finding out we were expecting after 6 years of trying. We are going to be welcoming our daughter soon!

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EDWARDSVILLE – To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 and Executive Order 9981, Military and Veteran Services at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be hosting a series of events to mark this monumental milestone in American history. The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 , by law, permanently expanded women’s rights by permanently permitting women to volunteer their service to the officer and enlisted ranks of the United States military. The signing of Executive Order 9981 by President Harry S. Truman in July 1948, a month after passage of the women’s act, initiated racial desegregation in the armed forces. “For some, 75 years may seem long ago, and that the goals of these two laws have been accomplished,” said Telisha Reinhardt, assistant director of Military and Veteran Services. “Today, the United States military is one of the most diverse employers in the

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Couples names: Delancey & Sunshine Smith City: Alton Date met or started dating: July 31, 2017 Date married: September 30, 2022 What makes your relationship special? We have made it through everything possible and still very much in love. We are true soulmates. Delancey was seriously injured in November 2020 and only by God's grace and mercy is he still alive and getting better everyday. We do everything together and are just blessed to have each other. Share a memory you have made together: Every day together is a blessing considering the injuries he suffered. We just enjoy each other's company and love to laugh.

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Couples names: Brandon & Kayley City: Alton Date met or started dating: July 8, 2015 What makes your relationship special? The love we share for one another is unbeatable. We are able to have open communication to where we genuinely understand one another. Home is where we are together. We have two incredibly amazing babies, and two fur babies. Whatever one of us lacks, the other picks up with no questions asked. We are each others highschool sweethearts, best friends, and soul mates. Share a memory you have made together: Becoming the best of friends at 15 years old, to building a relationship, experiencing loss, giving birth to two of our babies, family vacation, our first place, and many more!

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Couples names: Mike & Rachel Dawid City: Edwardsville Date met or started dating: May 30, 2009 Date married: April 19, 2014 What makes your relationship special? Everything we do we work together on. We thrive on making our relationship and family work by being a team and working together. We love to spend time together and also make memories with our kids. We have 4 small kids all under the age of 7. We love to serve each other daily with words of affirmation, acts of service, and just being present. Share a memory you have made together: We got engaged in NYC. Spent our 5 year wedding anniversary there. And plan on celebrating our 10 year anniversary there next April.

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Couples names: Nathaniel & Jacqi City: St. Louis Date met or started dating: June 30, 2012 Date married: March 7, 2014 What makes your relationship special? How we met on the river boating in Nathaniel’s words… It was a hot and steamy day on 30 June 2012 I sat on the beach of enterprise island arguably the most romantic place in the world as the sun was setting and tequila bottles where drain a magical moment happened Jacqi gazed to the west and the sky lit up like the gates of heaven. she noticed an incredibly chiseled tattoo country boy practicing synchronize swimming techniques in the deep blue waters of the mighty Mississippi River. he had the look of both predator and prey. the sunshine rays glistened off his freshly Crisco oiled skin. she knew that this was no ordinary boy. at that exact moment Nathaniel looked East as an angel appeared in the horizon. her hair sparkled in the summer sun and her hair resembled the tail of the most beautiful Clydesdale.

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Couples names: Amber & Jason Craig City: Bethalto Date met or started dating: March 18, 2020 Date married: April 9, 2022 What makes your relationship special? We always tell each other the truth and we love enjoying the outdoors 4 wheeling and camping with our children. Share a memory you have made together: We took a family trip to Florida last summer. It was all our first time to the beach and to see the ocean.

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Couples names: Steven & Lauren City: Alton Date met or started dating: December 9, 2020 What makes your relationship special? The way we can always count on each other. Share a memory you have made together: Our son Travis

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Couples names: Tim & Tammy Reese City: Godfrey Date met or started dating: September 14, 1981 Date married: May 14, 1983 What makes your relationship special? The unbreakable bond, love, and friendship they share. This is their eldest daughter, Trisha, I’m submitting this for them as this year they will celebrate 40 years of marriage. Amazing right? I’ve always envied the love my parents shared. My dad: patient, kind, funny. My mom: also patient, kind, drives my dad insane with her huge heart of gold and hands ALL in to help any and everyone at anytime! They’ve raised 3 beautiful children and have 9 beautiful grandkids and 2 adorable grandpups! Their life is full of love and they still act like those two crazy kids that fell in love at the Alton Expo in 1981! Share a memory you have made together: They met at the Alton Expo back when the Alton Expo was “cool”. She called out “Hey Reese(y)” (not knowing how to pronounce his

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THE CONVERSATION - With a speech crammed full of promises – to provide more support to veterans, protect children from online dangers and crack down on fentanyl trafficking, to list just a few – President Joe Biden laid out his administration’s priorities in the annual State of the Union address . For the most part, Biden struck a positive tone delivering the speech, which drew cheers and applause – and the occasional heckling – during the joint session of Congress. But the president’s upbeat demeanor came at the end of what is usually a tough and sometimes impossible process for the writers who have crafted the speech. In any administration, writing the annual State of the Union address is a difficult assignment. I should know: I am a former presidential speechwriter for George H.W. Bush , and while I never wrote a State of the Union speech, I’ve seen the process up close and was always relieved to have dodged the bullet. Sure, the State

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Names: Left to right sitting is Marce Corbett and Sharon Rowden (deceased). Left to right standing as Ro Noll, Dee Lavic, Mary June Crowson, Mary Dixon, Jean Hauck (deceased), Joan Albers, Carolyn Dooley and Mary Lynn Rose. City: Godfrey and Alton Date met: June 1, 1954 What makes your relationship special? Friends from Marquette high school have been getting together monthly for almost 70 years! Share a memory you have made together: Picture taken on July 5, 2017. This ladies club began in 1954 when they graduated from Marquette High School. In the beginning, they alternated homes to enjoy coffee and conversation. Children were included. That lasted for a few years until there were too many children. From there they continued to meet in their homes but as a ladies’ night out and started playing cards, and sharing snacks and beverages. They would meet twice per month in those days. A few took lessons learning to play bridge, consequently teaching the rest of the

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Couples names: Latavia Jo & Tianna City: Alton Date met or started dating: August 7, 2020 What makes your relationship special? Latavia Jo & Tianna met in August 2020 through a mutual friend and began dating on December 21, 2021. Their relationship is really special because Tianna had been single for over four years before “finding” Latavia Jo and continued to wait for her to become single. Tianna would often run into Latavia Jo downtown Alton and “knew they would one day become a couple” Share a memory you have made together: Tianna and Latavia Jo have traveled a lot together over the last year visiting Chicago, IL twice, Arkansas, Memphis Tennessee, Nashville Tennessee, Las Vegas Nevada and Tulum.

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Couples names: Dean & Carole Mann City: Carrollton Date met or started dating: May 21, 1971 Date married: November 3, 1973 What makes your relationship special? Dean and I started dating shortly after he was drafted. He was eventually deployed to Vietnam. We communicated by letters, as there were no computers or cell phones. Dean was discharged in February 1973 and we got married November 3, 1973-50 years this year! We appreciate every day together and enjoy each day together. We love to walk, bike ride, and hiking at Pere Marquette. Simple things-together! Share a memory you have made together: We have so many wonderful memories. We both love Halloween and having Halloween parties and decorating our garage for trick or treaters. Other wonderful memories are the day Dean got home from Vietnam, our wedding day, the birth of each of our 4 children, and the birth of each of our 6 grandchildren. God has truly blessed us!

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