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ST. LOUIS - Independence Center, a nonprofit committed to helping those with chronic mental illness, has unveiled its new ADA ramp and Welcome Center. The $180,000 improvement project is an effort to make the nonprofit’s building more accessible to those with physical disabilities and establish a unified point of entry to allow for better coordination of care. “Both the new ADA ramp and the new Welcome Center will help further our mission of creating a community atmosphere which promotes those with mental illness feeling wanted, needed, and accepted,” said Trish Holmes, Executive Director of Independence Center. “These improvement projects would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors through our annual fundraising events. We are very thankful for everything they do and are looking forward to the difference it will make for the members we serve.” The Welcome Center was formerly located on Laclede Avenue but has now been moved

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a McHenry County man pleaded guilty to allegedly defrauding the state out of more than $3 million in sales tax revenue. Kenneth Kilberger, 53, of Lake in the Hills, pleaded guilty in McHenry County Circuit Court to sales tax evasion, a Class 1 felony. He was sentenced to four years in prison followed by one year of mandatory supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and court costs related to the case. “Business owners who defraud the state out of tax revenue harm their communities by depriving needed programs and services of funding,” Raoul said. “I commend the Illinois Department of Revenue for its work on this case and am committed to our continued collaboration in recovering critical revenue and holding accountable the individuals who attempt to defraud the state.” Raoul alleges that from January 2016 to October 2020, Kilberger evaded taxes on sales from 11 Denny’s restaurants

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GRAFTON - The date and details of the 4th annual Grafton Family Fun Day have officially been announced, and Grafton-area visitors will have plenty of activities for the whole family to choose from on the fun-packed evening. Grafton Family Fun Day 2022 will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m on Friday, August 5, at Red Hawk Park in Grafton, located at 1200 Grafton Hills Drive. Grafton Family Fun Day committee chair Christina Petrea said several activities including face painting, a dunk tank, and outdoor games such as cornhole and kickball will be available. She also said kids tend to come up with their own games, such as hide and seek. Petrea said Survival Flight helicopters will also be there (weather permitting) and will be joined by QEM Fire Trucks, Grafton police, and ambulance vehicles. A family-friendly movie will also be shown, though the exact movie has yet to be determined. Hot dogs, chips, popcorn, and water will also be provided - the day’s festivities and food

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MERAMEC RIVER - The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released the official report about the death of a 25-year-old Collinsville man in the Meramec River on July 4. The report says the man - Uriel P. Ramirez - "jumped off a bluff and could not self-rescue or be rescued by bystanders." Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene. Missouri Baptist Sullivan EMS responded to the drowning and Ranger A. Carlson, Ranger E. Ferrel, Trooper Giesler, Cpl. D. Duffie, Cpl. B. Groves and the Sullivan Fire Department all responded the report said. Cpl. A. Michels directed the investigation into the drowning for Missouri State Highway Patrol. No other information was available at this time.

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BELLEVILLE - Illinois American Water is encouraging customers who qualify and need financial assistance with their water and/or wastewater bills to utilize the federal assistance program LIHWAP. LIHWAP is a federally-funded program that provides bill payment assistance to help low-income families pay their water and/or wastewater bills. Qualifying residential customers could receive up to $1,500 for their water and/or wastewater bill. The program is available through Aug. 31, 2023, and is open to residential customers only. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the program and assistance is provided by local Community Action Agencies (CAA) throughout the state. “We understand the water bill may be one of the lowest household bills, but it can also be easy for customers to fall behind when household costs continue to rise,” said Illinois American Water Vice President Beth Matthews. “These federal funds can further help

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WOOD RIVER - Tim Gegen was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief for Wood River Police at Tuesday night's Wood River City Council Meeting. Ken Lutz was sworn in as a patrol officer. Officer Lutz had previously served with the Staunton Police Department and has considerable law enforcement experience. He also served as a Fairmont City Police officer, and railroad special agent in the first part of his career. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells is thankful to have both new officers in their respective positions. "Tim Gegen has been with the Wood River Police Department for close to 20 years," Chief Wells said. "He has been an investigator and runs a patrol shift for several years. He is very knowledgeable and he is what you picture as a police officer who tries to help people when there are issues to work through. He was the obvious choice to be promoted to deputy chief." Lutz is "a very solid police officer," Chief Wells said. "We talked to him extensively before we hired him and

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MARYVILLE - Got Your Six Support Dogs will be hosting their 6 th Annual Golf Scramble at Belk Park on Friday, August 19 th . All proceeds from the event go towards their mission to provide lifesaving service dogs to veterans and first responders with severe PTSD and/ or sexual trauma. The organization gives these dogs to recipients at no cost. Andy Canning, the past recipient at GYSSD, is eager for the upcoming event. “This, in particular, the scramble is my favorite to play in, out of the numerous scrambles I get into every year. Outside of the outstanding facility it’s held at and the great benefits added in for the players from Got Your Six, I also get to support an organization that helps our nation's heroes, as well as assisting their families to regain their life and independence,” explained Canning. Teams of four can register for the event by emailing or mailing forms to GYSSD Development Coordinator, Sam, at sam@gyssd.com . The registration

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to “stay” its marketing denial order of all JUUL Lab Inc.’s products after previously finding these e-cigarettes fail to meet the agency’s public health standard for authorization: “I was heartened two weeks ago when FDA finally acted to remove JUUL e-cigarettes from the market. After a lengthy review, FDA scientists determined that JUUL failed to meet the legal requirement to show these e-cigarettes were appropriate for public health, and a marketing denial was issued for all JUUL vaping products. But now—with this unexplained administrative stay of the JUUL denial—we are right back in a legal morass of FDA’s own making. I am deeply disappointed by FDA’s ongoing failure to competently regulate the e-cigarette market. And sadly, those most harmed by FDA’s incompetence ar

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WOOD RIVER - History was made at Tuesday night's Wood River City Council Meeting when Bobbi Jo Younker was promoted to the position of Wood River Police patrol sergeant. Bobbi becomes the first female sergeant in the Wood River Police Department. Bobbi will supervise a patrol shift for Wood River Police that was occupied by Tim Gegan, who was promoted to Deputy Chief on Tuesday. "Bobbi has been with our police department for 15 years and has worked most of her career in the patrol division," Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said. "She has been on the Child Death Investigation Task Force, and the Major Case Squad in the past. It means a lot to her and us that she was promoted to sergeant."

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Sweltering summer heat is here, and people are soaking up the sun. While some vitamin D from sun rays is good in moderation, experts warn that if you overdo it, you’re at risk for melanoma , a less common skin cancer but one that accounts for most deaths. To emphasize how important it is to be aware of skin cancer, look no further than Kristi Fetter of Granite City, Illinois. She’s a survivor of four types of cancer, including a melanoma diagnosis in 2018, and she regularly attends a cancer support group at OSF HealthCare in nearby Alton, Illinois . “I went to my doctor, and she noticed a little black dot on my chest. And she thought it was cancer, and it was,” Fetter says. “They cut it out, and it’s a pretty long scar,” Fetter adds as she gestures to the inches-long mark by her neck. “So wear your sunscreen,” Fetter advises. Heather Chambers agrees. She’s a patient navigator at OSF HealthCare in Alton. For melanoma,

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ST. LOUIS - The deceased in a homicide in the City of Northwoods has been positively identified as Bryant Jones, 32 years of age, of the 500 block of Topaz Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63137. St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide in the 3000 block of Fairchild Avenue in the City of Northwoods which resulted in the death of an adult male. On July 4, 2022, at 12:17 AM, City of Northwoods police officers responded to a call for service for a motor vehicle accident in the 3000 block of Fairchild Avenue. Responding officers located the driver, an adult male inside a vehicle which had struck a sign. The driver of the vehicle was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The driver was transported to an area hospital for life saving treatment but later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. There were no other occupants of the vehicle. City of Northwoods police officers requested St. Louis County Police Department’s

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Summer means plenty of outdoor activities. For people who enjoy exercising, are looking to start a new fitness routine, or are avid runners, this means lacing up the running shoes and heading outside for a run in the summer heat. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 40 million Americans run on a regular basis – and this number increases when warmer weather arrives. Garrett Beyer, an orthopedic PA with OSF HealthCare, offers safety tips for summer running – including mishap prevention and when to see a doctor. “There is definitely a difference between running in the fall or spring compared to the summer, especially in Chicago. It could mean a difference of 50 or 60 degrees, which is pretty substantial as far as the amount of work that is required from your body to perform at the same level that you might have been performing at in cooler temperatures,” says Beyer. Beyer says to be patient with yourself as you venture out for a run

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QUINCY - Quincy University hosted its 159th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at QU Football Stadium at 2:00 p.m. The May 2022 graduating class is comprised of 156 undergraduates and 32 graduate degree recipients. Brighton, Illinois Nicholas Messinger, Master of Business Administration Carrollton, Illinois Cameryn Leigh Varble, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Edwardsville, Illinois Margaret L. Brumback, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Erik Weiler, Master of Business Administration Godfrey, Illinois Haley Marie Milazzo, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Granite City, Illinois Morgan Taylor Tanksley, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science Ralph M. Oakley '80 and William E. "Bill" Taylor '60 were awarded Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Humane Letters during the ceremony. Oakley also delivered the commencement address. As commencement speaker, Ralph Oakley challenged students to recall their personal journeys to Quincy University and

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BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon recently had some interesting public comments where he saluted postal workers for their efforts during extremely high temperatures. Chief Dixon said often postal workers are criticized, but he said the carriers are outside in the heat for 8 or 9 hours at a time and that is very difficult. “One of our mail workers has been diagnosed with cancer and is still battling and working out in the heat,” he said. “Being a mail carrier is a difficult job. Every time I see one of them during these kinds of conditions I ask them if they want a cold drink to sit and cool off for a minute. I think we should appreciate them and show them our appreciation during times with high temperatures. The Heat Warning is still in effect in the region through Thursday. Thursday, the National Weather Service in St. Louis has a high of 100 degrees forecast. Today, the temperatures are supposed to rise to 98 degrees. Friday, a high of 93 degrees is

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) will highlight the work of its interns and staff during a special July Neighbor Nights event on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Rather than viewing a presentation, guests will make their way through the Jerry F. Costello Confluence Field Station to view exhibits and table presentations at their own pace. “Our interns have been working hard this summer to gain knowledge and hands-on experiences in research, science, and ecology,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “This Neighbor Nights event is a wonderful way for them to show off their hard work.” The event will run from 6-8 p.m., with a free guided public tour of the Field Station beginning at 7:15 p.m. This year’s intern class has 14 members – five traditional summer interns and eight Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) interns. They include local students, as well as students from acros

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BETHALTO - 1 st MidAmerica Credit Union is pleased to announce Michelle Perkins as the new Regional Manager. Perkins comes to the credit union with 20 years of experience in financial services. Through the years, Perkins has held various member-facing positions at financial institutions, including member service and management roles. This experience will make Perkins an excellent addition to the 1 st MidAmerica team. “I’m proud to be a part of this world-class organization and excited to help lead the charge!” said Perkins. Perkins resides in Florissant and enjoys spending time with her husband, four adult children, and grandson. She has volunteered as the Vice President of Operations of the National Black MBA Association for the past 12 years and is active in their Leaders of Tomorrow teen mentoring program. 1 st MidAmerica Credit Union has a mission of exceeding member expectations. Additional information can be found at www.1stMidAmerica.org.

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FULTON, MO. - Westminster College is proud to announce those students named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List for exemplary academic performance. The list of 219 students includes 29 freshmen, 63 sophomores, 52 juniors, and 75 seniors. Those honored include the following: Bethalto, Illinois Susan Buchanan, Senior East Alton, Illinois Kaleb Hinkle-Pruett, Freshman The Dean's List recognizes Westminster students who have shown high academic performance during the past semester. To be included on the Dean's List, a student must achieve a 3.60-semester grade point average with at least 12 hours completed that semester. President and Chief Transformation Officer Donald P. Lofe, Jr., said those on the Dean's List exemplify the high educational standards upheld at Westminster College since 1851. "Each one of these students worked extremely hard, putting forth a great deal of effort throughout the semester," Lofe added. "On behalf of the entire Westminster community, I want to congratulate

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City High School Robotics Team is hosting a one-day Robotics Workshop on Thursday, July 21 from 8:30-4:30 p.m. in the GCHS Atrium. The workshop is open to residents of Granite City in grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14) and the cost is $20. Limited space is available and students can register online at: https://bit.ly/3ArfOVh This workshop offers a hands-on opportunity to build and program Lego robots. Students will work in small teams to design robotic systems and compete in a number of fun activities. The workshop provides a combination of hands-on instruction with basic programming concepts. The deadline to register is Tuesday, July 12 . For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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JERSEY - Due to the popularity of its wedding dress tour, the Jersey County Historical Society will continue Tying the Knot: The History of Wedding Traditions through July. All thirty-three wedding dresses on display, which date from 1868 to 1979, were worn by Jersey County residents. “Nearly every guest on our tours has known at least one bride whose gown is on display,” said Historical Society Vice President Beth McGlasson, one of three guides for the tour. “We’ve changed the tour this year to allow guests time to examine the dresses. This also gives us an opportunity to chat with visitors. It’s been a lot of fun reminiscing with guests about weddings and how trends have changed over the years,” McGlasson said. “I’ve learned a lot on these tours. For example, when Anita Hagen Kraut dropped off her wedding album, she pointed out a photo of her and her husband kissing at the church entrance. She told me the photo was noteworthy because

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CHICAGO – Today Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Lake County to assist in recovery efforts following Monday’s mass shooting in Highland Park. A disaster proclamation grants the State of Illinois the ability to expedite the use of state resources, personnel, or equipment to help affected communities recover. “There are no words for the kind of evil that turns a community celebration into a tragedy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As we mourn together, the State of Illinois will provide every available resource to Highland Park and surrounding communities in the days and weeks ahead as the community works to recover from this horrific tragedy.” “I am devastated by yesterday’s tragedy not just because it hit the very community I represent, but because mass shootings have become an all-too-common occurrence in this country that no city is immune to,” said State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “I pray

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