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O'FALLON, IL. - On Wednesday, July 15 th at 6 pm O’Fallon Area Chapter of Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity hosted their first fundraiser since the pandemic. The evening featured entertainment by The Twilight Band , an abundance of hors d’oeuvres, and summer wine tastes supplied by Birch Market . The program began with Dave Snyder, O’Fallon Area Chapter Chair, welcoming guests to the O’Fallon Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station . Following the welcome, Karen Sheesley (Chair, Family Selection & Services Committee) and Linda Kahley (Member, Family Selection & Services) elaborated on the chapter's progress over the years. The O’Fallon Chapter has provided homes to six single-mother families, soon to be eight with the two new builds beginning on Booster Rd., and approximately 21 children. These opportunities have changed the lives of each of the mothers and their children by setting a solid foundation for stability and giving children the security

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O’FALLON, IL. — Oceans, lakes, rivers, and backyard pools are some of the top destinations for families over the summer months. Even though these trips to relax or play in the water are fun, there are some tips parents should follow to keep their kids safe. “Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death in children aged one to 14,” said Dr. Vinay Bhooma, chief medical officer of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “By following established guidelines and taking precautions, you can save your child’s life.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even nonfatal drownings can result in long-term health problems. For every child who dies from drowning, another eight receive treatment in emergency departments. Drowning injuries can cause brain damage and lead to serious health complications. The CDC provides some basic tips to keep your family safe around water this summer. Learn basic swimming and

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. - DeMarie Perry of Granite City, IL, was recently named to the Dean's List of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, for the spring 2022 semester. The Lincoln University Dean's List comprises full-time undergraduate students earning a minimum term GPA of 3.00, excluding grades in courses that do not carry credit toward graduation. Lincoln University of Missouri is a historically Black, 1890 land-grant, public university that provides excellent educational opportunities to a diverse population within a nurturing, student-centered environment. Lincoln is known for its innovative undergraduate and graduate programs in agriculture, business administration, criminal justice, elementary education, nursing, business administration, guidance and counseling, and natural science. Located in Jefferson City, Missouri, Lincoln University was founded in 1866 by the men of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries and their white officers for the benefit of

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EDWARDSVILLE - The following students have been named to the Honor Roll at Metro-East Lutheran High School for the second semester of the 2021-2022 school year. A link to the complete lists is in PDF form and can be found here .

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SPRINGFIELD - The United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from Sunrise Sunday, June 19, 2022, until Sunset Monday, June 20, 2022. The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor JB Pritzker that all person or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff in honor of: Juneteenth National Freedom Day Please lower the United States flags and the State flags at all buildings occupied by your agency’s personnel from: Sunrise: Sunday, June 19, 2022 until Sunset: Monday, June 20, 2022 More information is available at https://www.illinois.gov/ about/flag-honors.html

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons and St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives are currently investigating a house fire/explosion which resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to 4 additional individuals. St. Louis County Police announced late Friday that an additional victim has been discovered at the scene who suffered fatal injuries. St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Detectives and ATF are continuing the investigation. At 1:21 a.m. on June 17, 2022, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a house fire in the 6600 block of Parker Road. Responding officers located a residential house fire and an individual just outside the residence deceased. That individual appeared to have injuries consistent with the fire. The age and gender of this individual are not known at this time. Four additional individuals were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries. Preliminary

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ALTON - Brooke Carney has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help offset funeral expenses for Liese Dodd, who died with her unborn baby in a tragic homicide recently in Alton. The suspect in the case - Deundrea Holloway, 22, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child, dismembering a human body, concealment of a homicide, and possessing a stolen vehicle. "Liese was the little sister of my fiancé, Shelbi Dodd," Brooke said. "Liese was taken from us unexpectedly and too soon. We have created this fund as a place for those wishing to assist in wishing to contribute in any way." Brooke added: "Please note anything not used for expenses will be donated to local animal shelters and domestic violence resources. This site is approved by Momma Heidi." To view and contribute to the GoFundMe, please visit: https://gf.me/v/c/gfm/ liese-dodd-and-family-support

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County officials postponed a decision on Wednesday to amend its food sanitation ordinance to lower food truck fees. The County Board voted against making a decision to lower inspection fees by $200 from $375 for food trucks until its 5 p.m., July 20 meeting. County Board member Mike Babcock said Alton Alderman Ray Strebel first brought the idea before the Health Department Committee in May, along with the owners of an Alton food truck park. The plan was to increase the number of food trucks coming into Madison County. County Board member Terry Eaker of Bethalto said he was the only “no” vote at the Health Department Committee on June 3. He said the reason is simple — fairness. “Everyone needs to be on the same playing field,” he said. Eaker said he spoke to many restaurant owners as well as a few food truck owners, who had no idea there was a plan by the county to reduce inspection fees. He said one business asked for a fe

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ALTON - At 1:56 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, the Alton Police Department received a report of gunshots and a subsequent traffic crash in the area of the Clark Bridge. Officers responded and located a vehicle that left the roadway and struck a tree on the southwest end of the Clark Bridge in Missouri. The driver of the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the traffic crash and was transported to a St. Louis area hospital. Alton Police Department Deputy Police Chief Jerrett Ford said information gathered at the scene suggests the incident to have started as an apparent road rage incident involving two vehicles. "Traffic on the Clark Bridge was temporarily halted as investigators processed the scene for evidence," he said. "Evidence of gunshots being fired was located on the Illinois side of the Clark Bridge." Ford added: "Detectives with the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division are actively following up on leads at this time.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Luke Norton, one of the best swimmers for Alton High School during last winter's season, is one of the most experienced and top swimmers for Summers Port Swim Club as he competed in the opening meet at Montclaire Swim Club in Edwardsville on June 9. In a post-race interview after a relay race during the meet, Norton felt that he swam well in the race. Norton is hoping to enjoy much success in both the 50-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle and looks to improve on both events in preparation for the 2022-23 IHSA season for the Alton High Redbirds. He also has some achievable goals he's set for himself this summer season for the Sharks. "I think I did really well in the first meet," Norton said. "I think I am ready for a good season." Luke Norton is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month For Alton. Norton also felt that the summer season is much more a fun season than the high school season, which tends to be more competitive. "I think the summer season is a lot mor

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EDWARDSVILLE - Once again law enforcement officers have been recognized for their actions in saving a life. This time it was in Edwardsville at a recent City Council meeting. Edwardsville Police Officers Wes Nolden and Keith Scruggs were presented with the Life-Saving Award at that meeting. The Edwardsville Police Department said: "Both officers utilized their training to administer CPR and the AED to an unresponsive subject in cardiac arrest, which according to the Fire Department, played a vital role in preserving his life."

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COLLINSVILLE – Disabled veterans and active military members in the Ameren Illinois service territory are eligible to receive energy bill payment grants and specialized services at one of six outreach events the company is hosting in June. "Ameren Illinois has a long tradition of supporting our nation's military. We are proud to serve those who serve our country by offering a variety of programs and benefits to active-duty members of the military and veterans," said Joe Solari, Vice President of Customer Experience for Ameren Illinois. "Our hope is that we can answer questions and offer payment and potential bill assistance to our disabled veterans, providing them added financial flexibility to cover other essentials such as food and medicine." First 100 attendees will receive a free Ameren Illinois storm preparedness kit Applications will be accepted for the Ameren Illinois Military Support Program (AIMS)* – an energy grant up to $100 to assist with energy costs

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EDWARDSVILLE – Belleville senior, Destiny Marshall-Ashe, aspires to become an aerospace engineer. Growing up fascinated by her mom’s work in the Air Force, she hopes she can go a bit further than aircraft, and one day end up in the atmosphere. Having the opportunity to build and launch rockets at SIUE’s School of Engineering’s (SOE) Summer Camp is a steppingstone to Marshall-Ashe’s pursuit of her dream career. The SOE’s annual Engineering Summer Camp features two identical sessions held daily from June 6-10, and continuing this week, June 13-17. It introduces high school students to various engineering disciplines and construction concepts through a set of fun, challenging and thought-provoking activities. The hands-on laboratory experiments and design contest give the campers an opportunity to learn how engineering impacts our daily lives. “The campers?learn about the applications of engineering for energy, water, and health; the importance

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Senate recently unanimously passed resolution to honor Vladimir Kara-Murza; condemn his arrest and detention; and call for his and Alexei Navalny’s release WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe, today met with Evgenia Kara-Murza, the wife of Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza. During their meeting, they discussed his unjust detention and continued pressure to release him and other Russian political prisoners. The Senate recently passed Durbin, Shaheen, and Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) bipartisan resolution honoring Kara-Murza. The resolution also pays tribute to his advocacy for human rights in Russia and support for the anti-war movement. Additionally, it urges the U.S. and its allies to secure his release and that of Alexei Navalny and other Russian political prisoners, and calls for the U.S. governmen

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Letter To The Editor: I am writing to publicly endorse Ray Wesley for County Board District 7 in the June 28 th Republican primary. I have known Ray for many years and feel that he is an excellent businessman and did a fantastic job representing Godfrey on the County Board from 2016-2020. Ray is a strong conservative and has served the past three years as the Chairman of the Madison County Republican Party. Under his leadership, local Republicans in our county won 17 out of 20 contested races in 2020. It is vital for the Village of Godfrey to have representation on the County Board, and I’d like to see him once again be in a position to fight for our community. Republicans have enjoyed unprecedented success under Ray’s leadership. Local races are too important for voters to sit on the sidelines, so I’d like to encourage you to give your support to Ray Wesley for County Board. Together, we can continue to move Godfrey forward in a positive direction. Mi

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Letter To The Editor: The current state of our nation is shameful. Inflation, energy costs, and crime have all skyrocketed under the Biden Administration. If we don’t vote for change at the ballot box this year there’s no telling what our country will look like with two more years of Democrat control in Washington. When new congressional districts were approved this past cycle, voters were intentionally lumped together in ways to encourage a greater chance to gain a Democrat seat in congress. Democrats in Illinois have always made a concerted effort to keep Democrat control in Washington but drawing a new congressional seat for a Washington/Chicago Democrat to win is more than I can take. I want to live in a district that has a Republican member of Congress. Heck, that is why I ran to begin with. I at least would like someone who is from our part of the state. I have found that Republican. Jesse Reising is a sixth-generation central Illinoisan living in Decatur.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Fire Department battled a serious fire but used a coordinated attack to quickly extinguish a blaze at a house on Exchange Street in Jerseyville. Jerseyville Fire Department engines 6068 and 6011 and Truck 6030 responded to the house fire. "The homeowners were able to safely close the fire room door and got out of the house," the Jerseyville Fire Department said. "Closing the door allowed the fire to be contained in a single room and limited the fire damage. "Members of the Jerseyville Fire Department used a coordinated offensive attack to quickly extinguish the fire while other members deployed salvage covers to protect the owner's property."

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ST. LOUIS - Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones signed an executive order banning the use of no-knock warrants by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD). These warrants, which have earned nationwide scrutiny, allow law enforcement to enter an individual’s property without notification. “Public safety and policing must be responsive to the needs and concerns of the community,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones “This is an important step for our city and in line with action taken by municipalities across the country.” Prior legislation passed in the city in 2020 limited the use of no-knock warrants in drug cases. The executive order builds on top of previous efforts to prohibit the use of no-knock warrants. While SLMPD has not deployed no-knock warrants in the past year, this executive order strengthens the City’s long-term commitment to reimagining policing and building trust between community members and their police force.

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EAST ALTON - Owners Jasmin and Dorian Donlow's Slurped Daiquiri business at 99 Eastgate Plaza is ready to make a big splash in the region. Slurped Daiquiri has its grand opening set for 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, 2022, and will also have a ribbon-cutting that day. Jasmin says the business has been open for about a month as of June 13, 2022. Jasmin and Dorian are both Alton High School graduates. Jasmin graduated in 2008 and Dorian in 2006. She said it has been great to see many friends and family in the business here in their early days. It has been their dream to establish a daiquiri bar/restaurant in the area. “I love our location at East Gate Plaza and our customers,” she said. “Our turnout so far has been amazing, and people seem to love our drinks and food. Their favorite drinks so far have been the pineapple express, strawberry, and blueberry daiquiri. Our shots have also been popular. People try a lot of varieties in the drinks and mix and match.”

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DEKALB, IL - Northern Illinois University announces its spring 2022 Dean's List students. To earn this distinction, students must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology or a minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in the colleges of Business, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. Students from your area who achieved this honor include: Edwardsville, IL Calvin Soldan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's List, Edwardsville Senior Hs Glen Carbon, IL Joseph Sommer, College of Engineering Dean's List, Edwardsville Senior Hs Granite City, IL Nicholas Haddock, College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean's List, Granite City Senior Hs Nicholas Haddock, College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean's List, Granite City Senior Hs

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