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MADISON AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES – The Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) today announced more than $3.4 million in new grant funding through the (FY2023) Park and Trail Grant, Community Planning Grant, and Event Sponsorship Grant Programs. The programs support local parks and green spaces, recreation, and active transportation across the Metro East. Since its inception in 2000, MEPRD has funded $33.9M to support 220 projects in communities throughout the Illinois Metro East. From community-wide active transportation planning and park planning to trail building, park improvements, and sponsorships for outdoor recreation events, MEPRD’s grant opportunities provide a comprehensive approach to supporting the region’s vast system of parks and trails and enable communities and other local and county agencies within MEPRD’s jurisdiction to leverage their funds and make their locally-led projects a reality. The newly announced FY2023 grant programs are funded

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ST. LOUIS - In support of his most recent album Wonder , GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes has announced 13 additional "Wonder: The World Tour" shows in the US & Canada, with 86 arena dates announced so far spanning across North America, the UK & Europe. The new dates include stops in Shawn’s hometown of Toronto, new shows in San Diego, and St. Louis, as well as the second stop in Brooklyn. More great tickets have also been added to all previously announced shows in North America. On the tour, Shawn will be joined by Dermot Kennedy and Tate McRae in North America (see tour listings for respective openers in each city). Tickets for the July 16 stop at St. Louis’ Enterprise Center will be available via Ticketmaster starting Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. CT, and range in price from $26.50 – $196.50. To purchase, please click here . Tickets for the added North America dates will be available via Presales that begin Wednesday, April 6 th a

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Riverbend Head Start and Family Services’ Granite City South Center had celebrated an awesome school year with a fun water splash day on the playground. MADISON - Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Head Start announced that families currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would now be automatically eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services, including school readiness, nutrition, and family support. Previously, this option only existed for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and children in foster care or experiencing homelessness. “This newly expanded eligibility for SNAP recipients will allow us to offer our comprehensive early learning and family development program services to help more vulnerable residents thrive in the Madison County, Illinois area,” said Gene Howell, President, and CEO of Riverbend

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ALTON - Several hip-hop artists, including Fresco Kane and Marvia Lawrence (also known as “KODA,” or “King of Da A”) will perform at a show this Saturday at Hiram’s Bar, located at 219 W. 3rd St. in Alton. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with the show taking place from 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. In addition to a hip-hop show with a range of artists, the event will also feature food, drinks and fun, Lawrence said. The cost of admission varies - “early” admission prior to 9 p.m will cost $15, but that will increase to $25 for men and $20 for women after 9 p.m. Fresco Kane, perhaps best known for his single “Coke Bottle,” will be headlining the show and will be joined by DJ MiKeith from St. Louis radio stations Hot 104.1, 100.3 The Beat and Z107.7 (and most recently, Power 104 in Atlanta). Other performing artists include Alton-based Marvia Lawrence/KODA, MoneyThaPlug, New Religion and many more. “It’s going to be nice hip-hop, pop,

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Letter To The Editor: Madison County Citizens, I am Retired Madison County Captain Marc McLemore, and I am endorsing Jeff Connor for Madison County Sheriff. I have lived in the Alton/Godfrey area my entire life. I served the citizens of Madison County for 26 years, working as a patrolman, in investigations, as Godfrey District Commander, Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant, Patrol Commander, and finally as the Madison County Director of Courts. I am very familiar with the issues confronting law enforcement in Madison County. I am particularly keen on the challenges facing the incoming sheriff as they relate to the Alton/Godfrey area. I have known Jeff Connor for 27 years; I met him when he was a Granite City Detective. We were both members of the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Major Case Squad investigating an area homicide. Jeff showed himself to be a dedicated professional Law Enforcement Officer then and continued to represent himself and The Granite City Police Department as such

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ALTON – Alton Memorial Hospital was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as “Gold Level” for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. “The Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is a way to show our commitment to safe sleep and SUID reduction,” said Renee Strowmatt, clinical educator for the Women’s Health and Childbirth Center. “Gold level is currently the highest level of certification. We obtained this certification by educating families and staff about safe sleep, modeling safe sleep in the hospital and providing all families with sleep sacks, providing families in need with safe places for their infants to sleep, and reaching out to the community about safe sleep through social media and other activities.” The BJC Safe Sleep Collaborative has worked together to achieve the Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep Certification across the health care system. “At

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Letter To The Editor: As a former police officer in both Missouri and Illinois, and retired police chief, I strongly endorse Jeff Larner for the position of Madison County, Illinois, Sherriff. Clearly, a change of direction is needed and Jeff can bring that change to our communities. Jeff's great experience in Law enforcement and the private sector, and his achievements in his personal life as well, position Jeff Larner to be one of our best sheriffs in Madison County history. Join with me in supporting Jeff Larner for Madison County Sherriff. Michael A Chiaurro Police Chief, Marine IL retired

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MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe was recently confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Leading up to her swearing-in, she released the following statement after resigning from the Illinois Senate Wednesday: “Since joining the Senate in 2019, I’ve felt overwhelming support from my family, my colleagues in the General Assembly and the Metro East community — my heart is full of gratitude as I submit my resignation. “I will cherish the partnerships and friendships that grew in my time in the Illinois Senate as we worked to advocate for change, update laws and improve our great state together. While serving the diverse communities of the 56th District was often challenging, I was overjoyed to see how we are united in our fight to enhance opportunities for families across the state. “I am forever grateful to the families of the 56th District for giving me the opportunity to serve

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Letter To The Editor: My name is David Michael, and as many of you know I am your elected Madison County Auditor. However, what you may not know is that prior to being elected Auditor in 2020, I served on the Madison County Board for four years from 2016-2020. During that time, the County Board worked together to achieve many great accomplishments, among those being: lowering the county's portion of the property tax levy by $1.8 million and then holding it flat to this very day, increasing funding for public safety and law enforcement by more than $2 million per year, and merging the Recorder's office with that of the County Clerk's to save the county over $150K per year. During this time, Mike Walters was one of the County Board Members who was in the trenches with me pushing for these changes to become reality. Mike has been a strong fiscal conservative on the board and has always stood for increased funding for law enforcement. This year, Mike Walters is running to become

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Fire and Police Departments responded to a report of a car in the water near Illinois State Route 111 and Gateway Commerce Drive West on Tuesday. Thankfully, the operator of the heavily damaged Camaro partially submerged in the retention pond was not in the vehicle or water and uninjured. Firefighters initially searched the car and pond for victims after the 911 call and didn’t find anyone. Edwardsville Police Department later identified the Camaro operator and the driver was cited with leaving the scene of an accident.

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GODFREY – Little Knights Inc. has been selected as the June 2022 RiverBend Growth Association Small Business of the Month award recipient. Located at 1100 Airport Road in Godfrey, at the Godfrey United Methodist Church and just behind Walmart, the state-licensed child care facility is led by Shannon Knight. She serves as its president and director. Operating at its current location for nine years now, since May 2013, Knight had first opened the child care service in her home in 2010. A much-needed expansion due to the increasing need in the community moved the facility to where it is today. “While Little Knights is no longer in my home, it still has that safe, welcoming, and comfortable in-home feel,” Knight said. “I absolutely love running the day care. It is one big extended family. And we keep our class sizes small, so every child gets the attention they need and deserve.” Little Knights serves children from 6 weeks to 12 years old, and with a current

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Built Brands, LLC. of American Fork, UT, is recalling 4,196 individual bars of its “Banana Cream Pie Puffs” protein bar because they have the potential to be contaminated with pathogenic Escherichia coli. Although the exact strain has yet to be determined customers must not eat this product as it may pose a serious health risk. Pathogenic Escherichia coli can cause diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and can be more severe. The recalled product was distributed nationwide to 1,049 potential customers through mail orders, and would have been received by customers after June 6, 2022. The product comes in a 40 gram package marked with lot # D22151011 on the outside of the wrapper. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing conducted by an accredited third-party laboratory at the request of Built Brands

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Letter To the Editor: In today’s polarized political climate, it’s hard to find true public servants. In Madison County, we’re fortunate to have Treasurer Chris Slusser to invest and protect taxpayer dollars in a professional office free of political gamesmanship. Chris Slusser is ethical, honest, and sincere. When he witnessed wrongdoing in county government, he did not turn a blind eye; instead, he stepped forward to report it to law enforcement. As a result, two men were fired by the county board for their wrongdoing and ethical lapses. Now, one of those men is running against Chris for Treasurer. Voters should not reward this bad behavior with their confidence. As county treasurer for the last five and a half years, Chris has made the office more efficient, customer-service focused, and transparent. He has managed the county’s investments safely and securely, and due to his management, the county’s investment portfolio is the top performing i

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Letter To The Editor: Who is the REAL Jeff Larner? You might know about Jeff Larner, THE PROFESSIONAL: Marine, policeman, head of Global Security for two multinational corporations. But let me tell you about Jeff Larner, THE MAN. Or actually, THE KID. Jeff and I grew up in adjacent neighborhoods in the sticks outside Granite City. We attended grades 1-12 together. When we were in high school in the ‘70s: • Despite being a skinny runt, Jeff was a great athlete and natural leader. He was captain of the Granite City soccer team in the era they won ten state championships. I always admired his work ethic and discipline. • He was well-liked, and gentlemanly at an age it wasn’t cool. He was voted Fall Festival King. • When guys did dumb things like break school windows or TP yards, Jeff would try to talk them out of it and refused to participate. He resisted peer pressure — a man of principle even as a teenager. • He also ignored peer pressure

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Letter To The Editor: Dan DeCarli is a retired captain from the City of Ferguson, Missouri Police Department and has served in law enforcement for 45 years. He was the Chief Deputy Commander and the Commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis for 15 years. To the citizens of Madison County, Illinois: I am writing this letter to extend my support of and my endorsement for Major Jeff Connor for Sheriff of Madison County, Illinois. I have known Jeff for over two decades, both personally and professionally, and there isn't anyone more qualified, dedicated, and loyal to their profession. I am a retired captain from the City of Ferguson, Missouri Police Department and have served in law enforcement for 45 years. I also served as the Chief Deputy Commander and the Commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis for 15 years and it was during that time that I had the privilege to know Jeff and witness first-hand what a true exemplary law enforcement officer he is. Jef

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EAST ALTON - The value of NARCAN and the ability of first responders to administer it was shown once again Wednesday when the East Alton Police Department was called to a 911 call of a man unresponsive in the grass outside the Motor Lodge. East Alton Police Chief Scott Golike said the policeman who responded - Officer Alexander Godair - fully used his first responder training and properly administered NARCAN to help reverse the effects of an apparent opioid overdose. “The victim appeared lifeless when the officer arrived and after the officer administered NARCAN to him he came back to life, then was transported quickly to the hospital,” the chief said. “It was an overdose situation. We were very happy to see the person come back to life. I was also proud of the officer for his quick actions.”

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BETHALTO - Ryan McCoy, a father of a young 7-year-old TikTok enthusiast Kimberly “Kimmy,” had the experience of a lifetime on Monday morning when he opened his TikTok account. Ryan had always been a fan of actress Drew Barrymore, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine she would react to a TikTok video he posted with his daughter, Kimmy. Kimmy and Ryan often interpret scenes from movies in their TikTok videos and this time, Kimmy, who resembles Drew at age 7, emulated the Hollywood star when she appeared on “The Tonight Show” with host Johnny Carson. Drew responded with a TikTok duet with Kimmy that brought tears to Ryan and his fiancé, Brandi Huber’s eyes. @drewbarrymore #duet with @ryanmccoy04 ? original sound - Drew Barrymore Kimmy’s reaction was classic: She said: “Oh my God, Drew Barrymore responded?” Ryan said Kimmy was just overwhelmed with excitement and so red-faced with emotion that such a

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ALTON - Hayner Public Library announced today that all three Hayner locations at 326 Belle St., 401 State St. and 132 Alton Square Mall, will be available as cooling stations during normal operating hours. An excessive heat warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the area and that extends into next week.

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SOUTH ROXANA - A South Roxana Police Officer was injured after she responded to the 400 block of Southard Avenue for a theft complaint and to serve a warrant out of the county at 12:41 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. South Roxana Police Officer Chralene "Charlie" O'Dell attempted to arrest Michelle Emmerick for an outstanding warrant out of Jersey County, in addition to serving Emmerick with a local theft of service complaint. While attempting to take Emmerick into custody a struggle ensued where Emmerick fled into her residence. Officer O’Dell suffered injuries as a result of the struggle and was treated at the scene by medical personnel, South Roxana Police Chief Bob Coles said. She has had some bruising and swelling from the situation, added the chief. Emmerick was placed into custody and transported to the Madison County Jail for lodging. The case was presented to the Madison County States Attorney’s Office where a felony warrant for Aggravated Resisting Arrest with

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ALTON – Alton Memorial Hospital was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as “Gold Level” for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. “The Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is a way to show our commitment to safe sleep and SUID reduction,” said Renee Strowmatt, clinical educator for the Women’s Health and Childbirth Center. “Gold level is currently the highest level of certification. We obtained this certification by educating families and staff about safe sleep, modeling safe sleep in the hospital and providing all families with sleep sacks, providing families in need with safe places for their infants to sleep, and reaching out to the community about safe sleep through social media and other activities.” The BJC Safe Sleep Collaborative has worked together to achieve the Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep Certification across the health care system. “At

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