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URBANA – Avian flu cases are on the rise in the Midwest. From canceled poultry shows to advising homeowners to remove bird feeders, Illinois is urging those who come into contact with birds to take steps to prevent the disease from spreading. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a contagious virus that spreads among wild geese, ducks, and other waterbirds species, as well as some raptors, including bald eagles. Wild birds, which may show no symptoms even if infected, can carry the disease to new areas as they migrate north and transmit it to domestic poultry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service . Avian flu is an extremely infectious respiratory disease that affects all domestic poultry, including laying hens, broilers, and turkeys, as well as waterfowl and game birds. It can spread quickly within flocks causing severe disease and death. In the last outbreak of avian influenza, more than 200 commercial flocks and

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BELLEVILLE - – Illinois American Water is encouraging customers to participate in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this coming Saturday, April 30, 2022. Customers are encouraged to drop off unwanted medications at approved collection sites so they can be incinerated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends having unwanted medications incinerated. Flushing medications down the toilet and throwing them in the trash are discouraged. The event is Saturday, April 30, 2022, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Participating Illinois Take Back Day collection sites can be located here. Take Back Day events help keep medications from getting into the wrong hands and provide an opportunity for medication to be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way. Proper disposal also helps prevent medications from being flushed down the toilet or poured down a drain. Rachel Bretz, director of water quality and environmental compliance for Illinois

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SPRINGFIELD – Continuing efforts to recruit new teachers and diversify the profession, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a series of bills into law to address the nationwide teacher shortage. The bills will simplify the licensing process for educators, lower licensing fees, and create more opportunities for prospective educators. These initiatives build on Gov. Pritzker’s record of addressing the burden of the state’s current teacher shortage, which includes raising the minimum wage for teachers to $40,000 per year, increasing funding for the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program by 120%, a $200 million investment in early childhood education workforce development programs and increasing funding for teacher preparation programs. The teacher workforce has grown year-over-year since the state’s Evidence-Based Funding model was enacted in 2018. Since then, Illinois has added more than 5,000 teachers to the profession. Additionally, average teacher salaries have

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COLLINSVILLE– The Cahokia Mounds Museum Society will host its annual Indian Market Days from April 29 through May 1 at Gateway Center in Collinsville. The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site currently is closed for construction, but the Museum Society, which supports the site’s activities, is hosting the annual Indian vendor fair at Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Drive, just 10 minutes from the site. More than 30 vendors from various tribal affiliations will have items of jewelry, sculpture, paintings, pottery, and more for sale. Visitors also can purchase Cahokia Mounds' items at a Cahokia Mounds Gift Shop table. This free event supports Cahokia Mounds and complies with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Gateway Center is easily accessible from the interstates and has ample parking.

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RIVERBEND REGION - The RiverBend Growth Association’s Young Adults Committee presents the Young Adults Committee Scholarship Raffle. With eight chances to win this is a great opportunity to help support our youth in the Riverbend area. Purchase your tickets today for your chance to win one of over $2,000 worth of prizes! The Young Adults Committee (YAC) consists of four representatives from the RiverBend Growth Association’s member schools and mentors from the RiverBend Growth Association’s membership. The high school representatives are two juniors and two seniors from Alton High School, Civic Memorial High School, East Alton – Wood River High School, Marquette Catholic High School, and Roxana High School. This year’s students are Kennedy Bickmore, Audrey Bosse, Addison Denton, Allie Lively, Kamren Mason-El, Allie Schrumpf, Thomas Strohmeier, Reaghan Williams, Isabel Baldwin, Anbrielle Blake, Joe Brangenberg, Serenity Eldridge, Olivia Goodman, Ava Meneses,

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ALTON - Back in the early 1990s, a commercial was broadcast by Gatorade called “Be Like Mike” starring now considered the greatest basketball player of all-time Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. The commercial was a massive success and helped to further portray Jordan as a likable superstar and endeared children who wished to emulate his play. Because of Jordan and others of his era and beyond, possession of a basketball has become much sought after by most children. When kids have that ball placed in their hands, most start their dreams of one day being like Michael Jordan and all the other great players on the hardwoods. The MustacheMarch4PD program originated in 2017 and it has raised thousands of dollars to provide items from needed protective equipment for law enforcement to today's basketballs for police departments to distribute to children in the community. A group that included the Police Chief Marcos Pulido, MustacheMarch4PD officials, and others gathered

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ROXANA - It has been more than two years since Roxana Junior High has had a full-blown drama production because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the drama department unveils "The Addams Family Young@Part." The production is a shorter musical for elementary, middle schools, and youth theatres. Members of the cast are Emma Martin, Troy Rahn, Talan Blumenstock, Savion Hall, Ari Walker, Sadie Jackson, Laney Meadows, Landon Smith, Gianna Visser, and Evan Bazell. Director Brittany Sasser said she is so excited to finally have a full-blown Jr. High musical back on the stage at Roxana Jr. High School. Performance dates are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $4 for students and $7 for adults. Debbie Bunt Bacus, the assistant director, said it has been a challenge because many of the students have not participated in theatre or viewed it because of the pandemic, but it has been very rewarding to watch them grow. "We are really

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido released information about a stolen vehicle and a quick arrest on Wednesday. This was Pulido's report: "At 1:09 p.m. on April 27, 2022, the Alton Police Department was notified that a Ford Excursion pulling a silver trailer was just stolen from the back of a business, located in the 300 block of Homer Adams Parkway. As officers began responding and began to investigate, a motorist reported the driver of a Ford Excursion that was pulling a silver trailer was driving recklessly southbound on Martin Luther King Drive. "Additional officers began responding to the location of the reckless driver. The driver and sole occupant of the Ford Excursion that was pulling the silver trailer was located, stopped, and detained without further incident on Liberty Street at Union Street. The Ford Excursion and the silver trailer were then officially identified as the vehicle stolen during the incident in the 300 block of Homer Adams Parkway." Chief Pulido said

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EAST ALTON - Beauty by Brandy is a new beauty salon that will hold its soft opening on May 2 at 20 Terminal Dr. Suite #106 in East Alton. Owner and operator Brandy Sparrowks said the store is a long-time dream of hers come true as she offers an ever-expanding array of beauty services to the area. “Beauty by Brandy is my very first salon that I have ever owned,” Sparrowks said. “I’ve done hair for 24 years, and then I recently trained in brow permanent makeup and I’m training in lip at the moment, and then eventually it’s going to be eyeliner.” Sparrowks said permanent makeup is commonly used as a solution for those who draw on their eyebrows but don’t want to do so every day and usually last 3-5 years. She said she also offers more temporary brow solutions, such as henna brows which last 6-8 weeks depending on your skincare regimen. Tooth gems and botox are among several other services on the way in the near future, Sparrowks said.

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BETHALTO - Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Haine’s Office has charged a Clark, MO., man - Jay L. Hager - with a felony count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. There is also an ongoing stolen vehicle investigation and Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said he is a person of interest in that case. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon provided this information about the arrest: "At 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2022, a Bethalto Police Officer located a stolen vehicle parked at 100 Wesley Drive, Lot 12, East Alton. While conducting the investigation officers located a second stolen vehicle parked at the residence. East Alton, Wood River, and an Alton Officer responded and assisted in the efforts to contact the occupants of the residence. "Hager attempted to flee the trailer through the ground skirting but was stopped by officers. He was found to be in possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine and was taken into custody. "Hager is being held at the

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GRAFTON - The City of Grafton announced that it will host a Vaccine Clinic from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, sponsored by the Jersey County Health Department. The clinic will be held at the Grafton City Hall, 118 E. Main Street, Grafton. Vaccines available include COVID 19 (1st, 2nd, and Boosters; Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson), Shingles, TDAP, FLU, Hep A and Hep B. Free TDAP is available for those uninsured. The following insurances are accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Coventry, Health Alliance, Healthlink, Humana, Medicaid, Medicare (under certain guidelines) and United Health Care.

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BRIGHTON – The Piasa Southwestern High School baseball team picked up a bounce-back win over the Pana Panthers Monday afternoon by a score of 13-3. It comes after dropping both games of a double-header against New Berlin last Saturday by scores of 12-7 and 28-16. The Piasa Birds’ record remains a positive one though at 12-9 now on the season. Marcus Payne started on the mound for Piasa, and he was able to throw the entire six-inning game. Along the way, he picked up nine strikeouts while only walking one batter. He also recorded a hit and two RBI’s on the day. He found himself in a little trouble in the first inning. The Panthers were able to score a couple of runs early to take off to a 2-0 lead. The Piasa Birds battled back though. Hank Bouillon’s flyout scored a run to cut the lead in half. Payne hit a sac fly in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2. They found themselves trailing again though after Pana scored another run in the third. Southwestern

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BRIGHTON - The Piasa Southwestern baseball team picked up a 13-3 win over the Pana Panthers to remain undefeated in South Central Conference play and boost their season record to 12-9. Sophomore Marcus Payne started on the mound for the Piasa Birds and pitched the entire six-inning game throwing nine K’s along the way while only walking one. Payne is the Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for Southwestern. “Pretty much everything was working today,” Payne said postgame. His mixture of pitches proved to be troubling for the Panthers as he held them to just three runs. “We were really productive at the plate today, we had a couple of sac flies,” he added. He produced one of them in the second inning that tied the game back up at 2-2 after going down 2-0 in the first inning. Offensively he went 1-2 with a hit and two RBIs. He mentioned that these conference wins are huge saying that Piasa Southwestern hasn’t won th

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ROXANA - Kaylyn Dixon is a standout in multiple sports and also an excellent student. During the spring, Dixon is the Shells' goalie. Dixon said she has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old and started playing club soccer when she was 9 years old. "The part I love most about soccer is the friendships I have made through it," Dixon said. "I have met some of my best friends through it and have been able to watch them grow through this sport as well. Another part I love is pushing my abilities as far as I can. Saving a ball that everyone thought I couldn’t is the best feeling in the world." Kaylyn pointed out that volleyball is the other sport she loves. "I’m starting libero for my high school volleyball team and my club team as well," she said. "It has taught me many lessons throughout my career and without this sport, I wouldn’t be the same person or player I am today." Kaylyn thanked her whole family, especially my parents for being at every one of her

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CARROLLTON - Members and friends of the Carrollton United Methodist Church are showing a huge heart for the children of Ukraine through the United Nations Children’s Relief Fund (UNICEF). Led by Larry Gillingham, the Carrollton United Methodist Church will sponsor a baked potato bar Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the Church Fellowship Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A free-will offering will be accepted with proceeds going to support the children of Ukraine through the United Nations Children’s Relief Fund – UNICEF. Gillingham said menu items include baked potatoes with a variety of hot and cold toppings, a relish tray, build-it-yourself ham sandwiches, homemade desserts, and a choice of drinks. The Church and Fellowship Hall is located on the corner of Maple Street and Highway 67 in Carrollton. “Everyone is cordially invited to attend,” Gillingham said. “It is special to us because we wanted to do something to support the Ukraine children. This has always

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URBANA – The career achievements of Illinois 4-H members were lauded at the Illinois 4-H Celebration of Excellence held April 9 at the I Hotel & Conference Center in Urbana. The ceremony celebrated career achievements of 4-H members, and the Illinois 4-H Foundation awarded $45,000 in scholarships as part of the celebration. The scholarships are awarded to five Illinois 4-H members in each of nine focus categories and are based on merit and a demonstrated standard of 4-H excellence. “My wife Janette and I give to the Illinois 4-H Foundation in honor of my parents and maternal grandparents,” says donor Kevin Rhoades, a Fayette County 4-H alum. “I saw what a difference 4-H made for all my extended family members growing up and what it meant to my mother, Mary Ann, who was a leader for so many years. We felt it was important to help provide resources for 4-H to continue to help bring those life skills and values to young people and future leaders from throughout

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URBANA - Pop star Britney Spears told the world this month that she’s expecting her third child at age 40. While society may view it as less common than getting pregnant in your late teens, 20s, or early 30s, experts say later-in-life pregnancies can be successful if you plan for the complications that come with age. “I would not want anyone to let their age to be a factor in deciding whether or not to have a child,” says Kelli Daugherty , certified nurse-midwife at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois . “You absolutely can have a healthy, safe, and successful pregnancy and birth over the age of 40 just as you can at the age of 20. It just may be a little more difficult to get there.” Daugherty says women are most fertile in their late teens to mid-30s. Then, fertility begins to decline until menopause , when they can no longer get pregnant. “By age 45, fertility has declined so much that conceiving naturally for most women is not possible anymore,”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced the winner of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition, “Captivating Cardinals” by Kassidee Gabby of Marion High School. Kassidee’s artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol for the next year. “Congratulations to Kassidee for winning our 2022 competition,” said Bost. “I especially like that she incorporated not only Illinois’ state bird, the cardinal, into her artwork, but also our state flower, the violet. I’m looking forward to seeing it hang in the Capitol later this year. Thank you to the Mt. Vernon Visitors Center for hosting this year’s gallery as well as our judges, teachers, and students who participated this year. Job well done!”

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EDWARDSVILLE/EAST ST. LOUIS - First came the lesson, then the application and the result was freshly brushed and polished teeth. Bright Smiles Mobile Dental, of Swansea, concluded its services to more than 60 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students on Friday, April 22. “We have to report to the state regarding students’ physical, vision and dental exams,” said CHS nurse Marquita Holton, LPN, who contacted and coordinated the dental visits. “We had numerous students who needed their teeth cleaned, due in large part to COVID-related challenges. When some students were entering the ninth grade, many dentist offices weren’t seeing patients.” “I was more than happy to come,” said Dr. Rosalyn Smith, who started her mobile dental business in 1996. “I wanted to assist students in underserved areas. Currently, I service students in East St. Louis and the Cahokia area.” Before student

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CHICAGO – In Illinois last year, approximately 103 people were killed or injured in grade crossing and trespassing incidents. Illinois Operation Lifesaver works to prevent these needless incidents from happening through public awareness campaigns, education programs and free rail safety presentations. Operation Lifesaver , the non-profit rail safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and preventing trespassing on or near railroad tracks, is observing its 50th anniversary in 2022. Over the past five decades, Operation Lifesaver and its safety partners have helped reduce railroad crossing incidents by 84 percent across the nation. But there is more work to do – every three hours a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States. “The Illinois Commerce Commission has overseen Illinois’ rail safety efforts for more than 150 years. Keeping pedestrians, motorists, and

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