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ALTON - At a recent North Alton-Godfrey Business Council meeting, John Simmons spoke about AltonWorks and his vision for Alton. But first, he told the story of how he met his wife. Simmons explained that he and Jayne were both born in the Alton a few years apart, but they didn’t spend much time in the city as John grew up in the East Alton/Rosewood Heights area and Jayne grew up in the Wanda/South Roxana area. They met at Roxana High School, and Simmons immediately new Jayne was the girl. He proposed. He was 14. “I just knew she was the one. Why mess around, you know?” he laughed. “She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no, either. It was one of those, ‘So you’re saying there’s a chance?’” One day, the two of them were driving to a visit a friend in Fairmount in Alton. Jayne, who had her license before Simmons, was driving her Chevy Chevette as they looked for the address. They were “toodling around Fairmount,”

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EDWARDSVILLE — The trial of Bryce V. Andrews commenced today at the Madison County Justice Center, with Judge Neil Schroeder presiding. Andrews, who is facing multiple charges related to the deaths of his adoptive father and his father’s husband, opted for a bench trial instead of a jury trial. He is represented by Ginny Smith and Mary Copeland from the Madison County Public Defenders Office. During opening statements, the Assistant States Attorney outlined the prosecution's case, stating that evidence would reveal the victims were stabbed 117 times. The prosecution alleged that after the killings, Andrews attempted to bury the bodies in the backyard, but due to frozen ground, he instead set fire to the house and the bodies. They further claimed that Andrews stole his father’s vehicle and traveled to St. Louis, where surveillance footage captured him parking the vehicle in an abandoned lot. In her opening statement, defense attorney Ginny Smith acknowledged that

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY - The Salvation Army in Alton and Granite City has once again demonstrated its community spirit by surpassing the fundraising goal for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign. The campaign raised a total of $442,700, exceeding the initial goal of $422,000 set for the Alton and Granite City locations. The announcement was made following a celebratory event where the campaign's leaders, including Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Chairs John and Cathy Keller, thanked supporters and contributors. "We couldn’t have done it without you," they both said, acknowledging the hard work of the Christmas committee, support from the Advisory Board members, along with countless volunteers and donors. As part of the campaign's conclusion, Salvation Army's Sean Grey fulfilled his promise to the Kellers to become clean-shaven if the goal was met. This week, Claudia of Happy Hour Barber Stop provided the services for Grey, who said it had been months since he wa

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ALTON - Alton’s annual Black History Month exhibit is once again open at City Hall. Curated by Sheila Goins and historian Charlotte Johnson, the exhibit features many people and events that are relevant to Alton’s history. Goins noted the importance of commemorating Black History Month and remembering the residents who have advocated for Alton’s Black community. “It is so important for the Alton community — and it doesn't matter what your background is — to come out and just expose yourself to the information that you may not know,” Goins said. “You’ll see some familiar faces here and just be so proud to be a part of Alton, Illinois.” This year’s exhibit features Dorothy H. Scott , a first lieutenant in the Six Triple Eight Battalion during World War II. This battalion of Black women successfully sorted a backlog of over 17 million pieces of mail while facing racism and sexism. Scott resided in Alton and taught

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TROY - The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce issued a reminder on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, to register for the Executive Exchange. The Chamber hosted two Executive Exchange meetings in January. Based on the responses, both groups had many takeaways, the chamber's president Dawn Mushill said. "Our thanks to Jessica for facilitating the event," she said. "The dates for the next four events in February and March are listed below. Please review the dates/times and get registered/paid as soon as you can. We have limited space in all four events and we know you don’t want to miss out! Also, the registration/payment deadlines are open until 5:00 p.m. and then will be shut down. It is important that we are able to get a count to our venues. If you are not within the C-Suite level of your company, be sure to share this e-mail with them. " UPCOMING EXECUTIVE EXCHANGE EVENTS February 18th Boogies II (downstairs) 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. https://troymaryvillecocil.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/9563

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GRANITE CITY – Two individuals – one from Belleville and one from Granite City – face felony charges after a traffic stop yielded multiple firearms and drugs from the vehicle they occupied. Ahmad J. Grady, 21, of Belleville, was charged with the following: Armed violence (Class X felony) Unlawful possession of a stolen firearm (Class 2 felony) Unlawful manufacture or delivery of cannabis (Class 2 felony) Aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (Class 4 felony). Possession of a controlled substance (Class 4 felony) Resisting a peace officer (Class A Misdemeanor) On Jan. 27, 2025, Grady and Fernando C. Jones, 22, of Granite City, were occupants of the same vehicle involved in a traffic stop, from which multiple firearms and drugs were seized. Jones was not charged with any form of drug possession, but was charged with armed violence (a Class X felony), unlawful possession of a stolen firearm (a Class 2 felony), and aggravated unlawful possession

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Metro-East man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Raoul’s office prosecuted Charles B. Zamarron II, 44, who was sentenced on Thursday by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge John O’Gara after pleading guilty to five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, four counts of failure to register as a sex offender and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. “This sentence brings justice to exploited and abused children who are retraumatized each and every time one of these heinous images or videos are downloaded or shared,” Raoul said. “My office’s

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski will host a roundtable discussion on February 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and special education advocates to address concerns regarding the Trump Administration’s stance on the Department of Education. The event will take place at the Fairview Heights IFT Union Hall. The roundtable aims to highlight the potential negative impacts of eliminating the Department of Education on the disability community. Budzinski, who has a personal connection to the issue as the aunt of a nephew with Down syndrome, has consistently advocated for federal funding programs that support children with disabilities. "I look forward to hearing directly from IFT members, educators, and advocates, and bringing their stories and insights back to Washington," Budzinski stated in a recent communication. Participants in the roundtable will include Cyndi Oberle-Dahm, Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois Federation

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COLLINSVILLE – In response to a growing trend of school threats across the nation, the Collinsville Police Department and the Collinsville Unit 10 School District have collaborated to produce an educational video aimed at students and parents. The initiative comes as concerns rise over the implications of making violent threats, even when intended as jokes. The video targets students in grades 4 through 12 and their parents, and will be shown to students at school as part of an effort led by School Resource Officers and building administrators. The video aims to clarify the potential consequences of making false threats against schools, illustrating the impact on both the school community and law enforcement resources. Collinsville District 10 Superintendent Dr. Brad Skertich and Collinsville Police Chief Brett Boerm emphasized the importance of this initiative. The two said, "The Collinsville Police Department, in partnership with CUSD 10, has produced a video to warn students

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CARLINVILLE - Carlinville residents Ron Releford and Kelly Passalacqua are spearheading a fundraiser to support Wally Dyer, who was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident on Jan. 26, 2025. The incident occurred in Mercer, Wisc., while Dyer was riding with his son, Nate, and friends. As he approached a bridge, his snowmobile struck a rock, causing him to be thrown from the vehicle, resulting in significant injuries. Following the accident, Dyer was airlifted to a trauma center in Wausau, Wisc., where he remains hospitalized. He sustained multiple injuries, including 17 broken bones in his back and ribs, a ruptured eardrum, a fractured skull, and a brain bleed. His wife, Michelle, immediately traveled to Wisconsin upon receiving notification from the Wisconsin State Police and has not returned home since. Wally Dyer is currently conscious and able to move his arms and legs, although communication remains challenging due to pain management issues. After nearly two weeks in intensive

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today encouraged Illinoisans to be vigilant when dating online to avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam. “You may be hoping to meet a special someone online or through a dating app this Valentine’s Day, but be mindful of red flags that could indicate they are not who they claim to be. Romance scammers take advantage of victims’ openness and trust,” Raoul said. “If you think you may be a victim of a romance scam, do not let any embarrassment deter you from seeking help or filing a complaint with my office.” Attorney General Raoul issued the following tips to help prevent individuals from falling victim to online romance scams: Online scammers often create fake profiles or pose as celebrities and may attempt to contact you via social media. You can identify a fake profile by running a reverse image search of the account’s pro Beware of text messages or direct messages from strangers

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum for the village officials and trustees and the school board candidates. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the community is invited to the Bethalto Senior Center at 100 E. Central in Bethalto. Candidates will be present to meet residents and answer questions. Jane Balsters Ahasay with the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce noted the importance of getting to know the candidates. “It truly gives you an opportunity to come out and meet a candidate face-to-face that is representing you both in your village and on your school board,” Ahasay said. “It’s very important that you know who is representing you. Many people don’t realize. They probably can’t tell you who’s on your school board or who your village trustees are. It’s really important to know who’s representing you in your community.” The village officials are running unopposed. Current Village

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department has received a donation of a ballistic vest for its K9 officer, Kingo, from Brady’s K9 Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting police dogs across the United States. Brady’s K9 Fund was established by an 8-year-old boy named Brady, who recognized the need for body armor for K9 officers, similar to that worn by their human partners. Since its inception in 2018, the fund has raised over $1.25 million and provided vests for more than 950 K9s in all 50 states. The organization aims to equip these dogs with essential protective gear, allowing them to perform their duties safely. “The work that K9 officers do is invaluable to our community,” said the Collinsville Police Department in a statement. “We are grateful for the support of Brady’s K9 Fund, which helps ensure that K9 Kingo is well-equipped and protected during his shifts.” Brady’s K9 Fund continues to seek support from th

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GRAFTON - A new restaurant is opening in Grafton. Fountain Hill will open on March 1, 2025. Located at 1500 W. Main Street in Grafton, the site of the former Fin Inn, Fountain Hill will serve steaks, pasta dishes and seafood. Owner Sonny Asani, previous owner of Santino’s in Alton, noted his excitement to come to Grafton and welcome the community to his new space. “I don’t know how to thank the town. I don’t know how to thank the community,” Asani said. “It’s been nothing but the best. It’s been nothing but good things and I love them so much. Hopefully they’re going to support us and help us out, and we’ll be there for them, too.” From 5–7 p.m. on March 1, 2025, the community is invited to Fountain Hill for a grand opening ceremony, complete with a free buffet. Altonians are invited to stop by starting at 4 p.m. as a special “thank you” for supporting Santino’s. Asani expressed hi

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Did you know that Americans spend an estimated $20 billion each year on Valentine’s Day? This staggering figure highlights not only the commercial nature of the holiday but also the deep-seated human desire to express love and affection. But where did this tradition of celebrating romantic love originate, and how has it transformed into the elaborate festivities we see today? The Historical Roots of Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day has its origins shrouded in mystery, with various theories tracing its beginnings back to ancient Rome. One prevalent legend is linked to St. Valentine, a priest who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the third century. According to this tale, Claudius believed that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, leading him to ban marriages for young men. St. Valentine defied this decree by secretly performing marriages for young couples. Eventually, he was caught, imprisoned, and executed on February

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February 14th is a date often associated with love and romance due to the celebration of Valentine's Day. However, the day has also been marked by pivotal events that have shaped history in various ways. One of the most notable events on February 14 occurred in 1929, known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. In Chicago, during the height of Prohibition, seven members of George 'Bugs' Moran's gang were brutally murdered by assailants allegedly hired by rival gangster Al Capone. This shocking event highlighted the violent turf wars that characterized the era of organized crime in the United States. The massacre not only captured the public's attention but also led to increased scrutiny of law enforcement's inability to combat crime effectively, ultimately contributing to the eventual demise of Prohibition. In the realm of sports, February 14, 1989, marked a significant milestone as the first-ever NBA All-Star Game was held in the new Madison Square Garden, New York City. This event

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ALTON - The Wellness Center at Senior Services Plus, located at 2603 N. Rodgers Ave. in Alton, IL, is excited to host a free wellness workshop focused on healthy living for older adults. The "Healthy Living for Older Adults" workshop will take place on Friday, February 28, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Guest speaker Dr. Sumit Tiwari, a cardiologist with SIHF Healthcare, will share expert tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing cholesterol, engaging in safe and effective exercises, and adopting heart-friendly dietary habits. This free workshop will be held in the Wellness Center’s classroom and is open to the public—no Wellness Center membership is required to attend. No RSVP is necessary. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 618-465-3298, ext. 109. About Senior Services Plus, Inc. Senior Services Plus, Inc. is a 501(c) not-for-profit organization established to enrich the lives of older adults through programs and services, for everyone

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ALTON - YWCA Southwestern Illinois and the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) invite all community members to two upcoming Voter Education Events. These forums will provide an opportunity for voters to engage with candidates ahead of the April 1 election. The Coffee with the Candidates & Madison County Clerk event will take place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the YWCA Lobby and Levis Room (304 E. Third St., Alton, IL). Voters will have the chance to meet one on one with Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas and all candidates for key City of Alton races, including Mayor, City Clerk, City Treasurer, and Alderman. Clerk Andreas will also share important voter information on early voting, vote by mail, registration, polling places, and the MadisonVotes.com website. Additionally, she will provide details on the Student Ambassador Program for youth interested in civic engagement. On Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 7 p.m., YWCA and NCNW will host an Alto

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PONTOON BEACH – Firefighters from the Long Lake Fire Department and the Mitchell Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 100 block of Queensbury Court on Thursday night. The Pontoon Beach Police Department arrived first at the scene and reported that the house was fully engulfed in flames. Upon arrival, firefighters found the house ablaze, and they worked quickly to bring the fire under control. While the primary structure was heavily damaged, the house next door sustained damage to its siding and a window due to the heat of the fire. According to initial assessments, the house that caught fire appears to be vacant, and no injuries have been reported in connection with the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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EDWARDSVILLE — The trial of Bryce V. Andrews is set to begin tomorrow, as he faces charges in connection with the deaths of his adoptive father, Robert “Bob” Andrews, and his husband, Leonard “Jim” Ebrey. The alleged homicides occurred on February 1, 2021, at their residence in Godfrey, Illinois. The incident began when the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a residential fire at 2301 Wedgewood Drive in Alton, Illinois. Fire units and deputies responded to the scene, where two males were found and subsequently pronounced dead. In response to the incident, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated at the request of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Approximately 25 investigators worked on the case until it was resolved. Andrews is charged with four counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Arson, one count of Offenses Related to Motor Vehicle, and two counts of Concealment of a Homicidal

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