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HIGHLAND - The Highland Police Department is investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred Sunday, July 6, 2025, at approximately 12:40 p.m. on Veterans Honor Parkway at Michael Road. Officers responding to the scene found that two vehicles were involved in the collision. The Highland Fire Department and EMS personnel from multiple agencies were called to provide care and treatment to the victims. One individual was later pronounced deceased. Authorities are withholding the victim’s identity out of respect for the family. The police department is working with the Metroeast Crash Assistance Team to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. The investigation remains ongoing. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic incident,” the Highland Police Department said in a statement. Officials are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to contact the department at 618-654-2131, extension 1.

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JACKSONVILLE — State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) is pleased to announce the first winning entry in his 100th District Photo Contest. The winning photograph was captured by Theresa Crouch of Brighton and will be proudly displayed in Rep. Davidsmeyer’s Springfield office at the Illinois State Capitol. The contest invited residents from across the 100th District to submit photographs that reflect the character and charm of the region. Submissions included images of local landmarks, scenic views, and vibrant community life, all showcasing the diverse beauty of the district. The photo, which beautifully captures the morning fog settling over the landing in Grafton, Illinois, was selected from dozens of entries submitted by talented residents across the district. The contest invited constituents to showcase the landscapes, people, and communities that make the 100th District unique. “This photo truly represents the heart of our district,”

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY — The Illinois State Police announced the results of a month-long Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement operation targeting underage alcohol sales in St. Clair County. Conducted in June 2025, the surveillance aimed to identify businesses selling alcoholic beverages to minors and enforce underage drinking laws to reduce impaired driving incidents. Illinois State Police Zone 6 Commander Jamie Brunnworth revealed that 13 establishments were found to have sold alcohol to individuals under the age of 21. Employees cited for unlawful delivery of alcoholic liquor to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor, included Autumn M. Marish, 28, of Mascoutah at Scooter’s; Octaviano Jeronimo Mariscal, 27, of New Baden at Camino Real Mexican Cuisine; and Margarete A. Hund, 64, of Mascoutah at The Vault. Other employees cited were Jameel D. Johnson, 22, of East St. Louis at Green Mount Moto Mart; Margarita Reyes, 32, of Columbia at Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant; Tamaziah Hood, 18,

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a variety of free databases available for community members to utilize. In a recent interview on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Hayner’s executive director Mary Cordes explained that the databases offer free, verified resources for a variety of professions, studies and more. From studying for the ACT to learning about home repair, Hayner’s databases have a lot of information available. “We have a ton of databases. I’m always trying to promote them because I feel like they’re one of the most valuable things we have in our collection that people just don’t know about,” Cordes said. “They’re not super glamorous, but they’re super helpful.” All of these databases can be accessed with your Hayner Library library card. You can access them at home or come to the library and use the computers there. Cordes pointed to Learning Express , an onlin

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JERSEYVILLE - Brogan Kanallakan is displaying talent at both the plate and in his first base role this summer. Joe Kallal, one of the summer coaches for Jerseyville's American Legion teams, sees great potential in the rising junior for Jersey Community High School. Brogan is a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month. Brogan's older brother, Drake, was an outstanding athlete and was a towering 6-foot-6 player. He played at Jersey Community High School under Coach Darren Perdun and went 6-1 his senior year with a 2.19 ERA. He pitched at Rockhurst and also had success from 2017-2021. Brogan is following in the footsteps of Drake and has the physique and also athletic talent to be a great baseball player, Coach Kallal said. "He will be a junior this year," Coach Kallal said. "He has a lot of baseball potential." Brogan is also an honor student at JCHS.

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College has announced its Dean’s List for the Spring 2025 semester. Students named to the Dean’s List must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester. Area students include: HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Alton, IL Justin Atkinson Brighton, IL Cassidy Gaither Erika Pfitzner Carrollton, IL Diana Varble Godfrey, IL Ashley Richardson Megan Van Deusen Granite City, IL Bryan Chrisos Ashley Schardan Emalee Shubert Jerseyville, IL Clayton Brunaugh Abigail Droege Caroline Gibson Shelby Koenig

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ALTON — Authorities arrested Joshua L. Glen-Colley, 18, of Alton on Monday, July 7, 2025, in connection with the July 4, 2025, homicide of 17-year-old Shabrya L. Hudson, who was fatally shot inside her home in the 900 block of Oakwood Avenue. Detectives from the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division took Glen-Colley into custody at approximately 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 600 block of Stowell Street without incident. The arrest came following a day of intensive investigation and interviews with individuals connected to the suspect. Glen-Colley faces multiple charges filed earlier Monday by Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine, including two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons. Also charged in relation to the incident is Morgan E. Booth, 23, of Alton, who was taken into custody Monday and charged with obstructing justice. She was subsequently released in accordance wit

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy summer ahead. Executive Director Mary Cordes expressed her excitement to offer all the great activities, programs and more fun that the library has planned through July and August. She encourages people to come out and enjoy all the free events. “We’ve got a lot of people who are using us and just doing a lot of different things,” she said. “What I love about our staff is, it’s like, you know what, let’s just try it. Just try something new, and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, we’ll try something else different. We’ve come up with some good programs that way.” At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Hayner Library’s Alton Square Mall location, community members are invited to the bimonthly X’s and Sews: A Crafting Program event. Cordes said this “perennially popular” event allows crafters to work on their projects while chatting with

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ALTON – Organizers for the 4th annual OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center Back-to-School Celebration on Saturday, August 2, 10:00 a.m. – Noon, are expecting a crowd of at least 800 for this year’s event at Alton Square Mall. Why? Because that’s how many attended last year’s Back to School event which was also held at Alton Square Mall. This year’s Back-to-School Celebration, sponsored exclusively by Dwight and Cheryl Werts, and Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc., will distribute school supplies including (but not limited to) paper, pens, pencils, and crayons to the first 500 kids ages 4 to 12 – last year’s event provided school supplies for 500 students. Admission is FREE and the event is open to the public. A pizza lunch complete with chips, cookies, and bottled water will be available while supplies last. “The impact and popularity of this event is best demonstrated in that we’ve seen attendance increase

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ST. LOUIS - The American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis together with BJC HealthCare urges people to give blood as an act of kindness to those who need it most. Donors of all blood types, especially those with type O blood, are needed every day to maintain an adequate blood supply for patients in need. Once a donor has made the commitment to give blood, it is important to take a few simple steps to prepare and help ensure a good donation experience. Get a good night’s sleep, drink an extra 16 ounces of water, eat iron-rich foods to maintain a healthy iron level and consume a low-fat meal before donating. The community is invited to help save lives by donating blood on the dates and times listed below. Those who present to donate will receive a custom BJC HealthCare x Red Cross T-shirt. Friday, July 11, 2025 · Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital-Medical Office Building #1: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. · Progress West Hospital-Conference Room B: 11

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O’FALLON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures will be in place on both directions of Interstate 64 between Illinois 159 and one mile east of West Highway 50 in St. Clair County beginning, weather permitting, Monday, July 14. Traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction. The closures mark the start of a multi-phase improvement project along the I-64 corridor from Illinois 157 to one mile east of West Highway 50. The $76.87 million project consists of milling and pavement resurfacing and various overhead bridge repairs. Work will be broken down into the following phases: Phase 1 : Resurfacing I-64 in both directions between Illinois 159 and one mile east of West Highway 50. This work is expected to be completed in late fall 2025. Phase 2 : Repairs to various overhead bridges within the project limits. Work is expected to begin in fall 2025 and be completed by summer 2026. Phase 3 : Resurfacing I-64 in

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BELLEVILLE - Doula Lab will offer a baby supplies giveaway and back-to-school event. Located in Belleville, Doula Lab is a pregnancy resource center that offers education and support for pregnant people, postpartum care, and family resources. As they prepare to move to a new location, they will offer a baby supplies giveaway from 3–6 p.m. on July 10 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 12, 2025, at their current spot at 6400 West Main Street Suite 1D in Belleville, followed by a back-to-school kickoff and community baby shower on Aug. 9, 2025, at Belleville West High School. “We want to make it an all-in-one-stop-shop,” said executive director Charity Bean. “When we put these events on, we’re thinking of the entire family dynamic as well as what all resources do people actually need. We wanted to make sure we not only get fun for the entire family experience, but also people leave feeling like the entire dynamic has been served.” The baby supplies

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GODFREY — The highly anticipated Midwest Best of Black Awards Gala returns for its third year on Saturday, July 19, 2025 , at the elegant Lewis & Clark Trimpe Bldg . Known as one of the Midwest’s premier Black excellence celebrations, this black-tie gala will spotlight exceptional entrepreneurs, leaders, and community builders who are making an undeniable impact across the region hosted by K Miller Foundation. This year’s theme: "Legacy in Motion" speaks to the power of honoring the past while building the future through collaboration, innovation, and visibility. The 2025 Gala Highlights Include: · Dynamic Panel Discussion During Dinner Featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers: o LaTonya AnNoor – Executive Business Marketing Strategist & Founder of “Level Up with LaTonya” o Deletra Hudson – The Financial Guru, CEO of Deletra Hudson LLC & Founder of Lipstick and Legacies o Porscha Anderson – Business

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ALTON – Two Alton residents accused of recklessly discharging firearms face felony charges in separate cases. Jashawn B. McLemore, 19, of Alton, was charged on July 1, 2025 with reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (both Class 4 felonies). McLemore allegedly fired a weapon in a reckless manner near the 3300 block of Belle Street in Alton, endangering the bodily safety of nearby residents. His possession of the weapon was unlawful as he had no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card or Concealed Carry License (CCL) at the time of the offense. The state’s petition to deny McLemore’s pretrial release from custody states officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired on Belle Street, where “26 shell casings were collected from the area.” Two nearby witnesses then gave authorities their accounts after seeing McLemore firing a weapon outdoors. “Officers spoke with a witness who advised she

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Concert Band will perform another free summer concert on Thursday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. This week’s rescheduled program, titled “American Folk Tapestry,” explores a series of works that showcase the sounds of river ballads, pioneer songs, spirituals, Shaker hymns, and more. Each piece is based on traditional songs and shows the work of composers connected to the Midwest, making the program feel both nationwide and close to home. Concessions during the Thursday concert will benefit the SIUE Suzuki Tour Group. Grab a seat, settle in with friends and family, and enjoy a summer evening filled with music from your local community band. Follow the Edwardsville Municipal Band on Facebook and Instagram for more information and updates.

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CHICAGO — Following the signing of Trump and Congressional Republicans’ budget bill, Illinois is raising awareness about the devastating impact on working families’ access to healthcare. With the stroke of a pen, Trump has signed into law the largest cut to Medicaid in American history that will strip coverage from an estimated 330,000 Illinoisans, burden working families with increased premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and threaten hospitals and nursing homes across the state, especially in rural areas. Vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, will lose coverage under administratively burdensome eligibility policies. Among the hardest hit will be the 64 percent of nondisabled adults who are working and must now also navigate new work requirements to retain their coverage. “Donald Trump sold out the American people, stripping away their healthcare and raising costs for

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BETHALTO —1st MidAmerica Credit Union recently awarded five, $1,000 scholarships to local area high school graduates Jayden Henschen, Isabella Lozano, Alexis Harrop, Meredith Pitchford, and Ellie Laird. Jayden Henschen is a graduate of Edwardsville High School. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville to pursue a degree in Nursing. Isabella Lozano, a graduate of MacArthur High School, plans to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and earn a degree in Animal Science. Alexis Harrop is a graduate of Southwestern High School. She plans to earn a degree in Radiologic Technology from Lewis and Clark Community College. Meredith Pitchford, a Roxana Senior High School graduate, plans to attend SIUE to earn a degree in Business. Ellie Laird is a graduate of Jersey Community High School. She plans to attend Lewis and Clark Community College to study Nursing. 1st MidAmerica Credit Union has a mission of exceeding member expectations. Additional information

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MADISON COUNTY – Chestnut Health Systems™ invites the community to attend an Open House at its Maryville location, 2148 Vadalabene Dr., Maryville, IL 62062, on Wednesday, July 9 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This event celebrates the grand opening of the Genoa Healthcare pharmacy, giving guests the opportunity to tour the building, meet the dedicated staff, and learn more about the services Chestnut offers to support whole-person care. “We’re excited to expand our partnership with Genoa Healthcare as they help us deliver the full scope of care we provide our community,” said Amy Gibbar, vice president of Integrated Care at Chestnut. “With the addition of this pharmacy, Chestnut’s Maryville location joins the other Chestnut locations as a true one-stop shop for our clients.” Chestnut’s Maryville location provides comprehensive care designed to meet the unique needs of individuals and families in the community. Services include: Substance

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HILLSBORO — Bank of Hillsboro is proud to announce it will be rebranding to Constitution Bank, effective September 2, 2025. The new name reflects the bank’s deep-rooted values and its continued investment in serving customers with strength, independence, and personalized service, which are hallmarks of its 156-year history. “Constitution Bank is more than a name change, it’s a renewed commitment to who we’ve always been,” said Misty Borrowman, President and CEO of Bank of Hillsboro. “We remain locally owned and community focused, with the same trusted people and the same commitment to the customers and communities we serve.” Customers can expect a seamless transition. Account numbers, online access, and daily banking operations will remain unchanged. The teams customers know and trust will continue to provide the same service at all existing branches. This is a brand evolution, not a change in ownership. The bank remains independently

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ALTON, Ill. (July 3, 2025) – Simmons Hanly Conroy , a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that firm partner Melissa Crowe Schopfer was selected as the winner of the 2025 Women of Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar (PALS) Award. Her selection was announced at this year’s seminar, which took place May 13-15 in Las Vegas. The Women of PALS Award is bestowed annually to an individual who supports, initiates, and/or sustains the advancement and progress of women in the field. It celebrates meaningful leadership on issues related to gender-equity and recognizes those who have materially contributed to altering structural barriers to the success of women in the field. Award recipients are those who effectively and consistently speak truth to power. “Melissa embodies every characteristic and pioneering stride that this award was created to observe,” said Simmons Hanly Conroy named

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