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Did you know that the average homeowner spends over $300 on outdoor decorations each fall, yet many end up with items they rarely use again? Transforming your porch into a warm and inviting autumnal retreat doesn’t have to break the bank or result in clutter. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can achieve a stylish and cozy look that welcomes guests and reflects the spirit of the season. Embrace Natural Elements from Your Surroundings One of the most cost-effective ways to decorate your porch is by using what nature offers. Leaves, pine cones, branches, and pumpkins are all readily available and free or inexpensive. Gather fallen leaves and branches: Layer vibrant leaves in a decorative bowl or scatter them along the porch steps. Use sturdy branches to create a rustic frame for your porch or to build a simple wreath. Incorporate pine cones and acorns: These small treasures can be placed in mason jars, mixed with fairy lights, or glued onto wreaths and garlands

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October 7th has been a date marked by transformative moments across history, spanning dramatic battles, groundbreaking discoveries, and notable cultural events. One of the most impactful events on October 7th occurred in 1571—the Battle of Lepanto. This monumental naval clash saw the Holy League, a coalition of Southern European Catholic maritime states, decisively defeat the Ottoman Empire's fleet in the Gulf of Patras. It was a turning point in the struggle for control over the Mediterranean Sea, curbing Ottoman naval dominance and marking a significant shift in European and Middle Eastern power dynamics. The victory was celebrated across Europe, inspiring art, literature, and a renewed sense of unity among Christian states. On October 7th, 1949, the German Democratic Republic, commonly known as East Germany, was officially established. This event was a pivotal moment in the post-World War II geopolitical reconfiguration and the Cold War era. East Germany emerged as a socialist

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ALTON – Alton officials are moving forward with applying for a Madison County grant to cover part of the cost to prepare an updated plan for the city’s park facilities. The city has determined its current Park, Open Space, and Recreation Facilities Management Plan – which was prepared in 2012 by HeartLands Conservancy – is “outdated and in need of replacement,” according to a resolution passed on Monday by the Committee of the Whole. The grant funding sought by the city comes from the Metro East Parks and Recreation District’s (MEPRD) Community Planning Grant program. If the city’s application is approved, the grant would cover up to 40% of the cost for HeartLands to prepare the updated parks plan. Alton would agree to contribute at least 60% of any awarded amount in local matching funds. At Monday’s meeting, Alderwoman Rosetta Brown suggested city officials gather feedback from community members about improvements they’d

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CHICAGO, IL, AND WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of Illinois and the League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following joint statement in response to reports that the federal government is preparing to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago and other communities across Illinois: “The League stands with our members, residents of Illinois, and the elected government of our sovereign state in renewing our condemnation of troop deployment in Illinois because there is no justification for such action. Chicago is not experiencing an emergency that requires federal force. To be clear, there is no war zone in Chicago or anywhere else in Illinois unless federal troops are bent on creating one. “Illinoisans will not be bullied into submission by acquiescing to warrantless attacks on our citizens nor to inhumane treatment of our neighbors and family members. We have no interest in federal troops descending on our neighborhoods to impose terror

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COLLINSVILLE — A collision between a pickup truck and a semi-truck on Interstate 55 northbound south of Fairmont Avenue early Sunday morning, Oct. 5, 2025, resulted in one fatality and one injury, according to the Illinois State Police. The crash occurred at approximately 3:01 a.m. Oct. 5 near milepost 8, when both vehicles caught fire following the impact. Emergency responders from ISP Troop 8 arrived at the scene. The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene, while the semi-truck driver was taken to a regional hospital with injuries, the Illinois State Police said. The northbound lanes of I-55 remained closed until about 10:26 a.m. as authorities conducted their investigation, ISP added. No additional information has been released. The Illinois State Police continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

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COLLINSVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8 Commander, Captain Casey Faro, announces the ISP will conduct Roadside Safety Checks (RSCs) in Madison and St. Clair counties during October. The use of RSCs combine a strong sense of public awareness and enforcement in order to save lives of the motoring public. The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working the detail will be watchful for motorists who show signs of impaired driving, operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, and transporting open alcoholic beverages, as well as improper seatbelt and child restraint usage, distracted driving, and other Illinois Vehicle Code violations. Alcohol and drug impairment are estimated to be a factor in more than 47% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 39 minutes in the United States. RSCs are designed to keep our roads safe by taking

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GODFREY – Prospective students of all ages and their families are invited to visit Lewis and Clark Community College during its upcoming Discover Day open house, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, from 3-5 p.m. in The Commons. Future Trailblazers, both traditional students—those coming directly from high school—and non-traditional adult learners, will explore how Lewis and Clark can support their educational and career goals. Advisors and enrollment staff will be on hand, as well as financial aid, faculty, support services, and student organizations. Information will be available on nearly 30 degree and certificate programs, including fields like healthcare, technology, and business. “Discover Day provides a great opportunity for prospective students to explore various career options and learn how Lewis and Clark can support them in achieving their goals,” said Cherise Jackson, Vice President of Student Affairs. For traditional students, Lewis

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department announced the results of its enhanced traffic enforcement efforts as part of the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). These efforts, conducted periodically between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025, were aimed at reducing traffic crashes and saving lives. During the most recent additional enforcement campaign, mainly focused in September of this year, Edwardsville Police officers issued a total of 119 citations. The results include: • 73 speeding citations • 29 electronic device use citations • 17 other citations “The goal of this enforcement was to make our roads safer for everyone,” said Lt. Matt Senci. “By focusing on the leading causes of crashes – such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and failure to wear seat belts – we aimed to save lives and remind drivers that violating traffic laws will not be tolerated.” The STEP grant

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The Fairview Heights Police Department announced lane closures on Longacre Drive beginning Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, due to concrete joint replacement work. The westbound and center lanes, starting at the rear entrance of Total Wine and More and continuing west, are closed to traffic, Fairview Heights Police said. Officials advise motorists to use caution and be alert for construction crews and equipment in the area. The closures are expected to remain in place until the work is completed, with updates to be provided once all lanes reopen.

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JERSEYVILLE — Junior Kaden Strohbeck is making a notable impact in boys' cross country this season for Jersey Community High School, earning recognition as the Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. Strohbeck has posted several personal records and strong finishes in recent meets. On Sept. 10, 2025, he placed third in the Twi-Light Meet with a personal best time of 18 minutes, 6 seconds for the 5,000 meters. He also achieved a personal record in the three-mile race with a time of 17:22.1 at the Highland Invite, where he finished 23rd. Other notable results include 14th place at the Carlinville Early Meet with a time of 18:32.8 for three miles and eighth place at the Alton Invite, completing the three-mile course in 17:37.8. When asked about his goals for the season, Strohbeck said, "I am hoping just to run some good times." He also expressed a team-oriented mindset, adding, "I just want to do the best I can and help my team try to win." In addition to cross

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has three major programs for the month of October. The 2025 Illinois Heartland Library System Library Crawl encourages people to visit different libraries across the state. Similarly, Hayner’s Adult Fall Scavenger Hunt aims to bring patrons into the library and take them through the community. Hayner will also host a “Food for Fines” amnesty program where you can return overdue materials and donate a canned good to waive your fee. “We’ve got a ton of stuff happening this month,” said Mary Cordes, Hayner’s executive director. Cordes explained that the Library Crawl features libraries across Illinois. You can kick off the crawl by stopping by Hayner and picking up a passport. Then, visit at least five participating libraries and get your passport stamped at each one. Most libraries will give you “a little freebie prize,” and Hayner has a few grand prize drawings

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and the Friends of Art are excited to announce its ANNUAL ART AUCTION on November 14, 2024, with funds raised supporting the Art & Design department’s visiting artist program as well as student scholarships, assistantships, and awards. This long-standing (since 1979) annual event will take place in the ART & DESIGN WEST GALLERY at SIUE, starting with a preview at 6 pm and the LIVE auction at 7 pm by local auctioneer Gary Niemeier. This year’s auction will showcase a diverse array of artworks from both local and national artists, faculty, alumni and current students. Some highlights include pieces by Salvador Dali, Agnes Martin, Alexander Calder, Lewis Badalamenti, Mike Smith, Jack Decoteau and many more! Proceeds from the auction provide a unique opportunity for attendees to acquire unique and original pieces while contributing to the growth of the SIUE art community. The auction directly benefits programs

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BELLEVILLE – Two women from Belleville and Granite City have been charged in separate but similar cases after allegedly sharing sexual images of victims without their consent via text and Facebook Messenger. Airryana L. Johnson, 20, of Belleville, was charged on Oct. 2, 2025 with of non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images, a Class 4 felony. Johnson allegedly sent a photo of a 24-year-old woman engaged in sexual acts to multiple people via Facebook Messenger on May 26, 2025. Johnson is accused of knowingly sharing the image without the victim’s consent, while the victim was identifiable from the image itself or information displayed in connection with the image. The case against Johnson was presented by the Collinsville Police Department, and she was ordered released from custody pending trial. In a similar but separate case, Jennifer L. Wood, 59, of Granite City, was charged on Sept. 29, 2025 with a Class 4 felony count of non-consensual dissemination

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CHICAGO – Following widespread reports of children being zip tied, separated from their parents, and detained for several hours on the evening of September 30 at an apartment building in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, Governor JB Pritzker directed the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to provide support services and evaluate the treatment of children involved. “Today, I am directing state agencies to coordinate support for the innocent children and families impacted by this event and determine any formal steps or investigations that the state should initiate to hold federal agents accountable,” said Governor Pritzker . As part of this directive, DCFS and IDHS will engage community-based partners to support families in the building impacted to ensure they are connected to appropriate resources. DCFS will make contact with impacted families and children to gather more information

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ALTON – A man from Alton has been charged with strangling a prior domestic battery victim and more, marking the latest in his series of domestic battery cases across Jersey , Madison , and Macoupin counties. John T. Tanner, 36, of Alton, was charged on Sept. 29, 2025 with one count each of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), unlawful restraint (a Class 4 felony), aggravated assault, and criminal damage to property (both Class A misdemeanors). On Sept. 27, 2025, Tanner allegedly intentionally strangled a family or household member, held a steak knife to their throat, and would not allow the victim to leave the residence after taking their phone and car keys. According to the state’s petition to deny Tanner’s pretrial release from custody, Tanner refused to let the victim leave for approximately three and a half hours. The petition adds Tanner was on probation at the time of this offense from a prior case of domestic battery involving the same

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GRANITE CITY - The Multicare Market encourages community members to join the “health movement.” From 4–7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, Multicare Specialists in Granite City will host their third biannual Multicare Market. Modeled after a vendor fair or farmers’ market, the event features over 20 vendors, several giveaways, and plenty of opportunities to learn how to improve your own health. “This, for me, is a health movement,” said Dr. Ashley Eavenson, owner of Multicare Specialists. “Each vendor has its own intention of why I brought them in. You get to know their product and you get to actually talk to them.” Vendors include Oaklee Rose Farms, Daddy’s Dills, Farm Truk Foodtruck, SMB Boutique, Green Gaia Essentials, Earth Candy, Meme’s Coffee Shop, Freshness in a Bottle, Wild Wolff Pastures, Christine’s Salsa, Sinfully Safe by Sarah, Nourishing Nelli, Wheelhouse Fish Co., Larder and Cupboard, Ann’s

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — Detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating a murder-suicide that left two adults dead on Sunday night, Oct. 5, 2025, in the 100 block of Chinon Drive. At approximately 11:36 p.m. on Oct. 5, officers from the South County Precinct responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on Chinon Drive. Upon arrival, they found an adult male and an adult female suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the adult male shot the adult female and then shot himself. The deceased has been identified as Nicki Ketterling, 77 years of age, of the 100 block of Chinon Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63129, and Larry Ketterling, 77 years of age, of the 100 block of Chinon Drive, St. Louis, MO, 632129. The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released further details. The St. Louis County Police Department is asking

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EAST ALTON — The third annual East Alton Food Truck Fest took place Sunday at Van Preter Park, drawing families and community members to enjoy a variety of activities and food offerings. The event ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, and featured several food trucks, vendors, a bounce house for children, a cornhole tournament, and a car show for adults. Gray Entertainment provided DJ services throughout the day, contributing to the festive atmosphere. Organizers noted that the weather was favorable, enhancing the overall experience for attendees. "The car show had 75 vehicles, and it was in memory of Mac McCormick, East Alton police detective Mike McCormick's father, who was a big car collector. The weather was also great," East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton said. The festival aimed to offer entertainment options for all ages, combining food, games, and music in a community setting.

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BREESE, GREENVILLE, HIGHLAND & O’FALLON, Ill. — High school students interested in a career in healthcare are invited to apply for the Winter 2025 High School Healthcare Bootcamps at HSHS hospitals in Breese, Greenville, Highland and O’Fallon. The bootcamp is designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in a career in healthcare to experience a realistic look into various health care roles and make connections in their field of interest. “This job shadowing experience is a great opportunity for students interested in choosing a career in health care to learn about the different roles at our hospitals and experience hands-on skills sessions with our health care professionals,” said Ericka Mulroy, Nursing Professional Development Specialist for Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS). “Interested students will be able to talk directly to HSHS employment specialists about opportunities available to them in the field, opening a door in

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is extending an invitation to residents in and around the Riverbend region to celebrate the hospital’s first 100 years of their health care Ministry in Alton by hosting a celebratory Open House event on Thursday, October 23, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The Open House takes place a little more than exactly 100 years to the date of the very first Open House held by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George celebrating the opening of the hospital on October 1, 1925. “On April 1, 1925, our first Sisters arrived in Alton and undertook six months’ worth of physical labor, community engagement, and lots of prayers to establish our health care Ministry in the Riverbend region,” says Sister M. Beata Ziegler, F.S.G.M., vice president of operations and special projects, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “The culmination of those six months of

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