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COLLINSVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8 Commander, Captain Casey Faro, announces the ISP will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Madison and St. Clair counties during January. OREPs allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers (front and back) to be buckled up! Safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, estimated to save over 14,000 lives each year. Nearly 50% of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up. The objective of this program is to increase occupant restraint compliance through education, child safety seat inspections, and enforcement.

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ALTON - City Hall in Alton, Illinois, will be closed on Monday, January 6, 2025, due to inclement weather. This decision affects city operations and services for the day. The closure comes as the city prepares for adverse weather conditions, prompting officials to prioritize public safety. In light of the closure, the Committee of the Whole meeting originally scheduled for January 6 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 6 p.m. Residents are advised to stay safe and remain informed about any further updates regarding city operations.

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GODFREY — Public Works personnel in the Village of Godfrey have been working tirelessly to keep the village's roads clear amid challenging weather conditions on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. The efforts, which began early in the day, have involved seven drivers and additional contractors to manage the inclement conditions. Village of Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick expressed pride in the dedication of Jim Lewis, who leads the Public Works Department, and his staff. "Jim Lewis is extremely dedicated; he has been doing this for a lot of years," McCormick said. Village of Godfrey Economic Director Jim Mager echoed McCormick's praise of the Public Works personnel for their efforts combatting terrible weather conditions outside. Mager stressed that Godfrey has a lot of rural terrain and it encompasses many miles. Chris Sichra, Godfrey's Public Safety Administrator, has also been very involved in the Godfrey road and safety efforts over the weekend. Despite the challenges, Lewis and his team

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ALTON — On Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, families flocked to Haskell Park and Middletown areas in Alton, taking advantage of a winter storm that blanketed the area in snow. Children were seen sledding down the hills, a tradition that Mayor David Goins noted has long been a favorite pastime for Alton's youth. "Haskell Park seems to be one of the parks kids like to go to nowadays on these types of days," Goins said. He reminisced about his own childhood experiences sledding at the Rock Spring Golf Course. "Alton has a long history of youth out with their sleds," he added. "The kids will get a snow day tomorrow, so I am sure they will enjoy it. Alton has some good places for sleds with all the hills." In conjunction with the winter weather, Mayor Goins announced that Alton City Hall offices would be closed on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, to allow for snow removal and public safety efforts. He also commended the public works staff for their continuous work since the storm began on Saturday night,

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ALTON— Alton Public Works crews have been working continuously since 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, to address the severe winter storm that has impacted the region, bringing significant ice and sleet accumulation. The storm, described by Alton Public Works Director Mike Parsons as the worst the area has faced in three and a half years, is expected to persist with intermittent snow and sleet until early Monday morning, Jan. 6, 2025. Parsons reported that crews pretreated all the Alton brick streets and hills in anticipation of the storm, but the weather conditions that contained both snow and ice have made it challenging to maintain safe travel on secondary roads. "We will be on the main streets first," he said. He encouraged patience and said his group would be working on the secondary roads right after the main streets. As of now, the area has received between 5 to 8 inches of snow, adding to the complications caused by the ice and sleet. Public Works crews are equipped wit

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CARROLLTON - The Greene County Courthouse and County Government Offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in response to a winter storm that is expected to bring heavy snowfall and high winds, creating hazardous visibility conditions. The storm is predicted to continue through the night and into the early morning hours, Sheriff Rob McMillen said Sunday night. "Officials have advised individuals with scheduled court dates on January 6 to reach out to the Circuit Clerk's office or their attorney's office on Tuesday for information regarding rescheduled court dates," McMillen said. "The closure is part of ongoing efforts to ensure public safety amid the adverse weather conditions."

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis City Hall will be closed for in-person business on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, due to inclement weather, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced on Sunday, Jan. 5. The decision comes as the city experiences significant snowfall and icy conditions, prompting concerns for public safety. In her statement, Mayor Jones expressed gratitude for the efforts of city workers who are addressing the adverse weather conditions. "I appreciate the hard work of our streets staff, first responders - Police, Fire and EMS - CEMA, and others who are keeping our residents safe at this time," she said. The closure of City Hall aims to ensure the safety of both employees and residents during the ongoing winter storm. Other tips by Mayor Jones: City crews continue to plow and treat our streets, and most major thoroughfares are passable. After a 10-hour shift change, crews are back out doing the work to keep our streets safe. Residents should STAY HOME if possible and follow City social account

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Business, government and organization closings for Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Altonized Community Federal Credit Union (Alton and Brighton) Ark Animal Hospital (Edwardsville) Bakers and Hale (Godfrey) Bellemore Animal Hospital (Granite City) Bethalto Animal Clinic (Bethalto) Bethalto McDonald's (Opens at 10:30 a.m.) Beltline Chiropractic (Collinsville) Bi-State Oral and Facial Surgery (Alton) Bodies Kneaded (Glen Carbon, Granite City) Boys and Girls Club (Bethalto) Brinkman Orthodontist (Edwardsville) Budget Signs (Wood River) Chapel and Keller Dentistry (Alton) City of Alton Offices Community Hope Center (Cottage Hills) Crisis Food Pantry (Alton) Dieterich Bank Doras Spinning Wheel (Brighton) Fantastic Sams (Wood River) Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse (St Louis) Club Fitness (All local gyms) Gene's Auto Body (Pontoon Beach) Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club - Monday Meeting Cancelled Grafton Winery (Grafton) Great Rivers Animal Hospital (Alton) Greene County Courthouse

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EAST ALTON — The East Alton Fire Department and Street Department today urged residents to stay indoors and avoid travel as winter weather conditions create hazardous roadways. On Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, both departments issued a statement acknowledging the ongoing snowfall and the challenges faced by the local Street Department. "As you're likely aware, it's snowing heavily," the statement read. The department emphasized the importance of giving street crews space to operate safely, noting that they are working diligently to manage the weather's impact. Officials highlighted that the conditions pose risks not only for residents but also for emergency responders. "It's just as dangerous out there for us as it is for you," the statement continued. The fire department remains available for emergencies, but they stress the importance of safety for all during this weather event. Residents are encouraged to heed the advice of local officials and stay off the roads unless absolutely

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As winter weather continues to impact the region, the Illinois Department of Transportation is closely monitoring changing conditions across various counties. Joe Monroe, an engineer with the department, reported late Sunday morning, Jan. 5, 2025, that in the last 45 minutes, snowfall has begun to accumulate significantly in the metro area, with a transition zone stretching from Illinois Route 143 to the south. Monroe noted that while areas north of Illinois Route 15 are predominantly experiencing snow, conditions shift rapidly south of that line, where a mix of sleet and freezing rain is prevalent. "In southern Monroe and Randolph counties, freezing rain is becoming the predominant precipitation type, leading to slick roadways," he said. Monroe emphasized that the combination of sleet and freezing rain is complicating plowing efforts, as the accumulation of ice is occurring faster than the department can manage. In St. Clair County, Monroe observed that the northern areas are experiencing

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PONTOON BEACH - Madison County Transit (MCT) has suspended all service on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, due to winter weather and deteriorating conditions. The decision to halt operations was made to ensure the safety of both riders and transit personnel as severe weather impacts the region, Amanda Villocco-Smith, Director of IT and Planning for Madison County Transit, said. Service updates will be provided in real-time through MCT Text Alerts and the agency’s official Facebook page. Riders are encouraged to monitor these platforms for the latest information regarding service resumption. For further inquiries, Madison County Transit can be reached at their office located at 1 Transit Way, Pontoon Beach, Illinois, or by calling 618-797-4600. The agency’s website also offers additional rider information at 618-797-4636. Updated service information will be provided in real time via MCT Text Alerts and MCT’s Facebook page.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior guard Bryce Pryor had a big game on Jan. 2, 2025, as he hit for a pair of key threes in both the third and fourth quarters in helping Edwardsville to a 47-39 win over Dieterich at Lucco-Jackson Gym in the team's first game since winning the Don Maurer Holiday Invitational Tournament on Dec 30 over Ladue Horton Watkins 71-69 at Mary Institute-Country Day School. Pryor is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. Pryor ended up with 16 points to lead all scorers in the game, and has hit a number of key threes and baskets in helping the Tigers to a 12-1 record at the unofficial halfway point of the season. In 10 appearances thus far, Pryor had averaged 7.8 points and 2.9 rebounds-per-games, and has also added 30 assists, 19 steals. and one blocked shot in his stat line. Moreover, he's providing much leadership to the Tigers in their early success so far. After the game against the Movin' Maroons, Pryor said he's very happy with how the seasons

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A winter storm impacting the Midwest is expected to bring significant snowfall and sleet to the region, with forecasts predicting accumulations from 6-10 inches of snow Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, and ice in some areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis reports that the storm began overnight and continued into the morning, primarily affecting the Metro East area. Illinois Department of Transporation Engineer Joe Monroe said his reports showed Alton and Godfrey were reportedly receiving strong stong snow in the 11 a.m. range Sunday. More will come from Monroe in a separate story about IDOT's work. Belleville also had reports of strong snow in that hour. Maryville was receiving a mixture of snow and ice around 12:15 p.m. Sunday. As of early afternoon, the National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Jared Maples indicated that the Metro area could see around 6 inches of a mix of snow and sleet, while areas just north of Interstate 70 are likely to experience primarily

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Area businesses and churches are closed on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, due to the winter weather in our area. CLOSED Sunday - Businesses Nautilus Fitness Center will be closing at noon East Alton American Legion Post 794 Gateway Arch Bakers and Hale El Mezcal Restaurant ATT Store (Alton) EXO Nail (Edwardsville) Bluff City Grill Lambert Airport (Delays and Cancellations) Duke Bakery Edwardsville YMCA Grafton Winery The Vineyards Dillards (South County Mall) Dillards St. Clair Square (Fairview Heights) Dillards (St. Louis Galleria) Geno's 140 Club Germania Brew Haus Hayner Public Library - all locations Heaterz Sports Tap Mac's Pizza and Poker - Godfrey Maeva's Coffee - Alton MCT Transit - Pontoon Beach Mississippi Mud Pottery - Alton Mister Donut - Godfrey Old Bakery Beer Wood River Rec Center Roper's Regal Beagle Senior Services Plus Wellness Center - Alton Shivers Frozen Custard - Godfrey Wood River Public Library St. Louis

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TROY - A man from Troy with a history of burglary convictions faces new charges in his latest burglary case involving a residence and two vehicles. Chase R. Clark, 28, of Troy, was charged with one count of residential burglary (a Class 1 felony) and two counts of burglary (both Class 3 felonies) on Dec. 17, 2024. The day prior on Dec. 16, 2024, Clark allegedly entered a Collinsville residence without authority and with the intent to commit a theft, according to court documents. He was additionally charged with burglarizing two vehicles, including a 2016 GMC Terrain and 2014 Nissan Altima. According to a petition to deny his pretrial release, Clark was identified on Ring home surveillance video entering the victims’ garage. They told authorities both vehicles in their garage had been “tampered with,” and also reported a bicycle missing. The petition notes Clark has prior convictions of burglary from both Madison and Macoupin Counties. Among the other prior

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ALTON - With the 2025 lame duck session set to begin this weekend, State Senator Erica Harriss stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello to reflect on the past year. Harriss noted that 2024 was her second year in office, and she said it was “awesome.” With her recent induction to the Women in Technology Task Force and her continued push for a property tax freeze for seniors, she has stayed busy throughout her first term and looks ahead to a positive future. “Really, we had a great, effective year number two,” she said. “It continues to be an honor to be able to represent people in our district. It’s great being in Springfield, but I love being back in the district and just being able to connect with people and groups and organizations and hear what’s important to you.” Harriss emphasized that most of her initiatives come from the people she represents. She pointed to Rusty Wheat as an example, a local ma

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced that St. Clair and Washington counties will receive $89.5 million in federal disaster aid to support recovery efforts following mid-July’s string of severe storms and tornadoes. The funding, which was included in December’s end-of-year government spending bill, will be administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “I was proud to support legislation that provides disaster relief to the people of St. Clair and Washington counties following last summer’s devastating storms,” said Bost. “This funding will be critical in rebuilding existing infrastructure and bolstering defenses against future storms and flooding. At a time when folks are working to restore their damaged homes and communities, I’m glad they will have the resources necessary to speed the process along.”

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ST. LOUIS - Taking MetroLink or MetroBus even a day or two a week saves commuters money on gas, maintenance and parking – it also helps them stay active and reduce stress. Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), in partnership with St. Clair County Transit District, has therefore launched a new initiative encouraging area commuters to consider taking transit in the new year. The goal of the “Make Transit Your Ride in 2025” campaign is to connect with those new to the safe, integrated public transit system and show them how they can take advantage of CMT’s FREE Try & Ride program that provides personalized route information, helpful resources and complimentary transit tickets. Registration is available at www.CMT-STL.org . “Transit is a great consideration for those looking to save money, increase exercise and reduce stress in the new year,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “Research shows transit users

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Confidence is not easily acquired but once gained you can continue to embellish it and let the legend grow. For anyone who knows me, Bob Gibson is my hero and the greatest sports star ever born. I always talk about him and these quotes best sum up my thoughts. "Hank Aaron told me never to mess with Bob Gibson," former Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "I was told never to stare at him, talk to, or smile at him. And if he hit you with a pitch, I was told never to charge the mound, because he would beat your ass. "I hated the All-Star Game," Gibson said years after retirement. "I hated having to talk to guys that I spent the rest of the season trying to kick their ass. They were the enemy to me." Gibson was a boxer before he played baseball. He knew what he was capable of and with that confidence, he could be a mentally free man and dominate his opponents. Any sign of retaliation was viewed as motivation for Bob. Reflecting on 2024, confidence has finally remerged in my life. Ephesians

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January 5th has seen a multitude of significant events throughout history, marking it as a day of change, innovation, and reflection. One of the most notable happenings on January 5th was in 1919, when the German Workers' Party, which would later evolve into the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party), held its first public meeting in Munich. This event marked the beginning of a political party that would drastically alter the course of history, leading to World War II and the Holocaust. The implications of this party's rise to power are still felt today, making this day a critical moment in the 20th century. Fast forward to 1959, when the United States launched its first successful satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit. This event was crucial in the context of the Space Race, highlighting the advancements in technology and science during the Cold War. Explorer 1 provided significant data about cosmic rays, marking the beginning of the U.S. space program's commitment

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