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GODFREY - Complete with a bar and a drive-thru, Top Shelf in Godfrey is officially open. On Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, village officials gathered to commemorate the soft opening of Top Shelf at 6529 Godfrey Road. The store will have a grand opening celebration at 9 a.m. on Aug. 22, 2025. In the meantime, they are open and ready to serve the Godfrey community. “Everyone really welcomed us with open arms, it seemed like,” said owner Patrick Schutzbach. “We’re just really excited to be here.” Top Shelf has a drive-thru, making it “neat, quick, easy and efficient” to pick up your products. They also secured a pour license, so customers can enjoy a single-serve beverage while in the store. Schutzbach hopes to welcome many people who will come out, have a drink, and “watch the game.” They also plan to offer classes and sampling events every week. Schutzbach explained that experts will go over PowerPoints and coordinate tastings an

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ALTON - Kids are invited to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to solve a mystery. From 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, kids ages 9–14 can participate in a program titled “The Case of the Cryptic Crumb.” This “whodunnit” invites kids to study clues and solve the mystery of who stole Father Dominic “The Bread Monk” Garramone’s secret recipe. “It’s designed to get children in and get them excited about the church and about fellowship with one another,” said Robbie Cupp, a leader in the church. “The important factor is being able to feed minds and souls, not just for one specific group of parishioners. We have to feed the entire family.” Cupp explained that St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has been “wanting to grow for a while.” One parishioner named Tiffany decided that creating kids’ programs is a great way to expand the church’s reach. “She has spent hours

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Did you know that nearly 60% of adults in the United States are actively seeking healthier beverage options that reduce alcohol consumption without sacrificing flavor or social enjoyment? This trend has spurred a surge in creative mocktails—non-alcoholic drinks that combine taste, aesthetics, and refreshment in perfect harmony. Far from being mere substitutes for cocktails, mocktails offer a sophisticated, inclusive alternative that appeals to all ages and preferences. The Rise of Mocktails: More Than Just a Trend Mocktails have evolved from being considered “just juice” to becoming celebrated concoctions in their own right. Mixologists and home enthusiasts alike experiment with fresh ingredients, herbs, and unique flavor pairings to craft drinks that are both invigorating and complex. The growing awareness of health impacts associated with alcohol and the desire for mindful drinking experiences have accelerated this movement. Essential Ingredients for Crafting

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August 15 stands as a day marked by transformative moments that have shaped the course of history across the globe. One of the most significant events occurred in 1945 when Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Forces, effectively ending World War II. This moment, known as Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day), brought a close to a global conflict that had claimed millions of lives and altered geopolitical boundaries. The announcement reached the world on August 15, following Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration terms. It marked not only the cessation of hostilities but also the beginning of a new era in international relations and post-war reconstruction. The surrender had a profound impact worldwide. In the United States and Allied countries, celebrations erupted as people took to the streets to express relief and joy after years of hardship. Conversely, for Japan and many parts of Asia, this day was also one of reflection and the start of profound social and economic

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Today in the Riverbend area, expect a high near 94 degrees with a low around 70. The day will be mostly sunny, hot, and humid. Winds will be light from the south-southeast at about 7 mph. The heat index could feel as hot as 105, so make sure to stay hydrated and take breaks if you are outside for long periods. A Heat Advisory is in effect from noon today through 8 p.m. Monday due to heat index values reaching up to 108. Be cautious to avoid heat illnesses by drinking plenty of fluids, staying in air-conditioned areas, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. Allergy levels: Ragweed is at a moderate level, so allergy sufferers should keep medications handy. Tomorrow's Outlook: High of 96, Low of 72, Partly Sunny and Hot The heat continues tomorrow with a high near 96 and a low around 72. Expect partly sunny skies with hot conditions again. Heat index values will remain high, so continue to take precautions against heat and stay cool. For more

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CLINTON COUNTY — On Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, Marco Monreal-Rojas of rural Breese, Illinois, was charged with three felony counts of unauthorized videotaping after recent incidents at the St. Rose Church Picnic. Following the charges, Monreal-Rojas was held at the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office facility but was released under GPS monitoring due to provisions in the SAFE-T Act, which affected the criteria for continued detention. Shortly after his release, Sheriff Dan Travous received notification that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had taken Monreal-Rojas back into custody. The circumstances surrounding the ICE intervention have not been detailed. Officials from St. Rose contacted the Clinton County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 9, 2025, after discovering two video recording devices in portable bathrooms during the St. Rose Church Picnic held earlier in the month. Monreal-Rojas is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The charges against

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Circuit Clerk Patrick McRae and Administrative Assistant Missy Bickmore are among a select class of court professionals taking part in a national program to strengthen leadership and improve court operations. The Illinois Judicial College selected McRae and Bickmore from among circuit clerks and staff across the state to participate in the Certified Court Manager Program, a nationally recognized initiative offered through the National Center for State Courts’ Institute for Court Management (ICM). The first training session took place Aug. 6–8 in Chicago. Although some sessions are in person, most will be held virtually until graduation next summer. The program delivers a rigorous curriculum focused on caseflow management, court performance measurement, and building public trust and confidence in the judiciary. It equips court professionals with tools to enhance fairness, efficiency, and accountability in court administration.

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WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. — Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to a crash involving two vehicles at the intersection of Kingshighway/IL-111 and St. Clair Avenue at 9:06 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. The collision resulted in injuries for both drivers. According to a preliminary investigation, ISP said a Washington Park Police Department squad car, identified as Unit 2, was traveling eastbound on St. Clair Avenue with its emergency lights activated. ISP added at the same time, a Chevrolet Tahoe, designated as Unit 1, was heading northbound on IL-111. Both vehicles entered the intersection when Unit 1 struck the side of Unit 2 with its front end. The impact caused the squad car to rollover. Both drivers were transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries. The driver of Unit 1 was cited by Illinois State Police for Disobeying a Traffic Control Device and Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle. No additional information has been released at this time.

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GODFREY - An element determining the desirability and quality of life for a community is the access to good healthcare. Godfrey is very fortunate to have a premier provider. OSF Healthcare strives to continuously meet the needs of patients and the community. In total, there are over 40 healthcare professionals ready to deliver comprehensive and convenient care focused on: One-stop medical services for the whole family that range from primary care, pediatrics and an on-site PromptCare clinic for urgent needs. Integrated on-site services that include x-ray and laboratory. A direct link to OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center allows their team to easily coordinate patient care with a full range of hospital services, from the emergency room to a network of expert specialists. The “Connect Bar” located in the lobby to offer resources to help patients with questions on using MyChart. The Godfrey office is excited to introduce several new, exceptional providers

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EDWARDSVILLE - Drake Luebbert, a multi-sport athlete at Metro East Lutheran High School, is preparing for his senior year in the 2025-2026 sports season, showcasing talent in baseball, soccer, and football. Luebbert, who plays outfield and first base in baseball, serves as a place kicker and punter in football, and competes in varsity soccer, has drawn praise from coaches for his athletic abilities and potential. He is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete of the Month for MELHS. In the spring of 2025, Luebbert earned all-conference honors in baseball. MELHS Head Baseball Coach Reed Harmon of Metro East Lutheran High School highlighted Luebbert’s skills, noting, “He is good at the plate, batted .470, and also will probably be our No. 1 on the mound next year.” Harmon also mentioned Luebbert’s prospects for college, saying, “He really has great potential if he wants to take that path.” Reflecting on Luebbert’s development, Harmon added, "Luebbert

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PIASA - Ella Kadell, a standout softball player at Southwestern High School, signed a letter of intent late last year to play softball at Lewis and Clark Community College and will now continue her love of the game locally. Ella is an Altonized Community Federalized Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Piasa Birds. Southwestern girls' softball head coach Amanda Edwards praised Kadell’s versatility and attitude, noting that she “really played everywhere,” including catcher, third base, and outfield throughout her career. Edwards added, “She has been an asset anywhere, in both the dugout and in the field. Her attitude is very positive. She is just a go-getter. She will have a blast in college.” She tallied a career batting average of well over .300 for the Piasa Birds in her varsity career.

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ALTON – An Alton man accused of possessing over 2,000 grams of cocaine while armed with multiple firearms faces major felony charges. Dustin L. Martin, 39, of Alton, was charged on Aug. 7, 2025 with three Class X felony counts of armed violence, one Class X felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and a Class 1 felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Martin was allegedly in possession of three different firearms while possessing with the intent to deliver over 2,000 grams of cocaine on Aug. 7, 2025. The weapons are described in charging documents as a Draco 7.62 caliber rifle, a Ruger P94 .40 caliber pistol, and a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun. A petition to deny Martin’s pretrial release was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to the petition, Martin “was the subject of a drug investigation, during which multiple controlled buys were made” from Martin. Officers obtained

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BETHALTO - You can enjoy a family-friendly music festival while supporting community members in recovery. From 1–6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, Amare will host their sixth annual Rockin’4Recovery at Bethalto Park. This event will feature three bands, food trucks, vendors, health and wellness resources, a Kid Zone and more fun. The goal, said Amare executive director Carson Conn, is to promote substance use recovery and remind people that they are not alone. “If you’re not having fun in recovery, you’re not doing it right,” Conn said. “It shows that you’re not alone in it. There's people all around who have experienced similar things that you have, and they came out on the other side of it. It's really about instilling hope, showing everybody what is possible.” The Rockin’4Recovery event promises inflatables, a photo booth, and plenty of family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy. Conn said they are still

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GODFREY — By fall, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said, the no-smoking signs that have been ordered will be positioned at various public areas in the village. These areas include baseball fields, soccer fields, pickleball courts, the splash pad and more. Mayor McCormick said on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, that Godfrey officials have ordered 30 “No Smoking” signs to be installed. The signs, which have not yet been delivered, are expected to be installed soon. McCormick said the initiative was prompted by community concerns about secondhand smoke, particularly near the village’s splash pad and sports fields. “A lady came to a village meeting an awful lot, asking to close smoking close to the splash pad and soccer fields,” McCormick said, which sparked the village discussion. “People are concerned about secondhand smoke. We’re trying to control it with signs.” McCormick noted the signs were specially made and will be placed in several

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that the ramp from westbound Interstate 64 to eastbound I-55/70 in St. Clair County will be temporarily closed for bridge deck patching starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The ramp is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ALTON - St. Paul’s Episcopal Church invites community members to attend a program with Father Dominic “The Bread Monk” Garramone, known for his 2000s PBS cooking show “Breaking Bread with Father Dominic.” Father Garramone, a Benedictine monk from Peru, Illinois, will give a presentation at St. Paul’s at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. Doors open at 1 p.m. and lunch — one of Fr. Garramone’s own recipes — will be served at 1:30 p.m. “It’s going to be a very exciting opportunity to hear from a very learned and wonderful chef,” said Robbie Cupp, a leader at St. Paul’s. In addition to hosting his own cooking show from 1999 to 2001, Fr. Garramone is known as the author of several cookbooks and an award-winning children’s book. He is also an educator and travels often. Cupp explained that St. Paul’s has been working for over a year now to book an event with Fr. Garramone, and the parishioners

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GODFREY – Godfrey officials are advising residents in advance of an upcoming project by Illinois American Water that will temporarily close Pierce Lane to through traffic in order to relocate a water main line. Loellke Plumbing, working as a subcontractor for Illinois American (IAWC) on a water main line relocation project are planning to close Pierce Lane (between Surrey Ct. and West Delmar) to through traffic starting Monday morning (Aug. 25, 2025) at 7 a.m. This closure is expected to last one week until Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. The road closure should start on pierce lane just south of Surrey Court and just north of the entrance to D'Adrian Professional Park. The detour route is to send traffic east down Homer Adams to Godfrey Road, then northward on Godfrey Road up to Stamper Lane and then west from there over to Pierce. Loellke will place staggered Type III barricades just south of Surrey Court and just north of the entrance to D'Adrian Professional Park. Roa

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COLUMBIA, IL. - Paul Jordan and Casey Davis of Columbia, IL., are seeking community support after a house fire rendered their home uninhabitable, displacing them and forcing the boarding of their dogs. The incident occurred recently, leaving the couple without a permanent residence as they await insurance reimbursement, which has no established timeline. The fire damaged nearly all their belongings through smoke and water, requiring restoration services that may take one to three months to complete. Their home was under a lease-to-purchase agreement, and they had been preparing to finalize ownership when the fire occurred. The loss has depleted their savings intended for the home purchase, creating immediate financial challenges. Jordan and Davis have found temporary housing but face ongoing expenses, including pet boarding and replacing essential items. They are organizing a fundraiser to help cover these costs and to support rebuilding their lives until insurance assistance become

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SPRINGFIELD- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined state legislators, labor leaders, and union members to sign a bill package protecting Illinois workers and supporting organized labor. Held at the Illinois AFL-CIO headquarters in Springfield, the bill signing reaffirmed Governor Pritzker’s support for working families across the state alongside the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL). SB1976, HB1189, and HB2488 preserve current pay standards and worker protections against federal rollbacks from the Trump Administration. “Our state stands up for the hard-won advances made for our workers. The Pullman Strikes, the Haymarket Affair—it has been the working men and women of this state that have led the charge of progress not just for Illinois, but for the entire nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This legislation protects Illinois workers from the Trump administration’s assault on labor, because our workers can’t afford to be subject to the whims

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GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City remains in custody after a string of domestic violence incidents over the course of 11 days resulted in significant injuries to the victim. Anthony S. Tartt, 37, of Granite City, was charged on Aug. 7, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery, a Class 4 felony count of unlawful restraint, and a Class 3 felony count of driving while license is revoked/suspended. From July 21 to Aug. 1, 2025, Tartt allegedly punched a household or family member in the face and arms multiple times, threw them into a living room wall, and more, causing the victim to sustain multiple finger and rib fractures. According to the state’s petition to deny Tartt’s pretrial release from custody, the victim reported Tartt battered her from July 21 to Aug. 1, 2025, resulting in multiple injuries discovered after the victim sought treatment from a local hospital. “As a result o

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