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ALTON — Mayor David Goins is excited to announce a major step toward a bright future for Alton as the city embarks on the development of a new 20-year Comprehensive Plan. This initiative, led by the city’s Planning & Development Department, will help shape the community’s growth, development, and policies. “Alton is moving in the right direction,” Mayor Goins shared. “As we work to strengthen our local economy, improve our infrastructure, and elevate the quality of life for all residents, this Comprehensive Plan will serve as our blueprint for success. We’ve seen remarkable progress, but we are committed to building a stronger, more vibrant city for the future.” This initiative comes at a critical time for Alton, which has undergone significant changes in recent years. Economic and population shifts have rendered the current Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2003, outdated. While various smaller-scale plans like the Alton Great Streets Initiativ

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BELLEVILLE – The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department recognized the achievements of four of its members in a promotional ceremony held last week in Belleville. The ceremony honored Sgt. Grant Garner and Lt. Michael Kempf from the Corrections Division, as well as Sgt. Dane Brueggemann and Sgt. John Kennedy from the Patrol Division. These promotions highlight the officers' dedication and service to the community. "We would like to thank these officers and their families for their dedication to our community," a representative from the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Sophomore outside hitter Madelyn Ohlau had a big match for Edwardsville's girls volleyball team in their 25-18, 25-22 win over Belleville West on Sept. 26, 2024, at Lincoln Middle School, as Ohlau continues her breakout season. She's emerging as an important part of the Tigers, and so far in the 2024 season, Ohlau has served for 113 points and 51 aces, delivering 98 kills and a combined 12 assists, seven blocks and 136 digs as Edwardsville currently has a 10-7 record, with more big tests ahead. Ohlau is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete Of The Month for the Tigers. In her post-match interview, Ohlau felt that the team has played well together, and felt good about the win against a quality opponents in the Maroons. "Belleville West is always pretty tough, but it was good that we beat them in two, which really was a big confidence boost, since we've taken most teams in our conference in three (sets)," she said. The Maroons also deserved much credit for sticking with

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ALTON - On the most recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, Kathy Wagner shared her faith journey. Wagner previously worked as a detective but currently works in medicine. She explained that God helped her find this path, and she believes that He has led her here so that she can help others. She encourages people to give themselves over to God and trust in His path for them. “God will equip you for where He’s about to send you,” Wagner said. “The closer you get to God, the more you release. That veil drops, and you’re in front of all His glory. You can’t ever lose it.” Wagner pointed to Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” — as an example of how faith can bring comfort and peace. She noted that it’s easy to feel lost, but God has plans for every person. She lives by this scripture every day. “It’s

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 today (Monday, Sept. 30, 2024) mourns the loss of Granite City High School guidance counselor administrative assistant Marilyn Chrusciel, who died on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. She was 69 years old. Chrusciel spent 30 years of dedicated service to the Granite City School District as an administrative assistant. She is survived by her former husband and friend, Billy Chrusciel of Granite City; a daughter, Brianna J. Lang of Crestwood, Missouri; step-daughter, Nikki Bernaix of Granite City; grandchildren, Gavyn Chrusciel, Talyn Quinn and Grant Lang; step-grandchildren, Ian Narvaez and Dax Bernaix; two brothers and sister-in-law, Roger Stagner of Sarasota, Florida and Ron and Carol Stagner of Lenexa, Kansas; brother-in-law, Chris Dowd of Overland Park, Kansas; nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends. In celebration of her life, visitation will be at Irwin Chapel, 3060 Maryville Road in Granite City at 4 p.m. o

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SAUGET – Governor JB Pritzker, Crysalis Biosciences Inc. and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced a Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) agreement for Crysalis’ $239.5 million investment to develop a first-of-its-kind sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant. The investment, which creates at least 35 new jobs in Sauget, will transform the fuel and chemical industry while reducing the carbon footprint in Illinois by manufacturing SAF, an alternative jet fuel made with a smaller carbon footprint. “There is no better state equipped for the sustainable fuel industry than Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With a $239.5m investment through REV Illinois, Crysalis Biosciences will build a groundbreaking sustainable aviation fuel plant right here in our state – advancing our mission to drive economic growth while reducing our carbon footprint. This marks a new era of clean energy production

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced charges against Anthony Naceanceno, 26, of Houston, Texas, for Robbery First Degree and three counts of Kidnapping. Naceanceno, who resides in the 6600 block of Westover Street, is currently being held without bond. According to the probable cause statement, at 4:52 p.m. on September 26, 2024, Naceanceno allegedly entered a business located in the 4200 block of Bayless Avenue. "He reportedly informed staff members that he was armed and ordered them into another room. Naceanceno is accused of stealing over $2,000 in U.S. currency, surveillance equipment, and the staff members' cell phones," the St. Louis County probable cause statement said in this case. Naceanceno was arrested the following day inside the vehicle believed to have been used in the crime. Police recovered the victims' cell phones and a substantial amount of U.S. currency during the arrest. The investigation

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School graduate Henry E. Maul was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. Now, his daughter is telling his story. Diana Halstead compiled her father’s diary into a book titled “Writings from the Barbed Wire Hotel.” But she knew she wasn’t done yet. She decided to start a podcast called “Welcome to the Barbed Wire Hotel,” set to premiere on Nov. 11, 2024, where veterans and current service members can talk about their experiences in the military. “After I put together my dad’s book, it was like, there is something I still need to do,” Halstead said. “This is how I can get stories out like my dad’s.” The podcast invites veterans to talk about why they decided to enlist and what they experienced. Halstead wants to hear all of these stories, and she plans to write the interviews into a book in the next few years. Halstead wasn’t always interested in military

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EDWARDSVILLE - Metro East Lutheran High graduated several players from the 2023 team, but senior Rachel Brown has emerged as a leader for the squad in the 2024 season. Rachel is a BJ's Printables Female Athlete Of the Month for the Knights. As MEL's only returning senior, Brown feels she had to take on more of a leadership role in helping the younger players out this year. "I try to keep the attitudes up and provide relief in hard times." With a relatively young team this season, Brown said she enjoys playing with her teammates and helping the younger players out, as well. "Yeah, I'm really excited to play with this new and a young team," Brown said. Brown sees the 2024 Knights girls volleyball season as one of growth, mainly," she said, "to gain experience, and connect as a team." "We face a lot of different types of schools," Brown said, "from Catholic schools. Lutheran school and public schools Like coach (Jenna) Ward said, we're going to play in the Springfield tournament,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Junior running back/linebacker Andrew Adams was perhaps the biggest returnee for the football team at Metro-East Lutheran High School for the 2024 season and he has been a standout all season. He is confident that the Knights will make a return to the postseason for the first time since 2019. Andrew is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete of the Month for the Knights. Andrew has also played varsity baseball for MELHS. He was a first-team all-conference pick in 2023 at linebacker and second-team at running back and is described by coaches "as a tremendous athlete." Adams said he felt the summer practices and training paid off for the Knights. He ran for 694 yards in 2023. Adams is also a solid receiver for MELHS. Adams agreed that eight-man football, with its narrower field and three less men on either side of the ball, is still American football at its heart and soul. "It's exactly like 11-man football," Adams said, "in the sense of contact, and just being aggressive

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ALTON - AltonWorks, Food Is Love and Currency of Caring will host a Block Party for Good, complete with free groceries, hot food and check-ups. From 2–3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at the Alton Amphitheater, community members can take advantage of these services for free, with no residency or income requirements. Lasse Sorensen and John Michel, who oversee Food Is Love and Currency of Caring respectively, explained that their goal is to provide resources that the community needs. “We come in, we deliver hot food, we provide free groceries, no questions asked, produce and everything,” Michel said. “It’s challenging to build infrastructure at places where people can get to them consistently, so we said, ‘Hey, what if we use the power of mobility?’ We started with the food truck movement to effectively replace soup kitchens, but we said, ‘What if we can start to layer in a whole series of services, increasing the access t

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ST. LOUIS – Ameren workers across Illinois and Missouri are heading to the East Coast to assist in repairing damage and restoring power outages in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Approximately 125 Ameren personnel and 210 contractor personnel, including line workers, fleet, logistics and safety, will assist crews from AEP Appalachian Power in Charleston, West Virginia. The Edison Electric Institute's (EEI) National Response executive committee declared a Level 1 National Response Event requesting any available resources in support of Hurricane Helene. Ameren is a member of EEI and a member of the Midwest Mutual Assistance Group. "Mutual aid literally places thousands of boots on the ground to help the East Coast power companies with their restoration efforts. We were prepped and ready to answer the call for people affected by Hurricane Helene," said Lenny Singh , chairman and president, Ameren Illinois. "My thoughts and prayers are with those in the aftermath of the hurricane

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has selected its inaugural cohort for the Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program , according to Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Jessica C. Harris, PhD. In efforts to enhance its mission, vision and values, SIUE launched the Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in 2023, created by Harris and headed up by her office. The Fellows, who are appointed for two years, began their work this fall. “Through the program, we seek to attract scholars who will enhance the breadth, depth and quality of our academic programs, and support the retention and graduation of SIUE’s diverse student population,” said Harris. “Fellows will teach three courses or an equivalent each year, aligned with their field of study. They will also have dedicated time for research and creative activities,” added Harris. “The postdocs will participate in structured

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ST. LOUIS - The United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) is accepting applications for its United for Families (UFF) initiative that works to divert families from crisis and help move them to stability through case management, financial coaching, job training and more. Over 40% of all households in the St. Louis region do not have the monthly income to meet their basic needs. United Way is seeking eligible nonprofit applicants in Missouri and Illinois for this grant cycle who have a history of providing case management programming comparable to the UFF model that helps families achieve financial and educational goals by assessing, planning, and monitoring the services they need. “United for Families helps to stabilize and empower families on their road to restoring self-sufficiency by helping to prevent crises while achieving family economic security as well as educational stability for children,” said Michelle D. Tucker, President and CEO of United Way of Greater St.

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ALTON - Arista Bunn, a junior at Marquette Catholic, is being recognized for her outstanding achievements in volleyball. With a career spanning 11 years, Bunn has been a varsity starter since her freshman year and currently ranks second in her conference in assists. She also leads her team in service points and assists, showcasing her skill and dedication to the sport. Bunn is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete Of The Month for the Explorers. "My parents, Alicia and Steve Bunn, were both successful college athletes who always push me to do my best both on and off the court," Bunn said. She also credits her sister, Adira Bunn, as a constant source of support and her best friend. Bunn's father has been her personal coach throughout her life, instilling in her the focus and leadership qualities that have contributed to her success. "I spend a lot of time training with my parents in the gym, on the court, and on the track working on my speed," she added. Rich Eisenauer,

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) led 18 Members of Congress in a bipartisan letter calling for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to reconsider proposed changes to United States Postal Service (USPS) service standards that would exacerbate delays in mail delivery for residents in rural and underserved communities. “We are writing to express our extreme concern with the United States Postal Service's (USPS) August 22, 2024, announcement that you will be adjusting mail delivery times, resulting in additional delays for our constituents who live in rural areas and areas that are more than 50 miles from a USPS processing center,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy. “While we understand the need for modernization and financial changes across the Postal Service, these changes cannot come at the expense of rural residents who rely on the USPS. Americans, particularly those living in

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Community Appearance Board has announced the winner of its September 2024 "Yard of the Month" contest. The honor goes to the residents of 104 Shadow Crossing in Collinsville, who have demonstrated exceptional yard maintenance and beautification. The "Yard of the Month" contest, sponsored by the Collinsville Community Appearance Board, runs from May through September each year. The initiative aims to encourage residents to maintain and improve their properties, recognizing those who go above and beyond standard expectations. Winners of the first-place award receive a gift certificate to Creekside Gardens in Collinsville, Ill., and are recognized by the Mayor at a City Council meeting. Additionally, they gain automatic entry into the "Yard of the Year" contest, which takes place in October. "The contest is a wonderful way to foster community pride and highlight the hard work of our residents," said a spokesperson for the Collinsville Community

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ALTON - SSP Wellness Center is excited to introduce our new Personalized Workout Plans! This service is perfect for those looking for affordable alternatives to personal training or for individuals who enjoy working out independently. Our Personalized Workout Plans offer a flexible and cost-effective way to stay on track with your fitness goals. Each plan is customized to suit your personal needs, ensuring you get the most out of your workouts. Service Details: To participate, you must complete an initial consultation with a personal trainer. During this session, the trainer will perform your assessments and begin programming your personalized workouts. Following the consultation, you will have a 30-minute session with a trainer to review your workout plan and ensure you feel confident performing the exercises. Plan Options: Choose from one of our four-week programs with tailored workouts designed to meet your specific goals (price includes the $30 assessment): 1 Workout

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CARLINVILLE - Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 at 20733 North Broad St. in Carlinville, inside the Donor Bus. What: Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics Community Blood Drive When: Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Where: Donor Bus, 20733 North Broad, Carlinville, IL Appointments: To donate, please contact Vicki Walker at (217) 854-3141 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60352 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. 2801 South 10th Street, Springfield, Illinois, (217) 753-1530. Donor Eligibility Criteria: Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org ) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. Fo

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SPRINGFIELD - Land of Lincoln Honor Flight ends our 2024 flying season with Mission #72 on October 15, 2024. Mission #72 will serve 92 Veterans including two Korean Era veterans and 90 Vietnam era veterans from 53 Illinois hometowns of Auburn, Aviston, Bartelso, Blue Mound, Breese, Camargo, Cantrall, Carlinville, Carlyle, Carterville, Centralia, Chapin, Charleston, Collinsville, Decatur, East Peoria, Effingham, Farine, Forrest Franklin, Gibson City, Gillespie, Girard, Godfrey, Greenup, Highland, Hillsboro, Homer, Jacksonville, Kappa, LeRoy, Litchfield, Mascoutah, Mason City, Mattoon, Moweaqua, Mt Pulaski, Mt Zion, New Baden, Newman, Paris, Pontiac, Riverton, Springfield, Teutopolis, Texico, Thomasboro, Trenton, Troy, Tuscola, Vandalia, Watson and Xenia. Our October 15th veterans represent all branches of the military. These Veterans and their Guardians will report October 15, 2024 to the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport at 4 a.m. to travel to Washington DC on a chartered Sun Country

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