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Did you know that interactive play can increase social bonding by up to 70% during group events? This statistic underscores a simple truth: games ignite connection. When guests gather, whether for a casual barbecue or a milestone celebration, the right activity can transform the atmosphere from polite conversation to genuine camaraderie. DIY outdoor games, in particular, offer an engaging, customizable, and budget-friendly way to entertain guests while encouraging laughter, teamwork, and friendly competition. Creating your own outdoor games not only personalizes the experience but also invites creativity that commercial games often lack. This article explores a variety of DIY outdoor games tailored to different group sizes and settings, provides practical tips for successful execution, and highlights why these games elevate your summer gatherings beyond the ordinary. The Appeal of DIY Outdoor Games The beauty of DIY games lies in their adaptability. Unlike store-bought games with

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July 18th has been a stage for some of the most pivotal moments in global history, spanning centuries and continents. One of the most impactful events occurred on July 18, 1969, when the Apollo 11 mission was in its final stages before the historic moon landing. Although the actual moonwalk took place on July 20th, the crew's journey and preparations on this day symbolized the culmination of years of scientific innovation and international competition during the Space Race. The Apollo 11 mission was a defining moment for humanity, showcasing what could be achieved with determination and ingenuity. It not only marked the first time humans set foot on another celestial body but also inspired generations around the globe to look beyond our planet with curiosity and hope. In the realm of politics, July 18, 1936, marked the beginning of the Spanish Civil War when a military coup against the Republican government escalated into a full-scale conflict. This war would have profound implications

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating a homicide that occurred Thursday afternoon, July 17, 2025, in the 2100 block of Territory Court. At approximately 2:10 p.m., officers from the North County Precinct responded to a report of a shooting at that location. Upon arrival, they found an adult male suffering from at least one life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. One person has been taken into custody in connection with the incident. The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released further details. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Those wishing to remain anonymous or who may be eligible for a reward can reach out to CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477). Additional information will be provided as it becomes

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WEST ALTON, Mo. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office, will temporarily close Lincoln Shields Recreation Area beginning Friday, July 18, 2025 at 6 a.m. for the F1 Powerboat Alton Midwest Nationals. Lincoln Shields Access Area will be re-opened Monday, July 20 at 7 a.m. For more information, please contact the Rivers Project Office at 636-899-2600.

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School senior Will Fahnestock has been recognized for both his academic and athletic accomplishments, earning a spot on the Class 2A All-State Baseball Team by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA). Fahnestock, who held a 4.782 GPA and has completed 29 college dual credit hours, has been an active participant in school activities throughout his four years at Marquette Catholic. He has served on the Student Council, participated in the Breast Cancer Awareness Club, and competed on both the boys' soccer and baseball teams. His athletic honors include two All-Conference soccer selections, one All-Conference baseball honor, and All-Sectional Academic recognition for soccer. Will is a Tucker's Automotive Male Athlete of the Month for the Explorers. On the baseball field, Fahnestock posted impressive statistics this season, batting .476 with 49 hits in 103 at-bats, a .557 on-base percentage, seven doubles, two triples, and two hom

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ALTON — Ellie Williams, a standout student-athlete and community volunteer at Marquette Catholic High School, graduated this spring after four years on the girls' soccer team and a distinguished academic record. Williams, who posted a 4.720 GPA and earned 24 dual credit hours during her time at Marquette Catholic, was actively involved in several extracurricular activities. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Breast Cancer Awareness Club, and Student Council. Additionally, she held a leadership role as Captain of the St. Mary Community, part of the school’s Community and House System. A third-generation Marquette Catholic student, Williams previously attended St. Mary's School in Alton. She is the daughter of Jennifer Williams and the late Milt Williams, a 1983 graduate of Marquette Catholic. Williams plans to continue her education at Indiana University, where she intends to major in business administration.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Simmons Hanly Conroy , one of the nation's largest mass torts firms and a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that the firm’s San Francisco-based partners Deborah Rosenthal and Jennifer Alesio have been selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers 2025 edition. Rosenthal is a member of the firm’s Asbestos & Mesothelioma, Environmental Litigation, Personal Injury and Sexual Abuse Litigation practice groups. Over her 25 years in practice, she has helped secure substantial, multi-million-dollar results for victims suffering from mesothelioma and other diseases caused by toxic exposures including asbestos, property owners suffering nuisance conditions, maritime workers, and survivors of sexual violence. Her verdicts and settlements have been against defective product manufacturers, oil and shipping companies, telecom carriers, and other institutional and individual

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GRANITE CITY - Alex Jones is a swimmer in the 11-12 boys age group for Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, and on June 23, 2025, during the Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association relays meet at Paddlers, he swam well to help the Pirates finish fourth in the team standings with 111 points. He was a part of the Paddlers' 200-meter medley team that finished third, and also swam on the 150-meter breaststroke relay team that was disqualified, the 150-meter backstroke team that finished second, and the 150-meter butterfly team that placed fourth, He also swam the 50-meter leg on the 250-meter Crescendo Freestyle relay team that finished fourth at the end of the meet. In an interview conducted between his races, Jones felt he was swimming well against Montclaire Swim Club in a dual meet. "We were second in one of our races, and yeah, I think we're doing pretty well," Jones said. He agreed that he was having fun as well, which is the biggest point of the summer swimming season, and

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Illinois State Police arrested 34-year-old Parshay M. Lewis of East St. Louis in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred July 12, 2025, in the 2200 block of State Street. ISP said the incident involved 35-year-old Coryesha Davis, also of East St. Louis, who was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. ISP added that Davis was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The East St. Louis Police Department requested assistance from the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group. ISP special agents located the suspect’s vehicle and identified Lewis as a suspect. Lewis turned herself in to the authorities on July 14, 2025. On July 16, 2025, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office filed charges against her, including Failure to Report an Accident Involving Personal Injury or Death, a Class 1 felony; Failure to Stop after Having an Accident Involving

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EDWARDSVILLE - Kids and adults from across the region will be performing in “School of Rock” at SIUE. SIUE Theater and Dance’s production of “School of Rock” will run from July 18–20 and 25–27, 2025, at Dunham Hall Theater on the SIUE campus. This “community-based show” is part of the Summer Showbiz series and encourages kids from local school districts to lead the cast. “I think it’s just a cool community activity,” said Katie Robberson with SIUE’s Friends of Theater and Dance. “Anybody from within probably the Metro area may know at least one person in the cast or the band or the crew because they just pull from so many different areas.” The show is directed by Kate Slovinski, and Jenny Cartmill serves as the stage manager. Based on the movie of the same name, “School of Rock” follows Dewey Finn, a rock-and-roller who becomes a substitute teacher and forms a rock band with

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - Cahokia Heights police are searching for two Metro-East men charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a 19-year-old resident. John D. Davis, 24, of Washington Park, and Jovon O. Hamburg, 23, of East St. Louis, were charged by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office for the shooting death of Quan Vaughn. Vaughn, who lived in the 300 block of Greystone Drive in Cahokia Heights, was shot on June 15, 2025, and later died from his injuries at Touchette Regional Hospital. Neither Hamburg nor Davis is currently in custody. Authorities consider both men armed and dangerous and are urging them to surrender to the Cahokia Heights Police Department. Police also ask the public to report any sightings of the suspects. The Cahokia Heights Police number is (618) 337-9505.

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Key Takeaways: A TikTok health trend mixes chia seeds and lemon water to improve digestion and avoid constipation. An OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist says the drink tastes good and can have the benefit of adding to daily fiber requirements. Dr. Omar Khokhar warns anyone with pre-existing gastrointestinal (GI) or swallowing issues should consult their medical provider before trying the mix. Remember the chia pet? Well chia seeds are not just for gag gifts anymore. They do have positive health benefits. For example, seeds (two tablespoons) offer an impressive 10 grams of fiber, or roughly one-third of the daily requirement for adults. There is also a TikTok trend, made popular by celebrity wellness influencer Daryl Gioffre, which makes use of chia seeds and fresh lemon juice to jumpstart a person’s digestion with a goal of alleviating constipation. Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare, says the concoction is also referred to as a

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — The Cahokia Heights Police Department welcomed Officer Isaiah Hampton as its newest member this week, marking a continued effort to strengthen the force with candidates committed to professionalism and community service. Officer Hampton was officially sworn in at the Cahokia Heights Police Department. Chief of Police Dr. Thomas L. Trice expressed pride in adding Hampton to the team, emphasizing the department’s dedication to leadership, equity, and making a positive impact within the community. “I am proud to welcome the newest member of our team, Isaiah Hampton," Trice said in a statement. The Cahokia Police Department is actively seeking individuals who value teamwork and are eager to contribute to a supportive and professional law enforcement environment. “If you want to join an agency where you will be valued and work alongside men and women who work as a team, come join us!” Trice added. Officer Hampton shared his motivation

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GODFREY — Ed Gallagher, a longtime resident of Godfrey and World War II Navy veteran, celebrated his 100th birthday on July 12, 2025. Gallagher, known for his service on several submarines during and after the war, remains active in his community and continues to contribute to the USS Diablo Submarine Newsletter with his humorous sea stories. Gallagher served in the Pacific theater during World War II, including time aboard the USS Pomfret SS-391 in 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped. In 1946, he was part of the prize crew for the Japanese submarine I-400, which was notable for carrying three airplanes in a deck hangar and intended for a mission to bomb the Panama Canal. The submarine was brought to Hawaii for examination, but Gallagher said the Navy did not gain much useful information from the inspection. During that time, he met actor John Wayne and his wife during their tour of the vessel. From 1947 to 1951, Gallagher served as a Culinary Specialist Second Class

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and six of her colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU). This decision effectively excuses NFCU from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members—primarily active-duty servicemembers, Veterans, Department of Defense employees and their families. “In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases – even when accounts showed sufficient funds,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought. “In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million

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ALTON - As the community prepares for the Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championship from July 18–20, 2025, racer Shelby Love can’t wait to get back on the Mississippi River. Love will compete in the Formula Lite division. She is coming off two major wins and took home second place at last year’s Alton Midwest Nationals, and she has high hopes for this weekend. “I feel like I have a good chance,” Love said. “But with so many things that could happen, it still makes you nervous. It’s all about staying calm and racing your race, trying not to push it in a heat and then mess yourself up for the final. There’s a lot going through my mind, but I’m just trying to stay calm and do what I’ve got to do.” Love started racing at age 13 with her father, who will be competing in the F1 Powerboat division this weekend. She shared that powerboat racing has always been a family sport for them. She loves sharing the

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ST. LOUIS — A 62-year-old woman was fatally struck by a vehicle late Tuesday night, July 15, 2025, on Interstate 70 westbound east of St. Charles Rock Road, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports. The crash occurred late on July 15, 2025, when a 2023 Cadillac AT4 driven by a 61-year-old man from St. Louis hit the pedestrian, who Missouri State Highway Patrol said was crawling in lane one of the highway. The vehicle sustained extensive damage but was driven from the scene. There has not been official police information released about why the woman was crawling in one of the highway lanes. Trooper D.O. Gillespie, who investigated the incident along with Trooper A.T. Borgic and other assisting officers, pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene on Tuesday. The victim was taken by Lonning Mortuary Services to the St. Louis County morgue. The driver was identified as insured by State Farm. The investigation remains ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding

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ALTON — Raysean Colvin pleaded guilty Thursday, July 17, 2025, to first-degree murder in connection with the death of 13-year-old Ra'Niya Steward and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Colvin was one of five suspects charged in the fatal shooting of Steward, who was struck in the head while standing on her porch on Highland Avenue in Alton. Although Colvin was not the shooter, he was in the vehicle involved in the incident. Initially, all five suspects faced attempted murder charges. However, after Steward died at a St. Louis hospital, the charges were amended to first-degree murder for all five individuals. The other suspects charged are Alvin Perry III, Keith A. Sanders, Dakota Perry, and Vito K. Crowder, whose trials have not yet taken place. Colvin had also been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful sale or delivery of firearms, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons. As part of the plea agreement, those additiona

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane and ramp closures on eastbound Interstate 55/64 in St. Clair County for roadway construction. Beginning, weather permitting, at 4 a.m. Saturday, July 19, lane closures will be in place on eastbound I-55/64 between the Third Street on-ramp and the northbound I-55/eastbound I-64 split. The following ramps will also be closed during this time: Third Street to eastbound I-55/64 Eastbound Martin Luther King Bridge to eastbound I-64/northbound Illinois 3 All lanes and ramps are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Saturday, July 19. 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. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8

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ST. LOUIS — William Lacy “Bill” Clay Sr., a pioneering civil rights leader and Missouri’s first African-American congressman, died at the age of 94. Clay represented Missouri’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1969 to 2001. His district includes St. Louis City and parts of north St. Louis County. Clay was widely recognized for his advocacy on environmental issues, labor rights, and social justice. During his tenure, he supported the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, worked for two decades to revise the Hatch Act to broaden political rights for federal workers, consistently fought to raise the minimum wage, and helped secure increased funding for historically Black colleges. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer issued a statement expressing condolences to Clay’s family. “On behalf of the City of St. Louis, I want to offer my condolences to the family of one of St. Louis' proud native sons, Congressman

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