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ALTON - Morgan Jones, a senior at Alton High School, and the daughter of Cassandra Jones, was recognized recently as a December Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Student Of The Month. Morgan was honored with Marquette Catholic senior Abigail Taylor at Gentelin's On Broadway in Alton. Even though Morgan is involved in several different activities, she preaches that it is important to still have fun and make the most of your high school experience because it goes by in a flash. Morgan has maintained a 4.4 GPA and has been in all advanced classes since freshman year, including Advanced Placement Physics 2. She is extremely involved in extracurricular activities offered by the school, including Physics Club, Redbird Nest, Biology Club, AACE Leadership Program, Mu Alpha Theta, Choral Conservatory, and National Honors Society. She holds officer positions in Student Council as Senior Corresponding Secretary and Thespian Troupe 126 as a Clerk. In addition, she is on the Varsity Competition Dance

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My grandfather and I are best friends. I don’t know if he knows that, but I firmly believe it. We have spent a lot of time together one-on-one, watching the news and sipping coffee. His is black, mine is pale with all the milk and sugar I add. We make a sweet team. When we fall into silence, it’s comfortable, but I try to keep up a steady stream of chatter anyway. I’ll talk about anything and everything and, above all else, nothing, as he politely listens and tries not to nod off. And, inevitably, we get into some odd conversation topics. I start by mining my life for interesting ideas — “Work is going well,” “Listen to this funny story from the RiverBender.com office,” “My cats did the silliest thing this morning” — but when I run out of anecdotes, I start casting around for other topics. Maybe it’s natural, but I end up thinking about my own interests, and then I end up giving impromptu run-on speeches

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EDWARDSVILLE - Seniors Molly Peel and Olivia Kolnsberg are two keys for the Edwardsville girls' basketball team this season. The pair bring leadership qualities of a team that is young with mostly sophomores, a freshman and four juniors. The Tigers have had a slow start, but are expected to show strength as the season progresses. Each game the girls are learning and should be formidable foes for anyone by the season's end. "We've been practicing a lot every day and I can see improvement," Peel said. Peel is also excited about hitting heavy Southwestern Conference play as January 2024 unfolds. "I think to me being a senior, it's to know it's my last go-around," Peel said. "I'm just looking to make the most of this. It's my last year, and we've been working hard in practice, so I expect us to go pretty far and do well." Being the only two seniors on the team, Peel knows that she and Kolnsberg will be expected to show leadership and take the young players under their wings and show

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HARDIN - At 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office was notified by West-Central Illinois 911 dispatch of a disturbance in progress in the area of Dogtown Road in Batchtown. Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas McCall and Sheriff William Heffington responded to the scene, met with victims and began an investigation. Upon their arrival, law enforcement officials were advised that the suspect vehicle had fled the scene. Deputy McCall located the vehicle traveling southbound at a high rate of speed on Illinois River Road and after a brief pursuit, conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The sheriff's office says after an investigation, Annabelle M. Hammond, age 21, of Batchtown, was arrested for a large number of offenses: • Aggravated Battery with Deadly Weapon (Firearm), • Battery (Three Counts), • Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon (Firearm), • Aggravated Assault with Motor Vehicle (Three Counts), •

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SPRINGFIELD – E-cigarette use will no longer permitted in indoor public spaces in Illinois beginning January 1, 2024, under a new state law signed earlier this year by Gov. JB Pritzker. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) supports the intent of the new law, one of several taking effect in the New Year that will improve public health across the state. HB1540, sponsored in the House by Rep. Camille Lilly and in the Senate by Sen. Julie Morrison, adds electronic smoking devices to the list of items prohibited for public indoor use under the Smoke Free Illinois Act, the indoor smoking ban that was enacted in 2008. When the new law takes effect January 1, such devices can no longer be used in indoor public spaces or within 15 feet of a public entrance. “E-cigarettes contain nicotine and other chemicals which can be harmful to both those who use them and those who are exposed to them,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Just like smoking, vaping

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GRAFTON - It’s eagle season once again, and you can increase your chances of seeing an eagle by stopping by Pere Marquette State Park’s eagle-watching program this winter. The all-day program is completely free. Now in its 30th year, the tours will take people through a hands-on presentation at the Pere Marquette Visitor Center and then a drive to different locations around the park where eagles can be spotted. Lev Smolianski, the park’s natural resource coordinator, explained that while they can’t guarantee you will see an eagle, the chances are high. “It depends on the weather and a whole bunch of other factors. But — knock on wood — in the 30 years this program has been done here, there hasn’t been a single time that we’ve gone out and haven’t seen an eagle,” he said. Smolianski and Scott Isringhausen, the park’s eagle expert, will lead the tours. They explained that you’re more likely to see eagles

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced an agreement with Castle Concrete Construction, Inc. (Castle) to pay $76,101.16 to resolve claims that the company unlawfully deducted wages from workers’ paychecks and failed to compensate an employee for time spent transporting other workers to and from worksites. “Any company doing business in our state must follow laws that require workers to be compensated for the hours they work without unauthorized pay deductions,” Raoul said. “I am committed to enforcing laws that protect Illinois workers and support law-abiding businesses.” In 2021, Castle began making unauthorized deductions from its employees’ wages. Castle also failed to pay one of its employees for the time he spent driving the company truck to and from job sites and working in Castle’s facility. Raoul and Castle executed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance resolving an investigation by the Attorney General’s office

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As 2023 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year: “From helping almost 4,000 Illinoisans recover more than $2 million the Federal Government owed them to bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars to get the lead out of children’s drinking water, and from protecting hundreds of jobs in Peoria to helping bring home Illinois hostages held abroad, I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished this year,” Duckworth said. “It’s a true honor to continue serving Illinoisans in the United States Senate and as I look forward to the year ahead, I know there’s still much work to do to help save working families money, protect and defend women’s rights, end preventable gun violence, invest in communities that have been ignored for too long, advocate for Illinois on a global stage, support our troops and make sure we keep the promises

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced today that veteran service organizations can now apply for a state charter through his office. As part of the Veteran Service Organizations State Charter Act that goes into effect Jan. 1, the Attorney General’s office will approve veteran service organizations’ (VSOs) applications for state charters. The Attorney General’s office assisted with the drafting of the act, which was sponsored by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit and passed earlier this year by the General Assembly as House Bill 925. The law establishes requirements that a VSO must meet before being eligible to obtain a state charter in order to ensure that veterans throughout the state are being connected to the support and services they need. Prior to the passage of HB 925, the Military Veterans Assistance Act provided that VSOs could be congressionally or state chartered, but statute did not outline a process for VSOs to become state chartered. HB 925 brings clarit

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GRANITE CITY - Revity Credit Union employees joined together to raise $2,331.00 in the month of November to benefit the Granite City American Legion through their Smile for Jeans Program. The Smile for Jeans Program is funded by Revity Credit Union employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, Revity employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. Nothing gets better than seeing a smile on an organization’s face when Revity Credit Union presents them with a jeans donation check. Revity Credit Union’s 2023 Smile for Jeans Program focuses on supporting our local communities that we work, play and live in. During the month of November, Revity employees proudly raised $2,331 for the Granite City American Legion. Revity Credit Union’s November donation was raised through combined efforts, $1,215 was raised through the jeans

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville City Council on Tuesday passed a $250,000 grant agreement to fund the installation of the future splash pad at Lions Club Park. The agreement between the city and the American Water Charitable Foundation marks the latest step in the park’s multi-phase improvement project. Council members unanimously approved a motion to approve a $250,000 grant agreement between the American Water Charitable Foundation and the City of Jerseyville for splash pad features/controllers/equipment, related to the Lions Club Park Improvements Phase 2 project. This item essentially finalizes the paperwork needed to release the funds that were approved earlier by the Jerseyville City Council, Mayor Kevin Stork said. Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Hermens said at the previous meeting that these funds will help pre-purchase equipment while a design for the splash pad and surrounding area is finalized. “With the American Water $250,000 grant we received,

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ALTON - It took to almost to the end of December, but the Metro East Region observed its first snowflakes of the winter season on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Matt Beitscher said this was not typical of normal November and December months in this region to see snow so late. “There were two other instances where we had no measurable snow in December and one was in 1971 and the other in 2021. But in those years, we had measurable snow in November.” The forecaster said part of the reason for the lack of snowfall is the higher temperatures and also a lack of rainfall. The St. Louis meteorologist said there could be some light snow late in the afternoon or evening on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, and early Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. The precipitation did make driving visibility more difficult in the lunch hour range around the Metro East. The precipitation mix will end on Friday morning. There may be minor accumulations of snow on gras

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SPRINGFIELD - Two new laws regarding libraries in Illinois and a third expanding voter registration for teens are just a few of several new laws set to take effect statewide at the start of the new year in 2024. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias recently announced these and several other new laws initiated by his office that will take effect at the start of the new year. The initiatives were passed earlier this year by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law. A Ban On Book Bans In 2024, Illinois will become the first state in the nation to place a ban on book bans. Giannoulias, who also serves as the State Librarian, said this legislation aims “to prevent public and school libraries from banning books, guarding against censorship and protecting librarians.” He added that he introduced it after far-right extremist groups “targeted Illinois libraries, divided communities and harassed librarians.” “The concept of banning

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased in a St. Louis County homicide case has been identified as Kelton Dukes, 24 years of age, of the 300 block of Atwater Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63135. The case is being reviewed at the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for any possible charges. St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide in the 10000 block of Sheldon Drive in the City of Riverview that resulted in the death of an adult male. At 5:57 AM, City of Riverview police officers responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 10000 block of Sheldon Drive. Responding officers located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot injury. The male was transported to an area hospital for life saving treatment but succumbed to his injuries and was later pronounced deceased. City of Riverview Police requested St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons assume responsibility for the investigation.

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BELLEVILLE - Madeleine Moreland never expected to be a welding student at the Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence (CAVE), but she couldn’t recommend the experience enough. For her hard work and dedication to learning, Madeleine Moreland is a Student of the Month for the Home Builders & Remodelers Metro East Association. Moreland is a senior at Belleville West High School, and she was excited to take part in the district’s vocational opportunities when she learned about the CAVE and its programs. Throughout her first semester, she learned the ins and outs of welding. “I actually love it, like, a lot,” Moreland said. “I’m a very hands-on person, so it’s nice to have that creative release after being in the classroom for the entire first half of the day.” Though Moreland isn’t “100% certain” what she’ll do after she graduates, she said it’s nice to know that welding is an option and she is gla

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ALTON - YWCA Southwestern Illinois Women of Distinction is pleased to announce that the nomination period for the Women of Distinction program is now open. Nomination materials may be accessed at www.ywcaswil.org or by calling YWCA at 618.465.7774. Each year, some of the most influential women have been honored at the YWCA‘s Women of Distinction (WOD) celebration. Honorees are women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in their professional, civic and personal lives. The WOD Academy has grown into a dynamic and diverse group of over 300 women representing a wide range accomplishments and contributions. YWCA is requesting the public’s help in soliciting nominations for 2024 Women of Distinction. The community is urged to nominate exceptional women who create real change in our communities. Nomination packets are available now at YWCA, online at www.ywcaswil.org, via email at info@ywcaswil.org, or by calling (618) 465-7774. Nomination deadline

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SPRINGFIELD - Several new laws concerning vehicles and driving are taking effect in Illinois starting on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Here’s an overview of some of those laws regarding Zooming and driving, mirror accessories, and automatic license plate readers. No More Zooming While Driving In 2024, it will be officially illegal to attend Zoom meetings, stream your favorite show, and/or check your social media timelines while driving. If this already seems illegal to you, that might be because Illinois already has laws preventing handheld cell phone usage while driving; exceptions are made when reporting an emergency, stopped/parked on the side of the road, or when in park/neutral during a traffic obstruction. This new law expands on that existing law to specifically target video conferencing, streaming, and social media platforms in an effort to further combat distracted driving. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a press release that he drafted this

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ST. LOUIS - The City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry is offering locations throughout the City of St. Louis for residents to recycle their live Christmas trees. Trees can be dropped off at: Forest Park: Lower Muny Opera parking lot O’Fallon Park Recreation Complex (YMCA): Southwest corner of parking lot Carondelet Park: Grand and Holly Hills, area near gate next to mulch piles Trees will be accepted at these Park sites through Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The trees will be used for mulch and firewood that will be free and made available to residents at the same sites. Trees must be free of all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights, and tree stands, and should not be bagged or covered. Fake or plastic trees, wreaths, and pine roping are not accepted at these sites. City residents are discouraged from placing Christmas Trees in alley dumpsters or recycling containers, however they may also be placed in the alleys for bulk pickup.

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ALTON – OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center recently bestowed its Mission Partner of the Month Award for December to Jenn Terry, Administrative Supervisor (Nursing Administration). Hospitals are 24/7/365 entities, and there’s no downtime. So whatever happens during the daylight hours certainly takes place overnight. Reading Jenn’s nomination is to deduce that 1) she is an ideal example and can attest to what happens at night and 2) she is the leader of the night at OSF Saint Anthony’s. Jenn’s nomination reads in its entirety: “While department heads are nestled in their beds, Jenn works nights and often picks up extra for coverage and in the Emergency Department. She encounters many challenging scenarios and troubleshooting opportunities with grace. She is supportive of all Mission Partners and is an excellent resource. We’re fortunate to have her here at OSF Saint Anthony’s." Winners of the Mission Partner of the Month

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EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - Wyatt Owens is a fierce hockey player, but he has proven himself even tougher off the ice as he undergoes treatment for lymphoma. The 18-year-old player for East Alton-Wood River has received a lot of support from his team, and now they are asking the community to step up and help out. DAWG Nation Hockey Foundation is sponsoring a fundraiser for Owens, and his team is cheering him on. “Everybody’s got his back,” said James Mitchell, Owens’s coach. “We’re fighting for him. Hockey’s the best, and to see everybody come together and stuff and do this for Wyatt, it’s just been amazing.” On Dec. 19, 2023, teams from across the conference taped up their sticks in lime green to bring awareness to lymphoma and show support for Owens at the East Alton Ice Arena. The Alton, Granite City, Bethalto and Highland hockey clubs took a break from the competition to come together and welcome Owens as he joined

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