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ST. LOUIS – Make-A-Wish is excited to bring back The Holiday Wish Line for a second year to spread hope and joy this holiday season as part of the nonprofit’s “Wishful Giving” campaign. This special telephone hotline features uplifting, pre-recorded messages from wish kids, giving callers a burst of happiness whenever they need it until December 31. The Holiday Wish Line encourages people to take a break from their daily challenges and enjoy heartfelt messages that foster togetherness and celebrate the holiday spirit. While the holiday season can bring joy, it can also create anxiety and pressure due to societal and personal expectations for a "perfect" holiday experience. The hotline inspires a joyful season for everyone who calls. “The Holiday Wish Line was created to inspire hope and encouragement during the holiday season,” said Caroline Schmidt, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. “There’s no one better suited

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ALTON - The first Alton Art Expo is planned for March 2025, and organizers are looking for artists. Charles Mooneyham, Stephen Scordias and Kimberlyn Renee have collaborated to create the Alton Art Expo at Milton Schoolhouse, with all proceeds going to Centerstone. Their goal is to provide a space for artists to showcase their work while raising awareness about mental health. “The hope and the idea behind the Alton Art Expo is this is where art, community and wellness will meet,” Mooneyham said. “Hopefully the art fair will serve as the bridge to connect the community to wellness through the empowerment of art. The expo is scheduled from 12–7 p.m. on March 29 and 12–5 p.m. on March 30, 2025, at Milton Schoolhouse in Alton. Mooneyham and Scordias said they hope to bring in approximately 60 artists to showcase their work. The vendor fee is $65 or $75 if two artists decide to split the booth, and this fee covers both days of the expo. Artists will

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ALTON - Jacob Warden knows sales, but he also understands the importance of helping others. Insurance, then, feels like a natural fit for him. Warden has his own Farmers Insurance storefront at 192 Alton Square Mall Drive in Alton. He builds his business around helping people understand what they’re buying and what insurance they need, and he works hard to make sure his clients are protected. “I’ve always been in sales, but I’ve also always wanted to help people,” he explained. “I feel like a lot of people with insurance just aren’t educated on what they need or what they know, and that’s kind of what I base my business around, just making sure people understand what they have and make sure they’re not overinsured or underinsured in certain areas.” Originally from Texas, Warden met his fiance, an Alton native, in Colorado. The two of them moved back to Alton during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Warden decided to open

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GRAFTON — The Grafton community is mourning the loss of retired Police Chief Eric Spanton, who died on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said Spanton, who battled cancer, had served as the police chief since 2017, following a distinguished 28-year career with the Illinois State Police. In November 2024, the Grafton City Council accepted the retirement of Police Chief Spanton. He also served for several years with the Jersey County Sheriff's Office. Mayor Morrow confirmed Spanton's passing, noting his profound impact on the city during his tenure. "He served in two mayoral administrations during his time in Grafton," Morrow said. "Everyone in Grafton says there will be very big shoes to fill in replacing him. Everybody in Grafton knew him." Spanton's contributions to the police department and the community were significant. His leadership helped establish a solid foundation for the department, and he was known for his proactive approach to community policing.

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School student Elliana Fiorino has been selected for the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Honors Chorus, a distinction that recognizes her as one of the top high school vocalists in the state. The announcement was made recently, highlighting her dedication and talent in music. The ILMEA All-State Honors Chorus is a prestigious group that showcases the best vocalists from across Illinois. Fiorino’s selection reflects her hard work and commitment to excellence in her craft. As a member of this elite ensemble, she will represent Civic Memorial High School at a high level, furthering her musical journey. “This remarkable achievement showcases Elliana’s dedication and talent,” said a representative from Civic Memorial High School. “We are proud to have her as part of our Eagle family.” Fiorino’s accomplishment not only underscores her individual success but also highlights the strong music

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GRAFTON – The National Memorial of Military Ascent (NMMA) received a generous donation of $2,500 from the Grafton Whelan-Hill American Legion Post 648 on Thursday, December 12, 2024. This marks the second donation from Post 648, which was the first American Legion post to contribute to the memorial's efforts with a $2,000 donation in October 2023. The check presentation was attended by Post 648 representatives, including Commander Jon Hughes and Post Agent Ray Jolly, who expressed their unwavering support for the NMMA's mission to honor the sacrifices and legacy of U.S. veterans. In June 2024, the NMMA team briefed the American Legion State Convention on the progress and goals of the memorial. The convention passed a resolution of support, uniting all American Legion posts across Illinois in backing the NMMA. Since then, the NMMA has sent over 700 letters to posts statewide and has continued to receive donations to fund the memorial's construction and future programming. "

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BUNKER HILL — Bunker Hill Community Unit School District #8 is set to host a two-day ALICE Active Shooter Response Training course on Feb. 17 and 18, 2025, aimed at equipping participants with critical skills and strategies to enhance survivability during violent events. The training will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Bunker Hill High School, located at 314 S. Meissner, Room #12. The ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) program focuses on preparing individuals for the critical moments between the onset of a violent incident and the arrival of law enforcement. Participants who successfully complete the course will become Certified ALICE Instructors, gaining the knowledge and resources necessary to train others in their communities. Registration for the training is available online at the following link: https://cvent.me/MlGONg?RefId=social.

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In November, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC announced Grimmway Farms started a voluntary recall of multiple sizes and brands of organic whole and baby carrots. In the same week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alerted the public of an E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef products made by Wolverine Packing Co., based in Detroit, Michigan. Around 167,000 pounds of ground beef products were recalled. What is E. coli? Escherichia coli , commonly known as E. coli, is a bacterium with multiple strains. Humans’ microbiome can contain E. coli, specifically in our guts with stool. These are different than the strains that cause food-borne illness. Eating affected foods can lead to serious gastrointestinal illnesses, such as diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and kidney disease if the case is severe. Symptoms can start anywhere from a few days to up to nine days later, according to the FDA. Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) questioned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy during a hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Budzinski pressed DeJoy about his “Delivering for America Plan,” which proposes consolidating the Champaign and Springfield Processing and Distribution Centers in Illinois. This would result in outgoing mail traveling all the way to Chicago or St. Louis before being sent to its final destination. For reference – Champaign and Chicago are over 130 miles apart; Springfield and St. Louis are about 100 miles apart. Today’s hearing is part of Budzinski’s ongoing effort to push back against USPS facility changes in Central and Southern Illinois. She has previously written to DeJoy outlining concerns with the downsizing of USPS Processing and Distribution Centers in Springfield and Champaign , Illinois and urged him to reconsider plans that would slow delivery rates

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EDWARDSVILLE - Brittany F. Peterson, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Acting Director of the Center for Faculty Development and Innovation at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is a featured expert in the newly released three-part docuseries titled “Why studying locusts requires integrative approaches.” The topic is locusts and Peterson’s appearance representing SIUE is part of a collaboration that includes six institutions that have contributed to this production. According to the Behavioral Plasticity Research Institute (BPRI) team, the series, presented by the BPRI and funded by the National Science Foundation, highlights the significance, progress, and impact of interdisciplinary science in unraveling complex natural phenomena. The BPRI is focused on a natural phenomenon in locusts that causes timid and solitary individuals to develop into voracious, swarming locusts. Locusts are not only fascinating becaus

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CARLINVILLE — This year will mark the 100th anniversary of Stoddard Hall, Blackburn College’s oldest residence hall. To commemorate this milestone, the College has received a significant grant to begin a multimillion-dollar effort to reinvigorate the historic building on the Carlinville campus with significant upgrades. The funds were awarded through the Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant Program, a joint effort between the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Capital Development Board. The Program granted $400 million to independent colleges across Illinois in 2024. “Stoddard Hall has been an integral part of the College for 100 years and stands as a testament to Blackburn’s commitment to making higher education more affordable,” said Sarah Koplinski, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “Our residence halls are more than places where students live and learn; they are symbols of our unique program, allowing students to

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GRANITE CITY - A Granite City man and New York resident both face felony charges for financially exploiting elderly victims in two separate but similar cases filed on the same day. Richard W. Hoffmeister Jr., 64, of Medina, N.Y., was charged with two Class 1 felony counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability. He was also charged with a Class 1 felony count of theft. For over two years from Sept. 1, 2020 to Dec. 1, 2022, Hoffmeister allegedly obtained over $15,000 from an elderly victim over 70 years of age “while standing in a position of trust and confidence” with them, according to court documents. In a separate case, Brian F. Griffith, 45, of Granite City, was also charged with two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person or person with a disability, both Class 1 felonies. He was also charged with theft, a Class 2 felony, and wire fraud, a Class 3 felony. Griffith reportedly financially exploited a different

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O'FALLON - New and expectant mothers in O’Fallon, Illinois, will have the opportunity to gain valuable resources on pregnancy and parenting at the upcoming “Bundles for Babies” community baby shower. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in the lobby of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Hosted by the hospital's Women and Infants Center, the event aims to provide educational resources for new and expectant moms and their families. Amanda Schaefer, the Nurse Manager of the Women and Infants Center, along with the care team, will lead the initiative, which includes participation from representatives of The Doula Lab, Heartland Women’s Healthcare, the Pregnancy Care Center, SLU Family Medicine, and Scott Air Force Base. Attendees will have access to information on a range of topics, including lactation services, safe sleep practices for infants, and car seat safety. The event will also cover pain management options during

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HARDIN - On Sept. 8, 2024, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office responded to a burglary complaint near the intersection of Geske Hollow and Blue Ridge in Hardin. The investigation began promptly after the initial report, which led to further developments in the case. The following day, deputies received another report regarding a suspicious vehicle in the same area. Upon investigation, it was determined that the vehicle had been stolen and abandoned. The Sheriff's Office processed both crime scenes and continued an intensive investigation into the incidents. As a result of their efforts, an arrest warrant was issued on Sept. 27, 2024, for 43-year-old Charles “Joey” Mielke of Hardin. Mielke faces several charges, including burglary, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, theft, criminal damage to property, and criminal trespass to a building. At the time of these offenses, he was on Pre-Trial Release for multiple other charges under the provisions of the SAFE-T Act, also

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RIVERBEND - The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Dream Home Charities are asking for the community’s help to make sure local foster kids have a merry Christmas. Sherry Gilleland, owner of Dream Home Realty Centre and founder of Dream Home Charities, provides Christmas gifts to 25 families and 85 foster kids across five local counties. But on Dec. 12, 2024, she was delivering gifts to DCFS when she discovered the tailgate of her truck was down, and she had lost hundreds of gifts along the road. Gilleland shared that donations were already low this year, and they struggled to get the toys, clothing, sanitary products and other gifts that families and kids asked for. She is devastated by the loss. Now, DCFS and Dream Home Charities are asking the community to do what they can to help out. “We couldn’t do what we do without the community and our family and our friends,” Gilleland said. “I’m very blessed that we do have our

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EDWARDSVILLE – With the holiday season around the corner, the Edwardsville police have joined forces with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High, Get a DUI” enforcement campaign to ensure that festive gatherings don’t end in tragedy. From Dec. 13 through Jan. 2, 2024, law enforcement agencies across Illinois will adopt a zero-tolerance policy for impaired driving to keep our roads safe. “This season, let’s make safety our shared priority,” said Lt. Brandn Whittaker. “If you plan to drink or use impairing substances, plan ahead for a sober ride home. Driving impaired isn’t just dangerous – it’s unacceptable. We’ll be out in full force, and no excuses will be accepted.” The Edwardsville police urge everyone to take the following simple steps to prevent impaired driving: Plan ahead: Designate a sober driver, use public transportation or

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JERSEYVILLE — Four student-athletes from Jersey Community High School have been recognized for their outstanding performance in soccer, earning Mississippi Valley All-Conference honors. Brady Maxeiner, Dax Gotten, Christian Dugger, and Dylan Molloy were acknowledged for their contributions during the season. In addition to their conference honors, all four players have been named Sparklight Male Athletes of the Month, highlighting their achievements both on and off the field. The recognition reflects their dedication and performance during the soccer season at Jersey Community High School. Maxeiner, a junior, secured a spot on the first team as a goalie, demonstrating his skills with an average of 11.6 saves per match. Senior Dax Goetten earned a second-team forward designation after scoring nine goals throughout the season. Meanwhile, both Dugger and Molloy received honorable mentions for their roles as defenders. Goetten also contributed 21 points.

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WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) celebrated key local and national priorities passed in the National Defense Authorization Act, including pay raises for service members, bringing military boot production back to America, funding to secure our telecommunications infrastructure and support for the iFAB Tech Hub at the University of Illinois. The legislation now heads to the United States Senate for consideration. “Our service members risk their lives every day to keep us safe and defend our freedoms. This pay raise is both a well-deserved recognition of their sacrifice and a way to support our troops facing the rising cost of living,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I am also encouraged by the inclusion of funding for key priorities I have long advocated for, such as securing our telecommunications infrastructure, supporting the iFAB Tech Hub and bringing military boot manufacturing back to American soil - including in Belleville,

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CHICAGO - On Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program team, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and local leadership to celebrate the Biden-Harris administration’s recognition of Illinois as a major transportation hub for the United States via two grant awards. Previously announced in October, the awards from U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), totaling $290 million, will accelerate improvements to the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP). “Illinois is the largest rail center in the entire nation – playing a vital role in the flow of goods and commerce across the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Today, we take another step forward in our pursuit towards stronger infrastructure through a historic federal investment in our railways – brought to us by the Biden-Harris administration and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs

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WOOD RIVER - Three have been apprehended from an incident that started at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Wood River. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said Tyler Cunningham and Brooke Wiegand allegedly texted a person who live inside a home in the 100 block of Main in Wood River. One of those charged allegedly texted a person who lived in the home on Main Street in Wood River and asked him to come outside. When the man came outside, Cunningham allegedly pulled a gun on him and attempted to take property away, Chief Wells said. After the incident, the pair fled the scene in a vehicle and the vehicle was spotted in the 100 block of Bonds in East Alton, where they were eventually taken into custody. Because of the displayed weapon, the Illinois Law Enforcement System (ILEAS) Tactical Response team was called to assist Wood River and East Alton Police. Cunningham, 22, has been charged with Attempted Armed Robbery and Unlawful Possession of Weapons by a Felon. Wiegand, 20

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