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STAUNTON - Madison Communications sponsored the Community Hope Center’s Christmas Toy Drive once again this year. The new and unwrapped toys for girls and boys ages 0-12 were collected from the middle of October through the first week of December. Madison was overjoyed with the outcome of the Toy Drive and wants to thank anyone who took the time to donate. The holiday season is a perfect time to give back to the local communities, said Madison Communications.

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As the days grow shorter and the temperatures begin to drop, preparing your home for winter weather becomes a crucial task. Not only does proper preparation help ensure comfort and safety during the colder months, but it also aids in preventing costly damage to your property. From insulation to heating systems, every aspect of your home requires attention. Here’s a comprehensive guide to getting your home ready for winter. Assess Your Heating System One of the most critical elements to prepare for winter is your heating system. Whether you rely on central heating, space heaters, or fireplaces, ensuring they are in good working condition can make a significant difference in your comfort level. Schedule a Professional Inspection : If you have a furnace or boiler, it’s advisable to have it professionally inspected and serviced at least once a year. A technician can clean the system, replace filters, and check for any potential issues that could arise during the winter

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December 10 has witnessed a series of impactful events across the globe, marking significant milestones in politics, science, culture, and human rights. One of the standout events of December 10 is the awarding of the Nobel Prizes, which has become an annual tradition highlighting remarkable contributions to humanity. Established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, the first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. Each year, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, recognizing individuals or organizations that have made substantial efforts to promote peace. The significance of this award cannot be overstated; it has often highlighted critical global issues and brought attention to the extraordinary work of those striving for a more peaceful world. For example, on December 10, 1990, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Mikhail Gorbachev for his role in the peaceful transition of power in the Soviet Union and his efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally.

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ALTON - Alton Committee of the Whole members on Monday laid over an agreement to bring back the Alton Midwest Nationals Formula 1 (F1) Powerboat Championship races - not only for 2025, but for the next three years. The second annual installment of the boat-racing spectacle would be held from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20, 2025. A press release contained in Monday’s meeting documents describes an “epic” event featuring “fast boats racing on the Mississippi River and tons of fun activities for everyone to enjoy.” Spectators at Riverfront Park would see “some of the best powerboat racers in North America” compete in a series of circuit races, making razor-sharp turns in laps around the river at speeds of up to 120 mph. Other activities would include a meet-and-greet event with the racers on Friday night and “vendor displays, free viewing areas, a VIP Experience, music, food, and more” throughout the weekend. The

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MARYVILLE – The Maryville Kiwanis Club adopted ten area children this year for their Christmas Sharing Program. Thanks to the donation received from the Maryville Police Department’s “No Shave November” Project, Kiwanians were able to shop for these students and deliver the gifts to the Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 Office in time for them to receive them for Christmas. According to Julie Clark, Kiwanis President, the club works on a number of projects with partners in the community throughout the year. “We partner with the Village of Maryville, the Police Department, Fire Department, area churches and other non for profits to provide numerous events and activities for the children in our community,” she said. Clark said the club is currently conducting a membership drive and encourages anyone interested in becoming a member to contact her. The more hands we have working together the more we will achieve,” said Clark. She

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– U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with Metra leadership to discuss ongoing rail improvements throughout the Chicagoland area, including Metra’s work on expanding services to O’Hare International Airport and the upcoming Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization. Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, met with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and Metra Deputy Executive Director Janice Thomas, who provided updates on their work on accessibility improvements made possible through the All Station Accessibility Program (ASAP) Duckworth successfully created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Her ASAP Law is providing $1.75 billion over five years to build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure that all of America’s public transit stations finally become fully accessible for all. “Many Illinoisans rely on Metra to get to work and for so much more,

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BETHALTO/EAST ALTON - Piston Aviation will offer discovery flights and more at their “Fly Into Christmas” party. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, community members are invited to Piston Aviation at 16 Terminal Drive in East Alton at the St. Louis Regional Airport. Attendees can learn more about Piston Aviation and enjoy refreshments, crafts, music and $100 discovery flights. “Even if you’re just curious, we want you to come by and see us, meet us,” said Meghen Ord, Piston Aviation co-owner. “Come by and have fun. It should be a good time. And if you want to fly, great. If not, if you just want to hang out and see what we’re about, that’s fine as well.” Certified flight instructors (CFIs) will be available to answer any questions about aviation and Piston Aviation’s flight school. There are between 21 and 28 flight slots available, so people can actually take a discovery flight to see for themselves

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CHICAGO – After extensive investigations, Illinois State Police (ISP) Zone 1 Violent Crime Unit East special agents obtained charges in all five Chicago area expressway shooting homicides that occurred in 2023. “With intelligent investigations, technology, and good old-fashioned persistence, ISP special agents were able to not just clear 100% of Chicago area expressway shooting homicides in 2023, but obtain criminal charges in 100% of cases,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue justice for the victims of gun violence.” ISP obtained first-degree murder charges in each of the five Chicago area expressway shooting homicides in 2023. February 16, 2023 – Shooting on Interstate 55 northbound at Lock Street. The victim was deceased on scene. After an extensive investigation, a man in his 20’s of Chicago, IL was charged on March 27, 2023 with First-Degree Murder. February 19, 2023

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Junior Brown Helps Get Knights Off To 2-0 Start, Thinks Metro-East Can Go Far In IHSA Playoffs Later This Season By COLIN FEENEY GLEN CARBON - Junior Brown, a senior guard for the boys' basketball team at Metro-East Lutheran, has lent a big hand in helping the Knights start 2-0 for the new season. In Metro-East's season opener at home against Granite City on Dec. 5, Brown scored 19 points in a 14-62 win over Granite City, and the next night, Dec. 6, in the Gateway Metro Conference opener at Father McGivney Catholic, he scored 11 points as the Knights took an exciting win over the Griffins. Brown is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete Of the Month for the Knights. Brown is considered one of the key players for Metro-East this season, and in a postgame interview that followed the win over McGivney, he was very happy with how things turned out for his team. "I'm feeling good," Brown said. "I"m really liking how we look right now. We look like a family, a well-oiled machine. Everything

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced he has been confirmed by the House Republican Conference to serve another two-year term as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. "It is a deep honor to have the trust of my colleagues to continue leading the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs," said Bost. "House Republicans have made great progress for veterans and their families over the last two years; and I look forward to working closely with the incoming Trump administration to build on those successes. We’re going to restore our veterans’ trust in the VA while continuing our work to bring the agency into the 21st Century. As a Marine, the father of a Marine, and the grandfather of a Marine, this mission is deeply personal to me. I won’t let our veterans down." Bost’s new term as chairman will begin when he’s sworn in for the 119th Congress on January 3rd. It will be his second two-year

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., (R-LA) celebrated the U.S. Senate passing their Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act , which would expand the deductibility of charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations serving current and former members of the Armed Forces. Specifically, it overturns a provision that prohibits Veteran organizations from accepting tax-deductible donations if their membership contains over 10 percent peacetime Veterans. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “It’s critical we do all we can to support Veterans Service Organizations, which provide vital assistance and community programming for those who served ou

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MOZIER - On November 28th, 2024, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office was notified of a Domestic Disturbance in Progress, at a residence on Illinois Route 96., north of Mozier in Calhoun County. A Deputy Sheriff with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and began an investigation. Subsequent to an investigation, Zachary N Schwalb, age 32, of Baylis, IL., was arrested for: Domestic Battery (2nd or Subsequent). Schwalb was arrested without incident and was booked into the Pike County Jail and is currently being held without Bond. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine announced today that an Alton man has received an 18-year prison sentence for trafficking methamphetamine while in possession of a firearm and body armor. Cody J. Elfgen, 36, received the sentence Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, after pleading guilty to charges of Methamphetamine Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of Weapons By a Felon. Elfgen pleaded guilty to bringing 100 to 400 grams of methamphetamine into Illinois from Missouri on July 16, 2024, and being in possession of a 9mm handgun and body armor. "Those who choose to traffic in meth and other dangerous drugs should take note of the swift resolution of this case and the stiff sentence. Police and prosecutors in Madison County are serious about keeping our communities safe and keeping these scourges out of our neighborhoods,” Haine said. In addition to the prison term, Elfgen must forfeit $2,641 that was seized during a police search of his residence on July 16, 2024.

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BETHALTO - Twenty years ago, Laura Gipson found her way to Trimpe Middle School, and she has loved it there ever since. Gipson is the principal of Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. She enjoys going to work every day and collaborating with other educators to make sure that students get the support they need as they transition to high school. “Being here at Trimpe is like being with family,” Gipson said. “We care about each other. We come together when working towards the same goal. It correlates with our mission, which is to create a safe and welcoming environment that empowers students to successfully navigate the transition from elementary school to high school.” While education has been a natural fit for Gipson, she didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher. For a long time, she hoped to become a nurse. But her interest in music led her to SIUE’s symphonic band, and she eventually found her way to music

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ROXANA — Sean Maberry, a junior at Roxana High School, is making waves in the athletic community as a standout in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. As the Shells' guard for the 2025-2026 boys basketball season, Maberry is not only a three-year starter but also a key leader on the team. Maberry’s impact on the basketball court has been significant. According to Mark Briggs, the head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Roxana, Maberry has logged the most minutes of any player on the team at this point. Maberry is 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, so he has good size for a quarterback and free safety in football. "He was a starter in basketball when he was a freshman. This is his third year in a row as a starter," Briggs said. "He is a leader on and off the floor. In my 25 years as head coach, he is one of the fiercest competitors I've ever coached." In addition to his basketball prowess, Maberry has also excelled as the starting quarterback for the football

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GRAFTON - Grafton will host its SantaCon Pub Crawl this weekend, complete with hundreds of attendees in Santa-themed costumes. From 3–11 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, community members can enjoy the pub crawl throughout the City of Grafton. The event is completely free and there is no set schedule. People are encouraged to dress up, enjoy themselves, and make their way to The Loading Dock for a photo at 6 p.m. “How do you not smile when you walk into a bar full of Santas?” said Allison Rohan, owner of Tara Point Inn and one of the SantaCon organizers. “This is our sixth year for SantaCon, and it’s basically just a pub crawl to enjoy Christmas, enjoy the season.” Most of Grafton’s bars will have drink specials, contests and bands playing throughout the day. Last year, the pub crawl welcomed over 600 attendees. A lot of people choose to dress in Santa or Mrs. Claus costumes, while others go as elves or the Grinch. All Christmas

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GLEN CARBON - Carson Barone, a sophomore point guard at Father McGivney Catholic High School, has demonstrated early in the 2024-2025 boys basketball season that his future looks bright as a Griffins' athlete. The young guard, who is the son of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville coach Brian Barone, has been recognized as a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for his early contributions to the team. Barone's performance has drawn attention from his coach, Cory Clauser, who praised the player's basketball intelligence and potential. "He has great potential," Coach Clauser said. "He is a great ball player and he loves basketball. In a recent game against Metro East Lutheran on Friday, Barone contributed seven points, showcasing his skills as both a ball handler and an offensive leader on the court. He takes pride in his ability to play both ends of the court and effectively run the Griffins' offense. Having played as a freshman at both the freshman and junior

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PIASA - When it comes to sports, Bram Beuttel has proven to be a jack of all trades as a participant this past fall in both soccer and cross country. Beuttel has demonstrated his versatility as an athlete, participating in both soccer and cross country for Southwestern High School. The 17-year-old was recently recognized as the Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for his achievements in these sports. Beuttel recorded a time of 17:41.4 at the Class 1A Rushville-Industry Boys Cross Country Regional Meet, where he placed 25th individually. His performance contributed to the Southwestern boys cross country team finishing sixth overall, allowing them to qualify for the sectional meet. “Bram Beuttel is an all-around athlete,” said Gary Bowker, head coach of the boys cross country team. “Soccer is his number one sport, and he looks to play in college. His conditioning from cross country last year has really helped him.” In addition

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, that repairs on northbound Interstate 255 over Prairie Du Pont Canal just south of Illinois 157 in St. Clair County will require double lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 7 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11. One lane will always remain open. All lanes will reopen by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. 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 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ALTON - Volunteers at The Salvation Army in Alton spent the morning sorting donations for Community Christmas. The United Way’s Community Christmas campaign collects toys, hygiene products, nonperishable food items and more donations for different organizations throughout the community. On Dec. 9, 2024, volunteers at The Salvation Army sorted the toys into different boxes to be distributed to The Salvation Army, Oasis Women’s Center, the Alton Boys and Girls Club, the Catholic Children’s Home, Beverly Farms, the YWCA, Riverbend Family Ministries, Caritas Family Solutions and other local nonprofits. “Isn’t giving wonderful?” said Kristen, a volunteer with The Salvation Army. “It all goes around.” Kristen pointed out that donations are needed year-round to support these organizations and the work they do in the Riverbend community. While the Community Christmas initiative has ended, there are still opportunities to donate to local

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