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WOOD RIVER - Community members and elected officials gathered at Tomerlin Bookkeeping & Tax Preparation Services to celebrate their move to a newly renovated building in Wood River. On Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, the City of Wood River and Wood River Main Street sponsored a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the remodel of 1 E. Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, the new site of Tomerlin Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Services. This is part of the City of Wood River’s development, and representatives from both Tomerlin and Wood River expressed their appreciation for the move. “We’re just excited to be able to continue to expand,” said Terry Richars with Tomerlin. “Jay Tomerlin’s grandpa started it and then he did a great job for a long time. We’re just trying to take the torch forward.” Richars explained that they closed on the building late last year and spent several months cleaning it out and remodeling it. Construction started in March

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SPRINGFIELD – The 2024 Illinois fall trout season will open Saturday, Oct. 19 at 60 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. Madison County has two locations: Belk Park Pond, Wood River. Highland Old City Lake. St. Clair has three locations where trout fishing can be done: Frank Holten State Park Main Lake. Jones Park Lake, East St. Louis. Willow Lake at Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area. Macoupin County had one location: Beaver Dam Lake, Beaver Dam Lake State Park The early catch-and-release season is scheduled to open Oct. 5 this year. No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 19. The daily catch limit is five trout. All anglers, including those who participate in the early catch-and-release season, must have an Illinois fishing license and inland trout stamp, which are available at IDNR license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores, and other retail

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September 27th has seen a plethora of significant events unfold across the globe. 1540: The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) Is Formally Established On September 27, 1540, Pope Paul III formally established the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits. Founded by Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuits became one of the most influential religious orders in the Catholic Church. They played a crucial role in the Counter-Reformation and were known for their contributions to education, missionary work, and the promotion of social justice. The Jesuits have left a lasting impact on the world, with numerous educational institutions and social programs that continue to benefit societies globally. 1822: Jean-François Champollion Deciphers the Rosetta Stone Another significant milestone occurred on this day in 1822 when French scholar Jean-François Champollion announced he had deciphered the Rosetta Stone. This breakthrough enabled scholars to understand Egyptian hieroglyphs

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Fire Department and Police Department responded to a three-car traffic accident at the intersection of Route 157 and University Drive on Tuesday night. Emergency responders found two injured individuals at the scene. One patient was transported by ambulance to a hospital in St. Louis, while a medical helicopter was called to airlift the other victim due to the severity of their injuries. The Edwardsville Police Department is currently investigating the cause of the accident. Further details about the conditions of the victims and the circumstances leading to the crash have not been released.

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ALTON — Due to a forecasted 100 percent chance of rain, the "Block Party for Good" has been rescheduled from Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, to next Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. The event will still take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Alton Amphitheater. Organized by AltonWorks, Food Is Love, and Currency of Caring, the block party aims to provide essential products and services to the community, including free groceries and hot meals. “These monthly block parties help bring important products and services like free groceries and free hot food to the people in the area who need it most,” Brigadier General (Ret.) John E. Michel said previously. The decision to postpone was made due to the weather forecast, which predicts heavy rainfall on the original date. The organizers hope the new date will allow more people to attend and benefit from the services offered.

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BELLEVILLE — President Joseph Biden recently signed a Federal Disaster Declaration that will provide individual assistance to residents impacted by the July 16, 2024 flooding, according to the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency. The declaration, issued this week, opens the door for federal aid to help residents recover from the devastating floods that swept through the region. "We anticipate additional guidance from the State of Illinois in the coming days," said the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency in a statement. "We will be providing information on how to apply for the federal assistance in the early parts of next week as final arrangements are made." Residents can begin the process of requesting FEMA assistance immediately by calling 1-800-621-3362 or visiting disasterassistance.gov . Additionally, the county plans to set up in-person disaster recovery centers in the near future to further assist those affected. The Federal Disaster Declaration includes

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ALTON - A man was transported to an area hospital with a leg injury following a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Ninth and Piasa in Alton around 2 p.m. on Thursday, according to Alton Battalion Chief Tom House. Authorities said the accident occurred when one vehicle rear-ended another that was stopped at the intersection. House confirmed that the man’s injuries were not life-threatening. Further details about the incident were not immediately available. The accident remains under investigation by the Alton Police Department.

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Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) provides career and technical education programs serving 10 area school districts: Civic Memorial High School, Collinsville High School, Dupo High School, East Alton-Wood River High School, Edwardsville High School, Highland High School, Lebanon High School, Mascoutah High School, Roxana High School, Triad High School. COLLINSVILLE – Southern Illinois Builders Association through the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program, has donated $100,000 to Collinsville Area Vocational Center for program and equipment upgrades. The Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) and the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP) are proud to announce a generous donation of $100,000 to the Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC). This donation will support essential program and equipment upgrades, furthering CAVC’s mission to provide high-quality technical education and hands-on training to local students.

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MARYVILLE - The Homebuilder and Remodelers Charitable and Educational Foundation Request for Proposal Objective: The Homebuilder and Remodelers Charitable and Educational Foundation (the HBRC) is seeking a builder to construct and or provide our “Wish Home” in partnership with Make-A-Wish. The “Wish Home” may be a home already constructed in the builder’s inventory or a new construction home. The HBRC shall either pay the builder for the home out of ticket proceeds at the cost agreed to in the RFP, or if a minimum number of tickets are not sold the HBRC has the option not to purchase the home and the builder shall retain the home. The HBRC shall provide a significant marketing campaign around this home, which will feature the builder in all advertising along with the HBRC and the Make-A-Wish foundation. Key Dates and Submission Guidelines: Proposals are due to the Foundation’s office at 6100 W Main Street, Maryville, IL 62062, no later than 3:00

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Pumpkin spice lattes, apple crisp macchiatos and chai lattes are staples of fall and winter. The drinks can boost your mood and energy and liven up social gatherings. But drinker beware, says Caroline Brundage, a dietetic intern with OSF HealthCare. She says the concoctions contain more added sugar (sugar not naturally occurring in an ingredient) than you’d think. Some drinks have 50 grams or more of added sugar, she says. And Brundage has noticed more coffee shop drinks with higher levels of saturated fat. “The biggest risk would be weight gain,” Brundage says. “That can lead to heart disease, diabetes and obesity.” Her advice to enjoy fall drinks but stay healthy: modify the drinks, and consume them in moderation. Ingredient swaps Brundage suggests you do your research before getting hooked on a sugary drink. Look at the nutritional facts for high levels of added sugar, carbohydrates or saturated fat. If you’re purchasing on a coffee shop

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TROY - Doug Orcutt stays busy with his business, The Red Door Cottage, and he invites everyone to come by to check out the shop. Based at 116 S. Main Street in Troy, the store features crafts and wares from 38 different vendors. Orcutt said they have everything from tumblers to home decor to jewelry to soap. At the recent Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce 40th anniversary festival, Orcutt noted that The Red Door Cottage has a great selection and a strong love for the community. “When I go to local festivals, I don’t see hardly anything there that we don’t have in our store,” he said. “You could have a festival five days a week at our place. You don’t have to worry about going to all the different places like that.” Orcutt has owned the building at 116 S. Main Street for 15 years, but he opened The Red Door Cottage two years ago so he could collaborate with other crafters and artisans in the area. He immediately joine

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ST. LOUIS — In 2022, St. Louis won a competitive search to retain and expand Procter & Gamble’s existing home products facility at 169 E. Grand Ave. Earlier this month, representatives from St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) joined Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and P&G’s leadership to celebrate the company’s $180 million expansion, which will result in the creation of new jobs at the 17-acre North St. Louis campus where the company produces Cascade, Mr. Clean, Swiffer and Febreze products. In collaboration with Missouri Department of Economic Development and STL Partnership, through the Port Authority, SLDC supported P&G with access to economic development incentives. The Port Authority issued $180 million in industrial revenue bonds to help fund the expansion as part of an incentive package that provides a sales tax exemption for construction materials and a personal property tax abatement

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KIRKWOOD, MO. – Leslie and Alan Nehring invite the Kirkwood community to honor their son Caleb’s memory. For the 18th consecutive year, they have partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive in memory of their son. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 1, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kirkwood Family YMCA, 325 N. Taylor Ave., in Kirkwood.On October 1, 2006, after over a year of treatment for stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma, Caleb lost his battle with cancer at 8 years old. He was an active, smart, funny and beautiful 7-year-old when he was diagnosed. A day that was supposed to be a quick CT scan followed by lunch and school shoe shopping became a long, painful and devastating nightmare with his diagnosis and hospital admission. During Caleb’s months of treatment, he often needed a boost from blood transfusions. “It was through these challenging days that we truly learned the power of the gift of blood donation.”, his parents said. “Each

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ALTON – Alton Mayor David Goins addressed a group of 50 fifth-grade male students at West Elementary recently, emphasizing the importance of respect, honesty, and responsibility during a session at the school's Gentlemen's Club. The event, organized by Steven Doering, took place in the school's library. Goins spoke passionately about the values that he believes are essential for young boys to develop into respectful and responsible individuals. "Respect is the cornerstone of good character," he said, highlighting the significance of being polite, listening when others speak, and treating everyone with kindness. The mayor's address covered several key points, starting with self-respect. He urged the students to take pride in their appearance and actions, and to make decisions that reflect good character. "Good manners," he noted, "such as saying please and thank you, holding the door open for someone, and using polite language, show appreciation for others." On the topic of

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OTTERVILLE - Local history buffs can get an inside look at an Otterville building with a fascinating backstory while supporting its restoration at the 41st annual Hamilton Primary School Festival. The festival spans two days, including Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 from 12 to 5 p.m. As always, it will be held on the Hamilton Primary School grounds at 107 E. Main St. in Otterville. The weekend’s festivities include live musical acts, free tours inside the Hamilton Primary School, local vendors, prize raffles, a 50/50 drawing, and kids’ activities, including crafts and a coloring contest. Plenty of great food will also be on-hand, such as fried fish, pulled pork, hot dogs, bratwursts, and more. The festival also features an annual bake-off and auction, both of which are set for Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. The top three bakers in each of four dessert categories will walk away with cash prizes, with winners announced that afternoon

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ALTON - Eight empty box cars and an empty coal car escaped from a switch on upper Piasa Street just before 10 p.m. on September 17, 1924. The driverless cars came careening down Piasa Street on the Chicago & Alton Railroad tracks to Union Depot in downtown Alton. Fred Elsner, traffic cop at 3rd and Piasa, was on duty at the time. He saw the cars racing down the steep incline and frantically waved his signals for all automobiles and pedestrians to clear out of the way. It was due mainly to his efforts that no one was seriously hurt when the train cars sped past the busy corner at Broadway and Piasa. The northbound 10 o’clock Chicago & Alton passenger train was on its way up the same tracks, but a railroad worker who happened to be nearby saw the danger and, fearing that the empty train cars would collide with the passenger train, leaped on one of the front cars and set the brakes. Gradually, the train cars slowed down and stopped near the Union Depot in time to avert a collision.

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation is looking to hire more than 270 seasonal positions to help with snow and ice removal in Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties. Applications for snow removal operators and winter salaried highway maintainers, also known as snowbirds, must be completed online at https://illinois.jobs2web.com by Monday, Sept. 30. Both full-time winter highway maintainers and hourly winter highway maintainers are being hired to help maintain more than 45,000 lane miles statewide during the winter months. The positions are required to promptly respond to emerging weather situations for snow and ice removal and be ready to work in emergency conditions at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. The starting salary for full-time is $5,814 per month, and hourlies are paid $25 an hour. Applicants must have a valid commercial driver’s license and email

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ST. LOUIS – For the third time in just over a year, the American Red Cross is rapidly mobilizing volunteers and relief supplies to respond as Helene bears down on communities in the Florida Panhandle. The Red Cross has assigned some 360 trained disaster workers, stocked truckloads of supplies and is ready to open dozens of shelters to help people in need. The American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas Region is ready to help those impacted. Currently, 18 disaster responders from Missouri and Arkansas are deployed to support those in the path of Hurricane Helene. Five of the disaster responders are from Arkansas and thirteen are from Missouri . This includes two Emergency Response Vehicles (one from Arkansas and one from Missouri). The teams left earlier this week and another team with an ERV leaves from Little Rock today (Thursday). “Time and time again, we have seen our volunteers step up to provide help and hope to those in need during their darkest hour,”

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ALTON — Belle Street in Alton is fully open again to traffic after a comprehensive water/sewer infrastructure upgrade, a project that saw significant collaboration between the City of Alton and Illinois American Water. The barricades officially came down at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. "Obviously, a lot of work went into it, and it's nice to get that section back opened," said Justin Kleinschmidt, P.E., from Sheppard, Morgan & Schwaab, Inc., who has been an engineer on this Illinois American Water project. "Hopefully, it will serve as another route with all the other road construction projects going on in the area." The project involved significant upgrades to water lines, sewer lines, and storm sewers. Some sections, particularly between 13th and 15th Streets, still require additional pavement work and water line replacement. "We hope to have that section back open in 2-3 weeks, weather dependent," Kleinschmidt added. The initiative was a joint effort between Illinois

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ALTON - Running 4 Heroes will sponsor a one-mile run in Alton to honor fallen K9 Odin. At 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, runners and police officers are encouraged to come out for the event. The run will start and end at the Alton Police Department. Running 4 Heroes sponsors a one-mile run for all first responders and K9s who are killed in the line of duty. Since they started in 2019, they have run 1,850 miles. Odin will be their 103rd K9. “What we will be doing on Saturday is honoring K9 Odin from the Alton Police Department with a one-mile run,” explained Bernadene Loemker. “We have a young man named Zachary who is one of our eight national youth runners. Zachary lives in the Illinois area, and he is going to be the runner coming to carry the flag for Odin. After the run is over, that flag will be folded and provided to the handler who worked and lived with Odin." Zachary, a 14-year-old who volunteers with Running 4 Heroes, will lead the mile carrying

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