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BETHALTO - Tom Lane officially marked 25 years of working with State Farm on Tuesday. Spending nine years as a claims adjuster and the past 16 years as an agent in Bethalto, Lane said he and his team hope for many more years of serving the community that has supported them for so long. “I think we’ve got a great group of people working in my office,” Lane said. “I think we’ve established ourselves well in the community, and I feel that we are carrying on the purpose and the vision and the mission of State Farm through my office every day, and that is to help people recover from the unexpected and make sure that they are well taken care of. We plan to do that for several more years.” Lane and his team have generously given back to the community in several ways, including making donations to local schools and much more, which he said is just one important part of being an agent. “We’ve been very blessed and had the financial means to be

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JERSEYVILLE - Alexander Funeral Home is closing its doors after decades of serving the Jersey County community following an announcement from Kari Jo and Alyssa Alexander. The sisters have overseen the funeral home’s operations since the passing of their father, Larry Jo Alexander , the former owner of the funeral home and the longest-serving coroner in Jersey County history . “We, Kari Jo and Alyssa Alexander, are writing to regretfully announce that Alexander Funeral Home is closing its doors,” the sisters wrote on Facebook . “Please know that this decision was not made lightly, there have been countless difficult conversations and many tears that have gone into the decision to close a business that our parents loved and centered their family around. However, our parents’ dream is not for either of us girls and we are looking forward to our next chapter.” Those who made funeral pre-arrangements with Alexander Funeral Home were notifie

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School welcomed freshmen today for an orientation and a chance to meet the peer mentors who will be working with them throughout the school year. The FreshMentors program assigns one upperclassman student to around five freshmen. The older student will check in with their group throughout the school year and serve as a point of contact if they have questions or need help connecting to resources. “ started the FreshMentors group where our students mentor the incoming freshmen to make them comfortable throughout the school year,” Principal Justin Newell said. “So we are just the guide by the side, and the students are doing it all themselves.” Phil Schneider, a social studies teacher and the FreshMentors Coordinator, added that most of the students who signed up as mentors chose to join the program because they found it helpful when they were freshmen. “The FreshMentors join up because they had such a good experience.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey Community High School Class of 1983 has its 40th Class Reunion set for Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at George's Local Brew in Jerseyville. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. that night. Alex Foster, a member of the planning committee for the 40-year class reunion, said the JCHS classes of 1981, 1982, 1984, and 1985 are also invited to a gathering the night of the JCHS homecoming football game on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at the Donald W. Snyders Sports Complex. The game starts at 7 p.m. "We will be meeting on the north side of the field between the gate and the concession stand that the JCHS Administration has designated for our reunion at the game," Foster said. "Look for the welcome signs! We would love to see all of our friends who attended high school with us. "After the game, we’ll meet at DJ’s Pub and Grill at 117 W. Prairie Street in Jerseyville for a reunion of the JCHS Classes of 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. All are welcome."

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Police have three reports of separate burglaries to motor vehicles and one stolen motor vehicle in the Savannah Crossing Subdivision in Glen Carbon. Glen Caron Police said at about 4:50 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, police officers responded to the Savannah Crossing subdivision for reports of the burglaries and one stolen motor vehicle. Glen Carbon officers and detectives, with the help of Illinois State Police Crime Scene personnel, are actively following up on these cases. Since these separate cases are all currently under investigation, Glen Carbon Police Department does not have any further information to provide at this time. The Glen Carbon Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in the following manner: Please remove all valuables (purses, wallets, cash, laptops, firearms, medicines, etc.) from vehicles. Please lock up all unattended vehicles and secure vehicle keys inside residences. Please secure keyless ignition vehicles inside

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker today signed legislation which will allow individuals with certain felony convictions the opportunity to apply for non-gaming positions at Illinois casinos, largely in the hospitality industry. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) worked cooperatively with UNITE HERE Local 1 and Senate Bill 1462’s sponsors Senator Robert Peters and Representative Kam Buckner to draft the bill. “Here in the Land of Lincoln, we believe that people deserve second chances—and that includes the formerly incarcerated and those who have been convicted of a felony,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As we transform our justice system away from incarceration and towards rehabilitation, we are creating opportunities for Illinoisans who’ve made mistakes to secure gainful employment and build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.” “This new legislation addresses the needs of people impacted by the legal

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ALTON - Alton may be getting a new business district after a proposal was approved by the City Council on Wednesday. The new “Route 3 and Buckmaster Business District” is intended to attract business growth to the area, which has reportedly seen high vacancy and a decline in visitors in recent years. A public hearing on the proposed district is set for later this fall. The new district would be bordered by Homer M. Adams Parkway to the north, Buckmaster Lane to the west, Oakwood Avenue to the south, and to the eastern edge of the property currently occupied by Big Lots and Goodwill. The number of “deteriorated” sites within the area has made it “an economic liability to the community,” according to the ordinance proposing the new business district. “Additionally, consumer visitation to the proposed Business District declined dramatically in recent years due to excessive vacancy resulting in an economic underutilization of the area,”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Some may not realize this, but Madison County Circuit Clerk Tom McRae and Collinsville basketball legend Kevin Stallings have been best of friends for most of their respective lives. Kevin and Tom are almost exactly the same age. Tom turned 63 in April 2023 and Kevin will hit the mark in October 2023. Kevin said, “I am pretty sure we knew each other by 4 years old. He is my oldest friend. We were very fortunate we both had older brothers about the same age and we came from big families. “I played some summer ball with Tom and a lot of sandlot football games. I remember the first time we got to play I got kicked in the ear by one of Tom’s cousins. We have been friends since 1964. We were both born in 1960 and we have remained fast friends since we met.” Recently, Kevin and Tom attended a St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball game in St. Louis and Jacob Stallings of the Miami Marlins slammed a pair of hits. It was a proud night for both Tom and

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SPRINGFIELD - In a 4-3 ruling on Friday, the Illinois State Supreme Court issued a ruling that the state weapons ban was "constitutional." The ban was enacted after a deadly mass shooting in the Highland Park suburb of Chicago where seven people died and dozens were injured. Governor JB Pritzker signed an assault weapons ban earlier this year. This was what the Illinois Supreme Court found: "First, we hold the circuit court erroneously entered summary judgment for plaintiffs on their equal protection and special legislation claims. Plaintiffs are not similarly situated to the trained professionals. To the extent plaintiffs claim they possess restricted items, they are not treated differently from the grandfathered individuals. "To the extent plaintiffs claim they do not possess restricted items, they are dissimilar to the grandfathered individuals, who have a reliance interest in retaining them. Second, we hold that plaintiffs waived any second amendment challenge to the restrictions,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Thursday was an emotional day for Madison County Sheriff's Office members and Captain Kristopher M. Tharp as he spent his last day in uniform. Capt. Tharp, DSN 307, signed off for the last time with the Madison County Sheriff's Office Thursday afternoon. The emotion felt by Capt. Tharp and those who signed off with him through all the years with the sheriff's office was obvious. Capt. Tharp is a Wood River native. The sheriff's office issued this statement: "Congratulations to Captain Kristopher M. Tharp, DSN 307 on his retirement. Captain Tharp started at the Sheriff's Office in 1999 after serving as a police officer in Missouri for two years. Over the past 24 years, Captain Tharp has served as a patrol deputy, detective, patrol sergeant, Investigations lieutenant, and captain as jail administrator. "Captain Tharp has been a member of the Major Case Squad since 2004, ILEAS Crisis Negotiator, founder and president of Madison County TRIAD, Graduate of FBI National Academy

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MOUNT OLIVE - After nearly 80 years, Army Sgt. John W. Radanovich, who died at age 23 in the battle of Hurtgen Forest in Germany in December 1944, will be laid to rest Saturday in a family plot at a Mount Olive Cemetery. For anyone wishing to attend a visitation and service for Radanovich, it will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Mount Olive. A series of battles occurred over 50 square miles on the German-Belgian border in 1944 to 1945 and Radanovich's rifle platoon encountered what was described as a "fierce counterattack" with the German soldiers on Dec. 1, 1944. That was the last time the Mount Oliver soldier was seen alive. Radanovich was a White City native and star Mount Olive athlete. He enlisted in the U.S. Army from Michigan in November 1942. Radanovich had been reported as a prisoner of war by the Germans, but his regiment was not able to do a thorough search for him because of ongoing combat. A Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency historian determined

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CARLINVILLE - Carlinville Police Chief Derek Graham provided a report about a robbery at gunpoint early Friday in the city. “At 5:05 a.m. on August 11, 2023, the Carlinville Police Department received a call that an employee from Casey’s located at 425 West Main Street, Carlinville, had been robbed at gunpoint by a white male wearing a mask, black hoodie, and dark pants, last seen headed west. Police arrived on scene and a K-9 unit was able to locate the weapon and mask in the area around the scene. “During the investigation, CPD was able to retrieve surveillance video of the suspect. The suspect is a white male, approximately 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall and medium build. The suspect appears to have a tattoo on his right hand. The images of the suspect are included here.” Chief Graham closed by saying anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Carlinville Police Department at (217) 854-3221 or info@carlinvillepolice.com or Macoupin and Montgomery

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GODFREY – The Nature Institute’s (TNI) hiking trails, located at 2213 South Levis Lane in Godfrey, Ill, are quiet for now with the end of summer camp, but will soon be teeming with activity. TNI’s fall programs are plentiful and registration is now open. The newest program added to the calendar is the Bigs and Littles Hiking Club. Director of Education, Lauren, wants to invite families to join her family for a hike on the preserve. A carrier or sling is recommended for little legs, as strollers are not recommended on our trails. Bigs and Littles Hiking Club will be monthly starting September 2 with a new trail being explored each month. These hikes are free and open to the public and registration is preferred. Another relatively new program returning this fall is Tiny Trekkers. This drop off program is for young children (age 3 - 5) on each Tuesday from 9 - 11 a.m. Tiny Trekkers is the perfect complement to part time preschool or a way to get a young child ready for

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O’FALLON – Are your kids prepared for the new school year? Are you? While children need to prepare emotionally and mentally for getting into the back-to-school routine, parents need to get ready on many fronts too. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and HSHS Medical Group offer this handy checklist of preparations to tackle before school starts. HEALTH PREP To help make sure your child stays healthy during the school year: Update vaccinations. Dr. Saba Bajwa, HSHS Medical Group pediatrician, shared, “Immunizations are crucial for protecting children from serious diseases by boosting the body's natural immunity.” The best way to protect your child is to follow the recommended vaccine schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules . It lists immunizations that children of various ages need, including: Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Chickenpox (varicella). Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis

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HARDIN - A man faces multiple charges after the Calhoun Sheriff's Office performed what they described as a "high-risk" stop. The charges are for Timothy W. Bricker, 39, of Beardstown. The Calhoun Sheriff's Office said he used an alias of his brother, Benjamin Bricker. An identification card belonging to Benjamin Bricker was located during the arrest. A passenger also identified the driver as Benjamin Bricker. As a result of the investigation, the driver, Timothy W. Bricker, will face the following charges: Driving While Revoked, Fleeing / Attempt to Elude a Peace Officer, Obstructing Justice, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Hypodermic Syringes, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and; Resisting Arrest. The incident occurred at 12:42 a.m. on June 20, 2023. Sergeant Zach Hardin with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Route 100 and Hamburg-Michael Road, Michael, Calhoun County, Illinois.

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ALTON - A backpack and school supplies drive-thru at Alton High School helped prepare students for the coming school year. The Alton Community Unit School District 11 (ACUSD11) partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Alton and Argosy Cares to provide school supplies to K-12 students in the district. All kids who were registered for school qualified for supplies. Volunteers and teachers began passing out supplies at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 until they ran out. “It is an outstanding turnout, even better than we expected,” ACUSD11 Superintendent Dr. Kristie Baumgartner said. “We're very thankful to partner with the Boys and Girls Club to produce this event. As you can see by the turnout, being able to provide this many students with school supplies to start the school year off is a wonderful opportunity, and we are so thankful to our sponsors who make this possible.” The Boys and Girls Club coordinated donations from Simmons Hanly Conroy , Colman’s

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus made several announcements about various things going on around the village at the Village Board meeting earlier this week, including everything from debris dumpsters to new boat parking regulations, online surveys, and an upcoming car show. The Village Board also moved forward a shared use path project, playgrounds resurfacing project, and more. Mayor Marcus said there are now leaf & limb debris dumpsters added to the Public Works garage for residents that need additional yard waste removed from recent storms. The garage is located at 153 N. Main St. behind Village Hall, and the dumpster will remain there until further notice. Call 618-288-1200 for further information. Survey submissions are still being accepted for the Glen Carbon Comprehensive Plan. The mayor encouraged residents to fill out the survey online on the Village of Glen Carbon website . He also urged residents to complete water service line material surveys required

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CHICAGO – An Illinois iLottery player woke up this morning a newly-minted millionaire. The lucky online player matched all five numbers in last night’s Powerball drawing to score the million-dollar prize. The winning numbers were: 10-15-21-67-69. This is now the fifth Illinois Lottery player this year to snag a prize of $1 million or more playing Powerball. Just on Saturday, another lucky Powerball player won $1 million after matching all five numbers in the August 4 drawing. The winning ticket was purchased at Jewel-Osco on 11730 S. Marshfield Ave. in Chicago. The winner has not yet come forward to claim their prize. In total, nearly 22,000 winning tickets were sold in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing. The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they’re ready to claim their prize. Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize. The

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ALTON – The YWCA is pleased to announce that their Childhood Enrichment Program Registration is still accepting applications for the upcoming School Year program. The program serves the Alton, Wood River-Hartford, and Roxana School Districts and has enrichment sites at North Elementary School in Godfrey, YWCA in Alton, Lewis & Clark Elementary in Wood River, and the Former Roxana Village Hall in Roxana, and accepts CHASI and DCFS Funding. The Childhood Enrichment Program is a State of Illinois license-exempt program that provides before and after school care for students in kindergarten thru age 12. “As Child Enrichment Director, I am honored to oversee a program that values child development, diversity and inclusion. Every school year is a new chapter in the journey of growth and learning for our young minds. At YWCA, we're committed to creating a nurturing and welcoming environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and self-confidence. Our school year program is designed

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells discussed a rare homicide case in the city that occurred two weeks ago and thanked the City Council for their support throughout this investigation at their meeting on Monday. “Two weeks ago today something that we don’t have happen often in our city, but we did have a homicide,” Chief Wells said. “Within just a couple hours of the homicide happening, the men and women of the Wood River Police Department had that bad guy in custody, and he’s been in custody since that homicide happened.” Austin L. Mullins of Alton, 19, was charged with first-degree murder after he discharged a firearm, causing the death of Jacob Wall, age 23, on Monday, July 24, 2023, according to a previous story on Riverbender.com about the case submitted by the Wood River Police Department. Councilman Jeremy Plank asked the chief how the elimination of cash bail, effective Sept. 18, would affect this case. “It

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