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MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Regional Office of Education recently hosted a ceremony to recognize the recipients of the first ever Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship for Madison County Students. Ten students from across Madison County were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship based upon their applications that detailed their high school careers and future plans. The winners were chosen from over 50 extremely qualified applicants. The scholarship is named after Alma Irene Aitch who was a former teacher at the Lincoln School in Edwardsville. It was funded through a collaboration between Mr. Manny Jackson, Dr. Ed Hightower, and Dr. Robert W. Werden that was designed to reward hard work and excellence in education. The scholarship will continue in the future and will continue to be open to all Seniors in any Madison County High School who will be continuing on to a university, college, or trade school. Mr. Jackson, Dr. Hightower, Dr. Werden, and the entire Madison County Regional

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SOUTH ROXANA — The American Legion Post 1167 in South Roxana received a complete replacement of its heating and air conditioning system at no cost, thanks to efforts by local officials and a veteran-owned business. The issue began when the post’s central air conditioning unit stopped working. On July 2, 2025, South Roxana Mayor T.J. Callahan personally reached out to Mike Barton, commander of The American Legion Post 1167, after learning of the problem. Callahan used personal funds to purchase a window air conditioner for the post as a temporary solution. Following that, Terrah Bevelo, a village employee, suggested Barton contact American Heating and Cooling, a veteran-owned company. The owner, Mr. Spearlock, inspected the existing unit and determined it was beyond repair. He then offered to replace the entire heating and air conditioning system free of charge. American Heating and Cooling was a definite "Difference Maker" in the region with this heartfelt donation

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EAST ST. LOUIS — The East St. Louis Community Tennis Association has had an incredible summer. A ribbon cutting in May 2025 unveiled the six brand new courts at East St. Louis Senior High in May 2025. East St. Louis has hosted tennis tournaments, free lessons, and school outreach events over the summer. "Whether you are a player, parent, or community supporter, there is something for everyone," the East St. Louis Community Tennis Association said about the new tennis courts. East St. Louis School District Superintendent Arthur R. Culver has emphasized the importance of the new courts in fostering student engagement and athletic development. “We believe these courts will spark a love for the game and inspire a new generation of student-athletes to explore tennis, build confidence, and stay active both on and off the court," he said. The East St. Louis project was made possible through financial support from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO),

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GODFREY - Freer Auto Body will once again sponsor their Christmas in July event with the goal to raise over $75,000 for Community Christmas. From 10:30–1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, you can stop by Freer Auto Body in Godfrey to purchase raffle tickets and enjoy a sloppy joe lunch. All proceeds go to 17 local agencies that participate in Community Christmas to supply toys, clothing, hygiene products and more to area families. “On Christmas Day, you get a warm feeling knowing that you helped. You really do,” said Margaret Freer. “If people haven’t been, they need to come and experience it. It’s a fun day. Little kids wait on you. It’s kids helping kids. The sloppy joes are the best you’ll ever have.” For a donation, you can receive a sloppy joe, chips and a slice of Margaret’s cheesecake. You can also purchase raffle tickets for $10 each. The raffle prizes include $3,500 cash, several vacations and experiences,

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ALTON — Six Alton Middle School cheerleaders have been selected as All-American Cheerleaders at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Cheer Camp, earning an invitation to perform at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2025. The cheerleaders, recognized on June 18, 2025, will represent their school and community in what organizers describe as a “once-in-a-lifetime event.” Sarah Crause and five others are coordinating a fundraiser to support the cheerleaders’ participation. Each cheerleader faces a cost of $1,000, which does not include travel expenses. The organizers are seeking donations from the community to help cover these costs and ensure the athletes can take part in the parade. “Any amount is greatly appreciated,” the fundraiser organizers said, emphasizing the importance of community support to enable the cheerleaders to attend this honor. Click here for the GoFundMe.

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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 and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—secured several important provisions to support servicemembers and boost American competitiveness and national security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved this week and the full Senate will now consider. Among the provisions that the Senator secured in the Committee-passed legislation, Duckworth successfully led a provision to expand IVF access for uniformed servicemembers and ensure military families have the same level of coverage that Members of Congress and other federal employees already have. As President Donald Trump continues to misuse our military to intimidate American citizens across our nation, Duckworth also successfully secured provisions that would safeguard Americans’ civil rights when servicemembers assist

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CHICAGO — A gas station in a small town southwest of Chicago has sold a winning Lotto ticket worth a cool $1 million. The winning ticket was sold at Citgo, located at 8755 W. 79th Street in Justice, IL. It matched all six Lotto Million 1 numbers in the Thursday, July 10 drawing: 5-11-16-23-25-39. Citgo, formerly known as Beahan Oil, has been a fixture in the small community for over 22 years. The store’s owner hopes the lucky ticket was purchased by a local customer. “I was out of the country when I got the call from my manager. We have no clue who the winner might be, but I have a strong feeling it was a regular Lotto player from our area,” said William Beahan, owner of the Citgo gas station. “Whoever it is, we’re very happy for the winner and look forward to celebrating with them.” Retailers who sell winning lottery tickets also have good reasons to celebrate as these wins bring their business a cash selling bonus of one percent of the

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SPRINGFIELD — Yesterday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) held a roundtable discussion with Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, United Way of Decatur, and various social service organizations to discuss the local impact of extreme social safety net cuts in President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill Act. “Last night’s discussion was about speaking the truth of the deeply harmful consequences of the Big, Bad Bill. This law will decimate social services, kill jobs, close hospitals, and raise costs for families – while billionaires cash in,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “As President Trump and Congressional Republicans turn their backs on working families, I stand firmly with the health workers, teachers, caregivers, and nonprofit leaders who do the work of holding our communities together. With so much at stake, now is the time to come together, support our neighbors, and continue speaking out.” “Lawmakers must recognize the barriers

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Lottery is proud to join lotteries across North America in celebrating Lottery Week, taking place July 14–18, 2025. This annual event shines a spotlight on the positive impact lottery proceeds have on communities—from funding public education to supporting small businesses, boosting local economies, and investing in charitable causes. As a thank you to players, the Illinois Lottery is partnering with over 40 radio stations statewide to give listeners a chance to win a bundle of Instant Tickets—one of which could win up to $2 million. “For over 50 years, the Illinois Lottery has proudly supported communities throughout the State—most notably through funding for K-12 public education,” said Harold Mays, Director of the Illinois Lottery. “Lottery Week is a time to celebrate the players, retailers, and partners who make our mission possible and help deliver winning moments across Illinois every day.” When people

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TROY - Dawn Mushill, President/CEO of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, announced on Monday, July 14, 2025, that the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce is seeking fall Chamber college interns. Mushill said students who apply should be a junior or senior in college and enrolled in mass communication, social media, video, public relations, business, marketing or office management. The Chamber is seeking students who can work independently, pay attention to detail, are reliable and are willing to do any task at hand. Interns are very important to the success of the Chamber as they are each involved in all aspects of the day-to-day operations, including office processes, event planning, event attendance, networking with Chamber members and much more. Although the internship is unpaid, there are many opportunities to meet Chamber member businesses that could potentially lead to a job after graduation. The Chamber works around the intern’s

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GODFREY - Clearwave Fiber will host a free Brick Builders' Bash for families to enjoy. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, community members can stop by Glazebrook Park in Godfrey for a free Brick Builders' Bash event. Attendees are encouraged to play with LEGOs and “build anything your imagination dreams up,” Clearwave Fiber said in a statement. “Brick Builders' Bash is a free, family-friendly LEGO event designed to spark curiosity and creativity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) through hands-on play and exploration,” Clearwave Fiber explained. With a Free Play LEGO Zone and Hands-On Building Stations, attendees of all ages and skill levels can enjoy building LEGOs. A collaborative build challenge encourages people to work together to solve a creative task. There will also be a creative building competition complete with prizes, and a STEM activity zone where you can experiment with science and technology. Attendees

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ALTON – OSF Medical Group in Alton is pleased to announce a new cardiology nurse practitioner has been added to its staff to better serve the ever-increasing cardiology needs of Riverbend region residents. Meredith Walter, MSN, ANP-BC, is now seeing patients in need of cardiology care at OSF Medical Group - Cardiology, located at OSF Saint Anthony’s Medical Office Building, Suite 300, #2 Saint Anthony’s Way, in Alton. Ms. Walter will see patients Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Walter offers her patients a variety of specialty cardiology services encompassing (but not limited to): Chest pain Hypertension High cholesterol Heart failure Coronary Artery Disease management Walter’s comprehensive, clinical experience also includes: Served as practitioner, educator, and consultant for patients with advanced heart failure Valvular heart disease Experience encompasses rural settings as well as quaternary care hospitals Women’s health an

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HARDIN - On May 27th 2025, at 4:44 p.m, a Deputy Sheriff with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Park St. and Barry St., in Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation, the driver, Keith F. Bergman, aged 64, of Eldred, Illinois, was arrested for the following offenses: Driving While Revoked – 3rd or Subsequent Operating Uninsured. Bergman was arrested without incident and released with a Notice to Appear at a later date at the Calhoun County Courthouse. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

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On May 15th 2025, at 12:45 a.m., a Deputy Sheriff with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Mississippi River Road and Water St., in Hamburg, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation, the driver, Justice A Self, aged 27, of Hamburg, Illinois was arrested for the following offenses: Driving While Revoked – 3rd or Subsequent Illegal Transportation of Alcohol - Driver. Self was arrested without incident and released with a Notice to Appear at a later date at the Calhoun County Courthouse. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

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HARDIN - On May 7th, 2025, at 7:10 AM, Calhoun County Sheriff Bill Heffington responded to a report of a Suspicious Vehicle near the South Ambulance Shed on Illinois River Road, in Meppen, Calhoun County, Illinois. Sheriff Heffington identified a suspect as Travis J Howard, age 44, of Hannibal, Missouri, as the operator of the vehicle. Calhoun County Chief Deputy Zach Hardin arrived on scene to assist with the investigation and discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Pike County, Illinois on May 2nd 2025. Subsequent to the investigation, Howard was arrested for the following offenses: Possession of Stolen Title/Certificate Possession of Stolen Vehicle • Unlawful Display of License Plate Possession of Controlled Substance • Driving While Revoked Operating Uninsured Howard was arrested without incident and transported to the Pike County Jail. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures on eastbound Interstate 64 between 15th and 25th Street in St. Clair County will begin, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, July 18, for bridge deck patching. Traffic will be reduced to one lane. All lanes will be open to traffic at 6 a.m. Monday, July 21. 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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EAST ALTON — The East Alton Building and Zoning Office has relocated the permit clerk to East Alton City Hall, officials announced this week. Hours for the permit clerk at East Alton City Hall at 119 West Main Street are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton said the move of the permit clerk was to ensure that anyone who came in looking for the clerk or any other issues for Building and Zoning would be available. East Alton has its other offices at City Hall, so if the permit clerk happens not to be there, a person is there to answer questions or take contact information, Carlton said. The Building and Zoning Department's Office remains at 232 Church St. in East Alton.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Art Fair is Sept. 26-28. This is another of the series of profiles on participating artists. Artist #1 Artist Name: Gary Rondeau Medium: Jewelry Artist Statement: "My work starts from a simple idea — what happens when you treat metal like paper? I take traditional paper working techniques and translate them into metalwork, pushing the boundaries of both forms. Origami has been a passion of mine since I was young, and translating the techniques into metal has driven my art. "Origami is at the same time very artistic and very logical, drawing on both sides of the brain. I think jewelry is inevitably a tactile art form. It should invite touch. It should inspire and fascinate and tell a story. Art jewelry should not only look good, it should make people wonder how it was made and what skills went into it." Artist #2 Artist Name: David Hasty Medium: Photography Artist Statement: "The bulk of my collection

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ALTON - Chris “The Real Deal” Rinker took home second place at last year’s Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championship, and this year, he’s hoping to top the podium. The championship is scheduled for July 18–20, 2025, with events and races throughout the weekend that spectators can enjoy from Riverfront Park. Rinker grew up racing with his father, and he can’t wait to return to Alton for another “thrilling” weekend of racing on the Mississippi River. “It’s going to be a wild weekend for sure,” he said. “It’s a big family sport. The entire sport itself is one big family. It’s surprising how much camaraderie there is. When somebody’s down or has a problem with their boat, everybody pitches in to get them back on the water. It's kind of unusual, I think, in a lot of ways because of that.” Rinker races with his own sons, and his family owns Rinker’s Boat World in Texas.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A district judge sentenced a St. Elmo man to 32 years in federal prison after he shot at law enforcement agents serving an arrest warrant at his residence in Fayette County. Dax Baldrige, 47, pleaded guilty in January to seven counts of assault of a federal officer, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Following imprisonment, he will serve five years of supervised release. “Law enforcement officers are brave, underappreciated, and underpaid heroes who risk their lives every day to protect others,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Those, like Dax Baldrige, who target our officers for violence represent a form of evil against the very foundation of society. Few things are as serious, and our office will bring the full weight of federal law to bear, relentlessly pursuing the harshest prison terms to hold such people accountable.” On Oct.

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