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GRANITE CITY - Juniors Luke Stepanek and Hailee Wyatt of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Rotary Club Students of the Month for March. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the Granite City Rotary Club Meeting on May 16, 2023. LUKE STEPANEK Three-year varsity Warrior Hockey Club member ... Two-year varsity boys golf and boys volleyball letterwinner ... Three-year Honor Roll and Secondary Honors ... Member of Saturday Scholars and Student Council ... Volunteer for Student Council Thanksgiving and Christmas Basket delivery and Freshman Orientation ... Warrior Hockey Club Sportsmanship Award ... Warrior Hockey Club Alternate Captain ... Son of Paul and Sarah Stepanek. HAILEE WYATT Three-year member of girls basketball

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WOOD RIVER - The ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshop was hosted by LivingWorks in collaboration with Compass Health, Missouri Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Osage County Anti-Drug Community Action Team. The two-day workshop featured lectures, audiovisuals, discussions, and simulations. The workshop had the objective to provide individuals with skills on how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone safe. Three staff from Riverbend Family Ministries' (RFM) SOAR program were in attendance - Program Coordinators, Nathaniel Carlson and Marissa Green, and Program Director, Kenlea Herndon. The SOAR program staff work directly with at-risk adolescence in a group setting discussing sensitive topics around mental health. Staff were sent to this workshop with the intent for them to become more equip to have conversations regarding suicide and to respond appropriately

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent letters to publishers of several of the most popular online games—that have reported extremist content issues—requesting information regarding their actions to identify and remove content that broadcasts or promotes terrorism, violent extremism, or hate crimes, as well as any efforts they have made to address the use of their platforms by those who perpetrate such acts or who seek to recruit or radicalize like-minded individuals. Last May, after a gunman killed ten and injured three at a Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York, Durbin sent letters to the two social media platforms, Twitch and Discord, that the gunman used to plan and then livestream his premediated attack. Through that work and subsequent reports issued by social media watchdogs, it has become clear that extremists and other malicious actors are using features of online video games, and no

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Dear Residents of the Roxana School District, I hope this letter finds you well. As you may know, Bob Coles is running for the Roxana School Board, and I am writing to share with you why he is a great candidate for the job. Bob Coles is a dedicated member of our community and understands the complexities of being responsible to our homeowners, school budgets, and supporting the staff and students. He knows the importance of ensuring our staff has the ability and resources to perform their job to the best of their ability. His commitment to our community extends to his support for our students during and after graduation. Bob has been a member of our community for over 25 years, now serving as the Chief of Police and working to ensure the safety of our families and students. He has also been actively involved in school programs and has counseled students through a mentoring program at the high school, always putting the well-being of our students and families first. Bob's experience

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TROY, MO. - Authorities have cracked a Missouri cold case that dates back to 1984 after human remains were found. DNA testing and analysis by both Southeast Missouri State University students and a private laboratory have identified the remains discovered 38 years ago as Jack Langeneckert of Florissant, MO. Authorities said remains were found in a pump house on Highway F farm in June 1984. He was reported missing in 1982. His car was discovered at a St. Louis airport a week after he disappeared and the remains were never identified. Investigators said the person identified had been dead for six months at the time his remains were first discovered in 1984. Langeneckert was a real estate agent at the time he disappeared from the public. Anyone with any information, in this case, is asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at (636) 528-8546.

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JERSEYVILLE - St. Francis/Holy Ghost sixth-graders were “all hands on deck” as they recently raced their cardboard boats in a regatta at the JCH Wellness Center. Students raced across the pool in cardboard boats they designed and built based on their recent lessons on buoyancy and Newton’s Laws of Motion. The boats can be made only from cardboard and duct tape but can be any design or dimension. Crew members of one cardboard boat, Allison Militello and Sophie Winters, shared their experience: “We started off with not much experience with cardboard. Our design was good, but the cardboard didn’t agree, so we had to rebuild three times and get some help from our classmates, but we worked together, learned, and didn’t give up.” This project forms part of a larger student effort to learn about local recycling. Students obtained their cardboard in a fun and educational field trip to the cardboard processing center in Jerseyville, operated by the

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March 29 will mark the one year anniversary of the first shipment of an ambulance from the United States full of medical supplies being shipped to Ukraine. This effort, which was conceived and led by an OSF HealthCare executive, has resulted in 28 ambulances and 1 fire engine being delivered to Ukraine during the past 12 months. All vehicles are filled with supplies and ready to go into service upon arrival into Ukraine. Most of the vehicles donated are serving on the front lines as Ukraine defends itself against Russian forces. To mark this milestone, U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine will accept its 5th donated fire engine at its warehouse in Schiller Park, Illinois on Wednesday March 29. The fire engine, from Muscatine, Iowa, will join four additional fire engines and 10 ambulances that will be included in the group’s 8th shipment to Ukraine which will leave in mid-April. This will bring the total of donated ambulances to 38 and the total number of donated fire engines t

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OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of America's Most Innovative Companies for 2023. It is the only healthcare system headquartered in Illinois to earn the distinction. The 300 U.S. companies with the highest score were awarded by Fortune as America’s Most Innovative Companies 2023. OSF was rated at 194 in product rank, which helped it place 254 overall. Fortune and Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, selected the inaugural group of America’s Most Innovative Companies 2023 based on product innovation, process innovation and innovation culture, which includes the introduction of a corporate culture that promotes creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. The evaluations were based on a compilation of online surveys and input from experts in various fields, from recruiters to management consultants and patent attorneys. "It's incredibly humbling and exciting at the same time. I think a lot of health care systems are

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EDWARDSVILLE - Simon McClaine, a star hurdler for the Alton High boys track team, is off to a great start in the new outdoor season, winning both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles races in helping the Redbirds finish a solid fourth in the Southwest Illinois Relays, the season's first big outdoor meet, Tuesday afternoon at the Winston Brown Track and Field Complex in Edwardsville. McClaine won the 110 meters at 15.91 seconds, then took first in the 300 meters at 41.73 seconds, a strong start to the outdoor season after enjoying a successful indoor season. He was also a part of the 4x400 meter relay team that came in third at 3:38.91, climaxing a good opening day. In an interview conducted before the 4x400 meter relay, McClaine expressed his feelings about his day. "I'm feeling pretty good so far," McClaine said. "I've won both of my open events and I'm about to hit the (4x400) in a second." McClaine had a successful 2022 campaign and for his senior year, he's hoping to do the same

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EDWARDSVILLE - At Garwood’s Heating & Cooling in Edwardsville, quality customer service has been a family tradition for the business, which has been serving the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area for over 40 years between two generations of the Garwood family - and possibly a third generation someday. “It’s a small family business that my father and mother started in the early ‘80s, and things have been going very well,” Service Manager Shane Garwood said, adding that he’s been with the business since 1993. Shane said they mainly specialize in residential service and retrofit replacement, as well as some minor commercial work. He added it’s been “quite an honor” for the company to be in business for the last four decades. “We’ve been so fortunate and blessed in this community,” he said. “We’ve grown with it and the business opportunities that it’s presented for us have been phenomenal.”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Prairie Farms Dairy announced today the promotion of Chris Hackman as its Chief Operating Officer. Hackman currently serves as Senior Vice President of Operations, and on April 1, he will succeed Gary Aggus, who has served as COO since 2006. In February, Aggus announced that he would step down from the position. “I am grateful for Gary’s dedicated service as Chief Operating Officer and wish him the very best as he transitions into the next phase of his career. At the same time, I am thrilled to have Chris assume this critical leadership role and look forward to our work together for many more years,” said Matt McClelland, Prairie Farms’ Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President. “Chris’ extensive knowledge, experience, and dedication to “Do Right” for our farmer-owners, associates, and customers makes him the ideal person for the COO position.” “When I began my career with Prairie Farms 16 years ago,

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ALTON - The wait for a new Starbucks in Alton is almost over. The first walls were positioned in place Tuesday at the new Starbucks location at 1725 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. The new coffee house will be located where the old Shop 'n Save gas station once occupied that space. The walls appear pre-assembled, so the process should go quickly and soon there will be a new Starbucks on Homer Adams Parkway. The new location was approved about a year ago by the city, but there was site work required because it once was a gas station.

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URBANA, Ill. – Seasons come and go, but home gardening never stops. Pick up the knowledge you need to embrace a resilient and sustainable home landscape, identify plants that could be problematic, and promote a natural display of beauty throughout the year. Learn best practices for all things plants from?the University of Illinois Extension educators in the Four Seasons Gardening webinar series this spring. Online sessions are from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays and are free to attend. Registration is required. Extension educators Elizabeth Wahle and Christopher Enroth will lead this series.?Learn more about the series and register for individual events at? go.illinois.edu/FourSeasons . Native Plants: Sequence of Blooms,?April 25 : Native plants are essential components of a sustainable landscape, and many offer blooms to brighten any garden.?Explore a selection of Illinois native plants suitable for the home garden and find out how to plant in sequence fo

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This is my fourteenth update to the citizens of the 111 th district, as your State Representative. We are about half-way through the 2023 spring legislative session, having already met deadlines for bill introduction, committee passage and House floor passage. We have been in Springfield every week but two since the beginning of January. During 2021-2022, because of Covid, it was much quieter in the Capitol. Now in 2023 the doors are wide open and groups and associations are bringing people back to Springfield to lobby and advocate for their particular issues. I have had many local residents and students from the 111 th visit the Capitol, and I always try to make it to the events that groups host to see local constituents. If I don’t make it, it’s only because a meeting or committee ran long. If you are coming to the Capitol, and would like to meet with me there on a session day, please call my Springfield office and we can find the best time to meet. My committee assignments

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GODFREY – Twelve teams of area high school students came to George C. Terry River Bend Arena on March 24 for Lewis and Clark Community College’s 16 th Annual Trebuchet Competition. This year, first place in the trebuchet went to Angels Raining Down Destruction from St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis. Second place went to M 3 , a team comprised of area homeschool students, with third place going to Newton’s Finest, from Father McGivney High School. First place in the journaling competition went to team M 3 . The Flingers, from Edwardsville High School, came in second, with Newton’s Finest finishing in third place. The winner of this year’s iPad giveaway was Jakob Stockman from East Alton-Wood River High School. For more information about the annual trebuchet competition, contact L&C Professor of Mathematics Kevin Bodden at kbodden@lc.edu or visit www.lc.edu/trebuchet .

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SPRINGFIELD – Collectible coins, sports cards, and jewelry are among the more than 500 unclaimed property items to be auctioned online from April 3 through April 7. “The online auction is an excellent and convenient opportunity to shop for collectibles and other memorabilia,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in Illinois. “Jewelry, cards, and souvenirs could be a wonderful addition to a personal collection or a unique gift to a friend of relative.” Items to be auctioned include a 14-karat gold link bracelet, Victorian trade cards and a 1924 Saint-Gaudens $20 U.S. gold coin. Among the other available items are Beanie Babies stuffed toys, collectible sports items and cards, fine jewelry, coins and currency from the United States and other countries, Elvis Presley memorabilia, comic books and costume jewelry. To view auction items, go to ibid.illinois.gov/ and select the tab labeled “Storefronts.”

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MADISON, Ill. - The 2023 Confluence Festival will once again feature chart-topping talent across multiple genres, including many regional favorites for the thousands of fans expected for the Enjoy Illinois 300 Presented by TicketSmarter race weekend, June 2-4. Already announced 14-time Grammy-nominated Dierks Bentley will headline, playing a full set in what will be his only St. Louis appearance this year. He leads an impressive award-winning lineup: Flo Rida Five-time Grammy nominee Flo Rida is an American rapper and singer who 2007 breakout single “Low” was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for over ten weeks and remained in the top ten for over 20 weeks. Having sold over 80 million records worldwide, he is one of the best-selling musical artists in the world. Brothers Osborne Brothers Osborne is an American country music duo consisting of brothers T.J. Osborne and John Osborne. Eight-time Academy of Country Music Award winners and six-time Country Music Award

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GRANITE CITY - GCHS Class of 2021 graduate and published author Destiny Burkett was a guest speaker for Young Authors Monday at Coolidge Junior High School. Burkett published "The Magic Mind of a Child", which is a collection of young stories she wrote from third through eighth grade while in GCSD9. She spoke to students and answered questions for 30 minutes, before signing books for each of the Coolidge Young Authors. Burkett is a junior at SIUE majoring in psychology with a minor in creative writing. She credits her family for being an inspiration to write, especially her grandpa who encouraged her to write at a young age.

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GODFREY – Coffee lovers, get ready to “round up” and be the change by supporting a new Germania Brew Haus Scholarship for Lewis and Clark Community College students. Beginning Apr. 1, customers will be able to round their purchases to the nearest dollar to benefit the scholarship. The goal is to raise $500. The campaign will kick off from 9-11 a.m. at Germania’s Godfrey location Saturday Apr. 1. The event will feature an appearance by L&C’s mascot, Blazer the Newfie, and staff from College Radio’s Best WLCA 89.9-FM. Those who come by during the event can even score some free L&C swag. Germania is a specialty coffee house that opened its first location in Alton in 2017. Two years ago, it opened its second location in Godfrey across the street from L&C. “The community has been so good to us,” said Store Manager Cameron Mank. “We want to give back.” GBH is co-owned by L&C alumni and brothers, Ben and Jared Brynildsen, as well

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 12 attorneys general, today called for nationwide restrictions on the use of sulfoxaflor, a chemical pesticide that is extremely toxic to bees and other pollinators. The coalition, comprised of some of the nation’s leading agricultural producers, depend on pollinators to sustain their crops and natural ecosystems. In a letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Raoul and the coalition warned that the unrestricted use of sulfoxaflor could have devastating effects on pollinators, ultimately harming the economy and endangering the nation’s food security. Raoul urged the EPA to adopt reasonable restrictions on sulfoxaflor’s use and support further research into the pesticide’s potential impacts on human health and the environment. “We must do what we can to protect pollinators, which are critical to Illinois agriculture,” Raoul said. “I am urging the EPA to ensure

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