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EDWARDSVILLE – Metro-East Lutheran High School’s scholar bowl team continued its winning streak over the weekend, going undefeated in the sectional tournament at Lincolnwood High School in Raymond to become the Sectional Class 1A champions. The team will now move on to the state tournament to be held Saturday, March 22, at Heartland Community College in Bloomington, Ill. The Knights, who were the first seed in the sectional tournament, won all three of their matches handily in sectional play. They defeated Auburn by a score of 470 to 250, then they went on to win over Gillespie 620 to 100. They beat New Berlin with a score of 580 to 220. The team’s record for the season now stands at 91 wins and just six losses. The state tournament will be a repeat appearance for MELHS, which was the IHSA Class 1A State Champion last year. “Every stage of this season has been surreal to me,” said Shanna Covarrubias, MELHS scholar bowl coach. “I knew the team woul

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CHICAGO - As the 2025 NCAA March Madness Tournament gets underway, Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinoisians who are considering making a wager on basketball games to be fully informed about the risks of online and app-based sports betting before deciding whether to place a bet. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month , as well as the month designated for the NCAA Tournament for college men and women’s basketball. Attorney General Raoul is encouraging fans who may be filling out Brackets and thinking about placing wagers on their favorite teams to be aware of the risks of unlicensed operators. “March Madness is the most exciting time of year for college basketball fans. Whether you are rooting for your favorite team or getting behind this year’s ‘Cinderella’ team, be sure to take steps to protect your money and personal information before placing wagers online or using sports betting apps,” Raoul said. “Sports betting operators

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) reintroduced the bipartisan Tools Tax Deduction Act to allow apprenticeship employees and construction workers to write off the expense of the tools and equipment required for their profession. Similar tax deductions have been implemented in Canada to ease costs for those entering apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. “The upfront cost of purchasing tools is a barrier for too many folks interested in pursuing a career in the building trades,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “As we work to get more men and women into good-paying union jobs, we have to make sure they can afford the equipment they need to succeed. Today, I’m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation with Congressman Garbarino that will make it easier for working people to afford the equipment their jobs require.” “Skilled workers are the backbone of our economy—powering

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EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville is notifying the public of two road closures starting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. West Union Street will be closed between St. Louis Street and Randle Street for some lead service replacements at 801 and 805 St. Louis Street. The closure is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 20. East High Street will not be accessible from North Main Street beginning Wednesday, March 19, for construction work that will be taking place primarily at the intersection on East High. This closure is expected to run through Friday, March 28. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while these projects are underway. Please let us know if we can answer any questions. Cathy A. Hensley Communications Coordinator Email: chensley@cityofedwardsville.com Office: 618-692-7532

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LEBANON — In the wake of a devastating tornado that struck on March 14, 2025, community members are rallying to support Tina Curtis, a home healthcare professional in Lebanon who lost everything in the disaster. The tornado left a path of destruction, rolling over Curtis's home and causing life-threatening injuries to her and her daughter. Kadie Rose is spearheading a fundraiser to assist Curtis as she navigates the aftermath of the storm. The funds raised will be directed toward securing a new residence, replacing essential belongings, and obtaining reliable transportation, which is crucial for Curtis to resume her work caring for the elderly in the community. “Tina has dedicated her life to caring for others, and now she needs our help,” Rose said. “Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant impact on her ability to rebuild.” As the community comes together to support Curtis, the fundraiser highlights the collective effort to assist

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) encourages community members to attend an Illinois RiverWatch training session from 7 to 8 p.m. this evening (March 18, 2025) to learn about the Illinois Crayfish Finders project. In partnership with the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois RiverWatch is hosting a virtual training session covering collecting crayfish, taking proper pictures for identification, and submitting data to the project. The data will be submitted using a popular community science website, iNaturalist. A recording of the training will be available for those unable to attend the live training. “Crayfish provide many benefits to freshwater ecosystems such as creating new habitats by building burrows, playing an important role in the food chain by being predators and prey, and breaking down decaying matter, which helps recycle nutrients and improves water quality,” RiverWatch Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Griffis

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Health Department, in collaboration with Illinois Valley EDC Head Start, is excited to announce the First Annual Child Health and Safety Fair on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will be held at the Jersey County Health Department, located at 1307 State Hwy 109. The fair will take place rain or shine, utilizing the drive-thru barn behind the main building. This community-focused event aims to promote child health and safety through a variety of activities and resources: Car Seat Checks provided by the Jerseyville Police Department. Free Art Kits from the Jersey County Arts Council. Free Books from the Jerseyville Public Library. Safety Items Giveaway including Narcan, gun safety locks, fentanyl test strips, cannabis locked safety storage bags, poison control information, and bike helmets (while supplies last). Resource Materials from Birth to Five Illinois, Koen Counseling, Jersey County Against Drugs, Jerseyville Fire

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TRENTON - A family is facing a devastating loss following a car accident on March 17, 2025, that claimed the lives of Ashley Koehler and her 10-year-old son, Jacob. The tragedy left Ashley's 3-year-old daughter Gracie in critical condition, fighting for her life at Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Amanda Emmerich, Ashley's sister, is organizing a GoFundMe fundraiser to support the family as they navigate this challenging time. "I am asking you to please donate to help her family pay for funeral and medical expenses or anything her children may need," Emmerich said. She said the accident resulted in multiple skull fractures and a broken leg for Gracie, who is also experiencing seizures. As she undergoes treatment, the family is grappling with the emotional and financial repercussions of their loss. Ashley leaves behind her husband, Jeff, and three other children. In a recent update, Emmerich shared that Gracie has made it through surgery, although doctors had to leave part of her skull of

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GRANITE CITY – A remarkable 150 band students from Coolidge Junior High School and Grigsby Intermediate School recently showcased their musical talents at the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) State Solo/Ensemble Contest held March 1 at Coolidge. This prestigious event has been hosted at Coolidge for the past 15 years and continues to be a highlight for young musicians in the region. Of the 150 students who participated, an impressive 132 received an Excellent or Superior rating, demonstrating their dedication, hard work, and musical growth. These talented students spent three months diligently preparing their solos, culminating in outstanding performances at the contest. The IGSMA State Solo/Ensemble Contest provides students with a platform to refine their musical skills and gain valuable performance experience. The continued success of Granite City’s band students is a testament to the strength of the district’s music program and the unwavering

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EAST ALTON – Each year, volunteers across Illinois contribute to monitoring water quality through Illinois RiverWatch. Training will be held in April and May, providing community members with the skills to collect data and assess the health of local streams. RiverWatch, a community science program, is coordinated by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) at Lewis and Clark Community College. Each spring, RiverWatch offers workshops where volunteers learn to collect and identify stream macroinvertebrates (water bugs) and describe the physical condition of the stream habitat. “Macroinvertebrates is just a fancy word for water bugs,” Riverwatch Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Griffis said. “Many people do not pay attention to these small animals living in our streams, but they are affected by pollution and habitat changes. By collecting a sample of them, we can use them as bioindicators to assess the quality of the stream they live in.”

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ALTON – Newly filed court documents shine new light on a recent case of aggravated robbery at the Puff Zone Smoke Shop in Alton. Nicholas E. Apel, 24, of Alton, was charged on March 17, 2025 with a Class 1 felony count of aggravated robbery. On March 13, he allegedly stole property from Puff Zone by indicating he was armed with a firearm and threatening the use of force. A petition was filed to deny Apel’s pretrial release which adds more context surrounding the incident. According to the petition, officers responded to Puff Zone after an employee reported the robbery. “Officers contacted store employee who provided that defendant entered store and demanded products,” the petition states. “Defendant brandished what she believed to be a firearm. Defendant took various products and fled the store.” After reviewing the store’s surveillance footage, officers found Apel in the area and placed him under arrest. “Defendant was interviewed

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WOOD RIVER – Four local wrestlers were honored on Monday night, March 17, 2025, for their outstanding athletic performances in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state championship. Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup presented the wrestlers with Certificates of Recognition at this week’s City Council meeting. First was Drake Champlin , a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School and a wrestler for the Oilers. Mayor Stalcup said Champlin has earned several accolades competing in the 215-pound weight class, including first place at the Civic Memorial and Mascoutah tournaments, the Rochester invitational, the IHSA sectionals, the IHSA state tournament, and many other matchups. Champlin boasts an impressive win-loss record of 43-1. Next was Freshman Chloe Skiles of the Roxana High School Shells. Among her many athletic achievements listed by Mayor Stalcup were her first-place ranking at the Wonder Women girls wrestling tournament , earning her the 105-pound division

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GODFREY - In the race for mayor of Godfrey - we have a clear choice of candidates - and the best choice is Mayor Mike McCormick. Mayor McCormick is the only candidate in this race who opposed the pay raise for mayor. In fact, one of his opponents signed Mayor McCormick’s petition, then voted for the pay raise and once it passed the Village Board, and took out his own petition to run for Mayor. Mayor McCormick is a full-time mayor. Walk into the Village Hall and you are likely to see the Mayor sitting right out in front ready to help. Mayor McCormick has a record of accomplishments in Godfrey that is as impressive as it is long. Some of the highlights are the great park system, the improvement of the roads, the addition of great local businesses, and his creative approach to the pandemic which kept local businesses open while benefitting families. And to his credit - all this has been done while keeping Godfrey’s municipal tax rate the lowest in the country with no municipal

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BETHALTO - Dallas Zimmerman wants to see changes in Bethalto. Zimmerman, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who he is and what he stands for. He noted that he wants to see more transparency and efficiency from the school board, and he believes he is the right person for the job. “I’m focused on the leadership, the transparency, and my background in being efficient,” he said. “Personally, I believe there’s just too much familiarity amongst the school board and that whole group to where they’re kind of a band of brothers.” Zimmerman grew up in Fosterburg, then moved to Bethalto and transferred to Civic Memorial High School. After graduating, he joined the military for nine years and then lived in Florida and Wisconsin for another ten before eventually moving back to the Bethalto area. Back in Bethalto, Zimmerman owned a consulting business

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ALTON - Community members have the opportunity to learn more about how their dreams can guide their daily lives. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at River Bend Yoga in Alton, the second session of the free “Raise Your Spiritual IQ!” series will discuss “Your Dream Worlds Revealed,” a conversation about techniques to remember and interpret your inner journeys for help in daily life. Organizers Flora Van Koten and Sheila Aehle will talk about how to remember and develop your own dream symbols to interpret your dreams and the messages they might reveal. “That voice is Soul, your true identity,” Van Koten said. “When that voice is heard, then the voice of ego — also called the little self — will stop and listen. It’s not used to doing that. However, over time and with the practice of looking at your dreams, you’ll be able to hear and understand more about what God or your higher self is trying to tell you.”

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MARION – Centerstone is excited to invite the public to an open house event for CASTLE (Centerstone Autism Services – Think! Learn! Explore!) on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 1205 W. Main St, Marion, Il. Centerstone’s CASTLE program provides specialized, evidence-based autism services for children ages 3-12, helping them develop essential skills for lifelong learning and success. The open house offers an opportunity for the community to tour the facility, meet the dedicated team, and learn more about the impact of CASTLE’s programs. "We are incredibly grateful to open our doors to the community and offer these much-needed services in Southern Illinois. CASTLE will provide children with autism and their families the support they need, and we hope many across the region will take advantage of these vital resources.” said Anne Tyree, Regional CEO for Centerstone. Attendees will have the chance to explore the therapy spaces, spea

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EDWARDSVILLE — Mike Babcock is preparing his next steps as he gets ready to step down from his role as Wood River Township supervisor — a position he’s held the past 16 years. “I had no idea when I first ran for office that I would still be serving,” Babcock said. “I am thankful to the voters of Wood River Township who entrusted me to serve as their supervisor for all these years.” After Babcock was appointed as Madison County Treasurer in 2024, he made the decision not to seek re-election as supervisor. His term will end on May 19. Although state statute doesn’t deem holding concurrent offices as a conflict, Babcock felt it was time to retire as a part-time supervisor and focus on his new job as the county’s full-time treasurer. Babcock looks back on the job he’s done as supervisor and is proud of being a good financial steward of taxpayer funds. As supervisor, and with the boards help, he cut the budget by 15 percent

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ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital has a new group for community members in their twenties who could use some extra support. The twentysomethings group meets from 3:30–4:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Psychological Services Department at St. Anthony’s. This therapy group talks about socialization, life transitions, social anxiety and other challenges that folks in their twenties experience. “Really, we talk about anything from managing finances to resume-building, what kind of jobs are you interested in, how to make friends, difficulties with depression due to isolation and not making friends or socializing much,” explained Rachel, LCPC, who oversees the group. “The thing about this group is a lot of folks will be graduating from high school or college, and they’ve had that routine set for them for so many years. Now it’s gone, so what do they do? Now what?” Rachel said that the group accepts up to ten people. They discuss

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will connect students, graduates and community members with employers throughout the region during its annual Job Fair, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The fair is open to the public and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in The Commons on the Godfrey Campus. The event is free for employers and job seekers and typically draws more than 350 attendees annually. Career Resources Specialist Terri DeWerff said Career Services looks forward to connecting employers with job seekers on campus. “Lewis and Clark Career Services offers a variety of resources in resume development, interviewing skills, and online professional networking,” DeWerff said. “We coordinate with program faculty/staff to assist students and graduates with career readiness competencies as they prepare for their job search and the upcoming Job Fair.” DeWerff said 50 employers have registered for the fair this year. “The goal is to provide an even

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced that 2025 Spring enrollment at Illinois Community Colleges continues to surge, increasing to 8.9% compared to the previous Spring. The nearly 9% increase is the largest Spring-to-Spring enrollment increase since the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) began collecting systemwide enrollment in the late 1990s, and the third straight year of Spring enrollment increases according to the state’s latest 2025 Spring Enrollment Report . “With the largest Spring-to-Spring enrollment increase and the third straight year of growth, our community colleges have not only bounced back from the pandemic – they are now stronger than ever thanks to our historic investments in education,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We are the home to the third largest community college system in the nation, and we want to continue seeing growth and opportunity for working families by making higher education more affordable and accessibl

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