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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 is adjusting its spectator policy for athletic events held at Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High. Effective on Monday, Jan. 31, GCHS and Coolidge have increased their capacity to 40 percent. GCHS will allow 700 spectators per event at Memorial Gymnasium, while Coolidge Main Gymnasium will have a capacity of 200. GCSD9 SPECTATOR GUIDELINES MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES Failure to wear a mask will result in removal from the facility Social distancing is recommended GCSD9 will continue to monitor the information surrounding COVID-19 cases in Madison County and our region on a continual basis. Live Streaming (Home games) will be available on the Granite City Warriors Athletics Facebook page or the NFHS Network . For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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(The Center Square) – A law Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted to create judicial subcircuits in parts of Illinois has been temporarily blocked as some say the partisan measure was rushed through to the detriment of voters. During their one day in session so far this year, Democrats earlier this month went at it alone, passing new judicial subcircuits. Without fanfare, Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted the maps on Jan. 7. State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, reacted to a Sangamon County judge this week temporarily blocking those new judicial districts from going into effect in Madison County. “It wasn’t just the packing of the courts , it wasn’t trying to set the courts up, it also took away the vote from the vast majority of the people of Madison County to be able to vote for their local judicial elections this cycle,” Plummer told The Center Square. Some of the new districts were to take effect for the 2022 election cycle while others in other parts of the

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EAST ALTON - The son of the woman who was shot in the leg on Saturday, January 22, 2022, in the shooting at the East Alton Ice Rink parking lot, has encountered what he describes as “almost a miraculous” turn. “I visited mom today and to my surprise, they discharged her while I was there,” he said. “I drove her home and she’s doing wonderful! They say her fitness level for a 60-plus-year-old woman was a contributing factor in her survival. She is mad she has to miss her 5K this weekend because she paid for it!” Speaking on behalf of his family, he said he wanted to thank law enforcement and the prosecutors in the Riverbend area for such a strong collaborative effort to get a dangerous person off the streets. He said: “It was tremendous work! I also want people to know that we will be right back at the ice arena playing hockey tonight and we aren’t afraid. This was an entirely random event committed by a lost person. Our family witnesse

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EAST ALTON - An Edwardsville mother of a young hockey player was inside the East Alton Ice Arena at the time of the shooting in the outside parking lot on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Her perspective shows the emotion children and parents felt after the tragic ordeal outside. "There are no words to describe last weekend's events," the woman said. " My son, had a hockey game at 6:45 Saturday night. It was a great match-up. We were ahead by one until the last 2 minutes when the other team scored two goals and won." The hockey game was over at 7:45 p.m. "The kids got changed in the locker rooms and joined the parents in the lobby to head home for the night," she said. "Usually, we would head out fairly quickly, but thankfully one of the dads was chatting with us about something funny my son said in the locker room. The next thing I know a family from the other team came running inside in complete shock and could hardly talk but spit out 'shooting.' You can't imagine the panic

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ST. LOUIS – Some are calling the present-day recovery of 27-year-old Bryan Glebavicius nothing short of a "miracle." Glebavicius, of Maryville, IL., spent a record-breaking 78 days on ECMO, at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The ECMO machine is similar to the heart-lung by-pass machine used in open-heart surgery. It pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest. What started as a bad cough in October 2021 turned into life-threatening complications from COVID for Glebavicius, and led to a nearly three-month stay at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Bryan was transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital for a potential lung transplant on January 24, 2021. Just a few days after being admitted to SLU Hospital, Bryan was put on ECMO. “Exceptional care delivery, persistence, and mission-driven advocacy all came together to save this patient's life,”

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PONTIAC - January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, about 14-thousand women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 42-hundred will lose their lives to the disease this year. Unlike many cancers, however, we know what causes nearly 99% of all cervical cancer cases: the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a common virus that will infect most sexually active people at some point in their lives – about four out of five people. An estimated 80-million Americans are currently infected with 14-million new infections diagnosed each year. However, this trend can be slowed, or even stopped in future generations, with a vaccine. Dr. James Mikeworth, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician in Pontiac, Illinois, recommends the vaccine for both girls and boys. “Right now the HPV vaccine has shown a very good immunity and longevity for that immunity through your 20s and 30s. So we know that it works and we know i

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EDWARDSVILLE - Minas Espresso Inc. owner Bruno Nobre has been a client of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville?and Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May since November 2017. Born and raised on a coffee farm in Brazil, Nobre learned everything from his father and grandfather. He decided to start Minas Espresso Inc. so he could share his Brazilian coffee beans with the United States. Now, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) rates Minas Espresso among the top 5% best coffees in the U.S. “We should appreciate a cup of coffee from the farm to the table,” Nobre said. Disappointed in knowing that the value of a good cup of coffee in the market was losing importance, Nobre was determined to raise awareness and get at least every American to try his coffee just once. He knew that having tried it, they would be sold. The SBDC has assisted Nobre with banking recommendations, administrative assistance, potential

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The Conversation - Even as the COVID-19 pandemic persists, there’s hope that life will return to some level of normalcy in 2022. This includes more opportunities to meet new people and build friendships, a process that’s critical for mental and physical well-being . This does not, however, mean that everyone will take advantage of these new chances to connect. Even before fears of a virus compelled most people to stay physically distant, our research suggests that people were already keeping too much social distance from one another. In particular, our forthcoming behavioral science research suggests that people tend to be overly pessimistic about how conversations with new acquaintances will play out. Across a dozen experiments , participants consistently underestimated how much they would enjoy talking with strangers. This was especially true when we asked them to have the kinds of substantive conversations that actually foster friendships. Because of these mistaken

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ALTON - When you or someone in your family is injured or are feeling ill with symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses, deciding what type of medical care to seek is a decision you want to make quickly. But going straight to the emergency room may not be the best option. Urgent care clinic options , such as OSF PromptCare and OSF OnCall Urgent Care , which has walk-in clinics and virtual visits, may be a better choice for care. These care options are most appropriate if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and require testing. OSF also offers immediate connections through Clare, our digital assistant that can be found at osfhealthcare.org . Clare can assist in directing you to the proper level of care you need. “If you believe you have a life-threatening injury or illness, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room,” said Brandi Clark, vice president of On Demand Services at OSF HealthCare. “If you do not believe your concern is life threatening,

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EDWARDSVILLE – Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli is pleased to welcome veteran attorney Robert Bruegge to the firm. Bruegge will serve as of counsel for the firm, with his practice focusing primarily on business transactions, real estate, bankruptcy, estate planning and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to attending law school, Bruegge studied accounting at the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL. He then passed his CPA exam and became a Certified Public Accountant while attending the University of Houston Bates College of Law in Houston, Texas. Bruegge has practiced law for over 40 years. “Bob’s experience and knowledge of accounting has served him well throughout the years, and we are honored to have him join our debtor/creditor team with Joel Kunin, Sandy Tatoian and Steve Wallace,” said Mark Goldenberg, founder and managing partner of the firm. Bruegge served as Chapter 7 Trustee for the Southern District of Illinois for 16 years. In addition, he also

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ST. LOUIS - Five pet care startups from across the U.S. have been selected as the 2022 winners of the sixth annual Pet Care Innovation Prize powered by Purina. From a company giving dog breath a lasting mint aroma to a tool that helps pets communicate better with humans, the 2022 class of Pet Care Innovation Prize winners represents some of the latest and greatest products and service startups in the estimated $109 billion* pet care industry. The 2022 Pet Care Innovation Prize Winners are: Bright Planet Pet ( brightplanetpet.com ) Bloomington, Minnesota-based Bright Planet Pet makes 100% plant-based dog treats that taste and smell like real meat. Made from sustainable and all-natural ingredients, Bright Planet treats create up to 90% less carbon emissions and use 68% less water than comparable meat-based treats. For every bag sold, Bright Planet makes a donation to plant one tree. FluentPet ( https://fluent.pet/ ) San Diego, California-based FluentPet, Inc is the company

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URBANA – Whether you have a multi-row backyard vegetable plot or a patio with room for a few containers, now is the time to start planning for a successful gardening season. Over the past several years, there has been a surge of gardeners taking up the trowel for the first time to try their hand at growing fresh produce at home. Dig in with confidence this spring with Growing Great Vegetables, a five-week webinar series starting February 15 that will cover how to grow a vegetable garden from seed to harvest. Participants will check in during a weekly workshop covering a new topic, engage with University of Illinois Extension horticulture experts, and receive emails with even more research-based tips and factsheets. Growing Great Vegetables will be 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays from Feb. 15 to March 15. Sign up by Feb. 9 at go.illinois.edu/GrowingGreatVegetables . The cost to participate is $10. Sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants if they cannot atten

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BETHALTO - The Madison County Coroner's Office pronounced a man deceased at the scene of a fatal crash in the 900 block of South Moreland Road in Bethalto on Friday. Bethalto Police and Fire Departments responded to the crash at 4:44 p.m. Friday. Bethalto Emergency Services were assisted by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Rosewood Heights Fire Department during the investigation and care of those involved. The Bethalto Police Department said: "Preliminary information from witnesses indicate the accident occurred as a south-bound vehicle attempted to pass another vehicle on the curve and collided with a north-bound truck, in the northbound lane. The single male occupant of the southbound vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Madison County Coroner’s Office. "The two occupants of the north-bound truck were transported from the scene by ambulance for medical treatment at an area hospital." The crash is still under investigation, and the name

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ALTON - The Riverbender.com Community Center will again open its doors to 5th - 9th grade students for their Friday Night Open Play beginning February 4th, 2022 from 6:30 - 10:00 p.m. and each Friday forward. The Riverbender.com Community Center (RBCC) located at 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton has been closed due to the pandemic for nearly two years. The Board of Advisors have put many safety measures in place to ensure that children attending will be able to enjoy the facility with minimal concern. Number of attendees will be limited. We will be limiting the attendance at all of our events – a necessary step in following pandemic health guidelines. Limited tickets are available and a ll families are strongly advised to purchase tickets in advance each week so that the number of children in the facility can be monitored. Families can register and pre-purchase their tickets here: https://riverbendercommunitycenter.org/tickets Cleaning protocols will be implemented.

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Illinois American Water’s work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers continues. Below is information about this week’s road closures – Jan. 31, 2022 Piasa Valley Area: 6th Street east of Alby Street is closed to George Street, with surface restoration work being completed as weather permits. Please drive carefully as some of the roadways are still rock surfaces. Alby Street is closed from 6th Street north towards 7th Street, with future closures north and east of Alby/7th Street. Brick pavement restoration is being completed around the south portion of Public Square. 7th Street east of the square to George Street is closed, with the next block east closing soon. Turner Tract Area: Danforth Street will be closing in the next week or two to all thru traffic to allow for sewer installation work. The alley south of McKinley east of Lincoln is back open to traffic, with pavement restoration happening as weather permits. Douglas Street

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ALTON - City Shapers is a community and economic development cohort that launched in September with leaders from all across Alton, including business owners, nonprofit leaders, city council members, and more. For the past four months, they have been studying the ways in which Alton has been addressing poverty and surveying the Alton public about their opinions. Friday morning, they announced their findings in a virtual meeting. The cohort has been working with The Lupton Center, a nonprofit training and consultancy firm based in Atlanta, to conduct this research. In total, 60 Alton residents who were members of the cohort conducted 21 word-on-the-street interviews. “Over the last four months, this cohort has really gotten into the grassroots of neighborhoods,” said Stacy Brungardt, a consultant with The Lupton Center. “They’ve been going around and interviewing people that are experiencing chronic material poverty in the city and asking them questions

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JERSEYVILLE - Germania Brew Haus will open its fourth location in Jerseyville at the beginning of March, and it will bring with it a range of festivities for its grand opening. Jared Brynildsen, co-owner of Germania Brew Haus with his wife Carolyn, said the grand opening will feature professional axe throwing and the reveal of some additional event and play areas. “We will host a grand opening party that will include Riverbend Axe Throwing’s mobile trailer and their very own top 25 (in the world) pro-Dan Brynildsen. We will also showcase the event center from WOW and the children’s play area that’ll allow parents to get much-needed down time,” Brynildsen said. Brynildsen said they’re looking forward to not only opening their biggest location yet, but also becoming a part of Jerseyville’s City Center downtown development. “This location is going to be our biggest and possibly best,” Brynildsen said. “Jerseyville

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club honored Edwardsville High School student Benjamin Schardt with the Student of the Month Award for the month of December. Benjamin was nominated by his foreign language teacher, Christina House. Benjamin is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National English Honors Society, and German Honors Society. Impressively, he scored a perfect math score on his SAT. He also participates in the Edwardsville Band and has led the clarinets in winning the best section award for two years. Additionally, Benjamin is involved in the Edwardsville Peer Influence Club (EPIC) and a member of their council. Benjamin would like to attend the University of Chicago or the University of California – Berkley to pursue a degree in Economics and Analytical Math. The Edwardsville Rotary Club recognizes a student each month September through April. Each May, Edwardsville High School staff chooses one of the monthly winners to receive

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Police announced today that a female victim in the January 12 shooting in the North County Precinct has died. St. Louis County Police said on January 24, 2022, the female victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at an area hospital. The victim has been identified as Latoyria Johnson, 33 years of age, of the 2900 block of Atlantic Park Avenue in St. Louis. The St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are continuing to investigate the homicide. At 7 p.m. on January 12, 2022, St. Louis County Police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 2900 block of Atlantic Park Avenue. Responding officers located an adult male and an adult female suffering from apparent gunshot injuries. The male victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the female victim was transported with life-threatening injuries. The male victi

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EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis Community Arts Access, a re-granting program run by the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation (JJKF) with funding from the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA), awards grants to local cultural organizations and nonprofits offering arts programming. Schools and individual artists are also eligible for funding. This grants program seeks to provide East St. Louis residents with more opportunities to participate in quality visual, literary, and performing arts experiences. Through project-based funding, the program supports public engagement with, and access to, various arts disciplines, the creation of art, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. An East St. Louis Community Arts Access project may consist of one or more specific events or activities performed or presented to engage or benefit the residents of greater East St. Louis. The projects may be a new initiative or part of the applicant’s

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