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JERSEYVILLE - An East Alton man is wanted for shoplifting over $300 worth of items from the Jerseyville Walmart, while a Jerseyville man is wanted for failing to register as a sex offender in Jersey County, according to recent court filings. Both individuals currently have warrants out for their arrest. Donald G. Gibson, 36, of East Alton, allegedly stole a 27-inch HP all-in-one desktop PC, one Mossy Oak heated seat, one soundbar, and miscellaneous toys from the Jerseyville Walmart on Dec. 2. The items had a total value of more than $300. Gibson was charged with a Class 3 felony and a warrant has been filed for his arrest. His bail is set at $20,000. Brandon T. Scheldt, 25, of Jerseyville, was charged with failing to register as a sex offender with the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department three days after changing his employment status in Jersey County. Scheldt was also charged with a Class 3 felony and a warrant is out for his arrest as well, with bail set at $20,000.

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TROY - Troy Chief of Police Brent Shownes announced that 53-year-old Richard Maedge of Troy was found deceased around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. Maedge was reported missing on April 27, 2022. The case is still under investigation by Troy Police, Shownes said in a release. "An autopsy has been scheduled for a later date and time," the police chief said. No other details about the discovery of Maedge were released at this time by police. Family members said at the time he was reported missing that he was off work at 3 p.m. on April 27, and he was last viewed on a surveillance camera heading toward his home. Family members also said at that time in April that Maedge was supposed to go to his father's house and work on his deck, but later that afternoon, his keys and wallet were still on the counter and he has never since been seen.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Friday, December 9, 2022, St. Louis County Police Colonel Kenneth L. Gregory announced the promotions of Captain Timothy Cunningham to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Lieutenant Brian Schellman to the rank of Captain and Sergeant Shawn McGuire to the rank of Lieutenant. On Monday, December 12, 2022, Colonel Gregory announced the promotion of Sergeant Charlie Rodriguez to the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Cunningham joined the Department in 1994. Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham previously served in the Affton-Southwest Precinct, the Bureau of Drug Enforcement, the South County Precinct, and the West County Precinct and is currently assigned to the North County Precinct. Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Central Missouri State University. Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham has received 22 Department awards and/or commendations. Captain Brian Schellman joined the Department in 2003. Captain Schellman

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GODFREY - Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick emerged from a morning phone meeting with multiple individuals with a positive feeling about the Illinois Department of Transportation's West Delmar Avenue and Pierce Lane roundabout plan for what had been a planned shutdown traffic in that area. “It was a very productive meeting,” Mayor McCormick said. “There have been a lot of concerns brought up to the village and other elected officials about the process for the new roundabout construction. State Rep. Amy Elik, State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer, IDOT officials, Board member Sarah Woodman, and Godfrey’s Public Works Director Jim Lewis were part of the meeting, and I think IDOT is going to reconsider some of how they are going to do the roundabout construction and come up with a different plan.” Mayor McCormick said he has been in favor of the roundabout, but he thinks now IDOT will come to a happy medium to keep traffic flowing as it is constructed. “There

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine has filed charges of arson and animal cruelty against a Granite City man accused of setting a dog on fire. John T. Turcott, 68, is charged with one count of arson and one count of animal cruelty. In the arson charge, Turcott is accused of damaging a neighbor’s wooden privacy fence on Monday by means of fire. In the cruelty charge, Turcott is accused of throwing gasoline on Monday at a neighbor’s dog, named Rocky, and then throwing a burning item toward Rocky, causing burns to the dog’s face. Bail for the defendant was set at $100,000 by Associate Judge Ronald Slemer. However, Haine said his office has filed a motion seeking the revocation of Turcott’s bail from a previous case, in which he is charged with aggravated battery for allegedly crashing a car, intentionally, into a motorcyclist on June 22, 2022. The court has ordered that Turcott remains in custody until a hearing is held on the motion

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GRANITE CITY - Seniors Peyton Hatfield and Chris Taylor of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 Students of the Month for November. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry, and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character, community involvement, extracurricular activities, honors and award, and scholastic ability. Each student receives a $100 U.S. savings bond and an Elks certificate of achievement. Peyton Hatfield Student Council President ... Two-time Girls Soccer Team Captain ... Member of Girls Tennis, Girls Soccer and Girls Swimming Team ... R Kids and Swim Teacher Volunteer ... Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Science Club, Student Council and Varsity Club ... 202

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ALTON - Brittany L. Higgins was reported missing to the Alton Police Department by a family member on 12/06/22. The family member reported Brittany had not been seen or heard from for approximately one month at the time of the report. Attempts by law enforcement to locate Brittany have been made but have been unsuccessful at this time. Brittany is described as a white female, 31 years of age, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She is approximately 5’3”, and 110 pounds. She has a tattoo of a heart on her foot. The Alton Police Department is continuing its efforts to locate Brittany. Brittany is known to frequent areas just outside of Alton in Cottage Hills. Anyone with information as to Brittany’s whereabouts is asked to call the Alton Police Department at 618-463-3505 Ext. 634.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC) has announced the departure of Melissa McDonough-Borden as Executive Director. McDonough-Borden’s 10 years of service allowed the Arts Center to flourish. Accomplishments including an influx of regional recognition, continual success of the Edwardsville Art Fair, and expanded art education for the local community. Her leadership and positive influence will be missed by the community and artists alike. Having spent five years on the EAC board, McDonough-Borden continued her dedication to the arts when she took on the role of Executive Director in 2017. One of her major accomplishments, the Edwardsville Art Fair, has seen an increase of artists’ sales each consecutive year, reaching over $400,000 as of 2022. Previous EAC President and 2022 Patron of the Arts awardee, Paul Abert, had this to say about McDonough-Borden: “Missy’s commitment to the ongoing success of the EAC, Arts Education opportunities, and the

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BETHALTO - Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Eagles of the Month” program at Civic Memorial High School. Senior students are selected each month by members of the Civic Memorial faculty to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. Two Seniors (1 female student and 1 male student) that were selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $500.00 “Eagles of the Year” scholarship each at the end of the school year. 2022 November’s Eagles of the Month winners: Math – Kaydence Hibbs Fine Arts – Claire Shaw Social Studies – Autumn Bowman PE/Health - Mason Fries Choir - Carter Bloodworth Band- Dylan Moore Science - Alexis Collins English - Elijah Gruen C.T.E. - Kaitlynn Niemeyer Teacher of the Month winner: Social Studies - Charles Baldwin Congratulations to all the Civic Memorial “Eagles of the Month”

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced he has reached a settlement with Walgreens and CVS to resolve allegations that the companies contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at stores. The bipartisan settlement provides more than $10 billion nationally and requires significant improvements to how Walgreens and CVS pharmacies dispense opioids. Raoul and 17 state attorneys general on the executive committee, attorneys representing local governments, Walgreens, and CVS have agreed to this settlement, which has been sent to other states for review and approval. The sign-on period for states will be until the end of 2022, followed by a 90-day sign-on period for units of local government. The $10.7 billion settlement will be divided among sign-on states, local governments, and tribes, and will prioritize abatement and remediation of the opioid crises. “The opioid epidemic has tragically affected to

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PEARL HARBOR – The Battleship Missouri Memorial is honored to unveil a new plaque onboard the USS Missouri to express their deepest gratitude to the people of the State of Missouri for their continuous and generous contributions that has helped ignite the restoration of America’s last battleship. The custom, hand-crafted plaque is displayed on the side of Gun Turret 1 for all visitors to see and was made from teak to symbolize the restoration efforts of the teak deck that adorns the entire battleship. Over the past four years, the people of the State of Missouri have generously supported the Mighty Mo by providing $388,000 in funds and has been a key partner in leading the efforts in preserving this monumental piece of history. Specifically, the State of Missouri's donations have gone directly to restoring the teak deck in need of extensive repair due to wear and tear over several decades. This substantial restoration project requires hundreds of man-hours and thousands

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office of International Affairs kicked off the University’s graduation celebrations during a special event held Friday, Dec. 2 that honored the achievements and hard work of fall 2022 international student graduates. "This is a special, meaningful event for international students. It provides an opportunity to pause and feel a sense of accomplishment in finishing a degree,” said Mary Weishaar, PhD, executive director of the Office of International Affairs. The number of international students at SIUE continues to grow. SIUE welcomed a record number of new international students to campus in fall 2022, with approximately 400 students from over 30 countries. In total, international enrollment includes nearly 850 students “I am hopeful that graduating students will take time to thank their mentors, including faculty members, International Hospitality Program families, staff members and family,

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EAST ST. LOUIS – St. Clair County, Illinois sits in the heart of a medically underserved area of the U. S. People living there are 23 percent less likely than the national average to access a primary health care provider - a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant. ( www.regionalneeds.org ) To reach people where they are, Chestnut Family Health Center will host a mobile medical stop monthly at the 5th and Missouri MetroLink stop, 199 N. 6 th St., East St. Louis, IL. The first event is Thursday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The mobile unit will be at the same location during the same hours the second Thursday of each month throughout 2023. Patients can be seen on the mobile unit for allergies, wellness exams, cholesterol, diabetes, employment physicals, heart disease, high blood pressure, infections, sprains, strains, thyroid conditions, and well-child exams. The mobile unit is not an urgent care clinic. In some cases, patients will

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CHICAGO – COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are continuing to rise across Illinois following the Thanksgiving holiday, with 74 counties in Illinois rated at an elevated level for COVID-19 by the CDC. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said that the anticipated post-holiday surge is a reminder for the public to take action to protect themselves and their loved ones during the remainder of the holiday season. This is especially important when it comes to members of the family who are vulnerable to severe outcomes. IDPH is emphasizing these safety reminders as the CDC reported 29 Illinois counties at a High Community Level for COVID-19 , up from 12 a week ago; while 45 counties are a Medium Level, compared to 51 last week. IDPH is reporting 21,404 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois since December 2, and 56 deaths. “Illinois is experiencing a significant rise in communities at elevated risk levels for COVID-19, including 29 counties

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ALTON - Senior Brody Hendricks plays volleyball and soccer at Marquette Catholic High School. He loves both sports, but he signed his college letter of intent to continue playing soccer at Southwestern Illinois College Thursday afternoon with his family and friends in attendance. Brody will join longtime friends Charlie Fahnestock and Myles Paniagua who signed to play soccer at SWIC a couple of weeks ago. He'll also be with Brayden Zyung and Joe Aiello from Civic Memorial, who he's played club soccer with most of his life. "It feels really good to stay close to them," Brody said about being able to stick with his friends. When talking with SWIC head coach Lindsay Eversmeyer, she said she loves bringing a ton of chemistry to the college's program. "Lindsay looked like a great coach, she knew what she was doing," Brody said. "I toured SWIC, thought I liked it, and just went from there," he added. He plans to study business but is unsure of a major at this time. Brody said that trying

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ST. LOUIS - Renowned Christian artist TobMac will bring his 2023 Hits Deep Tour to the St. Louis Enterprise Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 18. TobMac is a multi-platinum-selling artist TobyMac and the 2023 TobyMac Hits Deep Tour is coming to St. Louis with JOY FM / BOOST RADIO on Saturday, March 18. The tour will feature TobyMac and the DiverseCity band with support from CROWDER, Cochren & Co., Tasha Layton, Jon Reddick, and Terrian. The annual arena tour features will be a night of music and fun for the entire family. TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour has been to St. Louis before, and fans will hear TobyMac's hits as well as new songs from his recent release "LIFE AFTER DEATH," which debuted as Billboard’s No. 1 Christian and Gospel record of the week during street week. Tickets are as follows: Cost: $20, $30, $40, $50, $70, $90 and $100 Ticket Info: Tickets on sale Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster Ticket Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/06005D70CDB3894B

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EDWARDSVILLE - Trinity Lutheran Church hosted its annual CHRISTmas Ugly Sweater 5K Saturday morning. This was the race’s seventh year. The race is a charity event held every year with proceeds going to Edwardsville Neighbors and the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. Each one of those organizations received $1,500. Trinity hosted Glen Ed Week at the church, a Christmas workshop with the kids that will receive an additional $5,700. This race used to be a huge draw in the Edwardsville area gathering almost 300 people before the pandemic. In 2020 the race was held virtually before being back in person in 2021. Casey Shank, the race’s main organizer said that this year they had 201 participants, up from about 150 last year. Shank said that her favorite part of the event is starting off the Christmas spirit as a community and being able to give back. What she really enjoys is when people will come up to her and tell her how much they loved the event. This happened multiple

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GODFREY – The Lewis and Clark Community College Veterans Club has joined forces with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to bring joy to area children in the 2022 Toys for Tots campaign. “This annual, nationwide toy drive offers a great and easy opportunity to help area kids have a happy Christmas,” L&C Director of Veteran and Career Services Terry Lane said. “Since it is a project of the Marine Corps Reserve, we can rest assured the toys will get to the kids who need them.” Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted until noon on Friday, December 16. Collection boxes can be found on the Godfrey Campus in Baldwin Hall, Room 2420, and in The Commons Café, located in the McPike Math and Science Complex. Toys can be dropped off at any time in the Campus Safety Office, located at the campus’ north entrance. Veterans Club members will be available to pick up donations from those who are unable to make it to campus. For more information, o

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BETHALTO - On December 9, 2022, Civic Memorial High School held a ribbon-cutting event for its new American Education program, which started during the Fall semester. This program is granted funded through the American Pathways grant from the Illinois State Board of Education. The "grow your own" program allows students to begin working towards their teacher's certification while earning four credits from Lewis and Clark Community College. This innovative program is the first step in helping solve the teacher shortage problem that plagues many communities across Illinois and throughout the nation. All students enrolled in this program are guaranteed a job interview upon completing their teacher certification. Mr. Werden, ROE 41 Superintendent; Dr. Jill Griffin, Superintendent of Schools; Mr. Justin Newell, Principal; Mrs. Angie Neilson, Instructor; Ms. Yvette McLemore, Lewis and Clark; Ms. Cathy Laramee, Lewis and Clark; Ms. Birdy Pruessner, Lewis and Clark, and students enrolled

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SPRINGFIELD – In preparation for the new year, employers should be aware of upcoming changes to the One Day Rest in Seven Act taking effect January 1, 2023. The One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA) gives workers the right to a day of rest every workweek and breaks for meals or rest during daily work shifts. Changes to ODRISA under Public Act 102-0828 and Public Act 102-1012 taking effect on January 1st include: • New meal and rest break requirements: Requires employees be given a 20-minute break if working a 12-hour shift or longer, and at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in every consecutive 7-day period, clarifying the day of rest requirements for workers whose schedules don’t align with a Sunday to Saturday calendar week. • Notice posting requirements: All employers covered by ODRISA must post a notice at the workplace notifying employees of their rights under the Act. IDOL will provide this notice on its website for employers to download and post.

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