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ALTON - Marquette’s Katie Johnson has been a star for the Explorers in both cross country and track and field now for multiple years. Recently, she was the first-place individual in a girls' meet with Jersey, MCHS, Southwestern, Maryville Christian and Gillespie in a time of 22:02 for three miles. In an interview after one of her successful races, she said: "I feel really good about the season so far. In the first three meets, I dropped time." Katie is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire, Inc., Female Athlete of the Month for Marquette Catholic. Johnson looks to eclipse 22 minutes for three miles by the end of the season and finish high in post-season competition. "I enjoy the races, but sometimes practices can be hard," she said. "I enjoy being a leader on the team and it is my senior year, so it is really important to be a leader." Johnson is an Explorers' track star and is a fixture on the 4 x 800 and 4 x 400 relays and middle to longer distances. "I love all my teammates,"

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ROXANA - Roxana High School's Daisy Daugherty is a big key to the success of the Shells' offensive and defensive attacks in girls' volleyball. Roxana girls volleyball head coach Andrea Keller couldn't say enough about Daugherty and all her girls on the team. Other profiles of key players are to come. "Daisy is our setter and she is a sophomore," Keller said. "She is really stepping up this year and doing everything she can to be a great varsity setter. She puts in the time and effort needed to become the best she can be." Daugherty is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Roxana Shells. Coach Keller said Daugherty is "very coachable." "She always gives it everything and she will continue to push herself to be better," the coach added. The coach said she has high hopes for Daughtery in the future as a catalyst for Roxana girls' volleyball. Congratulations to Daisy Daughtery for her recognition as a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete selection

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GRANITE CITY - Cindy Armstrong has organized a GoFundMe for Phillip Armstrong's daughter after he lost his life on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in what she described as "a senseless act of domestic violence." "We lost a son, brother, and friend, but Chloe, at the age of 10, lost her father," Cindy said. "This is a loss of epic proportions as she was just getting to enjoy his sobriety. As a family, we plan to support Chloe in any way we can and hope to keep her memories of her dad alive for years to come. "However, we know there will be times she needs the emotional and financial support that one usually gets from their parents but he will not be there to provide for her. We cannot fill the emotional void his passing leaves, but we hope to offset some of the financial loss his absence will cause. "All funds raised will be transferred to an account for Chloe to promote her emotional, social and academic needs as she faces life without her father." To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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CHICAGO – The Powerball jackpot has been increased from $925 million to $960 million for tomorrow night's drawing. If won, it would be the fourth largest Powerball jackpot and the ninth largest lottery jackpot won in U.S. history. Plenty of Powerball players in Illinois have already walked away with a lot of cash this year, including seven players who won $1 million each. In total in 2023, Powerball players in Illinois have claimed more than $28 million in prizes across 2.7 million winning tickets. Every Powerball ticket is a chance to win - and a chance to dream. And with $960 million up for grabs in Saturday night’s Powerball draw, Illinois residents are lining up at their local lottery stores to snatch up a ticket. There are over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State, and players can also purchase a ticket online through the Illinois Lottery website, IllinoisLottery.com , or the Illinois Lottery app. Powerball tickets are $2 each, and players

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ALTON - New rules for garage sales, yard sales, and more within the City of Alton were approved at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Building & Zoning permit requirements, frequency limitations, and other regulations are among the new rules passed. Aldermen passed an ordinance amending the City Code section on Zoning Regulations, adding new language to regulate sales on personal property. The new rules apply to any garage sale, yard sale, home sale, patio sale, or any similar sale on residential property. The first rule imposed concerns the frequency of holding such sales. “It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, or corporation within the corporate limits of the City of Alton to conduct or maintain more than three (3) garage sales at any residence during a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, and no sale shall be conducted for a period longer than three (3) days,” a section of the amendment states. The amendment also regulates the display of

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JERSEYVILLE - Alex Hubbell has been a senior catalyst at his midfielder position for the Panthers’ boys soccer team this season. For most of the season, Alex has topped the scoring list for Jersey, his coach Scott Burney said. Overall, Hubbell has been the Panthers' leading goal scorer, but he also brings great leadership skills to the table, Coach Burney added. Hubbell is a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. “Alex is a very skilled player and plays with a lot of heart and passion,” Burney said. “He has good speed and an understanding of the game from all of years of playing at a high level at a pretty young age. “He enjoys helping others on and off the field. Not only is he a strong player on the field, but also a very good student.” Congrats to Hubbell for his recognition as a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month.

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Letter To The Editor: I want you to know about a gun battle that took place on October 12, 1898, in Virden, Illinois. This year is the 125th anniversary of that event. On October 8, in Union Miners Cemetery, located at 5585 Mt Olive Rd, Mt Olive, IL, a commemoration of the battle will be held at noon. A recap: The coal mines in IL and the region had refused to bargain fairly with their UMWA-represented workers. One of the miners' demands was an 8-hour workday. The mines all settled except for the Chicago/Virden mine, so the strike became a lockout. The mine recruited unsuspecting miners from Alabama. Their advertisement said they wanted black coal miners. Virden was not prejudiced, but companies trying to sow division among workers is a tactic that continues into modern times. It is a tactic the UMWA has faced many times. A self-appointed UMWA organizer, “General" Alexander Bradley, had a contingent of miners at Virden when the train arrived carrying the replacement workers.

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EAST ALTON - The Village of East Alton is hosting a first on Sunday - a Fall Food Truck Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Van Preter Park at 500 Playground Park in East Alton. Organizers have more than eight food truck vendors on location for people to bring their families and relax in the beautiful fall weather of East Alton Park with delicious offerings. Mike Moore and Robin Carlton have organized the event. Both have been involved in many of the community events that have added life to the village. Jeremy Sheppard, owner of Street EATZ from Rosewood Heights, helped organize the event, Moore and Carlton said. "We worked with him and went back and forth and he helped us get some food trucks organized in quick fashion," Moore said. "He has done a really good job with his food truck and has gone about a year now and is from the East Alton area. We are trying to keep it local and local vendors." High school art classes competed for designs of a T-shirt for the event. Gray Entertainment

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s College for Life (CFL) program hosts their coffee stand four days a week in Reid Memorial Library to fill a need on the Godfrey Campus and to serve as a learning experience for students. Aptly named “Coffee for Life,” the stand features Bunkhouse Joe’s “Icy Joe” iced coffee, hot coffee, and bottles of water. Hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. What started as a fun idea in 2020, Coffee for Life officially opened its “doors” in 2022 and has continued to grow since its inception. The program allows CFL students to learn and practice job skills while serving the campus community. The students work on skills such as marketing, money management and customer service. “Most of the students already have jobs, so we want to let them showcase those skills,” said CFL instructor Katelyn Baahlmann. “It gives

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued charges on Friday, September 29, 2023, on suspect Trevor White, 41, of the 500 block of Deer Pointe Court in Fenton, Missouri 63026, for Attempted Enticement of a Child and Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child. White has been a youth athletic coach for over 10 years. White is being held on a $100,000 cash-only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: On or about September 28, 2023, Defendant texted with a person he believed to be a child under the age of 15. The defendant asked if he could pick the child up so they could engage in sexual activity together." Investigators suspect there may be more victims. If you have information, please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210, or to remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contac

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BETHALTO - This weekend is the 27th annual Wings-N-Wheels Fly-In Festival, both Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Louis Regional Airport in Bethalto. Both days are full of fun for the whole family, between free flights for kids, tarmac tours of various planes, a car show, and much more. “It’s a nice community event. We like showing off the airport, we love showing what we do,” said Danny Adams, general manager of the St. Louis Regional Airport. “We like showing the airplanes off and that’s our prime opportunity to do it.” Here’s what’s happening on the first day of the Fly-In on Saturday, Sept. 30: “Behind the fence” tours of local pilot planes, military aircraft, and more on the airport tarmac. The Speed Demons Car Show, featuring live music from the band Cruise Control Kids Zone with bounce houses, barrel car rides, and more (sponsored by the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce) Bethalto’s

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EAST ALTON – More than 900 fifth graders and their instructors participated in the 21 st Annual National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) Water Festival at the Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey campus Friday, September 29. Participants spent the day on campus exploring interactive booths focused on the importance of water. “It has been so rewarding seeing students go from thinking frogs were gross and scary to thinking that they were cool and exciting,” said Jessica Mohlman, research coordinator and assistant scientist at NGRREC. “I couldn’t have been happier with the results from teaching about wetlands and the research we do at NGRREC.” This year, classes rotated between 37 stations during the five-hour long event. Students enjoyed soaking up the knowledge and entertainment from nature hikes to canoe rides. “Being a part of the largest Water Festival to date has been so exciting,”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Lexow Financial Group recently marked 30 years of helping people in the Edwardsville community reach their financial goals with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Larry Lexow, who owns the company and two others, appreciates the community’s support as he looks to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. Lexow Financial Group is a financial services company that works with individuals, businesses, and families looking to develop financial plans or reach financial independence, Lexow said. “Today, we’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of our company,” Lexow said at the event. “We have some longevity in terms of what we’re trying to do and help families reach their greatest goal in reaching financial independence.” Lexow Financial isn’t his only company with “longevity”: there’s also Lexow Properties, a company of 25 years that houses the office building for Lexow Financial and 20 other

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ALTON - Success is an annual occurrence for Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation’s Duck Pluckers, Deer Skinners, and Fish Hookers Ball. The 14 th edition held on Sept. 16 raised close to $175,000. Funds will go toward the purchase of another Alton Memorial Hospital ambulance equipped with $125,000 worth of life-saving equipment. “The support we receive at this event from our community each year has been spectacular,” said AMH President Dave Braasch. “This year was no exception. This unwavering support allows us to keep our hospital-based ambulance fleet equipped with the latest technology and road-ready. I’d like to shout out a big ‘Thank You’ to the people who sponsored the event, worked at the event, and came and donated at the event. Your contributions in maintaining and enhancing Emergency Medical Services in our region are commendable.” AMH is the largest hospital-based ambulance service in the area, covering nearly 400

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GODFREY - Join The Nature Institute for a magical evening of Halloween fun! Enchanted Forest will take place on October 20th from 6 – 9 p.m. This non-spooky fall activity is perfect for families with young children. You can enjoy the activities at your own pace then turn in your passport for a bag of treats. This family-friendly event will include a self-guided hike, yard games, a cozy fire, and educational activities. Children will receive a passport to be stamped by all of the nocturnal animal characters that they meet along the trail. Every child will receive a bag of goodies in exchange for their completed passport! The entrance fee for this family fun event is $5 for everyone over the age of 2. This event is perfect for families looking for a fun night of strolling through the forest and learning about animals. Children and adults are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes for the evening. Activities will be spread out along the paved Frog Trail, the skeet range,

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WASHINGTON DC - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—joined the Aero Club Luncheon fireside chat with key leaders in the aviation industry where she underscored the ways we should improve aviation safety, expand accessibility for passengers with disabilities and support our aviation workforce in the Senate FAA Reauthorization Act amid our aviation safety crisis. Photos from today’s fireside chat are available here . “As a pilot and Senator, it was great to be at today’s Aero Club Luncheon to talk about all the ways I’m working to strengthen aviation safety for all passengers—especially as our aviation workforce is stretched razor thin and our entire aviation system continues to experience alarming near-misses where catastrophic loss of life was barely averted,” said

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “Dianne was a trailblazer. She spent her time in office fighting for causes that many overlooked, and she made history with passage of the Assault Weapons Ban , Violence Against Women Act , Respect for Marriage Act , and as Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Dianne was my friend and seatmate on the Senate Judiciary Committee for more than twenty years. She never backed away from the toughest political battles—she was always dignified and always effective. The Senate and those of us privileged to serve with her have lost a woman whose public service wrote an inspiring chapter in the history of our nation. “Loretta and I send our condolences to her daughter, Katherine; her son-in-law, Rick; her granddaughter, Eileen; and the countless other family, friends, and colleagues who are mourning

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WASHINGTON DC - During a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing today on U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) nominees, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from nominee to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Derek Chollet to help prioritize funding and resources for programs aimed at strengthening military coordination in Southeast Asia. These critical efforts would build on the success of a military cybersecurity partnership with Southeast Asian partners that Senator Duckworth created in 2020—and could be expanded through her Southeast Asia Partnership Expansion Act that was included the Senate-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if that legislation is signed into law. Full video of Senator Duckworth’s committee remarks is available here . “During my recent Congressional Delegation to Southeast Asia, I spoke with U.S. servicemembers advising partner militaries in the region

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SPRINGFIELD – The 2023 Illinois fall trout season will open Saturday, Oct. 21 at 59 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is warning anglers that warm weather will delay some early stockings this fall. The early catch-and-release season, scheduled to open Oct. 7 this year, will be stocked later than expected because of forecasted and observed warm water temperatures. Trout stocked in waters warmer than 70 degrees will experience high mortality. IDNR will stock the early catch-and-release sites as soon as water temperatures cool and will provide updates on the ifishillinois.org website and social media channels for ifishillinois.org and IDNR. No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 21. The daily catch limit is five trout. All anglers, including those who participate in the early catch-and-release season, must have an Illinois fishing license and

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ALTON - Participants at the free utility bill clinic on Wednesday hosted by State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) learned how to save money on their utility bills. The free utility bill clinic was held at Senior Services Plus (SSP) in Alton. “This event was very popular, several people who attended found ways to save on their electricity bill by switching their alternative rate electric supplier,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “In one instance I had a constituent that was paying .17 cents per kWh with an alternative rate electric supplier when other rates available are half the cost. Since the demand to learn how to save money on utility bills was so high, my office plans to host another free utility clinic early next year if not sooner.” In the meantime, Representative Amy Elik is encouraging individuals who would like to receive help finding ways to save on their utility bills, to please call the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) a

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