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ALTON/GODFREY - It’s January, and if you’re ready to get rid of your Christmas tree, Sparks Junk Removal and Hauling is having their second annual free Christmas tree pick-up next week. On Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, Sparks will pick up all trees throughout Alton and Godfrey. All Alton and Godfrey residents are eligible. If you want to be added to the pick-up route, call the Sparks office at 618-433-1128. The trees must be “naked” with no ornaments or lights and placed curbside. All trees will be recycled. The company offers clean-outs, furniture removal, trash hauling and light demolition services. They also strive to be eco-friendly, so they recycle and repurpose items when possible. Owner Denise Sparks noted that people seem to love her company as an alternative to bigger trash removal organizations that have spread throughout the region. “This is our Sparks Junk Removal and Hauling way of saying ‘thank you’ for choosing small, locally-owned

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EDWARDSVILLE – A section of Hillsboro Avenue east of downtown Edwardsville will be closed for several months for storm and sanitary sewer replacement, resurfacing and other improvements. The closure is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 8, but the work is dependent on weather conditions. The Hillsboro Avenue closure will run from North Buchanan Street to Illinois Route 157. The project will require a full closure from the vicinity of Hickory Street/Columbia Avenue to Bunn Avenue. The Hickory Street intersection will be accessible during the work. The rest of the impacted area – from North Buchanan to Hickory Street and from Bunn Avenue to Route 157 -- will be closed to through traffic only. Residents within the affected area will have access to their property. The project is expected to take about three months to complete. The City hired DMS Contracting Inc. of Mascoutah for the work, which will entail storm and sanitary sewer replacement, milling and resurfacing of

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College has added a pair of eight-week classes to its Paralegal Studies program, starting this semester. According to Program Coordinator Becky Gockel, Elder Law and Electronic Discovery courses have been added to the Paralegal program on the advice of the Paralegal Unified Advisory Committee based on job demand and the growing need for specialized fields of expertise in the paralegal profession. “These classes have been added to the paralegal program in an effort to offer more options for areas of specialization,” she said. “These new courses do not change the requirements of the current Associate of Applied Science or Certificate of Proficiency. No prerequisites are required for either course, which makes them available to both students and members of the public. Elder Law (PLGL 180) will be offered during the first eight weeks of the semester, Jan. 16–March 8. The course focuses on key topics such

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SPRINGFIELD — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals in Illinois are pleased to announce the top names chosen for babies born at each hospital in 2023. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon Top Boy Name Oliver Top Girl Name Amelia HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese Top Boy Name Wyatt Top Girl Name Ava HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield Top Boy Name Hudson Top Girl Name Aurora HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham Top Boy Name Oliver Top Girl Name Harper HSHS St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield Top Boy Names Liam and Ryker (tied) Top Girl Name Eleanor These names were part of the over 4,400 babies delivered at these hospitals in 2023. The Women and Infant Centers at these HSHS Illinois hospitals in Springfield, O’Fallon, Effingham, Breese and Litchfield provide compassionate care for women and infants throughout pregnancy,

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GLEN CARBON - “Let it go, let it go, we can’t hold it back anymore…” You all know the song and are probably finishing the lyrics in your head as you read. It’s been ten years since the original release of the movie Frozen and it was an instant hit with kids around the world . The 2019 sequel once again brought the beloved princesses, Elsa and Anna, back into the spotlight with a new generation of kids . Now, as the world awaits the 2025 release of Frozen III, Goshen Theatre Project plans to bring the emotional bond between these two sisters to the stage in the musical adaptation of Frozen, Jr ! Performances will take place at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts (Lebanon, IL) with shows on January 19 and 20 at 7:00p.m and matinees on January 20 and 21 at 2:30 pm. These family - friendly shows are estimated to be about 90 minutes , which includes a 15 minute intermission . Tickets are selling fast with over half

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Letter To The Editor: For Alton to solve its problems, we must involve the entire community, establish incentives for Broadway development, hire more police officers and make them more visible to counter crime. Alton needs a major push to rebuild neighborhoods and develop programs for our youth and seniors. We need commitments to bring jobs to Alton. Election day is fast approaching and as citizens our decision matters! It's time we vote into office a person who is willing to work hard at change for the city that will benefit the entire community. I write this community to make those comfortable with doing nothing feel uncomfortable. There must be a plan and the clock is running now.

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ST. LOUIS -Get ready for a lunar celebration like no other! Drunken Fish is kicking off the Lunar New Year in style by hosting a party in honor of its 20th anniversary. Join us on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, from 7 pm to 1 am at the breathtaking VUE, located within the historic Cutlery Building at 612 N. 2nd Street in St. Louis. VUE's fifth-level event space sets the stage for this unforgettable 20th-anniversary extravaganza. With nearly a 360-degree view of downtown St. Louis, guests will enjoy stunning vistas of the Gateway Arch, the Eads Bridge, and the city skyline. Drunken Fish has an exciting lineup of events planned for the year, and what better way to start than with the Lunar New Year Party. This event is all about celebrating diversity and culture. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the spirit of Asia through a variety of All-You-Can-Eat Asian cuisine and live entertainment. The night will feature a Chinese Lion Dance, Live DJ, Kimono Shot girls, Live Sushi Chef,

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police Department officially swore in its newest probationary officer at the Wood River City Council meeting earlier this week. At the meeting, City Clerk Danielle Sneed administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed Probationary Police Officer Morgan Davis. After being officially sworn in, Officer Davis received a brand new badge from Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells. The department congratulated their newest member with an announcement on their Facebook page . “Congratulations to Morgan Davis, now known as Officer Morgan Davis, who took the oath of office this evening at the Wood River City Council meeting for the position of Probationary Police Officer,” they said. “Officer Davis will start Police Academy next week and will be patrolling the streets of Wood River after receiving her academy training! We welcome Officer Davis to the City of Wood River!” A recording of the Wood River City Council meeting

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WOOD RIVER - Five Below announced on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, that it will open its doors in Wood River next to the Walmart Supercenter in Wood River Plaza on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Considerable excitement has brewed regarding the Five Below opening in Wood River, Mayor Tom Stalcup said. “It is like a Dollar General type of store with merchandise that is $5 and below,” the mayor said. “It will be in the right section of where Walmart is located. There was a pizza place in that area and they agreed to move down a few doors to accommodate Five Below.” Five Below also plans to open an Alton location in the old Shop 'N Save area . Five Below Inc. is an American chain of specialty discount stores that prices most of its products at $5 or less, plus a smaller assortment of products priced up to $25. Founded by Tom Vellios and David Schlessinger and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the chain is aimed at tweens and teens.

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ALTON - The old team at Alton’s The Pasta House Co. will meet again at an upcoming reunion party. Previous Pasta House employees, friends and customers are invited to The Lovejoy at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, to reminisce and celebrate. There will be a cash bar and Matt Taul will play from 7–10 p.m. “I think it’s going to be a great time,” said Greg Franklin, who organized the reunion with Roland DeGregorio. “Just the idea, everybody was so enthusiastic about it. You talk to somebody and say, ‘Hey, what do you think of this idea?’ And they would be like, ‘Man, that’s going to be such a good time.’” Franklin remembers having a lot of fun as a Pasta House employee. The restaurant opened on Aug. 4, 1986, and Franklin worked there from 1988–1993. He said he “learned a lot” and he is excited to see his old coworkers again. “It was fantastic, actually. It was old-school, a lo

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Public Library is gearing up for a building expansion which has been years in the making and is set to begin this spring. The large-scale expansion project will not only give the library more room for youth areas, meeting rooms and more, but also aims to make the building's current entrance more architecturally consistent with the original Carnegie building that was built in 1904. “Not only is everyone celebrating a new year, but the Jerseyville Public Library (JPL) is excited about the start of a much-anticipated expansion set to begin later this year,” the library announced in a press release. “Be sure to watch for groundbreaking news and information on how you can help by being a part of this exciting new venture.” To help fund this expansion venture, the library is hosting a Trivia Night on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at DJ’s Pub & Grill in Jerseyville. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with trivia starting at 7 p.m., and

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PIASA - Southwestern's 5-foot-7-inch junior guard Gracie Darr is a natural athlete in multiple sports. Her sport for the winter is basketball and she is the point guard for the Piasa Birds. She has had a solid season and often controls the Piasa Birds' offense. She is an excellent three-point shooter. Gracie is an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Piasa Birds. Gracie is the daughter of Piasa Birds' head coach Jason Darr and Jill Darr, so she has grown up at the sidelines of his basketball contests and is extremely knowledgeable about the game. Piasa Birds head girls coach Darren Mosley said Gracie handles the ball a lot for his team. She has averaged nearly 11 points a game for her squad and multiple assists per game. "She has a great attitude and works very hard," he said. "She is a real leader both on and off the court. "She has stepped up this year to score more points. Gracie always puts the team first and does all the things on th

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ALTON - Schon D. Widman faces a count of Aggravated Arson, a Class X Felony, in a charge regarding a fire at 3116 Hawthorne in Alton on New Year’s Day. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s office released the charge in the Widman case as follows: Count I Aggravated Arson - "In that said defendant, by means of fire or explosive, knowingly damaged any real property, of another, being Arthur Widman, without the consent of being Arthur Widman, being the property located at 3116 Hawthorne Boulevard, Alton, Madison County, Illinois, and he knew or reasonably should have known that one or more persons were present therein, in violation of 720 ILCS5/20-1.1(a)." State’s Attorney Tom Haine also made a motion to the Madison County Third Circuit Court to deny the defendant pretrial release.

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ALTON - Thirty years ago on Jan. 5, 1994, Clark Bridge opened to the public. Also known as the Super Bridge, this bridge made history as the first of its kind in the U.S. It is a steel-framed cable-stayed bridge, which means most of the weight is supported by the cables, and pylon provides additional support. The design of the double cables was more cost-effective and provided more support, but it was so unique that Clark Bridge was the subject of a NOVA documentary called “Super Bridge” in 1997. Clark Bridge is 108 feet wide and replaced the old Clark Bridge, which was only 20 feet wide. It is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation and moves U.S. Route 67 across the river between Illinois and Missouri. Alton Mayor David Goins said the 30th anniversary of the Clark Bridge on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, is a special date. "It is a very important day and it was when the bridge was first opened," he said. "When the bridge was erected it brought national

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BETHALTO - Junior August Frankford is a valuable component of the Civic Memorial boys basketball squad and is often in double figures scoring and close to that range each game in rebounding. Frankford is a post player for the Eagles and a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete Of The Month. Frankford's head boys coach Lee Green said August received a lot of experience last year on varsity and had a great summer for his club. "He put on about 45 pounds of muscle and is much bigger and stronger this year," Coach Green said. "He put a lot of time in the weight room." Frankford is also a pitcher, outfielder, and infielder, for the Eagles' baseball squad in the spring. He had a .302 batting average last baseball season. "August is playing well for us this season," Coach Green said. Again, congrats to August Frankford on his recognition as a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month.

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ALTON - A new yoga studio has opened in Alton, and they have a lot more than poses coming down the pipeline. Radiance Yoga & Wellness, located at 211 E. Broadway in Alton, opened on Jan. 1, 2024. Owner Janet Keffer hopes to eventually incorporate more wellness practices, including massage and Reiki, into the new business. “We just opened and the plan is to offer more than yoga classes,” Keffer explained. “It was one of those, ‘If I don’t do it now, how much longer am I going to keep putting it off?’” Keffer is currently offering Vinyasa flow yoga classes every day of the week except for Friday and Sunday. She also has private yoga classes available and said she will likely introduce a membership program. While she doesn’t currently offer Reiki, she does practice it and looks forward to connecting to more practitioners in the community. “I believe that yoga should be more accessible to more people. And it seems to me that

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ALTON - For most people, retirement is a time to relax. For Marlene Lewis, it’s a chance to volunteer to make the Riverbend community a better place. Lewis believes her career in Community Relations and Development at Alton Memorial Hospital has prepared her to volunteer her time now with the Salvation Army, Alton Woman’s Home Association and Alton Main Street. She encourages others to get involved and help out the community where possible. “It’s great because I’m retired, so I do have time to do these things. And like I mentioned, a lot of the things that I’m working on are things that are similar to my career path, so they’re areas that I’m comfortable with and have a good understanding of,” Lewis said. “It’s just a wonderful way to meet people and to feel good about yourself and give your life a meaningful purpose that I think we all really want to have in our lives. So I hope that anyone that reads this that

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JERSEYVILLE - Axe & Ale, Jerseyville’s newest venue for axe-throwing entertainment, recently announced a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony set for 5 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. The festivities will commence at the venue at 806 Tri Point Lane in Jerseyville, just across Illinois Route 16 from Farm & Home Supply. After acquiring the location from Riverbend Axe Throwing last fall and hosting a soft opening last November, Axe & Ale co-owners Chris and Christina Herren said in a press release that they’ve “diligently devoted the past two months to refurbishing and upgrading the location while actively engaging with the community to understand and cater to their desires.” "We're thrilled to introduce Axe & Ale to the Jerseyville community," Chris said. "Our aim is to provide a welcoming space where locals can unwind, connect, and experience the excitement of axe throwing. We've worked diligently to create a venue that fosters camaraderie and fun

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JERSEYVILLE - Jersey senior basketball player Aiden Taylor has been a part of the Panthers' program for four years and became a starter this season. Jersey head boys coach Matt Murphy said Aiden is a great example of being determined and working to get to the end goal of contributing as a senior. Aiden is a Sparklight Internet Male Athlete Of The Month. "Aiden is very physical and has a very quick first jump," Murphy said. "His personality is a joy to be around and is always looking to get better. He is one of the more coachable players I have had." The coach added that Aiden's hard work is starting to pay off. "I am looking forward to a really solid second half of the season from him," the coach said. Taylor has also been an outstanding Panther varsity running back and outside linebacker each fall. Again congrats to Aiden Taylor for his recognition as a Sparklight Internet Male Athlete of the Month.

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ALTON - A special GoFundMe has been organized for a mother who wants to have her teenage son’s body returned from Alton to California, where she resides, for a proper funeral. A family friend, Tanya, established the GoFundMe for the family. The teen is Jaiden Dahl, 17, who had his life cut short on New Year’s Day when he was tragically shot and killed in Alton. This is what Tanya, wrote in the GoFundMe for the 17-year-old and his family: “Hello my name is Tanya, friend but more like sister to Bri. As most of you know her oldest son Jaiden - 17 years of age - was tragically shot and killed on New Year's Day. Jaiden was at home when his life was cut short. Jaiden was a respectful young man and loved his mother, sister and baby brother. His smile could light up any room, to know Jaiden was to love him. “With permission from his mother, I started this GoFundMe page to help his mother get Jaiden’s body to California for a proper burial. His mother plans to

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