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ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition and Money Smart Committee, in partnership with United Way of Greater St. Louis, is hosting a Money Smart Kid Essay Contest for sixth through eighth-grade students in the St. Louis area. Three winners will be selected to receive scholarships, including a grand prize of $2,000. The second-place winner will receive $1,000, and a third-place finalist will receive $500. Additionally, applicants have the option to select a nonprofit organization or school to receive a $500 award if their essay is selected as one of the finalists. Students must demonstrate their knowledge of basic economic concepts by submitting an essay in 500 words or less that explains the importance of generational wealth and how to go about establishing it.?Submissions are due Friday, April 15. The full application and contest guidelines are available at MoneySmartSTL.org. Applications and essays can be submitted via email to essay@moneysmartstlouis.org.

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BENTON – A Jefferson County, Missouri, man was sentenced to a total of 600 months in prison on Friday, February 25, 2022, after a federal jury found him guilty in October of 2021 for arranging to have sex with a minor, traveling to pick her up in Belleville, Illinois, and producing sexually explicit images of her. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Earl G. Rice, Jr., 63, chatted online via a dating application with a teenage girl. Rice quickly indicated his interest in traveling to Belleville, Illinois, from Dittmer, Missouri, to meet the victim and engage in sexual acts with her. On Valentine’s Day of 2018, Rice arrived with alcohol, condoms, and a candle to take the victim to a nearby motel. Rice engaged in sexual acts with the victim and produced sexually explicit images of the teen girl on his cell phone. Belleville Police Department apprehended Rice at the scene of the crime. “Serious crimes deserve serious punishment, and w

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BETHALTO - Children and their parents are invited to experience the quality Christian education at Zion Lutheran School, Bethalto, Illinois. Open House events for Kindergarten and Preschool students and their families were rescheduled because of weather conditions. The new date is Thursday, March 10, 2022. For students entering Kindergarten in Fall 2022: Kindergarten Preview meetings for children and their parents on Thursday, March 10, 4:30 to 7 p.m., in the Kindergarten classrooms at the school, 625 Church Dr., Bethalto. A special presentation by the teachers begins every half hour during the evening (4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.). No sign-ups are required.

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ALTON - YWCA Southwestern Illinois is issuing its final call for 2022 Women of Distinction (WOD) nominations. WOD Nominations are due Friday, March 17, 2022, at 5 pm or postmarked by March 11, 2022. Nomination packages are available at YWCA or on the YWCA website (www.altonywca.com). You may request nomination materials by calling 618.465.7774 or by emailing info@ywcaswil.org. The community, especially members from the Women of Distinction Academy, is urged to nominate women who are making a difference in their communities. Women must live, work or volunteer in Madison and Jersey County to be eligible. After being honored at the annual Gala Event on April 28, 2022, honorees become part of the prestigious YWCA Women of Distinction Academy. The diverse Women of Distinction Academy includes in 2021 honorees who reside throughout Madison County: Leah Becoat, Savanna Bishop, Yvonne Campbell, Lanea Deconcini, Amy Gabriel, Jennifer Gottlob, Cameo C. Holland, Trish R. Holmes, Lacy S. McDonald,

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ALTON - Alton Memorial Hospital, a member of the Siteman Cancer Network, is resuming its free monthly skin cancer screenings in partnership with Siteman Cancer Center, starting March 22. The 2022 screenings will be held, by appointment only, from 4-6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month in Suite 101 of Medical Office Building A on the AMH campus. Call 618-463-7220 or visit www.altonmemorialhospital.org, then go to Classes & Events to register. Because of physical distancing, a limited amount of people will be allowed inside the office at one time. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment and do not bring another person with you unless it’s necessary. Being proactive is the one step to early detection. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. People with fair skin, light-colored hair, green or blue eyes, and people who freckle easily are at the greatest risk. Excessive sun exposure, blistering burns before the age of 18, and a family history of melanoma are

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URBANA – Severe weather often occurs in March with dew point temperatures in the 50s or 60s. Duane Friend, University of Illinois Extension natural resources educator, explains the impact of dew point on weather. Water vapor is the gas form of water. Air can only hold so much water vapor. When air reaches a temperature where it is holding as much water vapor as it can hold, the air is said to be saturated. The temperature at which this occurs is called the dew point temperature. "A more common way of talking about dew point is when relative humidity is at 100%," Friend says. "Warmer air can hold more water vapor; cold air can’t hold as much." When dew point temperatures are low, the air is not holding much water vapor. Higher dew points mean more water vapor is present. "Water vapor heats the surrounding air when it condenses," Friend says. "High dew points can increase the chances of thunderstorms." What conditions may increase the chances for thunderstorms? March

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ALTON - The Grand Opening Weekend of The Soul Asylum is finally here and they have a fun weekend planned for everyone – lots of door prizes and great giveaways. The first 10 people through the door on both Saturday and Sunday receive a free Soul Asylum t-shirt. Every ticket purchased this weekend will receive an entry for some great door prize giveaways to be drawn on Sunday afternoon, including two tickets to any American Hauntings Dinner & Spirits event at Mineral Springs, a private Soul Asylum Tour for six people, a private guided tour of the Mineral Springs Hotel for six people, a vintage horror movie night and paranormal investigation in The Soul Asylum for six people and more. Troy Taylor, author of Haunted Alton and leader in the paranormal community for over 25 years, will host a book signing at The Soul Asylum on Saturday from noon until 1 pm. Admission is $8.00. The Soul Asylum is the latest incarnation of oddities, curiosities, historical artifacts, and esoterica

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a bipartisan nationwide investigation into TikTok for providing and promoting its social media platform to children and young adults despite its use being associated with physical and mental health harms. Raoul and attorneys general around the country are examining whether the company engaged in conduct in violation of state consumer protection laws that put the public at risk. “Heavy social media usage has negative impacts on users’ mental health, for instance leading to low self-esteem and distorted body image. Those effects are amplified in those users who are children and teens,” Raoul said. “This investigation seeks to determine what methods TikTok is using to increase the time users spend on the platform, and how that increased time harms young users’ physical and mental health.” The investigation will evaluate the harms TikTok usage causes to young users and what the company knew abou

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EAST ALTON – Explore the key elements that determine what makes a river great at the March Neighbor Nights event presented by Media Specialist Jen Young. This month, Neighbor Nights is a collaboration between the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) and Green Drinks Kankakee Meet-Up group. Green Drinks is an International organization consisting of local groups who meet monthly to network and discuss sustainable and environmental topics. The presentation will take place on March 15 starting at 6:30 pm. It will be streamed over Zoom as well as in-person at BrickStone Brewery in Bourbonnais, IL. “The presentation will highlight some of the interesting animals and plants found in the river,” said Young, who recently transitioned from her role as an environmental educator with NGRREC to a media specialist role. “It will also discuss some of the Field Station’s green infrastructure and updates on the current research being conducted

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CARLINVILLE - Students from the area were named to the Blackburn College Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester. Students named to the Dean's list must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Alton, IL Justin Atkinson Vashea Stanford Brighton, IL Taylor Nixon Carrollton, IL Christian Curtner East Alton, IL Dylan Klunk Pontoon Beach, IL Gabrianna Lucas Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, Presbyterian-related, co-educational liberal arts college located in Carlinville, IL. One of only ten federally-recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn has the only program in the nation fully managed by students. Balancing academic rigor and experiential learning, each student at Blackburn gains tangible experience and develops critical skills by contributing to their community, all while building a resume and earning their degree. In their 2020 Best Colleges Rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Blackburn College

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ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - With the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions lightening, Ash Wednesday this year carries a strong symbol for self-reflection, repentance, and the future. For two years, people throughout the world have included masks in their daily lives and been hit with constant COVID-19 limitations. The COVID-19 Pandemic was unleashed in relentless fashion on the region around two years ago in March 2020. Wednesday was a beautiful day and attendance at churches around the region for ashes was reported as "strong." Father Paul Nguyen, OMV, estimated by the end of the day on March 2, 2022, at St. Mary's Church in Alton, more than 700 K-12 students received ashes, along with another 700 Catholic parishioners. Marquette Catholic students filled the church for one of the morning Masses. “It is great to have the church full and so many voices supporting the prayers,” Nguyen said. “Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent and preparation for the celebration of Easter.

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CHICAGO - Michael Madigan, 79, former Illinois Speaker of the House, and once one of the most powerful men in the state for years, has been indicted on racketeering charges. An indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on March 2, 2022, after an investigation that took more than two years. A scheme with utility business Commonwealth Edison was part of the grand jury investigation. Madigan is accused of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm in the indictment. The alleged scheme stretches from Chicago to Springfield and connects politicians, lobbyists, business and utility executives and Madigan's law firm. Madigan's close friend Michael McClain is named as a co-defendant, and prosecutors allege he carried out criminal activities at Madigan's behest. The indictment accuses Madigan and McClain and other members of the conspiracy of unlawfully soliciting benefits from businesses and other private entities, and accuses Madigan of engaging in multiple

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The team of Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC (KEG) is pleased to announce that they were honored as “Medium Firm of the Year” at the annual ACEC Illinois 2022 Engineering Excellence Awards. Founded in 2006, the engineering and construction firm has grown from a 3-person operation in a small, shared office space in Belleville, Illinois to its impressive portfolio today of 9 offices in 4 states, more than 50 employees, and countless successful infrastructure projects throughout the Midwest. KEG President and Founder Geri E. Boyer, PE accepted the award alongside members of her team at the annual Engineering Excellence Awards, hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois. The event featured awards for projects throughout the State, as well as Firm of the Year Awards in three size categories: small, medium, and large. This was the inaugural year for the award. KEG was honored for its contributions to the success and growth of ACEC IL, its role i

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GRANITE CITY - Abel Anderson, Edwardsville community bank president at First Mid Bank & Trust, has been named 2022 auxiliary board chair for the Tri-Cities Area Division of United Way of Greater St. Louis. He succeeds Nancy LeVault, who held the chair position in 2020. “I feel fortunate that I have the ability to help others and support the community by volunteering my time as board chair for United Way and the Tri-Cities Area community,” Anderson said. “I know that United Way is supporting and investing in local nonprofits that are serving our community’s greatest needs and directly helping our neighbors, coworkers and friends.” With more than 15 years of banking and financial experience, Anderson has been with First Mid Bank & Trust since 2014. Prior to joining First Bank and Trust, he was with Centrue Bank and First National Bank of Ottawa. Anderson’s involvement with United Way spans nearly a decade, first serving as an allocations volunteer

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GLEN CARBON - Area fire agencies always team together in a strong fashion to battle area blazes and another example occurred Saturday evening in Glen Carbon. The Glen Carbon Fire Protection District was dispatched to a structure last weekend in an apartment complex on West Main Street in the village. "Upon arrival crews were met with heavy fire in one of the three units," the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District said in a release. "With the help of members from the Edwardsville Fire Department, Maryville Fire Department, Mitchell Fire Department, and Madison County Emergency Management Agency crews were able to bring the fire under control and contain the damage to the apartment of origin. Highland EMS also provided station coverage during the incident." No injuries were reported and all crews returned to service at 12:30 Sunday morning.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced today that Emily Johnson Nielsen has been hired and sworn in as the Civil Division Chief for the State’s Attorney’s Office. “We’re pleased to have Emily as our new Civil Division Chief,” Haine said. “With her wealth of experience in civil litigation and local government law and her strong ties to the local community, she will make her a great addition to our team.” Before joining the State’s Attorney’s office, Nielsen served as managing partner of Hunter & Johnson, P.C. in Alton. She is a native of Godfrey and a graduate of Marquette Catholic High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis before earning her Juris Doctor from the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Nielsen is a member of the Alton-Wood River Bar Association, the Madison County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –Chenmin Xie, 25, formerly of the 500 block of West Herndon Street in Springfield, Illinois, pleaded guilty on February 22, 2022 to the charge of knowingly using a facility and means of interstate commerce – the Internet and a cellular telephone – with the intent to transmit the name and address of another individual who had not attained the age of sixteen and doing so with the intent to attempt to entice, encourage, offer, and solicit that person to engage in sexual activity. At the change-of-plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Schanzle-Haskins, Xie admitted that on August 29, 2020, he used a cellular phone to converse with a boy he believed was fifteen years old. During the conversation, they agreed to meet for sexual intercourse at the minor’s residence. Xie then requested and received the child’s address. Since being arrested on August 29, 2020, Xie has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals. His sentencin

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EDWARDSVILLE - Mary Reuscher is a woman who just marked her 95th birthday, but she is like the Energizer Bunny - she has long-lasting power and never quits. Mary celebrated her 95th birthday in appropriate fashion on February 5, 2022, and was recognized prior to the Edwardsville-East St. Louis boys basketball game. Both Edwardsville High School Athletic Director Alex Fox and her grandson, Christian Rhoten, the highly successful head Edwardsville boys and girls swim team coach, conclude she “never quits,” and they almost have to encourage her to slow down, uncommon for her age. “My grandma has been in my life since I was a little kid and has lived in Edwardsville for a long time,” Rhoten said. “As a kid, I spent a lot of time over at her house. She is always going and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down." Mary still walks on the treadmill for an hour daily and also rides a stationary bike. When it is warm, she is outside working in her garden.

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HIGHLAND — Holly’s House of Hope will host a 5k walk/run through Highland, Illinois, on March 26 to raise funds and awareness for the organization. Five public relations students from SIUE are aiding Holly’s House of Hope in planning the event. Holly’s House of Hope is a 501c3 founded in 2020 with the goal of helping uniquely abled young adults build and maintain vocational skills. Holly’s House of Hope provides meaningful opportunities to their clients such as operating their free store, hosting activities for socialization, and even creating apprenticeships for their clients at local businesses. The event will begin and end near Holly’s House of Hope’s (HHH) location at 1000 Zschokke St, Highland, Illinois, 62249. Runners will arrive at 8:30 a.m. and the race will begin at 9:00 a.m. Participants will have an opportunity to visit HHH’s new building and enter the raffle. The Mosaic Free store typically gives donated clothing and necessities

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 has selected Katie Bevis-O'Neal as the permanent principal at Albert Cassens Elementary. The hiring was approved on February 28, 2022, by the District #7 Board of Education. Bevis-O'Neal will assume the role starting the 2022-2023 school year. Bevis-O'Neal has served in the interim principal position at Cassens since January 2022. “I have been impressed that Ms. Bevis-O'Neal has the ability to step into any situation and succeed and has done an exceptional job at Cassens these last few months,” said Edwardsville School District 7 Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton. “We look forward to her continuing to provide exceptional leadership and support for the students and staff at Cassens.” Bevis-O'Neal is no stranger to District #7. The 2003 Edwardsville High School graduate began her career in District #7 by teaching seventh grade for two years followed by 12 years of sixth-grade science. Prior t

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