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CHICAGO – Building on Illinois’ COVID-19 emergency housing assistance response, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced today applications for homeowners financially impacted by the pandemic will be accepted beginning in April through the Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) program. ILHAF will provide up to $30,000 in free assistance per homeowner paid directly to the servicer, taxing body or other approved entity on behalf of Illinois homeowners impacted by COVID-19 to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures to keep families safe and secure while they regain their financial footing. Program information and updates can be found at illinoishousinghelp.org . “My administration worked more quickly than any other state in the country to distribute over $1 billion to prevent renters and homeowners from losing their housing in the pandemic, and this next phase will provide hundreds of millions more in 2022,” said

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BELLEVILLE - Caritas Family Solutions has moved up in the rankings of the largest nonprofits in the St. Louis region. The rankings were published in a St. Louis Business Journal report based on the 2021 fiscal year operating budget. The report shows Caritas Family Solutions’ moved from the 19 th largest in 2020, to 16th on the list of the largest nonprofits in the St. Louis region with an annual operating budget of $39.7 million. Caritas Family Solutions CEO Gary Huelsmann said he is proud of the work their organization does to help families and children across Southern Illinois and the Metro East area. The agency currently serves more than 6,500 people including 1,700 foster children, throughout the Southern Illinois region. "We have been consistently moving in the ranks and it is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our staff and board,” said Huelsmann. “As a human service organization, we are always aiming to help the needs that we see in our communities.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior Grace Daech has been a core of the Edwardsville High School girls golf team in her four years and for next season has decided to take her talents to Oglethorpe University near Atlanta, Ga., on an athletic scholarship. At a recent signing at EHS, packed with family and friends, she signed her official letter of intent. She is an iCAN Clinic Edwardsville Female Athlete of the Month for her athletic efforts at EHS. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to play golf in college,” she said. “I have so much I look forward to and improving. I have been the core of the team here and have loved my experience at Edwardsville and with Coach Koonce. A lot of people don’t have the team environment we have here.” “I had Grace in seventh grade and all four years for the varsity girls golf team at Edwardsville High School,” Edwardsville head girls golf coach Libby Koonce said. “She has made this happen through hard work and determination.

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SPRINGFIELD – A measure spearheaded by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that would help recruit more volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel by providing an income tax credit passed the Senate Wednesday. “Many communities rely on volunteer fire departments when they are in a crisis,” Belt said. “These fire departments across Illinois are struggling with a shortage of firefighters and EMS personnel volunteers.” Senate Bill 3027 would provide a $500 income tax credit for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel who are a member or work for a fire department or fire protection district for at least nine months and do not receive more than $10,000 for their volunteer services during the taxable year. Current law does not provide a tax credit. Other states that offer a similar credit include New York, Iowa and Maryland. The proposed tax credit cannot reduce a taxpayer’s liability to less than zero. If the proposed tax credit exceeds the

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JERSEYVILLE - In this day and age, this doesn't happen often, but on Wednesday, Bill and Kathryn Schimpf of Jerseyville are celebrating their 70th anniversary. The two were married on February 23, 1952, in Piggott, Arkansas. Bill was 21 when they were married and Kathyrn was 16. Today, Bill is 91 and Kathryn is 86. The two were open with how they made it 70 years in marriage. The key response both said is they have always loved each other with all their hearts and that remains the same 70 years after they said "I do" to each other. Kathyrn said if she had to say just a few words why their marriage has been so successful, she said: "We do a lot together. We have always played golf together, and we both have a strong sense of family." Bill said the two have always worked together to accomplish their goals. "We are always open to the others' suggestions and ideas," he said. "We adjust as things go along and work together." Bill is a well-known area principal, serving 27 years at Carrollton

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EDWARDSVILLE - Not all who teach students are in the classroom. School counselors, such as Edwardsville High School’s Chung Baker, are among those school personnel who are making a difference in the lives of students outside of instruction. Baker is in her 28th year with District 7 after first beginning her career in education as a physical education teacher at what is now Lincoln Middle School, when it was originally the high school. “When I thought about what else I could do to extend my career in education without teaching, and knowing I didn’t want to go into administration, counseling seemed like an easy transition.” Baker always knew she wanted to go into education. Having been afforded the opportunity to have an education in the U.S. as a first-generation immigrant at age five and having to learn English, she said it is education that has made her who she is. “Education is priceless. And in my own way, I just wanted to pay it forward.” Bake

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SPRINGFIELD – As a new COVID-19 treatment rolls out across the country, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to distribute these life-saving therapeutics equitably across the state. On February 11, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for a new monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab, for the treatment of COVID-19. Bebtelovimab will now join another monoclonal antibody treatment, sotrovimab , two oral antivirals, Paxlovid and molnupiravir , and a preventive drug, Evusheld , in the list of COVID-19 treatments available across Illinois. “This newest COVID-19 treatment authorized by the FDA will continue to move us forward as we co-exist with COVID-19,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “While vaccination and boosting are still the best protection against severe illness due to COVID-19, this new treatment, along with other previously authorized treatments, can help keep people out of th

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BELLEVILLE — Illinois American Water is urging customers to guard themselves against utility imposters and scams. The company has seen an increase in scams as it has resumed normal operations for non-emergency work, including performing in-home work. Pretending to be a trusted utility worker is a trick some criminals use to gain access to homes, obtain payments or steal personal information. Customers should keep in mind that Illinois American Water employees will not just stop by and request access to a home without an appointment. Elizabeth Matthews, vice president of operations for Illinois American Water said, “Our employees all carry employee badges, and our trucks are marked with our logo. If we need to enter a customer’s home, we do require an appointment to allow entry and won’t come to the property demanding access inside. It is extremely rare for an employee to show up at a customer’s home without an appointment.” Illinois American Water

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BETHALTO - The Civic Memorial girl's basketball team beat East St. Louis in overtime by a score of 64-58 back on Friday, Feb. 18. In that game, junior guard Olivia Durbin led the team with 31 points, doing so most likely with a broken nose. “I felt something was wrong with it and I just kind of popped it back,” Durbin said regarding the injury. It’s hard to say what happened, but after a play, she was slow to get up and punching the floor in either pain or rage, or both. Later on in the game, she was visibly in pain while shooting a pair of free throws. After the game, Durbin said all the pain was “100 percent worth it.” Not even an injury could stop her from exploding with 31 points and leading her team into a deep postseason run. She made four three-pointers on the night which also led her team. Olivia is one of the Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athletes of the Month for CM. She mentioned that it was a very important win for her senior teammates

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EDWARDSVILLE - Elle Evans, a senior forward for the Edwardsville High School girls basketball team, came up with a big game on Friday, scoring 22 points in helping the Tigers defeat Alton 60-54 in the IHSA Class 4A regional final at Lucco-Jackson Gym. Evans has been one of the leaders on the team this season, helping the Tigers go to 25-4 as Edwardsville gets ready for a Joliet Central sectional semifinal game against O'Fallon on Tuesday night as the road to the state tournament continues. For her hard work and contributions to the team, Evans has been named an iCAN Clinic female Athlete of the Month for EHS. Evans, who plays for head coach Caty Happe, felt very good not just about the win, but also that Edwardsville came back from an opening 10-0 deficit to defeat an up-and-coming Alton team. "This is a huge game for us," Evans said during a post-game interview. "This is just one stop on the road and coming back from a 10-0 deficit in the very beginning just shows the maturity of

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ALTON - After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club's 36th Annual Chili Chowdown is set for Monday, March 7 at Main Street United Methodist Church in Upper Alton. The popular fund-raising event features all-you-can eat chili, beverage, and dessert for just $9.00. Serving hours are 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. and again 4:30 p.m. through 7 p.m. Diners may eat-in or carry-out. The secret Rotary chili recipe is guarded by event chairman Dennis Wilson. He says the recipe originated with the late Don Johnson, proprietor of DJ's Bar and Grill in Upper Alton. Members of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club prepare and serve the chili. Over the years the Chili Chowdown has been held at a number of venues, but in recent years has settled into its home at Main Street United Methodist Church which affords ample parking, ease of egress, and plenty of room for diners. Tickets for the annual Chili Chowdown are available from any member of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club an

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach (OSEO) has won a 2022 International Award in Lifelong Learning for Best Brochure by the Learning Resources Network (LERN), the largest continuing education association in the world. The award was only one of 17 given at LERN’s annual conference this year, attended by 1,755 professionals in lifelong learning from the U.S. and Canada. “The award is for innovation in the field of continuing education and serving communities,” stated LERN President William A. Draves. “With more than 100 award nominations every year, gaining an International Award is an outstanding achievement. These awards enhance the quality and involvement in continuing education, an absolutely critical component to individual and community quality of life and prosperity, especially now.” OSEO used a LERN brochure critique to make a series of excellent revisions to its

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CARROLLTON - The Greene County Health Department announced on Tuesday that it will receive over $170,000 in additional funding for the budget year 2022. The additional funding will come from three separate competitive grant proposals that the department submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The department submitted these competitive proposals against other organizations and local health departments from around the state and country, Greene County Health Department Administrator Molly Peters said. "The department will utilize the funding to provide our community with additional services such as family planning and an STD clinic," Peters said. "The department will also work to increase immunization/vaccination awareness, and enhance the department's work with the ongoing opioid crisis. "The Greene County Health Department is committed to assuring access to resources with a focus on prevention,

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police Department was called to a traffic crash that involved a vehicle and pedestrian at the intersection of 20th Street and Iowa Street at 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Upon the arrival of officers and paramedics, the female victim was found to be unresponsive and she had sustained significant injuries. Granite City Police Department said Tuesday afternoon the female victim was transported to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The female victim has been identified as: Christine K. Clark 68 years of age Collinsville, IL. The Granite City Police Detective Division, as well as the Madison County Coroner’s Office, and the Metro East Crash Assistance Team are currently investigating this matter. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further information will be shared at this time. The Granite City Police Department said it wishes to send its condolences to the family of Ms. Clark for their loss in this tragic

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ALTON - Local Hit-and-Run owners Dwight and Teresa Fowler and staff are enjoying a special milestone this year, it is the 50th year for the company in business. Hit-N-Run has never been an ordinary area business. Over the 50 years, the organization has given countless times to charities, especially those that involve children. Law enforcement is also always a focus of Dwight and Teresa's generosity. Dwight and Teresa have followed through the Hit-N-Run charitable nature and expanded it. Last year, Dwight and Riverbender.com Owner John Hentrich teamed for a $25,000 Toy Giveaway and Open House at the Riverbender Community Center. “Seeing the kids’ eyes and smiles on their faces, that is our joy,” Dwight and Teresa both said about the $25,000 Toy Giveaway. This will mark the fifth year Dwight and Teresa have owned the Hit-N-Run locations around the region. The Hummdinger, yes with two ms, is the most popular drink at Hit-N-Runs, Dwight said. "When people move away

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ALTON - Alton High School senior Markus Jones has been an integral member of the AFJROTC chapter at the school over the past four years. Markus takes a lot of pride in wanting to reinforce a program that has given so much to him over the past four years at Alton High. Currently, he is the head of recruitment for the 70+ member chapter which had been in excess of 200 prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Markus is hopeful that this chapter can get back to those levels in the future. He added during a recent conversation that ROTC is looking for individuals with character and good common sense who have a willingness to understand that military discipline will be introduced to give a foundation for what it would be like for students who wish to pursue a career in the armed forces. For any prospective members, a typical week for AFJROTC members is lecture and in-class assignments from retired military members who are considered Alton High faculty on Mondays and Tuesdays, military order,

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EDWARDSVILLE - For 21 years, Ellen Bridgewater has been teaching the importance of staying active and improving students’ health in Edwardsville School District #7. She did not always want to be a teacher and didn’t originally follow that route even though both of her parents were physical education teachers and despite the fact that during her soccer career, her favorite jobs were the ones involving kids. “I actually started my degree in a dietitian program, but I ended up changing courses while in college. I kept gravitating towards the classes that interested me the most in the field of nutrition, but away from chemistry. And then I met some people who were physical education majors and decided that they were all the kind of people I enjoyed.” She began her career as a middle school teacher at Lincoln Middle School prior to the split and continued at Lincoln after the split. She also coached 7th-grade volleyball during her time at Lincoln. Bridgewater then

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ALTON - Vera Harper marked her 100th birthday on December 16, 2021, and she is a treasured member of the North Alton Baptist Church congregation. Vera has been a church member for 53 years, her pastor Rev. Sonny Renken said. "Vera is the sweetest lady," the pastor explained. "She is a grandma or mother to everyone. She has never had children and church members are considered her family. She is 100 and still has a driver's license." Vera still attends church at North Alton Baptist. She is also a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan who often communicates in loud fashion with the television when a game is on, Pastor Renken said. "She is a full-blooded St. Louis Cardinals fan," he said. "It is like she is at the game when she watches one on television." Vera said she has lived such a long life because of her belief and trust in God and feels she has been very blessed along her journey. "If she doesn't get to church, someone makes sure she gets a cup of coffee and doughnut," Renken said.

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ST. LOUIS - National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Melissa Byrd warned Tuesday morning of two waves of wintery precipitation Wednesday evening through overnight, then again by mid-day Thursday through the evening. Byrd said the commutes home on Wednesday and Thursday could be dangerous because of ice. The snowfall around the Metro East region should be light. Byrd says the winter precipitation should taper off by early Friday. This weekend, there should not be any precipitation. The NWS says total accumulations of snow and sleet are not likely to be heavy but will be enough to cause travel disruptions on area roads. Byrd said the biggest problem for the Metro East area will likely be freezing rain and there could be up to an inch by the time it goes through. “Motorists should drive carefully during the commutes both Wednesday and Thursday,” Byrd said. The weather forecast is predicted to be 29 degrees as a high today, 32 as a high Thursday, and 35 degrees

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ST. LOUIS – Watch Paddington, the famous, accident-prone bear, as he makes his St. Louis debut in Paddington Gets in a Jam Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 2 p.m. at Stifel Theatre. Tickets available via Ticketmaster Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, starting at 10 a.m. and range from $22-54. Paddington is making his favorite marmalade jam with the help of the Brown’s housekeeper Mrs. Bird, but they run out of sugar, so Paddington heads next door to borrow some from Mr. Curry. The usually grumpy Mr. Curry is even more short-tempered than ever as he prepares for a visit from his great aunt who is a stickler for tidiness. Paddington, feeling sorry for Mr. Curry, volunteers to help him with his chores. Unfortunately for Paddington his good intentions end up leading to chaos, as one by one each of his jobs starts to have an unexpected outcome! Will Paddington be able to fix everything before Mr. Curry and his great aunt arrive home? Stifel Theatre is a historic, 3100 seat theater in the hear

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