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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus announced that planning has officially begun for this year’s Village of Glen Carbon Homecoming , which will take place later this summer. He made the announcement at the Glen Carbon Village Board meeting on Feb. 28, during which he also announced a few other events going on around the village. Mayor Marcus began the meeting by announcing that the village will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 10 and under on April 2 at Schon Park starting at 1 p.m. The event is free to the public, but registration is required. Visit the Glen Carbon Village Events webpage to register and to find out more. Mayor Marcus also announced planning has begun for the 2023 Glen Carbon Homecoming on Father’s Day weekend, which is June 16 and 17. He said vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available, and that more information and sponsorship forms can be found by visiting glencarbonil.gov . He said an additional “Leaf

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BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Department's School Resource Officer Jeff Shank was recently named the Civic Memorial High School Staff Member of the Month. "Thanks for all you do SRO Shank for our community's youth and keeping our schools safe," Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said. Chief Dixon said he believes Jeff is ideal for his role as the school resource officer. "I am excited about what he has done there since he was chosen for the position," the chief added. "This is something he has always wanted to do." Dixon said Jeff has strong religious convictions and is caring for the children. "The school kids and staff both relate to Jeff," he said. "He has established rapport with the youth early and that helps them see that police officers are not the bad guy. It also helps to identify problems before they happen." Jeff is a graduate of Southwestern High School and also graduated from the University of Mississippi. He is also on the board of the Bethalto Boys & Girls Club, Bethalto's

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Former President Jimmy Carter has been put on hospice care, drawing attention to the topic. Facing a serious health issue, or coping with the news that you only have months to live, takes an emotional toll not only on the patient, but also on their family and other loved ones. That’s where the team of professionals who work in hospice and palliative care can provide great comfort and assistance. “I appreciate that there is a month dedicated to hospice and palliative care," said Julie Brock, Palliative Care Nurse, OSF HealthCare. "First of all, it designates the importance of hospice and palliative care, but it also brings to light the education and the opportunities to be able to talk and educate people about what we do.” It’s important to note the difference between hospice and palliative care, which are not the same thing. Hospice is care for patients of all ages with a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live, and who have decided

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BUNKER HILL - Zion Lutheran Church is hosting its 27th annual Sausage Dinner on Sunday, March 5 from noon to 5 p.m., or while supplies last. They will also be hosting a series of Fresh Meat Sales from Friday, March 3 to Sunday, March 5. The sausage dinner will be drive-thru only at the church, located at 609 E. Warren St. in Bunker Hill. All meals include pork sausage links, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, applesauce, cranberries, and dessert, all for $15 per meal. “We give it all to you in a tray, and then you just come pick it up,” said Jane Baker, church trustee and member of the Sausage Committee. “You get every bit of it.” Baker added that the event has been a longstanding tradition in the community. Fresh Meat Sales will also be held at the shed next to the church on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as on Sunday, March 5 from noon to 6 p.m. Baker said a wide variety of meats will be

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EDWARDSVILLE - It has come to the attention of the County Clerk & Recorder’s Office that Veterans in Madison County who wish to record their DD214 with the Recorder’s Office are finding online services to assist them. These services may charge the veteran up to $100 or more for a service that is free of charge in the Madison County Recorder’s office. Usually, the online service will request your DD214 be mailed to them and charge you a fee. The service will in turn send this to our office to be recorded and stamped. However, if the online service sends us a copy of your DD214 we will not record and stamp your document. We must see the original or official stamped copy to record your document. To avoid paying unnecessary fees and possible denial to record your DD214 we recommend that you bring your official DD214 into the Recorder’s Office and we will be happy to record and stamp it for you at no cost to you.

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(Photos by Riverboats at the Gateway Arch) ST. LOUIS - The 2023 Riverboats at the Gateway Arch cruise season kicks off this Friday, March 3, 2023, and one of the three captains at the helm will be Kevin East. This year marks Captain East’s 31 st year as a riverboat captain. In February 1992, East was the first African American in the state of Missouri to obtain his license to navigate a vessel. East’s captain hat and jacket from his early days are now in the collections of the Missouri Historical Society. "I grew up in North St. Louis, and starting when I was 8 years old, my mother would take me down to the river to look at the boats and go on the Admiral," East said. "I got intrigued with the whole thing and started working down there in the summers when I was 18." East became a riverboat captain when he was only 23 years old. He recently saw his hat and jacket at the Missouri Historical Society and it brought back great memories of cruising, he said. "I

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ALTON - Alton firefighters confronted a serious vehicle fire Monday afternoon. Alton Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom House said the vehicle - a flatbed tow truck - apparently came across the Clark Bridge when the driver noticed smoke and pulled over near Taco Bell in Alton. House said the cab to the tow truck suffered extensive damage. Thankfully, the tow truck driver was able to get out of the vehicle and was not injured, House added. The Alton Fire Department had the vehicle fire put out quickly after they arrived.

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ST. LOUIS - CrimeStoppers is assisting the Illinois State Police and the U.S. Marshals Office in an attempt to find a 23-year-old suspect of murder - Nico Wiley of St. Louis. CrimeStoppers released the mugshot and graphic included in the story in the case. On February 7, 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Wiley with First Degree Murder in relation to the death of 37-year-old, Bryan Campbell, of St. Louis, MO. The incident occurred on February 4, 2023, outside a residence in the 600 block of N. 22nd Street in East St. Louis, IL. ISP says do not approach Wiley, as he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with knowledge of the incident or his whereabouts is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866-371-8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org/ . CrimeStoppers callers can always remain anonymous.

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ALTON - Blades of Beauty is a new permanent makeup studio and clothing boutique opening in the Milton Schoolhouse in Alton this weekend. Their Grand Opening event is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and will feature a piercer, giveaways, and more. The business is located in the Milton Schoolhouse at 1320 Milton Road in room N103, which is through the building’s Maeva’s entrance, down the stairs, and down the hall to the right. A video of how to get to the shop can be seen at the top of this story, courtesy of 618 Drone Service . Kari Rodney, owner and founder of Blades of Beauty, said the grand opening will feature dessert, “lots of giveaways,” and in-house piercings by Candis Ruyle. She said one of her favorite parts of this business is seeing the confidence her clients gain. “I love to help boost women’s confidence,” she said. “It’s really nice to see my clients happy once they get the procedure done.”

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Fuel for the Future March is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign designed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This month-long effort puts nutrition front and center, and has been celebrated since 1973. This year’s awareness campaign encourages consumers to “Fuel for the Future.” During the month of March, keep in mind that good nutrition does not have to be restrictive or overwhelming. Small goals and changes can have a cumulative healthful effect, and every little bit is a step in the right direction. Eat with the environment in mind . Buying foods in-season and shopping locally when possible benefit the planet and may also help keep food costs down. Although no pre-determined distance officially defines “local,” a set number of miles from a center point is often used. Because dairy is perishable, processing plants are usually located near dairy farms; meaning most milk in Illinois and Missouri is produced, processed and sold locally.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Meredith Brueckner, a sophomore forward-guard for the Civic Memorial High girls' basketball team had a strong year for the Eagles. She suffered a knee injury late in the season but hopefully will recover in a quick fashion and return for 2023-2024. CM head girls coach Mike Arbuthnot said Meredith's contributions were significant during the regular season for the Eagles. Meredith was a leader throughout the 2022-2023 campaign on the defensive side and rebounded well under the basket. Brueckner had a solid outing against Edwardsville late in the season that was close until the very end. The Eagles jumped out to a commanding lead in the first part of the game, but the Tigers did roar back. She was strong on the offensive and defensive sides against the Tigers. "We definitely played hard," Brueckner said of that particular game, "and it was definitely there. At times, we fell through and we just couldn't get out of that lump at the end." Meredith is the Tom Lane State

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EDWARDSVILLE - First Mid Bancshares, Inc., the holding company of First Mid Bank & Trust, is pleased to present the 2022 Chairman’s Award for Excellence to two employees in the Edwardsville area. In the past year, these employees have consistently demonstrated First Mid’s core values in their everyday work while making exceptional contributions to the company. Their commitment to their customers and colleagues has rightfully earned each of them the company’s highest honor. Carol Brown is a Senior Loan Administrator, located at the Edwardsville Goshen banking center. She has been with First Mid for almost 10 years, demonstrating her commitment through the consistent exceptional service she provides to everyone she comes in contact with. Brown is known to accept any task that is thrown at her. She is the first one to work extra hours and coach new team members all while keeping her lenders organized and on schedule. When it comes to Commitment to Community, she ca

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DES MOINES, Iowa - The following local students have been named to the Deans' and President's Lists at Drake University. To be eligible for the Dean's List, students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the Fall 2022 semester at Drake. To be eligible for the President's List, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the Fall 2022 semester at Drake. Edwardsville, IL Brynn Miracle, President's List Jerseyville, IL Grant Morgan, Dean's List About Drake University Drake University is a midsize, private university in Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling nearly 3,000 undergraduate and more than 1,800 graduate students. Students choose from over 70 majors, minors, and concentrations and 20 graduate degrees offered through six colleges and schools. Drake students, faculty, and staff take advantage of the wealth of cultural, recreational, and business opportunities found in Iowa's capital city. In return, Drake enriches the city through its own cultural offerings,

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will welcome the Always Late TV Movie Awards to the Hatheway Cultural Center this Sunday, March 5. The Always Late TV Movie Awards, founded and directed by L&C alumnus Kevin Edwards, recognizes excellence in independent film across all genres. “As a filmmaker, I’ve submitted to many festivals and award shows and wanted to give other creators the kind of opportunity that I’ve been looking for,” Edwards said. “I wanted to create a fun, vibrant, alternative to other festivals and award shows that appeal to both filmmakers and movie buffs.” Actor and comedian John Lehr and St. Louis comedian Mary Jayne will host the event, which features awards in 20 categories. Presenters will include L&C professors Jen Cline and Peter Hussey, along with other talents, including Emilee Mosbacher, Ashley Pryor, Bella Torregrossa, Caterina Clayton, Shaun Scott, Mike Ratcliff, Charles Pruitt, Ben Vogt, Sabrina Dawnn,

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MADISON, Ill. - Six-time Olympic medalist and philanthropist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will be the Grand Marshal of the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter NASCAR Cup Series Race at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) on June 4, 2023. Kersee will be giving NASCAR’s top drivers the command to start their engines before the 2:30 p.m. (CT) race. The sports legend will also be hosting the first-ever JJK 5K race and walk with participants running on the 1.25-mile oval track. The JJK 5K will take place on Saturday, June 3, following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota 200 and will be followed by a concert on the infield stage. Kersee will present the event medals. Registration information here with all proceeds from the run benefitting the JJK Foundation. “I am excited to be a part of the NASCAR Cup Series weekend as it brings so much attention to my hometown and the work we do here,” said Jackie Joyner-Kersee. “I like things that go fast! Combining

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CARLINVILLE - The Macoupin County State's Attorney and Sheriff's Office announced today that a Bethalto man - Jacob T. Kimbro, Sr. - has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of possession of a stolen firearm, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. The Macoupin County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a report that a male subject had been shot and a female possibly killed in Shipman at around 1:28 p.m. this past Saturday. A deceased woman was identified at the address in the 500 block of Young Lane in Shipman as Theresa Kimbro. Also, a dog was found deceased and Kimbro was also wanted in the attempted murder of another man, John D. Sullivan, the sheriff's office said. Madison County Sheriff's Office also joined the investigation when it was reported there was "a suicidal man with a handgun," at a location in Cottage Hills, the sheriff's office said. After an intense standoff,

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EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - Madison County’s Cross-River Crime Task Force recently completed another saturation deployment resulting in dozens of traffic stops and multiple arrests on various charges or on outstanding warrants. Results of the deployment conducted on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Wood River and East Alton area included more than two dozen traffic stops, multiple arrests on outstanding warrants, assisting East Alton Police in apprehending a motorist fleeing a hit-and-run crash, methamphetamine-possession charges against three individuals, and one vehicle pursuit over Clark Bridge (pursuit terminated for safety reasons). The Cross-River Crime Task Force, comprised of officers from police agencies across the county, uses real-time data from Automated License Plate Readers in conjunction with saturation patrols to stem the flow of crime into Madison County from across the Mississippi River. Major Nick Novacich, who serves as commander of the task force, thanked

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JERSEYVILLE/DELHI - Steve’s Old Cabin BBQ recently marked its 4-month anniversary, and the restaurant has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback so far. Steve Helfer, co-founder and co-owner along with his wife Laurie, described it as a family-owned and family-oriented barbecue restaurant without any gimmicks or distractions - just high-quality food. “We don’t have a lot of TV, a lot of media going on in the building to distract people,” Steve said. “It used to be a bar - we don’t serve alcohol, so it’s very family-oriented. We don’t have the slot machines that everybody has, so people feel comfortable bringing their families, even their kids. “The environment, I think, is a big thing - people get to come and sit down with their friends and family and actually interact with each other and have a nice meal, and just enjoy each other’s company rather than have a lot of the distractions you have a lot of other places.”

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GLEN CARBON - MERS Missouri Goodwill reopened its Glen Carbon location after months of renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. The reopening festivities will continue throughout the weekend and feature a visit from Fredbird of the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, Feb. 26, who will be around to visit and take pictures from 10 to 10:30 a.m. that day. The store is located at 210 Junction Drive in Glen Carbon and has been renovated for maximum efficiency to accommodate the rapid growth of the Glen Carbon area, including a substantial increase in Goodwill donations. The Glen Carbon location went from 12,500 square feet of retail space and 3,000 of backend space to 10,000 square feet of retail space and 4,850 square feet of backend space. New lighting and other finishing touches have also been added. Even more renovations are planned for the store’s future, including improvements to the exterior which will be made later this spring. An entirely

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police today requested the public’s assistance in locating 23-year-old, Nico Wiley of St. Louis, MO. ISP said on February 7, 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Wiley with first-degree murder in relation to the death of 37-year-old, Bryan Campbell, of St. Louis, MO. The incident occurred on February 4, 2023, outside a residence in the 600 block of N. 22 nd Street in East St. Louis. ISP also said the following: "Do not approach Wiley, as he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with knowledge of the incident or his whereabouts is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866-371-8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org/ . Witnesses can remain anonymous." The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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