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GRANITE CITY - Granite City recently opened its own Overnight Warming Location , and Pastor Phillip Warren shared that the community has been “incredibly supportive” so far. The OWL is looking for volunteers to sustain its operations. Located at Mt. Zion Church at 2827 Mockingbird Lane in Granite City, the new OWL is the third of its kind in the Riverbend region, joining Alton and Edwardsville in offering a warm place for unhoused community members and people with insufficient heating to stay for the night. Since opening last Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, following a major snowstorm, the Granite City OWL has averaged 30 to 35 people a night. “There’s all these stories that are happening. But the big thing that we need to really push is we need volunteers,” Warren said. “If you have a lot of people doing little things, it becomes a big thing.” Like the OWLs in Alton and Edwardsville, the Granite City OWL opens when overnight temperatures

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department is set to host a Teddy Bear Toss Game and a special jersey auction at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the East Alton Ice Arena. This event aims to benefit two significant causes: children at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and the Alton Police Department K-9 Unit. Participants are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Club Ice Hockey team scores its first goal. All stuffed animals collected will be donated to children in need, providing comfort and joy. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on unique SIUE Club Ice Hockey jerseys during a silent auction. The auction will begin at the start of the game and conclude after the second period, with proceeds supporting the Alton Police Department K-9 Unit. The event is sponsored by Play It Again Sports in Edwardsville, and McAtee Dental in Collinsville. For those unable to

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ALTON - A painting of the Lucy Haskell Playhouse will hang in Alton City Hall after the community came together to restore it. When Third Ward Alderman Ray Strebel found the painting in storage, he contacted Chair of the Alton Historical Commission Douglas Bader. Strebel and Bader decided to raise money to restore the painting. Bader said the goal was to honor artist Ruth Means and commemorate the Haskell Playhouse’s 50th anniversary on the National Register of Historic Places. The community is invited to a ceremony to celebrate the restoration. “We looked at this as sort of a three-fold project,” Bader explained. “One, we were going to be able to restore the painting. It was also going to be a way to honor the painter Ruth Means, who was a prolific painter, well-known in Alton. And also, the subject matter was the Haskell Playhouse, which, of course, is a beloved building here in Alton.” Strebel, a mayoral candidate, worked with Bader to raise

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COLLINSVILLE - A Collinsville man with a criminal past faces several new charges after a domestic violence incident led authorities to search his home, finding drugs and firearms. Troy A. Fohne, 39, of Collinsville, was charged with the following: Unlawful possession of methamphetamine (Class 1 felony) Felon in possession of a weapon (Class 3 felony) Felon in possession of a weapon (Class 3 felony) Aggravated battery (Class 3 felony) Aggravated unlawful restraint (Class 3 felony) Domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor) A petition was filed to deny Fohne’s pretrial release, which describes the incident as follows: “Victim reported that her boyfriend, the defendant, became angry over a missing phone and pushed her to the ground, striking her with his hands and kicking her,” the petition states. “He then brandished a handgun and struck her in the head with it. “He refused to allow her to leave, threatening to harm her if she left. She

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EDWARDSVILLE — A 16-year-old male from East St. Louis has been detained on a charge of possession of a machine gun, according to an announcement made on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, by Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine. The charge stems from an incident that occurred on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Granite City, specifically in the vicinity of State Street and Market Street. The Delinquency Petition alleges that the juvenile possessed a handgun that had been modified to enable the automatic firing of multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger. The investigation into the incident was conducted by the Granite City Police Department. Haine emphasized that the charge is based on probable cause, and noted that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned outside witnesses during the second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing for Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s pick to be Attorney General of the United States. Durbin first questioned Mr. Emery Gainey, the former Sheriff of Alachua County and Ms. Bondi’s Chief of Staff when she served as Florida’s Attorney General, about whether she will support law enforcement if a day like January 6 happens again. “You are aware of what happened here on January 6 in the Capitol complex and the law enforcement personnel who were attacked by the mob. A number of them , hundreds of them have been prosecuted and some are serving sentences for violent felonies against our police. Was there anything like that in your background dealing with Ms. Bondi where she has been called on to make a decision on standing up for law enforcement

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(A statement from Alton Little Theater Executive Director About An Internal Investigation) ALTON — Alton Little Theater (ALT) is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all members of its community. Recently, the organization became aware of allegations of misconduct that occurred several years ago. From the onset of these allegations, ALT took immediate and decisive action to address these claims. As part of our commitment to due process and fairness, an employee in question has been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough and unbiased internal investigation. This step is a standard procedural measure and does not reflect any presumption of wrongdoing. The investigation, which will be conducted by an impartial team, aims to ensure that all claims are examined diligently and respectfully. Upon its conclusion, findings and recommendations will be reviewed by ALT’s Board of Directors for appropriate action.

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EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER HIGH SCHOOL 1st Semester 2024-25 HIGH HONOR ROLL SENIORS Cameryn Adams Tyler Adams Mianah Arnold Devon Barboza Samuel Baugh Matthew Bruce JR Chase Butler Adam Byrd Jayla Cartwright Claydon Cathorall Drake Champlin Drew Charles Amaya Chavis Gabriel Colvin Emma Cope Brayden Cunningham Chloe Dale Jerrod Daniels Josiah. Daniels Jaden Downs Jordan Ealey Brayden Elledge Nieja Elliott-Smith Emalee Evers Gavin Eyer Jack Gould Zoie Gray Eric Grimes Caleb Handler Adair Hicks Sierra Holbrook Blair Mayonna Jaggie Fletcher Jones Jayde Kassler Lillian Kay Sophia Knight Milla LeGette Quinten Mariconi Jackson Mason Ahrya McKelley Grace McLagan Tobias Michael Koen Miller Kelsey Moore Aida Morrow Maya. Mugge Michael Noeltner Kayley Plank Haley Pratt Lucas Ra

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EDWARDSVILLE/TROY - Ronald Simpson will represent District #2 on the Madison County Board. Simpson succeeds Stacey Pace, the former District #2 representative, who was recently appointed as the Community Development director. He will serve the remainder of her term until 2026, representing Troy. “We spoke to several individuals,” explained County Board Chairman Chris Slusser during the Board’s regular meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. “Mr. Simpson interviewed very well, came highly recommended, has a great career track, kind of like mine. It’s very winding, a lot of different things.” Prior to serving in the County Board seat, Simpson worked in education and then as a federal law enforcement agent. He was involved in many Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) investigations, and Slusser noted that Simpson has “a lot of interesting stories he could tell.” Simpson previously served on the Granite City City Council.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Mt. Joy Church invites the community to their 39th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. At 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, Mt. Joy Church will host a special program to honor the legacy of King. Located at 327 Olive Street in Edwardsville, the church invites congregation members and people from the wider Edwardsville community to join them for songs, reflection and a speech by keynote speaker Crystal Officer. “The history of African American people is reflected in our celebration of Martin Luther King Day and, also coming up, Black History Month,” said Paul Pitts, a deacon in the church. “People, especially our young people, will know our history, that it will not and shall not be forgotten.” To kick off the morning, attendees will sing “Lift Every Voice,” followed by a prayer and Officer’s speech. The event will end with a rendition of “We Shall Overcome.” These songs have been a part of

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ALTON — The Alton community will gather to honor the life and legacy of James E. Gray, a respected leader known for his commitment to education and advocacy, during a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. The event will take place at at The Bridge Church Fellowship Hall, located at 504 E. 12th St. in Alton. James Gray died at the age of 90 on Dec. 27, 2024. K.J. Gray, the organizer of the celebration, expressed the importance of the event in a recent communication. "Join us in honoring the life and legacy of James E. Gray, a beloved community leader whose dedication to education, advocacy, and service left a profound impact on Alton and beyond," Gray stated. The celebration will feature tributes, music, and opportunities for fellowship, providing attendees a chance to reflect on Gray’s contributions to the community. In lieu of flowers, the family requests support for the Alton Branch of the NAACP's C Average Student Scholarship Program, which aims

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ALTON — Alton High School basketball player Alex Macias is experiencing a transformative season under new head coach Dylan Dudley. The Redbirds are now enjoying a successful campaign, boasting a 15-3 overall mark to meet rival Edwardsville at Edwardsville on Friday night, Jan. 17, 2025. Alex is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for Alton for his efforts. "Honestly, it's been amazing how Head Coach Dylan Dudley changed the program around, and the boys have come together," Macias said. "It's great to win games." Coach Dudley praised Macias, calling him "the heart and soul of our team." He noted that Macias has started every game for the past three years and is a player who prioritizes winning above all else. "All that kid wants to do is win," Dudley said. "He doesn’t care if he plays the entire game or just 10 minutes. He just wants to win." Macias and his teammates are now riding a wave of momentum, with aspirations to continue their winning ways and aim for

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CHICAGO - The 2025 tax season is quickly approaching, and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) announced today it will begin accepting and processing 2025 tax returns on Monday, January 27, the same date the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) begins accepting federal income tax returns. Illinois will participate in the IRS Direct File program this year. Eligible taxpayers will be able to use the program to electronically complete their 2024 federal tax returns for free. Eligibility can be confirmed by visiting https://directfile.irs.gov . After filing a federal return using Direct File, the program will connect taxpayers to Illinois’ free state income tax filing system, MyTax Illinois , allowing them to file and complete their Illinois state returns. "Taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically as early as possible in the tax season and choose direct deposit in order to ensure the fastest processing and issuance of any refunds," IDOR Director David Harris said. "Eligible

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, filed a lawsuit today against Deere and Company (Deere), arguing the agricultural equipment manufacturer’s use of unfair practices has driven up equipment repair costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming equipment, including tractors. “With the price of farming equipment continuing to rise, farmers should have increased flexibility to repair and maintain their equipment and not be forced to utilize expensive authorized dealers,” Raoul said. “I will continue to advocate for increased marketplace competition and stand for the rights of Illinois consumers.” In their lawsuit, Raoul and the coalition allege that for decades, Deere’s unlawful practices have limited the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to repair Deere equipment, forcing

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MARYVILLE - A Granite City resident faces multiple felonies after allegedly burglarizing two Maryville homes and driving on a suspended license. Christian N. Calderon-Zarita, 25, of Granite City, was charged with two Class 1 felony counts of residential burglary and a Class A misdemeanor count of driving while license is suspended. Calderon-Zarita unlawfully entered two different residences on Forest Drive in Maryville on Dec. 31, 2024. He was additionally charged with driving a Chevrolet Equinox on the same street at a time when his license had been revoked or suspended. A petition was filed to deny Calderon-Zarita’s pretrial release, stating he “forced entry into two different residences, stealing purses and jewelry” after specifically targeting the Maryville community. “Defendant was located near the scene and found in possession of stolen property,” the petition adds. “Defendant was not found to have any connection to Maryville, Ill.,

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that Illinois is joining with 13 other states to defend health insurance access for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from court challenges. Raoul and the coalition filed a motion to intervene as the incoming federal administration is expected to halt federal efforts to legally defend a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) rule granting DACA recipients, commonly referred to as Dreamers, access to Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. “Every day, Dreamers make invaluable contributions to our schools, workplaces and communities,” Raoul said. “Granting them access to purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace would lead to better health outcomes for them and improved public health for everyone.” Established in 2012, DACA enables certain young people, who came to the United States as children

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GREENVILLE - The area students shown below were placed on the Dean's List at Greenville University for the fall 2024 semester. To qualify for the Greenville University Dean's List, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Freshmen (0-29.5 credits) must have a semester GPA of 3.5 or above. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors must have a semester GPA of 3.7 or above. (HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, CLASS YEAR) Alton, IL Aaron Andrews, senior Addison Miller, senior Chau Nguyen, junior Bethalto, IL Megan Belangee, senior Brighton, IL Olivia Baalman, junior Jillian Beilsmith, junior Carrollton, IL Hannah Henson, junior East Alton, IL Stephanie Kamp, senior Edwardsville, IL Gloria Bremer, sophomore Colton Hulme, freshman Kristen Krampf, freshman Granite City, IL Brennan Bronnbauer, senior Jerseyville, IL Josephine Lohr, sophomore Danielle Pace, senior

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ST. LOUIS - LOUIS, MO. – Join the American Red Cross and the St. Louis Blues at the annual St. Louis Blues Blood Drive, sponsored by FanDuel Sports Network and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield on Tuesday, January 21 at one of ten convenient locations in Missouri and Illinois, from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. except Enterprise Center, which is from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Louie and the Blue Crew will be briefly visiting several locations. “This wonderful partnership with the St. Louis Blues to organize this annual blood drive is truly inspiring,” said Barry Falke, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas. “With their support as well as that of the community and generous donors we truly can make a difference for those who depend on blood products.” Everyone who presents to donate will receive a specially designed Blues Blood Drive T-shirt, while supplies last and can enter a drawing to win one of ten pucks

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Marquette Catholic High School 2024 Fall Honor Rolls High Honor Roll Seniors: Ava Albert, Izabela Albers, Lily Berkenbile, Samantha Booth, Sophie Borman, Rose Brangenberg, Cassidy Eccles, Alyssa Coles, Alyssa Converse, Lily Covert, Payton Crane, Nola Effinger, Sophia Elliott, Marian Elmendorf, William Fahnestock, Addison Groshans, Caleb Harteis, Gracie Hlavaty, Radley Hoener, Nicholas Koeller, Paul Marturana, Karson Morrissey, Addison Pranger, Jackson Pruitt, Willa Pruitt, Brooke Rister, Chloe Roberts, Kel'C Robinson, Tyler Roth, Erin Schwartz, Grace Schwegel, Ania Sneed, Chloe Steele, Maya Stephan, Davin Thomas, Eleanor Tiemann, Claire Varble, Tyra Wells, Elliotte Williams, Andrew Zacha, Rodger Zawodniak. Juniors: Carson Bauer, Andrew Belden, Ashlynn Bennett, Cali Bequette, Adelaide Bryson, Elizabeth Callahan, Karly Davenport, Laila Davis, Isabel Downey, Sharon Dugas, Jessica Eales, Holly Forrester, Cameron Golike, Tyler Hawkins, John Hornsey, Sarah Hubert, Josephine Kuykendall,

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School cross country coach Jake Peal highlighted the significant improvement of runner Calista Webb over the past year, noting her dedication and hard work. Webb, a key contributor to the team culture alongside teammate Mya Walker, showcased her commitment to the sport by competing in the 10-miler at the River Road over Thanksgiving weekend. Calista is a Tom Lane Insurance Civic Memorial High School Female Athlete Of The Month. Webb recorded a personal best time of 25:50.1 at the IHSA 2A Cross Country Regional in Jacksonville, where the Civic Memorial girls team finished sixth overall. Throughout the season, Webb consistently improved her performance, starting with a time of 28:12.9 at the Granite City Robinson/Lang Cross Country Invitational and later achieving a time of 28:12.3 at the Mississippi Valley Conference Meet on Oct. 17. Coach Peal expressed optimism for Webb's future, stating, “I am looking forward to seeing her improve on the track

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