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Letter To The Editor: The community of Edwardsville values the arts. Can you imagine living in Edwardsville without the Edwardsville Symphony performing concerts in the park, or the three-day Arts Fair? I was shocked when I recently learned that our local university planned drastic cuts to its arts programs for the upcoming year. The Department of Arts and Sciences will end many tenure-track positions and only hire adjunct faculty to fill those positions in the future – a move that will enable leadership to avoid providing benefits or paying an adequate salary to highly-trained instructors. The Department also intends to reduice the number of graduate assistantships offered. These strategies may save the Department money in the short term, but will result in dire long-term consequences. SIUE will attract fewer highly-qualified students and faculty members to the school, diminishing the quality of the arts programs overall. This will be a tragedy for the Edwardsville community.

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ALTON - Vivian Monckton, who was recently elected to the Alton School District 11 board, continues her passion for community service. "I was first elected to the Board in '99, after serving as both President of ABOB and the Alton Athletic Association," she said. "Service to the Alton School District has always been a passion for me. I have been recognized twice by the Illinois State Board of Education for service to the community of Alton. "During my tenure on the board we have opened the new high school; greatly improved the facilities across the district; strengthened our curriculum; and enhanced staff benefits. The challenge of board service is never complete." Monckton said her goals moving forward with the school board include increased rigor for students, especially in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs. "The teacher shortage is an ongoing problem for everyone," she said. "We just gave our staff a very good contract, but we need to continue to work

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EDWARDSVILLE – Computer science is a growing career path that is fun, challenging and important. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering Department of Computer Science (CS) wants to ensure females are a part of the field’s surging growth and success by offering a one-day introduction to programming event. The department will host SheCode from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in the Engineering Building. The free event sparks interest and inspires more females to pursue computer science through an interactive programming project and mentorship from an SIUE CS alumna and professional in the technology field. “This event is designed to give young women a chance to try programming and learn about computing,” said Dennis Bouvier, PhD, professor in the CS department. “The event is designed for those who have no programming experience, but those with some experience are welcome to attend." For more information, including

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EDWARDSVILLE – Newly elected Edwardsville Alderwomen Elizabeth Grant and Andrea Miracle are both ecstatic over their recent victories in the April election and look forward to serving in the coming years. Grant has been a council member since she was appointed in 2021 and now will again serve another term. Grant is a representative for Ward 7 and Miracle for Ward 3. Miracle recorded 398 votes, while her opponent Clemmescia Jackson had 171 votes in their race. Grant won her race over candidate Shelly Keeven with 492 votes to her opponent’s 142 votes. Grant said she really appreciates everyone’s vote and how seriously Edwardsville takes local politics. “Local politics affect your life daily,” she said. “Campaigning was hard for me this time because I have had some personal loss, but I appreciate how the voters responded. I will try to do an excellent job.” Grant and Miracle said they both understand the growth of Edwardsville but want to mak

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater will be holding auditions for one of their upcoming musicals, Monty Python’s Spamalot , on April 22 at 10 a.m. and April 23 at 1 p.m. Executive Director Lee Cox appeared on the most recent Theater Thursday segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the auditions, Alton Little Theater's summer youth acting program, and more. “We’re really hoping to have a big turnout, and I think we will from the entire region,” Cox said of the auditions. “We love to get new talents from the whole region and this will be a fun show.” Spamalot will run from July 21-30 with eight or more performances, and Cox said the show requires at least 25 players including both men and women. She said those interested in auditioning should bring some recorded music to sing along to, unless they’re vocally well-trained enough to sing acapella - and she recommended not singing “Happy Birthday.” Alton Little

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department was alerted to a possible threat at Granite City High School on Wednesday and the GCPD took quick action and was on site almost immediately. "It has been determined that all students and staff at Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High are safe and the GCPD will be handling reunification with the district," Granite City Superintendent Stephanie Cann said. "Reunification will take place at Granite City High School. All pertinent information will be shared as soon as it's available. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is the priority at this time." This was also just released to GCSD9 families: Dismissal information for students at Granite City High School for Wednesday, April 12, 2023, is as follows. The procedures are as follows: Make a single line at Exit One (1) - Access will be at the entrance off of State St. only, and the exit will be off of Fehling Road. Remain in your car. A staff person will

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Treasurer’s Ag Invest Program has achieved a new milestone by loaning more than $1 billion to farmers and agriculture professionals across the state, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. The milestone represents the cumulative amount of Ag Invest loans since Frerichs became state treasurer in 2015. “Agriculture is a valued and crucial industry in Illinois,” Frerichs said. “I’m proud that my office can help provide affordable financing for farmers and agricultural professionals as they pursue their vital work and contribute to the well-being of our state.” Since 2015, the program has supported more than 5,000 agriculture borrowers and partnered with more than 35 financial institutions. Ag Invest is an agriculture-focused impact investment program providing loan opportunities for Illinois farmers and agri-businesses to start, expand or add value to their farm operations. Ag Invest offers affordable

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ALTON - The Alton Tractor Supply store is inviting young gardeners to its Plant-A-Seed event for a free opportunity to learn the basics of gardening with a hands-on activity. On Apr. 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., young customers can visit the store to plant a Perennial Butterfly Garden, while supplies last. A team member will be available to guide the children in the activity and explain the best ways to nurture and care for their future garden. Once complete, participants can take their seeds home to monitor their growth and watch them attract butterflies as they flourish. Team members will be available to answer future questions and provide advice to these young gardeners. In addition to the gardening activity, attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy games. "At Tractor Supply, our mission is to educate and inspire our younger customers through interactive learning experiences," said Alton store manager, Michael Webb. "We recognize the time and energy that

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College’s 18 th Annual Student Art Exhibition is underway, and awards were announced during the show’s opening, Thursday, April 6. Daniel McDonald took first place with his drawing, “Still Life with Bowling Pin.” “Lewis and Clark Community College has been a great learning opportunity for me,” McDaniel said. “I have never submitted my artwork in an exhibition before and was genuinely surprised to win. There are so many talented artists that submitted equally great work! I am just thankful to get to participate.” Other awards included: 2nd place - Laura Shansey – "Sunrise Crane", Digital photography 3rd place - Grace Becker – "Lamb Still Life", Drawing Honorable Mention - Ryan Kuhn – "Electric Eye", 3D Design Honorable Mention - Jeannette Carrington – "Solitude in the Desert", Photo composites Honorable Mention - Madison Baca – "Passion Fruit", Digital Illustration

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Village Board of Trustees held a brief meeting on April 11 and passed several items, including the purchase of a new lawn mower for the Parks and Recreation Department, the addition of a new retirement plan for village employees, and more. Mayor Bob Marcus began the meeting with a few announcements about village events. The first Mayor’s Announcement was that the Glen Carbon Police Association is holding a meat raffle on May 19. Tickets are limited and can be purchased for $20 each at the Glen Carbon Police Department. Mayor Marcus said one winner will receive a $400 value meat bundle from Bagley Farms Meat Market. Glen Carbon is also hosting a Tree Giveaway for village residents at the Public Works Department this Saturday, April 15. Free trees are available for pickup from 9 a.m. to noon, and Mayor Marcus said to call (618) 288-1200 with any questions. This Saturday is also the “Leaf and Limb” drop-off event at the Public Works

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ALTON – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a Madison County man with alleged dissemination of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s office charged Christopher L. Page, 36, of Alton, in Madison County Circuit Court with seven counts of dissemination of child pornography, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Page’s bond was set at $250,000. “Child pornography is a reprehensible crime. The individuals who disseminate these horrific images must be held accountable to ensure innocent children are protected from exploitation that can potentially leave life-long emotional scars,” Raoul said. “These charges highlight the vital efforts of my office’s

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced lane restrictions will be encountered on U.S. 67/Clark Bridge over the Mississippi River in Alton for emergency bridge deck patching. The patching will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. IDOT said all lanes will re-open by 3 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2023. IDOT District 8 Operations forces will make the needed improvements. " Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area," IDOT said in a statement. "To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.” For IDOT District 8 updates, follow them on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com

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ALTON – Alton Pride is excited to announce the winner of its first scholarship – Maddox Karnes of Edwardsville High School. The 2023 Alton Pride Scholarship packet was released on social media and sent to 12 regional school districts to be dispersed to their high school students in September 2022. Students applying needed to be a senior in high school, have a minimum GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, and a member of or an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community. Each applicant had to submit a 300-word essay describing how they contribute to the benefit of the LGBTQIA+ community and had to complete a minimum of 4 hours of volunteer work with Alton Pride or a non-profit community organization. Applications were due, post marked, by January 31, 2023. Each application was reviewed to ensure they met the requirements for the scholarship and then the essays were issued to a committee for anonymous review. The committee then chose the winning essay without knowing any other information about

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EDWARDSVILLE – A weekend house fire in which two people and three pets escaped without serious injuries is being hailed as evidence of the importance of adequate exits and window egress. A two-story home that had been converted into two apartments at 1318 Eberhart Avenue caught fire late afternoon on Saturday, April 8. The Edwardsville Fire Department was notified of the blaze just before 5 p.m., Fire Chief James Whiteford said. When firefighters arrived, a fire that is believed to have started on the back porch had made its way to the second floor. The occupants of both the first- and second-floor apartments were in the building at the time of the fire. The fire had blocked the stairway exit for the second-floor resident, who fled with her three dogs through a window and onto the roof, Whiteford said. Prior to the Fire Department’s arrival, a neighbor used a ladder to begin taking the dogs to safety; their owner refused to leave the roof until the dogs were safe. Firefighters

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ALTON - The law firm of MillerKing LLC is proud to announce that Bryan A. Dooling has been named a Partner. Along with Bryan A. Dooling, the firm’s attorneys are Stephanie A. King, Patrick G. King, William R. Miller, Anthony E. Dos Santos, and Andrea N. Schrader. Bryan represents clients in transactional matters, such as Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Small Business, Real Estate and Municipal, and litigation cases, such as business disputes, contracts, insurance claims, Trust Administration and Probate Administration. Bryan is a member of the Alton-Wood River Bar Association, Madison County Bar Association, and Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). Bryan was born and raised in the greater Alton-Godfrey area. He is a graduate of St. Ambrose Grade School and Marquette Catholic High School. Bryan attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he graduated with a Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. Bryan earned his law degree from Appalachian

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ALTON - Following community feedback, the Alton Committee of the Whole voted to include addressing homelessness and other issues as new priority spending projects for the city’s ARPA funds. The committee also approved several other items at the April 10 meeting, and the Alton City Council will take final action on those items at their meeting on Wednesday, April 12. Last December , a volunteer at the Overnight Warming Centers in Alton asked City Council members to consider allocating some of the city’s ARPA funds to address homelessness. Until last night, the city had not planned to allocate any ARPA funding toward addressing homelessness, but Alderman Nate Keener introduced a new resolution and said the city would begin meeting with community groups to determine ways ARPA funding can address this and other issues. “We got some feedback from groups in the public that they wanted to see a little bit more from our recommendations for ARPA spending around the areas

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EDWARDSVILLE – The theatre department at Metro-East Lutheran High School will carry on its tradition of presenting a musical each spring with its performances of “Fiddler on the Roof” this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “Fiddler” tells the story of Tevye, a milkman in a Russian village in the early 1900s, who struggles with maintaining his Jewish traditions while the world around him changes. Tevye will be portrayed by Harry Mueller, a junior at MELHS, and Kielee Schreiber, also a junior, will play Tevye’s wife Golde. Other members of the cast include Sofia Schwartzkopf as Tzeitel, Rebekah Lindsey as Hodel, Natalia Billings as Chava, Conner Gearns as Motel, Christian Greer as Perchik, Ethan Massa as Fyedka, Parker Gearns as Lazar Wolf, Katie Wright as Grandma Tzeitel, Gwendolyn Chapman as Fruma-Sarah, and Rhiannon Lazella as Yente the Matchmaker. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday,

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GRAFTON - The Grafton Easter Egg Hunt was well attended recently at Red Hawk Park. Children of every age and size gathered with their parents to hunt for brightly colored, candy-filled eggs. This family fun event, sponsored by the Grafton Children’s Committee, is chaired and organized by Chris Petri. Her “team” included Boy Scout Troop #59, who stuffed the plastic eggs with candy and ‘hid’ them in the grass at the park. Additional support was provided by Scoutmaster Ray Hasty, his wife, Melissa, and several volunteer parents. “The Scouts do an amazing job with this project every year. They were a big help with the event on Saturday, too,” said First Ward Alderwoman Donna Smith. The Children’s Committee is part of the Grafton Community Outreach Program chaired by Alderwoman Smith. Photos provided by Dave Sanford, City Photographer.

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has announced the appointment of a new Executive Director in Mary Cordes, who has been an employee of the district for 28 years. The Board of Trustees voted recently to appoint Cordes, who was prior to that, the Assistant Director of Circulation and Strategic Services for The Hayner Public Library District. Kevin Botterbush, President of the Board of Trustees said Mary brings "a wealth of experience to this position." “She started as a page when she was in high school, and continued to work for us throughout her college career and beyond," he said. "She knows this library inside and out. She’s been a valuable employee for nearly three decades, learning all aspects of librarianship and successfully managing employees and facilities during that time. She’s well-respected by the staff and patrons of the District, as well as her colleagues throughout the Illinois Heartland Library System. We have every confidence that she will

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County taxpayers will soon receive postcards with a notice of newly assessed property market values. “At this time of year, the Board of Review mails notices of changes in the multiplier, which results in changes in the assessed valuation,” Madison County Board of Review Chair Phil Taylor said. Every year, the Illinois Department of Revenue reviews sales data, and instructs counties to bring assessed values up-to-date, by using a multiplier. The county mailed more than 120,000 cards on Thursday. “This year, we expect more questions, because inflation in the general economy is also seen in home sales data, and this is causing an increase in multipliers,” Taylor said. He said the system of valuing property involves township and county offices, and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). Township assessors submit assessments, which are reviewed by county and state offices and the values are then compared with sales data and

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