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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Oh, to be a kid in the late 80s again. If I could, I would go back to that young boy who begged and pleaded to his dad to rent a certain movie on VHS. The movie was The Monster Squad , a horror/comedy that sadly disappeared in the theaters. Audiences corrected their mistake once it went to home video and cable when they realized what they missed. More silly fun than terrifying The Monster Squad was written by Shane Black of Iron Man 3 and 2018’s The Predator fame and Fred Dekker, ( Night of the Creeps ) and also The Predator . 1987 was Black’s year, the man hit a triple with successes. Not only did he co-star in the mega-hit original P redator , but he also wrote the franchise creating Lethal Weapon as well as co-write this; not too shabby. The Monster Squad is an ode to the universal monster mash-up with some rude and crude kids and juvenile humor sprinkled in. Trying to ride on the coattails of previous hits like Ghostbusters and The

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GODFREY - The Rev. Charles K. Burton Jr., JD, pastor of United Fellowship Church of Godfrey and members will host its first annual "Fall Forward Revival." Services will begin at 6:30 p.m. each evening at the church located at 1301 W. Delmar, on Oct. 24, 25, and 26. Former area resident and a former pastor of Unity, the Rev. Nelson J. Pierce Jr. will conduct the evening services. The Rev. Pierce is now the senior pastor of Beloved Community Church in Cincinnati. He also helps to get progressive, social-justice-minded candidates elected to offices across the U.S. as the Grassroots Power Builder for Democracy for America. Rev. Pierce was an instrumental figure in organizing the faith community's response in the Ferguson, MO., fight for justice after the killing of Michael Brown.

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BELLEVILLE - On the heels of the recent opening of the “Transit Stop Transformation Project" at the Belleville Transit Center and the unveiling of the one at the North Hanley Transit Center set for mid-October – Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), AARP in St. Louis, St. Clair County Transit District and Metro Transit today announced that the 5 th & Missouri Transit Center in East St. Louis will be the location for its next transformation. St. Clair County Transit District’s Board of Trustees has approved $70,000 for the project. In the coming months, CMT and AARP in St. Louis will be working to establish both public and private community partners. Transit riders, area residents, elected officials and stakeholders will then have the opportunity to provide insight on what they would like to see at the site via design workshops, surveys and community events as partners work to transform the concrete area between bus bays and the MetroLink entrance into an interactive,

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis-based law firm Lewis Rice has announced six new associates: Patrick F. Ganninger, Allison E. Knopp, Ryan J. Krutz, Andrew J. Meyer, Skylar S. Petitt and Jacquelyn H. Sicilia. Patrick F. Ganninger practices in the Estate Planning & Probate Department of the firm. He develops and implements tax and estate plans for individuals and families and advises clients on wills, trusts, administration of trusts and estates, preparation of gift and estate tax returns, antenuptial agreements, and asset protection. He graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 2022. Allison E. Knopp is practicing in the Litigation Department. She represents individuals and companies in a broad range of disputes, including complex commercial and civil litigation. She graduated South Texas College of Law Houston in 2022. Ryan J. Krutz practices general business and transactional law in the Corporate Department. Ryan helps clients navigate various corporate matters including mergers

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Downtown Springfield, Illinois, is a treasure trove of historic buildings, and more than a few are said to be haunted. For this year's October issue, here are a half-dozen among some of the most well-known sites that are said to have unearthly happenings. If and when you visit these sites, plan to enjoy a great meal or a drink, a luxurious overnight, a historic tour, or a popular theater production! (Please observe open hours, fees, and visitor rules!) The Inn at 835 (former Bell Miller Apartments) at 835 S. 2nd Street Bell Miller, an enterprising young businesswoman, became a well-known Springfield florist for several decades beginning in the 1890s. She hired architect George Helmle to design a three-story, yellow-brick building as luxury apartments, which enabled her to have her own apartment in an age when a lady usually did not have her own residence. The beautiful building was constructed in 1909 at 835 S. Second Street in an area once known as “Aristocracy

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ST. LOUIS, MO. — Just as most cars need to be refueled constantly, so does the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross has faced a concerning drop in blood and platelet donations this summer. Donors are needed to make an appointment to give in August to help prevent a blood shortage. The decline in donations has caused the Red Cross blood supply to shrink nearly 20% in recent weeks. The availability of blood products will continue to decline if donations do not increase. People should not wait until they hear there is a blood shortage to give. Type O negative blood donors and platelet donors are especially needed now. “This is a concerning trend that may soon make it tougher to keep blood products stocked on hospital shelves,” said Paul Sullivan, Red Cross senior vice president of donor services. “By choosing a time to give now, donors can help pump up the blood supply for those in immediate need of lifesaving care and those who rely on transfusions

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BETHALTO - The Village of Bethalto is continuing its participation in a municipal electricity aggregation program in an effort to save residents money on electricity costs, and has chosen a new electricity provider - Constellation NewEnergy. Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act allows local governments participating in a municipal electricity aggregation program to negotiate the price of electricity for residents and local businesses. Bethalto’s participation in the program has led to savings for households and business owners, according to a press release from the village. “Our primary goal is always to protect our residents from rising electrical supply rates,” the release states. “Since June 2019, Bethalto residents and small businesses have been receiving fixed rates of 4.29¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh) versus the Ameren IL market rate currently at 12.236¢ per kWh. “This equates to an average household savings of over $50 per

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BROOKLYN - The Illinois State Police said Friday evening that at 3:31 a.m. on October 14, 2022, the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 6 was requested to investigate a reported shooting at a business in the 200 block of Madison Street in Brooklyn. ISP said during an altercation in the parking lot with multiple subjects, a 24-year-old male was struck by gunfire and transported to a regional hospital in a personal vehicle with serious injuries. The investigation is still open and ongoing. No further information is available at this time. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crime stoppers by phone at 314-725-8477 (TIPS). Witnesses can remain anonymous.

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ALTON - When looking around Alton for stories of inspiration, one is successful entrepreneur Jerheart Huntley, owner of Prosper Credit Consultants, and other businesses. Jerheart is an Alton High School graduate and also graduated from Rock Valley Junior College and McKendree University. Jerheart made a decision in high school that he wanted to play college football, obtain a college degree and become a successful business person. Al Womack, now the Alton Boys & Girls Club director, said Jerheart overcame a lot to accomplish what he has to this point as a college grad and business owner. Jerheart's fiancé's name is Jami Goodman, his daughter is Amira, and his son is Jerheart Jr. “When the odds were stacked against him, he was determined to go to college and played football and studied at Rock Valley Junior College. Then he played football at McKendree University and graduated with a business degree. He is very successful with his credit repair business and is a family

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas A. Haine announced Friday that a driver who crashed his pickup into a Granite City home, killing an occupant of the house, has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Jonathan M. Beasley, 48, of Granite City received the sentence in connection with a crash that claimed the life of Virginia Ohren, 74. On July 5, 2021, Beasley crashed his pickup into Ohren’s home on Joy Avenue in Granite City. Her body was pinned by the truck. Beasley’s blood-alcohol level was 0.255 percent. In Illinois, a driver is considered intoxicated at 0.08 percent. “This tragedy was totally preventable,” Haine said. “Virginia Ohren meant so much to her family and to her community. We hope that the resolution of this case provides some closure for her loved ones.” Ohren, who worked at the steel mill in Granite City for 32 years, was recalled as a generous member of her church who taught Bible classes for children, helped

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EDWARDSVILLE - Area residents can soon expect something new and unique, fresh from the islands - Hawaiian Brothers Grill - at 2386 Troy Road, Edwardsville. Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy said Hawaiian Brothers is expected to open by the end of October. A visit to the new restaurant showed much of the work finished on the building. The old Pizza Hut in Edwardsville used to be located in this location, Risavy said. “It is going to be a nice, new place,” Mayor Risavy explained. “I am excited to taste it and the food looks amazing. It will be a nice place to eat lunch or dinner. It will be a little different than anything else we have and it is supposed to be a taste of Hawaii, which will be something we don’t have in the community right now.” Mayor Risavy said he knows the new restaurant will be busy and it will also do catering in addition to the services at the Troy Road location. He said the business has locations in several states and he is thankful

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ALTON - It’s been an eventful year for Jayla Fox-Wallace, a former Alton High School scholar-athlete who became a member of Team Fredbird this season and was recently named an assistant coach for the Alton Middle School’s girls’ basketball team. Jayla graduated from AHS in 2019, playing basketball all four years of high school and receiving a scholar-athlete award. She also played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years and was the editor-in-chief of the AHS newspaper, The Redbird Word, in addition to being in Student Council, Spanish Club, Honors Society, and much more. After playing basketball on a full-ride scholarship and earning her Associate’s degree from SWIC at Belleville, Jayla learned about a new job opportunity to join Team Fredbird with the St. Louis Cardinals from her grandpa, an usher at Busch Stadium. She applied in early March of this year and got the job later that same month. Team Fredbird entertains fans at Busch Stadium an

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ALTON - Reese Plont, a senior outside hitter for the Alton High School girls' volleyball team, has provided much leadership and encouragement to her teammates this season, in which the Redbirds are currently 11-13-1 after Alton's loss to the Tigers 25-17, 25-10 in a Southwestern Conference match played Oct. 11 at Lucco-Jackson Gym. Plont has been one of the team's statistical leaders this season, serving up 82 points and 20 aces, also having 134 kills with 19 blocks, 21 assists and 229 digs as the season goes into the final two weeks before the IHSA Class 4A playoffs start later this month. For her efforts both on and off the court, Plont has been selected as the school's Riverbender.com Auto Butler female Athlete of the Month for October, 2022. Plont, who plays for head coach Dan Carter, felt that her team did have some good moments and worked well together as a team, but were missing some key parts due to injury and with another player on a college visit. I think we worked well

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EDWARDSVILLE - The famed Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make its way back to Illinois from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, at the Leclaire Parkfest in Edwardsville. The Wienermobile was at the Edwardsville and Godfrey Schnucks stores this week and at each location attracted a large crowd. A fleet of motor vehicles shaped like a hot dog on a bun, called "Wienermobile," is used to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products in the United States. The first Wienermobile was created by Oscar Mayer's nephew, Carl G. Mayer, in 1936. Donations were being accepted for the United Way however it is completely free to go and get a picture with the Wienermobile.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The new Metro East Mega Storage at 5222 Chain of Rocks Road, Edwardsville, has opened a new business that will cater to large vehicles and larger items in general with covered parking. A ribbon cutting was held by the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce at the Metro East Mega Storage facility this week. Kim Bridges, one of the owners, said her company has been in the mini-storage business for 23 years. “We will also have covered parking and units up to 14 x 50 for larger storage needs,” she said at the ribbon cutting. “We are very excited to offer this type of facility for the region. We have had strong support from Glen Carbon and Edwardsville.” The new business offers climate control, an onsite manager, a security camera, drive-up access, parking, a gate and RV parking. For more information, call (618) 205-8335 or visit metroeastministorage.com .

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Name: John W. Kirkman Jr. Hometown: Mt. Carmel Years of Service: 1941-1945 KIA: No Branch: Army and Airforce Rank: Sergeant Wars: World War II Message: Aircraft repair and maintenance Submitter's Name: Nancy Elson

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Name: Danielle Stacy Hometown: Bethalto Years of Service: 2006-2011 KIA: No Branch: US Marines Rank: Sergeant Wars: Afganistan Conflict Message: Thank you for your service Submitter's Name: Selena Eads

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Name: Jon Chester Hometown: Godfrey Years of Service: 2001-2006 KIA: No Branch: US Marines Rank: Staff Sergeant Wars: Iraq Conclift Message: Thank you for your service Submitter's Name: Selena Eads

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URBANA, IL. — For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Illinois Foundation reports new business topping $400 million. That figure and other Fiscal Year 2022 data from the Foundation and the University of Illinois System were announced today at the 87th Annual Business Meeting of the University of Illinois Foundation, an event that shares and celebrates the impact of private support for the U of I System. The Foundation posted $371.5 million for cash* gifts and $467.7 million for new business** in FY22—the fifth year running new business exceeded $400 million. This year’s new business figure is the second highest in history, second only to 2018 which recorded $498.5 million. Alumni and friends contributed $257.5 million of the new business total, illustrating their continued commitment and unwavering support for the University of Illinois. The largest percentage of cash gifts reported in FY22—74 percent or $275 million—was designated

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CHICAGO - Illinois Lottery players have two chances to become a mega-millionaire this weekend as the multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball, approach a combined jackpot of $1 billion. The Mega Millions jackpot for tonight’s drawing now stands at $494 million- the second-largest jackpot of 2022, while the Powerball jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing is an estimated $454 million - the game’s largest since April 2022. Just two months ago, a $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot, which marked the third largest lottery prize in U.S. history, was won with a single ticket purchased at the Speedway gas station in Des Plaines. In addition to the historic billion-dollar jackpot, four other Illinois residents have won prizes of $1 million or more with Mega Millions and five players have won prizes of $1 million or more with Powerball so far this year. In total, Mega Millions and Powerball players have purchased over 4.5 million winning tickets and won nearly

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