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SPRINGFIELD - The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), an organization that advocates for small businesses across the nation, has announced that Illinois State Senators Jason Plummer and Erica Harriss have earned a perfect 100% on the 2023-2024 legislative scorecard. “It’s an honor to be recognized again for my support of our small business community,” said State Senator Plummer (R-Edwardsville). “If we want to grow our economy and create new good-paying jobs, we have to put forward pro-growth policies that help our businesses succeed.” Rankings are based on legislator voting records on eight individual bills from the 103rd General Assembly (2023-2024) that affect small businesses in the state. Click here to read a summary of the bills included in the rankings. “From one small business owner to another, I will always be an advocate and strong supporter for small business communities,” said Senator Harriss (R-Glen Carbon).

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Judge Veronica Armouti of Illinois has become the first judge from the state to earn a Certificate in Judicial Executive Leadership from Harvard University Law School’s Executive Education Program. The achievement was marked during an intensive session held July 21-24, 2024, at Harvard Law School. The National Judicial College, in collaboration with Harvard Law School's Executive Education Program, aims to equip judicial leaders with the foresight, ethical grounding, and innovative leadership skills necessary to navigate today’s rapidly changing world. The program emphasizes design thinking, change management, and crisis resolution, preparing judges to lead adaptive, resilient, and responsive judiciaries. Judge Armouti participated in courses on Advanced Leadership and Management Principles, Effective Communication, and Personal Development, all tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities within the judiciary. The program is designed

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BELLEVILLE - Illinois American Water is accepting applications for its 2024 Firefighter Grant Program. Through this program, the company provides financial assistance to fire and emergency organizations throughout its service areas. According to Rebecca Losli, president of Illinois American Water, the Firefighter Grant Program provides another opportunity to support public safety. “Our team of experienced professionals treat the water and test every fire hydrant annually to support local safety and fire protection. The Firefighter Grant program is one more way we strengthen our partnerships with local heroes and support the communities in which we live and serve.” Since 2010, Illinois American Water has awarded over $940,000 to over 945 Illinois volunteer fire departments and emergency response units. Fire departments and districts are eligible for one grant per year. Uniformed professional and volunteer fire departments serving communities throughout Illinois American

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Police (ISP) has earned Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Law Enforcement Accreditation for the 11th time. “Integrity, Service, and Pride are at the core of ISP. They’re not just words, they’re an attitude, a lifestyle, the foundation upon which our officers build everyday as they serve their communities,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This accreditation affirms our continued commitment to excellence and we will use all available resources, including technology and training, to better our people and serve and protect the citizens of Illinois.” CALEA is often referred to as the “Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies.” In 1986, ISP became the first state law enforcement agency to be accredited. There are 40 CALEA accredited law enforcement agencies in Illinois. To become accredited , law enforcement agencies must complete a comprehensive two-to-three-year self-assessment,

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $5 million in tourism funding through two grant programs, the Route 66 Grant Program ($4 million) and International Tourism Grant Program ($1 million). Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. “Here in Illinois, our tourism industry is thriving and we’re not letting up,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With $5 million in funding through our Route 66 and International Grant programs, we’re showcasing our state’s rich history all while creating jobs and driving economic growth. I encourage all eligible entities to apply and continue making Illinois a top destination for visitors from around the world.” “These grant programs are vital to supporting the dedicated organizations that showcase Illinois' exceptional character,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “By

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GLEN CARBON - The region will likely never see a caliber distance runner like Elena Rybak, the senior Father McGivney phenom, come ever again. Rybak has won three state championships in the 1,600-meter run and appears poised for a fourth in the spring of 2025. Father McGivney Catholic High School's cross country team is set to reach its typical heights in 2024, with head coach Jim Helton expressing high expectations for standout athlete Rybak. Coach Helton praised Rybak's performance and work ethic, highlighting her as one of the most talented athletes he has ever coached. Rybak runs with grace and style and is as hard a worker as any athlete in the McGivney School. She also is a starter on the Father McGivney girls' soccer team. "We always knew she was a tremendous talent," Helton said. "Putting it together her junior year for a team state championship was nice and refreshing. She worked so hard and is a great teammate." When Rybak isn't running in track and field or at cross-country

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JERSEYVILLE - A man charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old was granted pretrial release despite a petition to keep him detained after a series of criminal cases against him were dismissed. Kyle C. Kniffen, 28, of Jerseyville, was charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse, a Class 4 felony. Kniffen allegedly committed an act of sexual abuse against a minor who was 14 years old while Kniffen was 26 at the time of the incident on July 13, 2022. Kniffen has an extensive criminal history, including a series of cases against him spanning several years which were previously dismissed, according to a petition to deny his pretrial release. The petition states that Kniffen was previously charged with aggravated battery of a child in 2015 before the case was dismissed with leave to reinstate. An assault case against Kniffen from 2018 was reportedly dismissed at the request of the victim. A previous case of criminal sexual abuse and grooming from 2022 was also dismissed after

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GODFREY - Nancy Orrill is the latest Good Neighbor Award recipient in the Village of Godfrey following Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting. Orrill was recognized among other accomplishments for her 300 hours of volunteer service and her work through the Master Gardener program. Trustee Sarah Woodman said Orrill has been gardening since she was 8 years old and became a Master Gardener after completing a 10-week training program through the University of Illinois Extension. “After working for 31 years, Nancy retired in 2010 and pursued her passion of gardening,” Woodman said. “By 2011, she was the project leader for the Village Garden - that’s the garden behind the Village Hall.” Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick commended Orrill on all her efforts and said she was a model citizen and a great example for others in her village. Orrill was previously awarded the Outstanding Master Gardener Award in 2018, and she and her team earned the

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TROY — Three local students have been selected to sing in Europe through The Illinois Ambassadors of Music program and are seeking the community’s assistance with the funds needed to make the trip in 2025. Riley Hansen of Troy, Lyndsy Janning of Troy, and Becky Dumar of Marine have been chosen for this prestigious opportunity and are currently fundraising on GoFundMe to cover the costs. Their goal is to raise $30,000, or $10,000 per student, to fund the trip. Hansen, who will be a senior at Triad High School in August, began her singing career in children’s choir and continued through elementary and high school. Janning, another rising senior at Triad, will be a Triad chamber choir and concert choir member this fall, along with some solo opportunities. Dumar recently graduated from high school and will attend McKendree University and plans to major in music. She has a decade of piano playing experience and has been a church singer since an early age. The students

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ALTON - Tony and Amanda Hawkins, high school sweethearts from Alton, are on a new chapter in their lives as they move to Sawyerville. The couple, who met on Nov. 25, 2005, and married on May 17, 2008, closed on their first house on July 24, 2024. "We are high school sweethearts! We met my senior year and Tony's in Alton our junior year of high school," Amanda Hawkins said. "He proposed on March 3, 2007, while we were both still in high school, and of course, I said YES!" Their relationship has been marked by significant milestones and cherished moments. Amanda said despite being told they would not be able to have children, Amanda became pregnant in January 2009. Today, the couple has two daughters, Ashlyn, 14, and Alexys, 8, along with three cats, Emmy, Luna, and Elvira, and a dog named Doc. The family also expects to welcome a Great Pyrenees puppy into their family next month. Reflecting on their journey, Amanda expressed gratitude for their shared experiences. Now, almost 19

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ALTON – OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center has once again received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient

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O’FALLON — When moms are expecting, they want to know that access to specialized obstetric care is close by, should the need arise. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital now offers that advanced level of care to ease anxious moms’ minds by expanding services in their Women and Infants Center. The hospital has launched an Obstetric Emergency Department (OB ED) for pregnant patients facing pregnancy concerns or a pregnancy or postpartum-related medical emergency, along with adding an OB/Gyn Hospitalist program, both in partnership with OB Hospitalist Group, LLC. Opened Aug. 1, this OB ED gives pregnant and postpartum women immediate access 24/7 to an in-house physician and care team prior to delivery, at delivery, and during the postpartum period. “This investment in added resources shows St. Elizabeth’s commitment to caring for moms and babies from all over our region,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Klay. “The new

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MARYVILLE – Recovery and Postpartum Nurse, Ashli Duncan, RN, of Anderson Hospital’s Pavilion for Women was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. The nomination submitted read: “I had just given birth the evening before. Baby girl was Coombs positive and woke up extremely jaundiced and frighteningly lethargic. I couldn't get her to wake up to breastfeed like she had the night before. This was an incredibly stressful time as we were told the only way to flush the bilirubin was to feed baby. So I spent the long, agonizing day trying, unsuccessfully, to get baby to feed. For hours and hours I worked with the lactation consultant, blew on baby's face, and rubbed cold wipes on her naked body trying to wake her for long enough that I could shove my breast into her mouth. My milk wasn't in and baby was so lethargic even if we

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ALTON - On Sunday, August 3, 1924, the Jewish Community Home of Wood River and Alton held a fundraising picnic at Rock Spring Park. Many people from the area came out to support the cause. There were “a large number from out of the city at the picnic, and a good attendance from Alton, not only of people of the Jewish faith but others.” Various booths, a band concert, and dancing marked the occasion. The Jewish Community Home and Synagogue trace their origins to New Year’s Eve of 1923. On that evening, the Alton and Wood River Jewish League threw their first ball to raise funds for a new facility. Four hundred fifty people attended the function and were entertained by an eight-piece orchestra. At about this time, the Methodist churches on Wesley Street in Upper Alton and on Washington Avenue in Alton were merging. The churches put both of their buildings up for sale to finance a consolidated Methodist church on Main Street. The Alton and Wood River Jewish League

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GODFREY - Two-time Paralympian Eric Newby is being honored with “Eric Newby Day” on Aug. 29, 2024, in the Village of Godfrey as he prepares for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Mayor Mike McCormick made the official proclamation naming Aug. 29, 2024, “Eric Newby Day” at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, where he also highlighted Newby’s athletic accomplishments. “Eric Newby is a two-time Paralympian, winning silver medals both in the Tokyo and in Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games, and will be competing on Team USA in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris,” McCormick said. He added Newby has been a “seasoned veteran” on the USA Wheelchair Rugby team since 2013 and served as co-captain with Chuck Aoki of the 2023 squad. He also earned medals in two previous World Championships, including a bronze medal in 2014 and a silver medal in 2022. “Having moved into a leadership role on the team, he is looking forward

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ALTON - Community members are invited to enjoy Alton’s art, music and culinary scene with Rock the Hops. From 2–8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, 27 local bands will be playing at five different venues in Alton. Attendees can come out and enjoy the music, craft beers and more at Bossanova Martini Lounge, The Old Bakery Beer Co., The Conservatory, Flock Food Truck Park and Bar, and Ragin’ Cajun Piano Bar. “It was the first festival of its kind to combine all those channels of culture,” said Hope Mader, Rock the Hops organizer. “It is a lot of fun. It’s a very positive environment. People are very generous and engaged. A lot of folks don’t normally have experience with local original bands, and this is a day for them to see the artists that live here and the artists that create here. It’s really cool. It’s really important to introduce our town to those creatives.” Bands begin playing at 2 p.m. on Aug. 10. A

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Sgt. Robert Belba and Officer Molly Muennich of the Fairview Heights Police Department congratulated local resident Brice Travis on his recent achievement of earning the Eagle Scout award. The recognition took place during a ceremony, where Travis was also presented with a proclamation from Fairview Heights Mayor Mark Kupsky. In November 2023, Brice, a dedicated member of his church and a scout, noticed potential dangers in the playground equipment at his local church. Concerned about the safety of children who might climb on the defective structures, Brice took it upon himself to address these issues. Brice enlisted the help of other church members and fellow scouts to tackle the extensive task. In addition to removing and replacing many broken or damaged pieces of the playground equipment, Brice recently turned age 18. Thanks to his efforts, the entire playground structure received a fresh coat of paint and was completely rejuvenated. The Eagle Scout

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COLLINSVILLE – The Board of Directors at JULIE, Inc. (JULIE) announced its winner of the 2024 Gina Meehan-Taylor Damage Prevention Advocacy Award at its annual meeting in Joliet, on Aug. 1, 2024. Chris Schildroth, Public Awareness Specialist for Ameren Illinois, was chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Gina Meehan-Taylor Damage Prevention Advocacy Award on Aug 1 at the board of directors of JULIE, Inc., meeting. Schildroth was honored for his dedication as an advocate of damage prevention to natural gas pipelines. Nationwide every six minutes, someone contacts an underground utility because they didn't call 8-1-1 before that first shovel or spike broke the earth. Chosen from a pool of nominations from throughout Illinois, JULIE selected Schildroth because of the positive impact he has made through outreach, advocacy and education. In the nomination submitted by a peer at Ameren Illinois, Schildroth was recognized for being proactive and a responsive advocate for safety. "Chris

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WOOD RIVER - Emergency responders from the Wood River Fire Department and Police Department were called to the Wood River Walmart parking lot Thursday afternoon following reports of a vehicle rollover. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered at least one individual trapped inside the overturned vehicle. The Wood River Fire Department immediately requested additional manpower to assist with the extrication process. Firefighters swiftly managed to extract the trapped person. A traffic sign in the parking lot was also found bent over as a result of the crash. The cause of the rollover remains unknown at this time.

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WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River High School senior Kaidence Reef has earned three consecutive all-conference honors for the Oilers in soccer. Oilers head girls soccer coach Diane Cox rates Reef the squad’s “best player.” Reef is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. “She is definitely a hard worker and has been our top scorer,” Cox said. “She plays literally every position if needed. She has even played goalie. Soccer comes naturally for her.” This fall, Reef will be a setter for the East Alton-Wood River girls volleyball team, so she is an all-around athlete. Again, congrats to Reef on her honor as a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete Of the Month for the Oilers.

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