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TOULON – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan F. Kelly, joined by Illinois Statewide 911 Administrator Cindy Barbera-Brelle, Stark County Sheriff Steve Sloan, and Peoria-Stark Joint Emergency Telephone System Board Chairman David Tuttle, today announced every county in Illinois now has 911 service. “This is a significant milestone for ISP’s Division of Statewide 911 and the whole state,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. ??“The agreement between these two counties means residents will see quicker response times as telecommunicators can get the appropriate first responders enroute sooner.” Stark County entered into an agreement with Peoria County to create a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board so that Stark County residents and those traveling through the area can quickly and efficiently receive emergency services. ? This marks the successful completion of a monumental mission assigned to the Illinois State Police by the General

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– Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation to protect the estimated two million wild kangaroos who are needlessly killed every year for the use of their leather in commercial products. The killing of kangaroos for their leather, also known as “k-leather,” is currently the largest commercial slaughter of mammals worldwide driven by demand for their skin in certain models of soccer cleats. To help reverse this inhumane trend and safeguard the kangaroo species from commercial exploitation, the Senators’ Kangaroo Protection Act would ban the sale and manufacturing of products made from kangaroo skin, as well as the sale of kangaroo skin itself. Additionally, this legislation would empower the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with other agencies, to issue civil and criminal penalties of fines up to $10,000 and other regulations. “The mass killing of millions of kangaroos to make commercial products

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) voted Wednesday evening for a federal spending package to fund the government through March of next year and require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Due to overwhelming Democrat opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act reforms, the bill failed to pass the House. Congress must approve legislation funding the government by September 30th or risk lapses in essential services. “Congress has two urgent priorities before the end of September: funding the government and ensuring only legal ballots from U.S. citizens are cast in the election. We must accomplish both objectives but have little time to do so. That’s why I supported linking passage of the Continuing Resolution with the SAVE Act. Sadly, House Democrats – some of whom voted for the SAVE Act earlier this year – stood in near unanimous opposition to the plan, killing both bills just 12 days before a shutdown. Rest assured,

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ROXANA — Fullback Mason Crump has emerged as an offensive powerhouse for the Shells during the 2024 football season. In a recent big win against Civic Memorial, Crump scored touchdowns on runs of 6, 4 and 22 yards, showcasing his versatility and athleticism. Roxana head football coach Wade DeVries expressed confidence in Crump's abilities, noting that he has stepped up to fill the shoes of former standout Evans Wells. "I think in our system, we have a gun who runs in between tackles and is more physical," Devries said. "I think Mason fits that really well. He also has good speed." Mason is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Shells. Crump's prowess is not limited to the football field. He is equally formidable on the baseball diamond, both as a pitcher and a hitter. Roxana head baseball coach Jerry Wheaton highlighted Crump's impressive 2024 campaign, where he finished with a no-hitter and 16 strikeouts on the mound, leading the team to a regional

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BELLEVILLE - Caritas Family Solutions is proud to announce they have added four new members to its growing Board of Directors. The newest members joining the board are Dr. Theresa Anasti, Michael Schaltenbrand, Jamie Hall and Victoria Mauch. The nonprofit human services agency located in Southern Illinois has four Board Officers and a total of 21 members. “We are so thankful for each member of our Board of Directors,” said Caritas Family Solutions CEO Gary Huelsmann. “It is so exciting whenever we have the opportunity to add more members to our board, each coming with a variety of skill sets, knowledge and experience in varying industries. The more diverse our board is the better. When our board members meet, it gives us a chance to discuss our growth, strategize for how to make the agency the best it can be and focus on how to impact even more lives.” The agency serves more than 6,300 people, is the third-largest provider of foster care in the state

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GRAFTON - At the Grafton City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, Mayor Morrow presented three certificates of appreciation on behalf of the Council, the city, and the Grafton Chamber of Commerce. The Brooks family, Michael, Peg and Nickie, were honored for their hard work and another spectacular success of Grafton’s Thursday Night Music in the Park program throughout the summer. “Music in the Park wouldn’t exist as it does today without the hard work and dedication of Peg Brooks and her family team who orchestrate the events. Solid backup came from the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, (Dan Ebbing, President), that sponsored the 15 weeks of family fun and from Jake Weber and his Public Works crew who kept The Grove Memorial Park in top shape,” said Mayor Morrow. Peg researches and books the bands with Mike and Nickie’s invaluable help. Her “Go to” problem-solver is Alderman Andy Jackson, also a Chamber member. “The number of individua

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ALTON - Alton High School’s first band gave its first official concert on September 19, 1924, at noon. The band played two numbers, “Loyalty Spirit,” a march, and “Falling Leaves,” a waltz, in front of their classmates during assembly period. The band, directed by B.L. Johnson, had 35 members present and “was applauded loudly and enthusiastically by the rest of the student body. In addition to the band’s performance, Director Johnson played a cornet solo, “O Sol Mio,” and student Helen Hamer gave several recitations. On September 26, Alton High School held its first “Pep” meeting. The band opened the program with the march “Loyalty Spirit.” Next, the band held a contest with the students to see how much it could drown out their singing. The band also performed a new song, “Football Heroes,” with lyrics composed by Alton High student Pauline Bug and set to the music of “Hoofprints,”

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ALTON – A plea for improved safety measures at an intersection in Alton has been made by an employee of Ardent Mills, highlighting significant concerns over pedestrian safety at the junction of Broadway and State Street. The employee, Nicole Bechtold, is a production scheduler at Arden Mills. She detailed the dangers faced by the employees who cross the intersection daily. "We’ve had seven near-miss accidents in the past month involving employees trying to cross the street safely," the employee reported. "I have personally had several occurrences of being nearly hit and we shouldn’t have to fear for our lives just to cross the street to get to and from work. I’ve been in contact with the Alton Mayor and Police Chief, and they instructed us to go back to IDOT." The intersection currently features flashing stop signs, which the employee claims are "blatantly ignored by drivers." Bechtold stressed the necessity for more effective safety measures, asserting tha

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ALTON - The Alton Knights of Columbus are once again spearheading their annual Tootsie Roll Drive, aimed at raising funds to support local organizations that assist individuals with intellectual disabilities. The drive, which is currently active, will conclude with collections at the Godfrey Schnucks store during the weekend of Oct. 18, 2024. Every year, the Alton Knights dedicate their efforts to this cause, distributing the collected funds to various local organizations. Last year, the drive successfully raised over $10,000, all of which was distributed to entities committed to providing services and support to people with intellectual disabilities. The Knights of Columbus organization is pictured presenting distribution checks from last year's drive to representatives from Challenge Unlimited, Beverly Farms, The William Bedell Achievement and Resource Center, and Special Olympics. The ongoing Tootsie Roll Drive exemplifies the Knights' commitment to their community and their dedicatio

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GRANITE CITY – Prather Kindergarten Center welcomed a special guest Thursday to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day and to partake in bus safety drills. Granite City High School head football coach Steve Roustio read to students during an assembly and then joined them on a school bus to discuss bus safety rules and participate in evacuation drills. The event aimed to combine fun with education, ensuring that young students understand the importance of bus safety. The event was part of a broader initiative by Granite City School District 9 to ensure student safety through engaging and educational activities.

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ST. CHARLES CO. - Bonnie, a St. Charles County K-9 Electronic Detection Dog, and now School Resource Officer K-9, is calling it quits after eight years of catching sex offenders and human traffickers that used electronic devices to commit their crimes. The St. Charles County Police Department is celebrating Bonnie’s eight years of faithful service September 20th at 10 a.m. with a retirement ceremony, where his many accomplishments will be acknowledged and rewarded with baskets of gifts and treats from local pet supporters. The ceremony will be at the St. Charles County Police Department (101 Sheriff Dierker Ct., O’Fallon, MO). Bonnie, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever, began her career in 2016 with an initial 5-week training in Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) with the Connecticut State Police K-9 Unit. The Connecticut State Police K-9 Unit was the first in the world to train K-9’s in detection of ESD’s. Upon Bonnie’s completion of training in April 2016,

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ROXANA – Lilli Ray, a standout athlete at Roxana High School, has been recognized as the Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. Ray, who has excelled in both softball and volleyball, batted .347 this past season under the guidance of Coach Wade Stahlhut. She recorded 25 hits and 18 RBIs in 20 games, according to Max Preps. Ray's athletic prowess extends beyond the softball field. In the fall, she serves as a defensive specialist for the Roxana girls' volleyball team. Coach Stahlhut has praised her consistent performance since her freshman year, noting her hard work and dedication. "We expect the same growth in her in the 2025 season," Stahlhut said. "We are very fortunate to have her. She is extremely hard-working and has some of the same characteristics as our other girls." Ray's contributions to her teams are not limited to her offensive skills. Coach Stahlhut emphasized her defensive capabilities, highlighting her well-rounded talent. The recognition

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BELLEVILLE - The beloved Belleville Art on the Square foundation and festival has two new co-directors. The Art on the Square organization announced that Rebecca Boyer and Karl Gilpin will step into the roles previously held by Carol Bartle and Stephanie Dorris. The two new directors will see the organization through its 2025 festival on May 16–18, 2025. “It is exciting,” Boyer said. “Karl and I know there’s a lot that needs to be done, but we have a great team. They’re able and willing to help us pull this off.” Gilpin shared that Art on the Square was in a “precarious situation.” It was unclear whether the festival would happen in 2025. He encouraged Boyer to take on the director role. When she said she was too busy for the position, they agreed to come on as co-directors and collaborate to make the festival a success. “We started talking about it. I was like, well, we can’t let this thing die,” Gilpi

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ALTON - Freshman Sabrina Eccles has quickly established herself as a rising star for Marquette Catholic's Explorers cross-country team. Eccles, who has already broken the 23-minute mark for a three-mile distance, posted a time of 22:29.4 on Sept. 7, 2024, in the Granite City Invite, securing 102nd place. Eccles' performance at the Granite City Invite follows her earlier achievements this season. She placed 25th at the CM Twilight Invite on Aug. 31 with a time of 25:22.1 and clocked in at 24:53.9 on Sept. 3 in the Carlinville Early Meet. Recognized for her dedication and performance, Eccles has been named a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete of the Month for Marquette. "I really enjoy being a member of the cross country team," Eccles said. "My goals at the beginning was to beat my sister Cassidy Eccles." With her love for cross country and running "a lot," Eccles' future in the sport appears promising, particularly as she is only in her freshman year. Again, congrats

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that nonfarm payrolls were up +800 while the unemployment rate increased +0.1 percentage point to 5.3 percent in August, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +12,900 to +10,300 jobs, while the revised unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, unchanged from the preliminary July unemployment rate. The August payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. In August, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,300), Construction (+2,200), and Financial Activities (+1,600). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll job declines included: Leisure and Hospitality (-2,900), Professional and Business Services (-1,600), and Other Services

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ALTON – The City of Alton is taking bold steps to enhance pedestrian safety and improve traffic flow as part of its ongoing commitment to a safer and more walkable downtown. In late May, the city partnered with East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) to host a well-attended walk audit that brought together community stakeholders to assess the pedestrian environment in downtown Alton. EWG’s support is being provided as part of a Plans to Pilots grant the city was awarded through the agency earlier this year. The feedback received during the walk audit is now serving as a vital foundation for future actions aimed at addressing safety concerns. The city has applied for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) federal grant, a program designed to support cities in reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries. Alton’s SS4A application outlines plans for a temporary demonstration project aimed at piloting roadway safety improvements that could have lasting impacts.

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BENTON – A district judge sentenced a Marion man to 97 months’ imprisonment for receiving and possessing child pornography. Michael D. Mitchell, 36, pleaded guilty in May to two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute individuals who view and upload child sexual abuse material, and a federal prison sentence is warranted for those who contribute to the online sexual exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I commend our FBI partners for their efforts to identify and investigate child predators.” According to court documents, federal law enforcement received an online tip from an internet platform for a user uploading child pornography. Agents tracked the IP address associated with the user to Mitchell’s Marion residence. Following a subsequent search of Mitchell’s phone, agents recovered eight

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EAST ST. LOUIS — In response to recent threats, law enforcement, in collaboration with the FBI, conducted a comprehensive search at East St. Louis Senior High School and Mason/Clark Middle School on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, 2024. East St. Louis Superintendent Arthur Culver said the search, which involved K9 units trained to detect weapons and explosives, yielded no findings of weapons or contraband, confirming the campuses are safe. A suspect believed to be responsible for the online social media threats has been apprehended and is currently in custody, Culver said. Authorities are continuing to work closely with the school district to ensure the ongoing safety and security of students and staff. Culver expressed his gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement and the cooperation of the school community. "Once again, I commend the outstanding efforts of our law enforcement partners that have worked diligently to ensure the safety of our school communities," Culver

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EAST ALTON – Jayde Kassler, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is a key to the Oilers' success in the 2024 girls volleyball season at her libero position. Kassler has been named the Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for her exceptional performance in volleyball. Kassler, who has been playing volleyball since seventh grade, expressed gratitude for her parents' unwavering support. "I would like to thank my parents for always supporting me and allowing me to play club volleyball. Last winter, I played with the club RVA. My parents always pushed me to be better and drove me to far tournaments and invested so much of their own time into me," Kassler said. Under the guidance of her Oilers girls volleyball coach, Bethany Billingsley, Kassler has achieved significant milestones in her volleyball career. She secured a starting spot on the varsity team as a sophomore and has been awarded Most Digs and Rookie of the Year multiple times. Additionally,

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MARYVILLE – Quick action by Maryville and Glen Carbon firefighters on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, prevented potential fire problems at Barry Wilson Funeral Home. Firefighters responded to a call at 6:58 a.m. Tuesday and contained smoke in a single room, thanks to their swift efforts. Maryville Fire Chief Doug Dankenbring praised the firefighters' rapid response. "It was quick recognition and quick mitigation," he said. "Everything fell into place. We arrived within four minutes of the dispatch." The incident began when a construction worker, who had entered the building, noticed an electrical burning smell. The worker identified the affected room, closed the door to contain the smoke, evacuated the building, and called 911. The first fire engine arrived within four minutes, guided by the construction worker and law enforcement to the affected room. The fire chief also praised the construction worker for his efforts in helping clear the building. Firefighters discovered that an

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