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GRANITE CITY - An 81-year-old Granite City woman - Anna M. Rookard - tragically lost her life in a fire Wednesday night, March 16, 2022, in the 3100 block of West Chain of Rocks Road in Granite City, Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn said Thursday morning. The fire was reported to 9-1-1 at approximately 11:33 p.m. Wednesday. Nonn said Rookard was pronounced deceased at the scene by Madison County Coroner’s Office Investigator Kelsey Jones at 12:30 a.m., March 17, 2022. When Mitchell Fire Department Units arrived at the scene, they found the residence to be fully engulfed in flames. When the fire was extinguished Rookard’s body was then located inside of the residence. The coroner said an autopsy examination has been completed and the preliminary findings of the examination show that the decedent suffered from smoke inhalation. A final cause and manner of death will be issued upon completion of toxicological testing and the investigation. The cause of the fire remains

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and the Restoration Ecology program will conduct a prescribed burn today, Thursday, March 17, 2022, on portions of the Benjamin Godfrey campus between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. During the burn, smoke or flames may be visible. Certified prescribed burn managers and other trained personnel with proper vehicles and equipment will be working in the area until the burn presents no danger to the public. A Burn Plan has been developed and approved to appropriately control the fire and to ensure personnel and public safety. Prescribed burns are held on parts of campus and grounds owned by L&C with the objective of controlling the spread of invasive plant species as part of the woodland’s overall management plan. If you have any questions or concerns about this operation, please contact Campus Safety at (618) 468-3160. #

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EDWARDSVILLE — Officials approved a $3.86 million sale of Madison County land Wednesday night to a St. Louis developer. The Madison County Board approved selling 15.41 acres of property along Illinois Route 159 to The Staenberg Advisors, LLC of St. Louis for $3,868,000. The acreage is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Plum Street (Route 159) and Governor’s Parkway in Edwardsville. The county put the land up for bid, or “silent auction,” and The Staenberg Group was the sole bidder and met all specifications. “By statute, this is what the county must do — put the property up for auction,” Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. A group of Edwardsville citizens submitted a petition with more than 1,200 signatures to the county, asking for the land not to be sold until the developer disclosed what it planned to build. The group asked the county to keep the land as green space. Prenzler said the county has no parks and the site is locate

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JERSEY COUNTY - The candidates running in the Jersey County general primary elections on June 28 have been revealed. Three Republicans will compete for County Treasurer: Gregory “Greg” Weiner, Katie Steckel-Abbey and Martin “Marty” Ward. The winner will replace incumbent Treasurer Gilbert Ashlock, also a Republican. Republicans Kevin Ayres and Collin Crawford are running for County Coroner, replacing incumbent coroner Kari Jo Alexander. After the passing of her father last fall - Larry Jo Alexander, who served as Jersey County Coroner for the county’s record of nearly 30 years - Kari Jo was sworn in as the youngest and first female Coroner in Jersey County history. County Clerk Pam Warford and Sheriff Mike Ringhausen are both seeking re-election unopposed. Twelve County Board Member seats - three for each of the county’s four districts - are also up for election. In District 1, the three Republicans running are Kenneth Grizzle and incumbents

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EDWARDSVILLE — Officials updated Madison County’s Animal Care and Control ordinance Wednesday night, which will allow residents and rescue groups to carry out Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for community cats. “This ordinance will encourage partnerships between local groups and animal control to work together in preventing the deaths of feral cats,” Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. Prenzler said the county worked diligently to update its ordinances and bring them in line with state law. He said the new rules with go even further to avoid euthanizing feral cats. “Years ago, the county killed two-thirds of the cats brought into animal control,” he said. “Now we are a ‘no kill’ facility. The county worked hard to achieve that status.” Prenzler said when he first took office in 2016; one of his priorities was to make Madison County “no-kill.” In order to be a “no-kill” facility, there must be a 90 percent save

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GODFREY – Have you ever donated plasma? Would you like to, or would you like to again? Freedom Plasma of Wood River is now providing locals the chance to donate plasma without the need to travel across the Mississippi. With a combined 150 years in the industry, Freedom Plasma is owned and operated by ImmunoTek Bio Centers. The Wood River facility opened its doors in October 2021. It is located at 530 Wesley Drive, the site of the former Office Max, with Wood River Walmart as its closest neighbor. Currently, Freedom Plasma has 15 full-time employees. Earlier this month, the RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome Freedom Plasma to the region. Attendees included RBGA members, City of Wood River representatives, and Freedom Plasma staff. The Cookie Factory and Café of Alton provided treats for the celebration, and Freedom Plasma handed out “swag bags” full of goodies. When asked about choosing Wood River a

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GRAFTON - Air Evac Lifeteam had an emergency call in Grafton on the riverfront near the Lighthouse Wednesday morning. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said after a conversation with his police chief the situation was a citizen who had stroke-like conditions and was quickly transported to St. Louis. Mayor Morrow said the person lived in an area on Market Street in Grafton. Morrow, a former long-time member of the Army Corps of Engineers, and also a combat veteran, said he understands the importance of the helicopter emergency transport to St. Louis and quick treatment of people in distress. ARCH Medical Services, Survival Flight, and Air Evac Lifestream handle air emergency services for Grafton. He said whoever is closest or has availability comes out. “It saves critical time using air medical services,” he said. “They say the first hour in regard to a stroke is the golden hour. If a victim can get into treatment quickly, their chances are vastly improved. “We are

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EAST ALTON – The Illinois Chapter of The Wildlife Society is holding its annual meeting, April 10-12, in The Commons, on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey Campus. The three-day annual chapter meeting will feature approximately 20 presenters, who will be discussing topics pertaining to wildlife monitoring and management, disease, ecology and more. The event is open to the public, and will include the option to attend in-person or virtually. In addition to talk and poster presentation sessions, there will also be a workshop, a banquet and a business meeting. “This is a wonderful opportunity for students throughout Illinois, but especially students at Lewis and Clark Community College interested in the wildlife field” said Justin Shew, the Illinois chapter’s President-elect, and Conservation Program Manager at L&C’s National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ). “I’m excited to have several of my students

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WICHITA, KAN. - Wichita State University has announced the names of 3,246 students who were on the WSU dean's honor roll for fall 2021, including Morgan M. Cook from Jerseyville, IL. To be included on the dean's honor roll, a student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. About Wichita State Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven. Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The Innovation Campus,

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GLEN CARBON - Kristen M. Jacobs, M.D, a local aesthetic physician with more than 14 years of experience, will be hosting a book launch happy hour at her office in Glen Carbon on March 31, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dr. Jacobs shares her expert knowledge about skin secrets and healthy aging in her new book and Amazon Best Seller in the U.S and Canada, called “Live Life Beautifully (With a Little Help)”. “I am excited to host this event to encourage people to learn proper skincare techniques and to help them learn how to age healthily, prevent skin cancer, and improve self-confidence,” said Dr. Jacobs. “My goal in writing my book is to help make the knowledge and expertise I’ve gained through my years of practice accessible to everyone.” Dr. Jacobs, who is considered a leader in the industry of aesthetic medicine, has transformed thousands of patients’ lives utilizing her approach to healthy aging. Her new book highlights her five-step approac

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GODFREY – Have you ever donated plasma? Would you like to, or would you like to again? Freedom Plasma of Wood River is now providing locals the chance to donate plasma without the need to travel across the Mississippi. With a combined 150 years in the industry, Freedom Plasma is owned and operated by ImmunoTek Bio Centers. The Wood River facility opened its doors in October 2021. It is located at 530 Wesley Drive, the site of the former Office Max, with Wood River Walmart as its closest neighbor. Currently, Freedom Plasma has 15 full-time employees. Earlier this month, the RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome Freedom Plasma to the region. Attendees included RBGA members, City of Wood River representatives, and Freedom Plasma staff. The Cookie Factory and Café of Alton provided treats for the celebration, and Freedom Plasma handed out “swag bags” full of goodies. When asked about choosing Wood River as the

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and the Restoration Ecology program will conduct a prescribed burn today, Thursday, March 17, 2022, on portions of the Benjamin Godfrey campus between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. During the burn, smoke or flames may be visible. Certified prescribed burn managers and other trained personnel with proper vehicles and equipment will be working in the area until the burn presents no danger to the public. A Burn Plan has been developed and approved to appropriately control the fire and to ensure personnel and public safety. Prescribed burns are held on parts of campus and grounds owned by L&C with the objective of controlling the spread of invasive plant species as part of the woodland’s overall management plan. If you have any questions or concerns about this operation, please contact Campus Safety at (618) 468-3160.

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ST. LOUIS – Charter Communications, Inc. today announced it is now offering a minimum starting wage of $20 an hour including target commissions for all employees across its 41-state service area. The milestone is the fulfillment of a multiyear commitment that began in 2018 with the establishment of a $15 minimum starting wage. Charter announced in April 2020 that it would permanently raise its starting wage to $20 an hour in 2022 — nearly triple the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour — with annual increases of $1.50 an hour in 2020 and 2021 boosting the starting hourly wage to $16.50 and $18, respectively. “Our $20 an hour starting wage is an important investment in our highly skilled employees, who deliver connectivity and entertainment to more than 32 million customers,” said Tom Rutledge, Chairman & CEO of Charter. “Providing strong, competitive wages from day one, comprehensive benefits and dozens of progression paths make Charter a place t

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ALTON/GODFREY - Abigail Hasty of Alton High School and Elizabeth Guenther of Marquette Catholic High School were honored as Students of the Month for March at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant. Abigail Hasty, a senior at Alton High School, is the daughter of Jeanna and Michael Hasty. During her four years at AHS, she made high honor roll and received the St. Louis Post Dispatch “A” Student designation every year. She was selected as an Illinois State Scholar during her senior year. Abbie is a member of multiple Honor Societies, including The National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and The Tri-M Honor Society. Additionally, she is on track to graduate as a “Platinum Alpha Student,” the highest educational designation offered by Alton High School. Abbie currently serves as Alton High School’s National Honor Society President. She leads weekly meetings of 60+ members and coordinates a tutoring program for

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Nearly $66 million in funding is on its way to improve access to health care for people across many communities in central and northern Illinois living at lower income levels. The Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) is providing the funding over the next five years to Peoria-based OSF HealthCare and several Federally Qualified Health Centers (HQHCs) that have formed the Medicaid Innovation Collaborative (MIC), which will address social factors that impact health such as financial strain, housing, and food insecurity among others. The MIC includes OSF HealthCare , OSF Medical Group, and Heartland Health Services (Peoria, IL), Chestnut Health Systems, Inc . (Bloomington, IL), Eagle View Community Health System, Inc . (Oquawka, IL), and Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness (Danville, IL). Through this partnership, the MIC will engage with community-based organizations to address social determinants of health needs. Additionally, the MIC has partnered with

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ALTON - YWCA is pleased to announce the 2022 Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leader (JMBFL) Scholars: Guadalupe Calixto, Bethalto, and Renee Raglin, Alton. Guadalupe currently attends Civic Memorial High School and intends to major in biochemistry. Renee Raglin is from Alton High will be majoring in sports medicine. In addition, Samantha Evanoff, Troy, Taryn Geiger, Bethalto, Ashlyn Green, Alton, and Tristan Johnson, Hardin were approved for renewal scholarships. YWCA, with strong support from the Women of Distinction Academy, is able to offer $1,000 renewable scholarships to deserving young women in honor of Josephine Marley Beckwith, Woman of Distinction class of 2002. “This year's Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leaders’ scholarship recipients are empowered young ladies; an excellent representation of future business leaders and YWCA's Women of Distinction Academy.” said Erica Bratton, YWCA Board Member and JMBFL Scholarship Chair. As required as part of their

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SAUGET – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that Illinois Rt 3 from North of Monsanto Avenue to Ruby Street in Cahokia will be intermittently restricted to one lane in each direction beginning Monday, March 21, 2022, weather permitting. This work will take place daily between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Traffic in each direction will be maintained using flaggers and arrow boards. This work is necessary to complete pavement repairs. This work is expected to be completed by the end of Summer 2022. 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. The contractor on this project is The Christ Bros of Lebanon, Illinois. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Pastor Paul and Melody Westbrook have become household names not only throughout Edwardsville/Glen Carbon but around the area with their dynamic ministry for the past 31 years. Paul and his wife moved here in 1991 from Oklahoma to start Metro Community Church in Edwardsville. When they started, they began their journey in a basement of a home. Pastor Paul has always been able to captivate people with his messages and the aura he exhibits. Quickly, Metro Church grew to where they had services at nearby Edwardsville schools - LeClaire School and ultimately, Lincoln Middle School and for several years that was their home. Pastor Paul said at the start, he led a group that contacted 20,000 people around the Edwardsville region to see if they had a church. He said they only really tried to move people toward his new church who didn’t have a place of worship. Their intent was not to take people from other churches but to bring new people to Christ. A total of 35 members,

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SEE VIDEO: EDWARDSVILLE - For three-plus decades, Rev. Paul Westbrook has been the Senior Pastor at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville. In that time, he has touched thousands of lives. This past weekend at a Metro Community Church service, he announced with great emotion with his wife, Melody, that they will be leaving the congregation. Paul has accepted a position with the State Baptist Association and will be working all over Illinois to start new churches. “This is right up my alley,” he said of the new position. Paul and his wife, Melody, co-founded Metro Community Church in 1991. Melody has played a critical role in starting and leading women’s groups over the years. Paul and Melody have three sons - Caleb, Luke, and Joshua. “God is leading us into a new season, into a new chapter of our lives,” he told the congregation on Sunday. “One of my life's greatest honors and pleasures has been being a part of Metro for 31 years.; being

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WOOD RIVER - Robert R. Kopp, 33, of the first block of Carroll Wood Drive, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of fentanyl on March 11. The charge was filed on March 14. Bail was set at $30,000. EAST ALTON - Neal L. Proffer, 31, of Hillsboro, was charged with forgery. He allegedly delivered a fake $50 to an employee of Jimmy John’s, 1203 E. Edwardsville Road. Bail was set at $15,000. The alleged crime was committed on Feb. 22. Proffer was charged on March 15. WOOD RIVER - Isaiah Thurmond, 25, of Granite City, was charged with criminal trespass to a residence, criminal damage to property, and obstruction of identification. He allegedly broke into a home in the 500 block of Colonial Drive while the resident was present. Thurmond is accused of damaging an exterior door frame. Because of the value of the damage, that charge is a misdemeanor. A charging document also claims he furnished false identification,

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