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Did you know that over 35% of American households engage in gardening activities? As spring approaches, many of these households will eagerly dig into their gardens, creating spaces that not only enhance their homes but also provide fresh produce, flowers, and a sense of tranquility. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious novice, preparing for your spring garden can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. With the right strategies, you can cultivate a thriving garden that bursts into life when the warmer months arrive. Assessing Your Space Before you plunge into planting, it’s essential to evaluate your gardening space. Every plot of land has its unique characteristics, which can influence your gardening choices significantly. Sunlight and Shade : Observe how sunlight interacts with your garden throughout the day. Most flowering plants and vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. If your yard has shaded areas, consider shade-tolerant plants like

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February 26th has witnessed some remarkable events throughout history, shaping the world in various ways. Moving back in time, let's revisit February 26, 1979, when the first successful test of the Space Shuttle took place. NASA’s Space Shuttle program was a monumental leap in space exploration, allowing for reusable spacecraft that could support missions in low Earth orbit. This pioneering event laid the groundwork for many future missions and contributed to the construction of the International Space Station, showcasing human ingenuity and the quest for knowledge beyond our planet. On February 26, 1993, the world witnessed a tragic event that shook the United States: the first bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City. A truck bomb exploded in the underground garage of the North Tower, killing six people and injuring over a thousand. This act of terrorism highlighted vulnerabilities in national security and prompted significant changes in U.S. counter-terrorism

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EDWARDSVILLE - State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is pleased to announce the return of her Traveling Office Hours for March. “I’m excited to bring back our Traveling Office Hours for 2025,” said Senator Harriss. “These events have been a great way to connect with residents across the district, and my team and I are committed to making government more accessible. Whether you have a question, need assistance, or just want to share your thoughts, we’re here to help.” Staff will be on hand to help constituents with any state issues they may have. Traveling Office Hours for March are scheduled as follows: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Hayner Public Library 132 Alton Square, Alton 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. East Alton Library 250 Washington Avenue, East Alton 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Wood River Public Library 326 E Ferguson Avenue, Wood River 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Bethalto Public Library 321 S. Prairie Street, Bethalto

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ST. LOUIS - The American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis is helping to bridge access to health care for blood donors by providing free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes, on all successful blood, platelet and plasma donations in March. One-third of people lack access to regular primary care in the U.S., where diabetes affects 1 in 10 people and nearly a quarter of those living with it have been undiagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The free A1C screening aims to help address this gap by empowering blood donors with valuable information to maintain their health and well-being. This new offering is among the longtime work of the Red Cross to support the health of communities, which also includes disaster relief efforts such as basic disaster health and mental health services among other assistance. Visit RedCrossBlood.org , use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS to book a time to give in March

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GLEN CARBON – Major upgrades are coming to Schon Park in Glen Carbon following Village Board approval of a $260,000 agreement, putting the next phase of park improvements in motion. Phase 3 improvements include four pickleball courts, two tennis courts, two basketball courts, and a series of connecting paths, as shown in a site improvement plan from TWM, Inc. Work to be completed in future phases includes new pavillions, a soccer field, a fitness court, a new maintenance building, and a multi-purpose path. Public Works Director Scott Slemer said at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting he estimates construction on Phase 3 will begin in October of 2025. Trustees unanimously approved a $260,000 agreement with TWM, Inc. to perform engineering services for the Schon Park Phase 3 project. The full scope of the agreement includes design and construction engineering, bidding, permitting and review, grant application, and grant administration. Glen Carbon was recently awarded

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is investigating a shooting that occurred on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in the 100 block of Lazarcheff in Cahokia Heights, which has now resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy. Charles E. Jones succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Since the shooting, detectives have pursued more than 60 leads, according to Sgt. Andrew Pierson, public information officer for the Major Case Squad. “Persons of interest have developed, and some individuals are in custody,” he said. However, he emphasized that the investigation remains active and that no further details regarding names or potential charges will be disclosed at this time. The findings will ultimately be presented to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for review. Pierson urged anyone with information related to the case to come forward, reinforcing the importance of community assistance in ongoing investigations. Tips

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Lincoln Alwardt with the Student of the Month Award for February. Lincoln was nominated by Edwardsville High School teacher Sean Saylor. Lincoln is the son of Tony and Randi Kay Alwardt. He is 17 years old and attends Edwardsville High School. Academically, Lincoln shines at school and is also a member of both the National Honor Society and the Science National Honors Society. He has also been recognized as an Illinois State Scholar. Athletically, Lincoln plays soccer for both Edwardsville High School Boys Varsity Soccer and Glen Ed. He has received one of the EHS Boys Varsity Soccer Team MVP awards, along with the IHSSCA All-Sectional Sportsmanship Award for soccer. Outside of school, Lincoln enjoys playing soccer, weightlifting, and gold. He is also an active member of St. John’s United Church of Christ of Midway. In the future, Lincoln plans to major in Data Science and work

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ALTON - Payton Crane , currently a senior at Marquette Catholic High School, has been named an Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Student Of The Month. She is the youngest daughter of Josh and Kristina Crane. She would like to thank the staff at Marquette and the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club for granting her the opportunities that have led her to receive this award. Academically, Payton has excelled in many different ways. Her academic achievements include achieving high honor roll every semester, which has her on track to graduate with a 5.0 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale and nearly 40 dual credit hours, receiving the prestigious Silver Medallion Award, which is only granted to the top 8% of graduating seniors, and being named an Illinois State Scholar, an honor given based on GPA, ACT or SAT scores, and class rank and size. On Payton’s first try, she received a 30 on her ACT, and she is currently second in the class, with a 4.84 GPA. As for extracurricular activities, Payton has been involved

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ALTON - David Reese of Alton High School has been selected as February’s Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Student of the Month. David is the son of Chad (Krista) Reese and Holly Marcum (Tim Borman). David is a senior at Alton High School. He plays varsity tennis for Alton High and also leads the student section as a Redbird Nest Leader. During his high school career, David has also been a member of the Alton High Trap Club, Pickleball Club, Physics Club. David currently holds a cumulative 3.75 GPA, and earned a 4.1 GPA last semester, earning him high honor roll at Alton High School and Dean’s list at Lewis & Clark Community College. By the time David graduates, he will have taken 12 honors courses and achieved 42 college credit hours. While at Alton High School, David found his passion for architecture. He has completed every class available in that field that the school has to offer and credits Mr. Goetten for being such a mentor to him and his career plans. In 2024, David won

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GRAFTON - The Grafton Art Gallery will host a meet-and-greet ahead of a new “Drawing for Serious Fun” class. From 1–3 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, community members are invited to the Grafton Art Gallery at 301 E. Main Street in Grafton for a no-obligation informative meeting about the upcoming drawing classes. Taught by Don Mathenia, the classes are open to adults at any level to enjoy. “With this class, I’m sure I’ll have people there who I will learn from,” Mathenia said. “I want to learn from people too. Art is never something that’s totally static, never. If it gets to be that, it’s not art anymore.” The “Drawing for Serious Fun” classes will start on March 10, 2025, and will be held on Mondays and Thursdays. During the meet-and-greet on March 1, Mathenia and Grafton Art Gallery owner Gene Smith will poll attendees to decide what time is best for the classes. They look forward to meeting

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WOOD RIVER - A fire in a locomotive on the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks just north of West Ferguson in Wood River in the afternoon on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, and captured the attention of local emergency crews. The incident occurred when a fire broke out in the main DC power system of the train. Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut confirmed that the fire was contained to the engine. Firefighter crews from Wood River, East Alton and Roxana responded to the scene, where they successfully isolated power through an emergency shutdown before firefighters approached the situation. “I am always proud of them,” Chief Stahlhut said regarding the firefighters' response. “They work extremely hard being prepared for a unique type of incident and knowing hazards mitigated before putting the fire out was huge.” The incident took place on the old BP property near West Ferguson, and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames quickly. As of now, the cause of the fire

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EAST ALTON - Community members are invited to participate in a head-shaving event aimed at raising funds for 3-year-old Rory Guss, who was diagnosed with leukemia. The event, titled "Brave the Shave for Rory Faye," is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. at Don's No Man's Land at 610 E. St. Louis Ave., East Alton. Rory, currently in remission, will continue her chemotherapy treatments for the next two years. Organizers hope to gather support for the Guss family as they navigate the challenges of Rory's ongoing treatment. The event is being held in partnership with All About U Hair Salon in East Alton. While there is no entry fee to participate, attendees are encouraged to fundraise in advance of the event. Those interested in taking part in the head-shaving challenge can register by contacting Abbey or Kathy at (618) 581-9789 for Kathy. For those unable to participate in the shaving, organizers welcome the community to attend and cheer on the volunteers. All proceeds will

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JERSEYVILLE – The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 25, 2025, warning the public of a string of stop sign thefts on Jersey County roads. “Recently, Jersey County has had several stop signs stolen or destroyed on Grange Hall Road at Sunderland and Crystal Lake Roads, and on Range Line Road at Sunderland Road,” the JSCO wrote in their statement . Potential offenders are reminded the offense is a Class A misdemeanor for which they can and will be arrested and charged. Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office at 618-498-6881. This includes individuals involved in the activity who “want an opportunity to make it right,” in which case they should ask to speak with Sheriff Nick Manns.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM), is thrilled to announce its 25th Anniversary Celebration- A Celebration of Our Beloved Community: A Vision of Then, Now, and What’s Possible. The event will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Regency Conference Center, 400 Regency Park, O’Fallon, IL. 62269. Tickets to the event are required: $75 per ticket or $550 per table of eight available. Deadline to purchase tickets is March 15th. “This milestone is a moment of reflection and gratitude,” said Darnell Tingle, Executive Director of UCM. “For 25 years, we have worked hand-in-hand with the community to combat the root cause of systemic injustice in our region by empowering individuals, driving social-change, and fostering collaboration. We look forward to celebrating this journey with all who have supported us along the way.” The event will commemorate 25 years of faith, unity, and action, bringing

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EAST ALTON - NGRREC Announces 2025 STREAM Series EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) is excited to announce the return of its popular community events with a new STREAM Series in 2025. The series will take place at the Confluence Field Station in East Alton, a LEEDcertified building, and is free and open to the public. NGRREC invites people of all ages to engage in exciting, hands-on activities that blend STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with Research and Art. “We are thrilled to offer our community these opportunities to explore the world around them through the lens of science and art," Environmental Educator Erica Doerr said. The 2025 STREAM series will launch from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, with the World Water Day Photo Contest and continue throughout the year, featuring various engaging events. STREAM offers an enriching platform for learning, bringing together diverse activities that focus on

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ALTON - Community members are invited to a glo bingo night that will raise money for mental health care in Alton. Centerstone, an organization that specializes in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, will host a glo bingo fundraiser on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Alton VFW. The organization is looking for sponsorships and raffle donations as they prepare for the event. “All the proceeds from the event will go directly back to supporting patient care at Centerstone,” explained Erin Camfield, one of the event organizers. “Centerstone is a nonprofit health system that provides mental health and substance use treatment. There’s a multitude of services that we provide, and all of these proceeds will go back to providing direct care to patients for things that they might need on their mental health wellness journey.” The glo bingo fundraiser is open to all. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the games start at 7 p.m. on April 12. People are

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GRANITE CITY – Two individuals have been charged in separate cases of child battery filed recently in Madison County. Gordon S. Williams, 40, of Granite City, was charged on Feb. 21, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery. On Aug. 13, 2024, Williams allegedly struck a 6-year-old child on the legs with a belt, “leaving bruising and red marks,” according to court documents. The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Williams, who was granted pretrial release from custody. In a separate but similar case, Sierra A. Lawson, 25, of Highland, was charged with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery on Feb. 18, 2025. Lawson allegedly “struck buttocks multiple times causing extensive bruising.” The victim in this case was 2 years old at the time of the incident on Jan. 3, 2025. Lawson’s case was presented by the Highland Police Department, and she has also been granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to act to protect a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that guarantees access to critical preventive care for millions of Americans. Raoul and the coalition urge the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court’s decision stating that the structure of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is unconstitutional – a decision that will impair access to lifesaving medical care. Before the ACA’s enactment, many Americans struggled to afford preventive services, such as cancer screenings, which can be lifesaving but were often not covered by insurance. Congress enacted the ACA’s preventive services provision to eliminate this financial barrier by requiring most private insurance plans to cover preventive services recommended by the task force without charging out-of-pocket costs, including copayments or deductibles.

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned $22 million to nearly 19,000 people in January through I-CASH, the state’s missing money program. “Returning this money to the rightful owners is better than keeping it in our bank vaults,” Frerichs said. “It helps our state’s economy when people have a little more money in their pockets to spend at local businesses.” Companies and banks turn over uncashed rebate checks, unpaid life insurance claims, forgotten checking accounts and the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes to the Illinois Treasurer’s Office after a few years. The state treasurer is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or their heirs, no matter how long it takes. One way the office tries to return missing money is by highlighting National Unclaimed Property Day (Feb. 1) to encourage people to check the I-CASH website . Media coverage helped set a record this year. For the week ending

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GRANITE CITY - Amber Porter is spearheading a fundraiser to support her brother, Matt, who was severely injured in a dog attack at his home on Feb. 19, 2025. The incident involved Karma, a pit bull that Matt had rescued eight months prior from an abusive environment. According to Porter, Matt, 35, had taken extensive measures to care for Karma, ensuring she was up to date on her vaccinations and providing a loving home. However, on the day of the attack, Porter described the situation as shocking and unprovoked, stating that “Karma just switched and started attacking him.” Matt, who is currently recovering at SLU Hospital, described the encounter as a “fight for his life.” He emphasized the unexpected nature of the attack, saying it caught him off-guard. The emergency crew reported that he had lost a significant amount of blood, attributing his survival to the adrenaline coursing through his body during the ordeal. At present, Matt is undergoing multiple surgeries,

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