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MACOUPIN COUNTY - The Macoupin Art Collective of Staunton, would like to announce its fifth-anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 26, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The MAC will be hosting an entire day of events and crafts and also unveiling their new ArtBus to extend their community ArtReach. Events of the day will include a silent auction, raffle, screen printing, and bus tours. In addition, they will be hosting 8 different craft classes, each open to 5 students, first come/first serve. All classes are free, but donations are welcome. The MAC is also requesting attendees bring a non-perishable item for the local Helping Hands food pantry, also celebrating their fifth year on Main Street. The Macoupin Art Collective was founded in 2017 by professional artist and educator, Brandace Cloud. In that short time, The MAC has become a vibrant and welcoming face on Main Street, creating a safe space for art and expression for all ages in mediums such as paint, clay, fabric, glass,

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GODFREY – The RiverBend Growth Association recently welcomed three more area businesses into their membership, joining in the first months of 2022. 1:16 Lawn Care was founded in 2015 by Zach and Jessica Darr with a passion to serve its community and a mission to create satisfied customers by providing high-quality lawn service. Their website notes that they strive to continually be “a company of remarkable integrity and professionalism.” Providing landscape design and maintenance services to customers that are both reliable and affordable, 1:16 Lawn Care has a crew of landscapers that provide an array of services, from routine lawn mowing and trimming to larger yard projects. Larger projects include such things as landscape, patio paver, concrete installation, landscape restoration, and seasonal property clean-ups. A unique feature for a lawn care company, they also offer to add a “pop of color to your home or create the perfect accent wall,” with their

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SPRINGFIELD – Area cities and counties showed a remarkable decrease in unemployment over the year from January 2022 to January 2021 in recently released Illinois Department of Employment Security stats. Edwardsville was down to a 3.0 percent unemployment rate compared to 4.7 percent from January 2022 to January 2021, while Alton dropped to 5.7 percent from 9.3 percent, Granite City to 4.9 percent from 6.4 percent and East St. Louis still was high at 8.4 percent compared to 12.1 percent in 2021. In the counties, Madison County is at 4.4 percent from 6.4 percent a year ago, Macoupin County is at 4.5 percent from 6.3 percent in January 2021, Jersey is at 4.2 percent from 6.1 percent, Greene County at 4.7 percent from 7.8 percent and Calhoun is at 4.9 percent from 6.6 percent. St. Clair County is at 5.5 percent from 7.8 percent a year ago in January. Statewide, the unemployment rate decreased over the year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in January for the tenth consecutive

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URBANA - High school and college basketball seasons are in the home stretch - March Madness gets underway this week and the state of Illinois just crowned its high school champions. Meanwhile, baseball bats, softballs, and track hurdles are being taken out of storage to start those campaigns. Each of those sports brings glory and fun but also stress on your bones, joints, and muscles. With sports being a year-round thing for many high school athletes, it’s important to practice good orthopedic health. Dr. James Murphy is an orthopedic surgeon for OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois. He says high school athletes are still growing, so some pain is inevitable, especially if you’re jumping a lot. “When you're having pain that's consistent and pain that's very bothersome, get it looked into. Get it worked out,” says Dr. Murphy. “It's probably nothing. It usually doesn't mean any kind of surgery or anything else is indicated. But oftentimes it does indicate

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MAHOMET - Before the COVID-19 pandemic even struck, food insecurity in the senior population was a real problem in America. The most recent report from Feeding America found that 7.3% of the senior population – or 5.3 million seniors – is food insecure. The pandemic has only intensified the issue – making even a simple trip to the grocery store difficult or even impossible due to economic difficulties, fear of catching the virus or other hardships. Now, more than ever, food assistance programs can be a lifeline for seniors in need. The OSF Peace Meal Program is one example of help available. OSF Peace Meal helps seniors improve their nutrition, sustain their independence and enhance their quality of life through meals, fellowship and a connection to other services they may need. This March, OSF Peace Meal joins the Administration for Community Living and Senior Nutrition Service providers across the country to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the national Senior

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URBANA – Growing food is not limited to outdoors in the summer. With some planning, you can grow food indoors throughout the year. University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle says that before starting an indoor kitchen garden, it is essential to think about what you want to gain by growing food indoors. You might wish to have herbs to give recipes a special touch or boost nutrition for added health benefits. “Keep in mind the amount of work you want to put into your indoor garden, schedules including your daily routine and time away, and whether your plants will be only indoors or transferred to outside during nice weather,” Flowers-Kimmerle says. The limiting factor for growing plants indoors is light. Three aspects of light must be considered when planning to grow an indoor garden – light intensity, duration, and quality. Most plants grown for food need intense, bright light. A south-facing window is a good location for

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Morgan County native Ellen Hardin Walworth was a woman whose interests were both diverse and numerous. Her role in founding the Daughters of the American Revolution, though, is her greatest legacy. Walworth, who was born in Jacksonville on Oct. 20, 1832, was one of four women who established the D.A.R. in 1890, which continues today as one of the nation’s foremost female historical organizations. Along the way, she not only became an attorney and scientist, but also an accomplished historian. Her intellect was a reflection of her upbringing. She was the oldest of four children to Jacksonville attorney John J. Hardin, a Kentucky native who had moved to Morgan County in 1831. The son of a United States senator, the younger Hardin was elected to Congress as a Whig in 1843 and was a political rival of Abraham Lincoln, despite the fact that he was a cousin to Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd. A three-term member of the Illinois House, Hardin was killed at Buena Vista during the Mexican-America

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EAST ST. LOUIS – In response to a fire that consumed an apartment building in Washington Park, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and Representatives LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) and Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) have teamed up to collect clothes for the victims who have been displaced from their homes. “While I am grateful the residents of the building made it out safely, I’m devastated as I think about the struggles the families will face as they’re displaced from their homes,” Belt said. “Representatives Greenwood and Hoffman and I have come together to pledge our support for the people who were affected by this unforeseen tragedy.” A fire struck at an apartment building Wednesday morning in Washington Park. The Assistant Chief for the Washington Park Fire Department Ronnie Harris reported that when firefighters got there, flames were already pouring from the building. Fortunately, all the residents were able to make it

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THE CONVERSATION - A shape-shifting flock of thousands of starlings, called a murmuration, is amazing to see. As many as 750,000 birds join together in flight. The birds spread out and come together. The flock splits apart and fuses together again. Murmurations constantly change direction, flying up a few hundred meters, then zooming down to almost crash to the ground. They look like swirling blobs , making teardrops, figure eights, columns and other shapes. A murmuration can move fast – starlings fly up to 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour). The European or common starling , like many birds, forms groups called flocks when foraging for food or migrating. But a murmuration is different. This special kind of flock is named for the sound of a low murmur it makes from thousands of wingbeats and soft flight calls. ‘Flight of the Starlings’ by Jan van IJken was shot in the Netherlands; the audio lets you hear how a murmuration gets its name. Murmurations

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ST. LOUIS - After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the St. Louis Earth Day Festival returns to the Muny Grounds in Forest Park. Organized by the local nonprofit earthday365, the festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both April 23 and April 24. The free event aims to educate and empower the regional community for greater action toward a more sustainable future. “There’s so much anticipation for the festival this year,” said Dr. Jess Watson, Executive Director of earthday365. “For those of us in the sustainability movement, this is our time to reach out to new audiences and to connect with one another, which is doubly important given the urgent challenges we face.” The festival will include plenty of entertainment and activities for the entire family. The Main Stage will feature an excellent array of musicians, such as Fire Dog and Sharon Bear and the Cubs. The Community Stage will offer yoga with The Collective STL, bird shows

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URBANA - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is renewing its focus on healthy lungs with a fresh set of advertisements featuring former smokers. While quitting smoking goes a long way, sometimes surgery is unavoidable. But what used to be a big undertaking with a long recovery is now much simpler thanks to a minimally invasive surgery for serious issues within the chest offered at OSF HealthCare. Dr. Ronald Cossman , a cardiothoracic surgeon with OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute, has been performing robotic thoracic surgery at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana since 2017. Dr. Cossman only has to make several tiny cuts in the chest to use the da Vinci robot to operate on things like tumors. Traditionally, doctors have to make a large incision in the front or side of the chest, causing more painful recovery for the patient. “This has been a great thing for the patients because it's a much easier thing for them to recover from, and we're

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PRINCETON - Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is important. When healthcare providers look at an individual’s overall health, they typically ask about their eating habits and the amount of activity they get each week – but they also often ask what your sleep schedule looks like. Sleep is so important for our health that the National Sleep Foundation launched Sleep Awareness Week in 1998 – and it kicks off each year with the start of daylight saving time, when most people lose an hour of sleep. While many people tend to try and power through after a night of limited sleep, and may even pride themselves on this, it is not healthy in the long run. So, why is sleep so crucial for our health? “A lot of important things happen when we sleep. Our body cells and tissues can regenerate and restore at that point. Sleep is very important for our cognitive health – our mind and mental functions. If you have gone on very few hours of sleep, you know the

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BELLEVILLE - I often hear stories from people about how their pet was the only one there for them during difficult times - maybe the only thing that got them through their trials and tribulations. But no matter how good the intentions, sometimes life brings challenges that make caring for pets difficult or impossible. So I?was so thrilled to hear about the first animal assistance program in Southern Illinois that provides temporary care for pets of those experiencing domestic violence. The Belleville Area Humane Society (BAHS) has created an alternative to surrendering a beloved pet during such a time, and the RedRover organization has awarded grant funding to support the first animal assistance program in Southern Illinois providing temporary care for the pets of those experiencing domestic violence, so that every family member can find safety. One in three women experience domestic abuse within their lifetime, but very few domestic violence shelters allow pets (only 10% nationally).

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Like everything else in the nineteenth century, the Civil War was a male-dominated affair. But one woman proved invaluable to the Union armies and was revered by even the likes of William T. Sherman. “Mother” Mary Ann Bickerdyke became one of the war’s larger-than-life figures, but in 1861, she was a 43-year-old widow from Galesburg, Ill. whose occupation was listed as “botanic physician.” That spring, she was moved during a local church sermon by Rev. Edward Beecher, the brother of Uncle Tom’s Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe, on the misery of military hospital conditions at Cairo, Ill. A relief collection was raised, and Bickerdyke was sent to distribute the contribution. Arriving in the calico dress and Shaker bonnet that became her signature, she was appalled at what she saw at Cairo, and quickly went to work. Among her first actions was to locate two hogshead barrels, saw them in two, and create a makeshift bathtub in which she washed dozens

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CENTRAL ILLINOIS NATIVE WON OSCAR IN 1950 For movie fans, the Academy Award carries a mystique like no other, and represents the pinnacle of cinema in any given year. Sixty-nine years ago, a central Illinois native took home an Oscar, a highlight in a lengthy movie career spent behind the scenes. Marjorie Best, an acclaimed Hollywood costume designer who was born in Jacksonville on April 10, 1903, won an Oscar for her work on The Adventures of Don Juan, a 1948 film starring Errol Flynn and Raymond Burr. Film critic Leonard Maltin referred to The Adventures of Don Juan in 2004 as a “handsome tongue-in-cheek swashbuckler” with Flynn playing the lead. It was one of four Oscar nominations for Best Costume Design for Best, who was also mentioned for Giant, the winner of Best Picture in 1956. Best’s work was also recognized in 1960 for Sunrise at Campobello, which portrayed Franklin D. Roosevelt and starred Greer Garson, and in 1965 for The Greatest Story Ever Told, featuring

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ALTON - On Sunday, March 20, 2022, Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist will celebrate 75 years as a constituted church. The church is located at 105 Fairway Drive in Moro, on Highway 140, across from the Casey's General Store. The church was a mission church, that was started in 1945 by Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, under Pastor Guy P. Hall. Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist Church existed first in the prayers and hearts of people that felt a need for mission work in Meadowbrook. Rev. Kevin Auten said he anticipates a large crowd for Sunday, March 20, services and celebration. "It will be a celebration for what God has done for the church in the past, and what He is going to do at Meadowbrook in the future. They are planning a big reunion celebration, with Sunday Worship at 10:45," Rev. Auten said. "Lunch at noon Sunday, and then an afternoon service at 2. Pastor David Denton, who grew up in the church, and now pastors at Bethesda Baptist in Granite City, will be preaching in the

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ALTON - An Alton home in the 3200 block of Duco Street suffered significant damage in the basement area Friday morning after a serious blaze, but because of Alton Fire Department efforts and a quick hit, the home was salvaged. The call to Alton Fire Department came in at 7:07 a.m. Friday. The home damage was not very visible on the outside, but most was located in the basement. The Alton Fire Department arrived at the Duco scene quickly and did "a tremendous job stopping the fire," Alton Battalion Chief David Eichen said. "There was visible damage downstairs." Battalion Chief Eichen said the house should be repairable. However, he said a licensed electrician will have to be hired to fix all the wiring damage, and right now the house is safe but has no power or gas. He also said Alton Building and Zoning would have to inspect and approve the home is safe before residents could return.

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MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. - University of Minnesota junior, Maryn Heidt, of Edwardsville, has been named to the 2021 fall semester Dean's List at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the university announced today. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must complete 12 or more letter-graded credits while attaining a 3.66 grade point average.

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ALTON - A man and a woman from Bowling Green, Ky., are charged with robbery for allegedly taking a car and house keys from an Alton man. Jasmine C. Watley, 33, is accused of taking the car and the keys, as well as hitting a household member in the back with a metal rod. She was also charged with battery for hitting a woman over the head with a metal rod. The robbery charge is a felony; the other two charges are misdemeanors. Also charged with the robbery of the same victim is Aaron A. Longstreet, 36, Bail for each suspect is $50,000. The incident was on Feb. 28. The charges were filed on March 15. ALTON - Clarence Estelle, 30, of the 300 block of Big Arch Road, Alton, is charged with felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor domestic battery. He allegedly damaged a 55-inch television of a woman on March 7. He is also accused of p utting his hands on the victim’s throat and pushing her backward. Bail is set at $25,000. ALTON - Jason W. Pellazari, 20, of the

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ALTON – Excited. Impressed. Hungry. That’s how local restauranter Laura Windisch wants people to feel when they think about Alton’s new food truck park, Flock, which is scheduled to officially open in early May. “I believe people want locally grown and sourced food, both on their tables at home and when they go out to dine,” said Jayne Simmons, President of AltonWorks and Alton resident. “I have dreamed of opening a food truck park for quite some time – a place where friends and families can go to pick up a quick, delicious meal and just spend time together. The last two years have really opened people’s minds to how they get their food, where it comes from, and what they want to experience when they nourish themselves and their families. I hope when they think of great food and great conversation, they think of Flock.” Flock, located at 210 Ridge between Broadway and Landmarks and adjacent to the Jacoby Arts Center, will serve peopl

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