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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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WOOD RIVER - Michael S. Butler, 37, of the 200 block of Whitelaw Avenue, Wood River, was charged with burglary and forgery after he allegedly took $17,000 in merchandise from Dr. John’s in Wood River and allegedly tried to cash a bogus check at Wood River Market. Butler entered the Dr. John’s building just before closing time on Feb. 21, and hid as employees were leaving, according to John Coil operator of the store, which is officially known as Dr. John’s Lingerie and Novelty Boutique 100 North Wood River Ave. Coil said that Butler took a shopping cart and filled it with merchandise. “He went shopping,” Coil said. In addition to lingerie, among the items sold at the store are adult toys. The owner said Butler allegedly turned off the electricity to the store so as to defeat the security cameras; however, he was unaware that the cameras included backup batteries. Officers were able to identify Butler from the video. The forgery charge alleges

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COLLINSVILLE - There is an intense amount of work underway in the lot next to Old Herald Brewery & Distillery at 115 E. Clay in Collinsville. On Wednesday morning, Hayes Contracting was busy with what they described as "site civil work." Old structures were demolished last week on the property. The building demolition part of the project concluded on Friday, Bud Sparks of Hayes Contracting said on Wednesday. Old Herald Brewery & Distillery owner Derik Reiser aims for a grand opening event at what he describes will be a new plaza called Herald Square with an ice cream shop called Uptown Scoops. Reiser is the owner of the property adjacent to Old Herald Brewery & Distillery. He said the rest of the area will be a place for live entertainment and festivals. “We are getting the site ready for the construction of footings and concrete work,” Hayes Contracting's Sparks said. “We should be finished with our part in a couple of days. This is going to be a very nice addition

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ST. LOUIS – United Way of Greater St. Louis awarded 26 nonprofits who serve Missouri and Illinois residents with emergency response grants totaling $252,400. The funding was earmarked for United Way member and non-member agencies serving people in Jefferson, Warren, Lincoln, and Franklin Counties in Missouri and Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, and Randolph Counties in Illinois. Funding through these grants have supported the ongoing needs of thousands of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families who continue to face emerging gaps. The grants ranged from $2,500 to $12,000 and were awarded to the following organizations to provide access to food, medicine and supplies; rent, mortgage and utility assistance; childcare assistance; transportation; mental health support and counseling; and services for seniors. AGAPE Ministry of Warren County, Inc. Aging Ahead Beauty for Ashes Ministry -- Shielded by Faith Recovery Center Broken But Not Shattered Ministries Calhoun County Health

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WOOD RIVER - Local attorney Tim Berkley of Wood River announced he will be a Republican candidate for circuit judge in the election of 2022. Berkley, a lifelong resident of Madison County, has more than 3 decades of experience as an attorney and dedicated servant of the community. He attended Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, graduating with a bachelor degree in government in 1985. He then graduated from University of Tulsa College of Law in 1990. Since then he has worked as a prosecutor, public defender, private practitioner, and for the Appellate Court system. Before becoming an attorney, Tim was a union contractor at the Wood River Refinery. “I am honored to run for Judge, I come from a typical working middle class family of Madison County. I’ve lived in the Roxana/Wood River area my entire life and built a legal career I am very proud of. This is a great place to live and raise a family. I love it here. I will take tha

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EDWARDSVILLE - Pursuant to the rule governing the destruction of school records by the Office of the Secretary of State of Illinois, the Guidance Office of Edwardsville High School will destroy the temporary records of those students from the graduating class of 2017. Those individuals from this class who would like to obtain these records must contact the registrar at 618-655-6717 or bohm@ecusd7.org by Friday, July 8, 2022. "If your parent or relative is picking them up please see that they have a letter giving consent for them to pick up your records," Edwardsville High School Prinicpal Steve Stuart said. "Anyone picking up records will be asked for an ID."

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Letter To The Editor: Two topics that Steelworkers are well versed in, and they collided with one another during the recent rupture of the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, now operated by Marathon, spilling over 160,000 gallons of oil into Cahokia Creek in Edwardsville, Illinois. USW members are very familiar with the importance of steel chemistry, especially when the end-product will be a 32-inch spiral-weld pipeline that pumps highly corrosive tar sands, a very heavy oil that requires high pressure to push the product 1,600 miles. Steelworkers and our allies warned TransCanada that the chemistry oversight during production of this steel should have been more vigilant before they chose to procure the order from Wellspun, an India steelmaker. They chose cheap over quality control and long-term integrity. One thousand people rallied in Granite City, Illinois when 260 railcars were being unloaded within the shadows of US Steel/Granite City Works to highlight the many pitfalls, such

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