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WOOD RIVER - The new Sports Barn business is starting to go in the air on Old St. Louis-Alton Road close to I-255 and Illinois Route 143. Concrete footing work appears to be set and now the walls are being constructed at the new 37,500-square-foot structure in Wood River. The new Sports Barn will feature batting cases, pitching development, a turf infield, and more inside the training facility for baseball and softball players. The Gators Baseball Academy a baseball and softball club for ages 6 to 18 will be the prime occupants of the new facility.

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GLEN CARBON – Kaitlyn Hatley is one of a group of runners who have become a treasure for Father McGivney head cross country and track coach Jim Helton and the school in recent years. Kaitlyn and her close friend and teammate Elena Rybak have scorched about every course they have run on this year, running away from the other competitors at nearly every meet. Kaitlyn was second at the recent Gateway Conference Meet at Father McGivney on Oct. 10, 2023, with a time of 18:04.2 on the three-mile course. She was second in the Madison County Invite on Oct. 3, 2023, with a time of 18:25.7. Kaitlyn is a Byron, Carlson, Petri and Kalb Female Athlete of Month for the Griffins. Hatley has also had a remarkable track and field career at McGivney and ran a 2:16.31 at the IHSA State Meet last year in the 800 meters and was a member of the second place 4 x 800 relay team that finished in a time of 9:35.35 for second at state. She broke 60 seconds (59.68) at last year’s Madison County outdoors

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EDWARDSVILLE - Parker McMillian a junior midfielder for the boys' soccer team at Edwardsville High has provided a spark for the Tigers late in the season. McMillan scored the only goal for the Tigers in a 6-1 loss to traditional power CBC on Sept. 30. At the time, the Tigers were 8-5-1 after the loss, but in their final week of the regular season, Edwardsville won three in a row to make the final regular season record 11-5-1 as the Tigers start their postseason journey Oct. 17 at home against Alton in their own IHSA Class 3A regional. In a post-match interview that followed the loss to the Cadets, McMillian saw the game as a learning opportunity for the Tigers and a chance to improve. "I think we can still make a good turnaround and there's a lot of good spirit on this team," he said that night. "And I think if we can come together, we can have a good rest of the season and have a good playoff season." McMillan is a Johnston Law Firm Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. McMillan's

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri starting, weather permitting, Friday, Oct. 20, at 9 p.m. One lane will always remain open. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 23. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. 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 - On October 12, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) commemorated its 20 th year with an annual meeting and luncheon. In addition to being National Farmer’s Day, there was plenty to celebrate: NCERC reported 100% employment of students in the private sector, profits of $1.9 million for the fiscal year, and proprietary research in the fermentation lab securing its place as a lead partner in the biofuel industry. NCERC reinvests more than 80% of its surplus and attracts both grant-funded and sponsored research, leading to contracts in agricultural innovation. “America’s farmers feed, fuel and clothe the world,” said John Caupert, a farmer and the executive director of NCERC. For fiscal year 2023, NCERC launched a new program titled “Careers in Biotechnology.” Caupert champions the center as a significant contributor to the economic development in the region and

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Downtown Country Christmas festival is “very close to a Hallmark movie.” Michael Ward, the president of the organization, has heard this sentiment more than once in the nine years since the festival began. Scheduled for Nov. 25, 2023, the event brings families to downtown Jerseyville for a completely free day of Christmas crafts and games — and a special jolly visitor. “Our family was very big on Christmas and family tradition, so it’s nice to be able to pass that stuff along to other families,” Ward said. “The biggest thing is that it’s for the kids. No matter the social standing or financial standing of the family, the kids can participate, and that’s what we really wanted to create.” The day starts at 1 p.m. with Santa’s arrival at Lions Club Park. He will set up his chair at Royal Bank downtown so kids can visit and take free photos with him throughout the afternoon. At City Center

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released a statement for the record for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Name, Image, and Likeness, and the Future of College Sports.” Today’s hearing will examine different federal name, image, and likeness (NIL) legislative proposals and seek to establish what is truly in the best interests of college athletes. Durbin said: “College sports is a big business that generates big profits. Over the past 20 years, college sports revenue has grown from $4.3 billion to $16.6 billion—an increase of 400 percent. And that number continues to grow.” “Yet, little of this money has made its way to the athletes who made these record-breaking profits possible. Until recently, NCAA rules not only prevented college athletes from receiving compensation for their participation in sports, they also prohibited those athletes from

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker joined several local stakeholders today for the Illinois Medium- and Heavy- Duty Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy Bootcamp hosted by the Electrification Coalition. The event was an opportunity for Illinois legislators, companies, and environmental organizations to convene to advance Illinois’ commitment to fighting climate change with transitions to zero-emission vehicles. “As Governor, I’m working with industry partners to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and to fight climate change,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m excited to welcome the Electrification Coalition to Illinois, as our state’s manufacturing workforce is best-in-the-nation and second-to-none. Together, we have an opportunity to shape the next frontier of electrification – and it starts right here.” Governor Pritzker delivered the keynote address to kick off the day-long conference, emphasizing recent action

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State employees will begin sporting brand new navy-blue vests at all 138 DMV facilities statewide as part of a rebranding effort aimed at improving the overall customer experience, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today. As part of the announcement, Giannoulias’ office released a video displaying the new vests, which were union made in Illinois, that the more than 1,800 DMV employees started wearing today. “The vests will make it easier for all DMV visitors to immediately identify employees as they walk in while creating a sense of professionalism and approachability that will improve customer satisfaction,” Giannoulias said. “They will also help build a sense of teamwork and enhance the workplace environment for employees.” The rebranding effort will also include: redesigning DMV facilities to improve flow and functionality; negotiating new leases to enhance DMV office space, add amenities an

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PHOENIX – Sparklight® Business, a leading broadband communications provider, today announced the launch of Business Wi-Fi Plus, an always-on, mesh Wi-Fi solution tailored for small-to-medium-sized businesses that guarantees uninterrupted coverage, keeping businesses and their customers securely connected while delivering optimal speed and performance. Teaming up with eero, an Amazon company, Sparklight Business will offer the eero Pro6E to deliver comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage throughout the business, creating a wide-ranging signal that blankets the location with coverage. Powered by the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, Business Wi-Fi Plus connects and transmits wirelessly up to 1 Gig, while eero’s patented TrueMesh technology dynamically routes data through the fastest path in the network, giving businesses a fast, reliable experience they can count on. With world-class encryption and security protocols, eero systems are compatible with the strongest security standards

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ALTON - Alderwoman Rosetta “Rosie” Brown, Founder of Socks for Tots LLC, is announcing her eighth annual Socks For Tots Drive will begin November through December 2023. "It’s time to replenish the socks inventory for our youth," Brown said. She added that her mission each year is to “Heat the Feet” of school-age children. "Last year with the help of our community, I was able to provide over 6,000 pairs of socks to schools, daycares, the Oasis Women Center, Boys and Girls Club and Catholic Children’s Home," she said. "Let’s really make an impact on the lives of our children by collectively donating toward this initiative. My goal for this year is 10,000 pairs of socks." Boxes will be placed in several venues, including the Alton and Wood River Rotary Clubs, Alton Democratic Party, YWCA, Alton City Hall, Today’s Beauty, Bluff City, US Nails, Lovettes, Athletico, New Beginning, Turning Heads, Marcia’s Daycare, Maxine’s Daycare,

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GRANITE CITY - Nick Novacich, recently appointed chief of Granite City Police, along with a public safety telecommunicator, will visit the Riverbend Head Start and Family Services Granite City South location from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Novacich is a 23-year veteran of the Department and was appointed to Chief from Assistant Chief of Police in September 2023. The RHSFS Granite City South location is located at 1249 20th Street, Granite City, IL., 62040. Novacich has played a vital role in the Granite City community during his 23-plus years with the department. He said his hope in his new role as chief is to work "to build new and strengthen existing relationships with various businesses and groups within the Granite City community."

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EDWARDSVILLE - Out of the artistic strokes of varying browns, the shades of burnt orange, the canary yellows and somber grays, emerges a remarkable, pictorial story and heritage – still unknown to many – that illustrates the history of America’s oldest Black incorporated town. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Duenne Schlarman , a Master of Fine Arts candidate, long-time artist and veteran educator, recently completed a mural inside of the Senior Citizens Center in Brooklyn. “I was extremely honored to have been asked to do this mural,” said Schlarman. “I read and researched heavily for this project. It was a tremendously heartfelt and emotional experience for me.” The SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) allocated a portion of an Illinois Invocation Network grant to fund the mural, according to Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, SSCC director, professor of sociology and interim director for the Southern Illinoi

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GRAFTON - This weekend, witches and warlocks are invited to Grafton for a night of contests, vendors, food specials and boozy potions. The sixth annual “Witches on the Water” event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. From 5 p.m. to the witching hour, people can meet at Mason Hollow Park in Grafton to check out vendors and transportation will be provided throughout the night to Grafton’s bars, restaurants and shops for Halloween-themed specials. “Basically, witches and warlocks putting on their best costumes and coming down to Grafton and having a great time,” explained Jessica Hayes, one of the four volunteer organizers. “It is all throughout the town. All of the businesses participate with us. All of them have contests or food specials, drink specials, entertainment of some sort, their own contests, drawings, prizes. So really, it’s about us all coming together as a community and putting on a great event for everyone to enjoy.”

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ALTON – RiverWorks Discovery is hosting a Who Works the Rivers event in partnership with the maritime industry at the National Great Rivers Museum. Wednesday, October 18 , approximately 165 students from six area high schools will attend. The event will be from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Students will engage with industry representatives by participating in interactive stations at the National Great Rivers Museum. The stations are designed to show a snapshot of what a career on the river entails. Stations include everything from line throwing and handling, learning about commodities shipped on the river, firefighting, handling safety equipment and more. Marine industry partners for this event include: Alberici Ceres Barge Lines & Ceres Consulting Waterways Council, Inc. Mike’s ADM Osage Marine Services Ingram 5R Enterprises, LLC US Army Corps of Engineers (STL District) HUMCO Marine Products An exciting addition to this program is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Melvin

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced lane restrictions will be encountered, weather permitting, on westbound Interstates 55/70 between Illinois Route 203 and the MLK Bridge ramp, in St. Clair County, beginning 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, through 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. The westbound outside right lane will be closed continuously during this time. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., an additional westbound lane will also be closed. All entrance and exit ramps will remain open. These restrictions are needed to complete pavement repair work. IDOT District 8 Operations will make the needed improvements. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. 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

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GRANITE CITY - Junior midfielder David Ruiz is a key member of the Granite City High boys soccer team who has played well for the Warriors, despite a 2-9-2 record the team will carry into an IHSA Class 3A regional game at Belleville West on Oct. 17 against top-seeded O'Fallon. Ruiz, however, knows that despite the team having a youth movement after graduation depleted the team of all of its starters from the season before, the Warriors will work hard and do what's needed to come out on top and make a good postseason run. The Granite City junior is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. Granite City ended its regular season on Oct. 12 losing to Collinsville 3-0 in the inaugural playing of the Paz Cup, a new traveling trophy named for Alex Paz, a former Granite City goalie and current Collinsville resident who owns a popular photography business and is a prominent fixture at both Warrior and Kahok games. The Warriors fought the Kahoks hard throughout

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ALTON – YWCA is pleased announce that registration is open to students in grades 1, 2, 3, or 4 in our free Riverbend Reading Club. Riverbend Reading Club is designed bring struggling readers and writers to grade level in a small, relaxed environment. YWCA utilizes the renowned Fontas & Pinnel Leveled Literacy Curriculum which supplements local school district’s curriculum. Students are grouped with other students at similar reading levels into small groups. Sessions run Monday through Thursday, 3 pm – 5pm and each session lasts approximately 45 minutes. YWCA is offering Riverbend Reading Club at two locations --- our 3 rd St location in Alton and at the Alton Housing Oakwood Resource Center. We work with parents to adjust student’s bus schedule if needed to allow for transportation to our site. The Riverbend Reading Club, providing short intensive sessions, is designed to show significant growth in reading level and literacy within 14 to 18 weeks of regular

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ALTON - The landscape of chain-operated drug stores is rapidly changing with the closings and consolidations of several CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens stores. The CVS store at 2422 College Ave. located in the heart of Alton has announced it will close by the end of November 2023. The CVS Store at 2811 Homer M. Adams Parkway in the Alton Schnucks was contacted and said it will remain open even after the store at 2422 College Ave. closes to customers. The College Avenue store in Alton has been located across the street from a Walgreens store. The store does not have a massive liquidation sale on tap yet, although one of the more popular present items is pajama pants, listed at discount prices. Those who have prescriptions at CVS in Alton are encouraged to come in person to the store or contact the pharmacy at (618) 465-3434. CVS managed to weather the post-COVID recovery with as much grace as possible in the sector. Still, the largest drugstore in America said in mid-September that it

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a group of 26 lawmakers, led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), in sending a bipartisan letter calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to reduce energy costs for Americans through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment or energy crisis assistance. In a letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the 28 Senators urged the Biden Administration to include supplemental LIHEAP funding in any additional request submitted for Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations. “Amid increased energy prices resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine and inflationary pressures, LIHEAP has become

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