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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois elected officials and leaders of state educator groups have issued statements in response to a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump dismantling the Department of Education. Gov. JB Pritzker’s Statement on Trump’s Executive Order to Dismantle the Department of Education “President Trump has no plan to improve literacy, math scores, or get more teachers on the job. When Donald Trump attacks education, he is failing America because the success of our students is what will make our economy, future, and nation stronger. “Eliminating the Department of Education will likely have harsh and immediate impacts on Illinois’ students. It will harm students and their families in rural communities who rely on federal funding to keep their schools open. It will remove supports students with disabilities and special needs rely upon. And low-income students who depend on Pell Grants to earn their college degrees will b

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BETHALTO/EAST ALTON - Piston Aviation will host a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration this weekend. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, 2025, community members are invited to Piston Aviation at the St. Louis Regional Airport to enjoy discovery flights and fun. Intro flights cost $75, marked down from their usual $175 price. Attendees can chat with instructors and learn more about what it takes to become a pilot. “Even if you’re just curious, we want you to come by and see us, meet us,” said Meghen Ord, Piston Aviation co-owner. “Come by and have fun. It should be a good time. And if you want to fly, great. If not, if you just want to hang out and see what we’re about, that’s fine as well.” Kids ages 10 and up are eligible for the discovery flights. Anyone under age 12 must be accompanied by a guardian. The Piper Cherokee, a dual plane, will be at the event, as will the Tomark Viper, Diamond DA20, and Bristell.

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GODFREY - Whether you are looking to start a vinyl album collection, looking for that rare album not found on subscription services, or you just want to talk music with true fans, RiverBend Records is your record shop. Unlike subscription music services like Pandora and Spotify, you can get advice from true music professionals. RiverBend Records can help you start or upgrade your music collection. In addition, they help you find the best equipment to play your favorite music. The store opened in October of 2020. Owner Billy Hurst had a career in doing photo shoots for area schools and local sports teams. When the COVID scare brought about a cease of school activities, the need for taking pictures became mostly unnecessary. At that point, Mr. Hurst decided it was a good time to pursue his dream of owning a record shop. It was also about the same period that the current location became available. With the acquisition of the property, Tara Hurst, wife, desired the store to be somethin

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A March 14, 1925, article in the Alton Evening Telegraph announced that a meeting of Alton sportsmen had been called for the following Tuesday night (March 17) at the Mineral Springs Hotel in order to organize a local chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. “The Isaac Walton League is an association of sportsmen fostering good sportsmanship and looking after legislative matters pertaining to game and fish. It has over 100,000 members in various parts of the United States.” A group of sportsmen in Chicago who wanted to protect fishing opportunities for future generations founded the Izaak Walton League in 1922 (Chicago Chapter No. 1). They named the League for Izaak Walton (August 9, 1593 - December 15, 1683), an English biographer and author of “The Compleat Angler.” The book contains poetry, prose, quotes and a fishing manual. Walton published the first edition in 1653, and five revised editions before he died. It has remained continuously in print

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COLLINSVILLE – A Collinsville man faces multiple felonies after devising a scheme to steal $50,000 through a fraudulent “sale” of tablet computers. Matthew L. Leonard, 30, of Collinsville, was charged with theft (a Class 2 felony) and wire fraud (a Class 3 felony) on March 14, 2025. Leonard allegedly told the victim he had 2,000 tablet computers for sale at a price of $50,000 and had them send the full amount via wire transfer. However, Leonard did not actually have any tablets computers for sale, thereby obtaining the money by deception. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office presented the case against Leonard, who was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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ALTON - Alton Pride invites you to get “loud and proud” with a bingo fundraiser. From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at SportsTap, community members are invited to enjoy bingo, prizes, a 50/50 raffle and performances by D.J. MEGO and drag queens Roxie Valentine and Moxie Cotton. Tickets cost $30 or $225 for a table of eight, and all proceeds go back to Alton Pride and their mission to support the local LGBTQ+ community. “We are planning to sell out the event,” said Kole Harre, one of the organizers. “We want to promote Alton Pride as a not-for-profit in the area. But also, it’s a community event for us. It’s gathering people and having a good time, and it’s in the title, ‘loud and proud.’ We want to make sure that we're prevalent in the community and the community is accepting of us, and that people that identify as LGBTQ know they have a place.” Harre explained that the bingo games will begin

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ALTON – Creativity and mental health advocacy come together in an inspiring collaboration between Mooneyham Art, The Milton Schoolhouse, and Centerstone. The Alton Art Expo is a groundbreaking exhibition and community gathering that highlights the healing power of artistic expression. The event will take place on Saturday, March 29th, from Noon to 7 PM, and Sunday, March 30th, from Noon to 5 PM at The Milton Schoolhouse , providing an immersive experience where visitors can explore art’s role in mental health awareness and recovery. Art has long been a tool for self-expression, resilience, and healing. This event creates a welcoming space for artists and community members to engage in meaningful conversations about well-being, creativity, and personal growth. Through a curated selection of artwork, interactive discussions, and expert-led programming, attendees will gain insight into the intersection of art and mental health. “Bringing together artists, mental

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ALTON – Two men were arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following a disturbance involving a large crowd and the open consumption of alcohol in Oakwood Estates, prompting a significant police response. At approximately 8:37 p.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Alton Police Department arrived at the 700 block of Oakwood Estates after receiving reports of the disturbance. Upon their arrival, they observed multiple individuals consuming alcohol in public. Among those present was Justin Glen-Colley, 25, who was known to have an active warrant for domestic battery. As officers attempted to take Glen-Colley into custody, he resisted arrest and attempted to flee in a vehicle. During the struggle, one officer entered the vehicle to restrain him. Glen-Colley then started the vehicle and drove recklessly, endangering the officer. The vehicle struck an Alton Police squad car, a parked vehicle, and a telephone pole before coming to a stop. The situation escalated as several individuals

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BETHALTO - Amanda Winn wants to bring a new voice to the Bethalto school district. Winn, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who she is and what she stands for. She believes there needs to be more transparency and structure to the school board, and she hopes to provide a fresh perspective while advocating for the students. “I’m passionate about this district,” she said. “I love the kids in our community, talking to them and interacting with them. I’ve got four kids of my own that went into this district. It’s a wonderful district. I think I can bring some new ideas and perspectives to the board and get us out of the ‘this is how we’ve always done it.’” Winn graduated from Civic Memorial High School in 1999. Two of her children are currently enrolled at CM. She shared that she volunteers throughout Bethalto “as much as

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BETHALTO - Dana Aronin is new to the school board, but she has a lot of experience with kids. Aronin, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who she is and what she stands for. She joined the board last summer when two vacancies opened up, and she balances her school board position with her work as a pediatric nurse practitioner. “As someone who really wants to achieve good things, I feel like I’m just getting my feet wet in this process and I’m just starting to get a good understanding about how everything works,” she said. “I just don’t feel like I’m done. I would love to continue to be on the board so I can make more positive changes in the community.” Aronin has worked as a leader in the pediatric ICU and the cardiac ICU in hospitals across the Greater St. Louis region. She currently works with Cardinal Glennon as a pediatrics primary

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday, March 20, 2025, that his office has filed felony charges against a Missouri man accused of causing serious injuries to a police officer who was struck by the man’s vehicle during a pursuit. The Brooklyn Police Department officer was attempting to deploy spike strips to stop the vehicle when he was struck early Sunday, March 16, 2025. Haine said he expects evidence to show that the officer suffered a serious injury that nearly severed the officer’s thumb. The defendant, Kendall Brown, 27, of Florissant, Mo., is charged with aggravated battery (Class 1 felony), aggravated battery (Class 3 felony), and two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (Class 4 felony). The charges allege that, while attempting to flee from police, his vehicle struck Brooklyn Officer Josh Dallas, causing great bodily harm to the officer. The most serious of the charges, the Class

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MASCOUTAH - Lukas Fournie, a farmer from Mascoutah, is spearheading a fundraising campaign to recover from significant damage caused by a recent tornado last weekend. The storm destroyed his shed and severely damaged much of his farming equipment, prompting Fournie to seek financial assistance to rebuild and repair his family farm. The tornado struck late Friday night, March 14, 2025, leaving Fournie and his family in urgent need of support to restore their livelihood. "The shed is gone and most of the equipment has major damage," Fournie said regarding the fundraiser. He emphasized the importance of the family farm, saying, "We love our family farm; it's our way of life, and we need to get it back up and running." He said the funds raised would be used to rebuild the shed, repair grain bins, and address damages to the house, farm vehicles, and personal vehicles. Fournie expressed gratitude for any donations, and said, "We would appreciate any donations to help build our farm and

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ALTON - Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski and community members came together to discuss proposed cuts to Medicaid and how the impact this would have on the disability community. On March 20, 2025, IMPACT Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Alton hosted a roundtable discussion with Budzinski and Medicaid recipients and providers, as well as representatives from Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Illinois DHS Rehabilitation Services, IMPACT CIL and the Illinois Council of Developmental Disabilities (ICDD). People shared their personal experiences with Medicaid, and Budzinski said she would take these conversations back to Washington. “I’ve talked about the numbers, but this isn’t just about the numbers. This is about people’s lives,” Budzinski said. “This is about their livelihoods. This is about making sure that we have healthy communities. So I’m going to be fighting like hell in Washington, D.C., to make sure that these cuts

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to expand career and technical education programs to support regional manufacturing. “A lot of kids grow up thinking that college is the only option to be successful, and while a four-year degree is great, there are plenty of high-paying jobs in the manufacturing industry that young people may not know about,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “For many jobs, kids might become interested because of a parent or family member, and we want to open the door for other youth without similar experiences. Further, for kids who may already be interested in technical education, this bill would give them the experience they need to get a job right away.” Senate Bill 58 would expand a current program that is successful in other parts of the state to the Metro East. The program allows manufacturing companies to partner with local community colleges and high schools to set up technical training programs that woul

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GRAFTON - Raging Rivers WaterPark is thrilled to kick off its 36th season with an exciting Spring Sale on admission tickets! From March 21st to March 28th, you can purchase Any Day Admission tickets for just $24.99 online at bit.ly/RiversSpecialEvents . This special offer provides up to $15 off gate admission prices for ages 3 years old and up - making it the perfect opportunity to plan your summer fun. After the Spring Sale ends, one day admission tickets will only be available to purchase starting on May 1st. The park will officially open its gates on May 17th and operate through September 7th, with months of thrilling water attractions and fun events. Highlights of the season include: Big Red Day Firetrucks & More World Wide Technology Raceway Days Magical Mermaid Mondays Family Fun Nights Fireworks Nights New this year, Raging Rivers is enhancing the guest experience with FREE fountain drinks included with admission and season passes, ensuring visitors stay refreshed

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Letter To The Editor: Dear Voting Citizens of Alton, I am writing this letter to joyfully endorse Mayor David Goins for re-election to a second term as Mayor of Alton. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mayor Goins for many years, dating back to his time as a dedicated police officer in our community. His commitment to public service has always been evident, and it has been a privilege to serve alongside him on the Alton School District Board of Education. During his first term as mayor, David has demonstrated exemplary leadership, addressing the needs and concerns of our community with professionalism and integrity. David came into office facing a financial deficit, bank reconciliations not up to date and the challenge of whether or not payroll could be made. He was able to turn the financial deficit into a surplus, bring the bank reconciliations up to date and reverse the worry of making payroll. David had to come in and stabilize the city’s finances

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River’s Tropical Sno location is once again open for the season. Located at 1368 Vaughn Road in Wood River, Tropical Sno will serve the community’s favorite sno cones and, new this year, Dippin’ Dots. Owner David Zimmer is excited to engage with the community once again. “Summer is always awesome when it comes around,” he said. “Everybody is about done with winter by the time we open up. Everybody likes to sit out on the patio and enjoy some Tropical Sno.” Zimmer also owns Tropical Sno, Dippin’ Dots and Lotus Energy in Edwardsville, which is open year-round. He is excited to expand to the Wood River location for the third year in a row. Zimmer predicts the introduction of Dippin’ Dots will be popular in Wood River. The Wood River Tropical Sno also has a drive-thru, which many community members take advantage of in the hot summer months. While school is in session, the Tropical Sno stand’s

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Nancy Ferb, a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator with 28 years of experience, was recognized for her outstanding sales and team leadership at the company’s annual “OnStage” convention held recently in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ferb is a Godfrey resident in the Lakeview Terrace area. Stampin’ Up!, a craft company based in Utah, specializes in products for creating handmade greeting cards and scrapbooking. Established in 1988, the company has expanded its reach to 11 countries worldwide, with its creative stamps manufactured in Kanah, Utah. In addition to her recognition at the convention, Ferb offers creative classes in the Godfrey area, contributing to the local crafting community. Her participation in the convention highlights the company's commitment to celebrating the achievements of its demonstrators and fostering a supportive network among its members.

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BRASELTON, GA. – The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is proud to announce a new sponsorship with the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, which will serve as the Title Sponsor of the Alton Illinois Junior Championship through 2027. This partnership underscores the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau’s commitment to supporting junior golf while promoting the Alton, Illinois region as a premier destination for competitive youth sports. The tournament will continue to attract top junior golfers from across the world to Spencer T. Olin Golf Course, providing a high-caliber competitive experience while showcasing the area’s exceptional golf facilities and hospitality. The 2025 Alton Illinois Junior Championship by UHY will be hosted at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton, Illinois, from June 2-5, 2025. The tournament will return in 2026 and 2027, with dates to be announced at a later date. “I would like to thank the AJGA organization for having th

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PONTOON BEACH – A Granite City man facing his second domestic battery charge been released from custody following a violent altercation. Robert L. Coakley, 41, of Granite City, was charged on March 14, 2025 with aggravated battery (a Class 2 felony) and his second offense of domestic battery (the Class 4 felony). On Dec. 21, 2024, Coakley allegedly strangled a household or family member by “pulling her hoodie against her neck, thereby impending her ability to breathe,” according to court documents. He also reportedly “grabbed her by the hair and ripped a chunk of hair out of her head.” Coakley had previously been convicted of domestic battery in a case from 2008, which was also filed in Madison County. The Pontoon Beach Police Department presented the latest domestic battery case against Coakley, who was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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