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GRANITE CITY – Seniors Aleah Crenshaw and Maddox Kennedy of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 Students of the Month for December. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry, and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character, community involvement, extracurricular activities, honors and award, and scholastic ability. Each student receives a $100 U.S. savings bond and an Elks certificate of achievement. Aleah Crenshaw National Honor Society President ... Four-year member of girls golf and softball team ... Two-year Girls Golf Team Captain ... Member of National Honor Society, Renaissance, Spirit Club, Student Council, and Varsity Club ... Homecoming Court ... Alpha Peer Leader ... Honor Roll ... Saturday

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LINN, MO. - State Technical College of Missouri would like to congratulate December 2022 students who achieved the Dean’s List during the 2022 fall semester. Jerseyville and Godfrey students were recognized on the list. To be placed on the Dean’s List, a full-time student must earn a semester grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0 on a 4-point scale. Godfrey Owen Thomeczek Jerseyville Ryan Eickoff

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Billy Marquez, the uncle of 18-year-old Miguelito Villegas De Santiago, who died in a fatal shooting on Jan. 1, 2023, in Collinsville, has organized a GoFundMe for the final expenses of his nephew. "Miguelito passed away within a few hours after the shooting and his family is torn apart," his uncle said. "He was the oldest of his three siblings. Miguelito was such a happy kid. He was always smiling, was a very respectful young man, and also very hardworking. He loved his mother, father, family, and friends so much. "Miguelito wasn’t the kid to have problems with anyone and that is what hurts us the most. If you can help raise money to help his family with the funeral expenses we would be more than grateful. Thanks in advance." Click here for information on how to donate to Miguelito's GoFundMe .

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COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville Police has released information about a double fatal shooting early New Year's Day morning in the city. This is the Collinsville Police report: At 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2023, the Collinsville Police Department received a 911 call of a disturbance of gunshots being fired in a parking lot at the rear of 103 W. Main Street in downtown Collinsville. Upon officers’ arrival, they immediately encountered two males, who were initially detained at the scene. Collinsville Police Department officers also discovered two additional males had sustained gunshot wounds and began administering CPR as they waited for the arrival of the Collinsville Fire Department paramedics. The following individuals were later pronounced deceased at the scene by the Madison County Coroner’s Office: Ricardo Correa, 20, Collinsville, and Rodolfo Torres-Granado, 24, Granite City. Members of the Collinsville Police learned through numerous witness interviews the incident

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ALTON - It took a little longer than usual, but Alton Memorial Hospital’s first baby delivery of 2023 took place at 6:18 p.m. on Jan. 1. Lucas Timothy Smith was born to Megan and David Smith of Hardin, weighing in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and 20 inches long. Lucas was delivered by Dr. Joseph Talsky. It’s the third child for Megan and David. They also have a 5-year-old son, Gauge; and a 4-year-old daughter, Lillian. Grandparents are Michael and Brenda Smith of Jerseyville, and Tim and Michele Herter of Hardin. David works for Tetratech and Megan is a CNA at Jersey Community Hospital.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 900 block of Thunderhead Drive which resulted in the death of an adult male. On January 2, 2023, at 4:23 PM, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 900 block of Thunderhead Drive. Responding officers located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are conducting the investigation. The investigation is active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information regarding this incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

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BELLEVILLE - The law firm of Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., is pleased to announce that Allyson T. Schwab has been named shareholder effective January 1, 2023. Ally has been an associate with MM&R since February 2018. Ally focuses her practice in the areas of business law, including mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, estate planning/administration, and real estate law. Ally enjoys the diversity of her practice, serving both individual and corporate clients. Ally graduated from the University of Illinois School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She then attended the University of Illinois Law School where she graduated magna cum laude. During her tenure at Illinois law, Ally won the awards for best oralist and best brief in the Frederick Green Moot Court Competition and competed on the College of Law’s National Moot Court Team. Ally is also the recipient of a Rickert Award for excellence in advocacy. She is licensed in Illinois

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CHICAGO - January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is partnering with The Power Project to train group home and residential care facility staff across Illinois on how to identify, intervene and prevent human trafficking among their youth in treatment. Nearly 1,000 congregate care staff in 37 facilities across the state completed Commercial Sexual Exploitation 101 training in 2022. “As a former youth in care, I realize that I could have very easily become a victim of human trafficking when I was younger, and now it’s my passion to look for ways to prevent youth from being trafficked in the first place. It is so much easier to keep a kid from being broken, rather than trying to put them back together,” said The Power Project Founder and CEO Mieko Taylor. “A key part of prevention is helping create safe spaces for youth to get help when they have been identified as a victim of trafficking.

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ALTON - From 6:30 to 8 p.m. on January 10, join Illinois Metro East Sierra Club staffers, Virginia Woulfe-Biele and Sally Burgess, as well as Diana Karin (Alton Yard Farms) to learn more about how the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is being implemented across Illinois. CEJA is nation-leading legislation that promises to bring training and jobs to communities in and around the Metro East as well as accelerate the transition from a fossil fuel economy to renewable energy. Virginia, Sally, and Diana have all trained as CEJA Ambassadors and are deeply committed to helping others better understand this 900-page piece of legislation! To register to attend this event (in-person or via Zoom), go to the events calendar on our website: https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades . If you have questions, please contact Chris Krusa at 410-490-5024. Attendees and friends are invited to have dinner and meet the speakers at the Old Bakery Beer Company at 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, IL

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STAUNTON – The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) recently recognized Community Hospital of Staunton for its ongoing commitment to exceptional quality of care, during a ceremony held November 10th at the I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign, IL. As part of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program (MBQIP), Community Hospital and other critical access hospitals were asked to voluntarily participate in four defined domains of quality outcomes. These four domains include: Patient Safety/Inpatient; Patient Engagement; Care Transitions; and Outpatient Measures. “Often, in rural hospitals, having a devoted staff member to abstract and submit this data can be both time-consuming and burdensome,” said Laura Fischer, ICAHN Flex Grant Project Manager. “This hospital realizes how important quality of care and an engaged staff is for its patients…From its top leadership on throughout the facility,

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ST. LOUIS - Following their insanely popular west coast arena run, comedy legends Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle announce the addition of five shows in 2023 to their wildly successful co-headlining U.S. tour. Produced by Live Nation, the new performances from arguably the two greatest stand-up comedians of their generation will take place this month in Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Memphis, Birmingham, and Charleston. TICKETS General sales for tickets will begin Friday, January 6 at 10AM local time on Ticketmaster.com . CHRIS ROCK & DAVE CHAPPELLE 2023 U.S. CO-HEADLINING TOUR: Fri Jan 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center ***Sun Jan 22 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center*** Mon Jan 23 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum Wed Jan 25 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena Fri Jan 27 – Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum MORE ABOUT THE SHOWS No cell phones, cameras or recording devices will be allowed at this show. Upon

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ST. LOUIS - Following a successful launch in its hometown area of St. Louis, Missouri, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is expanding its “Flexforce” employment option to additional locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. In addition to the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan stores, Schnucks now offers the Flexforce employment option in the following areas: Illinois Alton, Belleville, Bethalto, Bloomington, Cahokia, Centralia, Champaign, Cherry Valley, Collinsville, Columbia, DeKalb, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Godfrey, Granite City, Loves Park, Mahomet, Normal, O’Fallon, Rockford, Roscoe, Savoy, Swansea, Urbana, Waterloo, and Wood River Indiana Evansville and Newburgh Missouri Cape Girardeau, Sullivan, and Union Schnucks Flexforce teammates can optimize their work schedules by selecting shifts and store locations that best fit their personal schedules while creating opportunities for growth and learning at a pace determined b

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SPRINGFIELD - Madison County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0618, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland and farm buildings assessed according to

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater will produce the Broadway Musical, SHE LOVES ME for eight performances from January 20th thru 29th at the ALT Showplace. Audiences will feel a familiar charm since this lyrical tale became the inspiration for "The Shop Around the Corner" in the 1950s and "When Harry Met Sally" in the '80s. The show was recently revived on Broadway and caught the attention of ALT's Season Director, Brant McCance. Brant and Woody Woodiel (Musical Director) were captivated by the setting in a picturesque European village (pre-World War II in 1933); the perfect setting for lonely hearts to find each other under the most amusing circumstances. This most lyrical and lovely tale is performed by a cast of fourteen talents - many new, some returning, and a few ALT favorites. Abigail Alsmeyer and Kurtis Leible recreate the leading roles, with a little mayhem and mischief provided by Grace Costello and Klye Morr. The talented ensemble is portrayed by Ian Wonders, Christopher Plotts,

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ALTON - The New iMerge Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for youth, is off and running in strong fashion after a large turnout on Friday night at 200 W. Third St. in Alton. IMerge is the name for the new operators of the old Riverbender Community Center. “I was very happy about tonight’s turnout. We are hopeful to continue and excited to continue the mission of the community center,” iMerge owner Brigit Holt said. “It was so much fun, and the kids had a blast.” Daniel Nosce, the iMerge Assistant Director said: “I was so delighted to see the smiling faces of all those that missed coming to the community center. It means a lot to me, and I really hope that the community can rally behind the mission of this memorable and unique organization. Our youth need gems like the iMerge Community Center. It’s one of the many places that make Alton special.” There were a variety of activities Friday night from music to a balloon drop, and

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SPRINGFIELD – As the New Year begins, employers and employees across the State should be aware of new laws taking effect that impact workplace rights. “Legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2022 expands upon and changes certain rights and protections in the workplace,” said Illinois Department of Labor Acting Director Jane Flanagan. “It’s important for employers and employees to be aware of the new laws taking effect January 1st, and those already in effect.” In 2019, Governor Pritzker led the effort to increase the minimum wage for workers in Illinois. The law passed increases the wage by $1 every year through 2025. This year the minimum wage increased to $13 an hour, and $7.80 an hour for tipped workers. Workers in the Chicago and Cook County areas should be aware that the minimum wage may be higher there due to local ordinances. Unpaid leave rights are being expanded for employees. Th

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DELHI - Delhi Baptist Church, 18151 Church Lane, Jerseyville, will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023. Appointments can be scheduled at RedCrossBlood.org and enter DelhiBaptist or use the direct link: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor =DelhiBaptist January is National Blood Donor Month, the perfect time to make a lifesaving donation, organizers of the blood drive said. "The American Red Cross is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donation," blood drive organizers added. "This blood drive is an opportunity to help save lives. "Blood donations help ensure that patients have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs. Blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer donors, and blood products must be constantly replenished." Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those

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MARYVILLE - Anderson Hospital in Maryville is pleased to introduce its first baby of 2023. Anderson released the information on Monday and said: "Join us in welcoming Zyaire Jordan T. to the world." "Zyaire was born today at 11:38 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and 19.5 inches long. Welcome, Zyaire!"

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ALTON - St. Mary's Catholic Church Father Christopher Uhl issued a statement after Pope Benedict XVI died. "Please pray for the repose of his soul...Bishop Paprocki has sent these suggested prayers... Pastors should notify their faithful of his death and request their prayers for the repose of the soul of the Pope Emeritus, especially the recitation of the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be to the Father. The following prayer, adapted from the Order of Christian Funerals, may also be suggested: O God, from whom the just receive an unfailing reward, grant that your servant Benedict XVI, our Pope Emeritus, whom you made Vicar of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may rejoice for ever in the vision of your glory, for he was a faithful steward here on earth of the mysteries of your forgiveness and grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace, Father Ohl

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GRANITE CITY/WOOD RIVER - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host two in-person “Open House” meetings later this month to introduce Madison County residents to their updated preliminary flood insurance rate maps. The Madison County public is invited to attend these meetings to learn more about how the new maps may impact their property and flood insurance rates. The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Granite City Township Hall, located at 2060 Delmar Ave. in Granite City. The second meeting will be held the next day, Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Wood River Public Library, located at 326 E. Ferguson Ave. in Wood River. Both meetings are scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., but attendees don’t need to be there at exactly 5:30 p.m., and they don’t have to stay the entire time. The event will have “information stations” with different experts, so attendees can choose which stations they want to visit. There will

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