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EDWARDSVILLE – The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) recognized 32 nurse anesthesia doctoral candidates for the hard work they have put into preparing for their clinical training with a White Coat Ceremony held Friday, March 4. The registered nurses from the Midwest region are specializing in the practice of nurse anesthesia. The students were chosen from a competitive pool of more than 150 applicants and will graduate in 2024 as the SON’s seventh cohort of doctorally-prepared nurse anesthesiologists. “The impetus for developing this ceremony came from the desire to recognize the hard work our nurse anesthesia doctoral candidates put into preparing for their clinical training in anesthesia,” said Kevin Stein, DNAP, CRNA, chair of the SON’s Department of Nurse Anesthesiology. “These students spent four years preparing to become registered nurses, have worked at the bedside in critical care units providing for the needs

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EDWARDSVILLE - “All Aboard!” is an upcoming exhibit at the Edwardsville Children’s Museum centered around trains which will bring a weekend jam-packed with events for its grand opening. The festivities will begin the night of Friday, March 25 for a free members-only grand opening event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The first 15 registrants will have the opportunity to create their own wooden train car. The exhibit will open to the public the following morning, March 26 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. That afternoon from 1-3 p.m., there will be a Train Car Workshop. The first 15 registrants for this event will also have the opportunity to create their own wooden train car. Sensory Time will be held in the train exhibit on Sunday, March 27 from 1-3 p.m. This will be limited to 8 children and registration is required. The exhibit will also feature a 550-pound model train table designed by Tom Stephenson, which will be showcased at the National Train Show at the Collinsville Gateway

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SPRINGFIELD – To address the teacher shortage, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) supported the passage of a package of legislative measures to help recruit substitute teachers, teacher assistants, and support educators in the classroom. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are more than 4,000 unfilled positions in schools. “As chair of the Senate Education Committee and a former school board member, I know how essential it is that we address the shortage head-on,” Belt said. “My colleagues and I have been working to combat the teacher shortage to ensure our children are getting the best educational experience and opportunities for their futures.” Belt supported the following legislative measures: Senate Bill 3915 – Would waive the application fee for short-term substitute teaching licensees when the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Senate Bill 3988 – Would lower the

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EDWARDSVILLE – The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has welcomed Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Mingjun Ma, PhD. Ma joins NCERC’s growing team of researchers who focus on a variety of research topics that help support the expansion of the bioeconomy in the U.S. and globally. The Post-Doctoral Research Fellow program is supported through funding from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board which has been a longtime supporter of the NCERC and its workforce training programs. “We’re extremely grateful for Dr. Ma’s arrival to our team. We have big plans to expand our research services and expertise in 2022 and he will play a critical role in doing so,” said John Caupert, NCERC Executive Director. “We’re particularly excited to utilize his skill sets in Lifecycle Analysis and Technoeconomic Analysis as we take the next steps in projects related to novel uses of bio-based feedstocks and

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GRAFTON - Emergency preparedness is high on the list of priorities for Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow because of his long-time Corps of Engineers career. Morrow has a broad understanding of river flooding and proper preparedness because of his previous service as a Corps of Engineers supervisor that spanned several decades. Each year, Grafton has an Emergency Management Committee Meeting and one was held last week at Grafton City Hall. In attendance was Doug Downey, IEMA Operations, Keith Norman, Jersey County EMA, Hal Graef PM and Jennifer Moehlmann from the Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, Cindy Cregmiles, CFM and Derek Russell from the Jersey County Code Administrators office along with the Grafton Committee members. The group reviewed and discussed the newly updated Grafton Emergency Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual. “The time to prepare for an emergency is when there is no emergency,” said Mayor Morrow as he welcomed the group. The mayor explained that

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ALTON - Mississippi Valley Christian School recently had its first induction ceremony for the new MVCS Riverbend Chapter of the American Christian Honor Society. The first induction ceremony for the group was on Tuesday, February 22. The Honor Society’s goals are to “advance Christian scholarship, challenge Christian leadership, honor Christian character, and stimulate Christian service.” After a rigorous selection process, the following seven students were the first to be inducted into MVCS’s American Christian Honor Society: Olivia Allen, Jonah Feuerhak, Drew Gaworski, Sarah Markel, Timothy Vaughn, Caleb Waddell, and Peyton Wright. The inductees’ families joined the student body and faculty in honoring the inductees with a formal candle lighting and pinning ceremony.

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WACO, Texas - Jerseyville native Faith Franke was named recently to the fall Dean's List in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The Dean's Academic Honor List recognizes Baylor undergraduates for their outstanding academic work during each semester. Students honored on the Dean’s List earned a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.70 with no grade lower than a "C" while enrolled in at least 12 graded semester hours.

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WOOD RIVER - Work is moving along as planned with the East End Retention Project, along Illinois 143 in Wood River, near the Kia dealership, Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said late last week. The project is funded by a 1 percent sales tax from a vote in 2019. Stalcup said pipe will be placed in the area to remove water. Also, he said a retention pond is in the works. He said it is amazing how much the ground has been raised. “Before that area was always saturated with water when we had heavy rains,” he said. “Sometimes before the water would back up and go across Illinois Route 143 when it was heavy enough. That problem will be resolved with this work.” The area will be developed commercially once this East End Retention Project is finished. “We haven’t had anyone decide yet decide to locate there but we have had some inquiries,” Stalcup said of the area just outside the Kia dealership in Wood River. “We are excited about the future

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The Illinois State Police (ISP) commissioned 29 new Troopers of Cadet Class 133 at a graduation ceremony at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield, Illinois on Friday, March 4. The new Troopers will report to two ISP patrol districts in the Chicago area on Monday, March 7, 2022. “The new troopers of Cadet Class 133 embody the excellence that defines the Illinois State Police, and I wish them a heartfelt congratulations as they step into their new roles,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to have worked with the Illinois General Assembly to rebuild ISP by adding hundreds of sworn officers to our forces after their numbers were severely reduced over the last two decades. The 29 individuals who join the force today are leaders in their communities who have committed to serve and protect, and I am so grateful for their commitment. We couldn’t keep our residents safe without them.” Cadet Class 133 marks the fifth cadet class graduation under

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A Cahokia woman - Jasmine Davison - was sentenced to eighteen months in prison on Friday, March 4, 2022, for her involvement in an ID-theft scam from 2015 to 2018. Davison, 29, and her fellow conspirators used the stolen names and social security numbers of real people to set up new cellular service accounts at Sprint stores across Southern Illinois. In addition, they used the accounts to acquire cellular telephones without paying for them and resold the phones to other cellular retail stores for cash. Davison is the third defendant to be sentenced in the case. On February 18, 2021, Michael Henderson was sentenced to serve 24 months and 1 day in prison. Kyetia Hines was sentenced on May 5, 2021, to serve 28 months, 4 of which ran concurrent with a prior sentence. Antoinette Davis, the last defendant in the case, is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Cahokia Police

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PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that intermittent lane restrictions will begin on IL 111 between Horseshoe Lake Rd. and Collinsville Rd. on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, weather permitting. Two-way traffic will be maintained through the work zone by the use of flaggers. This work is needed do pavement repairs and place a new asphalt driving surface. The work is expected to be completed by the end of June. 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. The contractor on this project is the Christ Brothers Asphalt 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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ST. LOUIS - On Thursday, March 10, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and World Wide Technology Chairman and Founder Dave Steward will host a tech summit for fellow Black mayors at the company’s headquarters. Interim Public Safety Director Dr. Dan Isom will also present to participants an overview of public safety strategies in St. Louis, including the city’s alternative response models, after the city saw a decrease in homicides between 2020 and 2021 of more than 25 percent. “Putting St. Louis back on the map means building relationships with other cities and leaders to learn from each other,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I’m thrilled to host the first in a series of mayoral summits across the country right here in St. Louis at the largest Black-owned business in the U.S, World Wide Technology.” Participants include Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis Jr; Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin; Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin; East Baton

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For current information regarding Lewis and Clark Community College’s operations during the pandemic, please visit lc.edu/coronavirus.com . Recurring event: Alton Area Tax Project: 5-7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, Templin Nursing Building, NU201, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. Appointments are required. To schedule, visit https://AltonAreaTaxProject.com/appointment or call (314) 292-9597. 3/5-3/6 – Trailblazers Baseball vs. Kirkwood: noon, Saturday and Sunday, Godfrey Ball Park, 1401B Stamper Ln., Godfrey. (618) 468-5253. 3/7 – Trailblazers Softball vs. St. Louis Community College: 2 p.m., Godfrey Ball Park, 1401B Stamper Ln., Godfrey. (618) 468-6270. 3/7 – Black Student Art Show: noon-2 p.m., The Commons, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. (618) 468-3270. 3/8 -- L&C Board of Trustees Regular Meeting: 6 p.m., Ahlemeyer Atrium, Trimpe (TR 141), Lewis and

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), James Risch (R-ID), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today urged the Biden Administration to accelerate the sale of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks and advanced armor packages to Poland. The letter also asks the Biden Administration to engage with additional NATO allies to determine if the Russian Federation’s brutal act of war requires the U.S to develop and execute any additional sales to strengthen the military capabilities of other NATO members. “Dramatically strengthening Poland’s ground forces will also strengthen NATO’s collective defensive capabilities and serve as a powerful deterrent against the Russian Federation launching additional military incursions in Europe beyond Ukraine,” the Senators wrote. “Vladimir Putin is brutal dictator and thug who seeks to intimidate and bully members of the NATO Alliance, the European Union and all members of the international

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GODFREY - Godfrey Fire Protection District Lt. Chris Stratton and Capt. Chris Dennison set out on a long 40-pound ruck fund-raising adventure this past Saturday and went past 20 miles, all the way to Pere Marquette State Park then partially back to Godfrey Fire House, where they started. The two and some others, who joined them, did the fund-raising event for BackStoppers Inc. and FOB Rasor. Saturday was the third anniversary since March 5, 2019, when Godfrey Fire Capt. Jake Ringering died while battling a blaze on Culp Lane in Bethalto. Jake was 37 at the time when a wall collapsed on March 5, 2019, killing him and injuring three other firefighters. Firefighter Luke Warner was the other most seriously injured suffering two broken legs but did return to duty after a long recovery. Godfrey Fire Chief Eric Cranmer said he couldn't be more proud of the two men and the others who walked in the fund-raiser in memory of Jake Ringering. "It was a great honor to Jake what they did," he said.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Jude Henke, a senior swimmer for Father McGivney Catholic, made history by becoming the first-ever Griffins' swimmer to qualify for the IHSA state meet, going 21.66 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle at the sectional swim meet Saturday afternoon at the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center in Edwardsville. Henke's qualifying time was one-tenth of a second faster than the qualifying time of 21.76 needed for non-winners of the event to go through to state. For his historic qualification to the state swimming meet, Henke has been named the school's Byron, Carlson, Petri and Kalp Athlete of the Month. In an interview that followed his race in the 100-yard freestyle, Henke felt he swam well in both of his races. "The 100 was a little bit slower, but I've always been stronger in the 50," Henke said. To qualify for state fulfills a lifelong dream for Henke, and he was very happy about the accomplishment. "It's been a goal since freshman year, so I finally made it," he said with a smile.

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PEORIA - The omicron variant is loosening its grip on the United States, as COVID-19 cases continue their sharp decline. Mask mandates are lifting and hospitals are getting a much-needed respite from near-capacity inpatient cases. Despite this positive trend, however, health care experts want parents of recently COVID-positive kids to watch for symptoms of an inflammatory syndrome that can manifest weeks after infection. The shock-like syndrome, dubbed "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children" (MIS-C) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mimics a relatively rare inflammatory illness called Kawasaki disease. MIS-C comes with fever, red eyes, swelling of hands and feet, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. “It looks a little bit like Kawasaki disease or sometimes like Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome or Staph scalded skin syndrome. Some of these children tested positive for coronavirus or tested positive for antibodies to the virus, indicating previous

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URBANA - When I want to get inspired by my work with local small farmers, I make my way to Clara Joyce Flowers . There, farmer Drew Groezinger inevitably has something new going on. My visits have coincided with high tunnels being erected, a field of newly planted hemp, propagation houses busting at the seams with trays ready to be planted, preparation for social media launches, the creation of value-added products, and an innovative evolution of a farmstand. In my years of these ‘drop-ins’, the most dramatic change is the transition from colorful fields of vegetables to cascading seas of dahlias, ranunculus, sunflowers, peonies, and other specialty cut flowers. To understand Clara Joyce Flowers and the work that Drew and his team do is to first understand that it was not “always flowers but it was always going to be flowers.” As a seventh-generation resident of Jo Daviess County in the Driftless Region of Northwest Illinois, Drew grew up surrounded by rolling

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The Conversation — When Russia invaded Ukraine , I responded like many Americans: by making charitable donations . I was able to make my gift with confidence because I’m a scholar of nonprofits who has studied giving during disasters and other crises . Mostly I’ve studied how charities help local communities after events like hurricanes and earthquakes , rather than war zones. But I’m also a human being, with friends and colleagues who are Ukrainian. Empathy and a personal connection to a cause are often what motivates donors to act . You can wisely choose causes with the potential to do the most good in the middle of this humanitarian crisis by giving with your head as well as your heart. Here are the five guidelines I follow in my own giving decisions: 5 guidelines for donors 1) Send money to organizations, not strangers Crowdfunding and social media fundraising campaigns have become so common that when I recently searched GoFundMe, i

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The Center Square – The search is on for the coolest thing made in Illinois. The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is launching its third annual “Makers Madness” contest in which the public will vote which product earns the 2022 title. IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler notes that Illinois manufacturers produce everything from life-saving vaccines to components used for space exploration, and there is no reason why Illinois shouldn’t be the nation’s leader in the manufacturing industry. “We have everything it takes to be successful,” Denzler said. “We have a modern infrastructure system, we have great colleges and universities, we have an educated workforce, we have reliable and low-cost energy, and we are the only state in the nation with all seven Class 1 railroads.” Previous contest winners include a mining truck made by Caterpillar Inc., which is the world’s largest mechanical truck, and a self-regulating traffic

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