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ALTON - Tractor Supply Company is inviting customers to celebrate the Halloween season with a pet photo event at its Alton store. On Oct 28, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., customers can bring in their four-legged family members, with or without costume, to have their photos taken by a local photographer. The first 25 participants will also receive a free magnetic picture frame. "At Tractor Supply, we understand that pets are a part of the family. That's why we're excited to host an event that will create Halloween memories for pet owners and animals alike," said Michael Webb, manager of the Alton Tractor Supply store. "Our customers love their furry best friends, and we want to make sure this Halloween is one they won't forget." Participating event partners will include: VIP PetCare On site 9:30am to 11:30am Pet Costume Contest and Photos On site 9:30am to 3:00pm Trunk or Treating On site 9:30am to 3:00pm In addition to the pet photos, customers will also

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WOOD RIVER - Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at EAWR High School. A Senior student is selected each month by members of the EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000.00 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. October's winner is Samuel Howard. Sam is a Senior at EAWR and is involved with the Student Council, Honor Society, Spirit Club, Peer Leadership, and Madison County Youth Council. Sam has received honors for Gold Level Renaissance (4 years) and Perfect Attendance (K-12). After graduation, Sam plans to attend college. He is still considering several colleges. Sam is thinking of majoring in Finance. Congratulations Sam and we all wish you good luck in your future! Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community for over 88 years. To find out more information

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched $15.4 million in tourism funding through two grant programs, the Tourism Attractions Grant Program ($10.8 million) and the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($4.6 million). Eligible entities can apply for grants to attract, develop, and improve new and existing tourism-related projects, events and festivals in an effort to boost tourism across the state and welcome more visitors. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. “Illinois is the heart of the Midwest—attracting visitors from throughout the nation and around the globe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As our tourism industry continues to bounce back from the pandemic, I’m happy to announce another $15.4 million in tourism funding, so we can keep breaking records and displaying Illinois values of resilience and strength on

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GODFREY - Crystal Officer, CEO of Beverly Farm Foundation has announced the addition of five new members to the Beverly Farm Foundation Board of Directors, including two local women, one from Edwardsville, IL, and the other from Alton, IL. “I am thrilled to announce that we have five new members joining the Beverly Farm Foundation Board of Directors,” said Crystal Officer. “Adding their talents and insights will only strengthen our board and aid in the continuing pursuit of our mission, providing loving, caring homes for adults with developmental disabilities.” Joining the Beverly Farm Foundation Board of Directors are Bonni Burns-Schuette of Edwardsville, IL; Bianca Jackson of Alton, IL; Emily Miller Friend of Short Hills, New Jersey; Mark Softy of Pinehurst North, Carolina; and Charlene Spiceland of Framingham, Massachusetts. Bonni Burns-Schuette is President and CEO of BAM Marketing Agency, which she founded in 2008 and is based in downtown St. Louis. Bian

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GRANITE CITY - Revity Credit Union is proud to be the recipient of three Illinois Credit Union League awards: First-place winner of the Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award, first-place winner of the Desjardins Youth Financial Literacy Award, and second-place winner of the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award. The Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award is given to a credit union for its practical application of credit union philosophy within the actual operation of the credit union. It is awarded for internal programs and services that benefit membership. Revity was recognized for their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Since 2017, Revity Credit Union has partnered with the Gateway EITC Community Coalition (GECC) to provide free tax preparation to low-to-moderate-income individuals, families, seniors, and limited Englishspeaking taxpayers who need assistance preparing their own tax returns. The Desjardins Award recognizes credit unions for leadership within the

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Adult Education department is hosting a Global Diversity Discussion Panel, Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the N.O. Nelson Campus in Edwardsville (Building N4, room 110). The panel will feature local community members, college professors, and international students. Community members and college students are invited to join. Guests include Olga Bezhanova, Phd; Darwin Jose Gutierrez; Hannah Vlasova. Olga Bezhanova, PhD Bezhanova is originally from Ukraine. She is a professor of Spanish Literature and chair of the Deptartment of Foreign Languages and Literature at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She has published three award-winning books and over 40 articles on contemporary Hispanic literature. In 2019, Bezhanova was awarded the Panteleimon Kulish Medal by the Literature, Art and Communications Academy of Ukraine for a significant contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian literature

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GLEN CARBON - Students at Father McGivney Catholic High School participated in their first school-wide service day of the year. Students and staff visited 13 local spots throughout the community. These community spots included: Richard Woods Park, Drda Park, the Edwardsville Watershed African Visions of Hope, St. Johns Community Adult Day Care (Collinsville and Edwardsville), Liberty Apple Orchard, the Highland Square, Korte Rec Center, Glik Park, Silver Lake, Tri-Township Park, and the Collinsville Food Pantry. The day was spent organizing, cleaning, and socializing with the mission of charity. Principal Joseph Lombardi explains, “At Father McGivney Catholic High School we believe in developing the whole student, mind, body and spirit. Our mission is to serve the culture of life and I believe service days are an important part of our mission. We instill in our students the four pillars of McGivney which include Unity, Charity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. I believe our days of

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EDWARDSVILLE - Lisa Webb with Third Street Realty knows all too well that sometimes, life happens. As a realtor, she knows first-hand the stressors involved with the less-than-glamorous side of the real estate business, and given her first-hand experience, she also knows the options available to help. Webb shared these insights and more on the latest Third On Third segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Webb said homeowners who bought large houses can later struggle to keep up with the associated payments if there’s a loss in the household that narrows it down to just one income. Bill collectors call relentlessly, and Webb said ignoring them can land you in foreclosure. “It is so easy to get behind quickly - it is so hard to get caught back up,” Webb said. “There’s nothing worse than having those bill collectors call and call and call. They don’t stop - they’re doing their job, I get it, but that’s very stressful

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BENTON – A former vice president and loan officer for Community First Bank of the Heartland in Mount Vernon who committed bank fraud and multiple arsons was sentenced in federal court in Benton on Thursday to 12 years in prison. Richard Pigg, 53, previously pleaded guilty in April to six counts of bank fraud and three counts of arson. The defendant currently resides in Texas, but he lived in Mount Vernon, Illinois, at the time of the charged conduct from May 2011 to December 2016. During his hearing, the sentencing judge described Pigg as a “Jekyll and Hyde” who destroyed people’s lives with his horrific fraud. Pigg had relied on letters of support citing his good works, but the judge told Pigg that this was like a man who robs a bank, gives some of money to a homeless shelter, then burns the homeless shelter down and wants credit for donating to the homeless shelter. "For more than half a decade, Richard Pigg abused his position of trust to defraud his bank,

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EDWARDSVILLE – In its continuing mission to make high-end custom home builds and renovations more accessible to Metro East residents, Lantz Homes & Remodels is excited to announce the expansion of the Berkshire Cabinet Company , its in-house cabinetry division. With the addition of new lead designer Ashley Parnell, Lantz becomes the latest homebuilder in Edwardsville offering both cabinet design and installation, eliminating the need for homeowners to play middleman between different contractors. Parnell brings more than 17 years of kitchen & bath design experience to the Lantz team and takes a hands-on approach to every step in the custom cabinetry design process, from consultation to installation. By fusing in-home measurements with design recommendations through state-of-the-art software, Parnell is able to develop 3-D renderings and virtual walkthroughs that provide clients with a 360-degree view of their project options, helping them select cabinets that align with

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EAST ALTON/GODFREY - No matter how much recognition Tommy Karlas receives for his music, to him, it’s always about the song. The Nashville songwriter has impressive credits, with songs on the albums of artists like Blake Shelton, Randy Travis and Old Dominion. But behind the man who wrote the No. 1 country hit “Roll With Me” by Montgomery Gentry and who now has a reputation as an artist in his own right, Karlas is an East Alton native who chose to celebrate his second album’s release with a concert at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC), headlining a show on the same stage where he competed in a school talent show at age 13. “I think it was always being a songwriter first in my heart. It’s always been about the song,” Karlas said of his work. “It’s cool because some people want to be an artist and that fits them. They thrive to be out there on stage and stuff like that. I love doing it and it’s fun, but it’s

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EDWARDSVILLE – Three Edwardsville Fire Department members moved up the ladder this week as the department expanded its ranks to include an assistant fire chief. The three veteran firefighter/paramedics took the oath of office for their new rank at the Tuesday, October 17, City Council meeting. Capt. Bob Morgan, who has been with the Edwardsville Fire Department for 27 and a half years, was promoted to the assistant fire chief position, which was created in September to officially provide the department with a fire marshal. Chief James Whiteford said Morgan has already been functioning as a fire marshal, handling many fire prevention and construction inspections. In the position, Morgan also will assist with training and education, overall management and be available for emergency response. Lt. Ed Burnley was promoted to the rank of captain, filling the role that Morgan previously held. Burnley, who has been with the department for 11 years, oversees technical rescue training

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CARROLLTON - Property-related criminal charges ranging from theft to criminal property damage and more have been filed against several individuals over the past few weeks, according to the latest jail booking report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Brandon L. Capps, 36, of Jacksonville, was charged with one count each of arson and criminal damage to property by means of fire. Capps was arrested on Oct. 6, 2023 by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and remains in custody. Erin L. Settles, 39, of Kane, was charged with residential burglary and theft of an amount between $300 to $10,000. She was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 15, 2023 and was given a Notice To Appear in court. John J. Scheferkort, 31, of Roodhouse, was charged with criminal damage to property and violation of bail bond. He was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 2, 2023 and remains in custody. Herschel G. Giberson, 45, of

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced current lane restrictions will be extended, weather permitting, on westbound Interstates 55/70 between IL Route 203 and the MLK Bridge ramp, in St. Clair County, continuing at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 23 through 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27. The westbound outside right lane will be closed continuously during this time. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, 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, 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

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School students participated in the recent Youth Leadership Conference held at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville coordinated by Sen. Eric Harriss. The students were Jacob Rose, Marissa Statos, and Alicia McCulley along with AP Government Teacher Beth DeCourcey. The students are shown here with Sen. Harriss. Marquette Principal Tim Harmon said: "Through this experience, our students were able to discuss and propose policy ideas important to their generation. "The conference provided insight into how state government works, tools to achieve career success, and opportunities to work in small groups to develop potential legislation for consideration by the Illinois General Assembly."

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ALTON - If you love the spooky, the weird and the completely genuine, stop by Milton Schoolhouse this month to check out Artist of the Month Chelsea Masiero’s work. “I’m obsessed with the Piasa Bird,” Masiero said as we studied one of her favorite pieces: the Piasa Bird, with a septum piercing and barbed wire wrapped around its antlers. “Biggest inspiration, for sure.” This is the borderline Masiero walks as an artist. She’s completely sincere, and she also knows it’s funny. Her art hums with this self-awareness, even down to the brand she’s created. “Sh*tty Art By Sh*tty People,” or SABSP, is the name she uses for her t-shirt sales, and she especially likes the SABSP abbreviation because she was once “a big Pabst drinker.” Masiero was an easy pick for the October Milton Artist of the Month, as many of her drawings veer toward the macabre. She said skeletons are easiest for her to draw, and she always

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville’s first and only boutique hotel recently opened in a historic downtown building at 201 N. 2nd St. The new Urban Collective Boutique Hotel celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, offering different decor in each room for a unique experience during every stay. Kristen Pfund, co-owner of the Urban Collective, said she and fellow Co-Owner Hannah Fink have been working on the facility for the past nine months. Just like each of the rooms available, Pfund said the hotel itself is unique for many reasons. “We are unique in the fact that we are the only hotel in downtown Edwardsville, but what makes us even more unique is the fact that it is a boutique,” Pfund said. “The decor is different, you’re going to have a unique experience in each and every one of the rooms, and we encourage everyone to stay in each one of them.” Rooms include “The Modern Chic Suite,” “Wild Blossom,”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Hanna Matarelli, a senior libero for the Edwardsville High girls' volleyball team, was one of the team's top players during the just-completed 2023 campaign that saw the Tigers go 23-11 on the season and the number one seed in their half-of the IHSA Class 4A Pekin sectional complex, where Edwardsville will play against Quincy in the first semifinal of the Alton regional on Oct 24. Matarelli and her six fellow seniors were honored on Oct. 19 in the annual Senior Night match, where the Tigers defeated Belleville West 25-19, 25-20 to complete a perfect Southwestern Conference season at 12-0 as the Tigers played exceptionally well in defeating the Maroons to finish the regular season. Matarelli is a Johnston Law Firm Female Athlete Of The Month for the Tigers. In her post-match interview, Matarelli was very grateful for her teammates and all of their contributions to the successful regular season. "I'm feeling great," Matarelli said. "I'm just glad that we all played

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GRAFTON - Things are about to get spooky at Raging Rivers. The water park, which used to be a dynamite factory before several accidents and deaths forced it to shut down, is transforming into a haunted graveyard each Saturday in October for the Raging Rivers “Haunted Trail.” Jeremy Hayes with Raging Rivers said the waterpark is embracing its haunted past on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . “We took advantage of some of the haunted woods we have on our property - what we seem to think is haunted,” Hayes said. “Back in the ‘40s, there was a nitroglycerin plant that was on the property and they had multiple accidents, and after the final accident, they finally shut it down.” The “Haunted Trail” consists of an approximately 30-35 minute walk through the woods on a smoothed dirt path, Hayes said. According to the Raging Rivers website , “The trail will be kid friendly in the early evening but as

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CHICAGO — Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter, Natalie, were reportedly released from a hostage situation today. The two Americans from Evanston, Ill., had been taken hostage by Hamas and sources say they were released on Friday. The two had been abducted on Oct. 7, 2023. After their release, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued the following statement: "I am incredibly relieved that Natalie and Judith Raanan of Evanston have been released from captivity in Gaza. In what was supposed to be a visit to their loving family in Israel, they were violently abducted by a terrorist organization. After being held against their will for nearly two weeks, they are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment. "I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror. We must continue to advocate and pray for the safe return of those still held by Hamas. We will not let those who use terror as their weapon win." Judith

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