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ALTON – Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation is gearing up for the 14 th annual Duck Pluckers, Deer Skinners, and Fish Hookers Ball that will be held at NILO Farms on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event raises funds for a new Alton Memorial Hospital ambulance. The Duck Pluckers committee has come up with four amazing raffles as well as an online auction at www.virtualauction.bid/DUCKPLUCKERS to help raise funds for the purchase of a new ambulance for Alton Memorial. There will be a raffle for each of the following, with tickets available now: Quarter beef and freezer donated by B&M Livestock. Blanton’s Bourbon Collection, donated by Colman’s Country Campers. Crossbow donated by Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation. Booze Boat, donated by numerous Riverbend Area bars and restaurants. All raffle tickets must be purchased online. The online auction, featuring many experiences for family fun and services to make life easier for bidders, will go live for bid

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Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, named its inaugural Life;Story Champion Award winners. The Life;Story Champion Award honors Illinoisans who have positively impacted mental health in their community. The inaugural winners are: Cherie Wright, Southern Illinois Healthcare School Health Coordinator Deborah Humphrey, Madison County Mental Health Board Executive Director The winners will be honored on Saturday, September 9 during Centerstone’s inaugural Life;Story 5K walk/run for suicide awareness and prevention, which begins at 7 a.m. at Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex, 1606 South Carbon Street, Marion. Everyone is welcome. “The Life;Story 5K promotes community awareness and unites us all in our desire to support people impacted by suicide and thoughts of suicide,” said Anne Tyree, Centerstone Regional Chief Executive Officer. “Both the Life;Story 5K and Champion Award recognize that there is more to every life; there is more to every

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a full closure on Illinois Avenue (Martin Luther King Bridge) from the Interstate 55/64/70 exit ramps to the MLK bridge and Third Street in Missouri is scheduled to take place, weather permitting, from 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 8, to 5 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11. During that time, motorists will have to use an alternate route. 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 closure is necessary to accommodate deck sealing work. The work is anticipated to be completed Monday morning. 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 - Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler formally announced today that he is running for re-election as Chairman. Prenzler made his decision based upon the urging of many citizens and his belief that he must continue his advocacy for the working families of Madison County. “I must continue to fight against “higher taxes, government interference, corruption, and erosion of our values," he said. “As an elected official, I have consistently fought against higher taxes,” Prenzler said, “This has been good for both families and businesses, and taxpayers know we must continue this fight.” Prenzler was elected treasurer in 2010, and kept his campaign promises by reforming the tax sale process and reducing his budget by 30 percent. He also reformed the investments, after finding the county was purchasing all bonds through only one bond salesman, with no bidding, and investing outside the county policy. The county made a claim, resulting in

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is pleased to announce the renaming of its esteemed University Honors Program to the John Martinson Honors Program in recognition of a generous $4 million gift from SIUE 1975 Master of Business Administration alumnus John Martinson. This transformative gift will expand and enhance the Honors experience at SIUE for students for years to come. "The renaming of the Honors Program and the generous gift from Mr. Martinson exemplifies his innovative spirit and commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. This forward-thinking gift allows SIUE to grow an outstanding program into one that can be a national exemplar,” said SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD. "This transformative investment will empower future scholars to make critical contributions in current and future career fields positioning them as leaders in the global marketplace." A venture capitalist and software industry leader for 40 years, Martinson

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JERSEY - Jersey County Veterans’ Assistance Commission Superintendent Greg Breden announced today that the Gold Star Mothers Day ceremony will be on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at the Jersey County Courthouse in Jerseyville. The ceremony will be conducted at the Jersey County War Memorial starting at 2 p.m. The ceremony is held each year on the last Sunday in September, National Gold Star Mothers Day. Breden said the ceremony is to respect the mothers and families who lost their U.S. Armed Forces members' sons and daughters who died in battle or in support of certain military activities. "The local Marine Corps League Robert Windle Detachment #1031 will host the ceremony," he said. "If you are a Gold Star Mother or Family and plan on attending, please call 618-946-2834 and leave your R.S.V.P. by September 15, 2023. If no answer please leave a message. You need not be a Jersey County resident to attend. We encourage the public to attend to show support for the families."

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GODFREY - The Village of Godfrey may be considering a new study to gauge interest in a hotel opening in the village following conversations between village officials, a realtor, hotel company representatives, and more. Economic Development Director Jim Mager said at Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting that Godfrey is missing out on revenue from visitors having to stay overnight in Alton or elsewhere - but the first step in bringing a hotel to Godfrey would be to conduct a new hotel study, since the last one was conducted in 2017. “We ought to maybe reconsider doing an updated study,” Mager said. “In 2017, we had just set up the Business District, but now we are in a position that if we did come up with a positive hotel study, that we certainly could be aggressive in improvement and also incentivizing if we had to. “I think it would be a good idea, given the wonderful park that we have, we now have some degree of athletic tourism. The shame of it

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GILMAN— Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local leaders along with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to celebrate the groundbreaking of Incobrasa Industries LTD’s expanded manufacturing facility. The expansion represents more than $250 million capital investment and will create 40 new full-time jobs while retaining 200 jobs - generating economic benefit for the region and state. “With Incobrasa’s announced expansion today, the company will more than double its production capacity by 2030. That’s a win for Gilman, for Illinois, and for the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “In addition to sustaining and creating new, permanent, good-paying careers, this new $250 million expansion will mean dozens of construction and installation jobs for workers here in Iroquois County and across the region. We’re making it easier for companies to do business in Illinois. We’re investing in our skilled

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EAST ALTON - Madison County Transit (MCT) Board of Trustees and staff commemorated the completion of two Riverbend-area MCT Trails projects with ribbon cuttings on Thursday, August 31. New MCT Riverbend Trail The first ribbon cutting opened a new extension of the MCT Riverbend Trail in East Alton. The 0.25-mile, 10-foot-wide asphalt extension starts at the MCT Eastgate Park & Ride facility located next to Eastgate Plaza on IL-3 in East Alton and extends to the intersection of Niagara and South Streets, where a one-block on-road connector takes trailgoers to the MCT Riverbend Trail. From here, the MCT Riverbend Trail runs south on the levee next to Wood River Creek, crosses beneath IL-3, and connects to the MCT Confluence Trail. The contractor for the Riverbend Trail extension was Stutz Excavating, and the project engineer was Oates Associates. MCT Confluence Trail Improvements The second MCT Trails project, which opened on Thursday, was the reconstruction of a 0.5-mile segmen

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 54 attorneys general, issued a letter on Tuesday urging Congress to study how artificial intelligence (AI) can and is being used to exploit children through child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In their comment letter , Raoul and the attorneys general highlight the dangers of AI as it relates to CSAM in three main categories: a child’s likeness who has not been physically abused being digitally altered in a depiction of abuse; a child who has been physically abused being digitally recreated in other depictions of abuse; and a child who does not exist being digitally created in a depiction of abuse that feeds the market for CSAM. “AI technology has the potential to transform nearly every segment of our economy and the way we live,” Raoul said. “It also presents new threats, including to our children’s safety. Congress must act now to ensure the dangers of AI are fully understood

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PIASA - Senior Hunter Newell is proving to be a key piece of the Piasa Southwestern football team's offense so far this season. Through two games he is the Piasa Birds' leading receiver with 162 yards and three touch downs. Friday night, in a 27-21 win over the Litchfield Purple Panthers, Newell had 145 yards on just seven catches. He also finished up with 24 yards rushing, eight tackles, and an interception. For his stellar performance, Hunter Newell is an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Athlete of the Month for Southwestern High School. Newell knew he had to step things up this season when the Piasa Birds lost one of their go-to receivers, junior Greyson Brewer, in week one against Gillespie. Brewer went down and was later confirmed to be out for the season with a broken clavicle. “All the guys knew that we had to put the extra load on our back and step up, make some plays,” Newell said Friday night. That's exactly what he and sophomore quarterback Blake

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ROXANA - Whether you’ve struggled with suicidal ideation, lost someone to suicide, or just want to help, the “Out of the Darkness” Madison County Walk is the place to be on Sept. 9. The day starts at 11 a.m. at Roxana Park. Speakers will share their experiences with suicide and stories about loved ones they lost to suicide. The walk itself is estimated to take 20–30 minutes and will end back at the park, where attendees can enjoy vendors and food trucks until 4 p.m. “It’s not sad. It’s really a happy occasion,” Jen Herring, who chairs the event, said. “This year, I really wanted to grow it and I wanted to include the community…You can come out and show your support for those people.” Currently, there are almost 100 participants and 15 teams registered for the Madison County walk. They have raised approximately $8,500 of their $12,000 goal for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. To donate or register

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GODFREY - Godfrey trustees approved a liquor license for a proposed Top Shelf liquor store, moving the proposed business one step closer to construction. While more details on the exact location or construction timeline were not available yet, Top Shelf’s owners are hoping to have it open by next Memorial Day on May 27, 2024. Mayor Mike McCormick said he was in favor of Top Shelf, which has a location in Effingham, building a new location in Godfrey. “After seeing the pictures, these people want to invest in our community,” Mayor McCormick said. “They just want to have the security of knowing that they can have a liquor license, and I don’t see the problem in that.” Business Partners Don and Patrick Schutzbach said at the meeting they plan to build a 6,500 to 7,000 square foot facility which would include a high-end wine cellar, tasting area, and a closed-off section for video gaming which also allows customers 21 years of age and over to have

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GRAFTON - Grafton’s Annual Family Fun Day has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 9, 2023. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on that day in Red Hawk Park. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said rain canceled the event on August 26. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new pickleball courts will still be held at 7 p.m. to officially open them to the public, he added. Mayor Morrow urged area residents to gather children, friends, and family for this last touch of summer and welcome to fall. "The evening will feature face painting, balloon animals, rock painting, a DJ, pickleball, and so much more," he said. "Free hot dogs, chips, and water await all hungry attendees. Bring your own chairs and blankets and claim your spot. The QEM fire trucks, a Jersey County ambulance, Survival Flight helicopter, and a Grafton Police car will all be available for your hands-on inspection. "Jersey County Queen and Little Miss will help to celebrate this favorite (and greatly anticipated)

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GODFREY – Recently, Madison County Transit (MCT) donated a retired 2010 Gilig 40-foot bus to the Lewis & Clark Community College automotive program. Containing an L9 engine and Voith transmission, the bus will provide students with more robust equipment on which to learn, including rare, hands-on 24-volt system training. Pictured, from left to right, are L&C Vice President of Academic Affairs Susan Czerwinski, Automotive Technology Assistant Professor/Co-Coordinator Clayton Renth, Automotive Technology Co-Coordinator Ben Cook, Automotive Technology Professor Chris Reynolds, L&C President Ken Trzaska, MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison and MCT Fleet Director Justin Dixon.

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GRAFTON - A Saturday jet ski collision left a person with a serious leg injury and they were airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital from the Grafton area. Gerry New, the QEM fire chief, said when they arrived, the individual involved in the jet ski crash was out of the water and they were directed to a boat ramp area to set up a landing zone. “We helped set up the air transport,” he said. “It was by the lighthouse and boat ramp.” New was uncertain of the details of what happened in the jet ski crash but he knew it was a collision and said the person appeared to suffer a broken leg. Right after that incident, he said they were called to another motorcycle incident on Illinois Route 100 close to Elsah and a motorcyclist had to be airlifted from that scene.

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a St. Clair County man with alleged possession and dissemination of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s office charged Elijah I. Ames, 18, of Swansea, in St. Clair County Circuit Court with four counts of dissemination of child pornography, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and 11 counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Ames’ bond was set at $350,000, and his next court date is scheduled for Sept. 8. “Survivors of child abuse and exploitation are revictimized each and every time an individual trades or downloads one of these heinous images o

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A serious crash at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, involved three motorcycles and one apparently struck a deer. Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said the accident which occurred on Illinois Route 100 north of Elsah involved a 48-year-old from Tuscola, a 40-year-old, and a 45-year-old from Heyworth. “One of the motorcycle riders struck a deer to start the accident and then the other motorcycles became involved and eventually a helicopter was called to transport the victim,” Manns said. “Alton Police and other law enforcement came to assist the Jersey County officers,” he said. Manns said the most seriously injured motorcycle rider suffered serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene.

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville is once again offering to share the cost of adding a tree to residential properties as part of the Tree Planting Program. This long-running annual initiative is overseen by Edwardsville’s Beautification and Tree Commission and the Public Works Department. Participants are reimbursed half the cost, up to $100, of buying and planting one tree at the property owner’s primary place of residence. To be eligible for reimbursement, an application must be received and approved prior to final selection and planting of a tree. Only trees listed on the City’s approved tree list can be considered for the program, which is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, while funding is available. Previous program participants are eligible to apply. Applications must be received by Thursday, November 30, 2023. The tree must be planted by Friday, December 15, 2023. “Many people think spring is the time of year to plant, but when

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COLLINSVILLE – A Madison County constituent was recently awarded more than $15,000 after State Senator Erica Harriss’ office and the Illinois Treasurer’s office teamed up through the state’s Unclaimed Property Program, which helps Illinoisans find and claim money owed to them. The event will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Collinsville Memorial Public Library located at 408 West Main Street, Collinsville, IL 62234. “This particular individual had inherited money from a relative’s bank account and was unaware of it until my office was able to get into contact with him,” said Senator Harriss. “I know some people are skeptical about answering the phone in thinking this program is fake or a hoax due to the increase of scammers out there, but this program is very much real, and this person is just one of several examples relating back to the state’s program.” Both Senator Harriss and the Treasurer’s Office are joining

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