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ALTON - Community activist Abe Lee Barham has announced he is making a bid for the Madison County Board. Barham made his announcement at My Just Desserts in Alton. When his daughter, Consuela Barham, introduced Abe Lee at My Just Desserts, some of the highlights of his community involvement were given. Part of what she discussed was that he is co-chair of the Alton Juneteenth Celebration, chairman of the Miles Davis Festival, and Inner City Garden Project in Alton, among many other things. She also said Abe Lee was part of those who helped rename Salu Park to James Killion Park at Salu and a library at Alton High after James Bailey. Lee has assisted the housing authority and has coached youth and volunteered across the Alton community. Lee says he has always tried to be a positive force in the community and voice for those who otherwise didn't have a voice. "We need a new plan for redevelopment in Alton and the county," he said. "It is very important to meet people. I am very passionate

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Letter to the Editor: Black History Month’s celebrations are unique opportunities to honor contributions made by African American women and men to the freedoms and security of our nation through their service in the United States Armed Forces, often in segregated units experiencing racism and inequality that pervaded the military ranks during those times; serving and fighting in countries around the world for ideals, freedom and fairness they did not enjoy here at home. Regrettably, many of these Sailors and Soldiers’ valor and service helped create our nation’s story are unknown, not recognized, purposely or unintentionally omitted from some of our Nation’s military and scholastic history books. Nonetheless, African Americans participated in Colonial conflicts, the American Revolutionary/ American Civil/Spanish-American Wars, the World Wars, Vietnam War, the Desert Storm, Afghanistan and other actions including the January 6, 2021 Insurrection and Occupation

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ST. LOUIS – Ryan McDaniel, 25, of St. Louis, Missouri appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark late yesterday afternoon and was sentenced to 179 months in prison for carjacking a Domino’s Pizza driver in February 2021. McDaniel previously pleaded guilty in November. According to the plea agreement, on or about February 5, 2021, McDaniel approached the victim who was making a Domino's pizza delivery at The Residences at Forest Park, a location within the Eastern District of Missouri. Brandishing a handgun, McDaniel demanded the keys to the victim's motor vehicle, a 2020 Mazda CX-30. McDaniel reached in the victim's pocket and grabbed the keys before fleeing the scene in the carjacked vehicle. Minutes after the robbery, officers located the stolen Mazda CX-30 and a lengthy pursuit ensued. McDaniel was eventually taken into custody after the vehicle was disabled. Officers searched the vehicle and found two Springfield XD semiautomatic firearms.

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ALTON - The recent Black History Tour, sponsored by Be A Bridge and Executive Director Marqueta Goins, visited several important historic sites and left quite an impression on the youth who attended. Goins said the teens in the Youth Like You program started the day early and literally soaked up the information and the stories that happened where they stood. "Black History and its impacts are so much closer than we think," she said. "Some of our youth were even descendants of the people we learned about! We ended the day with games, food, and a fun time together." The tour included information about Elijah P. Lovejoy, the abolitionist newspaper owner of the Alton Observer, who died defending his press, Rocky Fork Church in Godfrey, information about Erasmus Green, founder and co-pastor of Rocky Fork Church, and information about Priscilla Baltimore, known as the "Moses of the West," who help organize the Underground Rail System in Southwest Illinois. Marqueta Goins thanked a bunc

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BETHALTO – Hannah Meiser, a junior guard for the CM girl’s basketball team, made it count on the minutes she was in during the Eagles' Sectional Semifinals win over Mount Vernon. Meiser, an extraordinary overall athlete, has been a player CM could count on throughout the girls' 2021-2022 season. Meiser is one of the Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athletes of the Month for CM's spectacular girls' basketball team. Meiser went in for a quick substitution in the first quarter and scored five quick points. The first thing she did was grab an impressive offensive rebound and banked in back in off the glass. One of the next plays she pulled up and drained a three-pointer. She was clearly fired up after the play. “It’s just tight situation games like this, I want to go in there and give the spark that my team needs, and I’m really happy that we pulled out the win,” Meiser said after the game. Head coach Mike Arbuthnot claimed that his girls weren’t

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BETHALTO – The Civic Memorial girls basketball team was crowned Sectional Champions Friday night when they beat the Mattoon Green Wave 74-68. It’s the third time in program history the Eagles have achieved this feat. However, it’s the first time for senior forward Emily Williams. She made the start for what could have been her final high school basketball game. She didn’t play a lot of minutes and was kept off the scoresheet. While not in the game, Williams is usually standing or pacing around the bench in stress. “I haven’t really played much the last three years, so I’m getting to be on the court and actually part of the whole adrenaline, and it’s just crazy.” Back on Feb. 18, the Eagles played East St. Louis in another game that was decided in overtime. I remember sitting behind the bench and her saying, “I can’t sit down, it’s too stressful.” She seemed so stressed out almost to the point of tears.

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GREENVILLE – The Marquette Explorers recently traveled to Greenville High School for the Class 2A Regional Championship. No. 20, a junior center, Brody Hendricks, and the Explorers brought home their 12th Regional Championship after taking down the Greenville Comets 55-24. When asked how it felt to be a champion, Hendricks responded, “It feels great. It's the first time I have won a Regional Championship and it feels great to be a part of this team.” Part of being on a winning team is having all the players buy-in for one goal and the Explorers are a winning team. Hendricks said the Explorers work to become a better basketball team every day. “We are building everything across our team, working on getting better every single day, and it all led to this moment," he said. “We practice hard enough to earn this, so we’ll come back next year to do the same thing.” Basketball is a team sport and the Explorers had three players with point totals i

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ALTON - Below is information about this week’s road closures – Feb. 28, 2022 Piasa Valley Area: 6th Street east of Alby Street is open to George Street, with surface restoration work being completed as weather permits. Please drive carefully as some of the roadways are still rock surfaces. Alby Street is closed from 6th Street north to 8th Street, with closures north and east of Alby/7th Street in place. 7th Street from George to Mechanic Street is closed. North and east of the intersection of Alby/8th St. closures coming soon. Turner Tract Area: Danforth Street will be closing this week to all thru traffic to allow for sewer installation work. The alley south of McKinley east of Lincoln is back open to traffic, with pavement restoration happening as weather permits. Douglas Street, between State and Lincoln Streets is open, with pavement restoration happening as weather permits. Please drive carefully. Shields Valley Area: The west end of Greenwood Street is closed.

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The Conversation — Governments have delayed action on climate change for too long, and incremental changes in energy and food production will no longer be enough to create a climate-resilient future, a new analysis from scientists around the world warns. The world is already seeing harmful impacts from climate change, including extreme storms, heat waves and other changes that have pushed some natural and human systems to the limits of their ability to adapt. As temperatures continue to rise, transformational change is coming to how people live on Earth. Countries can either plan their transformations, or they can face the destructive, often chaotic transformations that will be imposed by the changing climate. I’m one of the authors of the climate impacts and adaptation report, released Feb. 28, 2022, as part of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report . The increasing alarm in these reports, which review the

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ST. LOUIS - Award-winning comedian and writer John Mulaney announced 16 additional shows on the second leg of his John Mulaney: From Scratch tour including stops in Portland, Seattle, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, and more. This latest announcement follows the addition of a third show, due to popular demand, in both New York and Chicago. Mulaney is returning to host Saturday Night Live for the fifth time on Saturday, February 26th. General on sale for tickets stars Friday, February 25th at 10 am local time on Ticketmaster.com . John Mulaney is a two-time Emmy and WGA award-winning writer, actor, and comedian. In 2018, he traveled the United States with sold out Kid Gorgeous tour, which was later released as a Netflix stand-up special and won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Special; In 2015, he released The Comeback Kid, also a Netflix original, which The AV Club called the “best hour of his career;” In 2012, his Comedy Central special New In

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EDWARDSVILLE – The pandemic has taken a marked toll on all individuals, presenting a variety of challenges as it has engendered salient adjustments in personal lives, learning environments and workplaces. Realizing and sharing in these challenges, numerous Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty, staff and students have gone above and beyond to support each other. In response to a social media call to highlight “SIUE Difference Makers,” nominations were abundant. Among those acknowledged for their positive impact was Tim Jacks, PhD, associate professor of computer management and information systems (CMIS) in the School of Business. “I'm incredibly fortunate to have a meaningful career where I'm able to make an impact on people at a personal level,” shared Jacks, who joined SIUE in 2012. “I am profoundly humbled by this Difference Maker recognition. The School of Business is full of faculty, staff, and administrators who make a difference

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Police cautions motorists who engage in acts that could endanger the safety of the motoring public. Illinois State Police officials have become aware of a planned event along several interstate corridors scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2022 – Saturday, March 5, 2022, where truck drivers plan to conduct a “Convoy” causing traffic delays and potentially crashes. Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Colonel Margaret McGreal stated, “Though the Illinois State Police respects the rights of citizens to express their opinions in a lawful manner, there is great concern with any event that is designed to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.” Colonel McGreal continued, “Traffic backups are a major contributing cause to traffic crashes which lead to property damage, personal injury, and even death. A planned event designed to impede normal traffic flow is dangerous to the innocent motoring

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I join the free world in strongly condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need our prayers, and they need our support through tough sanctions on Russia. Thugs like Vladimir Putin only respond to strength. Now is the time for severe economic consequences. Putin, his oligarch friends, and his corrupt government should feel great financial pain for their evil actions. I’m joining my Republican colleagues in supporting the Putin Accountability Act , the toughest sanctions on Russia ever proposed by Congress. The Putin Accountability Act would: Impose sanctions on Putin, his family members, his mistress, and his network of kleptocratic oligarchs Designate Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Kick Russia out of the international SWIFT Code system, hampering their ability to move money around internationally Place sanctions on Russian sovereign debt in the secondary market and the Russian financial sector Immediately shut

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The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce 501c3 Foundation is proud to announce they will be awarding four (4) $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors who are pursuing a higher education, including colleges, universities and vocational schools. The eligible high schools include Triad High School, Father McGivney High School and Maryville Christian School. “For the past three years, we have hosted our Annual Fore! The Foundation Golf Scramble each October” said Dawn Mushill, Executive Director, of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce. “The Foundation receives 100% of the proceeds from the event. The scholarships are created to assist our high school seniors who are furthering their education” said Mushill. Applicants should visit the Chamber’s website at www.troymaryvillecoc.com or contact their school counselor. Scholarship applications are due no later than April 5 at 5:00 p.m. The scholarship winners will be announced

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PONTIAC - At 1:25 a.m.on Feb. 26, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash on South Prospect Road at Hall Court in Bloomington, McLean County, involving an ISP Trooper. On the above date and time, an ISP District 6 Trooper was stationary at the above location inside of a fully marked squad car with the emergency lights activated, in order to assist Bloomington Police Department (BPD) with a DUI investigation in the left lane of Prospect Road. A Volkswagen Utility, traveling southbound on Prospect, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the rear end of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was treated at an area hospital for minor injuries. The driver of the Volkswagen, Michael A. Tibbitts, a 24-year-old male of Bloomington, IL, was arrested by BPD for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and cited for a violation of Scott’s Law, along with other traffic violations. So far this year, there have been nine ISP squad car

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METAMORA – Citing the urgent need to address the continued epidemic of opioid and meth addiction across the state, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly announced today that ISP Metropolitan Enforcement Groups (MEGs) dramatically increased the percentage of dangerous drugs and weapons seized in FY 2021, recovering illegal drugs valued at approximately $71,000,000. “Through the strong state, local and federal partnerships of the MEG units, drug enforcement across our state is focused on apprehending violent, drug-trafficking criminals profiting off the pain of those losing loved ones to dangerous drugs” stated Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The ISP is thankful for the community-based partnerships like those of the MEG units because it leads to a more united, more effective front pushing back against these merchants of misery causing of this ongoing epidemic.” The Illinois State Police (ISP) Metropolitan Enforcement Groups (MEGs)

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MARYVILLE – Our Lord’s Lutheran Church (OLLC), 150 Wilma Dr., Maryville, will offer a drive-through option for the imposition of ashes on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Participants will remain in their car during this drive-through event. Upon arrival, Pastor Darla Ann Kratzer will come to your car window and step forward to hand you a single page with prayers. She will then step back and stand three feet from your car door when speaking. Then, using a long-handled cotton swab, she will impose a cross of ashes upon your forehead. This Ash Wednesday experience will be available during three convenient timeframes: 7:30-8:30 am, 12:00-1:00 pm, and 4:00-5:30 pm. In addition to Ashes-to-Go, Our Lord’s will observe Ash Wednesday with a 6:30 pm worship service in building. This service will also be livestreamed and can be viewed at ourlords.org/live. The mood of Ash Wednesday is somber as it starts a six-week examination of our lives. While ashes are a symbol of

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ST. LOUIS – Metro East Humane Society (MEHS) is joining forces with numerous local animal shelters and rescues to host the St. Louis Area Shelter Slumber Pawty, a live-streamed event taking place across 18 pet welfare organizations to raise funds and awareness of shelter-pet adoption in the St. Louis region. This collaborative event is being championed by Purina and will take place over a 24-hour period between Saturday, March 5, and Sunday, March 6, 2022. MEHS has recruited 10 super fans committed to raising $1,000 each for the shelter. These supporters will spend the night at their homes with a shelter pet and share updates with followers on social media regarding MEHS’ mission, designated slumber pawty buddy, and the progress toward their fundraising goal of $15,000. The 24-hour event will be showcased on multiple social-media platforms and reach nearly half a million followers through the organizations’ combined networks, in addition to participating individuals’

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SEE VIDEO: WORDEN - Worden, Illinois, held their annual “Wordi Gras” on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. The event is a Mardi Gras style celebration complete with drinking, live bands and an excellent parade, all put on by a small town that only has about a thousand population. “We do Mardi Gras much better than those big cities!”, said one attendee. He went on to say “people come from all around to party at our Wordi Gras!” Rick Landrem, (husband of the manager of the Yellow Dog Bar and Cafe), said “Wordi Gras puts Worden on the map! It’s grown from two guys driving their trucks up and down main street, (circa 2006), to thousands of people having fun every year!” He’s right. There was plenty of fun to be had with all the great “rockin” music, fun parade, plentiful parking and don’t forget all the friendly locals. You might want to mark it on your calendar for next year. These photos

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O’FALLON, IL— March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital want people to understand how important it is to not delay preventive screenings which could detect colon cancer in its earliest stages. Providers at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Radiation Oncology Center will hold a Colorectal Cancer Awareness drive-through event to giveaway free at-home colon cancer test kits. The event will be Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon, located at 321 Regency Park, O’Fallon. The InSure ONE at-home screening test includes full instructions for an easy, water-based sampling for specimen collection. Patients MUST return the sample to the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon between March 21-25. St. Elizabeth’s laboratory will analyze, and results will be reviewed by a physician to then be provided to each participant and their primary care provider. The kits are available while supplies last.

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