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PHOENIX – Sparklight® Business, a leading broadband communications provider, today announced the launch of Business Wi-Fi Plus, an always-on, mesh Wi-Fi solution tailored for small-to-medium-sized businesses that guarantees uninterrupted coverage, keeping businesses and their customers securely connected while delivering optimal speed and performance. Teaming up with eero, an Amazon company, Sparklight Business will offer the eero Pro6E to deliver comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage throughout the business, creating a wide-ranging signal that blankets the location with coverage. Powered by the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, Business Wi-Fi Plus connects and transmits wirelessly up to 1 Gig, while eero’s patented TrueMesh technology dynamically routes data through the fastest path in the network, giving businesses a fast, reliable experience they can count on. With world-class encryption and security protocols, eero systems are compatible with the strongest security standards

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ALTON - Alderwoman Rosetta “Rosie” Brown, Founder of Socks for Tots LLC, is announcing her eighth annual Socks For Tots Drive will begin November through December 2023. "It’s time to replenish the socks inventory for our youth," Brown said. She added that her mission each year is to “Heat the Feet” of school-age children. "Last year with the help of our community, I was able to provide over 6,000 pairs of socks to schools, daycares, the Oasis Women Center, Boys and Girls Club and Catholic Children’s Home," she said. "Let’s really make an impact on the lives of our children by collectively donating toward this initiative. My goal for this year is 10,000 pairs of socks." Boxes will be placed in several venues, including the Alton and Wood River Rotary Clubs, Alton Democratic Party, YWCA, Alton City Hall, Today’s Beauty, Bluff City, US Nails, Lovettes, Athletico, New Beginning, Turning Heads, Marcia’s Daycare, Maxine’s Daycare,

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GRANITE CITY - Nick Novacich, recently appointed chief of Granite City Police, along with a public safety telecommunicator, will visit the Riverbend Head Start and Family Services Granite City South location from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Novacich is a 23-year veteran of the Department and was appointed to Chief from Assistant Chief of Police in September 2023. The RHSFS Granite City South location is located at 1249 20th Street, Granite City, IL., 62040. Novacich has played a vital role in the Granite City community during his 23-plus years with the department. He said his hope in his new role as chief is to work "to build new and strengthen existing relationships with various businesses and groups within the Granite City community."

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EDWARDSVILLE - Out of the artistic strokes of varying browns, the shades of burnt orange, the canary yellows and somber grays, emerges a remarkable, pictorial story and heritage – still unknown to many – that illustrates the history of America’s oldest Black incorporated town. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Duenne Schlarman , a Master of Fine Arts candidate, long-time artist and veteran educator, recently completed a mural inside of the Senior Citizens Center in Brooklyn. “I was extremely honored to have been asked to do this mural,” said Schlarman. “I read and researched heavily for this project. It was a tremendously heartfelt and emotional experience for me.” The SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) allocated a portion of an Illinois Invocation Network grant to fund the mural, according to Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, SSCC director, professor of sociology and interim director for the Southern Illinoi

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GRAFTON - This weekend, witches and warlocks are invited to Grafton for a night of contests, vendors, food specials and boozy potions. The sixth annual “Witches on the Water” event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. From 5 p.m. to the witching hour, people can meet at Mason Hollow Park in Grafton to check out vendors and transportation will be provided throughout the night to Grafton’s bars, restaurants and shops for Halloween-themed specials. “Basically, witches and warlocks putting on their best costumes and coming down to Grafton and having a great time,” explained Jessica Hayes, one of the four volunteer organizers. “It is all throughout the town. All of the businesses participate with us. All of them have contests or food specials, drink specials, entertainment of some sort, their own contests, drawings, prizes. So really, it’s about us all coming together as a community and putting on a great event for everyone to enjoy.”

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ALTON – RiverWorks Discovery is hosting a Who Works the Rivers event in partnership with the maritime industry at the National Great Rivers Museum. Wednesday, October 18 , approximately 165 students from six area high schools will attend. The event will be from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Students will engage with industry representatives by participating in interactive stations at the National Great Rivers Museum. The stations are designed to show a snapshot of what a career on the river entails. Stations include everything from line throwing and handling, learning about commodities shipped on the river, firefighting, handling safety equipment and more. Marine industry partners for this event include: Alberici Ceres Barge Lines & Ceres Consulting Waterways Council, Inc. Mike’s ADM Osage Marine Services Ingram 5R Enterprises, LLC US Army Corps of Engineers (STL District) HUMCO Marine Products An exciting addition to this program is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Melvin

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced lane restrictions will be encountered, weather permitting, on westbound Interstates 55/70 between Illinois Route 203 and the MLK Bridge ramp, in St. Clair County, beginning 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, through 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. The westbound outside right lane will be closed continuously during this time. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 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, the 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 alert

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GRANITE CITY - Junior midfielder David Ruiz is a key member of the Granite City High boys soccer team who has played well for the Warriors, despite a 2-9-2 record the team will carry into an IHSA Class 3A regional game at Belleville West on Oct. 17 against top-seeded O'Fallon. Ruiz, however, knows that despite the team having a youth movement after graduation depleted the team of all of its starters from the season before, the Warriors will work hard and do what's needed to come out on top and make a good postseason run. The Granite City junior is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. Granite City ended its regular season on Oct. 12 losing to Collinsville 3-0 in the inaugural playing of the Paz Cup, a new traveling trophy named for Alex Paz, a former Granite City goalie and current Collinsville resident who owns a popular photography business and is a prominent fixture at both Warrior and Kahok games. The Warriors fought the Kahoks hard throughout

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ALTON – YWCA is pleased announce that registration is open to students in grades 1, 2, 3, or 4 in our free Riverbend Reading Club. Riverbend Reading Club is designed bring struggling readers and writers to grade level in a small, relaxed environment. YWCA utilizes the renowned Fontas & Pinnel Leveled Literacy Curriculum which supplements local school district’s curriculum. Students are grouped with other students at similar reading levels into small groups. Sessions run Monday through Thursday, 3 pm – 5pm and each session lasts approximately 45 minutes. YWCA is offering Riverbend Reading Club at two locations --- our 3 rd St location in Alton and at the Alton Housing Oakwood Resource Center. We work with parents to adjust student’s bus schedule if needed to allow for transportation to our site. The Riverbend Reading Club, providing short intensive sessions, is designed to show significant growth in reading level and literacy within 14 to 18 weeks of regular

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ALTON - The landscape of chain-operated drug stores is rapidly changing with the closings and consolidations of several CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens stores. The CVS store at 2422 College Ave. located in the heart of Alton has announced it will close by the end of November 2023. The CVS Store at 2811 Homer M. Adams Parkway in the Alton Schnucks was contacted and said it will remain open even after the store at 2422 College Ave. closes to customers. The College Avenue store in Alton has been located across the street from a Walgreens store. The store does not have a massive liquidation sale on tap yet, although one of the more popular present items is pajama pants, listed at discount prices. Those who have prescriptions at CVS in Alton are encouraged to come in person to the store or contact the pharmacy at (618) 465-3434. CVS managed to weather the post-COVID recovery with as much grace as possible in the sector. Still, the largest drugstore in America said in mid-September that it

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a group of 26 lawmakers, led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), in sending a bipartisan letter calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to reduce energy costs for Americans through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment or energy crisis assistance. In a letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the 28 Senators urged the Biden Administration to include supplemental LIHEAP funding in any additional request submitted for Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations. “Amid increased energy prices resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine and inflationary pressures, LIHEAP has become

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today released the following statement strongly condemning the heinous acts committed in Plainfield this weekend and reminding residents to report hate crimes in Illinois, including to his office’s Civil Rights Bureau. Raoul also highlighted the resources his office provides to crime victims. “The conflict in the Middle East, negative reactions to the recent influx of migrants and the heightening of overall racial and religious tensions have led to a rise in hate crimes in our state, as evidenced by the horrific murder that occurred in Plainfield this weekend. Such unthinkable violence and hatred have no place in Illinois, and we must stand united in condemning all acts of hate and bigotry. “In light of these threats, I would like to remind residents of the resources my office offers, both to address hate crimes and to provide assistance for victims through our Crime Victims Compensation Program. I urge all Illinois residents

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—met with the nominee to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, a critical position that must be filled as soon as possible to help in our nation’s efforts to support the innocent civilians caught in the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza. Photos of the Senator’s meeting are available here . “The innocent children and civilians—Israelis, Palestinians, Americans and more—who are suffering as a result of the unmistakable terrorism and unspeakable violence that the world has witnessed in Israel over the last week deserve safety, stability and our swift support. While I’m relieved the United States is providing our Middle East ally with the resources it needs to respond, our nation needs a confirmed Ambassador to Israel who can help us meet the moment this ongoing tragedy demands—especially

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the settlement agreement in the Ms. L vs. Immigration and Customs Enforcement class action lawsuit: “Today’s announcement is a win for the hundreds of families who endured severe trauma due to the Trump Administration’s cruel and inhumane family separation policy—a policy that went directly against the values of this nation. The prior Administration chose to separate thousands of children from their parents or guardians, inflicting permanent trauma on these children with no plan to reunite them. We owe it to these families to ensure that we never repeat this dark period in our history. “I applaud the entire Biden-Harris Administration for their steadfast commitment to ensuring these families receive the resources they need to aid in their recovery.” Durbin was an outspoken critic of the Trump

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Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees Leland Strom will serve as a Member of the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Strom is a partner in the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, one of the nation’s first Rural Business Investment Companies (RBIC) licensed by the USDA to invest capital in rural America. From 2006-2015, he served as CEO and Chairman with the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), which is the U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and supervising the Farm Credit System and Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. While at FCA, Strom chaired the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation and established the agency’s office of EEO and Inclusion. He has served as CEO of FARM Illinois, President of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation, and was a member of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s Advisory Council on Agriculture, Labor, and Small Business. Other board memberships have included AgriBank FCB, Country Financia

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ALTON – Local attorneys M. Caitlin Embrich and Brittany Elliott are partnering to provide legal services to families in counties of southwestern Illinois. E&E Law officially launches their new partnership and law firm with a ribbon cutting ceremony at their Belleville, Illinois office located at 120 W. Main St. E&E Law’s mission kicks off with a commitment to serve families through all of life’s big and challenging moments. Through this new partnership, E&E Law attorneys wish to continue their dedication and quality of service assisting individuals with divorce, legal separation, parentage, custody, child support, relocation, adoption, orders of protection, real estate transactions, mediation, Guardian Ad Litem, probate, and estate planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, etc.). E&E Law practices in the southwestern Illinois counties of Madison, Jersey, St. Clair, Monroe, Clinton, Macoupin, and Bond. M. Caitlin Embrich, founding partner, says, “Opening E&E

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus community joins the City of Edwardsville in mourning the loss of Ward 2 Alderman John “Jack” Burns. Alderman Burns is an SIUE alumnus (1971) who graduated with a business degree in finance and marketing. He died on Friday, October 6, 2023. SIUE provided this statement: "Alderman Burns life of service reflects our SIUE commitment to duty and improving the lives of others. A longtime Edwardsville resident, Alderman Burns was first elected to the City Council in 2017 and reelected in 2021. We especially thank him for his service in the United States Army." Alderman Burns was a father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Lori, a retired Edwardsville school teacher.

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup announced several upcoming events around the city and some newly secured grant funding at the City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Mayor Stalcup said he was recently notified by the office of State Senator Erica Harris that the city has been awarded $100,000 in grant money from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to use on “infrastructure projects within the city.” “City Manager Palen has been the point-of-contact person for this grant, and I want to thank Director Palen for his work along with Senator Harris’s office for this grant,” Stalcup said. He then announced some events coming up in Wood River, the first being the Downtown Business Alliance’s Annual Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 from 2 to 6 p.m. on Ferguson Avenue in downtown Wood River. The mayor encouraged residents and visitors to “please come downtown to sample the different chilis offered

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ALTON - Civic Memorial Head Girls Tennis Coach Margaret Welbourne and her squad members are beaming with pride today after an Eagles double team qualified for the state tennis tournament. The combination of Emma Davis, a junior, and Abigail Harms, a sophomore, placed second in the Marquette Catholic Sectional on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Gordon Moore Park Tennis Courts. Davis-Harms are Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athletes of the Month. "CM had not had any girls qualify for state in tennis for several years," Coach Welbourne said. "They were champions of their flight at our Conference Tournament (MVC), which I'm pretty positive hasn't happened in a very long time, if ever." The coach said the girls have put in so much work during the year and their record shows it. Currently, before state, the Davis-Harms combination is 26-3 overall. Congratulations to Emma Davis and Abigail Harms for their Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete of the Month recognition.

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ALTON/GODFREY - Amy Strobel loves to play games, but she wants you to know that’s not all your child is doing in P.E. class. Strobel, a physical education teacher with Alton Community Unit School District #11, invited parents and guardians to join her P.E. classes as part of Family P.E. Week. This campaign by Active Schools encourages exercise beyond the school gym. Strobel teaches at Eunice Smith Elementary School and Gilson Brown Elementary School, so she works primarily with younger kids to try to foster an early love for fitness. “I think sometimes people in general and parents sometimes have a misconception of what P.E. is. Even with the little ones, I take what I do very seriously,” Strobel said. “This is the building blocks, at this age, of learning how to move their bodies and use their muscles and what that means for a lifetime of health…You introduce a kid to a football that they’ve never thrown — who knows where that goes

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