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SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois are reminding motorists to buckle up and drive sober this Thanksgiving holiday. Unfortunately, some motorists and their passengers will travel without ever buckling their seat belts, which drastically increases the chance of injury or death if they’re involved in a crash. “Whether you’re traveling a few blocks or several hundred miles, remember to always wear your seat belt and plan for a sober ride home,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Too frequently, law enforcement sees the tragic results of driving impaired and not wearing a seat belt, both of which are the leading causes of deaths on our roads and easily preventable.” Proper seat belt use is the single most effective way to save your life in a crash, which is why ISP and local law enforcement agencies

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ALTON - Millenium Temple and Pastor Michael Porter definitely have a heart for the community. Today on Thanksgiving Day, there are many in the community who are thankful for the efforts they extend year-round to the community, not just on this special holiday or at Christmas time. This past weekend, the church passed out turkey dinner and sides to anyone who wanted to attend from the community. Sarah Porter, Michael’s daughter, said the special Thanksgiving event was well attended and those who were there seemed to love the touch on the turkey and the fixings. Porter has been pastor at Millennium Temple for 10 years and there are many impoverished in the region who now give thanks he is there for the services the church provides. Sarah Porter said she is extremely proud of her church and her mother, Alberta, and father. Alberta has always shared her husband’s beliefs of keeping the church as a place not only for the regular congregation but the less fortunate who sometimes

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River will host its Visit With Santa and His Furry Friends Day from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2002, in Downtown Wood River. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said the event was started when they learned parents found it difficult to locate an area spot to take their child to see Santa. Santa will be present at the event for children and there will also be a petting zoo for families to visit with their young ones. The Christmas event will be centered at 55 E. Ferguson Ave. in Wood River in the building and lot next to the Rolling Pin. Residents are asked to visit shops and restaurants during the post-Thanksgiving afternoon. “We had a great time and the kids had a great time last year!” Chief Wells said. “This is also another way for members of the Police Department to connect with the community. We thank the Wood River Economic Development Committee for helping us organize and Tim O’Donnell for the use of his building.”

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BETHALTO - Today, on Thanksgiving Day, the Community Hope Center in Cottage Hills extends thanks to Ace Hardware of Bethalto for a significant $2,500 donation from rounding up at the cash register for part of November. The donation will help the Community Hope Center deliver Thanksgiving food items and also assist with its annual Christmas distribution. Ace Hardware of Bethalto has a generous round-up policy for charities and recently, Ray Johnson, Ace Hardware's general manager, presented the donation check to Steve Thompson, finance manager of the Community Hope Center in Cottage Hills. Molly Mathis, office manager at the Bethalto Ace Hardware, said she is proud of the store for this charitable effort. Right now, the store is rounding up for the Bethalto Police “Christmas For All Program.” “During the regular part of the year, we round up for Children’s Network,” Mathis said. “We always try to help the Community Hope Center during the holidays

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JERSEY COUNTY - A man operating a 2022 Maroon Polaris Ranger was struck by a 2006 Silver Ford Escape at 2:43 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2023, on Oak Rest Road at Illinois Route 16 and died from injuries in the crash. The man who died was Wayne D. Moore, 60, from Piasa. His brother, Herbert D. Moore, 62, from Jerseyville, was transported to a local hospital with injuries. The ISP preliminary report says the following: "The investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling northbound on Oak Rest Road just south of Illinois Route 16. Unit 2 was traveling northbound at the same location passing Unit 1 on the left. Unit 1 attempted to make a left-hand turn into a field access entrance and crossed into Unit 2’s path. Unit 2 struck the rear of Unit 1 and caused Unit 1 to roll over into the field west of Oak Rest Road. The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on scene."

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In this season of Thanksgiving and in recognition of the continued hard work of its employees, effective November 27 OSF HealthCare will increase its minimum wage from $15 to $16 per hour ($18.08/hour in the Chicago Metro region). This is the fourth time in seven years OSF HealthCare has raised its minimum wage. In addition to the minimum wage increase, OSF is giving pay increases to all Mission Partners (employees) within eligible job classifications. This will enable OSF to attract and retain Mission Partners while at the same time address staffing needs in positions critical to the health care Ministry. "OSF knows our Mission Partners have been through a lot over the past two years throughout the pandemic coupled with the increasing pressure of inflation," said Shelley Nguyen, chief human resources officer for OSF HealthCare. "Our Sisters recognize the personal worth and dignity of every person served and the need to help even in a small way." The positive economic impact on the

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JERSEYVILLE - The average cost of Thanksgiving dinner is up 20% from last year, according to a recent survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation . The survey found this year’s average cost for a 10-person feast is $64.05, compared to 2021’s average of $53.31. Even as prices continue to skyrocket nationwide, local stores like Sinclair’s Foods in Jerseyville are trying to keep from passing the cost on to their customers. This price difference of $10.74 represents the largest year-to-year price jump in the survey’s history dating back to 1986 . While 2022 saw the sharpest increase overall, prices have been climbing much more rapidly since 2020. David Wittman, manager of Sinclair's Foods in Jerseyville, said he’s noticed the price of Thanksgiving foods increasing in recent years, including fuel costs related to delivery. However, he said the store has been doing everything it can to keep from passing those price increases on to customers.

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ALTON - As many will be traveling this Thanksgiving Day weekend, thankfully they will be met with some of the lowest gas prices in a long period of time. The statewide gas price average in Missouri is $3.22 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Missouri Weekend Gas Watch. At this time on Wednesday, Illinois stands at $3.94 a gallon for regular unleaded on average, according to AAA. On Wednesday, the Quik Trip on Godfrey Road in Godfrey dropped below $3 a gallon to $2.99. The Phillips 66 off U.S. 67 in West Alton also stood at 2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded today. Locally, a quick glance at gas prices on Gas Buddy shows the QuikTrip on Troy Road in Edwardsville was one of the lowest at $3.39 per gallon for regular unleaded gas and the QuikTrip in Bethalto on Bethalto Drive also stood at $3.39.The Casey's on Fosterburg Road in Alton was also $3.39 per gallon. Gas was $3.59 per gallon for regular unleaded at the following: BP-College Avenue, Alton, the BP on

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EAST ALTON - The second annual State Farm “Skate With Santa” event is being held at the East Alton Ice Arena from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. The event will include free admission, free skate rental and more, and will also benefit the Alton chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace. State Farm Agent Eric Schrumpf, the sponsor of this event, described it as fun for the whole family and said a few special guests will be seen on the ice. “It’s a family-friendly, free ice skating public session - it’s of course open to the public, and there’s free ice skate rental,” Schrumpf said. “We also have Santa Claus and some of his friends, we have elves skating out there as well.” There will also be a “Chuck-A-Puck” competition held at 6 p.m. During intermission, participants will chuck hockey pucks at targets on the ice, and the ones who chuck their pucks closest to the targets will win prizes. While the prizes for this year are

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ST. LOUIS - It was announced today that recipients of a $790 million settlement with Rams owner Stan Kroenke as a result of the Rams leaving St. Louis have come to an agreement on how to split the money. The National Football League announced the large settlement in November 2021 for a lawsuit involving the Rams and St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority. Kroenke himself is forced to pay $571 million for taking the franchise to St. Louis. All 32 NFL teams also must pay $7.5 million to make up the $219 million difference. Information released from St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones' office says the city will receive $250 million and St. Louis County $169 million and the Regional Sports Authority gets $70 million. The City of St. Louis is able to obtain $30 million more contingent on the City Board of Aldermen using it for convention center expansion. After attorney fees, there was $519 million left from the initial $790 million to

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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole held a very brief meeting on Monday night, during which they approved a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System agreement, a resolution related to the 2022 Tax Levy, and awarded a bid for 1819 Woodland Avenue. Alderwoman Elizabeth Allen was the sole member absent from the meeting. A resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (known as the “MABAS Master Agreement 2022”) also passed unanimously. This agreement essentially allows local units of government to collaborate and provide mutual aid in cases of emergencies and natural disasters. The resolution also provides for “communications procedures, training, and other necessary functions” to help protect life and property during emergencies. The full text of the MABAS Master Agreement can be read at mabas-il.org . A resolution regarding the 2022 Tax Levy was also approved. According to Alderman Nate Keener,

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BENTON – On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, Ashley McKinney, 39, of Belleville, Illinois, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for Identity Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering. According to court documents, for almost a year, Ashley McKinney defrauded elderly women in southern Illinois with the help of her co-conspirator, Erica Rose. They were true partners in crime. Rose abused her employment as an in-home caretaker and stole the identities of her elderly clients. Then she passed the stolen information along to McKinney to attempt to drain their bank accounts through counterfeit checks and fraudulent purchases. As an example, McKinney tried to buy a used Tesla online after stealing the identity and savings of an 86-year-old woman from Belleville, Illinois. When the deal fell through because the Tesla had mechanical problems, McKinney bought herself a Mercedes Benz instead. After she took possession of the vehicle, the victim’s bank

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EDWARDSVILLE - A water issue that resulted in some flooding in City Hall, 118 Hillsboro Avenue, forced the closure of the building on Wednesday, November 23. City Hall employees are available to conduct business and assist the public via phone, at 618-692-7500 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. City Hall was already scheduled to be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, and on Friday, November 25. Edwardsville officials said it is expected that City Hall will be open its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as of Monday, November 28, for in-person and phone assistance. However, because the flooding affected the City Council chambers and a first-floor conference room, all committee meetings scheduled for the week of November 28 have been moved to the R.P. Lumber Center, 6289 Tiger Drive in Edwardsville. The meetings will take place in Community Room No. 1. Meeting times, locations, and agendas are provided on the City website, at www.cityofedwardsville.com/calendar. No

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ALTON - Anyone who drives by the Circle at College and Central in Alton is in for a surprise this holiday season - there is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree that stands tall in the circle. A tree lighting was held after the Fourth Ward in Alton monthly meeting this past Thursday and since Brown said, she has had a strong positive reaction from residents. For those who don't know the significance of the State House Circle area in Alton, here is the explanation: A bill was introduced in 1833 for a statewide vote to determine where the new Illinois capitol would be. It was at the time located in Vandalia. Alton was one of the locations among selections in the 1833 vote with Springfield, Jacksonville, Peoria, and Vandalia. Alton was the victor, however, the legislature determined the margin of votes was too small to be conclusive. If the vote had been upheld, the State House Circle in Alton would have been the location of the Illinois state capitol. On February 25, 1837, the Illinois

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a final settlement with opioid manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals and former opioid maker Allergan that requires the companies to provide funding and resources that will support states’ efforts to address the effects of opioid addiction. The bipartisan settlement comes after negotiations led by Raoul and an executive committee of 13 attorneys general and would provide up to $6.6 billion nationally and include critical business practice changes and transparency requirements. There will be a 30-day sign-on period for states, followed by a 90-day sign-on period for units of local government. The settlement will be divided among sign-on states, local governments and tribes, and will prioritize abatement and remediation of the opioid crises. “The opioid addiction crisis is not over. Even today, individuals battle opioid addiction, which affects every facet of their lives and impacts their relationships with loved ones

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EDWARDSVILLE - As millions of motorists hit the road to celebrate Thanksgiving, Illinois law enforcement will be working around the clock to make sure holiday travelers are buckled up and driving safely. The Edwardsville Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.” The goal of this high-visibility effort is to reduce motor vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities. Correct seatbelt use is the most effective way to protect vehicle occupants. According to IDOT, the statewide seatbelt usage rate is at 93%. “Wearing your seat belt is second nature for most,” said Lt. Barry Jones. “We’re looking for the 7% of Illinois motorists who skip this lifesaving step.” Drivers and passengers can expect a ticket from the Edwardsville Police Department if they are spotted without a seat belt. Stepped-up patrols and seat belt enforcement

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 10 attorneys general, is expressing concerns about reproductive health privacy on Apple’s App Store following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Raoul and the attorneys general urged Apple to take practical steps to protect consumers’ private reproductive health information. In a letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Raoul and the coalition called on Apple to protect the personal information of individuals seeking or providing abortion care by implementing privacy-enhancing measures to safeguard data collected by apps hosted on Apple’s App Store. “As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, millions of Americans now must search for alternative methods of managing their reproductive health or seeking abortion services,” Raoul said. “Women have a right to seek reproductive health care online without worrying that their data migh

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GREENVILLE - The Greenville Choral Union and Orchestra present the 92nd performance of George Frederic Handel’s oratorio Messiah on Sunday, December 4, on Greenville University’s campus. The concert will include many of the choruses and solos in the three-part masterpiece. The 60- voice choral union and the 20-piece orchestra include members from several south-central Illinois communities in addition to students, staff, and faculty members from Greenville University. The soloists for this year’s program will feature two Bach Society of St. Louis young artists— Erica Ancell, soprano, and Micheal Lowe, baritone; Greenville University voice faculty – Grace Denton, mezzo-soprano, and Don Frazure, tenor; and GU senior worship arts major, Marissa Horning, mezzo-soprano. Several professional instrumentalists from the St. Louis area will also join the Greenville Chamber Orchestra. “This year’s performance will include the majority of Messiah,

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ALTON - The Lucy Haskell Playhouse has two important events on the horizon. The first is from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, and will be the annual Candlelight Tour at home. The event is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Santa visiting the playhouse. Margaret Hopkins of Lucy Haskell Playhouse, said: "We will have refreshments and entertainment. The Great Rivers Choral Society will sing Christmas carols from 6-6:45 p.m. and Marquette Catholic High School Choir will perform from 7-7:45 p.m. A donation at this event will be used to fund ongoing maintenance and restoration of the playhouse. The second important event will be when Santa Claus visits the Playhouse. He will visit for only two hours, Hopkins said, and will be inside the playhouse this year from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. She added that a Poloroid photo will be only $2 or a person can use their own camera for a photo. The Muny Band will provide holiday entertainment on Dec. 3. "It will be nice to have Santa

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EAST ST. LOUIS - SIHF Healthcare and Touchette Regional Hospital held the groundbreaking on Tuesday for what will be the only Urgent Care in the East St. Louis metro region. “We are extremely pleased to be launching this much-needed service for the residents of the greater East St. Louis metro area,” stated Larry McCulley, CEO of both SIHF Healthcare and Touchette Regional Hospital. The Urgent Care will be a 5,000-square-foot addition to an existing SIHF Healthcare health center at 2001 State Street, East St. Louis. The addition will include four exam rooms and one procedure room plus lab and radiology services. This will be a $2.8 million investment, partially funded by the State of Illinois. “As the recipient of a State of Illinois Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives grant, this is the first visible sign to the community of our efforts and is serving as the public launch of our Transformation project, which will be named LifeBridge,” McCulley noted.

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