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ALTON - It has been busy this school year for Johnathon Ridgley leading a large group of students in the Alton March 100 while also putting in his personal time working on a tribute to one of his late friends. Johnathon is the Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Remarkable Redbird of the Month. Johnathon is currently working on his Eagle Scout project named Ariana's Memorial Garden and it is currently on display at Upper Alton Baptist Church. He saw that this particular spot was neglected during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and he has worked to take out the old landscaping and to put down new soil and plants. He is waiting on a crafted memorial bench in honor of his friend Ariana Scoggins who passed away in February 2021. Johnathon mentioned that this area meant a lot to Ariana, and he wanted to honor her memory by beautifying this area. Johnathan worked to fundraise the necessary $3,000 needed to get all of the materials needed for the project and while he has not yet fully achieved his goal

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ALTON - Peabody-Award-winning investigative war correspondent and reporter Robert Riggs recently gave personal insights into his experience reporting from the front lines of various armed conflicts over the years, including an investigative report on Hamas far before the current conflict in Israel. Riggs comes from a long line of military service - his father, grandfather, and uncles all served in World War II. He also graduated from Texas A&M, which he said is “one of the oldest military schools in the country.” After graduation, he began his Congressional career as a staffer on a defense committee before becoming a war correspondent for the media. During his time as a correspondent, Riggs covered the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush White Houses, the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and several armed conflicts over the years, including the Contra War in Nicaragua and Gulf War I. In 2003, he was offered to join a CBS station group whose material would be seen around the

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GODFREY/ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School (MCHS) communications students spent an afternoon on air with the radio program at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC). On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, students worked with LCCC radio coordinators David Ollenbittle and Mike Lemons in the new radio suite on LCCC’s Godfrey campus. They recorded a podcast and went live on the LCCC radio station, WLCA FM 89.9. “It’s a very nice experience to bring them in, show them that we do have a lot of exciting options here at Lewis and Clark,” said Randy Gallaher, Dean of Liberal Arts, Business and Information Technology at LCCC. “They get to experience it and they get to themselves go on air, and it’s just kind of a neat experience for them.” MCHS has a radio station on the Marquette campus, which is managed by the high school’s radio class. The students travel to LCCC once a year to check out the college radio station and learn about opportunities

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BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, this week met with Illinois Army National Guard members currently working in Romania to help advise and assist members of the Romanian military. As one of our NATO allies bordering Ukraine, maintaining and strengthening Romania’s national security is critical to helping protect the region and strengthen our allies as Vladimir Putin continues his unjustified and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine. A photo from this meeting is available here . “I was glad to meet with members of the Illinois Army National Guard and other American servicemembers doing the important work of supporting and advising Romania’s armed forces,” Duckworth said. “Strengthening the defensive capabilities of our NATO allies is critical in helping effectively deter Putin from continuing his unjustified aggression beyond Ukraine.

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched $21 million in funding for the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program or "CEJA Contractor Incubator Hubs." The program establishes a network of 13 community-based hubs across the state offering incubator services designed to assist clean energy contractors – especially those from underserved areas – grow their businesses. The organizations that will run CEJA Contractor Incubator Hubs will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. “Illinois’ nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is the boldest climate action plan in our state’s history, and it’s anchored in equity to ensure no one is left behind,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “That’s why I’m proud to announce additional funding for our CEJA Contractor Incubator Hubs that will further advance our clean energy businesses

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EDWARDSVILLE — Twenty-six students have been charged in connection with the recent school fighting incident at Alton High School on Aug. 30, 2023. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that prosecutors have filed juvenile charges (known as delinquency petitions) against 24 students and have filed adult charges against two other students in connection with fighting Aug. 30 at Alton High School. Haine said the petitions and charges are the result of an investigation headed by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Charged offenses range from disorderly conduct to mob action to aggravated battery of a peace officer. The ages of those charged range from 14 to 18. They consist of 15 females and 11 males. “After a close review of each case referred to our office, we have seen fit to file charges against these students for various crimes stemming from these incidents,” Haine said. “It is a tragedy whenever the criminal justice system

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CARLINVILLE - Dr. Joseph Welch, Professor of Music at Blackburn College, has been named the 2023 Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA). Welch serves as Department of Music and Theatre Chair and Director of the College Choir. He teaches music theory, music history, aural skills, and arts entrepreneurship as well as giving applied lessons for piano. Previously, he was the recipient of Blackburn’s Faculty Diversity Award in 2023 and was named Gateway Arch East Member of the Year in 2017. Welch will be honored for this award at ISMTA's November conference. Welch was nominated for the award by Gillian Cerbin, President of The Gateway Arch East Chapter of ISMTA. They wrote, “Joe truly gives of his time and expertise to the furtherment of music across the whole community. Working tirelessly, he reaches across a diverse area both musically and demographically, always going beyond and always willing to step up for others. His style is understated,

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced his office will invest an additional $10 million in Israel as a direct response to the unprovoked, murderous attack by the Hamas terrorist organization. “After being absolutely sickened by the ongoing atrocities, we reached out to our Israeli partners and asked what we can do to help,” Frerichs said. “This investment is a direct result of those conversations.” “This investment shows our strong commitment to Israel and its people,” Frerichs said. “The challenges in the region are great. Israel is now at war. This is our way to show, with action and deeds as well as words, that we want to do what we can in this time of need.” Frerichs’ office has invested in Israel Bonds since he became State Treasurer in 2015. It has done so to diversify the state’s portfolio, achieve good returns from a safe investment, and to draw attention to a global partnership betwee

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ALTON - Susie Young wishes it had only been a spell put on her by three witches as she and her family watched “Hocus Pocus 2” in her Godfrey home on Sept. 30, 2022. She felt pain moving down her left arm and “felt like I was being choked.” Having worked at Alton Memorial Hospital for 19 years – first as a nurse on the Medical Care Unit and now in Case Management – Susie was brought to the AMH Emergency Department that Friday night and diagnosed with a heart attack. “My husband, Jim, took my blood pressure right away at home and I’m sure I was still having the attack when the ambulance arrived,” Young said. “Dr. (Robert) Lutan, my hero, was here and ordered a cardiac cath for that Monday.” The cardiac cath found five blockages to Young’s heart, which meant a snag had been hit in the family’s planned trip to Disney World starting Oct. 8. Most of them still went, but her husband stayed home as Susie had ope

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ALTON - Leon Smallwood-Bey, the Alton NAACP Branch President, has issued a statement about the recent fights at Alton High School. The incident occurred on Aug. 30, 2023, and resulted in some expulsions, suspensions and charges. The statement reads as follows: “While we, the NAACP, are disappointed that so many students have been expelled/suspended, and some charged with criminal charges, we also still have to ensure that there is safety in our schools. The NAACP hasn’t made a statement before now because we wanted to talk to everyone involved. So we have spoken to the state’s attorney's office, the school superintendent, school officials, students, and some parents. Our goal is to ensure the safety of our students, to ensure they all have a chance to complete their education. "As a plan of action: The NAACP Alton branch recommends as followed: We recommend the hiring of more African-American staff members in order to help fill the cultural gap that the lack of African-American

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MASCOUTAH – A full-scale emergency exercise, featuring approximately 70 first responders and local volunteer actors, was recently conducted at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, with the goal of testing and improving local emergency response. The exercise took place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 and featured multiple agencies and organizations working together to respond to a fictional aircraft mishap. Full-scale emergency exercises of this nature are conducted every three years by MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and other airports to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for FAR Part 139 certification. The fictional scenario was centered around an aircraft encountering multiple bird strikes during flight and experiencing a hard landing upon return to the airport, leading to simulated structural damage and fire that resulted in several injuries and fatalities. The aircraft, represented by a Scott Air Force Base KC-135, was staged on the runway prior

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—issued the following statement on the ongoing violence in Israel: “The unmistakable terrorism we’ve seen since Saturday’s coordinated attacks—which left more Jews dead than any single day since the Holocaust—is pure evil, and the United States stands in unwavering solidarity with Israel and its absolute right to defend itself and its people from Hamas’s unconscionable kidnappings, beheadings of babies, massacres of entire communities and rape. Those perpetrating this carnage must be stopped and other parties should not view this crisis as an opportunity to escalate further. There is never any excuse for terrorism. “As this tragedy unfolds, I’m relieved the United States is providing Israel with the resources it needs to respond and I join large bipartisan majorities

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ALTON - After the Alton City Council voted 6-1 to raise sales taxes within the recently established Route 3 and Buckmaster Business District, one resident voiced his disapproval. Mike Batchelor, who also raised concerns about the tax increase at a public hearing last month , returned to City Hall to question the economic benefit of the district and the priorities of city officials. While public speakers at Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting were allowed to make comments before their items of concern were voted on, Batchelor said he was caught off guard by his inability to do the same. “I had a prepared speech, but you guys kind of trashed that with your vote to raise taxes, so forgive me for going a little bit off script,” Batchelor said. “I was the only one to speak up in the public forum to question why anyone thought it was a promising idea to raise taxes on anyone right now, let alone two discount retailers that cater to our lowest income

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On September 21, 2023, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) adopted a permanent rule regulating the placement of co-branded alcoholic beverages on retail sales floors. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) issued a Certificate of No Objection on September 12, 2023, permitting the ILCC to adopt the rule by filing with the Secretary of State. The permanent rule seeks to protect the public from confusion between alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages with similar branding and to prevent the marketing of such alcoholic beverages to children. A “co-branded alcoholic beverage” is any alcoholic beverage containing the same or a similar brand name, logo, or packaging as a non-alcoholic beverage. The permanent rule applies to all establishments in Illinois that sell packaged alcohol for off-premise consumption. Under the permanent rule, applicable establishments are subject to the following regulations: • Establishments with larger retail sale

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Letter To The Editor: On Monday, I attended the Alton City Council meeting during which the proposed “Camping” ordinance was discussed and commented on by many Alton citizens. There was a majority viewpoint that the ordinance was unnecessary and even punitive. When I read the proposed ordinance I was greatly concerned with the mention of "alternatives" when an unhoused member of the community is told to leave a public place where they may have been “camping”. What alternatives? There are no shelters. There are no beds anywhere. What will really happen is the unhoused will have their property stolen and trashed by the police. These simple belongings are all they have to protect them from the elements. They'll be forced to "move on," with nowhere to go. Some “alternative.” I'm sad to say that Alton’s Mayor and the Madison County State’s Attorney are mimicking the extreme and cruel behavior demonstrated repeatedly across the rive

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KENT, OHIO - Edwardsville native Hannah Faulkner, an NFHCA All-America Third Team pick in 2014 who was fifth in the country in goals with 20 and sixth in points with 48, was inducted recently in the Kent State University Hall Of Fame. Hannah is also being recognized as a Johnston Law Firm Female Athlete of Month for Edwardsville for her success as a college and high school athlete at EHS. The MAC Player of the Year led Kent State to the first NCAA Tournament win in program history, a 2-1 victory at Delaware, that same season. Faulkner also helped the Flashes to MAC regular season championships in each of her final three seasons and earned a spot on an All-MAC team each year. This year's ceremony took place Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in the Kent State Student Center Ballroom. Hannah had a great career at EHS and also played for the Gateway Club team in St. Louis and was part of the Futures program. She was co-captain for the Edwardsville Tigers in both 2009 and 2010. She scored six

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SPRINGFIELD – A total of $2,161,000 in grants to help communities develop and improve 13 local bike path projects throughout Illinois was announced today by Governor JB Pritzker. “Bicycle path projects are excellent drivers of job creation and economic development, while also increasing road safety for bicyclists,” Governor Pritzker said . “Illinois’ beautiful natural landscape should be accessible and safe for all to enjoy, and I’m pleased that projects like this help make that goal a reality.” The Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Funding comes from a percentage of the motor vehicle title fees, providing a maximum grant award of $200,000 per project for development projects, with no maximum grant award limit for land acquisition projects. Village of Glen Carbon, Glen Carbon Road Shared Use Path, Phase II – $200,000 The Village of Glen Carbon will extend the

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This is my sixteenth update to the citizens of the 111 th district, as your State Representative. The summer and fall have been very busy for me and my office staff, as we shift gears away from the spring legislative session and back to in-district activities and outreach. In August, we held traveling office hours throughout the district as well as an evening session at the Alton office. During these office hours, we meet with constituents on various issues and work to resolve problems with state agencies. We also hear general complaints and compliments and meet people we may not have met before. Although the traveling office hours are complete at this time, you can always call my office for assistance. We recently held a Citizens Utility Board (CUB) event at Senior Services Plus in Alton. Citizens Utility Board is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded to educate and advocate for residential and small-business utility customers. We had high demand for the one-on-one meetings

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GRAFTON - Community members listened on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, as Grafton city officials shared their plans for a veterans memorial and museum. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow and Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau President Cory Jobe spoke about the $6 million project and how it will affect Grafton, while architect Jamie Henderson shared information about the memorial and museum design. Local singer Nikki Brooks provided music, and Alton Mayor David Goins led the invocation. The project aims to honor Grafton’s veteran population, which, at 17%, is the highest per capita in Illinois. “This memorial is designed for everyone,” Morrow said. “It will be a place of quiet reflection and a place of education. We are doing this so we never forget what our men and women in the military have done for our nation.” The museum will be located at the current Grafton Visitor Center at 950 E. Main Street. The nearby memorial will depict the U.S. Army Provisional

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BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – On an official visit to Europe this week, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—reaffirmed our nation’s commitment to Romania and all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as Vladimir Putin continues his unjustified and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine. During discussions with Romanian parliamentarians, the Minister of Defense, the Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs and other leaders, Duckworth also underscored that not only is continued American support for Ukraine critically important to the brave Ukrainians who are fighting for freedom and democracy on the other side of Romania’s border, but that this aid is also important for America’s own national security and the security all NATO allies as well. Photos of the Senator’s visit are available here . “As a member of the Senate Armed Services

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