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BETHALTO - The Illinois Secretary of State has upgraded its Bethalto DMV to a “One-Stop-Shop” design, improving the customer experience through reduced wait times and increased efficiency. The renovation also includes updated signage to create a more logical flow and help customers know where to go, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today. The Bethalto DMV, located at 20 Terminal Dr., Ste. 103, East Alton, is among the first to undergo the “One-Stop-Shop” transformation and is now re-opened following extensive renovations to allow customers to access services at one single station. As a part of the Secretary of State’s ongoing modernization efforts, the new DMV experience will save customers considerable time and several steps by offering both vehicle and driver services at a single service counter. “Since taking office, I have made it a top priority to provide exceptional customer service and reduce lines and wait times,” Giannoulias

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that nonfarm payrolls were up +7,100 while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent in September, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The August monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +800 to +6,700 jobs, while the revised unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, unchanged from the preliminary August unemployment rate. The September payroll jobs estimate, and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. In September, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Private Education and Health Services (+4,600), Leisure and Hospitality (+3,600), and Government (+2,800). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll job declines included: Financial Activities (-3,000), Professional and Business Services (-3,000), and Construction (-1,300).

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY - As Election Day approaches, there are a lot of options for early voting in St. Clair County. Eligible voters can vote in-person at specified polling locations. This is helpful for many people who find it inconvenient or impossible to vote on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. How does it work? Early voting works just like regular in-person voting. You will go to your specified polling place to cast your vote like you would in any election. However, your polling place might differ during early voting. Read on to find out where you can vote early in St. Clair County. Who can vote early? If you are registered to vote in Illinois, you are eligible for early voting. How is my vote counted? Early votes are not counted until the polls close on Election Day. Your vote is final once you cast your ballot. Where do I vote early in Belleville? You can vote at the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office, located at 10 Public Square in Belleville. Their hours

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ALTON - First Mid Bank & Trust Small Business Customers Receive Community Grants from Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Alton, IL (October 21, 2024) First Mid Bank & Trust, a trusted partner in local business development, is proud to announce that two of its valued small business customers, both located in Alton, IL, have each been awarded a $15,000 community grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago). Provided through their Community First® Accelerate Grants for Small Business program, the grants will provide critical support as these businesses continue to grow and serve their community. FHLBank Chicago offers grants of up to $30,000 to eligible small businesses to advance economic opportunity in the communities it serves. The recipients of the grants are LaMay’s Catering, Inc. (LaMay’s), a food service company providing full-service catering and event space along with food trucks and community cafes, and Broadway Performance Automotive LLC (Broadway)

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BELLEVILLE — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) will tour Chestnut Health Systems in Belleville at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. The visit aims to highlight a federal investment aimed at enhancing veteran services in Madison County. Rep. Budzinski, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and its Subcommittee on Health, has been an advocate for veterans during her first term in Congress. She established a Veterans Advisory Council to engage local veterans in her legislative efforts. Recently, Budzinski helped secure a $1 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Chestnut Health Systems, which will support homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. This grant is part of the VA's broader $800 million Supportive Services for Veterans program. The visit will include several key figures from Chestnut Health Systems and the Supportive Services for Veterans program, including Director Callie

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MADISON COUNTY - As Election Day approaches, there are a lot of options for early voting in Madison County. In Madison County, eligible voters can vote in-person at specified polling locations. This is helpful for many people who find it inconvenient or impossible to vote on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. How does it work? Early voting works just like regular in-person voting. You will go to your specified polling place to cast your vote like you would in any election. However, your polling place might differ during early voting. Read on to find out where you can vote early in Madison County. Who can vote early? If you are registered to vote in Illinois, you are eligible for early voting. How is my vote counted? Early votes are not counted until the polls close on Election Day. Your vote is final once you cast your ballot. Where do I vote early in Alton? You can vote at the Scott Bibb Center, located at 1004 E. 5th Street in Alton. From Oct. 21–25, 2024,

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TROY - Angela Richter has been named Triad's 2024-2025 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award winner, recognizing her commitment to high student engagement and continuous personal improvement. The announcement was made recently by Triad Community Unit #2. Richter, who is in her 17th year with the Triad School District, currently teaches fourth grade at Marine Elementary School. Her dedication to education is evident in her active participation in various initiatives aimed at enhancing the learning environment. She has volunteered to pilot new curricula and technology and serves on several committees, including the Triad Elementary Science Curriculum committee and the Triad Into Reading Pilot committee. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Richter is the Grade Level leader for fourth-grade teachers in the district and chairs the Marine Elementary Spring Food Drive, which supports local communities during critical times. She also engages her students by inviting guest speakers

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CHAMPAIGN – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan F. Kelly has announced the line-of-duty death of ISP Trooper Corey S. Thompsen. ? Kelly said the ISP family mourns Trooper Thompsen and holds his family and loved ones in our hearts during this terrible time. At 3:40 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, Trooper Thompsen was involved in a two-vehicle crash. ?The details of the crash are still under investigation. ?Trooper Thompsen was taken to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 4:32 p.m. ? “It is with a heavy heart and immeasurable sadness that I inform you of the death of Trooper Corey S. Thompsen,” said ISP Director Brendan F. ? Kelly. “We ask the public to give Trooper Thompsen’s family, and his ISP family, time while we grieve and work through this tragedy.” Trooper Thompsen was 28 years old and served almost five years as an officer with ISP. ? He is survived by his wife, mother, and father.

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ALTON — A motorcycle accident on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, claimed the life of a 35-year-old man in Alton. The incident occurred at approximately 5:23 p.m. at the intersection of East Broadway and Laclede Street. According to preliminary investigations by the Alton Police Department, a silver Chevrolet Silverado was stopped at the intersection and was signaled to make a left turn onto Laclede Street. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said as the Silverado began its turn north onto Laclede, it was struck from behind by a motorcycle driven by Darrin Sturgis of Cottage Hills. Ford said Sturgis was transported to Alton Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado left the scene of the crash but was later located at a nearby residence. Routine toxicology testing was conducted on the driver, and results will be available after lab analysis. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with the Alton Police Department leading the inquiry. They

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JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 recently hosted a visit from Dr. Tony Sanders, Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education, and Dr. Steven Isoye, the ISBE Board Chairman, on Thursday. The visit was aimed to showcase the educational initiatives and programs in place at the district's schools. During their visit, Dr. Sanders and Dr. Isoye toured Jersey Community High School, Jersey Community Middle School, and East Elementary. The Sanders-Isoye tour allowed them to observe the work being done by both staff and students in the district. "Their time and leadership are invaluable as we continue to focus on improving education for all students and educators across Illinois," a district representative said. The visit underscores the district's commitment to enhancing educational quality and fostering an environment conducive to learning.

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DOW - A woman from Dow has been charged with stealing telephone wire and meth possession, her latest charges in a decade-long criminal history. Sylvia R. Wedding, 41, of Dow, was charged with theft between $500 and $10,000, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. On Oct. 12, 2024, Wedding allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of telephone wire, which was property of AT&T and had a value exceeding $500. She was also charged with possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Jersey County court records show Wedding has a history of drug-related charges dating back to 2014. She was also charged with theft between $500 and $10,000 in a case from July of this year. Wedding was initially granted pretrial release, but her release was later revoked. The court found no conditions of release could ensure she would either appear in court or avoid subsequent charges. Jersey County Sheriff’s Office records indicate Wedding currently

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SPRINGFIELD – Scenic drives are a must in Illinois in autumn and with the height of fall colors, people will be spending a lot of time on the road. The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are reminding the public to be alert for deer, which are entering their peak mating season, especially at dawn and dusk now through December. Madison County ranked second in Illinois in 2023 in deer crashes with 396, second behind Cook County with 598. “While your instinct is to veer when you hit a deer, don’t do it because you might lose control and injure yourself or others. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Whether you’re in an urban, suburban or rural area, pay extra attention to your surroundings, especially in spots where there have been previous deer sightings.” In 2023,

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ALTON — A collision involving two business trucks occurred at 9:43 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at the intersection of West Broadway and Piasa in Alton. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries resulting from the incident. Both drivers involved in the crash received treatment at the scene from Alton firefighters and did not require transport to a medical facility. The Alton Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Further details regarding the cause or any potential violations have not been released at this time.

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - Cahokia Heights authorities are investigating a fatal car accident that claimed the life of a 39-year-old man Sunday night, Oct. 20, 2024. David Fayne, a resident of East St. Louis, died after losing control of his vehicle in the 600 block of Bond Avenue in Cahokia Heights. The St. Clair County Coroner's Office confirmed Fayne's death, stating that he succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash. The Cahokia Heights Police Department received a call regarding the incident at 10:34 p.m. Sunday. Fayne was driving a Chevy Cruze when he lost control of the vehicle. The coroner's office reported that Fayne was pronounced dead at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. As of Monday, no additional details regarding the circumstances of the crash were available. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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ALTON – Riverbend Head Start & Family Services (RHSFS) is honored to celebrate Veteran’s Day at its Essic Robinson Center. During the occasion, we’re hosting an open house. It will be held on Monday, November 11, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The address is 1802 E. Broadway, Alton IL, 62002. This year marks the first time that RHSFS is planning a special Veteran’s Day celebration. Two of our Essic Robinson employees, Hannah Hook (U.S. Army) and Mitchell Bushnell-Chamness (U.S. Air Force) collaborated on the idea. In an effort to ensure all of our children at Essic Robinson are included, we will host two-time slots. The early time slot will be at 10:30 a.m., the afternoon time slot will be at 1:30 p.m. We will have veterans from all over the community visiting with our Head Start students. The children will gather in the main hallway to welcome the veterans during a red carpet “honor walk.” Veterans will then be presented

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River City Council is set to vote on an ordinance which would ban unaccompanied minors from Central Park, which has reportedly become a “hotbed of illegal activity.” On the agenda for Monday, Oct 21, 2024 is an ordinance which would prohibit minors from being present at Central Park unless supervised by a “parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult” over the age of 25. “The Police Chief has notified the City Council that in recent months, Central Park has been the location of numerous violent incidents and other illegal activity perpetrated by area youths,” according to the ordinance. “ City has determined that due to its proximity to East Alton Wood River High School, Central Park will likely continue to be a hotbed of illegal activity if unsupervised minors are allowed to continue to congregate within the park.” Exceptions would be made for unaccompanied minors who are city employees or city officials

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SAUGET - Connor Hanlon, a student at St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, continued his family’s tradition of drag racing by competing at the National Hot Rod Association's (NHRA) Midwest Ndwest Nationals. Connor’s father and grandfather have been building and racing cars for many years. In fact, Connor’s grandfather, Jim Hanlon, a well-known Alton resident, has been racing at World Wide Technology since it opened in 1972. Connor has grown up around race cars and was always fascinated with the mechanical side of anything his Grandpa or Dad, Ryan Hanlon, were tinkering on. Grandpa's latest race car in a very long line of homebuilt racing machines is a 1965 Chevrolet Nova that was assembled to compete in the long-standing NHRA class called Stock Eliminator. This is the car that Connor piloted at the Midwest Nationals. When Connor became more interested in driving, his father, Ryan Hanlon, signed him up for another NHRA program called Junior Street where 13-15-year-old

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O'FALLON — The O'Fallon Police Department, in collaboration with O'Fallon Fire Rescue and multiple emergency services agencies, successfully located a missing elderly man on Thursday morning. Seventy-five-year-old M.C. Johnson, who suffers from dementia, was reported missing after walking away from his home in the Fairwood Hills Drive area around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. At approximately 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, Johnson was found uninjured in a location just west of Old Collinsville Road and north of Milburn School Road, about 4.5 miles from where he began his journey. Emergency medical personnel evaluated him on-site before he was returned home to his family. The search operation involved a coordinated effort from various agencies and community members. The O'Fallon Police Department expressed gratitude for the significant assistance received from local emergency services, including drone teams from Columbia, Signal Hill, and Mehlville Fire Departments, as wel

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QUARRY, ELSAH, MISSISSIPPI, AND OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIPS - In a collaborative effort with the nonprofit Camp I Am Me and Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), the QEM Fire Protection District will be installing no-cost smoke alarms for the residents of Quarry, Elsah, Mississippi, and Otter Creek Townships. The Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program provides smoke alarms and fire prevention materials to Illinois fire departments to both educate residents on fire safety as well as to provide them with life-saving devices in their home. The statewide smoke alarm blitz campaign, scheduled for Oct. 20-26, 2024, brings together fire departments from across Illinois to raise awareness about fire prevention and ensure that communities have properly functioning smoke alarms installed in their homes. As part of Fire Prevention Month, the QEM Fire Protection District will be installing 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to enhance home safety and protect families. “Captain

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Educators from across Madison County gathered at the biannual Madison County Institute on Friday, October 11th. Educators brought their innovative ideas and best practices to share with colleagues and participated in engaging peer-led workshops focused on enhancing classroom instruction, programs, and support provided to staff and students in districts. Madison County educators were divided amongst four different locations, Alton High School, Collinsville High School, Granite City High School, and Triad High School, based on their grade level or the support services they provided. Unlike traditional conferences, the Institute allowed educators to propose and lead sessions based on their expertise and interests, fostering a collaborative environment. Each location kicked off and ended with an outside speaker covering topics related to transforming school culture, action leadership, being effective and loving your job, and achieving your goals. In between the speakers, educators

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