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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced the upcoming departure of Deputy Governor Sol Flores, who has served as Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services since the beginning of the Governor’s first term in January of 2019. The Deputy Governor position will be filled by Grace Hou, current Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Prior to serving as Deputy Governor, Flores was the founding Executive Director of La Casa Norte, a non-profit organization established in 2002 serving youth and families confronting homelessness. “Sol Flores has dedicated countless hours of work and a lifetime of expertise to my administration over the last four and a half years; she has led with a focused tenacity, passion and energy, and I am incredibly grateful for her years of service,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Although she will be missed at IDHS, Secretary Hou has been a partner in some of our largest and most impactful initiatives, and I’

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MANTENO – Governor JB Pritzker and Gotion today joined local Illinois leaders and officials to announce the company’s decision to locate its new state-of-the-art $2 billion electric vehicle (EV) lithium battery manufacturing plant in Manteno. Bolstered by a REV Illinois (Reimagining Energy and Vehicles) incentive package and the new Invest in Illinois fund, Gotion’s decision to locate its new gigafactory in Illinois speaks to the state’s growing reputation as an EV manufacturing powerhouse and represents a significant step forward in growing its EV ecosystem and supply chain. The plant is expected to begin production in 2024. “Today, we take another leap forward, announcing the largest electric vehicle battery production investment in Illinois to date. It’s my pleasure to welcome a world-leading battery manufacturer — Gotion — to Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This announcement is a testament to Illinois status as

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ALTON - The Sixth Annual Alton Cigar event created by host Derrick Richardson will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Bluff City Grill, 424 E. Broadway. Bluff City Grill is a local restaurant/bar owned by Cathy Gross. "Scott Biancardi, owner of STL Cigars, is amazingly skilled in the art of cigar-rolling, and will roll the cigar of your choice right in front of you," Richardson, organizer of the event, said. "Brandon Shaw aka DJ Brando, a local DJ, will be playing a mix of the oldies and the newest hits. “The Alton Cigar Event is six years strong. This event is about bonding and cigars. Every year, the attendance gets bigger, and there will be plenty of seating. BCG has wonderful food and drink selections for purchase. Even if you don’t smoke cigars, come out and be a part of the fun." This is a rain-or-shine event under the covered outdoor patio. Admission is free to the public.

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HIGHLAND - Highland Arts Council invites community members to embrace their creative side at the upcoming Art in the Park weekend at Lindendale Park in Highland. From Oct. 14–15, visitors can peruse the exhibitions, watch art demonstrations and potentially win free artwork. With 65 featured artists and a predicted 8,000–9,000 attendees, this family-friendly event encourages art appreciation at all ages. “People don’t realize how much creativity is in every occupation that we have,” said Lynnette Schuepbach, chairperson with the council. “The mission of Highland Arts Council is to bring the art to the community, to keep people thinking creatively, so then it spills over into their jobs and everything that they do.” From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, visitors can enjoy the exhibits and speak to the artists, who work with a variety of mediums. There will also be a few performing artists and demonstrations

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GODFREY – The Cookie Factory Bakery and Cafe has found its sweet spot at Alton Square Mall under Alton native Sarah Kinder, who purchased the business on Jan. 1, 2022. Kinder took over the business on Jan. 1, 2022, and has 18 employees helping her with the day-to-day operations. The Cookie Factory Bakery and Café has been selected as the September 2023 Small Business of the Month award recipient by the RiverBend Growth Association. The bakery and restaurant, at 202 Alton Square in Alton, is located on the second floor of Alton Square Mall and has been a mainstay for generations of customers enjoying the cookies, sweets and munchies baked daily there. Satisfying the region’s sweet tooth now for 43 years, The Cookie Factory was first opened by Linda McCormick at the mall, who operated the successful eatery until her retirement and sale of the business to Alton native Sarah Kinder. “I was an at-home baker looking to move into a storefront but was not sure where

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ALTON - The Sixth Annual Alton Cigar event will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Bluff City Grill, 424 E. Broadway. "Bluff City Grill is a local restaurant/bar owned by Cathy Gross. Scott Biancardi, owner of STL Cigars, is amazingly skilled in the art of cigar-rolling, and will roll the cigar of your choice right in front of you," Derrick D. Richardson, organizer of the event, said. "Brandon Shaw aka DJ Brando, a local DJ, will be playing a mix of the oldies and the newest hits. “The Alton Cigar Event is six years strong. This event is about bonding and cigars. Every year, the attendance gets bigger, and there will be plenty of seating. BCG has wonderful food and drink selections for purchase. Even if you don’t smoke cigars, come out and be a part of the fun." This is a rain-or-shine event under the covered outdoor patio. Admission is free to the public.

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WOOD RIVER - After 40 years in the business, Meyer Jewelry Group will close their doors for good at the end of the month. Jim Meyer repaired and created custom jewelry throughout the Riverbend area until his passing in July 2020. The shop was closed for a year and then reopened by his son-in-law, Jeremy Morris, in August 2021. In a Facebook post on Sept. 8, the store announced their permanent closure, scheduled tentatively for Sept. 30. “An opportunity has presented itself that better suits Jeremy and our family,” the post read. “We are grateful for your support of Meyer Jewelry for over 40 years. Jim built this amazing business in the 70s and loved sharing his talent and love of art with the Riverbend area even in his last days. There is no way to fully express our gratitude for your loyalty and love of Jim and Meyer Jewelry.” The store is known for their jewelry repair and cleaning services. They also offer a range of diamonds and fashion jewelry, including

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EDWARDSVILLE - A sign resembling giant metal chopsticks on the south side of the new Drunken Fish restaurant in Edwardsville will either have to change or come down following the City Council’s unanimous denial of multiple requested sign variances. According to city officials and documentation from Tuesday’s meeting packet, Highland based graphic design company Aggressive designed and allegedly installed the sign without the city’s permission. Members of the city’s Administrative and Community Services (ACS) Committee voted unanimously to deny a series of variances that would’ve allowed the sign to remain standing - or in this case, projecting from the wall. The sign violates multiple parts of the city’s signage code by reaching more than three feet above the building’s roof and extending closer than eight feet to the ground. “This is a hard one - I’m just going to come out and say that,” ACS Committee Chair Elizabeth

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WOOD RIVER - A proposed subdivision of a portion of Belk Park for potential future sale or private development was unanimously voted down by the Wood River City Council at their meeting earlier this week. The city’s Planning Commission forwarded a negative recommendation to the council after two public hearings in which several members of the public spoke out against the proposed subdivision. At the time of the first public hearing, a wedding venue developer had plans to build a wedding venue on the site, but they have since canceled those plans . Several cited the land being designated a public park in the will of the late Robert Belk when he donated the land to the city. Belk died in 1951 and a city ordinance officially establishing the land as a public park was signed in 1954. The Planning Commission originally tabled the item after the first public hearing on July 20 to gather and consider more information after 17 city residents and area locals made

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EAST ALTON – The next National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) newsletter will be a special edition featuring a collection of personal accounts and photos of the Great Flood of 1993 from community members. Please share stories, memories, or anything related to the flood you would like to share. Entries should be sent to rsender@lc.edu with the subject line “Great Flood ‘23” and will be accepted until October 15. About National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them, facilitating the efficient implementation of science into policy and to practice. Founded in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, the center aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related to the interconnectedness of large rivers,

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EDWARDSVILLE – For more than 80 years, Nickel Plate Station set the scene for many Edwardsville residents’ stories, whether individuals were traveling out of town or returning home from an adventure. Edwardsville Children’s Museum (ECM) is excited to share a collection of these memorable tales with its new exhibit, “Stories of the Nickel Plate,” located at the Windland Education Center at Nickel Plate Station and opening with a free family event on September 17. Through visuals and audio, this interactive exhibit introduces children and their families to four storytellers from bygone eras who passed through the depot’s doors. From Phil Schafer, who boarded a train for boot camp during World War I, to young Florence Glass, whose trip took her to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, “Stories of the Nickel Plate” fuses the stories of the station with defining moments in our region’s history. In addition to hearing our honorees’

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ALTON - Calling all writers — Maeva’s Coffee will host their seventh Writers of the Riverbend event on Oct. 14. Writers of the Riverbend: Mix and Mingle is a networking opportunity for all writers and industry professionals, whether your work has been published or not. Those with published work can also register for a table to sell their books. Poets, journalists, students, illustrators, editors, cover designers and more are all invited, as well as community members who want to check out the book fair. “It’s where the published and unpublished join,” Sarah J. Dhue, author and organizer of the event, said. “It’s a networking event first and foremost, but it’s a place to showcase your work because that opens the door, which was really our aim.” From 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, you can visit with over 30 vendors set up along the north and south hallways in Milton School House, located at 1320 Milton Road. Thos

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ALTON - The second annual Alton Pride festival on Sept. 9 was a busy day of vendors, performances and celebrations for the local LGBTQ+ community. Alton Pride is an organization that provides resources to LGBTQ+ people in the Riverbend area. This year marked the second Pride festival, where people could enjoy food trucks and live music from noon to 9:30 p.m. in downtown Alton. “For me, it’s a way of getting in touch with fellow LGBTQIA people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to the big festivals over in the city,” Alton Pride President Nicci Kincer said. “It’s more grassroots. It’s smaller, it’s more personal. More family-friendly.” In addition to craft vendors and food trucks, attendees could enjoy performances by area bands Porch Cafe , Mz Goldie , Piasa Canyon and Bullseye Womprats. The event was emceed by drag queens Dieta Pepsi and Chasity Valentino, and a drag show from 6–7 p.m. kicked off the evening.

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ALTON - Makaila Irby is a player on Marquette Catholic's girls volleyball team that stands out with her tenacity, and as her coach Sue Heinz describes it, "hustle on the court." The senior is a libero/defensive specialist, and one of the captains of the Explorers volleyball team this year. Makaila is a Tucker's Automotive Repair and Tire Female Athlete Of The Month for The Explorers. "Makaila provides our team with strong leadership skills, communication, and lots of hustle," Coach Heinz said. "Makaila will lead our defenses this year." To date, Irby is averaging 14 serve receives and nine digs a game, Heinz said. Irby is one of the reasons Marquette's girls are competitive in just about every area volleyball match they enter this season.

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GODFREY - Godfrey trustees have tabled an agreement with Survival Flight to lease Godfrey Fire Station #1 as their new “home base of operations” once the Fire Protection District moves into their new fire station in mid-January 2024. Details of the lease agreement are currently being worked out by village trustees. Survival Flight, which currently provides emergency medical services (EMS) by air from their medical helicopter base in Jerseyville, is planning to bring ground ambulances to the region citing requests from multiple local agencies and a need for additional ambulance services. Survival Flight will work with and initially focus on St. Anthony’s Hospital in Alton, and is aiming to have their on-ground ambulance service operational by Nov. 6, 2023. Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said trustees should feel “elated” that Survival Flight wants to move their home base to Godfrey. “As far as the service they’re going to supply to

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that pavement resurfacing on Illinois 140 between Monument Avenue and Terra Drive in Madison County will require intermittent lane closures starting, weather permitting, 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The work is expected to be completed by the end of November. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – DraftKings at Casino Queen , located at 200 Front St. along the Mississippi River, continues to uphold its mission to support the St. Louis community by donating supplies and fundraising for two local charities this month. In August, DraftKings at Casino Queen also hosted its annual back-to-school drive. Guests and team members were encouraged to donate a variety of school supplies to benefit East St. Louis School District 189 , which includes public schools in East St. Louis, Canteen, Centreville and Stites Townships in northwestern St. Clair County. Through the drive, DraftKings at Casino Queen gathered and donated an approximate total of $1,600 worth of supplies. Through an ongoing fundraising campaign, DraftKings at Casino Queen raised $1,000 and donated an additional $1,500 to Gateway Pet Guardians , a local animal shelter. The $2,500 donation will provide resources for pets, including quality veterinary care and pet supplies. Gateway Pet Guardians

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GRANITE CITY - Revity Credit Union employees joined together to raise $1,185.00 in the month of August to benefit Happy Trails Farm through their Smile for Jeans Program. The Smile for Jeans Program is funded by Revity Credit Union employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, Revity employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. Nothing gets better than seeing a smile on an organization’s face when Revity Credit Union presents them with a jeans donation check. Revity Credit Union’s 2023 Smile for Jeans Program focuses on supporting our local communities that we work, play and live in. During the month of August, Revity employees proudly raised $1,185.00 for Happy Trails Farm. Happy Trails Farm has been established for over 16 years and serves as a local horse rescue in Granite City. In addition to rescuing horses, Happy Trails

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EAST ALTON – The next National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) newsletter will be a special edition featuring a collection of personal accounts and photos of the Great Flood of 1993 from community members. Please share stories, memories, or anything related to the flood you would like to share. Entries should be sent to rsender@lc.edu with the subject line “Great Flood ‘23” and will be accepted until October 15. About National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them, facilitating the efficient implementation of science into policy and to practice. Founded in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, the center aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related to the interconnectedness of large rivers,

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JERSEY - The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of two men near a four-wheeler believed to have run out of gas in the area of Central Road north of State Highway 16 on Wednesday morning, Sept. 6, 2023. Deputies arrived to find an abandoned Suzuki four-wheeler in the ditch and in a search of the area, they identified Ashley J. Fulmer, 26, walking down the roadway. At the same time, another deputy located a vehicle in the same area and stopped it, Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said on Friday. “The deputies spoke to Heath E. Blaine, 51, and Hoth were known by the deputies and gave conflicting stories about the four-wheeler and their reasons in the area. Because the four-wheeler was not known to be stolen at this time, Fulmer and Blaine were released pending additional investigation and the four-wheeler was towed. “As part of their follow-up investigation, the deputies and the JCSO detectives conducted numerous interviews of residents i

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