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ALTON — Frances “Mary Jo” Goree, known for her unwavering support and kindness to those in need, died on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, following complications from a stroke. She was 68 years old. Mary Jo’s family announced her death with a heartfelt tribute, highlighting her commitment to helping others throughout her life. “She would give her last to help others and never hesitated to be of assistance,” Jabrea Curry, the organizer of the GoFundMe for Goree, stated in a message to the community. In light of her passing, the family is facing unexpected financial challenges due to medical expenses and a lapsed life insurance policy. They are seeking support from the community to cover the costs of her funeral services, emphasizing that no contribution is too small. The viewing and funeral service for Mary Jo will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Deliverance Temple, located at 1125 E 6th St., Alton. The viewing is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by

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ALTON – Today State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) was officially sworn in for a third term as the State Representative for District 111 in the 104th General Assembly. Elik won reelection in the 2024 General Election. “I am so grateful to the people of the 111th district for putting their trust in me to serve them for two more years,” said Rep. Elik. “I am honored to serve as your voice in Springfield and am committed to fighting for the issues that matter most to the people of the 111th district.” “My focus is making Illinois a safer and more affordable place to raise a family start a business, and retire,” Rep. Elik said. “I’m going to continue to hold Springfield accountable on policies that affect safety and affordability.” Rep. Elik also pointed out the success of her District Office. “Since I was first elected, I’ve placed a strong emphasis on helping constituents through my District Office,&rdquo

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Mental health encompasses a broad range of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how we think, feel, and act, as well as how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Awareness of mental health has become increasingly crucial in today's fast-paced, often overwhelming society. This article will explore the significance of mental health awareness, the stigma surrounding mental health issues, key statistics, practical steps for improving mental health, and how individuals and communities can foster a supportive environment. Understanding Mental Health Mental health is a vital component of overall well-being. It affects every aspect of our lives, from relationships and work performance to physical health. Issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress can arise from various factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices. Understanding these issues is the first step toward fostering a culture of awareness and acceptance. Key Statistics

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January 9th has seen some remarkable events throughout history, marking significant moments in politics, culture, and science. Moving back in time, January 9th, 2007, marked the launch of the first iPhone by Apple Inc. This revolutionary device transformed the way people communicate, access information, and interact with technology. The iPhone's introduction not only changed the smartphone market but also set the stage for a new era of mobile computing. With its sleek design, user-friendly interface, and groundbreaking features, the iPhone quickly became a cultural phenomenon, influencing everything from social media to mobile apps. Today, the legacy of the iPhone is evident in the smartphones that dominate our lives, making it one of the most significant technological advancements of the 21st century. On January 9th, 1961, the United States experienced a critical moment in space exploration. President John F. Kennedy announced the ambitious goal of sending an American astronaut

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The area's upcoming events offer a diverse array of activities that cater to all interests and ages. For a full listing of these exciting events, be sure to visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ . Featured Rum Boogie LIVE is set to kick off the New Year with an electrifying night of music and dancing. Join the lively band Rum Boogie at Alton VFW for a high-energy performance that promises great music and good vibes. Dust off your boogie shoes and don't miss this exciting evening filled with fun! Midwest Wrestling Coalition Night of Champions invites you to experience an action-packed evening at the Alton Wood River Sportsman Club. On January 11th, doors will open at 6 PM for family-friendly activities, followed by nonstop wrestling action starting at 7 PM. This event showcases the Midwest's top wrestling talent and promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages! 47th Annual Harmans Bluegrass LCCC Show Featuring The Cox Family is an event you won't want

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EDWARDSVILLE - Students at Edwardsville High School have come together to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Casey Stover, a junior at EHS, was nominated for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. This seven-week leadership development program encourages students across the Greater St. Louis region to raise money for blood cancer research. Several EHS students have stepped forward to join Casey’s campaign, known as “Team Moving Mountains.” “My motivation for my campaign is my grandpa,” Casey said. “He’s a non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, and luckily for him, he was able to receive effective treatment. But I know a lot of cancer patients out there aren’t able to receive effective treatment, so my big mission pillar is research. I want to be able to support new research to develop more effective cancer treatments.” To do so, Casey and her team have organized

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BETHALTO - Jacob Cranford, a Civic Memorial High School junior runner, is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for his efforts in boys cross country and his performance at the recent Great River Road Run in Alton in November. Cranford showcased his talent in the annual 10-mile Great River Road Run, held in November, where he placed third with a remarkable time of 1:00.9. Despite the cold conditions during the final three miles, Cranford’s performance stood out in the highly competitive event. Cranford's achievements this season for CM boys cross country have been notable, as he also secured fifth place in the Madison County Cross Country Championships on October 8, 2024, finishing with a time of 16:23.0. He recorded a time of 15:46.8 for 2.9 miles at the Jacksonville Regional and followed that with a time of 16:21 at the sectional in Olney. At the state meet in Peoria, he completed the race with a time of 15:57.4, finishing in 124th place overall. Reflecting

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MADISON – Four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in an armed robbery of a Brink’s truck in Madison, according to a statement released on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred on Dec. 5, 2024, involved two Brink’s employees who were reportedly robbed while servicing an ATM. Lee O. Griffin, Jr., 23, of Cahokia Heights, faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, arson, and possession of a weapon in furtherance of a crime of violence. Antonio T. Harris, 23, and Patrick D. Johnson, 26, both of St. Louis, are charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Taneisha M. Davis, 29, of East St. Louis, is charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to the getaway vehicle. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe emphasized the commitment of her office to prosecute those who target employees in violent crimes. “I applaud this multijurisdictional

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, that a 16-year-old from Columbia, Mo., has been detained on juvenile charges involving alleged possession of a handgun. The juvenile is charged in a Delinquency Petition with Armed Violence, Possession of Cannabis With Intent to Deliver, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Delinquent Minor and Resisting a Peace Officer. The charges allege the juvenile had a 9mm handgun and 30 to 500 grams of cannabis in his possession, and attempted to run from a police officer, on Jan. 2, 2025. Alton Police Department investigated the case. This charge and the statements made herein are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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ALTON - Art Henry Tours has a new office in Alton, and Laura Scarborough is eager to help you plan your next trip. Art Henry Tours plans group tours for people across the U.S. The company joined the North Alton-Godfrey Business Council (NAGBC) two months ago. Since then, Scarborough said it’s been an exciting time at Art Henry Tours as she settles into her role and prepares for an upcoming trip to Nashville. She loves group travel and can’t wait to help more people in Alton experience it. “You’re enriching that destination,” she explained. “You’re excited about the place you’re going because you’re paying to go there and taking your time out, and you’re excited about going on this trip. Then the next layer is the people that you meet while you’re sharing those experiences.” Started in 1978, Art Henry Tours is a small company based out of Nashville. They coordinate tours across the U.S. They plan their

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office rejected more than 300 vanity and personalized license plates in 2024. The office received 60,537 requests for vanity and personalized plates last year, including the 335 that were denied because of their inflammatory or offensive nature or because they were difficult to read. The rejected plate requests this year include: HOKTUAH, GYATT, MUNCH, BICHIN, JAGWEED, BADARSE, AXEHOLE, ILLCUTU, HOHOHOE, ABADMF, WEENIE, DUCKOFF, SHIDDED, UGEWANG, and THICCAF. “Illinoisans consistently display a great deal of creativity when choosing their customized license plates, but the plates that hit the road must meet the standards of good taste and decency,” Giannoulias said. “Our team are well-versed in lecherous language and sneaky swearing, all of which are rejected and placed on our permanent prohibited list.” The Secretary of State’s Office oversees the process that allows Illinoisans

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EDWARDSVILLE – Scott Credit Union (SCU) is proud to announce the promotion of Jeff Roderick to Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective January 1, 2025. Roderick, who most recently served as Vice President of Information Technology, brings more than 28 years of experience in information technology, including 25 years in leadership, to this critical role. During his tenure at SCU, Jeff Roderick successfully led initiatives that have significantly enhanced the credit union’s technological capabilities. His leadership in the data warehouse rollout, digital banking enhancements, and the development of SCU’s Artificial Intelligence strategy has strengthened the credit union’s commitment to delivering innovative, member-focused solutions. “Jeff’s forward-thinking approach and dedication to excellence make him an outstanding choice for CIO,” said Frank Padak, President and CEO of Scott Credit Union. “He has consistently demonstrated his

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GODFREY - The Godfrey Village Board has taken swift action to ban the sale or possession of kratom within the village after a CBD and kratom business owner expressed interest in opening a Godfrey location. Craig Katz of CBD Kratom spoke during the Public Comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting. He asked trustees for a chance to prepare a presentation on kratom to help them make an "informed decision," noting most kratom users are seeking pain relief or to manage addictions to opioids. “What I’d ask, humbly, is instead of voting on an ordinance tonight, if you will give us an opportunity to present evidence to you - some scientific evidence - and to bring in some physical witnesses that can explain what kratom has done for them and what it’s done throughout the community,” Katz said. CBD Kratom currently operates a location at 2801 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. Katz claimed the company is “the largest privately owned cannabis/hemp company

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EDWARDSVILLE - The James and Sherrie Brown family hosted a Sausage and Pancake Breakfast with Santa at The Knights of Columbus Hall in Edwardsville in December that was a big hit. The Brown family exhibited they are true Difference Makers in their community with both this effort and one at Thanksgiving. James Brown said: "Our family business has been blessed this past year and we felt in our hearts the need to give back to this community. For Thanksgiving, we provided everything needed for 12 families in need to have a Thanksgiving meal for their family. "That was such a success, we decided to invite any families having a hard time to bring their children up, have a hot breakfast, and get pictures with Santa." There was also story time with Mrs. Claus, a kids' craft-making area and the North Pole Theater played The Polar Express. The Brown family set a solid example for other businesses and individuals to follow during the holiday time in 2025. If you have a Difference Makers idea

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ST. LOUIS - The City of St. Louis has two additional warming centers today. Gamble Recreation Center 2907 Gamble St, St. Louis, MO 63106 Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carondelet Park YMCA 930 Holly Hills Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111 Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The low temperature on Wednesday night, Jan. 8, 2025, is predicted to be 5 degrees, so the centers may be necessary for a lot of individuals.

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District is more than just a library, says Executive Director Mary Cordes. It’s like a community center. Cordes explained that the library offers programs almost every day of the month, and they have a busy schedule ahead for 2025. She hopes the library continues to be a resource for community members to meet new people, engage with programs and services, and learn. “We just keep offering more programs, and people keep signing up and participating in them,” she said. “In addition to all the books that we check out and the movies that we check out and the items that we stream and download and all that, there’s also that component of programming and being a community center and service group that we have found people really want and we’re happy to adapt and give to people. We’re always trying something new, and we’ve got some exciting things coming up for the year.” With all the winter snow

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O’FALLON, Ill. — Time matters – especially when you or a loved one is waiting for the results of a lung cancer biopsy. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is now offering the latest leading-edge technology for lung cancer biopsies with the Ion® endoluminal system. The new robotic-assisted procedure can reduce or even eliminate the need for more-invasive lung cancer biopsies or even surgery to determine a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The result: A faster diagnosis and treatment plan, which can lead to a better survival rate for patients. According to the American Cancer Society, 44% of lung cancer cases are not caught until a late stage when the five-year survival rate is only 8%. If the cancer is caught in an early stage, the survival rate jumps to 63%. “We are excited to equip our pulmonologists with leading edge robotic technology as they care for their patients. This investment in the latest lung screening and therapeutic technology defines

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LINN, MO. – A big State Tech congrats to an East Alton student listed below for making the Dean's List for the fall of 2024. To be placed on the Dean’s List, a full-time student must earn a semester grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0 on a 4-point scale. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME East Alton, IL Troy Holbrook

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STAUNTON - AXS TV and Madison Communications Company announced today that the Staunton Community School District in Staunton, IL has been selected to receive a $1,000 grant as part of “AXS TV’s Band Together For Music Education” —an initiative connecting AXS TV with affiliates, local communities, and schools in support of vital music education programs and the benefits they provide students. The award was presented by Madison Communications to the Staunton Community School’s Band and Choir Program on December 20, 2024. Public school music programs often experience a severe lack of funding and are the first casualties when budget cuts are made—a problem that has only increased in recent years. “AXS TV’s Band Together For Music Education” initiative seeks to rectify this, awarding grants to school-age music education programs across the country. These recipients are established programs that exemplify top leadership, instruction,

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VENICE — At 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Venice, IL, Mayor Tyrone Echols, Alderman Phillip White and local activists will visit the site of the former Dow Chemical Company to highlight the need for the area to receive compensation for health impacts relating to decades-long radiation exposure. From the late 1950s to early 1960s, the factory—owned by Dow Chemical Co. at the time—processed uranium and thorium for the nation’s nuclear weapons program. As a result, the site became a 1,400-acre dumping ground for radioactive materials. Despite this, the area has never qualified for assistance through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), leaving residents without necessary support for the lasting effects of exposure. Last Congress, Rep. Budzinski led an effort to include Venice, Madison, and Granite City residents impacted by radiation exposure to be eligible for compensation under RECA. Unfortunately, Speake

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