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COLLINSVILLE – Ameren Illinois activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 6:30 a.m., Friday morning to assess the damage caused by severe weather throughout southern and central Illinois. The Emergency Operations Center will be staffed around the clock to coordinate service restoration, logistical support, and communication. Ameren Illinois is following its well-defined storm management plan to assess the damage and restore power to customers as quickly and safely as possible. Support resources are being mobilized and the company is moving linemen and support personnel to the impacted areas. Customer safety is of utmost importance, particularly when severe weather occurs. Ameren Illinois urges customers to take precautions to protect themselves and their families, including staying away from downed power lines and immediately reporting any downed lines to Ameren Illinois. Information on the restoration status of individual outages will be provided directly to customers

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GODFREY - Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick has declared a State of Emergency Order to extend the yard waste burn ordinance after a dynamic thunderstorm struck the area early Friday. “Due to the storm damage that occurred in the Village of Godfrey on Friday, June 17, burning for yard debris will be allowed in the Village from Saturday, June 18, through Wednesday, July 6. As stated in the ordinance, burning will only be allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the emergency period from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.” McCormick said there were a lot of tree limbs down in Godfrey and he wanted people to be able to burn because it was completely necessary. “We have had quite a few calls about tree limbs being down,” he said. Village of Godfrey Public Works Director Jim Lewis said his group had been busy throughout Friday morning with the cleanup. He said Pierce and Mulberry were initially blocked because of limbs down. He said the North Humbert area had quite a

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(BUZZ MAGAZINE) - June kicks off a summer-long season of interesting and entertaining new books with a smorgasbord of choices. Spy novels have long captured our attention with their stories of betrayal, loyalty, intrigue, and international politics. A master of the craft, Matthew Quirk, in Red Warning, puts CIA Officer Sam Hudson in a race against time to discover a Russian deep-cover operative loose in the USA and a mole in the agency before they can launch an attack in Washington, D.C. His previous books include The Night Agent and Hour of the Assassin. Filming starts soon on a Netflix TV series based on The Night Agent. Summer is also the season for popular “beach reads.” And the queen of this genre, Elin Hilderbrand hopes to repeat her past success of number one debuts on the New York Times bestseller list with Hotel Nantucket. Lizbet Keaton is hoping for a second act when she becomes general manager at the Hotel Nantucket, a blissful paradise with a celebrity chef

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ALTON - Alton and surrounding areas were hit by a strong storm around 4:30 a.m. on Friday. Ameren Illinois reports that many are without power after the storm. Ameren Illinois spokesperson Brian Bretsch said at 7:25 a.m. Friday that 5,000 customers were reported without power in Madison County, 4,200 out in Macoupin County, and 2,600 without electricity in St. Clair County because of the storm. Ameren Illinois is being dispatched to various locations throughout the region for cleanup. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch had been issued for the area for multiple hours. The Emergency Operations Center was activated at 6:30 a.m. and Bretsch said: "We are calling in crews and contractors to start restoration efforts." The above photos are from damage in Alton on 15th Street and Logan. At 1:50 p.m. Friday, Bretsch said: "I do not have any restoration times just yet, but I have confirmed Ameren Illinois from up north around Peoria, Galesburg, LaSalle, Washington are being sent to assist with

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GODFREY - Back on Wednesday, June 15, the Rolling Hills Golf Course Clubhouse in Godfrey suffered a minor support failure. It came after a beam slightly gave out. The wooden part around the bottom of the support had rotted out enough causing the beam to fail. Because of the incident, the Godfrey Fire Protection District had to stop use until some changes were done. At the time this happened on Wednesday, it was somewhat chaotic for the staff, but all is well now after clubhouse staff addressed the issue with some construction experts. As of today, the Rolling Hills Golf Course General Manager Rick Martin says that everything is back to normal. “We have the clearance again to be open and we encourage everyone to come out and visit us and play golf,” he said. Rolling Hills Golf Course is located at 5801 Pierce Lane, Godfrey. To book a tee time call (618) 466-8363. The course is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily throughout the summer.

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CHICAGO - 1ST District Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke was installed as the 51st President of the Illinois Judges Association during the annual meeting on June 3, 2022. The Illinois Judges Association, which represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges, was founded in 1972 to provide services, support, and education to its member judges and raise public understanding of the Illinois judicial system. Justice Burke served as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge for 8 years, and on the 1st District Appellate court for 6 years. She has Chaired In-Schools Programming for many years and was a co-creator of the newest program, Your Future-Your Choice. The Illinois Judges Association also installed other new officers for 2022-23 at the annual meeting on June 3rd. 1st Vice President, Justice David Overstreet, Il Supreme Court; 2nd Vice President, Judge Mary Colleen Roberts, Cook County; 3rd Vice President, Judge Elizabeth Rochford, Lake County; Secretary,

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MILWAUKEE - This past spring, JP Arnold of Godfrey, IL, graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Arnold earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Arnold was one of 2,855 students to graduate from Marquette in May. The university celebrated its 141st Commencement with a series of events, including Graduate Recognition Ceremonies at Summerfest's American Family Insurance Amphitheater and a Baccalaureate Mass on campus. Learn more about the weekend. Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,500 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service-learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu. Contact Jack Goods in the Office of Marketing and Communication with questions.

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Valeria Martin grew up “junking” with her mother. “Mom tried to wake all us kids up to go,” Valeria (Lerie) said, “Back then, the thrift stores opened at 7:00 a.m., so to get the good stuff, you had to get up and about early. But the other kids wouldn’t get up, so usually it was just me and Mom.” Lerie is the oldest of four siblings. “I loved this time with my mother. But, at the time, I didn’t really knew what I was doing,” she admitted. “All I?knew is that I loved the ‘hunt,’ looking for treasures. Finding things that were different, unusual, and unique.” As she got older, Lerie and her mother would split up, to cover more ground, and hopefully be able to acquire more treasures between the two of them. “Then we would meet up and compare what we had discovered and purchased,” Lerie added. “ At that time the hunt became more intense. And I learned as the years went on.” Wh

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COLLINSVILLE - The American Cancer Society (ACS) invites the community to help save lives from cancer by supporting the annual Farm to Table Metro East. The 2022 event will be held in person on Thursday, August 25 th from 5:30-9:00 pm at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL. The evening will include farm-to-table tasting dishes featuring the freshest local ingredients, libations from local distilleries, wineries, and breweries, and desserts highlighting the talent of local bakers and chefs. Tickets to the event are $50 per person and are on sale now at www.acsfarmtotable.com . Ticketholders must be at least 21 years of age. This year’s entertainment includes local graffiti artist Jordan Massey creating onsite art and Street Corner Serenade providing live music. In addition, two signature activities will be returning to the event: a raffle featuring local favorite Bobby’s Frozen Custard caramel apples and the ever-popular wine toss game. There will also be

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ST. LOUIS - Dr. Andy Dykeman, a chiropractic physician who practices in East Alton is exhibiting paintings made in collaboration with artist Mark Regester on June 25th, 2022 from 11-6 in St. Louis. The show entitled, “Old Bones and UFOs” is a garage pop-up show located at the corner of Menard Street and Lami Street in St. Louis, 63104. From 11:00-6:00. Free admission. Andy played drums in a local pop-punk band, Judge Nothing, and currently practices at Rosewood Chiropractic Clinic in East Alton, Illinois as a chiropractic physician. Mark is a Scotland-born California artist who now resides in St. Louis with his wife, children, and dogs. “If you like skulls and ufos and ghosts and fire and words and punk rock and spines and brains and plague doctors and outsider art and dark humor then you might like this show” - Mark. For more information: https://www.instagram.com/andykemanart/ https://www.instagram.com/mark_regester_art/

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MASCOUTAH - MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) has received notification of new federal support from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. The $678,127 grant will be used to purchase a new Aircraft Rescue Firefighting truck that will replace an existing 23-year-old vehicle at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Ill. U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the grant along with four others going to other Illinois airports on June 8. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is a joint-use military/civilian facility including MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and Scott Air Force Base (SAFB) and is governed by the St. Clair County Public Building Commission. In addition to significant air carrier activity, the airport sees regular use for corporate/business, military, air cargo operations, aerospace manufacturing, and aerospace technology research. “This grant funding is timely as we prepare for an increase in flights and passengers

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O'FALLON, IL. - On Wednesday, July 15 th at 6 pm O’Fallon Area Chapter of Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity hosted their first fundraiser since the pandemic. The evening featured entertainment by The Twilight Band , an abundance of hors d’oeuvres, and summer wine tastes supplied by Birch Market . The program began with Dave Snyder, O’Fallon Area Chapter Chair, welcoming guests to the O’Fallon Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station . Following the welcome, Karen Sheesley (Chair, Family Selection & Services Committee) and Linda Kahley (Member, Family Selection & Services) elaborated on the chapter's progress over the years. The O’Fallon Chapter has provided homes to six single-mother families, soon to be eight with the two new builds beginning on Booster Rd., and approximately 21 children. These opportunities have changed the lives of each of the mothers and their children by setting a solid foundation for stability and giving children the security

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O’FALLON, IL. — Oceans, lakes, rivers, and backyard pools are some of the top destinations for families over the summer months. Even though these trips to relax or play in the water are fun, there are some tips parents should follow to keep their kids safe. “Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death in children aged one to 14,” said Dr. Vinay Bhooma, chief medical officer of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “By following established guidelines and taking precautions, you can save your child’s life.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even nonfatal drownings can result in long-term health problems. For every child who dies from drowning, another eight receive treatment in emergency departments. Drowning injuries can cause brain damage and lead to serious health complications. The CDC provides some basic tips to keep your family safe around water this summer. Learn basic swimming and

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. - DeMarie Perry of Granite City, IL, was recently named to the Dean's List of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, for the spring 2022 semester. The Lincoln University Dean's List comprises full-time undergraduate students earning a minimum term GPA of 3.00, excluding grades in courses that do not carry credit toward graduation. Lincoln University of Missouri is a historically Black, 1890 land-grant, public university that provides excellent educational opportunities to a diverse population within a nurturing, student-centered environment. Lincoln is known for its innovative undergraduate and graduate programs in agriculture, business administration, criminal justice, elementary education, nursing, business administration, guidance and counseling, and natural science. Located in Jefferson City, Missouri, Lincoln University was founded in 1866 by the men of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries and their white officers for the benefit of

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EDWARDSVILLE - The following students have been named to the Honor Roll at Metro-East Lutheran High School for the second semester of the 2021-2022 school year. A link to the complete lists is in PDF form and can be found here .

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SPRINGFIELD - The United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from Sunrise Sunday, June 19, 2022, until Sunset Monday, June 20, 2022. The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor JB Pritzker that all person or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff in honor of: Juneteenth National Freedom Day Please lower the United States flags and the State flags at all buildings occupied by your agency’s personnel from: Sunrise: Sunday, June 19, 2022 until Sunset: Monday, June 20, 2022 More information is available at https://www.illinois.gov/ about/flag-honors.html

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons and St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives are currently investigating a house fire/explosion which resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to 4 additional individuals. St. Louis County Police announced late Friday that an additional victim has been discovered at the scene who suffered fatal injuries. St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Detectives and ATF are continuing the investigation. At 1:21 a.m. on June 17, 2022, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a house fire in the 6600 block of Parker Road. Responding officers located a residential house fire and an individual just outside the residence deceased. That individual appeared to have injuries consistent with the fire. The age and gender of this individual are not known at this time. Four additional individuals were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries. Preliminary

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ALTON - Brooke Carney has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help offset funeral expenses for Liese Dodd, who died with her unborn baby in a tragic homicide recently in Alton. The suspect in the case - Deundrea Holloway, 22, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child, dismembering a human body, concealment of a homicide, and possessing a stolen vehicle. "Liese was the little sister of my fiancé, Shelbi Dodd," Brooke said. "Liese was taken from us unexpectedly and too soon. We have created this fund as a place for those wishing to assist in wishing to contribute in any way." Brooke added: "Please note anything not used for expenses will be donated to local animal shelters and domestic violence resources. This site is approved by Momma Heidi." To view and contribute to the GoFundMe, please visit: https://gf.me/v/c/gfm/ liese-dodd-and-family-support

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County officials postponed a decision on Wednesday to amend its food sanitation ordinance to lower food truck fees. The County Board voted against making a decision to lower inspection fees by $200 from $375 for food trucks until its 5 p.m., July 20 meeting. County Board member Mike Babcock said Alton Alderman Ray Strebel first brought the idea before the Health Department Committee in May, along with the owners of an Alton food truck park. The plan was to increase the number of food trucks coming into Madison County. County Board member Terry Eaker of Bethalto said he was the only “no” vote at the Health Department Committee on June 3. He said the reason is simple — fairness. “Everyone needs to be on the same playing field,” he said. Eaker said he spoke to many restaurant owners as well as a few food truck owners, who had no idea there was a plan by the county to reduce inspection fees. He said one business asked for a fe

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ALTON - At 1:56 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, the Alton Police Department received a report of gunshots and a subsequent traffic crash in the area of the Clark Bridge. Officers responded and located a vehicle that left the roadway and struck a tree on the southwest end of the Clark Bridge in Missouri. The driver of the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the traffic crash and was transported to a St. Louis area hospital. Alton Police Department Deputy Police Chief Jerrett Ford said information gathered at the scene suggests the incident to have started as an apparent road rage incident involving two vehicles. "Traffic on the Clark Bridge was temporarily halted as investigators processed the scene for evidence," he said. "Evidence of gunshots being fired was located on the Illinois side of the Clark Bridge." Ford added: "Detectives with the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division are actively following up on leads at this time.

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