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PONTOON BEACH - As transit agencies across the country struggle to provide service amid a national driver shortage, Madison County Transit (MCT) finds itself in a difficult position: reduce service or face daily service interruptions. Nearly 30 bus drivers down, MCT is proposing weekday frequency reductions on three routes and the elimination of a low-performing route, for the upcoming January 2023 service change. The existing workforce is in desperate need of relief after 18 months of mandated overtime. MCT’s mission is to provide safe, affordable, and reliable public transportation service but with the current driver shortage reliability is compromised. The proposed changes would reduce weekday frequency from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes on the #4 Madison-Edwardsville, #7 Alton-Edwardsville, and #18 Collinsville Regional. In addition, MCT proposes to eliminate the #23 Gateway Commerce Center Shuttle due to low ridership and the duplication of service offered on the #20

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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole held a brief meeting on Monday evening, during which they approved the amount of Motor Fuel Tax funds allocated for the purpose of maintaining streets and highways for 2022 and passed a few other resolutions. However, with much of the committee absent, they decided to table a few items on tonight’s agenda until their next meeting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 24. One such item was a resolution to consider amending Title 4, Chapter 4, Section 4(b) of the City Code regarding Class A liquor licenses. Of the seven total committee members, three were absent - Raymond Strebel, Rosetta Brown, and Stephanie Elliott. In order to get input from all of the committee members regarding liquor licenses, they decided to lay this resolution over to their next meeting. There was also a resolution on tonight’s agenda to consider amending Title 4, Chapter 20 of the city code - this resolution would add a section to the City Code requiring businesses seeking

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City is loaded with Saturday Halloween-oriented activities through the month of October. These are the other events set for Granite City on Saturdays for the rest of the month: 10/15: Not-too-Spooky Scavenger Hunt plus The Great Inflatable Race & the Annual Chili Cook Off 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. all in the district within the arts and entertainment area clues take them in a four-block radius. 10/22: The Ghouls Night Out - Rocket Ride "Kiss Tribute" band takes the stage 6-10 p.m. 10/29: Nightmare on Niedringhaus - Kids' costume parade and contest, with prizes, candy, games, and a DJ - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Kari Shipley, one of the parade organizers, said after this past Saturday every weekend, they have something special planned. "We have the scavenger hunt, inflatable race, and chili cook-off next weekend, the Kiss Tribute Band on the 22nd, and the costume parade and contest with prizes for October 29," she said. "I grew up being a part of everything in Granite

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Photos may be purchased for personal use (including addition pics) at: https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-High-CTE-Tour ALTON - Kaleb Smith, the Director of Career and Technical Education for Madison County, and Mike Brey, an Assistant Principal, and director of the Alton High CTE program both served as key hosts in a Media Day Tour of the CTE program held at Alton last week. The tour was available to local legislators and media to allow the opportunity to see the students and programs in action by bringing them into their classrooms and facilities. The event was also led by leaders of Alton's CTE programs showcasing students and the skills they have learned in their respective programs. These were the CTE programs that will be either toured or highlighted on the day of the tour: • Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources • Architecture & Engineering • Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Graphic Design • Automotive Technology • Business, Management,

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These photos and more at: https://www.randymanning.com/St-Marys-October-Fest ALTON - The traditional keg tapping on Saturday at the St. Mary's Oktoberfest brought in a large collection of individuals and the momentum continued through the day on Saturday into Sunday. "Even though the Oktoberfest here begins on Friday night, the keg tapping is always on Saturday afternoon," Carolyn Simansky, the publicity director for St. Mary's, said. "We try to mimic the keg tapping that occurs in Munich, Germany. Saturday, we had a german band St. Louis Express and Dixie Dudes and Lady Luck finished the day. Balloon artist Spunky Beans was on the ground from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for children. The live auction of large ticket items was held at 6 p.m. on Sunday and also the sweepstakes had several excited winners. This year marked the return of the live auction after a COVID-19 hiatus. New food items this year were doughnuts, sno cones, and pork rinds, but the German skillets with sausage, potatoes,

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WOOD RIVER – It’s not uncommon in high school for a player to play on both the offense and defense sides in football and senior Miguel Romero is showing people how it’s done. Offensively, he’s the team’s second-leading rusher with 310 yards on 48 carries. Miguel has snagged three touchdowns and a two-point conversion this season. Defensively, he’s made 28 tackles and assisted on another 24 which is also second on the team. During his senior season, the Oilers are 6-1 and are guaranteed back into the playoffs. He’s been a key part of the team’s success. Miguel gave credit to everyone that helped him get to where he is today. Miguel Romero is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. “I would like to thank all of my coaches for helping me get where I am today, especially Kraig Daniels for believing in me and setting me in the right direction this offseason,” he said. “I would also like

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PIASA - Senior Lane Gage had to miss the first couple of weeks of the 2022 football season, not because he was injured, but because he was graduating from U.S. Basic Army Training in Fort Benning, Georgia. This was something Lane decided he wanted to pursue during his sophomore year. He noted that his uncle was in the Army and that it had always been a dream of his to go into the military. His uncle, Kyle Johnson, is a sergeant in the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell. He was Lane's inspiration to get involved. Lane and his uncle are very close. Because he was off preparing to serve his country, he didn't have enough practices mandated by the IHSA to hop straight onto the field and play in games. He eventually got enough practice in and made his way back into the starting lineup for Southwestern's football team where he plays running back. Last Friday, he did his part in beating the at the time 5-1 Vandalia Vandals by a score of 21-14. The win brought the Piasa Birds up to 3-4 on the season

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ALTON - A man was conversing with a potential customer about a job when their light blue Chevrolet Silverado with extended cab and trailer was stolen after 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Alton on Seventh Street. The trailer was 14 feet long. The truck was owned by Cassie Wieneke. Cassie has contacted law enforcement about the theft and she said it has apparently been spotted in St. Louis, but separated from the trailer. Calvin Wieneke was the person who was talking to the customer in Alton when the truck and trailer were stolen. Anyone with any information about the situation should contact Alton Police at (618) 465-3505 or Calvin at (618) 339-4261.

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ALTON - The St. Mary's Oktoberfest Sweepstakes winners were announced on Sunday night. The list of winners is below, along with some photos. Kevin Walker had the winning Sweepstakes ticket and took home $10,000. Tony Keller had the second-place ticket, good for $5,000, and Alicia Erwin won third place and $3,000. Carolyn Simansky, public relations representative for Oktoberfest, said this about the overall weekend: “We had perfect Oktoberfest weather for three days. It was a fabulous success." Full List Of St. Mary's Oktoberfest Sweepstakes Winners: 1st place, $10K Kevin Walker 2nd place, $5K Tony Keller 3rd place, $3K Alicia Erwin 4th Place, $1K Doris Jackson 5th place, $1K Alice Banghart 6th place, $500 Greg & Jessica Roth 7th place, $500 Bill Lawson 8th place, $500 Reggie Sparks 9th place, $500 Gloria Boston 10th place, $500 Bob & Phyllis Rill This is a photo gallery from the Friday night festivities:

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ALTON - The Hayner Library hosted its first annual Local Author Book Fair Saturday afternoon in the parking lot adjacent to their building in downtown Alton. Guests were able to visit with all the authors and buy their books, register for library cards, and much more. There were over 20 local authors in attendance. 2022 Participating Authors: Erin Heil Justin Kennon D.L. Anderson Evelyn Francis S.M. Cornthwaite Renee B. Johnson Deedee Hass Laura Perry Ken Wendle Dave Emmons Edward Holmes Elizabeth Lynn Blackson Marybeth Timmermann Sara Bushway Amoriah Gray Kendra Slone Isaac Sandidge James Killon & Eugene Baldwin Stormy White Kathryn Claywell Frances Altheimer Johnson Donna Henry Sharon Emerick Virginia Slachman Joyce M. Lakes Danial Margeson Pat Danna Ron Habeck Melissa Simmons "We decided that we have a lot of local talent, so we wanted to showcase all the authors in the area," Mary Cordes said, Assistant Director of Circulation and Strategic Services

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ALTON - Challenge Unlimited today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation." The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month. “Our national recovery from the pandemic cannot be completed without the inclusion

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It’s time everyone stepped back and simply appreciate Democracy and all this incredible governing process has given humankind, and as importantly - acknowledge no nation on this planet has ever provided so much for so many in such a short time while using so much diversity in the governing process. What I write next is my truth, from an agenda based on opinion, research, and decades of experience. I’ve traveled this world and held leadership positions as president of a South African company, served on the Board Director for six Fortune 500’s, was the founding General Manager of Honeywell’s Telecommunication Business, served as Global Executive VP- Corporate officer for Honeywell; was co-Founder and President of the Black Executive Leadership Council, followed by 15-years ownership of the Harlem Globetrotters and Chairmanship of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. These roles afforded three things. First, confidence that my opinions are both relevant

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City's Month Of Magic & Mayhem had an impressive kickoff with the Creepy Crawl Halloween Parade that concluded with The Monster Dance Party in the Streets Saturday in Granite City. The parade began at 27th Street in Granite City and crawled down to Madison Avenue and ended at Civic Park. The Monster Dance Party then went from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Granite City Downtown Arts and Entertainment Director Brenda Whitaker said she was "thrilled" at the outcome of Saturday's parade and kickoff events. "Downtown Granite City was just packed Saturday," Whitaker added. "We are so excited people are supporting these endeavors. We have listened to the public on what they want to see and we are glad they are coming out." The streets were lined with young to older adults for the Halloween Parade, which was a first and it was a hit, Whitaker said. "After the parade, people just stayed downtown," she explained. "We had food vendors and a DJ. "It was just like a big dance

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EDWARDSVILLE - The 30 th Annual Leclaire Parkfest will be held Sunday, October 16, from noon to 5 p.m. at Leclaire Park in Edwardsville, Illinois. The annual festival, a celebration of the Leclaire National Historic District, is a long-standing fall tradition. The festival will kick-off this year with music by the Gaslight Squares, a St. Louis band with a special blend of Ragtime and Jazz. New this year is a 1920s-themed children’s parade. Participating children are asked to wear costumes or carry homemade signs to portray a 1920s-era Carrie Nation, a flapper, or a Gatsby character. They might also portray an activist marching for the woman’s right to vote. The parade begins at the corner of Hale Avenue and Lake Drive at noon and will circle the entire park. Trolley tours of the historic district will be back with tickets sold from the Friends of Leclaire booth for $1 (children) and $1.50 (adults). Due to COVID, walking tours were substituted for the trolley last year

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ALTON - To shed light on domestic violence and remember the victims and their families, Alton Memorial Hospital is serving as host for a special memorial service from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the AMH Healing Garden. Since the event has not been held since 2019 due to COVID, a total of 14 victims from Madison County who have died in domestic violence-related circumstances since that time will be remembered. Since 1996, there have been more than 100 victims of abuse who have died in Madison County. Because of the prevalence of domestic violence, Alton Memorial Hospital in 2002 began screening for domestic violence everyone 12 and older who was being assessed in the hospital. Trained staff members confidentially ask these patients if they feel safe at home or have experienced mental, physical or sexual abuse. Alton Memorial supports a coordinated domestic violence committee that includes members from the hospital staff, Zonta Club of Alton-Wood River, Oasis Women’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Locally-owned Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors (CBBR) is encouraging people to consider a sweet, not scary, addition to their families this Halloween. The REALTOR group will be hosting its 6th annual Partners for Pets event on October 15. The Howl-O-Ween Open House event is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 9136 Lower Marine Road in St. Jacob, Illinois. The event is designed to raise donations to support Partners for Pets and find adoptive homes for the animals currently in their care. “Coldwell Banker Brown Realtor’s support of our organization over the last several years has been a tremendous help,” said Partners for Pets Director Erika Pratte. “Fundraising efforts have enabled us to launch new initiatives, such as our Unicorn Foster program and on-site Behavioral Trainer, which helps save some of the most at-risk dogs across the region. Facility tours will be offered to see Partners for Pets improvements, such

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ALTON – Illinois 111th district Representative Amy Elik was recognized Oct. 7 by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) at Lewis and Clark Community College’s Scott Bibb Center for her sponsorship of a bill that will help erase the stigma of a high school equivalency diploma versus a high school diploma. The bill also will reduce the cost of GED exams for adult education students. For more information, visit www.coabe.org .

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EAST ALTON – October through mid-April marks the prescribed burn season for the Habitat Strike Team, part of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ). Prescribed burns are controlled applications of fire to the landscape by a team of experts under specific weather conditions and is characterized as a low-intensity fire, as opposed to high-intensity wildfires that are unintendedly set. “From a management perspective, fire is one of the most efficient and effective options to help restore habitat on the landscape,” Conservation Program Manager, Justin Shew said. “The fire is doing the work, instead of a chemical or chainsaw controlled by a human; therefore, it covers a lot more ground in the right conditions.” The Habitat Strike Team works within a 90-mile radius of NGRREC’s Field Station, and depending on seasonal conditions, may conduct or assists on at least 25 burns in a season, covering over 6,200 acres. “The

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ALTON - Tammy Iskarous, Executive Director of Riverbend Family Ministries, is presented her Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award by Leonard Berg at a recent Riverbend East Rotary Club meeting. A $1,000 contribution to The Rotary Foundation was made by the club in Tammy’s name. Established in 1957, individuals who are honored with this award have met high professional and personal standards in their community set forth by Rotary founder Paul Harris. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary. She was recognized for her continued dedication to the community, founding Riverbend Family Ministries in 2007 with a unique concept of housing multiple not-for-profits under one roof. RFM concentrates on children, youth, and families who’ve experienced trauma due to violence, addiction, poverty, and homelessness, treating clients with love and compassion.

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ALTON - Alton's David Goins and his wife, Shelia, hosted the Mayor's Ball Saturday night at Lewis & Clark Community College and it was a memorable evening on many fronts. Alton-native Jesse White, the long-serving Illinois Secretary of State, was honored at the affair. More than 400 people attended the elegant event and Oasis Women's Shelter was the non-profit selected as a beneficiary for some of the proceeds. Goins said it was "a tremendous honor" to recognize the retirement of Secretary of State Jesse White "for his services to our country and state and for his humanitarian contributions to our youth, particularly his work with the International Jesse White Tumbling Team, which serves as a positive alternative for at-risk children residing in public housing." "Jesse White is an absolute legend and has done so much in his lifetime in politics around the state," Mayor Goins said. "It felt amazing to honor Jesse here in where he was born - Alton, Illinois. He was grateful and welcoming

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