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ALTON - City Shapers is a community and economic development cohort that launched in September with leaders from all across Alton, including business owners, nonprofit leaders, city council members, and more. For the past four months, they have been studying the ways in which Alton has been addressing poverty and surveying the Alton public about their opinions. Friday morning, they announced their findings in a virtual meeting. The cohort has been working with The Lupton Center, a nonprofit training and consultancy firm based in Atlanta, to conduct this research. In total, 60 Alton residents who were members of the cohort conducted 21 word-on-the-street interviews. “Over the last four months, this cohort has really gotten into the grassroots of neighborhoods,” said Stacy Brungardt, a consultant with The Lupton Center. “They’ve been going around and interviewing people that are experiencing chronic material poverty in the city and asking them questions

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JERSEYVILLE - Germania Brew Haus will open its fourth location in Jerseyville at the beginning of March, and it will bring with it a range of festivities for its grand opening. Jared Brynildsen, co-owner of Germania Brew Haus with his wife Carolyn, said the grand opening will feature professional axe throwing and the reveal of some additional event and play areas. “We will host a grand opening party that will include Riverbend Axe Throwing’s mobile trailer and their very own top 25 (in the world) pro-Dan Brynildsen. We will also showcase the event center from WOW and the children’s play area that’ll allow parents to get much-needed down time,” Brynildsen said. Brynildsen said they’re looking forward to not only opening their biggest location yet, but also becoming a part of Jerseyville’s City Center downtown development. “This location is going to be our biggest and possibly best,” Brynildsen said. “Jerseyville

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club honored Edwardsville High School student Benjamin Schardt with the Student of the Month Award for the month of December. Benjamin was nominated by his foreign language teacher, Christina House. Benjamin is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National English Honors Society, and German Honors Society. Impressively, he scored a perfect math score on his SAT. He also participates in the Edwardsville Band and has led the clarinets in winning the best section award for two years. Additionally, Benjamin is involved in the Edwardsville Peer Influence Club (EPIC) and a member of their council. Benjamin would like to attend the University of Chicago or the University of California – Berkley to pursue a degree in Economics and Analytical Math. The Edwardsville Rotary Club recognizes a student each month September through April. Each May, Edwardsville High School staff chooses one of the monthly winners to receive

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Police announced today that a female victim in the January 12 shooting in the North County Precinct has died. St. Louis County Police said on January 24, 2022, the female victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at an area hospital. The victim has been identified as Latoyria Johnson, 33 years of age, of the 2900 block of Atlantic Park Avenue in St. Louis. The St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are continuing to investigate the homicide. At 7 p.m. on January 12, 2022, St. Louis County Police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 2900 block of Atlantic Park Avenue. Responding officers located an adult male and an adult female suffering from apparent gunshot injuries. The male victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the female victim was transported with life-threatening injuries. The male victi

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EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis Community Arts Access, a re-granting program run by the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation (JJKF) with funding from the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA), awards grants to local cultural organizations and nonprofits offering arts programming. Schools and individual artists are also eligible for funding. This grants program seeks to provide East St. Louis residents with more opportunities to participate in quality visual, literary, and performing arts experiences. Through project-based funding, the program supports public engagement with, and access to, various arts disciplines, the creation of art, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. An East St. Louis Community Arts Access project may consist of one or more specific events or activities performed or presented to engage or benefit the residents of greater East St. Louis. The projects may be a new initiative or part of the applicant’s

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SPRINGFIELD – Hunters in Illinois harvested a statewide total of 683 wild turkeys during the 2021-2022 fall archery turkey season. The total compares with a statewide turkey harvest of 783 in 2020-2021 and a five-year average of 688 birds harvested. This season 24,768 permits were sold (excluding landowner permits) compared to 24,187 for the 2020-2021 season. The season dates were Oct. 1, 2021, through Jan. 16, 2022, and all 102 counties were open for hunting. Harvest consisted of 51% toms and 49% hens. The top five counties for fall archery wild turkey harvest this season were Madison (19), Jefferson (18), Schuyler (18), Franklin (16), and St. Clair (15). The table below includes the preliminary 2021-2022 county-by-county fall archery turkey harvest results with comparable totals for 2020-2021: County ’20-‘21 ’21-‘22 County 20-'21 21-'22 Adams 13 8 Livingston 1 2

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SPRINGFIELD –Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Jerry Costello II, invites Illinois corn producers to provide comments on a proposed corn checkoff referendum at a public hearing on February 10, 2022. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has proposed to enhance marketing and promotion of Illinois corn by increasing the checkoff amount by 1/4 cent per bushel. This would increase the current 5/8 cent voluntary checkoff rate to 7/8 cent per bushel. Growers would continue to have a right to refund. The public hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in the IDOA auditorium, located on the State Fairgrounds in the John R. Block Building, 801 E. Sangamon Avenue, Springfield, IL. Pursuant to public health guidelines, masks are required to be worn inside the building. Following the public hearing, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board will meet and review all comments presented. If, after reviewing the comments, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board approves the proposed amendment, IDO

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ALTON - Morse Home Improvement, a home improvement and remodeling business based in Alton, is celebrating a milestone anniversary of 60 years in business in 2022. The company has provided kitchen and bathroom remodeling, patio enclosures, awnings, entry doors, and other related services to the Madison, Jersey, and St. Clair County areas for decades. President Jay Lindley said founder Allen Morse started the company in 1962 before selling it to Lindley’s father in 1987. Under his father’s management, Lindley started working in the company warehouse before rising through the ranks and eventually becoming owner himself. “I started at Morse as the warehouse guy, and then I went to helping with contractors, and then I went into sales, so it was just kind of a natural progression - and I’m glad it went that way because now, I don’t ask anybody to do anything I haven’t done or wouldn’t do myself,” Lindley said. Lindley said the company’s

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CHICAGO - With thousands of Illinoisans missing out on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and state Earned Tax Credit (EIC) each tax season, Governor JB Pritzker is reminding qualifying taxpayers to take advantage of these benefits. "The Earned Income Tax Credit is a huge benefit and puts thousands of dollars in the pockets of low to moderate income families each year,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “Even if an individual does not owe any taxes, they may still be eligible for the credit and receive critical funding that can be used for bills and necessities.” To be eligible for EITC, taxpayers must meet certain income and residency qualifications and file a tax return, even if they do not owe any tax or are not required to file. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recommends that all workers who earned around $57,414, or less learn about EITC eligibility and use the EITC Assistant to find out if they qualify. "A family's eligibility can change year to year,

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STAMFORD, CT – Charter Communications, Inc. today announced it will double its investment in Spectrum Scholars, the company’s college scholarship program for underrepresented students with financial need. Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, Charter will award scholarships to a new class of 20 rising college juniors annually instead of biennially, for a $400,000 total yearly commitment. Charter is currently accepting applications here from eligible students for the next class of Spectrum Scholars. “We launched Spectrum Scholars two years ago to support students representing the diverse communities we serve and to better develop our future workforce through career mentorship and internship opportunities,” said Paul Marchand, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Charter. “With our first class of Scholars set to graduate this spring, now is the perfect time to double down on our commitment and expand Spectrum Scholars to

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MATTOON — First Mid Bancshares, Inc. has appointed Gisele A. Marcus to the company’s board of directors, effective January 25th, 2022. Marcus will also serve on the board of directors of First Mid Bank & Trust, which is a subsidiary of the company. Marcus currently serves as a Professor of Practice at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to prepare students with the tools and techniques for DEI in the workplace. Marcus also currently serves as the Vice President of Operations and Client Engagement at One Stone Development Company LLC, where she ensures operational efficiency and leads client development activities. A five-time General Manager, Marcus has led Profit and Loss for businesses within Fortune 250 companies, such as Johnson Controls, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and AT&T. Marcus has also held the role of Chief Operating Officer of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, one of the top ten revenue generating Chambers

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Over $200,000 in grant funding is coming to Madison and St. Clair Counties to enhance broadband accessibility for residents, thanks to support from State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D- Glen Carbon). “The pandemic showed the need for an increase in broadband services through economic opportunity, remote learning and health care services,” Belt said. “These grants will bring resources toward the health, growth and education of our community through expanded accessibility.” The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced funding for 22 projects in every region of the state. The money is part of the second round of Connect Illinois to improve the lives of families, farmers, businesses, community institutions and other Illinoisans who rely on high-speed broadband for everything from education to healthcare access. Charter Spectrum Bella Vista, Briars and Equus Lane in Madison

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Reggie “Sweetie” & Teresa “Honey Bun” Pearson of Alton Date Met/Started Dating: June 28, 2013 Briefly Describe First Date: We met on the Alton Belle Casino. He was sitting next to me asking me how to play games in the casino. My answer: put your money in and pull the handle. Date Married: August 28, 2014 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Going to church, traveling, and occasional gaming at the casinos. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Take time to listen to each other’s personal goals and also set couples' goals. Be kind to each other and all arguments are not fair; accept critique and make it work.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Tara & Nicholas Thompson from Cottage Hills Date Met/Started Dating: October 12, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: All I can say is that we danced and danced Date Married: December 14, 2019 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We can have fun doing anything..but we enjoy our grandkids, fishing, road trips, cuddling up for movies, vacations, and our dog Brody. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always tell each other the truth. Always have each other's back. Always show each other respect.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Ed & Michelle Bickell of Roxana Date Met/Started Dating: November 21, 1989 Briefly Describe First Date: Cruising the Wood River strip Date Married: May 7, 1994 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Spoiling our pets, going to car shows/cruises for me, and horse events for her. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: You have to be friends first 100%, no secrets, don't ever go to bed mad.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Connie Matifes Abraham and Ron Abraham of Alton Date Met/Started Dating: December 3, 2004 Briefly Describe First Date: We both sang with Great Rivers Choral Society & he asked me to meet at Tony’s Restaurant (downtown Alton) for wine & appetizers. I was leaving the next day on cruise with 3 girlfriends. Date Married: June 13, 2009 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We enjoyed singing together for 12 year until we retired from that. We enjoy wineries, going out to eat & spending time with family & friends. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: It’s the old cliché “don’t go to bed angry” and communication.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: China & Jeremiah from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: March 19, 2015 Briefly Describe First Date: We were setup on a blind date by mutual friends, which I didn't know that it was a date until a few hours prior but only because I stumbled across a post that China had made. We both had said no to meeting multiple times but for some reason we both finally gave in and decide to meet, possible to get the two friends to shut up. We had a great date at Fast Eddie's, she had mentioned about other dates that she had went on which didn't obviously work out and I remember telling her that she should tell them "thank you" for me, which she liked. At the end of the date we decided to setup a 2nd date from there side we enjoyed the evening and each others company. Date Married: April 13, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Adding items to our personal collections, road trips, toy shows, enjoying our favorite restaurants, spending time with

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EAST ALTON - East Alton Police Chief Scott Golike, Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine, and East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton, joined by other area officers, announced the names of two charged after the shooting at 7:55 p.m. in the East Alton Ice Rink parking lot on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at a press conference Thursday morning. Two individuals were injured and hospitalized after the shooting. One suffered a serious leg injury. Charged in the case were suspect Berton Lamar Newton, 30, of the 2700 block of Oscar in Alton, and his girlfriend, Amber Dawn Golliday, 33. Newton faces an array of charges from Attempted First Degree Murder, two counts of Aggravated Battery With A Firearm, and a count of Unlawful Possession Of Weapons By A Felon. Newton's bond is set at $1,000,000, by Judge Kyle A. Napp. Golliday faces one count of Obstructing Justice. Her bond is $150,000. More information to come.

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BELLEVILLE – Over the last two years, Illinois American Water helped more than 15,500 residential customers receive financial assistance to help keep water service flowing. The support came through the Company’s customer assistance program, H2O Help to Others, as well as customer grants credited to qualifying accounts. “We understand it can be hard to get back on track once an account falls behind. We want to help our customers receive the assistance they need and avoid service interruption,” said Beth Matthews, Vice President of Operations. Illinois American Water’s H2O Help to Others program offers financial assistance to residential customers in need. The program is administered by Salvation Army agencies within the company’s service area. Information, including Salvation Army contact information, can be found online at illinoisamwater.com under Customer Service & Billing in the Customer Assistance Program section. The H2O Help to Others program

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EAST ALTON - Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Haine reminded area residents at today’s press conference at the East Alton Ice Rink that Eastgate Plaza is a safe place. He also said Eastgate owner Todd Kennedy has done a remarkable job with the other businesses revitalizing the area. “We can’t think of another violent crime that has occurred on the parking lot of Eastgate,” he said. “It is a safe, family-friendly place and this case is like a bolt of lightning out of the sky, there is no trend people should be worried about or uptake of violence at Eastgate. In fact, this shines a light on all the resources we have locally to combat crime. This was a case surrounded by cameras that record everything that takes part in this parking lot." Haine added: "Madison County is now covered with a web of cameras that allows us to track individuals under investigation to an incredible degree and that was instrumental in this case. Eastgate is open for

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