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ALTON - Downtown Alton is welcoming a new storefront with the grand opening of Coco+Oak on Sept. 8. When Madeline Eades started the shop online in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw it as a hobby during quarantine. A few years later, it’s now a brick-and-mortar store located at 219 Williams Street in Alton. Eades invites shoppers to come see what they offer, including clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and a “hat bar” that even a few celebrities have enjoyed. “It just seemed natural that the next step would be to open a store,” Eades said. “What it started as has become so much more than what I ever imagined it was going to be.” Coco+Oak currently ships to all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Eades was already involved in the Alton community as a parent with kids in the school district and the president of the Alton Athletic Association. So when she decided to open a storefront, Alton was the obvious choice. “It definitely just

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ALTON – People who have cardiac arrests may benefit from CPR, yet many people who witness cardiac arrest do not perform CPR. That’s why OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton) is hosting an upcoming first aid and CPR training class so Riverbend area residents are prepared to take action if necessary. The first aid and CPR training class will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the hospital’s Perpetual Help Center and led by a certified instructor. Space is limited and the deadline to register is Monday, September 25. The cost is $65.00/person. Registration can be completed by calling (618) 920-6816 or by email at susiesweetman22@gmail.com. “Knowing CPR and first aid can help save lives,” says Dennis E. Sands, MD, Chief Medical Officer, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “If your child or loved one isn't breathing, knowing how to do CPR could mean the difference between life and death.

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SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to build its ranks, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is updating the pre-employment requirements for people applying to become a trooper. Recently signed into law, Public Act 103-0312 makes changes to the Illinois State Police Act, effective January 1, 2024. The new “Option Three” allows for current law enforcement officers with three years of continuous service at the same law enforcement agency to join the ranks of ISP quickly. “ISP wants to recruit those who have shown they are dedicated to protecting the public,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Recruiting an officer who has successfully completed basic law enforcement training and has three years of law enforcement experience, combined with comprehensive training through the ISP Academy, will allow ISP to more quickly assign experienced and highly trained troopers throughout the state.” Changes were also made to “Option Two,” allowing

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that all lanes of Illinois 159 at the intersections of Lincoln Highway, Chateau Drive, Green Haven Drive and Rosewood Village Drive in St. Clair County will require intermittent daytime lane closures, weather permitting, on Thursday, Sept. 21; Friday, Sept. 22; and Monday, Sept. 25. The lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. 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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ALTON - The Alton Expo opened Thursday and will run throughout the weekend at the Alton Amphitheater. Starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, community members can enjoy carnival rides, fair food and live entertainment until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10. The festivities were off to a steady start as families arrived at the Amphitheater on Thursday. “The idea is to be a catalyst to introduce people to our city, and what better way to introduce people to our city than our beautiful riverfront?” Dan Herkert, chair of the Alton Amphitheater Commission, said. “We encourage them to get out and visit our local bars, restaurants, shops, stores, spend money in our city, generate some economic activity.” The Alton Expo kicked off at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 and runs until 10 p.m. The band Just in Time performs at 7 p.m. You can also stop by from 5–11 p.m. on Friday and check out Powerplay with Gene Jackson at 5 p.m., followed by Dirty Muggs at 8 p.m. Saturday’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) has released the below quote following the groundbreaking celebration of the new health science building at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: “The new health science building at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a culmination of the great success of our state university and their expertise to produce leaders in various fields relating to the healthcare industry,” said Senator Harriss, who also serves as a member of the Senate Higher Education Committee. “It’s exciting to see this investment taking place right here in our own community. Not only will this new facility bring jobs and a boost our local economy, but SIUE will have an even greater opportunity to attract the brightest young minds, helping to foster a talented workforce in our state’s healthcare industry for decades to come.”

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EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. Attorney Rachel Aud Crowe announced Thursday afternoon that a U.S. District judge sentenced a California man to 262 months imprisonment after he admitted to leading a drug conspiracy ring targeting communities in Southern Illinois. Thomas Hines, 33, of Los Angeles, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. In addition to the prison sentence, Hines will serve five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Seven additional individuals were charged in the indictment and pleaded guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy. Three of those charged are from Granite City. Here is that list: • Nyeshia Anderson, 32, of North Las Vegas, Nevada; • Corey Hendriex, 39, of Granite City, Illinois; • Amy Lynch, 42, of Granite City, Illinois; • Tamara Peoples, 66, of Granite City, Illinois; • Richard Stark,

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ALTON - Theresa Collins, CEO of Senior Services Plus in Alton, has been awarded the Diane Drew Excellence in Leadership Award from the Illinois Association of Community Care Program Homecare Providers for her dedication to working on behalf of older adults in the State of Illinois. Collins was presented the award on August 24 th , 2023, at the IACCPHP Annual Meeting held at Northern Illinois University – Naperville. For over 30 years, Diane Drew served seniors across the state of Illinois in a variety of positions including co-chairman of the Community Care Program Advisory Committee, Executive Director of CHELP, and as the President of the Illinois Association of Community Care Program Homecare Providers. As a dedication to Drew, this award is given annually to a leader in the Home Care Network who demonstrates the leadership and commitment to excellence that Diane exemplified throughout her career. 2023 Awardee Theresa Collins has been with Senior Services Plus for 14 years,

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JERSEY COUNTY - Jersey County State's Attorney Ben Goetten provided details of a case that involved Kyle A. Bollinger that occurred on Sunday, September 3, 2023, in Elsah. Goetten said this case involved a report of a vehicle that had struck a bridge in Elsah. "When deputies arrived on scene they found both Kyle and Courtney Bollinger present," Goetten said. "Courtney Bollinger indicated to deputies that she was driving. Deputies reported both individuals to be intoxicated. Courtney Bollinger was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence. "This is when Kyle Bollinger became confrontational with deputies. After a struggle, he was taken into custody and both were transported to the Jersey County Jail. "After further investigation by deputies, multiple eyewitnesses submitted statements that they witnessed Kyle Bollinger driving the vehicle and that Courtney Bollinger was dropped off by another vehicle after the fact, claiming to be the driver. We have subsequently

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Joe Cunningham, a former United States congressman and the national director of No Labels , has plenty of experience bringing both sides of the aisle together. In 2018, he became the first Democrat to flip the red First Congressional District of South Carolina in over 40 years - now, he’s leading a movement of over 1 million Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike to find bipartisan solutions to America’s problems. “No Labels” is a nonprofit organization which has been around for over 12 years, Cunningham said. He added that other than high-ranking members like the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader, most congresspeople didn’t meet with colleagues outside of their party until No Labels created a group for that exact purpose. “When I got to D.C., I realized there weren’t any groups that put Democrats and Republicans at a table regularly together to try to work on our problems - save for the Problem

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EDWARDSVILLE – A fresh coat of paint brightens any room, and this fall Edwardsville Children’s Museum will refresh its learning environment with 20 gallons of donated paint. Edwardsville Children’s Museum was selected as the winner of a paint grant through True Value Rental - Edwardsville’s partnership with True Value Foundation’s Painting a Brighter Future program. A True Value Foundation paint grant helps improve learning environments and can have an impact on youth attitudes and performance. Over 2,300 schools and youth-development-focused organizations across the country have been awarded paint since the program’s inception in 2009, covering over 25 million square feet of learning space. Partnering with True Value Foundation, True Value Rental - Edwardsville nominated Edwardsville Children’s Museum for a 20-gallon paint grant to help refresh youth learning spaces. “The Edwardsville Children's Museum will be using the paint to give

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Police on Thursday announced its Labor Day impaired driving and occupant protection campaign results. Lt. Brandn Whittaker said the Edwardsville Police made 5 DUI arrests during the recent Labor Day impaired driving and occupant protection campaigns. In addition, 22 seat belt citations were written – 5 of which occurred during nighttime hours. Whittaker said other citations and arrests included 12 citations for unlawful use of an electronic transmission device, 12 speeding citations, 2 arrests for driving suspended/revoked, 20 other citations, 1 arrest for unlawful use of a weapon, and 4 consumption of alcohol by a minor violations. “Through the Labor Day enforcement effort, we helped to make our roads safer and remind motorists that impaired driving is not a game,” Lt. Whittaker said. "Edwardsville Police joined forces with other law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners throughout the state for the Illinois Labor Day 'Drive

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EDWARDSVILLE — Governor JB Pritzker today joined local and state officials along with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) leadership to announce the beginning of construction on a new health science building on campus. Situated at the intersection of South University Drive and University Park Drive, the $105 million building will provide groundbreaking educational opportunities in a state-of-the-art facility. The building construction, which is set to be completed by summer 2025, will seamlessly connect two existing facilities at 200 and 220 University Park Drive into one structure, weaving together the School of Nursing and the School of Pharmacy. Funding is made possible by the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital program, the largest capital plan in the State’s history. “As we make college tuition more affordable for students, we are also investing in university facilities — ensuring these engines of success for local economies are running

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ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 (ACUSD11) has released statements about increased safety measures following student altercations on Aug. 30. In a letter to parents sent on Sept. 5, Superintendent Dr. Kristie Baumgartner explained that the school district has enacted several new policies and procedures to maintain student and staff safety. This includes the installation of new concealed weapons detection systems and an increased law enforcement presence at Alton High School. “The multiple physical altercations that took place on Aug. 30 were deeply concerning,” Baumgartner said in her letter. “The extreme disruption to the learning environment caused by these incidents was inexcusable and unacceptable. Please know we are in the process of administering school consequences to the students involved and working with our law enforcement partners regarding any legal consequences. While we cannot share the discipline of other students, please know these

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JERSEY COUNTY - The 32nd annual Apple Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jersey County Historical Society, located at 601 N. State St. in Jerseyville. More than 30 vendors will be located throughout the grounds, selling pottery, jewelry, fall crafts, honey, and other goods. There is no charge to enter the grounds. Live entertainment will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes Jersey Community High School students at 10 a.m., Anya Alexis Wilkie at 11:30 a.m., the Gibson Girls at noon, and Back in the Saddle at 1:30 p.m. Jerseyville’s oldest home, the Cheney House (which pre-dates both Jerseyville and Jersey County and includes a stop on the Underground Railroad) will be open for tours, as will the one-room Lone Star School (built in 1877), Union Forest Church (built in 1920), log cabins and the 10-room museum. The museum is full of local artifacts and historical photos, including a racing sleigh and buggy, four vintage cards (including

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JERSEYVILLE - Chris Lorton never expected to own George’s Local Brew, but he has loved every part of it. As he prepares to pass the bar to new owners Andy and Betsy Prehn, he plans “to go out with a home run.” The Lorton family will finish their tenure at George’s with several fun events throughout the month of September. “There’s no relaxing in the restaurant business,” Chris said. “Doing the business with the kids and meeting all the great people that we’ve met over the years and getting to know them has been the best, the highlight.” Over the past eight years, Chris and his wife Brenda have operated the business with their four adult children. It’s always been a family-oriented project and a Nashville-style bar, complete with specialty steaks, chilled drafts and hometown charm. Chris explained that his kids were the reason why they opened George’s, and the whole family played a big part in the bar’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - First-degree murder charges were filed Wednesday against a Troy man - Michael S. Perham. Perham, 52, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine announced today. Haine said the charges allege that Perham, without lawful justification, shot Maha Tiimob on Tuesday, Sept. 5, causing her death. Perham and Tiimob had been in a relationship. "On Tuesday morning, Troy Police responded to Perham’s residence at 2146 Tramore for a report of a shooting," Haine said. "Officers arrived and took Perham into custody at the scene. Inside the apartment, officers located Tiimob, who suffered multiple gunshots and was unresponsive. "Officers performed life-saving measures until an ambulance crew arrived, but the efforts were unsuccessful, and the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene." Bail for Perham was set at $1 million by Associate Judge Ryan Jumper. Perham remained in custody Wednesday afternoon at the Madison

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri starting, weather permitting, Friday, Sept. 8, at 9 p.m. One lane will always remain open in each direction. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. 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. 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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ALTON – Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation is gearing up for the 14 th annual Duck Pluckers, Deer Skinners, and Fish Hookers Ball that will be held at NILO Farms on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event raises funds for a new Alton Memorial Hospital ambulance. The Duck Pluckers committee has come up with four amazing raffles as well as an online auction at www.virtualauction.bid/DUCKPLUCKERS to help raise funds for the purchase of a new ambulance for Alton Memorial. There will be a raffle for each of the following, with tickets available now: Quarter beef and freezer donated by B&M Livestock. Blanton’s Bourbon Collection, donated by Colman’s Country Campers. Crossbow donated by Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation. Booze Boat, donated by numerous Riverbend Area bars and restaurants. All raffle tickets must be purchased online. The online auction, featuring many experiences for family fun and services to make life easier for bidders, will go live for bid

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Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, named its inaugural Life;Story Champion Award winners. The Life;Story Champion Award honors Illinoisans who have positively impacted mental health in their community. The inaugural winners are: Cherie Wright, Southern Illinois Healthcare School Health Coordinator Deborah Humphrey, Madison County Mental Health Board Executive Director The winners will be honored on Saturday, September 9 during Centerstone’s inaugural Life;Story 5K walk/run for suicide awareness and prevention, which begins at 7 a.m. at Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex, 1606 South Carbon Street, Marion. Everyone is welcome. “The Life;Story 5K promotes community awareness and unites us all in our desire to support people impacted by suicide and thoughts of suicide,” said Anne Tyree, Centerstone Regional Chief Executive Officer. “Both the Life;Story 5K and Champion Award recognize that there is more to every life; there is more to every

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