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GODFREY - A new drone video tour highlights the improvements that have been made to Godfrey’s Glazebrook Park in recent history, including the addition of eight new pickleball courts, a splash pad, a new pavilion, and much more. Parks and Recreation Department Director Chris Logan said the department is extremely proud to offer these new attractions to the community and said there’s even more in store for the park’s future. Logan said the splash pad will fully open to the public this summer - it was completed last year, but only soft-opened toward the end of summer and early fall due to the timing of construction completion. “This summer here pretty soon we’re going to open it up to the public, and we’re really excited about that because we know people are just pumped about the splash pad,” Logan said. “Right next to the splash pad, there’s a building there with restrooms and a pavilion on the front of it with some tables

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Building and Zoning announced today that Alton and Alton Township, Edwardsville and Edwardsville Township, East Alton, Granite City Park District, along with Wood River and multiple others have received grant approval for environmental initiatives. Madison County is awarding more than $143,000 in grants to municipalities, townships, and park districts for these initiatives in 11 taxing districts, the building and zoning office said. This is the full list and the various projects: Alhambra — $7,716 — Solar powered radar signs Alton — $15,000 — Olin Park Restoration Alton Township — $8,000 — The Wadlow Restoration Project East Alton — $15,000 — Community Recycling containers Edwardsville — $15,000 — Wastewater Treatment plant LED conversion Edwardsville Township — $15,000 —HVAC Building renovation Granite City Park District — $15,000 — Legacy Golf

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Annual Edwardsville Business Forecast Breakfast this week honored some of the backbone businesses and individuals of the city and featured details of what is on the economic horizon. Three businesses were recognized for special accolades: R.P. Lumber Company was honored as the 2022 Large Business of the Year; the Chef's Shoppe was the 2022 Small Business of the Year; Edwardsville Neighbors was the 2022 Nonprofit Business of the Year. "We had the pleasure Tuesday morning of hosting more than 200 people from area companies and business sectors, plus community groups, nonprofit organizations, students, and others for our annual Business Forecast Breakfast," Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy said. Risavy spoke at the event, along with Chad Opel, a finance coach and advisor with Front Office Wealth Strategies who shared economic insights as the keynote speaker. James Arnold, the city's economic and community development coordinator, served as moderator. An Edwardsville

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ALTON - Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Alton Brick Street Ordinance, but some of the city’s 10 miles of brick streets remain unprotected by the ordinance. The Alton Historical Commission held a public meeting on March 7 to discuss the possible expansion of the Protected Brick Street List. “We are having a meeting tonight to consider one, whether we have found all of the brick streets in Alton, and also, to determine whether or not the Protected Brick Street List should be expanded,” Alton Historical Commission Chair Douglas Bader said at the meeting. A few people spoke publicly at the meeting, including William Perkins, who suggested adding West 7th Street to the Protected Brick Street List - and said that according to his research, West 7th Street is the “steepest brick street in the world.” “Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania brags that they have the steepest street in the country, which is Canton Avenue,” Perkins said. “The

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ALTON - The 55th Annual NAACP Branch of Alton Freedom Fund Banquet features a special keynote speaker in May - a nationally described "Attorney for Justice" - Ben Crump. The event is Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Meridian Ballroom at the Morris University Center, Edwardsville. A social hour takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. that evening and dinner at 7 p.m. and the keynote speaker. Crump has handled several high-profile cases, including Trayvon Martin, Tyre Nichols, and Earl Moore. He also represented victims in the Flint, Mich., water crises, the Johnson & Johnson powder lawsuit, and the victims of the Amazon Warehouse collapse in Edwardsville. "I'm an unapologetic defender of black life, black liberty, and humanity," Crump said. "That's why I call myself a civil rights lawyer who believes that it's about these romantic notions of liberty and justice for all." The theme of this year's NAACP Freedom Fund event is "Injustice Anywhere is a Threat

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MILLSSTADT – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) says he understands residents’ frustrations with the water and sewer problems in Cahokia Heights and is calling on the Governor and the leaders in the Illinois House and Senate to release the promised funds to the community. “People are getting sick not to mention the stench that comes with the backups during heavy rains,” Schmidt said. “The Governor promised $9.9 million in funding last August. One of the very first actions I took as a member of the General Assembly was to send a letter to the Governor asking for the money to be released. It is time for the state to fulfill its commitment to the people of Cahokia Heights.” Schmidt is also calling on city leaders in Cahokia Heights to work with him for the good of area residents. “Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. is a Democrat. I get it. But we should be working together,” Schmidt said. “The truth is the people of Cahokia Height

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the northeast and southwest corners at the intersection of Illinois 203 (Nameoki Road) and Madison Avenue in Granite City will require intermittent daytime lane closures, weather permitting, on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. 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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JERSEY COUNTY - Kenneth Walker, the older brother of Christy Walker, who was injured this week in an accident, has organized a GoFundMe to assist with her medical expenses. Christy was in a serious car accident on Tuesday coming home from work on Illinois Route 109 in Jersey County in front of the Do Drop Inn. Christy is now at a St. Louis area hospital. Kenneth said the following: “She has multiple broken bones. Both femurs are broken - the right one has a horizontal break and the left has two vertical breaks, both shin bones, both pelvic bones, and a broken ankle. She has a very large gash on her right upper leg just above the knee that severed a lot of blood vessels. “She has been in and out of surgeries most of the day on Wednesday. So far, they have fixed most of the broken bones in her lower half. But she will still need a lot of time to recover. Please bear with us while we try to work through this. Also please keep in mind this is a family matter.” Kenneth

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department was called Wednesday night to an incident where one individual was shot, Major Nick Novacich, Granite City Assistant Chief of Police, said Thursday. The shooting occurred in the 2300 block of Delmar Avenue in Granite City. "That individual is currently undergoing treatment in a St. Louis area hospital for a non-life-threatening injury and we are diligently investigating this matter," he said. "There is no suspect(s) in custody and no further information can be released at this time to the nature of the crime."

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CARLINVILLE - The Blackburn College Department of Music & Theatre will present their spring musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in Bothwell Auditorium on Friday, March 31 at 7 pm, Saturday, April 1 at 7 pm and Sunday, April 2 at 2 pm. All shows are free and open to the public. The production will be directed by Dr. Collin Vorbeck, Professor of Theatre. Music will be directed by Dr. Joseph Welch, Professor of Music. Vorbeck explained, “Charlie Brown and his friends have been permanent fixtures in pop-culture for decades. They’re kids, but they’re also us, if that makes sense: we can see ourselves in their songs, their interactions and attitudes, and the journeys they take throughout this play, both individually and collectively. This musical teaches us about friendship, about self-reflection, and about the power of kindness, just to name a few. We are excited to share with our community the hard work our music and theatre students have invested

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GODFREY - The Nature Institute’s (TNI) hiking trails, located at 2213 South Levis Lane in Godfrey, Ill, will open April 1, and staff want to invite you to join us for a spring Hike-a-Thon. This month-long competition will serve as a fundraiser for The Nature Institute and an encouragement to friends of The Nature Institute and all outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of the exciting spring happenings out in the natural world. Mary Davis said it best, “To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” Anyone, near and far, can participate in the Hike-a-Thon. You simply have to register for the event, then log your miles throughout the month of April. The full cost of registration is $27.50 which includes a t-shirt (if you sign up before March 15) and prizes for the hikers with the most miles logged and hikers that have generous donations given in their name. On April 1, when the trails open, all registered hikers can come out to The Nature Institute between

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Letter To The Editor: The destruction of the Arrowhead Monument at Piasa Park in Alton is sickening. I do hope if there's not already video footage there of the vandals, that there will be some camera footage like the ones on State Street in Alton. If they catch who did it, don't delay the court process, but make them pay in full, and work in a service capacity too for the Alton Parks and Recreation Department. I'm from Eureka, MO., and I typically drive over to Alton once a month and always stop at Piasa Park, and end up picking up broken beer bottles, and trash when I arrive. I'd stop at all the River Accesses on both sides of the river, visit Goodwill in Godfrey, and sometimes St. Clair Square Mall, and watch the sun go down on the river, hit Fast Eddie's, and drive back to Missouri where I stay. I have seen the same thing happen in Eureka, MO., at Ink's Cemetery near the Legends Golf Subdivision. Ink's was a Cemetery with the Pacific Battalion of the Missouri Home Guard area

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford issued a statement about the damage to the Arrowhead Monument sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at Piasa Park on the Great River Road in Alton. The monument had been turned over multiple times in vandalism in the past three months and each time repaired and place back in place, but this time, the vandals broke the monument in half. The monument is valuable and this is a serious crime. He said: "We are saddened to see the arrowhead monument at Piasa Park likely damaged beyond repair. The monument has been observed by countless visitors over the years and served as the means to share the legend of the Piasa Bird and Chief Ouatoga and his warriors. "We would like to see the offender(s) for this despicable act of vandalism held accountable. As such, we are asking for anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Andrew Pierson in the Criminal Investigations Division of the Alton Police Department." Pierson can be reached

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Jack Pfund Habitat for Humanity Construction Fund, sponsored by the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chapter of Habitat For Humanity. Gifts to this fund will help support Habitat for Humanity’s home builds in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, and other communities within the Edwardsville School District. The local chapter is nearing completion of a home build at 624 Hill Lane, Edwardsville, and will soon begin to build a new home, also on Hill Lane. “It takes an entire community for our chapter to be able to provide affordable homes to deserving families. Jack Pfund and his family, as well as the whole Pfund Construction team, have been tremendous supporters of this mission for many years. We are humbled to be able to establish this fund in honor of Jack, an amazing young man who had a heart of giving back to the community with his time and talents,” said Rich Hampton, Habitat for Humanity Board Member.

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ALTON - CJ's Juicery opened Wednesday afternoon at its new location to great success. "It was a really great turnout," owner Courtney McLaughlin said about opening day. Formerly located on Ridge St. in Alton, the new shop is located downtown at 104 W 3rd St. in the former Tony's Building. McLaughlin couldn't be happier to open the new location. "I'm just so grateful," she said. "I think my business deserves this spot and I think I deserve this spot after the hard work that I've put toward it, and the community deserves this location." The juicery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a hit on the weekend. "Saturdays are poppin' down here," McLaughlin said. She mentioned that the reason for the move was that she had outgrown her previous spot. McLaughlin said that if it wasn't for the Ridge St. location becoming available, she probably would have never been able to open. "I had the opportunity to go into that 600-square foot and start my small business,"

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GLEN CARBON - The Village of Glen Carbon has recently appointed a new Director of Community Development, Erika Heil, to oversee its and building and zoning department and economic development initiatives. Erika Heil brings with her a wide range of economic development experience, working in Illinois and Missouri on local, state-wide and regional level programs. Heil will begin her new role in the Village on May 8, 2023. Heil previously served as the Executive Director for The Alliance of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, which was a non-profit economic development partnership for the two communities. Most recently, Heil was the Village Administrator for New Baden, Illinois. She has served in various positions and boards to include Edwardsville Township, Secretary for the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Southwestern Illinois Trade and Investment Council, Illinois Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, Illinois Economic Development Council,

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ALTON - Old Bakery Beer Company’s highly anticipated “Buzz’d Beer Festival” returns this year, and ten percent of the ticket sales will support the Piasa Palisades Group of Sierra Club Illinois’ work to protect pollinators across Illinois. The festival will take place on Sunday, March 19, from 1 to 5 PM at Old Bakery Beer Co. in historic downtown Alton. The Buzz’d Beer Festival celebrates the pollinators that make our food, flowers, and even our beer possible. Participating local breweries will showcase a beer that includes a pollinated ingredient to raise awareness about the importance of native pollinators. Festival-goers can also pick up free native wildflower seeds at the event. “Old Bakery Beer Company has long been a fantastic community partner, and we are grateful that they find opportunities like the Buzz’d Beer Festival to support Sierra Club’s work,” said Christine Favilla, co-Coordinator of the Three Rivers Project

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GRANITE CITY - GCS employees joined together to raise $1,130.00 in the month of February to benefit the Junior Service Club of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon. The Smile for Jeans Program is funded by GCS employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, GCS employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. Nothing gets better than seeing a smile on an organization’s face when GCS Credit Union presents them with a jeans donation check. GCS Credit Union’s 2023 Smile for Jeans Program focuses on supporting our local communities that we work, play and live in. During the month of February, GCS employees proudly raised $1,130.00 for the Junior Service Club of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon. JSC of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon is a philanthropic, non-profit 501c3 organization comprised of women who are dedicated to making a difference i

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) today recognized March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) in Illinois. To raise awareness around gambling disorders and honor those in recovery, participating buildings in downtown Chicago will be lit teal and a statewide art contest will shine a spotlight on the power of recovery. Throughout the month, IDHS will also partner with providers across the state to raise awareness around treatment options for those in need. "This month is a key opportunity for IDHS and our providers to raise awareness for the recovery support services available for gambling disorder. We would like to thank BOMA Chicago for helping us in our efforts to raise awareness by lighting the city skyline teal from March 20th-26th,” said IDHS Secretary Grace B. Hou. “Individuals who struggle with gambling disorder often hide their behavior from family members and we want all Illinois residents to know there is

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 has announced the District Young Authors winners for the 2022-23 school year. Each spring the Madison County Regional Office of Education recognizes Young Authors winners in grades K-8 from Madison County schools at a county-wide event. Students have the opportunity to share their books with each other, participate in reading/writing centric activities and be entertained by a local author, storyteller or performer. The 32nd annual Madison County Young Authors Conference will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Edwardsville High School. Maryville 1-2 Education Center Principal Dr. Liz Niepert is GCSD9's coordinator. Congratulations to our District winners! Prather Christian Blake Seren Miller Ayree Martinez Harper Ward Maryville 1st Grade Rhett Hunter Sherine Bandela 2nd Grade Lucas Fisher Mariana Monterrosas Amelia Marty Wilson 2nd Grade Ava Belsky Lucille Colby Oliver Flynn Ca Deame Willis

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