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SEE PHOTO GALLERY: ALTON - Alton-area residents are on Day 2 of an intense winter storm on Thursday, February 3, 2022. The Alton area was hit with ice and snow Wednesday and another round of snow has added to the totals today. Reduced traffic on local roads was apparent through the day Wednesday which let snowplows “do their thing” and those workers took advantage of the open roads and they worked tirelessly all day and night to fight the increasing snow levels. Sidewalk shovelers around Alton came out in force. One shoveler said: “We’re just taking off a layer of snow, and then we’ll go inside and hunker down for the next wave.” The Winter Storm Warning has been extended to 6 p.m. Thursday for area residents.

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced a new $4 million grant program for the development of tourism, education, preservation, and promotion of the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. With more than 300 miles of Route 66 in Illinois from its starting point in Chicago to the Chain of Rocks Bridge, Route 66’s economic and historical impact is woven into the fabric of communities across the state. This grant opportunity – which is open to Illinois’ Certified Conventions and Visitors Bureaus - will help develop or enhance sites along Route 66, while prioritizing projects focused on future transportation and tourism trends such as electric vehicles. “Route 66 is nearly 100 years old and as we prepare to celebrate its historic centennial, I can’t think of a better way to honor its cultural contribution than preserving and promoting it for generations to come,” said Governor JB

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Chris and Kristin McCutchen from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: March 18, 2012 Briefly Describe First Date: We worked together and went to Denny's one night after work with a friend. Date Married: September 12, 2020 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love taking drives up the river road or to parks. Enjoying what's in our own backyard. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication is everything! You have to support your partner; encourage them. A relationship is not 50/50. It's 100/100! You have to give it your all.

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State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich): “In a not-so-subtle campaign ploy, Governor Pritzker is dangling property tax, gas tax and grocery tax relief for working families. While it is nice to see the Governor finally admit that lower taxes benefit working people, the truth is his actions are disingenuous. The money for his one-time tax relief benefits comes from federal funds propping up the Illinois budget despite his protests to the contrary. What is needed is permanent, structural reforms to get our budget under control. The financial mess facing our state is a direct result of the gamesmanship we see all too often. Instead of addressing the long-term financial health of our state, we use one-time sources of revenues to play games and do nothing to improve the financial health of the state. Once again, the Governor is proposing a budget with record breaking spending. If the Governor really wanted to help working families in Illinois, he would find ways to

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GODFREY - The Godfrey Board of Trustees approved permission to apply for a Park Enhancement Grant that would be used to install a new fence around the new splash pad and also be used with work to connect the first phase of a bike trail that will connect Glazebrook Park with LaVista Park through country settings. Godfrey has utilized the Park Enhancement Grants before and this year will ask for around $71,000, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said. In other matters, McCormick said the village board approved a rate hike for pavilion rentals from $5 to $10 each. The Park Enhancement Grants grants normally range from $15,000 to $165,200 and are used for projects such as a dog park, playground equipment, pavilions, a walking/bike trail, and outdoor lighting. The funding will be combined with city, village, township, and park district funds to finance the projects.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Karen and Steve Masiero from Cottage Hills Date Met/Started Dating: June 1, 1976 Briefly Describe First Date: It was at a Y program. Date Married: January 3, 1977 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Riding motorcycles and going places. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Never go to bed angry. Tomorrow isn't promised.

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WEST FRANKFORT – When people think of ways to cope through difficult life events it usually looks like the more common methods of talking to a trusted friend or family member, exercising, deep breathing, and sometimes seeking out therapy. One of the coping skills that people tend to overlook is using art. Art therapy is another unique approach to channeling your inner feelings, emotions, stress and trauma. Art therapy is a unique approach to channeling inner feelings, emotions, stress and trauma through mediums such as painting, sculpting, poetry, creative writing, music and photography. The use of art as a form of therapy can help to build self-awareness and coping skills, increases self-esteem and confidence, improves cognitive and motor function, reduces stress and strengthens communication and social skills. Centerstone’s Peer Support Services offers various creative activities, including participation in the Healing Arts Project, Inc., (HAPI), a not-for-profit organization

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SPRINGFIELD - Due to the hazardous road conditions caused by the ongoing winter storm, Secretary of State office buildings in Springfield, as well as many Driver Services facilities around the state, will be closed Thursday, Feb. 3. All Chicagoland metro Driver Services facilities will be open but may have to suspend road tests due to the hazardous conditions. White advises the public to visit ilsos.gov to check the status of Driver Services facilities in their area before traveling to a local facility. White urges motorists to drive safely and, if weather conditions are challenging, to consider delaying their visit to a facility. White continues to encourage people to conduct business online at ilsos.gov. In addition to driver’s license and ID card renewals for those who qualify, online services include obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, ordering a driver record and purchasing license plate stickers. As a reminder, White has extended all driver’s

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EDWARDSVILLE – Each semester, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program recognizes outstanding faculty mentors and student researchers through four awards. The URCA program encourages, supports and enables undergraduate students of all disciplines to participate in research and creative activities under faculty mentorship. These experiences allow undergraduate students opportunities to engage in scholarship, interact with faculty, and fully connect in the educational process of discovering and creating. The fall 2021 Vaughn Vandegrift URCA Research Mentor of the Semester Award was presented to Barbara McCracken, PhD, assistant professor at the SIU School of Dental Medicine. The URCA Creative Activities Mentor of the Semester Award was presented to Johanna Schmitz, PhD, professor of theater history and dramatic literature in the College of Arts and Sciences. Award winners were nominated by URCA students. “All

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SPRINGFIELD - Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon announced Wednesday the body of missing Greene County woman Randa Davidson, 39, of Hillview, was found Tuesday afternoon on Robbins Road in Springfield. A three-county search was underway for the woman after she was reported missing. Family members reported Davidson missing on Saturday, January 29, 2022. Davidson's cellphone was found in Scott County and her car later was discovered in Springfield, authorities said. The death is being investigated by the coroner and Sangamon County Sheriff's Department, and foul play is not suspected the sheriff’s office and Allmon reported. The Greene County Sheriff's Office said anyone with any additional information on this case to contact them immediately at 217-942-6901 or the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office at 217-753-6880.

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ST. LOUIS - A Winter Storm Warning for the St. Louis region remains in effect until noon on Thursday. National Weather Service in St. Louis meteorologist Jon Carney said early Thursday that snow has moved back in to expect several bands of snow over the next hours until 1-3 p.m. on Thursday when it will stop. “We are looking at another 6-8 inches of snow for the area before it is all over,” he said early Thursday. Carney said most portions of the region will receive close to a foot total of snow. The good news is Friday through the weekend the winter storm will cease and temps will move into the 20s and 30s.

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SPRINGFIELD - On February 2, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated three separate traffic crashes involving ISP squad cars. Two Troopers were struck in ISP District 9 – Springfield and one in ISP District 10 – Pesotum. The two crashes in ISP District 9 were both Move Over Law related. On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at approximately 7:40 a.m., an ISP District 9 Trooper was on the left shoulder of Interstate 72 westbound at milepost 122, near Illiopolis, assisting a stranded motorist who had slid off the roadway due to weather conditions. The squad car was stationary with all of its emergency lights activated. A gray Chevrolet Impala traveling westbound failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle, slid on the roadway, and struck the rear end of the ISP squad car. The driver of the Chevrolet, 29-year-old Anthony L. Newman of Springfield, IL, was uninjured. The Trooper was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and has since

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SPRINGFIELD – Higher education leaders across the state applaud Governor Pritzker’s budget announcement today which includes a fiscal year 2023 higher education budget of $2.2 billion, an increase of $208 million compared to current spending levels. Highlights from the budget recommendations include a $122M increase in the state’s need-based student grants through the Monetary Award Program (MAP), a $54.8 million (5%) increase in funding for public universities and a $13.2 million (5%) increase in funding for community colleges starting in the current fiscal year and continuing into fiscal year 2023, $25 million for a new program to expand the health care workforce through the state’s community college system, a $2.8 million increase to support recruitment and retention of nurse professionals, and a $2.8 million increase for scholarships to attract more minority teaching candidates and grow more minority faculty. The budget recommendations also call for eliminating

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ALTON - The Overnight Warming Center of Alton is activating tonight, Wednesday, February 2 – doors open at 5 p.m. We are located at the Deliverance Temple Church at 1125 East 6th St. in Alton. Doors are located on Cherry Street. Please share the attached flyer so that anyone in need of a warm place can join us this evening. We also post our activations on our Facebook page: Overnight Warming Centers Alton .

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GRANITE CITY - The following message was sent to all Granite City Community Unit School District #9 families from Superintendent Stephanie M. Cann: "The National Weather Service has extended the winter storm warning that will bring significant snow to the region that may make road conditions hazardous. For this reason, Granite City Community Unit School District #9 will NOT hold in-person learning on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Students and teachers will have an E-LEARNING DAY. There has been some confusion between an E-Learning Day and Remote Learning. An E-Learning Day allows students the flexibility to complete their work at their own pace with teachers available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. to support student learning. In addition, teachers will hold a one-hour Google Meet. All sports and extracurricular activities are canceled. Please refer to the E-Learning Student Expectations link on the GCSD9 website for detailed information. Thank you and be safe."

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EAST ALTON - Democrat Joe Silkwood formerly announced he will enter the 111th District state representative race on Tuesday and oppose incumbent Republican Amy Elik. Silkwood was mayor of East Alton for six years and has had a long-term public service career. “I am officially entering the campaign for the 111th state representative race,” he said Tuesday. “The opportunity came up and I was interested. I had a long-term career in the public sector work and was once treasurer of East Alton. This has been my home my whole life, and the 111th district is something special to me. It is something I want to give a shot at running for.” Silkwood has three grown children. His children are all in service work. One of his children is a teacher, one is a college baseball coach, and one a nurse. “I am really proud of all my children,” he said. “They all want to help people and that makes a parent proud.” Silkwood said he will offer Metro East residents

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BELLEVILLE – The Belleville Area Humane Society (BAHS) and RedRover recognize that sometimes life brings challenges that make caring for pets difficult or impossible. As an alternative to surrendering a beloved pet, BAHS has created, and RedRover has awarded grant funding to support the first animal assistance program in Southern Illinois providing temporary care for the pets of those experiencing domestic violence, so that every family member can find safety. One in three women experience domestic abuse within their lifetime. BAHS understands that very few domestic violence shelters allow pets (only 10% nationally). Because of this, 48% of survivors delay leaving an abusive relationship because they don’t want to leave a pet behind. While the survivor’s owned pet is with BAHS, the SafePets program provides appropriate care for the pet(s), such as vaccinations, spay/neuter, preventative, and even heartworm treatment. Jorden Sherman, BAHS Community Outreach Manager

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LINN, MO - State Technical College of Missouri would like to congratulate Ryan Eickoff of Jerseyville, IL who achieved the Dean's List during the 2021 Fall semester. To be placed on the Dean’s List, a full-time student must earn a semester grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0 on a 4-point scale. Visit www.statetechmo.edu to learn more.

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ST. LOUIS - For the second consecutive year, as part of Black History Month in February, Schnuck Markets, Inc. will offer customers of all stores the opportunity to “Round Up at the Register” to support the Urban League. Starting today and continuing through Tuesday, Feb. 15, 100% of donations in the St. Louis area will support the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (ULSTL) - specifically the non-profit organization’s Save Our Sons program. Round ups in Schnucks stores in other markets will support the Urban League chapter in each respective area. Those customers who use self-checkouts and wish to donate may choose a $1, $3 or $5 “Scan and Give” option. Schnucks Rewards members also have the opportunity to donate their rewards points to the Urban League as part of the Donate Your Rewards program. “At Schnucks, we provide careers to more than 13,000 teammates, and one of our community pillars is to help to develop the workforce in our cities and

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is preparing to make COVID-19 vaccine available to those ages 6 months through 4 years after Pfizer-BioNTech submitted data yesterday to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking to amend its emergency use authorization (EUA) to allow children younger than 5 years to receive its COVID-19 vaccine. The request for authorization of the first two doses of a planned three-dose primary series will still need to be reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We are looking forward to the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine for our youngest population once it is reviewed by CDC,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “We have many tools to slow and control the spread of COVID-19, the best of all being vaccine. As we move towards coexisting with COVID-19, it is important that we are able to offer as much protection as

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