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ALTON - Alton attorney Shane Schmidt of Simmons Hanly Conroy has been named to the Advisory Council of a new research project from the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism . The initiative will assess the prevalence and impact of bullying in the legal profession and recommend best practices for preventing it. It is believed to be one of the first wide-scale research projects conducted in the U.S. on this topic.

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Hannah N. Polinske, a 2018 Edwardsville High School graduate, recently completed her first year of law school at Northern Illinois University and was on the Dean’s List. Hannah received a B.A. In Criminal Justice and Psychology from Drury University, Springfield, MO.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers) is an international organization that is split up into 68 chapters. The four technicians did an outstanding job representing Madison Communications and the SCTE Gateway Chapter competing against 10 other teams consisting of technicians from Mediacom, Casscom, and Comcast. Madison Communications took home 3rd place overall along with Madison technician, Tanner Pieri taking home 3rd place in MTDR and ORDR, Erick Goode taking home 2nd place in MTDR, and Greg Crabill taking home 1st place in both OTDR and MTDR along with 2nd place overall and in Fiber Splicing. MTDR is short for Metallic Time Domain Reflectometer that is used for finding faults in metallic cables such as twisted pair copper and coax. OTDR is short for Optical Time Domain Reflectometer that is used for finding faults in fiber cables. Out of the 21 potential medals to be awarded at the contest, the Madison technicians took home 7 of them. They also

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INTERLOCHEN, Mich. — Camden Schroeder, 16, of Jerseyville, will attend Interlochen Arts Academy, the world’s premier fine arts boarding high school, for the 2023-24 school year. Schroeder, the son of Shawn and Danielle Schroeder, will study Musical Theatre at Interlochen. Schroeder’s theatre credits include Arsenic And Old Lace (Officer O’Hara), You Can’t Take It With You (Mr. De Pinna), The Plot, Like Gravy Thickens (Tony Blackwell), Bye, Bye, Birdie (Randolph McAfee), The Addams Family (Lucas Beineke), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy) all at Jersey Community High School, and Newsies (Darcy) at The Muni Opera of Springfield, IL. In addition, he has attended several classes and workshops at the St. Louis Muny. As a sophomore, during the 22-23 school year, Camden was selected as a Bass for the Illinois Music Educator Association’s All-State Chorus. Artistic students from around the world convene at Interlochen to expand their capacity

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JERSEYVILLE - The Oddfellows Hall in Jerseyville was abuzz on this bright Saturday. The Grand Encampment, (A division of The Grand Lodge of Illinois (Oddfellows)) was “in the house”. It was reminiscent of the days of old. The lodge hall was filled with members of the order and future members of the order. Nearly 50 people enjoyed fellowship and lunch, hailing from all areas of the state. A new encampment was instituted for the Quincy area and there was a total of 13 initiates in this advanced degree. In other news, a member was celebrated for his many years in the service of others. He is the embodiment of the tenets of Oddfellowship. Allen Jones recently received his 75-year pin. Having been a member of Brighton Lodge #366 of The IOOF, he not only knows the history of the order in Illinois, he is the history. Talking with him about things past and things future is an adventure. Mr. Steve Pigg, Grand Master of the jurisdiction of Illinois was able to make it t

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lane closures in both directions of Interstate 55/64 between the Poplar Street Bridge and the I-64 exit will start, weather permitting, at 9 a.m., Monday, July 31. The closures are necessary for road surveying. To complete the work, intermittent shoulder and single lane closures in both directions of I-55/64 will take place daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The closures are expected to last for two weeks. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict 8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler

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BETHALTO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that resurfacing of Illinois 255 between Illinois 143 and Seminary Road in Madison County will require lane closures beginning, weather permitting, Wednesday, July 26. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times. Motorists could experience 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. This work is expected to be completed by the end of November. 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 High School Class of 1958 is holding its 65th reunion from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Loading Dock in Grafton. Bill Hoagland, one of the coordinators, said there will not be any fees this time around and that Ben Allen, an AHS 1958 class member, is hosting the event at the Loading Dock. “It will be an informal dress,” Hoagland said. “We are trying to notify as many as we can.” Hoagland said any other class that wants to attend can also do so. “People can order off the menu or have drinks there,” he said. To register, contact Trudi Allen at tba@gtec.com or Hoagland at billhoagland70@yahoo.com .

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KANSAS CITY - Rockhurst University has announced the dean's list for the spring 2023 semester. This honor recognizes students who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or above. The following area students earned a place on the list: HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Edwardsville, IL Josh Kleinheider Granite City, IL Analiese Wilmsmeyer Olivia Wilmsmeyer

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College has announced its Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester. Students named to the Dean's List must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester. Several area students are on the list. They are all shown below. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Alton, IL Luke Atkinson Brighton, IL Natalie Keith East Alton, IL Dawson Klunk Dylan Klunk Godfrey, IL Rebecca Adney Granite City, IL CJ Pittman Jerseyville, I L Evan Hopper Wood River, I L Kameron Tharp

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WOOD RIVER - At 7 p.m. Thursday, a public hearing will be held on whether or not to allow the City of Wood River to separate a 10-acre portion of Belk Park for a proposed wedding venue. One resident has already voiced their opposition to the plan, and more residents may voice their opinions at tonight’s hearing. Resident Brian Mallory spoke against the proposal at the Wood River City Council meeting on Monday and claimed part of the proposal was to “donate the land to a for-profit developer to build a wedding venue.” Councilman Bill Dettmers said he has heard no mention of the land being “donated” to the developer, but confirmed that the plans were for a wedding venue to be built on 10 acres located toward the front of Belk Park along Rock Hill Road. Mallory also claimed that part of the deal would include the construction of a hotel near highways 255 and 143, but Dettmers said this is not part of the proposal being discussed tonight. Any approval

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GODFREY – Freer Auto Body’s well-known Christmas In July is returning from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 21, at the shop located at 4512 North Alby Street in Godfrey. Sloppy Joes, chips and a cold drink will be served for those who attend. As always, there are several excellent raffle prizes. The raffle prizes include a seven-night stay at a Panama City beach house, a seven-day stay at a Lake of Ozarks lakefront three-bedroom location, $2,500 cash, a five-day date at a blue crab shack in Carrabelle, Fla., four Cardinal Green Seats, four Cardinals tickets with gear, a Rustic Home Salida, Co., getaway date, and $1,000 cash. Prize donors are as follows: Darel and Vicky File, Might Rivers Recycling, Axalta Coatings, Reda and Tammy Iskarous, Jayne and John Simmons, DMMW Law, LLC, and Freer Auto Body. Taylor and Lily Freer are back once again as hosts. “They are here today making Sloppy Joes and will be here tomorrow,” Margaret Freer, the girls' grandmother,

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GRANITE CITY/EAST ST. LOUIS - Joshua Amos is a 32-year-old Granite City man who was last seen on March 19, 2023, in East St. Louis. Four months after his disappearance, his family is asking the community to help bring him home. “It’s just left such a hole in our family. He’s got two beautiful girls. They miss him so much,” Karin Ahart, Amos’s aunt, said. “He’s the one where all the nieces and nephews want to ride with Josh, want to spend the night with Josh, want to get picked up with him. He is the fun one. He’s silly, sarcastic, funny. He’s a sweetheart. He’s that guy of the family. He’s pretty much the one that ties us all together.” Ahart said the circumstances of Amos’s sudden and inexplicable disappearance have been incredibly painful. The family regularly shares updates on the “#BringJoshHome; Joshua Amos - Missing Person” Facebook page. They post pictures and stories of Amos and

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JERSEYVILLE - With a neon sign, wooden bar, exposed brick and killer sound system, George’s Local Brew has the downtown Nashville feel with the small-town Jerseyville charm. The bar pulls in customers from St. Louis to Springfield with its specialty steaks, mules and frothy drafts. Everything about the bar, from its name to its success, can be credited to the owners’ family-oriented approach. “As soon as I got the keys and walked in it, I said, ‘Wow. This has got potential. It’s got potential for a bar,’” owner George “Chris” Lorton said. “We ended up just putting it all together, and we opened it up as a family project.” Chris hadn’t planned to open the most popular restaurant in Jersey County; he originally bought the property with goals to renovate and rent it out. But a few weeks later, Chris and his wife, Brenda, took a weekend trip to Nashville. They stepped into Tootsies Orchid Lounge on Broadway and

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WASHINGTON DC - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee and a former Army Black Hawk pilot who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years—is introducing new legislation to help improve military recruitment efforts by allowing highly skilled and motivated individuals to succeed in the military while still maintaining the Department of Defense’s (DoD) security requirements and high enlistment standards. The Enlist Act would expand the DoD’s authority to enlist individuals who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years—such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients—and meet all of the services’ qualifications for military service. “Our military services are facing unprecedented challenges meeting their recruitment goals—in part due to a historically small pool of eligible recruits,” said Duckworth. “With my Enlist Act , we can start addressing

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, alongside 20 attorneys general, sent a letter to Fortune 100 companies in support of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the workplace. The letter is in response to a letter 13 Republican attorneys general sent to the companies in an attempt to undermine efforts to reduce racial inequities in corporate America by falsely claiming that programs to address racial disparity are unlawful. “These 13 Republican attorneys general, while cloaking their letter in a theme of colorblindness, have audaciously targeted programs aimed at helping African Americans gain access to economic opportunity,” Raoul said. “Diversity initiatives are not just laudable goals, they are also good for business. I have a deep commitment to working with private employers to help further diversity, equity and inclusion in Illinois, and I will continue to be an advocate and champion of civil rights and racial progress.” In today’s

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would streamline the path for advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) international graduates who studied at our nation’s universities to remain in the United States. Today, nearly two-thirds of U.S. graduate students in key fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related programs were born abroad. “America should be focused on maintaining a strong STEM workforce—to strengthen our economy and enhance our ability to compete on the world stage,” Durbin said. “By denying international students with advanced STEM degrees the opportunity to continue their work in America, we are losing their talents to countries overseas and won’t see the positive impacts of their American education. I thank Senator Rounds for joining me in this commonsense effort.” “Wher

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JERSEYVILLE - Roanna Newton, an incoming 8th grader at Jersey Community High School, attended the Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM) program on the campus of University of Illinois this past week. Roanna plays the trumpet and attended the band camp on a full scholarship she received last spring during her participation with the Alton Youth Symphony. During her full week at ISYM on the Urbana-Champaign campus Roanna completed an extensive music program each day that consisted of rehearsals with a full band of her peers and sectional classes with other trumpet players. During the conclusion of her camp she performed in a concert with over 70 other student musicians. Roanna began playing the trumpet in 6th grade under the direction of Waylon Schroeder at Jersey Community Middle School. In the fall of 2022 she joined the Alton Youth Symphony where she had the opportunity to audition for the ISYM camp scholarship. AYS will be auditioning students for the upcoming season starting

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ST. LOUIS - The deceased in a fatal accident in the 10200 block of Halls Ferry Road in St. Louis County has been identified as Devyn Bolden, 18 years of age, of the 1900 block of Keeven Lane in Florissant, Missouri, 63031. St. Louis County Crimes Against Persons detectives and the Accident Reconstruction Unit are investigating a fatal crash that occurred in the 10200 block of Halls Ferry Road that resulted in the death of an adult male. On July 13, 2023, at 10:07 PM, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a motor vehicle crash in the 10200 block of Halls Ferry Road. Arriving officers located a motor vehicle involved in a crash with a motorized scooter. Preliminary investigation has revealed a Chevrolet Malibu and the motorized scooter were southbound on Halls Ferry Road when the Malibu struck the scooter. The male driver of the scooter was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver and passenger of the Malibu

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ST. LOUIS – Critics are hailing Union Avenue Opera’s Twenty-Ninth Festival Season opener The Turn of the Screw as “creepy and masterful” by a company that “always delivers” and “consistently achieves artistic wonders.” Amidst the excitement the cast of UAO’s production of Don Pasquale have begun staging Donizetti’s bubbly farce that will have audiences rolling in the aisles.The production is helmed by director Jon Truitt and conductor Stephen Hargreaves who previously paired together for last summer’s critically acclaimed Falstaff and 2021’s Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Big Top. “ Don Pasquale is such an appealing and enjoyable comedy,” said Truitt. “It has loads of truly funny moments, delightful arias and small ensembles that we’d expect from Donizetti, and it’s just a joy to experience as an audience member. I think of this opera in the vein of the “screwball

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