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ALTON - There’s a new club on the block, and all the cool kids are there — literally. On June 14, the indoor playroom Leo’s Clubhouse had a busy opening day with lots of excited kids and thankful guardians. “We are a place where children and parents alike can both come in and interact with other parents or other children, and just get the socialization that they probably wouldn’t get at other places besides the park,” owner Madison Massena said. The playroom is geared toward kids from infancy to about 7 or 8 years old, but any child is welcome. They offer open play sessions at $12 for one child and $8 for any additional children. The playroom can also be rented out for parties. Massena explained that they have a variety of toys, activities and books. There is a gated infant section for children under 24 months. Older kids might enjoy the train table, Lincoln Logs table, climbing toys or the variety of kitchen and house playsets. The Clubhouse

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SPRINGFIELD – Utilizing the authority granted to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) by Senate Bill 1298, recently passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor, the Department has filed emergency and regular rules for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) programs. These new rules establish the process the Department will use to determine if and when to alter the program, and how the Department will provide public notification of the alterations. In passing the FY24 State budget and Senate Bill 1298, the General Assembly directed the Department to ensure the HBIA and HBIS programs do not exceed the funds available and appropriated by the General Assembly for FY24. To do this, HFS will follow the process laid out in the emergency rules to temporarily pause new enrollments in the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program , covering eligible residents between the ages of 42 t

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BRIGHTON - On Friday and Saturday, the Village of Brighton celebrated its history at the 117th Betsey Ann Picnic with carnival rides and games, food and craft vendors and Brighton’s famous Burgoo soup. The Picnic opened on Friday night at Betsey Ann Park. Little Egypt Shows & Carnival provided carnival rides and games from 5–11 p.m. Bingo was held throughout Friday evening. Players competed for the chance to win attendant prizes. Several local vendors also had booths to exhibit their products, including potted plants, woodworking projects, steel crafts, embroidered hats and more. The food opened at noon on Saturday. The Burgoo soup team cooked 650–700 gallons of soup and there were plenty of desserts and “tasty taters” are on the menu, as well as chicken and pork dinners. Other carnival food staples, like funnel cakes and snow cones, were available. The Brighton Athletic Association had he popular lemon shake-up stand, where you were able

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EDWARDSVILLE - 20 students from SIUE Suzuki Program's Tour Group just completed a nine-day tour of the Czech Republic and Poland, performing a series of concerts along the way. Under the direction of Allison Woerner, they performed a total of three concerts, two of which were done in cooperation with local Suzuki groups from Prague and Krakow. Woerner said in a Facebook post that this tour was five years in the making due to the pandemic. “This tour was special,” she said. “Five years it took to get this to happen because of Covid. We did it. They did it. Only one of these students had ever toured before - it was a totally new and untested crew. They trusted, grew, bonded, played, laughed, shopped, and did it all with kindness and silliness.” The group also visited historic sites such as the Prague Castle District, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and Auschwitz. After their final performance , Woerner said: “These kids have made me so proud, and

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ALTON - If you asked him, Marc McLemore would tell you he’s lived a “mundane” life. His loved ones, however, disagree. A graduate of the FBI Academy, retired Captain of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, current Chief Operating Officer at United Fruit & Produce Company — the list goes on. And Marc’s so-called mundane life wouldn’t be complete without his titles of father, husband and grandpa. All of those accomplishments deserve to be recognized. But Marc is quick to point out that he doesn’t need to be lauded for his parenting; after all, it’s his main job. “I know Father’s Day is celebrated, but being a parent, these are just the things that go along with being a parent if you’re doing it right,” Marc said. “Parenting is just parenting. It is what you do when you have children. You parent them and guide them and raise them and it’s nothing particularly special, or at least, it shouldn’t

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MEDORA - Matt Hasquin puts in a lot of hours with a lot of kids. He has a long list of titles as a teacher, coach and mentor, but his most rewarding job is being a father. Matt is a social studies teacher at Southwestern High School, where he also coaches football, boy’s track and scholastic bowl. As a Medora native, he knew he wanted to raise his kids in the same community-oriented area that he grew up in. “This place has done so much for me that I wanted to be able to give back to it, and I wanted them to benefit from it,” Matt said. “I always wanted to come back to the area. I felt very strongly about the school and the community, and I’d always hoped that my family and my kids would be able to come back to the places I went through.” The Hasquin family is firmly rooted in the community. Matt’s wife, Holly, is the director of the Brighton Memorial Library District . She spends most of her days at the library with their son Connor,

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GLEN CARBON - Multiple fire agencies and police responded to a single-car rollover accident at the I-270 exit ramp at Glen Carbon on Friday night. A Glen Carbon Police spokesperson said the driver did suffer injuries. The vehicle was spotted off the road in a nearby field. Glen Carbon Fire said the driver was transported by ground with minor injuries to Anderson Hospital from the scene.

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon is getting closer to the construction of its first shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists along Glen Carbon Road. The new path is set to connect Schon Park and Route 159 once completed at an overall estimated cost of $1.8 million. The Village Board of Trustees voted during this week’s meeting to approve a Professional Services Agreement with TWM, Inc. for Phase 1, or the “design engineering” phase, of the new shared-use path project. The cost for this first phase is not to exceed $94,270. Public Works Director Scott Slemer said Phase 1 will extend from Schon Park to just past Lakewood Drive, and that two-thirds of the project will be funded by two grants: an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant of $967,586 and a Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) grant of $181,261. Construction is expected to begin in 2025. Trustees voted 6-0 to approve the Professional Services Agreement and move forward with

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor is excited to announce the release of a new custom smartphone application. The app will serve as an innovative way for the Sheriff’s Office to connect with Madison County residents and visitors, providing information quickly and efficiently to anyone with a smartphone. Search "Madison County Sheriff’s Office" in your app store to download the application for free. "We are trying to be as transparent and involved in the community as we can," Sheriff Connor said. "You will get push notifications if there is a weather issue or road closure, it just goes on and on. "We encourage you to go on our app and download it right away." The app offers quick access to items of public interest and is easy to use. In just a few clicks, users can access features such as: Breaking News and Alerts Sheriff’s Welcome Courthouse Detainee Search Detainee Resources Community Relations Sex Offenders Contact Us More This mobile

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in a three-part series this weekend on the ISP Team Illinois Youth Camp coming soon at Principia College in Elsah). ELSAH - There is a week-long camp on the Principia College campus in Elsah - the Illinois State Police Team Illinois Youth Camp (TIYPC) - that will commence with a Sunday, July 16, check-in at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and conclude on Saturday, July 22, at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton. The camp has left a forever lasting impression on many young men and women. Long-time Illinois State Police Trooper Master Sgt. Calvin Dye will talk more in-depth in a separate story about his experiences with the camp, including one person who became a college football star - Dominic Lovett - and others. ISP's Troop 8 Administrative Assistant Sandy Voytas received a new role with the state police, but asked if she could continue her camp experience because it has meant that much to her. She will also talk in a separate story about

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ALTON - Mary Cordes, executive director of the Hayner Public Library District, spoke about the many services, programs, and resources they provide - and plan to add in the future - for the Alton area community at the most recent North Alton-Godfrey Business Council meeting. “The Hayner Public Library District strives to be an asset to our community by providing informational, cultural, educational, and recreational resources for Alton, Godfrey, and Foster Township residents,” Cordes said. “I appreciate you giving me the time today to talk with you about the services and programs offered by the library, in the hopes that you and your families will visit us and use your library to its fullest. Because it is your library.” She noted that three North Alton Godfrey Business Council members also serve on the Hayner Library Board of Trustees: Kevin Botterbush (President), Ed Morrissey, and Kerry Miller. The Hayner Public Library District first began

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing a Senate resolution in honor of Juneteenth. Juneteenth, observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as “Emancipation Day,” “Jubilee Day,” and “Juneteenth Independence Day.” On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which announced that, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.” “Juneteenth reminds us that we must continue to fight for equality, justice, and economic opportunity for every American, regardless of the color of their skin,” Durbin said. “I’m joining Senator Cornyn to introduce this resolution to ensure that we acknowledge and never forget slavery’s legacy on our nation’s history while recognizing the resiliency, history, struggles,

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ALTON - On Thursday, June 15, the Old Bakery Beer Company hosted the second Proud Market to showcase work by local LGBTQ+ and ally artisans. The event also served as a fundraiser for Alton Pride and the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, two local LGBTQ+ organizations. “It’s a lot about just being supportive of the people who are around us, our friends and our family members and team members and other people in our community who, especially in recent years, have been threatened and attacked,” Lauren Pattan, vice president and operations manager of The Old Bakery Beer Company, said. A variety of vendors were in attendance. Candles, earrings, paintings, pottery and clothing were popular sales items. Charlie Witzel, who owns CBJeeBees , was at the Proud Market selling hand-painted patches. Witzel noted that they were originally anxious about coming to the event because they hesitate to leave St. Louis and go to smaller towns in the current political climate.

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ALTON - Walk into Schnucks, and you’ll be greeted with a smile. Run into Louis, and you’ll be pulled into a hug. On Friday, June 16, Louis Finley was recognized by All Things Alton as the area’s favorite essential worker. People across the Riverbend voted in the Facebook contest. The Schnucks employees and friends in attendance also noted that Finley will celebrate his 40th year at Alton Schnucks in November. “The whole thing’s overwhelming, to see everybody — generations — come up and still care about you,” Finley said. Karen Flowers-Raymond, one of the managers at the Alton branch, said that she’s been keeping Finley updated on the Facebook contest because he’s “old school” and doesn’t have a cell phone or Facebook page himself. The post on the All Things Alton page has received a lot of attention, including dozens of comments from Schnucks shoppers who have positive memories of Finley and

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a $2.35 million multistate settlement with AdoreMe, Inc., an online lingerie retailer. The settlement resolves claims that the company deceptively marketed its VIP Membership Program to consumers and made it difficult for consumers to cancel their memberships. “I am pleased with the settlement to hold Adore Me, Inc. accountable for engaging in alleged deceptive marketing to its consumers,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work to ensure that Illinois consumers are treated fairly.” AdoreMe offered consumers discounted pricing if they enrolled in its VIP Membership Program. Once enrolled in the program, consumers were charged $39.95 a month. Consumers could only avoid this automatic charge if they made a purchase before the sixth day of each month or logged into their AdoreMe accounts to decline the charge. The monthly charges accrued in the consumers’ accounts in the form of store credits, which could

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WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act , today celebrated the 11 th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and called on Congress to finally pass the Dream Act to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. Twenty-two years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act —bipartisan legislation that would give undocumented immigrants who grew up in this country a chance to become American citizens. In 2010, Durbin sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. Eleven years ago today, President Obama responded by announcing the DACA program. More than 800,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. “Today,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Bickle Electric, Heating, & Cooling Contracting Co. is expanding their range of services to include heating and cooling repairs, maintenance, and installation, in addition to their electrical services. To celebrate this expansion, the company is offering an AC cleaning and checkup for $125. Locally owned and operated by Erin and Rob Bickle, Bickle Electric, Heating, & Cooling has been serving the Riverbend community and surrounding areas with residential and commercial electrical services since 2012. “Our highest priority is providing quality service at a fair price. That’s why we say we’re ‘Wired to Serve,’” Erin said. “We want our customers to know with confidence they are taken care of from the moment we walk into their home until long after the work is done, no matter the job. No job is too small.” Fully licensed and insured, Bickle Electric, Heating, & Cooling provides customers with a warranty on all of

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ALTON - On June 15, the area’s first “Stop the Violence” event addressed recent gun violence and solutions. Several other community leaders were in attendance. C & K Community, a new organization sponsored by C & K Banquet and Party Center, hosted the event at the C & K Center. The mayor, the Alton Chief of Police and a Southern Illinois University sociologist opened the night with presentations and data, followed by speeches from community leaders and people who have been personally affected by gun violence. “My city is changing,” Kendra Stiff, the co-founder of C & K Community and the Center, said. “Alton used to be a place that you felt so safe.” Stiff explained that C & K Community organized this event following a phone call from her daughter, who expressed fear about the recent shootings and raising three boys. She invited any community members who wanted to speak to do so. “We need to hear from the community and the people

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WOOD RIVER - A vehicle smashed and downed a utility line Wednesday night on Old St. Louis Road between West Ferguson and Madison Avenues, Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells reported on Thursday. Chief Wells said the accident led to a power outage. Brian Bretsch, an American Illinois spokesperson, confirmed there was a power outage and said the pole damage took multiple hours to completely rectify. A total of 1,369 customers in Wood River and two customers in East Alton suffered a power outage, Bretsch said. "The vehicle struck a power pole and one wire fell into other ones and caused the power outage," Wells said. "We got there and there was damage to the cross arm on the pole. Crews were dispatched at 9:15 p.m. Thursday and were there for about an hour and were able to restore power to 834 customers by re-routing their power to a different substation. Another 384 customers were re-routed at 11:10 p.m. and that left us with 155 customers. The cross arm had to be repaired and everyone's

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Thursday, June 15, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Tio Robinson, 29 years of age, of the 1500 block of Paceville Court in Conyers, Georgia 30012, for one count of Stealing $25,000 or more. A booking photo of Robinson is attached. Robinson is being held on a $75,000 cash-only bond. The probable cause statement reads : During a period of approximately one week in late May 2023, Defendant and others visited convenience stores in Affton and South St. Louis County where “electronic no chance amusement devices,” similar to video slot machines and other gaming devices, are located. The men were able to obtain winnings from the machines by altering a $100 bill inserted into the machine to begin game play; the bill could be retained, and the game re-played, without any money being retained by the machine. The devices paid out in the form of vouchers for cash payment that were either cashed out at another

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