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MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, and World Wide Technology Raceway announce several traffic and travel impacts associated with the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series Race the weekend of June 3rd – June 5th. For those planning to attend any of the events at World Wide Technology Raceway next weekend, there will be several traffic and parking changes implemented to enhance your travels to and from the track. Directions on the best route for each parking location have been included with each parking pass. This information can also be found on the track’s website: https://wwtraceway.com/ and will be shared with multiple mapping applications to help guide motorists to the proper access point at the Raceway. To ensure the smoothest event access, follow these directions, all signage near the track, and the directions of law enforcement on site. Even if you are a regular track patron, there have been many upgrades inside

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ALTON - Enjoy the smooth sounds of Grammy award-winning Boyz II Men as they take the stage at Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater on Sunday, August 21, 2022, at 7 pm. “A Sunday evening on the Alton Riverfront with an award-winning group like Boyz II Men will be a great night for Alton and the region,” said Dan Herkert, Alton Amphitheater Commission Chair. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 27, 2022, at 10 am at www.Metrotix.com and through MetroTix outlets. VIP tickets will sell for $120.00 per person, reserved tickets are $69.50 per person, and general admission tickets are $42.50 per person. A VIP ticket includes entry to the concert, assigned seating in the VIP area, reserved parking, and access to the VIP tent on the side of the stage with private concessions. A reserved ticket provides entry to the concert and assigned seating at the amphitheater while general admission tickets include entry to the venue and seating in the lawn area. “The buzz around this concert

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Historical Society is excited to announce the return of its popular wedding tour, Tying the Knot, The History of Wedding Traditions . Tickets are $10 per person, and tours will be held Saturday, June 11, 18 and 25 in the Cheney Mansion, located at 601 N. State St. in Jerseyville. Tours start at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Evening tours will be offered Thursdays, June 9 and 16, at 7 p.m. The tour, which showcases nearly 30 wedding dresses, will examine how bridal styles and customs changed from the 1870s through the 1970s. It will also examine the origins of common wedding traditions, including why brides originally wore veils, why grooms had best men, and how cake became popular at weddings. Brides-to-be will find inspiration, history buffs will enjoy touring Jerseyville’s oldest home and learning about wedding traditions, fashionistas will love the historical fashions, and everyone will enjoy recalling popular wedding trends. Registration i

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ST. LOUIS - Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas is organizing a Guinness World Record attempt at the longest marathon roller hockey game – to grant local wishes! Currently, the World record sits at 36 hours and 56 seconds and is held by the Scorpions Inline Hockey Club from Namibia. The Scorpions have held this record since September 11, 2016. Over Memorial Day weekend, Make-A-Wish hopes to not only break the world record but also grant local wishes to children with critical illnesses. “Our goal is to raise $100,000 with this event which will help grant 10 wishes to local children facing overwhelming odds,” said event organizer Mark Turnipseed. The world record attempt will be held at Midwest Sport Hockey located in Edgar M. Queeny County Park (570 Weidman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011) over Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29, 2022). Organizers state that there will be a ceremonial puck drop at 10:00am on Friday, May 27th, and the 48-hour game will commence. The public is invited

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, today held a virtual meeting with Geri Aglipay, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Region V Administrator to discuss how they’re working to help eliminate hurdles for Black, Latinx, Asian American, women and other underrepresented Illinoisans looking to form and grow their small businesses. Today’s meeting comes as Duckworth’s bipartisan Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise Act , which would reauthorize the Interagency Committee for Women’s Business Enterprise, recently passed the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “It’s crucial that the Federal Government continues working to level the playing field for women, Veterans and entrepreneurs of color while working to strengthen the economies of Illinois communities marked by social and economic disadvantages,”

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ALTON - The 2022 season of the Night Market will be held every Thursday night in June and July from 7:00-10:00 p.m. Get a jump start on your weekend at this fun event held inside Jacoby Arts Center located at 627 E. Broadway as well as in the neighboring parking lot which borders the new FLOCK food truck park. Enjoy live music and great food and beverages while shopping for art and handmade wares as well as vintage and hip thrift items at this family and pet-friendly event. Indoor and outdoor vendor space is available—the fee is $10 for a single week or $80 for the entire 9-week season. Find full details and a link to register at www.DowntownAlton.com /Events, and stay up to date on announcements at www.facebook.com/NightMarketAlton . LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE: June 2 - Spillie Nelson June 9 - HOOKiE June 16 - Loftys Comet June 23 - Liver Jones & The Flatworms June 30 - The Crocodile Kings July 7 - Lazy Lester July 14 - The Dead Roses July 21 - Red White and Floyd July 28 -

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ST. LOUIS – Gateway Arch National Park in partnership with Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Great Southern Bank’s Community Matters Program are thrilled to announce a new literacy program: Reading with a Ranger. Reading with a Ranger invites children and families to visit Gateway Arch National Park in June to receive a copy of a meaningful, themed children’s book, read it together with a park ranger, engage in a group discussion, and then do an activity connecting the book with the park’s themes. The one-hour program will be offered every Saturday (10 a.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) during the month of June. A parent or guardian must accompany each child. It is designed to be sequential but also allows for one-off attendance, with each weekend encompassing a different theme: Week 1, June 4-5: Marvelous Me Week 2, June 11-12: Belonging Week 3, June 18-19: Neighborhoods Week 4, June 25-26: America The program curriculum was developed in partnership

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ALTON - Alvin Roderfeld is a WWII veteran who served in the United States Navy. He recalled being in Great Lakes boot camp when the bomb dropped. He served for about 15 months he said. Roderfeld will be one of five WWII veterans in this year's Alton Memorial Day Parade. He’ll get to be one of the parade marshals. He’s been in the parade before. He remembers riding in a car a few years ago right behind the mayor at the time, Brent Walker. When Alvin was asked to partake in this year’s event, he said it would be an honor. “The people are very good about thanking you for your service and it makes you feel good,” Roderfeld said.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt supported proposals to address the increase in car thefts and hijackings that were signed into law Thursday. According to a January report from CNN , cities around the country have seen an increase in the rate of carjackings. “The increase in the number of carjackings is disturbing,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Innocent people are being targeted by this senseless crime across Illinois.” House Bill 601 modernizes the definition of the possession of burglary tools offense to include devices designed to unlock or start a vehicle without a key and devices designed to capture or duplicate a signal from a key fob. Car thieves have exploited new technology that can pick up the RFID signal from a key fob at a distance, allowing a victim’s vehicle to be unlocked or stolen even while the fob remains in their home. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Illinois saw a 13% increase in car thefts from

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ST. LOUIS, MO – Filament is proud to announce that LaKecia Veal Ligon has joined the team as Experience and Operations Lead. In this newly created role for the rapidly growing company, LaKecia will support multiple Filament initiatives, including Thinksgiving® , LAB:LAB , and other innovative company offerings. Thinksgiving® pairs innovative companies with nonprofits for a day of creative problem-solving. In her role, LaKecia will collaborate with the team on event logistics for the 500+ expected participants and 100+ organizations, oversee dozens of volunteers, and support the initiative’s marketing, public relations, and social media efforts. "We are beyond excited that LaKecia has joined our team,” said Founder and CEO Matt Homann. “She'll not only improve the ways we serve our customers but will help us multiply the impact we're making in our community." In her previous role as the Operations and Marketing Manager at Marissa Q. Paine International,

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing titled: “Opportunities and Challenges Facing Farmers, Families, and Rural Communities.” During the hearing, Durbin highlighted the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for feeding low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who are served by the Supporting Living Facility program in Illinois. This program has helped thousands of vulnerable Illinoisans live independently for more than two decades, but USDA has recently tried to block these eligible residents from accessing SNAP benefits. To address the health and hunger needs of these seniors in Illinois, Durbin has helped lead legislative efforts since 2018 to protect this program. Durbin asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack to end the Department’s hostility toward this program and help reach a solution. “For

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JERSEYVILLE - Beginning with a Kickoff Event on Thursday, June 2 at 1:00 pm at the Library, 105 N. Liberty, Jerseyville, and featuring a Bounce House and Obstacle Course for Toddlers through Grade 5 (sponsored by BAYER), registration will be open for the Summer Reading Club, Read Beyond the Beaten Path , for children, tweens/teens, and adults. You do not need a library card to participate in the Summer Reading Club programs. Registered participants can expect fun activities, craft days, special events, a ton of fun with friends and family, and a few reading challenges along the way to earn tickets for prizes to be given out at the epic Prize parties at the finale of the reading program. Infant to Grade 5 Club runs from June 13 – July 22. Tweens/Teen Club runs June 21 – July 19 Adult Club runs June 13 – July 22 Some highlights for the kids include an appearance by The Spoon Man, pony rides, a foam party, s’mores, an outdoor movie, and a picnic at Wock Lake.

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ST. LOUIS - Today, St. Louis officials announced plans to keep neighborhoods safe ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. In addition to concentrated patrols by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the City of St. Louis is working to expand youth programming efforts across the city to keep young people engaged throughout the summer months in safe and supportive environments. “Our summer violence prevention work is a multi-pronged, data-driven approach to deter crime and protect St. Louisans,” said Senior Public Safety Advisor Heather Taylor. “We are working every day to keep St. Louis residents and their families safe this summer by pulling together both law enforcement and community resources.” The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will be strategically deploying patrols throughout the city, using data to determine peak times and locations for enforcement. This summer violence prevention detail will mobilize resources including traffic enforcement,

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GRAFTON - The City of Grafton will host its always popular annual City-Wide Yard Sale this Memorial Day weekend from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday. "We are looking forward to the yard sales throughout the city,” Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said. "The Loading Dock will also be holding their monthly Flea Market so there will be treasurers to find and bargains for everyone in Grafton this weekend." "Come find your special “must-haves!” Morrow said. Memorial Day weekend is always a big one for Grafton businesses. Morrow expects Grafton businesses, in general, to have a busy weekend with COVID-19 restrictions no longer present.

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced that all recipients of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will receive $200 to support Illinoisans most in need due to rising costs. During this program year (September 2021 – May 2022) the Pritzker Administration has made an unprecedented $386 million investment to support families with bill assistance for heat, gas, and electricity bills to serve more than 250,000 households. The deadline for families to apply for utility assistance is May 31, 2022. Applications must be completed in person at local administering agencies, which can be located on DCEO’s community services website . Families can also contact 1-833-711-0374 for support. “Access to energy is a basic necessity and my administration is working tirelessly to ensure families can afford rising costs,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Hardworking Illinoisans

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ALTON - Tim and Julie Meeks have always given their customer’s experience the “utmost importance” at their Alton and Belleville locations. On June 3-4, Olive Oil Marketplace is marking its 10th anniversary on Third Street in Alton with a celebration. The celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. on Friday and continues on Saturday with free food featuring Get-R-Smoked Pulled Pork and many other OOM recipe dishes, local vendors with samples and educational discussions, and many in-store specials, raffles, and giveaways. On Friday night at 4:30, a Celebration Ceremony will take place with cake and ice cream for customers. Overall, the June 3-4 celebration should be special for the popular couple at their Alton store. This is a link to the two-day celebration for Olive Oil Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/events/371851048297332 “We hope when you come into our store, you feel welcomed and comfortable,” Tim and Julie said in a statement about the stores

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Tigers baseball team defeated the Alton Redbirds 16-4 after five innings in the regional semifinals Wednesday night. Having himself a night was freshman Joseph Chiarodo. He went two-for-three against Alton including a three-run walk-off home run. The Tigers led 13-4 when Joe stepped up to the plate. After he put the ball over the fence in left-center his teammates stormed the field to celebrate the walk-off win via the mercy rule. Joe is one of the iCAN Clinic Male Athletes of the Month for the Tigers. Joe didn’t even expect the ball to reach the fence. “I thought it was going to hit the wall and be a double, so I was hustling out of the box, but then I saw the umpire move his hand around, so I was happy,” Chiarodo said postgame. “Joe put a good swing on it,” Edwardsville head coach Tim Funkhouser said. “He’s been a guy ready to break out. It’s good to see him get a couple of hits today.”

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MARYVILLE - Anderson Hospital received a $15,000.00 donation to update the in-patient Rehab Gym from Edwardsville residents, Carol and Harry Windland. Carol who went through hip surgery in August of 2021 had such a great experience at the Anderson Rehab Institute, that she wanted to give back to Anderson Hospital in some way. When she heard the in-patient Rehab Gym needed an update, she wanted to help. “This is our way of saying thank you to the staff for their dedication, care and compassion on a daily basis”, said Carol Windland. The space included updates such as wallpaper removal, painting of walls, new cabinetry, new countertops and chairs for the staff workspace, artwork, and more. Anderson Hospital uses the Rehab Gym for neurologic patients, post-stroke patients, Parkinson’s patients, and post-op orthopedic patients after various surgeries. Tammy Becherer, Interim Rehab Director said: “The staff and patients will enjoy this uplifting and bright

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EAST ALTON - A 78-year-old man close to his residence in the 900 block of Airline Drive in East Alton was struck by a vehicle and killed on Wednesday afternoon. Robert W. Stevens died in the accident. The call to authorities came in at 3:18 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on East Airline Drive, near Hill Drive in East Alton. Rosewood Heights Fire Department and Alton Memorial Ambulance also responded to the scene. Upon arrival, emergency crews determined that the pedestrian had succumbed to his injuries due to being struck by the vehicle. The Madison County Sheriff's Office says the initial investigation indicates the decedent was attempting to cross Airline Drive in the area of his residence when he was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound on a curved section of Airline Drive. The Madison County Coroner’s Office reports that the preliminary cause of death is blunt head and chest trauma

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BUNKER HILL - The Bunker Hill, IL Food Pantry located at 501 East Warren St., began operation in 1987 after founder Margaret Gerdt successfully opened it. Lester Lawton, who took over managing the Pantry later said of her, “It was hard work for her. She had to go begging for money and for people to help, but she got the job done and we wouldn’t be here today without the work she did back then.” The Pantry offers a variety of food items from milk, meat, can goods, cereals, and cake mixes. They are open Wednesdays from 8 to 11 am. Volunteers provided the guidelines they use in determining eligibility. Based on a per year chart, 1 person $16,744, 2 ppl $22,646, 3 ppl $28,548, 4ppl $34,450, 5ppl $40,352, 6ppl $46,254, 7ppl $$52,156, and 8ppl $58,058. If you earn more in your category than what is in the chart, they said you would be ineligible. She also said that two forms are needed, one such as a power bill demonstrating residency and one proving your identity. The

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