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EAST ALTON - Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn has reported the identity of the victim of a fatal truck explosion that occurred Thursday afternoon at the Olin/Winchester facility in East Alton as Oscar "Zeke" Bettorf, 60, of Bunker Hill. "The deceased family has been notified," Coroner Nonn said. "Mr. Bettorf tragically lost his life following a job site-related accident. He was the driver of a semi-truck with a trailer loaded with shotgun shell primers that exploded while being transported inside the Olin property. "Madison County Coroner’s Investigator Kyle Burgess responded to the scene at the request of the East Alton Police Department. He pronounced the death at 5:34 p.m. Thursday. The cause of the explosion remains under joint investigation by Olin Security, East Alton Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations, Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad, State Fire Marshall’s Office, and the ATF." An autopsy was performed and preliminary results indicate

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EDWARDSVILLE - A new LGBTQ-friendly bar is celebrating its grand opening in Edwardsville this weekend. REINE, described by owner John Deppen as “a bar with a light tapas menu,” will host a drag show at 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, to commemorate their opening and Pride weekend. “We’re more pushing on the environment, the cocktails, kind of a meet-and-greet kind of thing. It’s just a slower venue,” Deppen said of the bar. “Everyone wants to have a good time.” REINE opened in May, but this weekend will mark the launch of their finalized menu and Pride weekend. Many Pride celebrations will take place across the region this weekend because it’s the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots that are widely regarded as the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride. Deppen said he wouldn’t categorize REINE as a “gay bar,” but the clientele tends to be divided equally between LGBTQ+ community members and non-members during

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce to discuss local priorities, including economic development, transportation improvements through the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, and education initiatives at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and Lincoln Land Community College. “The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and its members are an important backbone of our economy in Southern Illinois. During today’s meeting, I offered my support for the Chamber as they continue to prioritize economic development and infrastructure improvements for the area,” said Durbin. “In Congress, I will continue to advocate for the issues most important to our Illinois Chambers to ensure our communities thrive.” Durbin helped secure more than $90 million in federal funding for the overall Springfield Rail Improvements Project since it began back in 2014, including two recent

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MAKANDA – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Special Investigations Unit (SIU) continues to combat public corruption with the latest case involving charges against a former township official. ISP worked with the Jackson County State’s Attorney to bring charges against 70-year-old Danny D. “DD” Williams of Makanda, Illinois. On April 21, 2022, Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph Cervantez requested an ISP investigation into alleged inappropriate actions by Williams, the former Makanda Township Road Commissioner. After a thorough investigation, ISP identified several instances where Williams used his official position to steer contracts toward a contractor who would pay him in return. On May 4, 2023, the Jackson County Grand Jury returned a true bill to indict Williams on the two counts of Pecuniary Interest in Contract and Williams appeared in court on June 14, 2023. No further information is available

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CARROLLTON - A wide range of charges including criminal sexual abuse of a child, battery, burglary, and more have been filed by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department over the past two weeks. Jason A. Chaudoin, 53, of Greenfield, was charged with predatory criminal sexual abuse of a child and criminal sexual abuse. He also had an arrest warrant out of Greene County. Chaudoin was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on June 15 and has since been released on bond. Casey A. Brown, 42, of Winchester, was arrested on two counts of burglary and two counts of theft between $300 and $10,000. He was arrested June 13 by the Scott County Sheriff's Department and remains in custody. Jacob A. Schofield, 35, of White Hall, was charged with one count of battery and one count of disorderly conduct. He was arrested by the White Hall Police Department on June 16 and has since been released on bond. Gary A. Morgan, 42, of Kane, was also charged with one count of battery,

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GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney standout student-athlete Lilly Gilbertson recently completed an outstanding sophomore season for the Griffins' girls track and field team. Lilly is a Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb Father McGivney Catholic Female Athlete of the Month. Gilbertson placed fourth in the IHSA Class 1A 400 meters at state with a time of 58.61 and also was a member of the Griffins' 4 x 400-meter relay team that was third with a time of 4:02.53. She was joined on the 4 x 400 relay by Kaitlyn Hatley, Jane Cummins, and Elena Rybak. Hatley, Cummins, Gilbertson, and Rybak were second in the 4 x 800 relay with a time of 9:35.35. Gilbertson was ranked throughout the year in the top 5 in Illinois in 1A in the 200, 400, 4x400, & 4x800. She’s set new indoor & outdoor school records in all of those events this year and typically places first in those events at every meet the Father McGivney girls entered. She was also a conference champion, another of her strong accomplishments this

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ALTON - Foreigner might like it “Cold as Ice,” but the Marquette Catholic High School (MCHS) Choir is on a winning streak as hot as the sun. The choir will be opening for the band Foreigner when they take the stage at the Hollywood Casino on July 19. “What I’m thankful for with the school is that they get it,” Brett Klaus, MCHS music and theater director, said of the high school. “A lot of these small schools, we’ve been so athletically driven for almost 100 years. They are now seeing what happens when you invest in a music or arts program, which is opportunities they would have never thought possible.” For decades, Marquette’s choir program was just a student club. Choir became a class not long after Klaus joined the staff, which meant he had almost a full hour every day to work with his students. He says their talent has grown “exponentially.” Klaus enjoys exploring different styles of music with the singers.

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District and Vintage Voices are sponsoring a gravestone dedication for Professor Charles Newton and his wife Sara Woodson Newton Cohron. Newton was the first Black graduate of Alton High School, and Cohron helped found the Colored Orphans Home in St. Louis. This week marks the 150th anniversary of Newton’s graduation in 1873. The couple and their accomplishments will be celebrated at 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 24, at Alton Cemetery. “My joy with Vintage Voices is seeing how the people — that maybe have been forgotten — dedicated themselves to Alton and this area while they were alive,” Lacy McDonald, Hayner Genealogy and Local History Library Manager, said. “They might have been well-known in their lifetime, but we don’t tend to remember just the regular people that have lived in the area that we live in.” McDonald began researching Newton and Cohron a few years ago in preparation for Vintage

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CARROLLTON - Several more individuals have been charged with drug-related offenses in Greene County over the past couple of weeks, according to recent court filings from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Benjamin A. Bricker, 38, of Beardstown, was issued seven total charges: fleeing/attempting to elude a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, obstructing justice, possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine, possession of a hypodermic needle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a revoked license. He was arrested on June 20 by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and remains in custody. Charles D. Ball, 26, of Cottage Hills, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, as well as possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office on June 16 and remains in custody. Donald

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EDWARDSVILLE - An Independence Day celebration to remember is in the works for Saturday, July 1, as the annual Edwardsville fireworks extravaganza returns to American Legion Post 199. The City of Edwardsville and the American Legion are once again teaming up to provide this free community event to celebrate the Fourth of July. “This is always one of the highlights of the summer season,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “We’re proud to continue the long tradition of partnering with the American Legion to offer this event.” This year’s celebration will feature an expanded lineup, including multiple food trucks and vendors; outdoor drink stations throughout the American Legion grounds; two concerts, including the Edwardsville Municipal Band; shuttles to transport visitors from two parking areas and, of course, the fireworks display to cap off the night. Wes Sterling, the commander of American Legion Post 199, said it made sense to offer more food and drink options,

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GODFREY - Firefighters battled an intense fire at Burns Wild Game Meat Processing and Smoke House in Godfrey on Thursday night on Winter Lane. Fire officials reported considerable damage at the scene. The fire call to Godfrey Fire Protection District came at 7:30 p.m. and when they arrived flames were shooting through the roof of the building. Brighton, Alton, Wood River and Fosterburg also were dispatched to the scene. Madison County Emergency Management was also present and Alton Memorial Ambulance was there, but there were no injuries reported. No one was present inside the building when firefighters arrived and the fire is under investigation.

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EAST ALTON - Multiple fire agencies responded to what was described as "a serious explosion" at the Winchester Ammunition Plant at 600 Powder Mill Road near the 4 p.m. range on Thursday. It has been reported by authorities that one person was killed when a truck exploded at Winchester Ammunitions and apparently next of kin have not yet been notified, another official said. The Madison County Coroner's Office will eventually go to the scene. Madison County Emergency Management Agency is at the scene along with East Alton Fire Department and Winchester's fire agency. Rosewood Heights and Wood River fire agencies were dismissed from the scene. The Madison County Emergency Management Agency stated it was "not a mass casualty" situation and there was no word yet on what sparked the explosion. Multiple neighbors near the plant reported their windows shook at the time of the blast. Winchester is a large small-caliber ammunition manufacturer for the U.S. military. The facility produces

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GRAFTON - Work is already being done to plan the next Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair after the 34th annual fair was a massive success this year, drawing crowds of both first-time and veteran fishers of all ages to Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton. “We’re always looking for more volunteers - and that’s the biggest thing, is getting enough volunteers to pull this off,” Randy Holbrook with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said at the event. “We’ll start planning right away. “We’ll start getting rooms at the lodge for people, we’ll start recruiting our talent like Camo the Clown and Jason Reynolds and we’ll get them on our calendars now … We’re recruiting new volunteers today for next year already, so we’re starting to work on the next year’s already.” Scott Bryan with the Illinois Federation of Outdoor Resources said that the massively popular event is one of the largest i

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ALTON - “If I’m walking, I’m golfing.” So is the motto of Rose Bensman, an Alton native who is celebrating her 100th birthday on Friday, June 23. Bensman started playing golf when she was 17. Her father bought her first set of golf clubs for $15 and arranged for her to take golfing lessons from Lou Miller at Rock Springs Golf Course; this was in the early 1940s. Eighty-three years later, Bensman has had two holes-in-one and is the only woman to be inducted into the Alton Golf Hall of Fame. “I love to golf. I will always love to golf. That’s been my game,” Bensman said. “It’s been the biggest part of my life.” Bensman plays golf at least three times a week. When she renewed her license this month, one of her first trips was to the Rock Springs course, where she also used to work. She would play golf whenever she had time, including before and after work. “You don’t bet against her,” said Fran

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GLEN CARBON - The Orchard Town Center (OTC) development in Glen Carbon will soon be getting a major retailer. Dicks Sporting Goods, a prominent sporting goods store, will be located in Outparcel 13, adjacent to the upcoming Meijer lot. Orchard Town Center is a commercial development located on the southwest corner of Governors’ Parkway and Troy Road. Dicks Sporting Goods secures its spot among several other new businesses announced as future tenants including Olive Garden, Plaza Tire and Meijer. As the largest U.S.-based, full-line omni-channel sporting goods retailer, the Glen Carbon store is the second in the Metro-East area. Mayor Bob Marcus is thrilled that Dicks Sporting Goods is coming to Glen Carbon, offering the community a greater range of choices in their sports and recreational shopping needs. “The families and residents in the Glen/Ed area love team sports; from our little league teams to high school and the SIUE athletic programs, we are an active community,”

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COLLINSVILLE – On June 20, 2023, the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was requested by the Collinsville Police Department to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred in the 1100 block of St. Clair Avenue, Collinsville. The preliminary investigation indicates the Collinsville Police Department was dispatched to a subject with a gun at the above location. ISP said when officers arrived and the subject, a 30-year-old male, pointed a weapon at the officers. "The officers discharged their weapons striking the subject," ISP said. "The subject was transported to an area hospital with injuries. No officers were injured during this incident." ISP said this investigation is active and ongoing, and no additional information can be released.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Sunday, June 18, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Francesca Jones, 32 years of age, of the 8400 block of Lucas and Hunt Road in St. Louis, Missouri 63136, for three counts of Assault First Degree, three counts of Armed Criminal Action and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. A booking photo of Jones is attached. Jones is being held on a $750,000 cash only, no 10% bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: Defendant's sister's 2020 Dodge Challenger had reportedly been stolen. The following day, Defendant was driving with three minor boys in the car and noticed her sister's vehicle driving on West Florissant near the intersection of Goodfellow. Defendant chased the Dodge Challenger on West Florissant, turning onto Jennings Station, and at the intersection of Fairhaven

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) and the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Center are hitting the road again this summer to visit libraries throughout the Metro East as part of the Summer STEAM Library Tour. Now in its second year, the Summer STEAM Tour is an educational outreach initiative on behalf of the SIUE Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach as a means of connecting with area youth and their caregivers while offering activities that support area libraries’ summer reading programs. The reading themes this year include “Find Your Voice” and “Oceans of Possibilities”. “This initiative is a great way to build partnerships with area libraries and engage with community members with whom we may not otherwise be able to connect,” said Alicia Taylor, LLI coordinator. Last summer the initiative served more than 400 people in surrounding communities.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Public health is a broad field that has many different sectors. For Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus, Edgar Huichapa, he enjoys the ability to be creative by taking the different aspects of public health and intertwining them to address various health issues. This inspiration in the public health field has led him to travel around the world addressing health issues. Since graduating from SIUE in 2017 with a bachelor’s in public health from the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB), Huichapa has worked with the World Health Organization on malaria research in Ghana, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, contributed to development projects around west Africa and Europe, and is now in Guinea teaching gardening for sustenance, soil improvement, and poultry production. “My final internship in Ghana while at SIUE was a huge stepping stone and opened the door for my return back to the country and the rest of my adventures

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CHICAGO, June 22, 2023 – The Lotto jackpot has rolled again and is now worth a mouth-watering $17.9 million for the next draw on Thursday, June 21. This is the largest Lotto jackpot on offer since December 2018, when a single ticket bought at a gas station in Prospect Heights snatched the top prize worth a whopping $22.5 million. While a couple of $1 million Lotto prizes have been won by lucky winners in Romeoville and Oak Forest in April, the jackpot is still up for grabs. In total this year, more than four million winning Lotto tickets have been sold, netting players over $16.2 million in total prizes. Anyone could be next - all you need is a Lotto ticket to dream! There are over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State and the Lottery also offers a convenient online channel at IllinoisLottery.com or via its app. Lotto is an Illinois-only game that is played three times a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and the current jackpot is at $17.9 million for the

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