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ALTON - Sports tourism in southwest Illinois received a financial shot in the arm when the Madison County Board approved a $750,000 ARPA grant to the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau for sports marketing. "This is great news for Madison County and our region," Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Tourism Bureau noted. "The funds will be used to grow the sports tourism market for Madison County which, in turn, will bring more visitor spending and increased tax revenues to the county." The grant will be used for the following: Regional and national brand marketing campaign Incentive/support funds to attract and support sports tournaments in Madison County Engage with an outdoor recreation consultant to indicate future facilities needed to become a top-rated fishing, boating and outdoor recreation tournament destination “This funding will help the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau drive sports tourism into Madison County,” Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler

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JERSEY COUNTY - The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police were called to a serious two-vehicle accident Friday morning on Illinois Route 16, east of Jerseyville. A woman was airlifted by helicopter from the scene to St. Louis. Jersey County Sheriff Mike Ringhausen said the crash scene was cleared at this point. The driver of the bucket truck was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated, the sheriff said. Ringhausen said Illinois State Police was investigating the crash and would release any other information about the cause, victims, etc.

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ALTON - Sierra Club Illinois ’ Three Rivers Project and Alton Main Street are seeking vendors for the 20th annual Green Gift Bazaar, which is set to take place on November 26, 2022. The Green Gift Bazaar offers community members the opportunity to shop from locally-owned retailers, restaurants, and “green” businesses ahead of the holiday season. Eco-friendly businesses and vendors who sell environmentally-friendly products or services are invited to apply to participate in the Bazaar at bit.ly/GreenGiftBazaarVendors . The Green Gift Bazaar is held on Small Business Saturday, an occasion that highlights the importance of shopping from “mom and pop” shops, which are the backbone of our local economy. The event is held from 10:00am to 4:00pm at two locations — Jacoby Arts Center at 627 E. Broadway and Post Commons coffee shop at 300 Alby Street in Downtown Alton. Vendors will be asked to explain what makes their products or services environmentally-friendly

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MACOMB – Governor JB Pritzker today joined state and local officials to announce a $119 million investment for the construction of a Center for Performing Arts (CPA) at Western Illinois University. The funding is made possible by the Governor’s historic bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The new Center for Performing Arts will support the academic mission and programs in the WIU College of Fine Arts and Communication and serve as a cultural and performing arts destination for the campus community, the City of Macomb, and the entire western Illinois region. “For nearly 50 years, Western Illinois waited for state government to fund a new facility, while unmet opportunities piled up and potential innovation fell by the wayside,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Today, I am proud to announce an investment of $119 million for a new, best-in-class Center for Performing Arts here at Western Illinois University. It’s projects like these that prove Illinois

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office was awarded a $394,772 Department of Justice (DOJ) grant for a 48-month project to provide specialized hate crime training to law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys in Illinois. The grant, which was awarded through the DOJ’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program, will support Raoul’s efforts to increase the reporting of hate crimes and improve the criminal justice system’s response to hate crime victims. Hate crimes are underreported both nationally and in Illinois. According to the most recent FBI statistics, in 2019, only 23 out of 728 participating law enforcement agencies in Illinois reported any hate crime incidents to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which is one of the lowest rates in the nation. In Illinois, 24 cities with populations larger than 50,000 reported no hate crimes incidents at all in 2019. “Specialized training programs will help ensure hate crime

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ST. LOUIS — Throughout National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cleaver & Cocktail has planned various ways to donate to nonprofits working on expanding breast cancer research and resources available to those impacted by the disease. Having had a Cleaver & Cocktail family member, Lea Del Pietro Doherty, fight their own battle against breast cancer, the restaurant has pulled out the stops and is ready to give to those in need. For the month of October, the restaurant has created a signature cocktail, the “Pink Drink” 75. Made with Empress Gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne and topped with a lemon twist, 100 percent of the proceeds from this themed drink will go to the Pink Ribbon Girls. Founded in 2002 by three breast cancer survivors, Pink Ribbon Girls initially started as a peer support group. Since then, the nonprofit has grown into an organization that provides healthy meals, rides to treatments, housecleaning services, cancer education, and

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in a comment letter supporting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule strengthening anti-discrimination protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposed rule would implement Section 1557 of the ACA, which prohibits health care programs, benefits and services from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics). “At a time when some states are rolling back rights to reproductive and sexual health care, it is more important than ever that people can access needed health care services without the fear of discrimination,” Raoul said. “I appreciate the Biden administration’s commitment to prohibiting discrimination in health care, and I will continue to fight any attempts to weaken the Affordable Care Act’s

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ALTON - The Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market features a special activity every Saturday morning at the corner of Landmarks Blvd. & Henry Street in Downtown Alton, and on October 8 th shoppers will enjoy a delicious concept called “Brews & Brunch”. From 8:00 a.m. until Noon, you can pick up tasty beverages and hot breakfast food items from the following vendors: The Old Bakery Beer Company will serve Butternut Squash & Caramelized Onion Quiche, Kale & Mushroom Quiche (Vegan), Pumpkin Cheesecake (Vegan), Herbarium Sparkling Lavender Lemongrass Tea, Beermosas (Citrus Wheat + Orange Juice), and the following beer selection: Citrus Wheat, Blueberry, Late Addition IPA, and Oh Yeah! Big Boys Q & Southern Soul will serve Breakfast Tacos, Breakfast Hash, Shrimp & Grits, and Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Solar Smoothies will be in attendance, they have 6 solar panels on top of their food truck which allows them to make all of their products with solar power! T&S Smokehouse food

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HAMEL - A 17-year-old Alton female and a 73-year-old Greenville female both died when they were struck by a 2018 White Freightliner Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination at 7:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. The crash occurred at the intersection of Illinois Route 4 and Illinois Route 140, Madison County. The 73-year-old victim was Sheila M. Macon, Illinois State Police said. The 17-year-old female victim was not named. The two who died were struck in a 2016 red Nissan Rogue. The driver of the truck-tractor semi-trailer combination was Daniel G. Belay, a 38-year-old male from Ellicott City, MD. He was issued a citation for Disobeying a Stop Sign. This is the ISP preliminary investigative report: "Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1, a truck tractor semi-trailer, was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 4 near Illinois Route 140. Unit 2, an SUV, was traveling westbound on Illinois 140. Unit 1 failed to stop at the stop sign and struck the

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ALTON – With in-person participants for the first time in two years, the 14th Annual Alton Miles for Meso 5K Race and 3K Fun Run/Walk on Sep. 24 raised $40,000 for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), a national nonprofit dedicated to securing a U.S. ban on asbestos and supporting families impacted by asbestos-related diseases. The event is hosted by Simmons Hanly Conroy and Metro Tri Club. Presenting sponsor Simmons Hanly Conroy is one of the nation’s leaders in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families. “We were very pleased with the outpouring of support from the local Alton community and throughout the world for this year’s Miles for Meso, which saw participants running and walking for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Todd Adamitis, Miles for Meso Committee chair and Simmons Hanly Conroy’s chief operations officer. “We thank our many donors, sponsors, volunteers and cheerleaders

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Gori Law Firm recently announced that Chad Mooney has joined the firm’s Edwardsville location as the newest attorney. Mooney’s primary area of practice is mass tort litigation, and he looks forward to joining the Gori Law team. Mooney received his Bachelor of Arts at the Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and went on to earn his juris doctorate from the Ohio Northern University College of Law. He is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, and the St. Clair County Bar Association. Upon graduating from law school, Mooney worked at a boutique law firm in St. Clair County, Illinois, focused solely on injured victims and their families. While there, he represented plaintiffs in a variety of areas of personal injury, including sexual harassment, racial discrimination, medical malpractice, product liability, and consumer class actions. “As The Gori Law Firm continues to expand, we look to

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MARYVILLE – To support the families of fallen first responders, State Senator Kris Tharp signed on as a chief-sponsor to a new state initiative to ensure line-of-duty benefits are adequately funded. “In the event a first responder loses their life in the line of duty, our state is forever indebted for that sacrifice,” said Tharp (D-Bethalto). “The loss of a loved one in the line of duty is unimaginable, and families who endure this immense hardship deserve financial reassurance.” In each year’s budget, the General Assembly appropriates funding for line-of-duty death benefits. In the event that insufficient resources are available, Senate Bill 4229 guarantees families receive their owed benefits. "I stand firmly behind this initiative to ensure that families receive their benefits, as we owe them a debt that can never be repaid," said Tharp. Senate Bill 4229 can be discussed in the upcoming legislative session.

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GLEN CARBON - A group of first responders and a family are proud and have a lot to be thankful for today. Recently a telecommunicator guided two Glen Carbon Police Officers, and other Glen Carbon Fire Protection District first responders to a scene where a woman - Alicia Rocco - was in labor with her baby. The date of the 911 call was August 31, 2022. Her husband, Anthony, contacted 911, because he knew it was a huge emergency and likely there would not be time to get his wife to the hospital before the child's birth. This delivery was not in the normal training of Sergeant Jeff Blind and Officer Zach Walters, to say the least, but that is what being a first responder is all about, Glen Carbon Fire Chief Jason Whitaker said. "The two were needed to assist and did so admirably regardless of their training," the chief explained. Not only were they able to successfully deliver a healthy baby boy, but Sgt. Blind was able to recognize the fact that the umbilical cord was around the baby’s

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JERSEYVILLE - With the 2022 general elections coming up in just over a month on Nov. 8, and early voting already underway, here’s a quick look at who and what is on the ballot in Jersey County. A proposed amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution will appear on the ballot in Jersey County. The amendment would make workers’ rights to negotiate wages, hours, and more part of the Illinois Constitution. The wording of the amendment explanation on the ballot is exactly as follows: “The proposed amendment would add a new section to the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution that would guarantee workers the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively and to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions, and to promote their economic welfare and safety at work. “The new amendment would also prohibit from being passed any new law that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively

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EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County Health Advisory Committee met Tuesday, welcoming its newest member and continuing discussions of the new COVID-19 bivalent booster. Health Department Interim Director Amada Pruitt introduced the committee’s newly appointed member, Laura Burton, a nurse practitioner. Burton, who worked as an ICU nurse for 15 years, before obtaining her NP license, currently operates a practice at 21 E. Acton Ave. in Wood River specializing in holistic and functional medicine. “I’m excited and honored to be here,” Burton said. “It’s right up my alley. I was chair of the Professional Practice Council at Alton Memorial Hospital for 10 years.” Pruitt provided the committee with an update of the COVID bivalent vaccine booster. On Sept. 30, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported there were 493,000 bivalent boosters administered in Illinois and of those 272 were given by the county’s health department, she said.

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GLEN CARBON - On September 30th, Chief Todd Link executed an agreement to receive $250,000 in COPS Grant funds for the Glen Carbon Police Department. This grant money is part of $156 million in grant funding made available by the U.S. Department of Justice in Fiscal Year 2022. COPS Grant funding assists local police agencies across the country in hiring additional sworn officers. Chief Link clarified this COPS Grant will pay up to $125,000 over 36 months for each of two additional sworn positions to be hired in January or February 2023. The infusion of this grant money into the police personnel budget will bring the authorized sworn staffing of the Glen Carbon Police Department to 28 officers. Chief Link said, “Like so many other agencies, we’ve struggled during the last couple years with staffing shortages brought on by injuries, illnesses, and family matters. These two additional officers will help us focus our time on community policing and problem solving, especially

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GODFREY – The start of a new school year means another new year for the RiverBend Growth Association’s Young Adults Committee. This year’s committee has increased its potential to “do good.” It has grown its membership to 22 students from 20, and from five area high schools to an added home school. Student representatives participate from Fortitude School and Alton, Civic Memorial (Bethalto), East Alton-Wood River, Marquette Catholic and Roxana High Schools. Senior student representatives for the 2022-23 academic year include Anbrielle Blake and Jayden Ross from Alton High School, Olivia Goodman and Benjamin Werts from Civic Memorial High School, Mary Nguyen and Mia Seibert from East Alton-Wood River High School, Max Cogan and Samantha Hentrich from Alton’s Marquette Catholic High School, and Lily Daugherty and Ava Meneses from Roxana High School. YAC junior student representatives this year are Emily Schrumpf and Khalilia Spitz from Alton High School

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District Inaugural Local Author Book Fair will promote local authors, literacy, and library programming, services, and collections This fall, Hayner Library will host its inaugural Local Author Book Fair, where you can meet thirty local authors, buy their books, and have them signed. The event will be held Saturday, October 8, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. If necessary, a rain date is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2022. The event will feature library card registration, a showcase of non-traditional library materials available for checkout, giveaways, and other library highlights. There will also be activities, crafts, and story times for the kids. WBGZ radio will broadcast live from the event, and coffee (hot and iced) and pastries will be available for purchase from Germania Brew Haus. The Riverbend Raptor will also be roving around the book fair for your amusement! You can browse or make purchases — and be sure to leave some tim

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JERSEY - In conjunction with CNB Bank & Trust, J.C.H.S. has selected their “Students of the Month”. The recipients for the month of September are Dylan Burch(9) and Alexis Hedden (8). The selection of a “Student of the Month” is based on the number of F.O.C.U.S. nominations, that a student receives for a given month. F.O.C.U.S. (Finding One Clearly Unique Student) is a program, which acknowledges a student each week for academic or kindness. Each week teachers may recognize students who have performed well in their classes by selecting them as F.O.C.U.S. students for that particular week. During September, Dylan and Alexis received the most F.O.C.U.S. nominations. Because they received the most nominations, they were named “Students of the Month” at J.C.H.S. They are being congratulated by Mike LaTempt of CNB Bank & Trust.

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police announced on Thursday afternoon that Dakota R. Davidson, 20, of the 1200 block of East Madison Avenue in Wood River has been charged with two counts of Aggravated Arson. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said that at 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, October 2, 2022, the Wood River Fire and Police Departments were dispatched to a commercial fire alarm at an apartment complex located at 133 Thompson Street. Several calls came to the 911 Center reporting the fire. "One caller reported seeing a male subject run from the scene carrying a gas can," Chief Wells said. "The Wood River Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire quickly and determined the fire was intentionally set in a hallway of the multi-unit complex. "While the Fire Department was battling the fire it was learned that a female resident of the complex was escaping the fire from her apartment and fell from a balcony. The female was severely injured from the fall. She was transported by ambulance

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