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ALTON - The Alton Dispensary's highly anticipated grand opening is set to begin at 10 a.m. Friday with a variety of festivities throughout the day. The Alton Dispensary is located at 1400 E. Broadway in Alton. The business has been operating on soft opening status for a period of time, but today is the official opening. "We are proud of Alton’s rich history and heritage and even more proud to be a part of that heritage as we open The Alton Dispensary," Alton Dispensary officials said. "We are excited and honored to be the first to bring cannabis legalization to Alton, Illinois." General Manager Brett Followell said earlier about the Dispensary: "The company has put a ton of work and effort into this establishment and it shows. It is gorgeous and really look forward to leading the team." One of the first patrons of the Dispensary Brihana, shown below, said: "I am beyond happy to have it here. Now having it here in Alton, it is beautiful. We won't have to travel outside."Today,

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XENIA - Darren Bailey officially announced his bid Tuesday for Congress in the 12th District and a battle against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bost. Bost has been a five-term incumbent. "I'm ready to continue our fight for hard-working families in Southern Illinois," Bailey said in a statement. "I'm running to fight for you in Congress by representing Illinois' 12th District. This district is my home, where my family is, and where we own and operate our family farm. "I will always listen to the people and be a strong voice for our communities and conservative values. Help us restore our voice and join the fight to take our country back." Bailey served in the Illinois State House and Senate and lost the Illinois race for governor to J.B. Pritzker in 2022.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is planning to open a location in Edwardsville. The fast food chain specializes in chicken tenders, fries, and “Cane’s Sauce,” and this would mark their second location in the Metro East. The new location will be built as a drive-thru restaurant on the corner of Troy Road and Governors Parkway, on the far side of the BJC Outpatient Center parking lot. The site at 2104 Governors Parkway previously belonged to a gas station that stood when the BJC Outpatient Center building was occupied by Shop N Save. The Edwardsville Administrative and Community Services Committee approved both a Special Use Permit and Variance last week, green-lighting the plans for a Raising Cane’s drive-thru restaurant and sending it to the full City Council for a vote on Thursday, July 6. The variance reduces the typically-required minimum front setback of 50 feet for the structure. While the building itself adheres to the 50-foot setback

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ALTON - Alton Alderwoman Rosie Brown today announced the Fourth Ward Picnic is from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Hellrung Park on Union Street in Alton. Brown said everything is free, games for the children and adults, free food, drinks, prizes, bounce houses. "This is a way to unify families in our community and to know who our neighbors are," she said. "Also to get to know what churches, businesses and organizations are in our neighborhoods. Come out and lets get to know each other, let's mingle and have a great time!" Call Alderwoman Rosetta Brown at 618-433-9976 with any questions.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Public Library (JPL) is a great place to visit to cool down. JPL is open to everyone whether they have a library card or not and there is plenty to do when you need a break from the heat. The two newest clubs for Teens and Junior readers are really taking off. Tweens and Teens are welcome to join JPL staff member, Jolye, on Saturdays at 3:00 pm for an hour of book discussions, puzzle play and other activities and children reading at a Junior level are welcome to join staffer, Emma, for book discussions, coloring, games and treats on Thursdays from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Summer Gaming Club is ongoing on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm for kids and teens to hang out and play board games, video games or lawn games depending on the weather. Participants are encouraged to bring friends to combat boredom and see what fun they can find at the Library. JPL will be offering “Food for Fines” during Fair Week, July 9-16, where those who may have a fine at JP

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri, weather permitting, starting at 9 p.m., Friday, July 7. One lane in each direction will remain open at all times. All lanes will be opened by 5 a.m. Monday, July 10. Motorists should expect 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. 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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EAST ALTON - West Star Aviation broke ground on a new hangar today at the St. Louis Regional Airport. Hangar 67 will be completed in April 2024. West Star Aviation, an aircraft maintenance company, already has a facility at the St. Louis Regional Airport, but this new hangar will expand its facility to over 500,000 square feet. Contegra Construction has partnered with West Star on the project. “For us, this signifies more than just a couple of new buildings that we’re going to build around here. It’s the realization of our vision for growth and our vision for reinvesting in West Star Aviation,” Mike Zada, Vice President of Project Management at West Star Aviation, said. “We’re extremely proud to be a part of this community.” Brian Bauwens, the general manager of the East Alton facility, explained that the expansion will include the 40,000-square-foot Hangar 67 and additional back shop space, which will house offices and storage. The airport’s

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Is your toe sore to the touch? Is the skin around the nail puffy or red? An ingrown toenail may be to blame. Marc Leonard, MD , an OSF HealthCare podiatrist, says it’s an issue he sees frequently, but it’s one that’s easily preventable.Dr. Leonard says an ingrown toenail is when the nail grows into the skin on the nail’s side. Some people get ingrown toenails due to a family history of the problem. They may just have wide toenails, in other words.For others, it’s a product of how you take care of your feet.“Bicyclists wear very tight shoes. They clip onto the bike. The shoes are very unforgiving.” Dr. Leonard says as an example. “The person is getting extra pressure on the side of the toes. It can definitely contribute to ingrown nails.”Dance shoes sometimes have the same effect, he says.Another culprit: clipping your toenails too low toward the side of the toe. Instead, trim straight across using clippers with a straight, not curved,

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Fair announced today that American rock band The Doobie Brothers will headline the Illinois State Fair Grandstand Saturday, August 12. For over five decades, The Doobie Brothers have been known for delivering mind-blowing, roots based, harmony-laden, guitar-driven rock and roll – all of which recently culminated in an induction into the 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Boasting one of the most loyal fan bases in music, selling more than 48 million albums, and winning four Grammy Awards, The Doobie Brothers continue to write and record new material and tour the world. Their No. 1 singles “Black Water” and “What a Fool Believes," both gold, lead a catalog of indelible songs that include: “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” “Jesus Is Just All Right,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “Take Me In Your Arms,” "Takin’ it to

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EDWARDSVILLE - Aaron Fricke grew up in O’Fallon, IL and spent so much of his time in Edwardsville with his cousins that it became a second childhood home for him. After spending 20 years in Texas, Fricke, his wife and two children (14 and 17) moved to St. Louis and opened their first Nothing Bundt Cakes in Fairview Heights to be closer to Fricke’s childhood home. The family opened the Edwardsville location as a passion project, making a long-time dream finally come to fruition. “Bundt cakes mean family to me,” Fricke says. After his youngest overcame a very rare form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Fricke and his wife wanted to start this business as something they could build for their children. The family is looking forward to celebrating their grand opening, including appreciation days, a ribbon cutting, free Bundtlets for a Year giveaway, and a benefit day to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (see details below). GRAND OPENING EVENTS Monday-Thursday,

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GLEN CARBON – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting to discuss traffic management for the proposed intersection reconstruction of Illinois 162 at Illinois 157 in Glen Carbon. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 25 from 4-7 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Senior Center located at 157 N. Main St. The project involves the realignment of the west leg of Illinois 162 to tie in with the east leg of Illinois 162 at a proposed traffic signal, thus eliminating the offset intersections of Illinois 162 with stop control. The project also involves reconstruction of the bridge that carries Illinois 157 over Judy’s Branch, construction of a new bridge to carry Illinois 162 over Judy’s Branch and construction of a pedestrian bridge parallel to Illinois 157 over Judy’s Branch. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss traffic management for the project during construction. Handouts and display boards will be available for public review,

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ALTON - The 22nd annual Vintage Voices walking tours will be held in the Alton Cemetery (5th and Vine Streets, Alton IL 62002.) Mark your calendars for the first two weekends in October: 7, 8, 14, 15, 2023. The hour-long walking tours will begin at noon all four days and leave from the main gate on Vine Street in Alton every 15-20 minutes. Tickets are on sale now online at eventbrite.com . Pricing is $15 for adults and $10 for students with ID. A non-walking performance returns this year at a new location. Join us on Sunday, October 15, 2023. The one-hour performance begins at 5:00 pm at Lovejoy Event Center, 401 Piasa Street in Alton IL. Seating is limited to 60 people. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com . Volunteers are needed to be tour guides. Sign up at http://bit.ly/3PJD48W . Follow the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/vintagevoicestours , and Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/vintagevoicestours , for actor announcements. For more information,

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that it became easier for Illinois residents to change the gender listed on their birth certificate as of July 1, under a new law signed by Governor JB Pritzker in February. The update to the state’s Vital Records Act that took effect at the conclusion of Pride Month was enacted under HB0009 which allows people to change the gender on their birth certificate by signing a statement affirming their gender identity or intersex condition. “Following this year’s Pride Month, I couldn’t be happier that we are making it easier for Illinoisans to change the gender listed on their birth certificate,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our trans, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and intersex neighbors deserve to have documentation that affirms their identity without having to jump over dozens of bureaucratic hurdles. After all, this is the Land of Lincoln and Obama—and here, we welcome

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WOOD RIVER — Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rachael Craddick as the Fund Development Director. In her role, Rachael will spearhead the organization's fundraising efforts and play a vital role in furthering its mission of providing strength and support to those in crisis. Rachael brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, specifically with organizations dedicated to providing health and social services to children and young adults in need. As the Fund Development Director, she will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to expand the organization's fundraising efforts, cultivate donor relationships, and raise awareness of their impactful programs. Craddick's comprehensive understanding of the local non-profit landscape and her dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families will further strengthen RFM’s ability to provide essential resources and support to individuals

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GODFREY - Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick and several village trustees are wary of the increasing number of liquor license requests they’ve been getting from local businesses after one such request came before the Village Board on Wednesday from Kroger, the owner of Ruler Foods in Godfrey. At Wednesday night’s Village Board meeting, trustees discussed a liquor license request from Kroger for a “Beer of the Month” promotion. The grocery store chain said in their application that they “will also be applying for state video gaming licenses in the near future.” Mayor Mike McCormick recalled Trustee Rick Lauschke raising concerns about the growing number of liquor license/video gaming requests from local businesses at the last Village Board meeting and said he thinks the situation is “getting out of control.” “We’ve been getting a lot of these,” McCormick said. “Now the Ruler store wants to be able to put in video

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ROXANA - Jack Rea, a sophomore-to-be at Marquette Catholic High, is taking over as starting quarterback for the upcoming 2023 season and is hopeful of helping the Explorers turn around their football program. Rea is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Male Athlete of the Month for the Explorers. Marquette has gone 0-9 in both 2021 and 2022 and last won a game on Apr. 9, 2021, during the COVID-19 spring football season, winning at East Alton-Wood River 28-12. The Explorers are very optimistic they will start turning things around this coming season and in his interview that followed the Explorers competing in seven-on-seven passing scrimmages against Alton, Hardin Calhoun and host Roxana at Charlie Raich Field on June 28, Rea expressed that optimism. "Oh, I think things went pretty well," Rea said of the 7-on-7 evening in Roxana. "We have a new group of people for Marquette football and we're just working out here and we're improving a lot and keep practicing to get better from last

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ALTON - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Alton Police Department responded to a reported bank robbery Wednesday afternoon at Carrollton Bank in the 100 block of Homer Adams Parkway. Madison County Sheriff’s Office is the lead law enforcement agency in the area where the bank is located. Madison County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido said the bank robbery call came in at 4:04 p.m. Wednesday, July 5. The sheriff’s office responded with Alton Police and preliminary investigation revealed a black male in a grey hoodie with light-colored jeans, entered the bank and inferred he had a handgun and demanded cash, Pulido said. “The suspect fled from the bank on foot toward Martin Luther King Boulevard and was reportedly last seen running into a wooded area near the Alby Street Overpass,” Pulido added. “The sheriff’s deputies and Alton Police arrived at the scene to look for the suspect. The suspect was observed a short time

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ALTON - This weekend’s storms might have passed, but there's another twister coming in the form of “The Real Land of Oz.” The theater company 3 Purple Coats Productions is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a new, elevated production of the musical that made them famous in the Alton area. “The Real Land of Oz” is a retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” and was written by Leah Becoat, the founder of the production company. “You want people to be touched by your work,” Becoat said. “I think people will be moved or touched because there are so many things that speak to adults and youth.” Becoat began writing at age 8 to cope with severe eczema, and it quickly became her passion. She opened 3 Purple Coats Productions with her two sisters in 2013; the company’s name is a nod to their surname. In the 10 years since then, Becoat has written a youth show every summer, with additional productions throughout the year whe

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GODFREY – The RiverBend Growth Association has chosen Godfrey-based Karen Wilson State Farm as the July 2023 Small Business of the Month. As its business name suggests, this local State Farm Insurance office is owned by Karen Wilson. Located at 225 Tolle Lane in Godfrey, Wilson has been in business for 20 years and currently has three employees. “I downsized to two team members for a while,” Wilson noted, “but realized that a third person is crucial to an efficient and customer-focused office. We feel this has been beneficial to all. She said that continuing education is required because of the licensing her team members must have. “However, coming from the world of education, I always encourage continuous learning. Seminars, trainings, self-help books, webinars are a very important part of our culture. “We are a woman-owned and operated business and proud of it. Although we are all familiar with the company I represent, I am the business owner.

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TROY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that intermittent daytime lane closures will take place on both directions of Interstate 55 from the Interstate 270 overpass to the Macoupin County line, weather permitting, beginning Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30. Work will be suspended between 6-9 a.m. on the southbound/westbound lanes and 3-6 p.m. on the northbound/eastbound lanes. These lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of the pavement. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict 8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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