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ALTON - The organizers of Freezin' For The Funds recently presented a $3,520.42 check to the Alton Athletic Association. The Alton High School Class Of 1986 wanted to find a way to give back to the community, so they formulated the plan for the Freezin' For The Funds Day at Glazebrook Park Lake on January 8, 2022. It was quite a feat for those who participated to jump into the lake on that cold winter day. "The check was for $3,520.42 for the Alton Athletic Association, which we thought was great," Craig Lombardi, one of the event organizers, said. The people shown above are from left to right: Trisha Perks, Madeline Eades (AAA President), Cami Jo Giertz, Craig Lombardi, and Tawyna Hooper. "I just wanted to let everyone know that even though the four of us are from the Alton High Class of 1986 and that Alton Athletic Association won, this was not an Alton High event and we had over 50 charities and organizations that were registered which was great. It just so happened that the

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday night. The call to Wood River Police came in at 11:35 p.m. on Sunday, February 13, 2022. Wood River Police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Bonita Street in Wood River for a report of a man being shot. "Upon arrival officers located a male victim in his own front yard," the Wood River Police Department said in a news release. "The victim was alert and talked with officers. Medical attention was given to the victim. He was treated at the scene and transported to a St. Louis area hospital. The shooting was not random. "The suspect came to the home to make contact with a visitor at the victim’s address. The victim was interceding for the visitor when he was shot, one time, on the road in front of his residence. "The suspect drove away from the scene and remains at large." Wood River Police detectives are investigating the incident. Wood River Police Department

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Jeremy & Tonia Chapman from Bethalto Date Met/Started Dating: March 2, 2015 Briefly Describe First Date: Dinner at LongHorn and Miniature Golf. Date Married: March 14, 2017 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Going to the gun range. Going to the movies. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Marc and Crystal from Jerseyville Date Met/Started Dating: May 25, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to Applebee’s and to buy my cat some expensive cat food when I accidentally left my debit card at home. Date Married: August 7, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love to run together. We ran our first marathon together as a married couple in October. We plan to run all the miles! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: In order to keep a happy relationship, learn to keep keep your mouth shut… Just kidding … I think a happy relationship is a lot of listening and relating to your partner. Always looking at them in a new light because no one stays the same forever. Be willing to change and learn new tricks as they say! Never assume your partner feels secure and loved. Always remind them that they are loved. There is never a wrong time to send flowers! Chocolate fixes many problems, too!

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ALTON - Mackenzie Leonard is exceptional in both the classroom and as a competitive cheerleader for Alton High School. She is the winter captain for the Redbirds’ cheer team and is a scholar-athlete with a 4.1 GPA. Mackenzie is one of the Auto Butler Female Athletes of the Month for Alton High School. She has been a cheerleader for four years and competed in varsity team competitions for three years. She is a team captain this year. Mackenzie plans to attend the University of Missouri after graduation from AHS and major in education. The Alton senior’s tip to other cheerleaders is as follows: “Teamwork in cheerleading is so important. I wouldn’t have the same confidence in my skills if we weren’t constantly supporting and hyping up each other.” Mackenzie had some beautiful things to say about her parents; “I thank my mom and dad who have given me endless amounts of love and support during my cheer career. My parents have always motivated

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Taylor and Colin Ahlvers from Bethalto Date Met/Started Dating: June 8, 2017 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to mission taco. Date Married: October 8, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love going to eat Chinese, watching movies, and golfing. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Make God the center of your relationship. Also always bring your wife food home if you work late!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Damone {Big Daddy) & Michelle (Bubbie) Wittman from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: August 8, 1987 Briefly Describe First Date: Does high school Band trip count? Date Married: May 30, 1992 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Live music scene. Damone has been playing drums since age 13. Michelle has been watching him out in the music scene since he was 15 and still today and will be celebrating 30 years together on May 30. They also enjoy gardening together and time with their dog Lucy on Saturday’s getting pup cones and caramel Lattes at Shivers. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Do what you enjoy and don’t let others stand in your way. Forgive each other, support each other, and plan to grow old together!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Joey and Kaitlyn from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: May 29, 2016 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to a park to hang out when we were 15. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love sitting on our couch watching TV, going out to dinner way too often, and walking at the park when it's nice. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Never let a fight get in the way of your relationship. It doesn't matter how young you are when you start dating. They really could be the one. Don't listen to the people that say you're too young to be in love. If we did, we would've missed out on 6 amazing years as we grew into adults together.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Kelsey and Jake from Bunker Hill Date Met/Started Dating: May 4, 2019 Briefly Describe First Date: Lake and Texas Roadhouse Date Married: February 11, 2022 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Hunting, spending time together Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always make sure you communicate, communication is the key. Always tell the truth to each other.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Brendan and Tiffany from Alton Date Met/Started Dating: June 18, 2015 Briefly Describe First Date: We went camping for the weekend. Date Married: September 25, 2016 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Playing Video games every night! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Constant communication.

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ST. LOUIS - After severe winter storms rolled across the country, the American Red Cross asks members of the community to schedule the earliest-available blood or platelet donation appointments in their area once it is safe to give. Dangerous snow and ice conditions have contributed to about 600 blood drive cancellations since the beginning of the year, resulting in nearly 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In the Missouri-Arkansas Region, 46 blood drives were canceled, and 11 donor centers were closed, resulting in 1,707 uncollected donations due to recent winter storms. Since the Red Cross issued its first-ever blood crisis in January, thousands of generous donors have come forward to give, but patient care remains at risk. The threat of winter weather continues − as well as ongoing complications posed by the omicron variant – and could further complicate efforts to rebuild the blood supply. More donors are needed to make appointments now for the week

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Jordan and Shania from White Hall Date Met/Started Dating: August 4, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: Went out for dinner and listened to a local band. Date Married: October 16, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Working on house projects together. Just spending time with each other Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication is key! Don’t go to bed angry with each other.

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed Alton Mayor David Goins to Reid Memorial Library Thursday, Feb. 10, to speak on his career in law enforcement and his experience as Alton’s first African American mayor. “I was always taught to turn my stumbling blocks into stepping stones,” Goins said. I'm going to get through it, it’s not going to trip me up, and it's going to help me step a little higher.” Goins also used his 25 years of experience to offer his outlook to students considering a career in law enforcement. Primary to his message was that having good communication skills is key in being a successful police officer. The talk was part of L&C Student Activities’ lineup of Black History Month events. Upcoming public events include: ? 2/16 – Big George Brock Jr. and the NGK Band: 11:30. a.m.-1 p.m., The Commons. A variety of blues styles will be explained and performed. ? 2/17 – Underground Railroad Tour: 1-3

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Rex and Kathe were married on February 24, 1962, and will celebrate 60 years this month. They believe the key to a successful marriage is to never stop having fun together! The photo shows them tubing at Lake of the Ozarks last fall when they were both 81 years young!

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ALTON - Alton Alderwoman Rosie Brown announced the dates of the Fourth Ward Informational Monthly Meetings. A meeting is scheduled for Today's Beauty Store at 1415 Central in Alton at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. All the meetings begin at 6 p.m. The other Fourth Ward Monthly Meeting Dates are as follows: March 17, 2022 April 21, 2022 May 19, 2022 June 16, 2022 July 21, 2022 August 18, 2022 September 15, 2022 October 20, 2022 November 17, 2022 December 15, 2022

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Adam and Dreana from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: December 15, 2015 Briefly Describe First Date: Went to a comedy show and I ended up getting sick throwing up everywhere. Date Married: June 1, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We really enjoy everything we do together but since the birth of our son Henry, raising him has been our favorite thing ever. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication is key, you have to be able to express yourself to your partner.

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The Center Square – An investigation done by the Office of the Executive Inspector General reveals improper employee benefit fundraising by the Illinois Department of Corrections, including the misuse of prison labor. The investigation, which stemmed from an anonymous complaint in June 2017, showed that although IDOC’s administrative directives limit the primary source of employee benefit fund (EBF) revenues to profits from vending machines and the employee commissaries, most of the EBFs have expanded their revenue streams by generating large sums of money from fundraising. Jenny Vollen Katz of with the prison watchdog group The John Howard Association explained what was in the OEIG report. "Unfortunately the report highlighted some really unfortunate behavior and a complete lack of oversight over fundraising around employee benefit funds for the Illinois Department of Corrections," Vollen Katz said. The report also showed that the IDOC was improperly using prison labor

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Illinois American Water’s work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers continues. Below is information about this week’s road closures – Feb. 14, 2022 Piasa Valley Area: 6th Street east of Alby Street is open to George Street, with surface restoration work being completed as weather permits. Please drive carefully as some of the roadways are still rock surfaces. Alby Street is closed from 6th Street north to 7th Street, with future closures north and east of Alby/7th Street starting this week. 7th Street east of the square to George Street is open, with pavement restoration still being completed. 7th Street from George to Mechanic Street is closed. Turner Tract Area: Danforth Street will be closing in the next week or two to all thru traffic to allow for sewer installation work. The alley south of McKinley east of Lincoln is back open to traffic, with pavement restoration happening as weather permits. Douglas Street, between Stat

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MASSAC COUNTY - Illinois State Police is probing a two-vehicle personal injury crash from Sunday in Massac County. The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 22 WHAT: Two-Vehicle Personal Injury Traffic Crash. WHERE: Illinois Route 145, just south of Country Acre Lane, Massac County WHEN: Sunday, February 13, 2022 at approximately 11:56 a.m. VEHICLES: Unit 1 – Black 2014 Cadillac SRX Unit 2 – White 2018 GMC Sierra DRIVERS : Unit 1 – Melanie L. Dutton, a 42-year-old female of Metropolis, IL - Transported by helicopter to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. Unit 2 – Nicholas J. Zertuche, a 27-year-old male of Harrisburg, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was northbound on Illinois Route 145, just south of Country Acre Lane in

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Jess and Michelle Vega from Belleville Date Met/Started Dating: October 29, 2017 Briefly Describe First Date: Sushi Dinner and Movie Date Married: August 10, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We enjoy hanging out at home together laughing, sharing stories, doing projects, and playing with our dogs. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Constant open communication, keep issues light-hearted, let go of the petty stuff, and focus on the happy little things.

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