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ALTON - The Alton Catfish Classic featured strong competition and the winning team of Kaleb McAdams, Chris Baker and David Shipman brought in a monster catfish that weighed 106.23 pounds for a total of 151.27 pounds of fish. The winners captured $21,500 for their victory. B and R Marine won the Big Fish and $1,500. The second-place team was Rob Benningfield, Chuck Baker and Dustin Baker with a total catch of 130.80 pounds for $8,000. The third-place finishers were the team of Don Fisher, Jackson Mitchell and Mike Mitchell with a total catch of 129.69 pounds for third place. The trio won $5,000.

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EDWARDSVILLE - An Art Deco building on the corner of South Main and Park Street in Edwardsville is officially the new home of the Bank of Madison County after a ribbon-cutting ceremony held last weekend. Paul Abert, Market President of the Bank of Madison County, said he’s a lifelong Edwardsville native and SIUE alum who’s been in banking since 1983, and is proud to be serving his hometown community. “This was an opportunity for me to start Bank of Madison County brand new here, so being in hometown on Main Street, you couldn’t ask for more,” Abert said. Bank of Madison County is a commercial and retail bank which services businesses and individual customers/clients. Abert said the company is breathing new life into the historic building on Main Street and the “lost art” of community banking. “We specialize in what is quite an often overused term of ‘community banking.’ I was fortunate in my early career to learn

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ALTON – Alton Little Theater will be featuring a collection of the most interesting beers and brews in alignment with the 90 th season opening production Beer For Breakfast running from September 15 th through the 24 th . Our goal when patrons, new or returning, come to the ALT Showplace is to experience pure enjoyment away from the cares of the world for a few hours. We love celebrating our local brew masters and the visitors who generate enthusiasm in Alton, where the great River meets the great Prairie, and the living is just fine at ALT! At the Showplace, we take seriously the job of representing our region with love and pride for 90 years! So, come one, come all and checkout the fun to be had at ALT. Come check out a great comedy show, a beautiful theater, a stellar staff, and the best beer in town (even a breakfast stout to commemorate the show title Beer For Breakfast .) Please call 618-462-3205 for tickets or visit altonlitletheater.org .

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EDWARDSVILLE - These are three additional Edwardsville Arts Fair participant profiles, today featuring work from Edwardsville's own Tana Wallace. The Edwardsville Art Fair is Sept. 22-Sept. 24. Artist #1 Name: Tana Wallace Location: Edwardsville Medium: Emerging Artist Artist's Statement: "As an art educator, I see many moments of success and failure, pride, dedication, conflict, honesty, and joy, to name a few. These moments inspire my communication through art as a teacher and creator. Creating my own art has been more present in my life recently as an outlet, and as a means to appreciate all the beauty around me, however ordinary it may be." Artist #2 Name: Nick Nihira Location: Hillsboro, MO Medium: Works on Paper Artist's Statement: "All of my work is hand drawn and then hand pulled as screen prints. My images usually have a little of a dark, comedic twist and deal with themes of rural vs. urban living, solitude, and technology." Artist #3 Name:

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - The casualties from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 were diverse in many ways. The deaths represented most U.S. states as well as 77 countries, a host of occupations, and a wide array of personal backgrounds. A total of 2,977 individuals lost their lives on that morning, including 2,606 at the World Trade Center, 265 on the four planes involved, and 125 at the Pentagon. The death total excludes the 19 hijackers. It is believed that nine of the civilian deaths were residents of Illinois. Over 6,000 were injured in the incidents. Some 2,605 were U.S. citizens, with 372 citizens of other nations, not including the hijackers. An estimated 344 of the deaths were firefighters, while another 72 were law enforcement officers. At the World Trade Center, the dead included 2,192 civilians and 343 firemen. The 71 law enforcement officers who died at the site hailed from several agencies, including the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department,

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Republican Central Committee invites community members to join them for their Sept. 23 fish fry and more as they prepare for the coming election year. “The goal is just to give back to the community,” member Sarah Porter explained. “Anybody is welcome to attend, regardless of how you vote, whatever your political party is. We’re just excited to talk to people and get the word out that we are a local organization that’s happy to help.” The fish fry will kick off at 6 p.m. on Sept. 23 at KC Hall, located at 301 N State Street. The event is completely free, though you can also purchase drinks at a cash bar. They will be raffling a Kate Spade satchel and wallet as well as a Bear Catalyst Crossbow, prizes with a $600 value; enter the raffle for $10 a ticket or three for $25. Porter said that the event’s goal is to connect people and provide a positive experience for the community. She reiterated that community

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced the upcoming departure of Deputy Governor Sol Flores, who has served as Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services since the beginning of the Governor’s first term in January of 2019. The Deputy Governor position will be filled by Grace Hou, current Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Prior to serving as Deputy Governor, Flores was the founding Executive Director of La Casa Norte, a non-profit organization established in 2002 serving youth and families confronting homelessness. “Sol Flores has dedicated countless hours of work and a lifetime of expertise to my administration over the last four and a half years; she has led with a focused tenacity, passion and energy, and I am incredibly grateful for her years of service,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Although she will be missed at IDHS, Secretary Hou has been a partner in some of our largest and most impactful initiatives, and I’

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MANTENO – Governor JB Pritzker and Gotion today joined local Illinois leaders and officials to announce the company’s decision to locate its new state-of-the-art $2 billion electric vehicle (EV) lithium battery manufacturing plant in Manteno. Bolstered by a REV Illinois (Reimagining Energy and Vehicles) incentive package and the new Invest in Illinois fund, Gotion’s decision to locate its new gigafactory in Illinois speaks to the state’s growing reputation as an EV manufacturing powerhouse and represents a significant step forward in growing its EV ecosystem and supply chain. The plant is expected to begin production in 2024. “Today, we take another leap forward, announcing the largest electric vehicle battery production investment in Illinois to date. It’s my pleasure to welcome a world-leading battery manufacturer — Gotion — to Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This announcement is a testament to Illinois status as

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ALTON - The Sixth Annual Alton Cigar event created by host Derrick Richardson will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Bluff City Grill, 424 E. Broadway. Bluff City Grill is a local restaurant/bar owned by Cathy Gross. "Scott Biancardi, owner of STL Cigars, is amazingly skilled in the art of cigar-rolling, and will roll the cigar of your choice right in front of you," Richardson, organizer of the event, said. "Brandon Shaw aka DJ Brando, a local DJ, will be playing a mix of the oldies and the newest hits. “The Alton Cigar Event is six years strong. This event is about bonding and cigars. Every year, the attendance gets bigger, and there will be plenty of seating. BCG has wonderful food and drink selections for purchase. Even if you don’t smoke cigars, come out and be a part of the fun." This is a rain-or-shine event under the covered outdoor patio. Admission is free to the public.

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HIGHLAND - Highland Arts Council invites community members to embrace their creative side at the upcoming Art in the Park weekend at Lindendale Park in Highland. From Oct. 14–15, visitors can peruse the exhibitions, watch art demonstrations and potentially win free artwork. With 65 featured artists and a predicted 8,000–9,000 attendees, this family-friendly event encourages art appreciation at all ages. “People don’t realize how much creativity is in every occupation that we have,” said Lynnette Schuepbach, chairperson with the council. “The mission of Highland Arts Council is to bring the art to the community, to keep people thinking creatively, so then it spills over into their jobs and everything that they do.” From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, visitors can enjoy the exhibits and speak to the artists, who work with a variety of mediums. There will also be a few performing artists and demonstrations

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GODFREY – The Cookie Factory Bakery and Cafe has found its sweet spot at Alton Square Mall under Alton native Sarah Kinder, who purchased the business on Jan. 1, 2022. Kinder took over the business on Jan. 1, 2022, and has 18 employees helping her with the day-to-day operations. The Cookie Factory Bakery and Café has been selected as the September 2023 Small Business of the Month award recipient by the RiverBend Growth Association. The bakery and restaurant, at 202 Alton Square in Alton, is located on the second floor of Alton Square Mall and has been a mainstay for generations of customers enjoying the cookies, sweets and munchies baked daily there. Satisfying the region’s sweet tooth now for 43 years, The Cookie Factory was first opened by Linda McCormick at the mall, who operated the successful eatery until her retirement and sale of the business to Alton native Sarah Kinder. “I was an at-home baker looking to move into a storefront but was not sure where

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ALTON - The Sixth Annual Alton Cigar event will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Bluff City Grill, 424 E. Broadway. "Bluff City Grill is a local restaurant/bar owned by Cathy Gross. Scott Biancardi, owner of STL Cigars, is amazingly skilled in the art of cigar-rolling, and will roll the cigar of your choice right in front of you," Derrick D. Richardson, organizer of the event, said. "Brandon Shaw aka DJ Brando, a local DJ, will be playing a mix of the oldies and the newest hits. “The Alton Cigar Event is six years strong. This event is about bonding and cigars. Every year, the attendance gets bigger, and there will be plenty of seating. BCG has wonderful food and drink selections for purchase. Even if you don’t smoke cigars, come out and be a part of the fun." This is a rain-or-shine event under the covered outdoor patio. Admission is free to the public.

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WOOD RIVER - After 40 years in the business, Meyer Jewelry Group will close their doors for good at the end of the month. Jim Meyer repaired and created custom jewelry throughout the Riverbend area until his passing in July 2020. The shop was closed for a year and then reopened by his son-in-law, Jeremy Morris, in August 2021. In a Facebook post on Sept. 8, the store announced their permanent closure, scheduled tentatively for Sept. 30. “An opportunity has presented itself that better suits Jeremy and our family,” the post read. “We are grateful for your support of Meyer Jewelry for over 40 years. Jim built this amazing business in the 70s and loved sharing his talent and love of art with the Riverbend area even in his last days. There is no way to fully express our gratitude for your loyalty and love of Jim and Meyer Jewelry.” The store is known for their jewelry repair and cleaning services. They also offer a range of diamonds and fashion jewelry, including

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EDWARDSVILLE - A sign resembling giant metal chopsticks on the south side of the new Drunken Fish restaurant in Edwardsville will either have to change or come down following the City Council’s unanimous denial of multiple requested sign variances. According to city officials and documentation from Tuesday’s meeting packet, Highland based graphic design company Aggressive designed and allegedly installed the sign without the city’s permission. Members of the city’s Administrative and Community Services (ACS) Committee voted unanimously to deny a series of variances that would’ve allowed the sign to remain standing - or in this case, projecting from the wall. The sign violates multiple parts of the city’s signage code by reaching more than three feet above the building’s roof and extending closer than eight feet to the ground. “This is a hard one - I’m just going to come out and say that,” ACS Committee Chair Elizabeth

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WOOD RIVER - A proposed subdivision of a portion of Belk Park for potential future sale or private development was unanimously voted down by the Wood River City Council at their meeting earlier this week. The city’s Planning Commission forwarded a negative recommendation to the council after two public hearings in which several members of the public spoke out against the proposed subdivision. At the time of the first public hearing, a wedding venue developer had plans to build a wedding venue on the site, but they have since canceled those plans . Several cited the land being designated a public park in the will of the late Robert Belk when he donated the land to the city. Belk died in 1951 and a city ordinance officially establishing the land as a public park was signed in 1954. The Planning Commission originally tabled the item after the first public hearing on July 20 to gather and consider more information after 17 city residents and area locals made

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EAST ALTON – The next National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) newsletter will be a special edition featuring a collection of personal accounts and photos of the Great Flood of 1993 from community members. Please share stories, memories, or anything related to the flood you would like to share. Entries should be sent to rsender@lc.edu with the subject line “Great Flood ‘23” and will be accepted until October 15. About National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them, facilitating the efficient implementation of science into policy and to practice. Founded in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, the center aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related to the interconnectedness of large rivers,

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EDWARDSVILLE – For more than 80 years, Nickel Plate Station set the scene for many Edwardsville residents’ stories, whether individuals were traveling out of town or returning home from an adventure. Edwardsville Children’s Museum (ECM) is excited to share a collection of these memorable tales with its new exhibit, “Stories of the Nickel Plate,” located at the Windland Education Center at Nickel Plate Station and opening with a free family event on September 17. Through visuals and audio, this interactive exhibit introduces children and their families to four storytellers from bygone eras who passed through the depot’s doors. From Phil Schafer, who boarded a train for boot camp during World War I, to young Florence Glass, whose trip took her to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, “Stories of the Nickel Plate” fuses the stories of the station with defining moments in our region’s history. In addition to hearing our honorees’

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ALTON - Calling all writers — Maeva’s Coffee will host their seventh Writers of the Riverbend event on Oct. 14. Writers of the Riverbend: Mix and Mingle is a networking opportunity for all writers and industry professionals, whether your work has been published or not. Those with published work can also register for a table to sell their books. Poets, journalists, students, illustrators, editors, cover designers and more are all invited, as well as community members who want to check out the book fair. “It’s where the published and unpublished join,” Sarah J. Dhue, author and organizer of the event, said. “It’s a networking event first and foremost, but it’s a place to showcase your work because that opens the door, which was really our aim.” From 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, you can visit with over 30 vendors set up along the north and south hallways in Milton School House, located at 1320 Milton Road. Thos

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ALTON - The second annual Alton Pride festival on Sept. 9 was a busy day of vendors, performances and celebrations for the local LGBTQ+ community. Alton Pride is an organization that provides resources to LGBTQ+ people in the Riverbend area. This year marked the second Pride festival, where people could enjoy food trucks and live music from noon to 9:30 p.m. in downtown Alton. “For me, it’s a way of getting in touch with fellow LGBTQIA people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to the big festivals over in the city,” Alton Pride President Nicci Kincer said. “It’s more grassroots. It’s smaller, it’s more personal. More family-friendly.” In addition to craft vendors and food trucks, attendees could enjoy performances by area bands Porch Cafe , Mz Goldie , Piasa Canyon and Bullseye Womprats. The event was emceed by drag queens Dieta Pepsi and Chasity Valentino, and a drag show from 6–7 p.m. kicked off the evening.

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ALTON - Makaila Irby is a player on Marquette Catholic's girls volleyball team that stands out with her tenacity, and as her coach Sue Heinz describes it, "hustle on the court." The senior is a libero/defensive specialist, and one of the captains of the Explorers volleyball team this year. Makaila is a Tucker's Automotive Repair and Tire Female Athlete Of The Month for The Explorers. "Makaila provides our team with strong leadership skills, communication, and lots of hustle," Coach Heinz said. "Makaila will lead our defenses this year." To date, Irby is averaging 14 serve receives and nine digs a game, Heinz said. Irby is one of the reasons Marquette's girls are competitive in just about every area volleyball match they enter this season.

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