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Letter to the Editor: If you are reading the news, you are seeing information regarding the new covid EG.5 variant (Eris) and that another booster will come out this fall. Earlier this month, the Madison County Health Advisory Committee met and discussed the situation. For those who have lost count, the first two-shot series came out in early 2021, followed by boosters in the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022, and the bivalent booster introduced in September 2022. The county’s health department is reporting that interest in the most recent booster has waned. Only 17 percent of Americans have received the bi-valiant booster: 4.6% of ages 5 – 11; 7.1% of ages 12 – 17; 14.7% of ages 18 – 64; and 43.3% of age 65 and above. The decreasing interest is despite the shots being free, heavy promotion by government agencies, Big Pharma advertising and mainstream media. For some, the shots were mandatory —some people refused and lost their jobs. It’s been

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GRANITE CITY - The Mexican Honorary Commission invites everyone to join them for their September Fiesta, complete with Mexican folk dancing, traditional Hispanic food and their famous fishbowl margaritas. “This event is to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexico’s Independence Day, which falls on the 16th of September,” said Alex Villasenor, the Commission’s Vice President and chair of the Fiesta. “This is something we do every year to celebrate that and to show the culture to everybody.” The Fiesta starts at 2 p.m. on Sept. 9 at 1801 Spruce Street. A cornhole tournament will kick off the event. The Mexican folklore dance group Alma de Mexico will perform at 3 p.m., and then the band Grupo Premiere will take the stage at 5 p.m. to play Mexican music. Villasenor said the Fiesta is “100% family friendly” with bounce houses and other activities planned for kids. Local craft and food vendors will be available, along with

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ALTON - Two schools in the Alton Community Unit School District 11 (ACUSD11) canceled classes today due to excessive heat. Alton High School and Gilson Brown Elementary School both closed today following air conditioning outages. Classes will resume Tuesday morning, Aug. 22. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the area through Thursday, Aug. 24. Temperatures are expected to climb over 100 degrees in the next few days.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville kicked off the new academic year with enthusiasm and excitement as students started their first day of classes Monday, Aug. 21. The SIUE community came alive with students, faculty, and staff reconnecting and embarking on another year of learning and growth. “The buzz around campus on the first day of class is electric,” said Miriam Roccia, interim vice chancellor for student affairs. “New and returning students are eager to get the new academic year underway, meet their classmates, faculty, and find their classrooms.” Faculty and staff volunteers were stationed around campus with “Ask Me” signs eager to answer questions, give directions, and provide help. Monday also kicks off the Cougar Welcome, a two-week stretch of events to connect students to the SIUE campus and its resources. Events include resource and volunteer fairs, affinity celebrations, game nights, an ice cream social and

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GRAFTON - Grafton will be the latest city in the Riverbend to join the pickleball craze with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city’s new pickleball courts set for 7 p.m. this Saturday, August 26th at Red Hawk Park. The ceremony will occur during Grafton Family Fun Day 2023, which takes place the same day and location from 6 to 9 p.m. Scott Weiner, president of Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab, Inc., said at the Grafton City Council meeting on Aug. 15 that the pickleball court project was nearing completion. Mayor Mike Morrow said the city secured a $120,000 grant to help fund the project. Alderwoman Donna Smith said there will also be a live pickleball demonstration at the new courts. “At 7 o’clock, we will do the grand opening of the pickleball court and we have a team, I believe from Jerseyville, coming in and they will then be demonstrating what it looks like to play pickleball,” Smith said. Smith said throughout Family Fun Day, there will be

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ROXANA - Roxana community members are mourning the loss of beloved first-grade teacher Josh Bertrand. Roxana Community Unit School District 1 Superintendent Debra Kreutztrager on Sunday announced the death of Bertrand, an instructor at South Primary School. “Our hearts are heavy as we come to terms with this unexpected tragedy,” Kreutztrager said. “Mr. Bertrand played a significant role in the lives of our students and the Roxana family. “We are not addressing his death with students as a whole, but counselors are available to address individuals as needed,” she added. “Parents may provide their child (ren) with the information that they feel is appropriate prior to the start of school on Monday. “Death can be difficult to understand when it is so sudden. If your family needs any additional support or guidance on how to support your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school. There are also additional resources available on the Distric

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"The economic turnaround of our county starts now,” said Slusser. WOOD RIVER – Republican Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser announced his campaign for County Board Chairman today, citing an urgent need for leadership in economic development and collaboration with board members and community leaders. “We need to start the engine of economic development in Madison County,” said Slusser. “We are primed and ready for a boom, but we need solid leadership in County Government to help put the pieces together. That is why I’m running for Chairman.” Slusser is a family man, public servant, and small business owner. He and his wife, Megan, reside in Wood River with their two daughters. His extensive financial professional experience includes work as an investment advisor, Chief Financial Officer for ROI Realty Partners, and as Vice President of RLP Development Company. Deeply engaged in the community, Slusser serves as a Trustee for the Baptist

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EAST ALTON - Lewis and Clark Community College and its National Great Rivers Research and Education Center will host the 21 st Annual Water Festival, Sept. 29. More than 800 fifth graders will enjoy a water science field day, the largest festival to date, on L&C’s Godfrey Campus. “The response to our invitation to schools is overwhelming,” said Jennifer Mandeville, Interim Director of Education at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC). “The Water Festival immerses students in freshwater science with an active curriculum that continues when they return to their classrooms. Water Festival costs $50 per student. Her team has been raising funds since April but needs more to meet the demand. “We don’t want to turn any students away,” Mandeville said. “My team is so grateful to our major sponsors, Phillips66-Wood River Refinery, Illinois American Water, Godfrey Walmart and Enbridge Energy Services. We are also

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GODFREY - Beverly Farm Foundation welcomed Illinois State Representative, 111 th District, Amy Elik on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. During her visit to Beverly Farm, Representative Elik met with Beverly Farm Foundation CEO Crystal Officer, residents and team members from all levels of the organization. Accompanying Representative Elik was her Legislative Aide Emma Long. Representative Elik’s tour of the Beverly Farm campus included visits to the nonprofit’s Community Day Services center, its Groves B. Smith Recreation Center and one of Beverly Farm’s group homes. At each of the three stops on the tour, Representative Elik and her legislative aide met and talked with Beverly Farm residents and team members. “While Beverly Farm is just outside my district, I wanted to come out today to meet and speak with some of its residents, staff and senior leadership.” said Representative Elik. “With its mix of community-based living arrangements, group homes

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MADISON - Flames were viewed well into the night on Sunday in a fire that erupted at 111 Salvage on Illinois Route 111 in Granite City. The fire was a four-alarm blaze and Granite City was joined with several other fire departments at the scene. Thick black smoke was reportedly witnessed for miles as vehicles and tires burned in the fire. Missouri Highway Patrol shut down the ramp from Interstate 55 to Illinois Route 111 during the fire. Madison County Emergency Management was also at the scene to assist the firefighters. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been released.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band is set to dazzle audiences with their final Thursday evening performance at the Cleaon Etzkorn bandstand in City Park on Thursday, August 24 at 8 p.m. Under the baton of co-conductor, Dr. Rubén Darío Gómez, the Edwardsville Municipal Band will present their theme, fittingly entitled "Encore." Programming concerts is one of the most challenging tasks for conductors and usually, in groups like the EMB and other symphonic ensembles, it is almost exclusively the conductor's job. However, for this program, the players of the EMB were asked to suggest pieces they would like to perform. The band will play favorites such as “Bugler’s Holiday,” “Shenandoah,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and the always popular “Stars and Stripes Forever,” among others. We hope you are able to attend our last concert of the season, our ENCORE performance. Concessions available during the event

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SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founder of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today led eight of their colleagues in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand the protections in the agency’s newly-proposed rule to safeguard communities and the environment from the dangers of coal combustion residuals (CCR). In their letter, the Senators express their support for EPA’s move to address the loopholes exempting legacy CCR impoundments from compliance. “We write to provide comment on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed changes to the coal combustion residuals (CCR), or ‘coal ash,’ rule for inactive, or ‘legacy,’ CCR surface impoundments and CCR management units. We appreciate EPA’s efforts to close the egregious loophole exempting legacy CCR impoundments from compliance,” wrote the Senators. “While

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general, is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect veterans’ rights and benefits, including the Post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill educational benefit. In the brief , Raoul and the coalition support a Virginia U.S. Army veteran in Rudisill v. McDonough, who was denied his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), even though veterans with multiple requisite periods of military service can earn up to 48 months of educational benefits. “Individuals who serve our country should not be denied benefits when they return home, which is why I am urging the Supreme Court to protect the educational benefits veterans have earned through their military service,” Raoul said. “I remain dedicated to ensuring veterans and their families receive all of the benefits they have sacrificed so much for.” James Rudisill is a Virginia resident and decorated

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Couples Names: Raymond and Elyse Strebel Date Married: August 21, 1993 Years Married: 30 Marriage Details: Congratulations to Raymond and Angela “Elyse” Strebel of Alton who are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary on August 21. With humble beginnings the couple always worked to enrich each other's life throughout their journey and has amassed thousands of wonderful memories. Through their years they have been blessed with two children, Tyler and Jeremy, whom they have had the good fortune to watch grow into successful men whom they love and cherish. Ray and Elyse would like to thank all the amazing people that have touched their life and look forward to sharing time with those in their next chapter.

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ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #1 (ACUSD11) Board of Education has appointed a new member. Tiana Gipson was officially appointed during the Board of Education’s Regular Meeting on Aug. 15. She will be replacing Board Member Dustin Christner, who resigned on June 30. Gipson will serve the remainder of his term through April 2025. “After interviewing seven outstanding candidates, the Board selected Tiana Gipson,” ACUSD11 said in a recent statement. “Currently working in the medical field, Gipson indicated in her interview that she has a strong desire to continue providing Alton students, families and staff with a positive educational environment. She offered insightful thoughts and ideas on opportunities in reaching this goal.” Gipson graduated from Alton High School in 2008 and went on to receive degrees from Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. Board of Education President David Lauschke

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ALTON - Two Alton business owners have teamed up to create a space for women that blends physical, mental/emotional and spiritual wellness. When Stella Webb, owner of Soul Sanctuary, met Spacious Expression owner Jodi Meisenheimer, they immediately wanted to collaborate. Webb and Meisenheimer decided to start the Women’s Circle, a monthly meetup for women to connect through meditation, journaling and conversation. “I don't see us so much as humans having a spiritual experience, but as spirits having a human experience,” Webb said. “In a circle, everybody’s equal. We all stand and we’re all holding each other, and we’re not there to fix each other. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about allowing a safe space for people to be seen, to be heard, and that’s what’s important.” Soul Sanctuary offers meditations and spiritual advice, while Spacious Expression provides sobriety coaching and support. Webb

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O’FALLON – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital recognizes National Breastfeeding Month in August by sharing information about breast milk benefits and the positive bonding experience between mother and baby. Amanda Schaefer, MSN, RN, manager of the Women and Infants Center at St. Elizabeth’s, says a mother’s milk provides a newborn with vital antibodies and an immunity boost as the infant grows. “Whether breastfeeding is provided by the breast or by pumping breast milk, it can provide important protection to an infant from many short- and long-term illnesses,” she said. “It also provides mom and baby with important bonding time.” Breastfeeding Benefits Breast milk fights disease. The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness such as ear infections, asthma, type 1 diabetes and gastrointestinal infections, among others. Breast milk is easier to digest. For most babies, especially premature

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior setter Sara Gouy will be a key returnee to the Edwardsville girls' volleyball team as one of seven seniors who will be counted on to provide experience and leadership on the team. Last year was a very successful one for Gouy, as she served up 185 points and 44 aces, going along with 12 kills, 416 assists and 143 digs as she helped the Tigers to a 25-13 record, losing a three-set match to O'Fallon in the IHSA Class 4A sectional semifinals. Sarah is a Johnston Law Female Athlete of Month for the Tigers. Gouy and her teammates have had good preseason practices in preparation for the season opener on Aug. 29 against the Panthers at Lucco-Jackson Gym and if feeling very confident about how things have gone along so far. "I'm feeling really good," Gouy said during a recent interview. "I'm excited for my senior season. I think we have a good group of girls this year, so I hope we can go far with varsity and all those teams." Gouy describes her role on the club as on

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EDWARDSVILLE - Hassani Elliott, a junior on Alton High School's basketball team, became a key contributor to the Redbirds in their 6-25 season in 2022-23, coming up big in key spots, especially after the holidays, and oftentimes was among the team's leading scorers in the games as a sophomore. As Elliott prepares for his junior season, he's looking to be one of the key contributors to a revival of the team's fortunes, as Alton has gone 10-48 combined in the last two seasons and now looks to reestablish itself as a contender, especially in the Southwestern Conference. Elliott is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Elliott and his teammates played well in a 44-34 loss to Confluence Academy of St. Louis in the Edwardsville NCAA Live Showcase event held in June at Lucco-Jackson Gym in Edwardsville High, along with Liberty Middle School, and in his postgame interview, Elliott felt that Alton did play well, but was haunted by key mistakes. "I think we just had a lot

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EDWARDSVILLE - National criterium racing champion Brandon Feehery of Knoxville, Tenn. and Dr. Amy McClintock of Edwardsville won the men's and women's feature races at the 13th annual Edwardsville Rotary Criterium bicycle races, presented by Busey Bank, held Saturday afternoon and evening in downtown Edwardsville. The event was another highly successful one, as fans and families enjoyed themselves tremendously in watching high-quality racing from competitors from throughout the region and also enjoyed favorable weather throughout, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s, with a favorable breeze blowing off and on during the races. Both the Kids' Zone and Entertainment Zone were packed during the racing as well, as fans of all ages came out to support the event, one of the highlights during the Edwardsville summer. And a major change in both scheduling and the Criterium joining the Illinois Cup tour helped bring more racers out. "We joined the Illinois Cup this year,"

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