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WOOD RIVER - Wood River’s Central Park celebrated its new playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 25. The playground is more accessible and offers a challenge course, which is a unique addition to the Riverbend area. “We’ve been thinking about it, visualizing it, and to see it actually come to fruition is exciting for us,” Parks and Recreation Director Jason Woody said. “I think the kids are going to love it, and the community, and even some teenagers who get out there on the challenge course and try it out.” The Central Park playground was updated with a new swingset and play structure with many slides. New poured-in-place rubber surfacing makes it possible for wheelchairs to easily access the space. But the most popular attraction so far is the challenge course. This course includes climbing nets, monkey bars and jumping platforms. Kids can press a button to start and stop a timer, which allows them to time themselves as they

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 athlete A.J. Brewster was noted by the district school board for his accomplishments last month at the Special Olympics of Illinois Summer Games. Brewster, a competitive swimmer, took first place in the 100-meter freestyle and third place in the 50-meter freestyle. He also broke his personal records in both events. During their meeting on Monday, July 24, the school board congratulated Brewster and recognized him as a state medalist. “He’s always at practice. He always has a smile. He works his hardest,” Leslie Roderick, who coaches swimming with the Edwardsville School District Special Olympics team, told the board. In addition to swimming, Brewster also runs track and plays soccer, basketball and hockey. You can learn more about Brewster and his accomplishments here . “It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to invite A.J. to the board meeting tonight,” Kayla Magruder, a teacher

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will showcase the award-winning work of Photographer Robert J. Ellison – focusing on his coverage of the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War – during a public photo exhibition and commemorative event in August. Both the exhibit and event, co-sponsored by The Hayner Public Library District, are free and open to the public. The photo exhibition, which will mimic a journey through time in 100 photographs captured by the young photographer, who was killed in action at age 23 when a plane he was on was hit by enemy gunfire in Vietnam in March 1968. It will run from Aug. 14-31 in L&C’s Hatheway Gallery. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. As the only surviving son of a soldier killed in World War II, Ellison, a graduate of Alton’s Western Military Academy and son of a Monticello College alumna, was exempt from military service in Vietnam. Nevertheless,

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside 15 attorneys general and New York City, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand language access for critical government alerts sent to cell phones, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). In a comment letter , Raoul and the coalition acknowledge the important steps the FCC has taken to expand access to WEAs, but notes its proposal would require wireless companies to use machine translation rather than human translation for WEAs and would include translations for only 13 languages. Following multiple severe weather emergencies throughout Illinois and across the country, Raoul and the coalition urge the FCC to adopt its alternative proposal to use reliable human translators instead of machine translation, and to increase the number of available languages from 13 to at least 25. “Earlier this month, severe storms caused significant damage when the swept across a number of Illinois communities.

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WOOD RIVER - A developer has canceled their plans to build a wedding venue in Wood River’s Belk Part after a lengthy public hearing last week where 17 residents spoke against the project. Knotting Hills Wedding & Event Venue , with one location in Pevely, Mo., will likely relocate the project elsewhere. “We are disappointed that the acts of some residents have resulted in the developer of the possible wedding venue pulling their interest in Wood River,” Mayor Tom Stalcup wrote in a statement on Facebook . “We were looking forward to growing that relationship.” “Many other municipalities have reached out to this developer and we wish them nothing but success wherever they choose to locate. We hope that actions of some do not tarnish the reputation our community has built to being a business and development friendly municipality.” Mayor Stalcup further clarified those “actions of some” as “threats and personal attacks”

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GREENE COUNTY - A 2003 Cadillac Escalade was pulling a boat while traveling westbound on Illinois Route 108 on the Kampsville Ferry when the brakes of the vehicle failed. The vehicle struck the gate stopping westbound traffic, passed the gate, and plummeted into the Illinois River. The Illinois State Police Troop 8 handled the situation. The state police said there were no injuries in the incident. "Traffic was rerouted to the Hardin Bridge until approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday when the ferry was re-opened. No further information was available."

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 Board recognized the high school’s drama club during their board meeting on Monday, July 24. The Edwardsville High School (EHS) drama club was recognized for its successful production of “SpongeBob the Musical” last spring. The club won six awards and performed at The Fabulous Fox Theater through the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards. “I think Emily and I both knew that this show was special, and it just became something more special when others recognized how special we believed it was,” Ashley Melton, EHS drama teacher and director, told the school board. The drama club received nine nominations and took home six awards, including recognitions for the ensemble, costume design and musical direction. They also won “The Outstanding Musical Production (Level 1) Award.” As part of the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards, the cast of “SpongeBob th

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ALTON - Alton Mayor David Goins announced at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, July 24 that he will be holding future meetings to discuss the best ways to use remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address homelessness in the city. Mayor Goins said he’s “in the process of reaching out to various organizations and entities” that fall under the categories of affordable housing/homelessness, economic development/small business support, and youth development/learning/recovery programs. “In all of these I’m reaching out to various entities,” Mayor Goins said. “In regards to affordable housing and homelessness, reaching out to many entities because the best way we’ve figured out how to do this is just to bring the various stakeholders … and to sit down and come up with a plan on how best to utilize this ARPA funding, basically get the most bang for our buck.” Mayor Goins added that the overall goal

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EDWARDSVILLE — Treasurer Chris Slusser reported to Madison County officials Wednesday on the explosive growth of its investments. “We are on pace for record returns on county investments,” Slusser said. “We are projecting $9.7 million in investment income this year, up from a previous record of $5.1mil last year.” Slusser presented an investment report at the Madison County Board Meeting last week, showing the increase in investment income. From 2011 to 2016 the county earned an average of $747,000 annually, Slusser said. “We took over in 2017, and since that time, we’ve averaged $4.41 million per year,” he said. “That’s a $31 million increase in the past 6+ years.” Slusser said he used his 15 years of investment experience to overhaul the county’s portfolio since taking office in late December 2016. “We focused on increasing income by diversifying the portfolio and actively managing the funds,”

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GLEN CARBON - Jacob Huber finished his illustrious track/field career at the IHSA Boys State Track and Field Championships at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, racing to an All-State fifth-place finish in the 400-meter run in 50.26 in Class 1A. Jacob is a Byron, Carlson, Petri and Kalb male athlete of the month for the Griffins. He was an exceptional athlete and also starred in basketball. He is a three-time IHSA State Track/Field State qualifier. Jacob now holds Father McGivney Catholic High School records in the 100 meters (11.43), 200 meters (22.90), 400 meters (50.26), long jump (20' 9.25"), and was a member of the 4 x 400-meter relay team with Brandon Ahring , Andrew Dupy, and Tyler Guthrie (3:44.83). Jacob's state final time of 50.26 would also have placed him seventh in 2A, and eighth in 3A; one quarter mile at an astounding 18 mph. He is the second All-State track/field boy athlete after Tyler Guthrie's 3,200-meter race in 2021. Jacob was an excellent student an

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court in East St. Louis announced on Monday a U.S. District judge sentenced a California man to spend 100 months in federal prison after he admitted to distributing methamphetamine to southern Illinois. Jewelion Yarbrough, 34, of, Long Beach, California, pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. In addition to the prison sentence, Yarbrough will serve three years of supervised release. “The defendant tried to elude detection by mailing methamphetamine inside of children’s toys and a small appliance box, which could have easily landed in the wrong hands if mistakenly delivered to an incorrect address,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I’m grateful to the agents who worked this case and apprehended this criminal.” “Drug trafficking continues to fuel much of the violent crime that ATF investigates. There is no question that the cooperative efforts of the DEA, Postal Inspection

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EDWARDSVILLE - Alton High basketball junior-to-be Kobe Taylor will be a key part of the upcoming season as the Redbirds look to turn the corner and show improvement in the basketball program, which has gone a combined 10-48 during the last two seasons, but is ready to have a breakout season in 2023-24. Taylor, who as a sophomore averaged 4.3 points and 1.1 rebounds-per-game, played well but lost a tough decision to Confluence Academy 44-34 in the recent Edwardsville NCAA Live Showcase event at Lucco-Jackson Gym. Nevertheless, the Redbirds played well and showed vast improvement that will serve them very well in the regular season. Taylor is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds for his work ethic in the summer. "I think we can just play harder," Taylor said in a postgame interview. "We did good, but we didn't do good enough. We needed to fight harder, rebound, take care of the ball. We'll be alright." Taylor does feel that the Redbirds have put much time into

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois State Fair invite veterans and their family members to enjoy a free day at the Illinois State Fair on Sunday, August 13, 2023. This annual event offers exciting events, programs, and music. It concludes with a parade led by state officials and IDVA Assistant Director Anthony Vaughn along with veterans’ organizations, JROTC teams, and IDVA staff. This year’s theme is “No One Fights Alone.” Veterans and their families can show any form of military ID for free admission. Parking is not included. The schedule of events is as follows: 10:00 a.m. JROTC competition begins 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Veteran Benefit Expo: The Shed 11:00 a.m. Main Program 11:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Entertainment: Lincoln Stage 3:00 p.m. JROTC Award Ceremony 4:00 p.m. Veteran Parade:

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SPRINGFIELD — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a leading Catholic health ministry with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, announced today that Kevin L. Lewis, MD, CPE, FAASM, will join the system’s executive leadership team as senior vice president and chief physician executive on Aug. 28. “Dr. Lewis brings an ideal mix of health care leadership experience and passion for our mission,” said Damond Boatwright, president and chief executive officer, HSHS. “He is a proven leader with a track record of success spanning two decades. His background in Catholic health care will support our mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love as we carry forward the legacy of the Hospital Sisters.” A pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine physician by training, Dr. Lewis practiced for 15 years before fully focusing on his journey as a health care executive. He previously served as the Regional President and CEO of SSM Health Medical Group

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GLEN CARBON - A presentation was given at the last Glen Carbon Village Board meeting earlier this month to teach Glen Carbon trustees and residents about the opioid epidemic, dangers of fentanyl, how to use NARCAN, and much more. Katie Robberson, a former ECUSD No. 7 Board member, was joined by Violette Book of Chestnut Health Systems for the presentation. Robberson began by citing the story of Anna Schmidt , an 18-year-old Edwardsville High School senior who died from a fentanyl overdose earlier this summer. She said Anna’s family gave her permission to use her name and share her story. “Her parents, by all accounts, had done everything right,” Robberson said. “They had hard conversations and had systems in place … they had done all the things that a parent today would think to do to protect their children.” She then shared part of the viral Facebook post explaining the entirety of Anna’s story, which can be read here . She include

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EDWARDSVILLE – This year’s Green Thumb nominations yielded a bumper crop of award recipients for the Edwardsville Beautification and Tree Commission. The annual awards honor efforts to beautify the City through landscaping, flowering and gardening projects. For 2023, 16 properties throughout Edwardsville are receiving Green Thumb Awards, and will show off the honor with a Green Thumb sign on site for about a month. Over the past 24 years, the commission has honored more than 200 properties, including homes, neighborhoods, businesses, civic sites and other locations. “Green Thumb Awards not only recognize well-curated yards, but honor the creativity and passion these recipients have for the art of gardening,” said Sarah Cundiff, the chairman of this volunteer committee, which helps oversee landscaping and plantings at various City sites, including downtown. The awards wouldn’t be possible without the observations and appreciation of nature’s finery

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ALTON - The Alton Fire Department battled a difficult fire in hot conditions at 9:16 p.m. Sunday in the 3700 block of Horn Avenue. Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer said when the fire department arrived, the house was fully involved with fire coming out of multiple windows. He said the firefighters confirmed in rapid fashion that there were not any occupants in the fire. “The humidity was pretty bad, so our people took breaks and made a fairly quick hit on it,” he said. “We called in the State Fire Marshal to investigate and they are still investigating with the Alton Police Department.” Fischer said he couldn’t state the cause of the fire at this point as the State Fire Marshal’s investigation continues.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Vandalia, Illinois man prosecuted by his office was sentenced to 30 years in prison for possessing, reproducing and disseminating child pornography and indecent solicitation of an adult. The guilty plea and sentence are the result of an investigation Raoul’s office conducted into an alleged child pornography ring operating in Fayette County. Ferrell Mason Kissiar, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of dissemination of child pornography, a Class X felony; one count of reproduction of child pornography, a Class X felony; two counts of possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony; and one count of indecent solicitation of an adult, a Class 1 felony. Kissiar was sentenced to 30 years in prison by 4th District Circuit Judge Martin Siemer. Two other defendants in the case pleaded guilty in May to charges stemming from their involvement in the alleged child pornography ring. Andrew Wehrle, 39, of Vandalia, and Amber Wehrle,

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ST. LOUIS - Boeing has announced its future aerospace program would be a $2 billion investment in St. Louis which would create 500 jobs. The company will seek tax breaks and Boeing is in discussions with St. Louis International Airport about the expansion. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page issued this statement: “This project will reinforce our dominance as a region that builds the future of aviation, creates pathways to exciting careers, and showcases the pride and talent of St. Louis County.” Boeing would receive tax breaks on the expansion that would amount to a 50% break on real and personal property tax for 10 years if St. Louis County approves the proposal. There would be no tax breaks on existing taxes. Boeing announced on Monday it is deepening support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its efforts to promote aerospace safety, security and sustainability. The company today named its first liaison to the United Nations agency, which is

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WOOD RIVER - At 4:09 a.m. on Monday, July 24, the Wood River Police Department received a 911 call reporting a person had been shot near the 800 block of Tennyson St. in Wood River. Emergency personnel and Wood River Police responded immediately. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said: "The Wood River Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services responded and began to treat the victim at the scene. Several people were at the single-family residence. Several police agencies, including the Madison County Sheriff’s Officer, the Alton, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford, East Alton, and Bethalto Police Departments, responded to assist Wood River Police officers at the scene. "The victim was transported by ambulance to the Wood River Police Department, where he was transferred to a helicopter. He was flown to a St. Louis area hospital. The victim died at the hospital of an apparent gunshot wound."An autopsy is pending. The victim was identified as Wood River resident Jacob A. Wall,

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