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SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) has passed a bill that could help alleviate the teacher shortage across the state by providing flexibility and incentives for established educators. “Our teachers are incredibly important and with the teacher shortage still a persistent and serious issue across our state, we must look at collaborative ways to address the issue,” said Senator Harriss. House Bill 1297 would extend the current statute in the pension code to allow teachers the ability to buy up to two years of service credit at a private or parochial school from the Teachers Retirement System. “This bill is a good step in allowing teachers the flexibility to move from the private sector into public schools and buy back their time in the retirement system,” said Senator Harriss. “With the current law set to expire June 30th, this legislation is merely an extension of a sunset now set for 2028 if signed into law.” To qualify

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ALTON - The Alton Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the owner and/or driver of this Chevrolet Malibu in connection with the murder of Tyrone “Marty Lo” Williams which occurred on May 10, 2023 in the 1600 block of Rock Springs Drive. The Malibu is believed to be a model year 2019-2023 appeared to have an Illinois seven-day temporary registration permit affixed to the rear, and is known to frequent the Madison and Venice areas. All tips should be sent via telephone to 618-463-3505 ext 637, text to 618-802-1125, or email to stewart@altonpolice.com .

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ALTON - Principal Tim Harmon views the 2023 Marquette Catholic graduating class as a group of 120 students who have been through a lot over the past four years with the COVID-19 Pandemic, but have moved beyond it and are exceptional people with bright futures ahead. “Every few years, there is a class of students that just resonates with you as a teacher or administrator," he said. "The Marquette Catholic High School Class of 2023 was one of those classes. They have been exceptional in every way, and I am going to miss them dearly. It is bittersweet at the end of each school year as a teacher and administrator. It’s such a great feeling to know that you are sending students out into the world, ready for the next big challenge in life, but it also is difficult to know that you’re not going to get to spend the same amount of time with them anymore and that you’re not there to help them when they need it. "You hope the best for them but also have to know that yo

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ALTON - Virginia Sitzes is one of the favorite residents of River Crossing on Humbert Road in Alton. On Sunday, she marked another Mother’s Day with her family and again had a great day. She has three daughters and she said she was a “stay-at-home mother” when the girls were growing up. Virginia said there are definite advantages of the mother staying home with the children, which is not very common today because of the need for two incomes. She also has grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loves every minute she gets to see them. “My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren mean everything to me,” she said. “I think it paid off for me staying at home with my children to raise them, I personally think it is a lot better. "I love being a mother, but now they wait on me and I enjoy it. I do always love Mother’s Day, it is a very special day for moms.”

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ALTON - Moriah Chumbley always enjoys Mother’s Day, but this year is very special because soon she will own a Habitat for Humanity Home in Alton. The Lewis and Clark Chapter has selected her for their next house in Alton, she said. Moriah describes her family's selection for the Habitat home as "a miracle." Moriah has five children: Ashton, 13, London, 12, Peyton, 9, Madison, 8, and Kameron, 6. Moriah has been a volunteer in the Habitat organization and her dream came true when she was selected to be the recipient of the home. She has also been a volunteer in the community and her church. “I plan to continue to help the Habitat organization in the future,” she said. “I am so excited for each of the children to have their own rooms.” “I love Alton,” Moriah said. “It is a wonderful town. I am a full-time employee of the U.S. Postal Service, based out of St. Louis. I have been working there nine years.” As a Mom, Moriah believes

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas A. Haine announced Friday that a Fredericktown, Mo., man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child. William E. McKay, 37, received the sentence after pleading guilty to one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. “We can’t begin to imagine the trauma that children and their families suffer in cases such as this,” Haine said. “We hope that this sentence allows a measure of healing for the victim, who demonstrated tremendous courage by coming forward.” McKay pleaded guilty to committing a sexual act with a victim younger than 13 between Nov. 1, 2021, and Dec. 26, 2021, in Madison County. The case was investigated by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Madison County Child Advocacy Center and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ali Foley.

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Sodexo is voluntarily recalling 8.53oz packages of Simply To Go Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits and 9.24oz packages Simply To Go Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits because they may contain undeclared soy ingredients. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product. The Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits and Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits are sold in 8.53oz and 9.24oz plastic cups at Sodexo Food Service locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The affected products have the SELL BY dates up to and including 05/08/2023 printed on the label on the lid. Recalled products include Simply To Go Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits, 8.53oz, with UPC 477088125794 and Simply To Go Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits, 9.24oz, with UPC 477088156552 and 477088150550. Recalled codes include ALL SELL BY DATES up to and including 05/08/2023 No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date. Consumers with an allergy or severe

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ST. LOUIS - Eight major infrastructure projects in Madison and St. Clair Counties in southwestern Illinois are receiving more than $41 million in grant funding through the 2023 Illinois Competitive Freight Program. The initiative, which distributes federal infrastructure funds through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), aims to improve the movement of freight and create jobs and economic opportunity while enhancing safety and local quality of life. Successful proposals were ranked based on the plan's goals: increasing safety, improving reliability, and boosting intermodal connections and commerce at the local level. A total of more than $200 million is being invested in 22 projects on established freight routes statewide. "These funds will be used for 22 port, rail, and highway projects in Illinois to address bottlenecks, increase mobility, and improve the supply chain up and down the state,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker when he announced the funding thi

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will celebrate its 52nd annual Commencement back on the Godfrey Campus this year and will feature two keynote speakers – Monticello College alumnae Carol Kempske and L&C Retiring Professor Gerald Mozur. The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Hatheway Cultural Center’s Ann Whitney Olin Theatre, after being held outdoors the past few years due to COVID. “Commencement is a celebration everyone on campus looks forward to every year,” said L&C President Ken Trzaska. “As much as it is an exciting event for our graduates, it also represents the culmination of our entire team’s devotion to helping students make the most of their experience here. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with them.” Kempske will represent Monticello College as a keynote speaker. She attended Monticello, previously located on the grounds where L&C exists today, from 1957-1959. Sh

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GODFREY – The RiverBend Growth Association has chosen its May 2023 Small Business of the Month award honoree to be Freer Auto Body & Accessories, Inc. of Godfrey. Located at 4512 N. Alby Road, Freer Auto Body has been a business mainstay now for 31 years with 16 employees who all have a part in supporting “the dream.” This dream had been launched into reality by a young 19-year-old entrepreneur back in 1991, with help from his grandfather, his brother, and his whole family. David Freer was that young man with a vision. His grandfather was Arnold Freer, an auto body man with a genuine talent. Freer Auto Body remains a true family-owned business today. “We lost David in 2008,” noted Margaret Freer, David’s mother, who helps in keeping his vision going as a part of the family business. “But we have continued his legacy of quality repairs and excellent customer service. We have never forgotten our meager beginnings, and we truly feel the community

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Sergeant Steven Deist recently completed AOC 149 at the University of Louisville. Deist is now the sixth Glen Carbon graduate of this elite police management program, which includes Chief Link, Lt. Ned Miller, Det. Sgt. Greg Boyer, Sgt. Jeff Blind, and Sgt. Justin Click. The Administrative Officers Course (AOC) is an advanced educational and training institute whose mission is to enhance the professional development of law enforcement officers.

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells recently provided more insight into the story behind his department’s collaboration with a local 14-year-old business owner - a story that has proven popular both locally and beyond, and has led to increased business for the teen entrepreneur. Chief Wells said Wood River resident J.T. Thompson reached out to him asking if he would meet with Colton Wilkins, the 14-year-old owner and founder of Colton’s Lawn Care who was looking for work. He set up a meeting with Colton and his mom shortly after. “This kid doesn’t look 14 years old, but he’s a teddy bear - just a good, good kid,” Wells said on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on RiverBender.com . “He says, ‘Look, I just want to work . I’ve got a lawn care business and I would just like to know if there’s something I can do for you.’ “I said, ‘Look, I think if I put this on Facebook, we’ve got

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WOOD RIVER - Saturday, May 20 will be a busy day in Wood River with the Police Department’s 5k Race starting at 1 p.m. and the Summer Kickoff event from 2 to 8 p.m. The day’s activities will feature over 50 vendors, live music, nine food trucks, and more. Festivities will take place along Ferguson Avenue between Wood River Avenue and Second Street. Registration for the 5k Race can be filled out online at this link or in-person before the race with registration beginning at 12 p.m. Wood River Marketing Consultant Kristen Burns and Police Chief Brad Wells appeared on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on RiverBender.com to discuss everything going on at the events. Burns said part of the reason they’re able to have so many vendors and food trucks at the event is because of Wood River’s business community. “We have amazing business owners that step up to the plate and they’ve helped us out,” Burns said. “They’ve got

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HARTFORD - Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn is reporting today a coordinated investigation along with Hartford and Wood River Police Departments into the recovery of human skeletal remains on the property of the old Chemetco Industrial Plant, 3754 Chemetco Lane in Hartford. Nonn said the remains were found Thursday afternoon and the Madison County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene at the request of the Hartford and Wood River Police Departments. Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit also responded and assisted in the search of the area. "The remains were confirmed to be human by Coroner’s Investigator Kelsey Jones and death was pronounced at 3:45 p.m.," Nonn said. "Clothing and other property were recovered. The skeletonized remains were discovered by a person who was doing aerial mapping of the property and promptly reported his finding to local law enforcement." Authorities are aware of a missing person, Vernon Law, who has been missing from Wood River, sinc

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general, submitted a letter to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Committees on Appropriations to request robust funding in the fiscal year 2024 budget for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The letter highlights the critical work performed by LSC’s grantees across Illinois and the nation. The LSC is a nonprofit legal services organization established by Congress in 1974 to promote equal access to justice for all Americans by funding independent nonprofit legal aid programs across the county. The LSC supports equal access to justice by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to those in need and serves as the nation’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. “Every resident in Illinois and across the country has the fundamental right to access fair legal representation,” Raoul said. “The Legal Services

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is inviting community stakeholders to share in a retrospective and celebration of progress toward its strategic goals during the inaugural State of Trailblazer Nation. Two sessions will be held Monday, May 15, in the Hatheway Cultural Center’s Ann Whitney Olin Theatre – an internal session for faculty and staff members in the morning, followed by a public session at 4:30 p.m. “The future of Lewis and Clark Community College is bright,” said President Ken Trzaska. “We intend to highlight our successes and shine a light on the positive directions the college is moving in. We’d like our community stakeholders to have the opportunity to learn more, share in those successes, and engage with us in this important work.” The college’s strategic plan is a 3-year rolling plan that is refreshed annually. It is grounded in four key directions, each of which comprises a list of measurable aspirations

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Community Education division is helping to keep kids busy this summer with more than 20 week-long College for Kids classes. College for Kids is an academic enrichment program designed to keep young minds active as they engage, connect and learn. This year’s line-up of classes includes the popular Junior Explorers Summer Camp, lead by L&C Adjunct Faculty Member and Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Superintendent Bradley Winn. “The Junior Explorers Summer Camp is absolutely one of our favorite projects we do at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site,” Winn said. “The camp provides a hands-on perspective about the extraordinary journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Our camp activities encourage kids to explore a love of history in a fun and team-building environment, setting them on their way to becoming a full-fledged member of the Corps of Discovery.” The 2023 Summer Camps list is as follows:

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SPRINGFIELD — As the state of Illinois and the nation reach a major milestone and end the COVID-related Public Health Emergency (PHE) declarations that have been in place since the beginning of the pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker today declared May 11 “Illinois Public Health & Health Care Hero Day.” The Governor formally issued the proclamation at a worker appreciation event at the Sangamon County Health Department in Springfield alongside the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and other leaders of the state’s public health and healthcare community. “With the heroic efforts of our healthcare workers and institutions, the perseverance and grit of the people of Illinois, and with 26 million vaccine doses administered, I couldn’t be happier to announce today that all national and state COVID-19 related emergency declarations have finally come to an end,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Although today mark

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GODFREY - There was singing, dancing, a party bus, and even some very happy horses... Beverly Farm ’s Spring 2023 Family Weekend was called “the best ever” by many who were fortunate to be a part of it. “We are thankful to the community, our staff, and the families who joined us for the weekend,” said Beverly Farm CEO Crystal Officer. “Life is about creating moments with the people who matter in your life, and the joy on our campus was palpable.” Beverly Farm is the largest employer in Godfrey and is currently celebrating its 125 th anniversary. Top representatives from the community showed up to take part, including members of the Riverbend Growth Association, leaders from Liberty Bank, and Alton Mayor David Goins with his wife, Sheila. Highlights included: A family-favorite concert performed by residents kicked off the weekend and set the tone for the fun ahead. The team hosted a retirement party for three of the horses – Red Rock

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 hosted its 3rd and 4th Grade Spelling Bee Tuesday night at Frohardt 3-4 Education Center. Building winners from Frohardt and Mitchell met to crown the 3rd and 4th grade GCSD9 champion. Frohardt Principal Karen Robertson is GCSD9's coordinator. Congrats to our 12 finalists from each school, and our 3rd and 4th grade winner and runner-up: 3rd Grade Winner: Sophia Villa, Frohardt Runner-Up: Cassanna Brown, Frohardt 4th Grade Winner: Dhani Huff, Mitchell Runner-Up: Chloe Baldwin, Frohardt FINALISTS - Frohardt 3rd Grade Cassanna Brown Karlo Mendez Damien Moore Guadalupe Quintana Nora Randall Sophia Villa 4th Grade Chloe Baldwin Scott Kilmer Molly Mangi Tristan Torres Karch Warren Lydia Woodworth FINALISTS - Mitchell 3rd Grade Layla Craft Lailah Ferguson Abel Gravot Liam Harman Owen Muschler Owen Stratton 4th Grade Maverick Hall Dhani Huff Caleb Morrison Juliett Rapp Spencer

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