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PIASA - Southwestern senior Rocky Darr has been creating big plays on the football field and the basketball court in his time in Piasa Bird Green and Gold. On the football field, Rocky’s presence is felt on both sides of the ball. A weapon on offense, both as a wideout and a running back, with 599 total yards. On defense, Darr is a vital cog in the Southwestern linebacker corps, often breaking through offensive lines for big tackles. On the hardwood, Rocky Darr turns more into a facilitator, the Piasa Birds offense relies on Darr from the point to run their offense. Darr is one of four seniors on the Southwestern basketball team, and his experience comes through when talking to him. Following a recent defeat on the road to the Roxana Shells, Rocky sounded almost coach-like in his analysis of his team’s performance. “Too many turnovers, but we stuck to our game plan.” “You have to see the base of the game, if it’s a physical game, be physical

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ST. LOUIS - Ameren co-workers love their libraries. The company has awarded $200,000 in grants to 100 public libraries throughout its Missouri and Illinois service territory as part of Ameren's Love Your Library program. The libraries awarded were chosen based on nominations from Ameren co-workers. Ameren co-workers noted how their own local library shaped their love for reading, and the joy their children have experienced there as they built early literacy skills. Beyond books, these libraries are also providing free summer programming, internet access, job resources, polling stations and other services that directly impact the community. "Part of our Ameren Cares mission is to advance institutions such as public libraries that create thriving communities," said Gwen Mizell , senior vice president, chief sustainability, diversity & philanthropy officer at Ameren. "From educational workshops to internet access to toddler story times to a cool place to gather on the hottest days,

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Human Services’ (IDHS) State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs) are amplifying COVID-19 testing and infection-prevention policies as a response to increased cases among residents and staff. SODCs provide residential programs to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities who have severe medical and/or behavioral needs. IDHS operates seven developmental centers in the state. Across the state, COVID-19 laboratory confirmed cases and COVID-19 related hospitalizations have increased by nearly 50% since early November, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As of December 6, there were 58 residents, out of approximately 1,650 total, and 35 staff, out of approximately 3,500 total, who have tested positive for COVID-19 since November 20, with nearly all presenting mild symptoms. SODC staff have provided positive residents and patients with treatment, including antiviral medication as appropriate. Only

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has granted nearly $9.2 million to 44 organizations, including 21 community colleges, throughout Illinois to help address education and unemployment gaps. Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey was part of the grants, and will receive $88,000 for the objective of wrap-around support services. The funding will be used to help minority and low-income students as well as individuals with disabilities remove barriers to completing their education and career goals through the Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant program (IBT). “Closing the equity gap in higher education is a critical priority of the Illinois Community College Board, and this grant funding helps community colleges and other organizations throughout Illinois do that. These financial resources help provide effective equitable education and career opportunities for thousands of Illinoisans who may otherwise not have the opportunity to better

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ALTON - Jules Fair’s multimedia artwork could be described as “meditative,” to say the least. Fair hasn’t always had an easy journey, but those struggles have allowed the Milton Schoolhouse Artist of the Month to help other people navigate life through meditation, self-care and guided art practices. Meanwhile, her own art has grown over the years and made Fair one of the most prominent artists in the Riverbend. “During the lockdown for COVID, I had already been going through some tough times before, and I needed a way to feel better. So I decided to sit with myself and learn as much as I could about meditation and how we can rewire our mind,” Fair remembered. “I take the concepts that I sit with in meditation or through an active meditation like dance, I take those ideas and those concepts and I transmute them into a 2D or 3D piece of art.” As Fair’s meditation practice expanded, so did her art. She soon found herself drawing,

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Gaming Board (the "IGB" or "Board") held its final regular meeting of the year today as it works to close out a historic and productive 2023 that included the opening of four newly authorized casinos and two sportsbooks, licensing of more than 200 new video gaming establishments, issuing numerous other licenses and regulatory approvals, adopting significant new rules, and taking impactful enforcement and disciplinary actions. “We have achieved a lot this year to further strengthen and advance Illinois gaming, ensure a high level of integrity and ethics, safeguard public trust, and generate critical revenue for communities across our State,” said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “I am thankful for and proud of our outstanding Board members and staff who deserve much credit for their work, dedication and accomplishments.” During the meeting, the Board approved four rules to assist in the implementation of the recently enacted Publi

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PALOS HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS - Three students from Roxana High School were selected to participate in the Illinois All-State Choirs. Troy Rah-Bass 1, All-State Honors Chorus. Joseph Whetzel-Bass 2, All-State Chorus. Gianna Visser-Soprano 1, All-State Chorus. During the fall of 2023, over 10,000 students from elementary, junior high and high schools around Illinois participated in a virtual audition process and of those auditions, more than 7,000 students were selected to participate in district festivals celebrating student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses and jazz ensembles. Roxana High School Choir Director Erin E. Falloon said the selection of three students for All-State was a "huge accomplishment for our student musicians." "I am super proud of them," she said. "The process for the auditions is pretty involved and it takes a lot of time and diligence to get things together for all-state. It is like being selected for an all-state team in sports. Those selected get to sing

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 partnered with All God's Children Shall Have Shoes for its annual event Friday at Famous Footwear in Alton Square Mall. All God's Children Shall Have Shoes is an annual free socks and shoes program for local schools in the metro area. Over 130 students from Frohardt, Grigsby, Lake Maryville, Mitchell, Prather and Wilson Schools participated in the event. "We had an amazing day giving out so many pairs of shoes and socks," said Sue Wooden , All God's Children Shall Have Shoes Administrator. "We do this so the kids can have something new for themselves. This event really touches our heart." Volunteers met the students to size and assist them in picking out a pair of shoes and a package of socks to take home. Students also received a cookie from The Cookie Factory. Buses were donated from First Student, Inc. to transport the students to and from Famous Footwear, while each school provided social workers and

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ALTON - Valcour Development announced late Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, that it is pleased to announce three new tenants to the Alton Circle Center Development at 1721 Homer M. Adams Parkway in Alton - Marshalls, Ulta Beauty and Five Below. Valcour said the three businesses have signed leases and will soon join the existing Big Lots, Goodwill, AT&T Store, and the brand-new Starbucks at Alton Circle Center. Valcour said Friday the new stores will fill the space left vacant after the closure of Schnucks in 2020. Work has begun on the total redevelopment of Alton Circle Center and is expected to continue through late 2024. In addition to the new stores, the project includes a refresh of the entire center, including new facades and storefronts, new parking lot paving and lighting, a new roof, improved vehicular access from Buckmaster Lane, and improved stormwater drainage. Valcour Development principal Mark Breihan, made this statement: “We are thrilled to bring new life to the property,

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater’s Extra Extra Entertainment Series is kicking off with the sold-out Best of the Best Christmas Concert, the Actor’s Studio Series, a $1,000 grand prize audition competition for their upcoming “Best of the Best Country Love” show, and much more. ALT Executive Director Lee Cox shared more details about the theater’s upcoming events on the most recent “ Theater Thursday ” segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . One of them, the Actors Studio Series, gives young performers a chance to be noticed by talent scouts. “If you provide a showcase and even support for young performers, they can get to a decent school, they can be scouted by a talent scout,” Cox said. “I also like to showcase playwrights that don’t get that mainstream attention.” One of the upcoming shows in the Actor’s Studio Series is “Two Rooms,” which follows the story of a young newlywe

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EDWARDSVILLE – For the second year in a row, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) will host more than a dozen robots and their teen creators, families and spectators for a qualifying meet. Free to the public, the Southern Illinois Robotics League will take over the SOE atrium adhering to strict rules in size and safety to bring loads of ingenuity and fun. The meet will take place on the SIUE campus on Saturday, December 9. “Each robot has a personality,” said Jon Klingensmith, PhD, associate professor and chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering in SOE. “We named ours Dr. Evil.” Klingensmith is an assistant coach of one of the 15 teams in the League. “We started hosting events here and see kids from 7th to 12th grade from East St. Louis and Granite City, to a couple of home-schooled teams in the Mascoutah area. They also come from Centralia High School all the way down to Marion, who will

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EAST ALTON - There are two things to know about Wyatt “Salty” Salters: He comes from a long line of veterans, and he loves hockey. The 15-year-old hockey player decided to skate a 5K to raise money for Disabled American Veterans (DAV) . Salters took to the ice on Nov. 30, 2023, to skate 32 laps around the East Alton Ice Arena, the equivalent of 3.1 miles. In doing so, he fundraised for DAV to help more veterans transition to civilian life, navigate benefits and receive assistance where needed. “I feel very responsible to be a big part of it and very honored to help,” Salters said. He explained that this wasn’t his first year participating in the 5K, but he never considered skating it before. His family thought it would be a unique way to combine his interests and draw some attention to the cause. While most people would be exhausted after 32 laps around the ice rink, Salters said “it was easy” because he is constantly skating during

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Lori Cashdollar is a standout Edwardsville High School graduate and former top-notch student-athlete. She was a state qualifier in both cross country and track and field for the Tigers and a star college athlete in Chicago. This was a viewpoint she shared earlier this week after Taylor Swift's announcement as Person Of The Year. At a time I feel like I’ve needed it the most, I’m seeing so many women on a daily basis coming together and being role models I can look up to. I don’t always remember it being like this. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize history when you’re living through it, but I truly feel the narrative for women is changing right in front of my eyes, especially this year. I’ve never really considered myself a feminist nor do I typically gawk over people in the spotlight, but this particular article was truly incredible. After reading it, I felt so emotionally and physically empowered. In this day and age with violence,

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ALTON - Riverbend residents are invited to tour the Christmas Wonderland display at Rock Spring Park through the end of the holiday season. You can drive through the park to see the lights and decorations every night until Dec. 27, 2023. The display runs from 6–9 p.m. Monday through Friday or 5–9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Grandpa Gang, a local organization that decorates the park, suggests a donation of $10 per car or $1 per person in cars of ten people or more. All proceeds go to organizations throughout the Riverbend region. “Those people that depend on donations, we try to help out,” said Dick Alford, the “Head Grandpa” of the gang. “It’s gratifying, and I think all the grandpas and everybody involved in it feel the same way. They’re just happy to be able to help out.” Alford estimated that they will welcome approximately 30,000 visitors to the park and donate around $50,000 to local nonprofits. While the

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FLORISSANT, MO. - The Jamestown Mall is almost completely gone following the demolition project that started in September. Jamestown Mall was a staple in Florissant since its opening in 1973. At its peak, it was home to over one hundred stores and services, including a movie theater and four anchor stores. The mall became increasingly vacant throughout the early 2000s until it ultimately closed on July 1, 2014. In April 2022, the St. Louis County Council voted to demolish the mall using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. They approved $6 million for the mall’s demolition, which began on Sept. 26, 2023. Target Contractors, LLC has overseen the demolition. There are tentative plans to turn the Jamestown Mall site into an open-air shopping center. Photos courtesy of 618 Drone Service .

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that with the holidays approaching, data indicate that the impact of respiratory viruses is being felt across the state with 44 counties now at an elevated level for COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to the CDC’s national COVID Data Tracker , as of the week ending November 25. COVID-19 hospitalization data indicate that 39 counties are at medium level and five are at high level, while statewide, there were 1,039 new hospitalizations reported, an increase of 20% over the previous week. Data also show that broad acute respiratory hospitalizations are increasing across Illinois including COVID-19, flu and RSV. IDPH officials are especially concerned about pediatric ICU (PICU) capacity which is limited in many areas of the state. Additionally, IDPH announced today that it is launching a new, weekly Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard that will be updated weekly on Fridays after

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ALTON: State's Attorney Tom Haine has filed for re-election in 2024, and will be running unopposed in the Republican primary. “Thank you to all those who have supported our efforts to strengthen our justice system these past few years,” said Haine. “We are proud of what we have accomplished in the fight against crime, but there is so much more we want to do. Our positive momentum needs to continue so our businesses, families, and neighborhoods can truly flourish in a safe environment. That is why I'm running for re-election: to keep justice working." Here are a few highlights of Haine’s administration since taking office in 2020: We defended the rule of law by rejecting prosecutions in Madison County based on the Governor’s COVID executive orders, which contained no legal basis to criminalize the free and lawful daily actions of our citizens. We restarted prosecutions after the COVID shutdown, secured convictions in major murder cases

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EDWARDSVILLE — A jury in federal court returned a verdict Thursday in favor of Madison County in a civil lawsuit stemming from the 2018 arrest of an armed and suicidal motorist. The traffic stop happened on Sept. 11, 2018. The Plaintiff filed a lawsuit in 2019. On Thursday, the jury seated in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois deliberated less than two hours before returning a unanimous verdict in favor of Madison County and two sheriff’s deputies. The plaintiff had alleged that his rights were violated by the deputies’ actions. The following facts were revealed at trial: Police received a report that the plaintiff (who was a concealed-carry card holder known to have many firearms and a trained fighter in mixed martial arts) was in a mental-health crisis, was suicidal, likely armed with a firearm, and mobile in a vehicle. The plaintiff was located by sheriff’s deputies after statewide alerts were issued with this information. After stopping

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GRAFTON - A roundtable discussion between business and community leaders in Jersey and Calhoun Counties is coming up at Aerie's Winery in Grafton on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, starting at 11 a.m. The event will feature several local government and business representatives in a discussion about how to strengthen businesses in the region. The roundtable is being hosted by Greater St. Louis, Inc., which represents the St. Louis region’s civic-minded business community, as part of its effort to develop an initiative to support the St. Louis region’s local small businesses and local business districts. “The STL 2030 Jobs Plan calls for the development of an initiative to strengthen and grow small businesses and local centers of business across the metro,” said Greater St. Louis, Inc. CEO Jason Hall. “Revitalizing and supporting these local business districts will help stabilize communities, revive small businesses, and create new jobs. “As the voice

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 elementary school students were outfitted with new shoes through the organization All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes. On Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, 135 K-6 students journeyed to Alton Square Mall to choose a new pair of shoes at Famous Footwear. Volunteers, including a few Granite City and Madison County officials, were present to help the kids pick shoes and socks that fit them. “This is honestly one of the biggest days of the year for our school district,” said Chris Mitchell, a representative for the district. “This is a great opportunity for us to make a difference in these children’s lives. Especially around the holidays, to get each of these students a new pair of shoes puts a smile on their face.” Mitchell explained that the district’s social workers chose which students would benefit the most from a new pair of shoes. The kids always enjoy choosing a new pair of shoe

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