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ALTON - Alton High School senior baseball captain and catcher Jayden Diaz has enjoyed a good season for the Redbirds as the calendar is about to turn into May and into the stretch run for the regular season into the IHSA playoffs. Although he went a combined zero-for-three in his team's Southwestern Conference losses to Edwardsville 16-6 on Apr. 25 and 13-1 on Apr. 26 that put Alton's record at 7-13, Diaz has enjoyed a good season to date. Diaz has hit .341 in games through Apr. 26, with three home runs and 13 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of .547 and five stolen bases. He had provided leadership and guidance to the other players on the team and is a team captain who leads by example. For all of his efforts both on and off the field, Diaz has been named an Auto Butler Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Diaz, who plays for head coach Scott Harper, felt good after the Redbirds' loss Apr. 25 and also is trying to keep the team's spirits up, staying positive and upbeat.

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial junior runner Justice Eldridge is the definition of a versatile track star. He's geared more toward the distance side, with the one mile and 800m recently being his races, but can also run the 400m, and two mile. In his last outing on Friday, April 28 at the Triad Knight Invitational, in a field of 32 runners, he took first place in the one mile with a time of 4:29.71. For his running efforts, Justice is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Athlete of the Month for Civic Memorial. He also ran the 4x800m relay where he was his team's anchor (final runner) as the Eagles took third place with a time of 8:03.38. That time broke their previous school record and became the leading time in IHSA Class 2A. "It's a six-second school record. We're really excited with where we're at with about three weeks left," CM track head coach Jake Peal said Saturday afternoon. In his other distance event, the two mile, he recently took second place at the Winston Brown invitational

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EAST ST. LOUIS – With strong support from State Senator Christopher Belt, $200,000 will be coming to the Metro East area to boost local tourism efforts and attract visitors. “This funding will allow us to continue to grow and promote tourism in our region,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Tourism is an important economic driver in the Metro East, and this grant will enable us to build upon current success and attract even more visitors to the area.” Through the Illinois Travel and Tourism Grant Program, a total of $2.9 million is being awarded to 51 grantees to support local tourism promotional efforts. This program provides funding for promotional efforts by local governments, municipalities, non-profits and local promotional groups such as Illinois' Certified Convention and Visitor Bureaus, with the goal of attracting visitors to destinations, attractions, and events throughout Illinois. The City of Fairview Heights and Discover Downstate Illinois will both

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and 18 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf, urging the FDA to promptly finalize its April 28, 2022 announced proposed rules to end the sale of menthol flavor in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars. “We urge the FDA to act with urgency to solidify and enforce the ban on these harmful products,” wrote the Senators. “The harmful effects of these products on public health have been well-understood for several years and cannot be overstated. In 2013, your agency released a report that found that menthol cigarette use is associated with increased smoking initiation among youth and young adults, greater signs of nicotine dependence, and less success in smoking cessation.” The 2013 findings, reinforced by more recent data from 2019, reports nearly 18.6

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GRANITE CITY - Juniors Isaiah Tebbe and Madison Vasiloff of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Rotary Club Students of the Month for April. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the Granite City Rotary Club Meeting on May 16, 2023. ISAIAH TEBBE Marching Warriors Drum Major ... ILMEA All-State ... Two-time Student of the Month ... Student Choice Award ... Marching Warriors Most Versatile Musician Award ... Wind Ensemble Award ... Volunteer at church ... Son of Leanna Tebbe. MADISON VASILOFF Three-year varsity girls soccer letterwinner ... Member of Secondary Honors Program ... Confetti Club/Warrior Flock member ... Volunteer at Relleke's Farm ... St. Louis Post Dispatch Athlete of the Week: 2023 ... Has 29 career

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - The latest update from Illinois State Police on the tragic wind storm that led to a multitude of serious crashes Monday on Interstate 55 in Montgomery County at Milepost 76 is as follows: "At this time, 72 vehicles are reported to have been involved in the crash. A total of 37 people were transported to area hospitals. Injuries range from minor to life-threatening and ages span from 2 years old to 80 years old. "Reports show there are six fatalities, all occurring in the northbound lanes. At this time, one decedent has been identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, WI. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office is working diligently to identify the other five individuals and notify their families. The crashes occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m. on May 1, 2023. Northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 55 were reopened to traffic at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. This information is still preliminary and the ISP continues to investigate

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TORONTO (AP) — Gordon Lightfoot, the legendary folk singer-songwriter known for “If You Could Read My Mind” and “Sundown” and for songs that told tales of Canadian identity, died Monday. He was 84. Representative Victoria Lord said the musician died at a Toronto hospital. His cause of death was not immediately available. Considered one of the most renowned voices to emerge from Toronto’s Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s, Lightfoot recorded 20 studio albums and penned hundreds of songs, including “Carefree Highway,” “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” In the 1970s, Lightfoot garnered five Grammy nominations, three platinum records and nine gold records for albums and singles. He performed in well over 1,500 concerts and recorded 500 songs. He toured late into his life. Just last month he canceled upcoming U.S. and Canadian shows, citing health issues.

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River City Council saw two new council members sworn in and two former council members step down tonight. Bill Dettmers and David Ayers were both sworn in, while Leroy Duncan and Sonya Hagaman stepped down. However, the appointment of several more individuals to various boards and commissions were postponed citing the absence of Councilman Jeremy Plank. One of tonight’s agenda items called for the consideration of a recommendation by Mayor Tom Stalcup to appoint several individuals to the city’s Traffic Commission, Planning Commission, Police and Fire Commissions, the Police & Fire Pension Boards, and many other boards and commissions. Newly seated Councilman Ayres said he’d prefer to table the item until the next meeting until they “have a full council.” “Okay, can I ask you why?” Mayor Stalcup replied. “Well, I’d like to review it,” newly seated Councilman Dettmers said. “Review it?”

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River’s East End Park on 14th Street officially unveiled a new set of pickleball courts to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony late last month. Jason Woody, director of the Wood River Parks and Recreation Department, said this and other park upgrades have been in the works for about a year and a half. “For years, the Parks and Rec Board and us, we’ve been trying to figure out how to get some pickleball courts. It’s not really something we have in this immediate area … and I’m glad we were able to come up with this location,” Woody said, noting its proximity to highways 255 and 143. Woody said the project was partially funded by the Parks and Recreation Department, as well as a Madison County Park Enhancement Program (PEP) grant of $28,000. “I think people are pumped - I mean, we’ve already heard from a lot of people, there’s already been people playing on it,” he said. “I think

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ALTON – Alton Physical Therapy, a leading rehabilitation center, is delighted to announce its new location at 3550 College Ave, Alton, marking a significant milestone in the provision of exceptional care for individuals seeking physical therapy services. Alton PT aims to revolutionize the rehabilitation experience by combining cutting-edge techniques, a patient-centered approach, and a team of highly skilled professionals. At Alton PT, our mission is to empower individuals to regain their mobility, recover from injuries, and enhance their overall well-being. "We understand that every patient is unique, and therefore, we provide personalized treatment plans tailored to meet specific needs and goals. Our team of experienced professionals and support staff work collaboratively to ensure that each patient receives the highest standard of care. Key features that set Alton PT apart from other rehabilitation centers include: Comprehensive Evaluation: Our dedicated team conducts thorough

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JERSEY COUNTY - A GoFundMe has been established by a family member for a 29-year-old man, Damon, who was injured in an accident this past Friday. Kaylia Edmiston, the man's sister, organized the fundraiser to assist him and says he is on life support at the present time. “As some of you may know, my brother who is 29 years old got into a very bad motorcycle accident on 4-28-2023. As of right now he is on life support and fighting for his life, we are asking anyone and everyone to please help if you can,” Kaylia said. “We all live an hour away and we are doing our best to stay near him and support one another, we also need help with getting his three beautiful girls back and forth to school and the hospital, we also need help paying for a place to stay two blocks away from him as we don’t want to go home due to living an hour away. “The funds raised would help his wife, kids, mother, sister, and any other family member who is here staying here. Please

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JERSEYVILLE - Two Jerseyville individuals were charged last week with several crimes including burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, and more, according to recent court filings. Cody Wells, 30, of Jerseyville, and Dawn M. Phillips (also known as Dawn Scoggins, Dawn Day, and Dawn Wells), 43, also of Jerseyville, were both charged with the following: Residential Burglary Unlawful Possession of Stolen Vehicle Theft Criminal Damage to Property Cody was also individually charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. On April 23, the two “entered into the dwelling place” of a resident on Bull Hollow Road in Fieldon, according to court documents. Both were charged with Class 1 felonies. Cody and Dawn were also charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, specifically “a red 2012 Hyundai Elantra,” according to court documents. Class 2 felony charges were filed against both for the vehicle offense. The

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Divernon City Hall is being used as a reunification post for families involved in a massive traffic crash that occurred late this morning on Interstate 55. The accident was at 10:55 a.m. on Monday, May 1, on Interstate 55 near Milepost 76, north of Farmersville in Montgomery County. Illinois State Police has issued a traffic advisory and urges motorists to stay away from the area. Many vehicles, including tractor-trailer vehicles, were involved in the crash. UPDATED AT 3:30 P.M. BRIEF SYNOPSIS: "Preliminary information indicates the following occurred: ISP Troops 6 and 8 responded to the above area for multiple crashes with injuries. Interstate 55 is currently shut down in both directions from milepost 63 to milepost 80. Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust. Traffic is urged to seek alternate routes. "At 10:55 a.m. there was a crash on northbound Interstate 55 at Milepost 76. At the same time, there were numerous crashes

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GRANITE CITY - Schnuck Markets, Inc. announced on Monday that it is recalling 12 pounds of 80/20 fresh ground beef purchased between 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, from its Granite City, Illinois store located 3100 Madison Ave. Schnucks said the product may contain pieces of plastic. Customers who purchased the above product with a sell-by date of May 1, 2023, should return the product to the store for a full refund or exchange. Schnucks officials said to date, there have been no reported illnesses or injuries, and this is an isolated incident that does not affect any other stores. Customers with questions may contact the Schnucks Customer Care team at 314-994-4400 or 1-800-264-4400.

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EDWARDSVILLE – A team of psychology majors along with Jason Finley, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, have spent the academic year utilizing wearable cameras to enhance research on human memory. The group presented their project entitled, “Can Wearable Cameras Stimulate Non-Visual Memory?” at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago, Thursday, April 20. “Our SIUE psychology students were instrumental throughout the project, from planning and crafting materials, to troubleshooting the camera, to walking participants around campus and recording data,” said Finley. “They got to experience all the creativity and rigor involved in psychological science.” Sophia Mohsen, Adrien Vozenilek, Patricia Roberts, Rianna Roush, Justin Pfister, and Anna Hendricks were the students leading the charge for the project, testing to see whether or not videos can evoke a sense of reliving and unlock part of memories that the human brain

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WOOD RIVER - Phillips 66 celebrated April as “Good Energy Month.” Employees around the country participated in company-sponsored service projects and were also encouraged to donate their personal time to support local organizations. Wood River Refinery hosted three service projects during the month. On April 4, 17 employees, including members of the Refinery’s Environmental team, donated 68 hours to support the Edwardsville Children’s Museum Micro Forest. “This is our third year supporting the site and it has been great to see the native trees start to grow,” says Melissa Erker, Director of Government and Community Relations. In addition to providing volunteer support, Phillips 66 sponsors the interactive STEM Forest exhibit at the Children’s Museum and provided a $40,000 grant in 2022 to support the Citizen’s Science Program and new pollinator garden project. On April 20, 16 employees donated 108 hours to support HeartLands Conservancy.

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WOOD RIVER - Tonight marks the first night Wood River City Council meetings will be livestreamed on Riverbender.com . You can watch tonight’s meeting and all future meetings on the Riverbender.com Facebook live video page or Riverbender.com/video/live . Tonight's meeting agenda includes the swearing in of new council members Bill Dettmers and David Ayers, both of whom have spoken out against several of the previous council’s decisions and projects. Councilmembers Sonya Hagaman and Leroy Duncan will step down to conclude their term of office. The Wood River City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. More information about the council is available on the city’s website , as is a full list of their meeting agendas . These livestreams are sponsored by Gateway Pension Services Ltd. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, and celebrating 37 years in business. Gateway Pension Services has a highly trained staff of consultants,

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CHICAGO - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin today in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider the recently announced $462 million multistate settlement with Juul Labs Inc. (Juul) as the federal agency sets policies regulating e-cigarettes. In 2019, Illinois was among the first states in the country to sue Juul, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of e-cigarettes, alleging the company marketed its harmful nicotine products to minors. Raoul’s office co-led negotiations, which resulted in the largest settlement any states have reached with Juul to hold the company accountable, as well as the most stringent restrictions under any state settlement on Juul’s marketing, sales and distribution practices. In a letter addressed to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, Durbin and Raoul, both longtime advocates for protecting youth from the dangers of smoking and e-cigarette use, ask the FDA to consider

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GODFREY – With increased local demand for paralegals, Lewis and Clark Community College is doing what it can to fill those positions by offering all Paralegal program courses in an eight-week format over the 2023 Summer semester. This is the first time all the program’s online classes have been offered in an eight-week format during the summer. According to Program Coordinator Becky Gockel, some of the classes don’t require prerequisites, such as Bankruptcy Law, Wills/Trusts, and Estate Law. These courses may be of interest to community members, even if they are not legal professionals. These and other summer courses, such as Family Law and Torts, are potential continuing education opportunities for paralegals who wish to expand their areas of specialization. “Some of these classes are now open to people who aren’t even in the program,” she said. “I have someone taking the Wills class this semester because she works for an attorney who’s

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CHICAGO - As Illinois residents may contemplate recycling electronic items when spring cleaning their homes, Attorney General Raoul is encouraging them to take advantage of environmentally-friendly recycling programs and to be mindful of potential personally identifying information left on their smart devices. “The proliferation of smart devices has transformed our lives in countless ways, including that people upgrade their devices more frequently,” Raoul said. “We must be mindful, however, of the real environmental effects of e-waste and how to safely dispose of older electronic equipment while protecting sensitive personal information.” Raoul reminds Illinoisans that it is illegal to throw many electronic devices in the trash and that older electronics – including televisions, computers, tablets, gaming systems and telephones – may contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and human health if not properly disposed of and specially

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