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GODFREY - A large portion of the Godfrey Village Board of Trustees meeting on May 16 was spent discussing the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024. A proposed $1.1 million deficit raised a few questions from trustees, who also debated the future health of the village’s finances. Mayor Mike McCormick said that as long as he’s been mayor, the village has always included a deficit in its budget, but has never actually gone into a deficit. He attributed this to department heads who include projects in the budget that don’t get completed. “We’re OKing a budget to go ahead and overspend by $1.159 million,” Trustee Rich Lauschke said. “Why don’t we tighten it up to where we’re really going to spend it? Because we did the same thing last year, and I think we’re betting that the capital projects don’t get done and therefore we end up not spending as much money, but we have given approval to go into a negative budget.”

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PIASA - Southwestern Middle School announced its PBIS Students of the Month for April. Photographed above, from left to right, are Brody Gable, Landon Luebbert, Alexis Hart, Kimorie Lahai-Pumagoi, Ari Davenport and Wyatt Reno. They were nominated according to the word of the month - Trustworthy. Also, for being Respectful, Responsible and Saf, they all received a Dairy Queen lunch of their choice.

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BELLEVILLE - To encourage residents of all ages to stay active this summer, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) – in partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) – is once again sponsoring its Summer Riding Program. The program allows participants to track miles and earn prizes as they bike, walk, wheel, run, skate or skip along the MetroBikeLink System, which boasts 14 miles of continuous trails and bike paths adjacent to the MetroLink alignment in Southwestern Illinois. Registration is now open and can be completed at www.scctd.org . The summer-long effort officially gets underway on Saturday, May 20, with a “Day on the Trails” event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Belleville Transit Center. This event is free and open to the public. “This program is much like those offered through libraries incentivizing kids to read, but instead of reading a certain number of minutes to earn prizes, participants track miles on the MetroBikeLink System,”

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford has provided an update on the shooting that occurred in Alton on Tuesday afternoon. This was his updated report: "At 2:59 p.m. on May 16, 2023, the Alton Police Department received a report of a gunshot being fired in the 2600 block of Maxey Street, Alton, Illinois. "Officers responded and located one male subject who had been shot. The male subject was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later to a St. Louis area hospital for additional medical care. His injuries are non-life threatening. "While at the scene, an armed suspect was encountered. Officers showed great restraint in safely taking the suspect into custody. Physical evidence related to the shooting was recovered. The suspect is currently in custody at the Alton City Jail." Ford continued and said the Alton Middle School was placed on a brief lockdown simply out of an abundance of caution until officers could determine the area was safe. "There was never any active

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GODFREY - The Godfrey Village Board of Trustees welcomed two new members at their meeting on May 16, including new trustees Craig Lombardi and Mike Fisher. Karen McAtee was reappointed to the board, while trustees Ben Allen and Virginia Woulfe-Beile officially stepped down. Allen thanked his fellow trustee and Mayor Mike McCormick, saying he greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve on the Village Board. I want to thank this council for letting me serve with them. I’ve truly enjoyed it, I’ve learned a great deal,” Allen said. “I’m really proud of some of the things that we’ve gotten done, I consider all you people close friends and I’m happy to have served with you. Mr. Mayor, it’s been a privilege and you are a friend and always will be a friend. You’ve done a great job and I appreciate you appointing me six years ago … I’ve enjoyed this process.” Woulfe-Beile was also thankful for the opportunity

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ALTON - These are some views of construction work going on at the Old Wedge Bank location that will become the Wedge Innovation Center in the 600 block of East Broadway. The new venue will become an entrepreneurial and business accelerator, incubator, digital hub, and co-working space. The Wedge will be designed as an accelerator, incubator, co-working space, and digital hub focused on social impact innovation and specializing in livability, clean tech, and climate tech to benefit everyday lives. The Wedge will support early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship, and financing. It will house startups, space for individuals or teams, and more established companies that want to accelerate their businesses or develop new technologies, products, or systems. AltonWorks is collaborating with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) on management and operations for The Wedge. A total of $3 Million of the $21 Million project for the Wedge Innovation Center is

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ALTON - Alton Police and Fire Departments responded to a call about a person who had been shot on Maxey Street on Tuesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. The shooting was in the same area (2600 block of Maxey) where a 15-year-old Alton male was shot and killed on May 2, 2023. Alton Police responded to that scene at 12:50 p.m. on May 2 and discovered the 15-year-old had been shot in the chest. He was transported to a local hospital, but despite lifesaving efforts, the victim died of his injuries. A 19-year-old and another juvenile have been charged with that shooting. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said it was still too early to release exact details of Tuesday's shooting, but he confirmed that the scene is secure. He made the following statement: "This was not a random act. Alton Middle School was on lockdown when we got the call, but it is no longer on lockdown. The lockdown was done out of an abundance of caution until we could determine the area was safe." The chief stated that

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WOOD RIVER - As Yogi Berra would say, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Once more, we’re looking at Metro East Sanitary District. Hans Brinker was a Dutch boy who saved his country by putting his finger in the dike. But MESD commissioners have their fingers in the cookie jar. So what do they do? They don’t remove their hand from the cookie jar. They run to Springfield and ask the Democrat super majority to make taking cookies OK. Current law limits MESD commissioners’ salaries to not exceed what county board members receive in Madison or St. Clair counties, whichever is less. (70 ILCS 2905/3-4) Madison County board members receive $14,500/year, significantly less than St. Clair. But in addition to their salary, they also receive health insurance, worth more than $10,000/year — better insurance than is available to many in the private sector. On April 26, Rep. Jay Hoffman, D - Belleville, sponsored HB 0476 that will allow MESD t

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ALTON - Alton Memorial Hospital extended congratulations to Janet Nunley of the ICU, who is Alton Memorial Hospital’s May Employee of the Month! She received the award on May 16 from Annette McCauley, manager of the ICU, and AMH President Dave Braasch. Janet, the department’s vascular access nurse, was nominated by McCauley, who wrote that Janet “is a one-woman team." "Her role is so critical to the care of our patients," McCauley said. "Her hard work, dedication, and attitude have made a significant impact and have contributed to the AMH goal of providing excellent care. Her patients and the staff tell me often how wonderful she is."

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ALTON - Local Homeschool Sophomore, Blake Schaper attended the Illinois State Academic Challenge in April and competed against students from around the state in Both Mathematics and English through the administration of a written timed exam at Eastern Illinois University. Over 3,200 students participated in Academic Challenge from schools from all over the State of Illinois. Finishing 1st Place in both English and Mathematics at Sectionals held at Blackburn University, Blake finished out the State Competition 3rd in Mathematics and 5th place in English. The Academic Challenge event is a high school competition that was created and conducted annually by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Engineering WYSE Outreach Program for about 40 years and tests top students in two areas of their preference. Subject Choices are English, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering Graphics, Chemistry, or Biology. Blake likes to take these above-level exams to challenge

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EDWARDSVILLE - The public celebrated a Clock Tower Rededication and witnessed a time capsule opening on Saturday in Edwardsville in the 200 block of North Main Street. The City of Edwardsville's Historic Preservation Commission hosted a rededication of the Edwardsville Clock Tower - 25 years after it was built. The Clock Tower Rededication also celebrated the 100th anniversary since the historic Edwardsville National Bank Clock, which hangs at the tower, was first erected in the City. The event was well-attended by Edwardsville residents and those around the region. A time capsule that was embedded in the tower when it was built in 1998 was opened and the contents were revealed during the event, which coincides with National Preservation Month. The clock was a fixture on the Edwardsville National Bank Building at St. Louis and North Main streets for nearly 70 years. It was purchased for the newly constructed building that rose five stories into the downtown skyline in 1923. The clock

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased in a homicide that occurred in the 100 block of Shepley Drive has been identified as Cassandra Cole, 34 years of age, of the 200 block of Glen Garry Road in St. Louis, Missouri 63137. The male and female victims are expected to survive their injuries. St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives continue to investigate the crime. These are the details that have been released by police so far: "At 9:04 p.m. on May 15, 2023, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 100 block of Shepley Drive. Arriving officers located an adult male and an adult female suffering from apparent gunshot injuries. Both were transported to area hospitals for treatment. The female victim later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased. An additional victim, an adult female, walked to a nearby residence and was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening

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EDWARDSVILLE – Dan Lowery has filled many roles throughout his life, from military veteran to successful entrepreneur to political figure. As he reflects on his long and storied career, Lowery attributes the bulk of his business knowledge and success to the education he received as a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Business. Lowery’s journey in higher education began while pursuing a degree in physics and math at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. When his GPA dropped below the student grade requirement, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served for four years during the Vietnam War. Following his time in the Air Force, Lowery chose to enroll at SIUE, where he earned a bachelor’s in management information systems in 1973. This degree provided Lowery with the springboard he needed to launch his career in the corporate world. Lowery spent eight years working at IBM as a new account salesperson and eventually realized hi

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Rising majestically from the landscape of East St. Louis, Illinois, the Gateway Geyser is a powerful testament to human ingenuity and ambition. This 630-feet tall water fountain, one of the tallest in the world, is an iconic centerpiece of the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park and a cherished symbol of the city's relationship with its neighboring metropolis, St. Louis, Missouri. The Gateway Geyser was first unveiled in 1995 as part of an extensive initiative to rejuvenate and beautify the East St. Louis waterfront. Its inauguration marked a new chapter for the city, symbolizing its transformative journey and adding a unique feature to its skyline that rivaled the grandeur of the Gateway Arch located just across the Mississippi River. This man-made marvel was made possible through intricate engineering and design. Its remarkable height is achieved by three 800-horsepower pumps that can propel 7,500 gallons of water per minute straight up into the sky at a speed of 250

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WOOD RIVER - At the Wood River City Council meeting on May 15, several of Mayor Tom Stalcup’s suggested appointments to various boards and committees around the city were mostly approved, pending further discussion on the appointments to the Planning & Zoning Board. These appointments were all originally supposed to be voted on last week, but newly-elected Councilmen Bill Dettmers and David Ayers requested more time to review the list. At the May 15 meeting, Dettmers asked the council to “withhold any appointments to the Planning Commission at this time, as there are additional discussions to be had.” Mayor Tom Stalcup further clarified that the city has a rule against individuals and their spouses serving on the same committee, and the current list of potential Planning Commission appointees includes two spouses. The council agreed to approve the item as amended, and the Planning Commission will be voted on at a later date. The rest of the mayor’s appointments

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ALTON - YWCA Southwestern Illinois recently hosted its successful 32nd Annual Women of Distinction Gala at Julia's Banquet Center in East Alton. The event recognized and celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of Felicia Alexander, Erin Bickle, Lisa Brown, Creola Davis, Christine M. Favilla, Bonnie Hindelang, Dr. Dorothy Mosby, Dr. Ameera Nauman, Stephanie Schrage, and Maura Wuellner. Dorothy Hummel, Executive Director of YWCA, expressed her gratitude to the dedicated Women of Distinction Event Committee, which consisted of Desira Caffey and Yolanda Crochrell as Co-Chairs, along with Rena Brown, Donna Dixon, Chytia Freeman, Jessica Everage, Tawnya Hooper, Monique LeFlore, Kidada Miller, and Christy Mosby. Their tireless efforts and professionalism made the evening truly exceptional and memorable for the honorees. The event was further supported by the YWCA Women of Distinction Academy Members, who played a crucial role in facilitating its success. The Academy Members included

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ALTON - Outdoor recreation and sporting events in southwest Illinois were spotlighted at the recent Sports ETA Annual Symposium with the donation of a hand-painted, hand-crafted canoe to the WIN for KC by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. Bureau staff members Cory Jobe, President/CEO and Jason Troop Director of Sales and Sports Marketing attended the annual symposium held in Kansas City May 8 - 11. The Bureau partnered with Navarro Canoe Company and St. Louis Sign & Mural to donate the Illinois-made canoe for charity. The canoe was painted on site throughout the four-day symposium. “Providing an Illinois-made canoe and having it painted live, on-site, was just one way to raise awareness of the Great Rivers & Routes region to sports stakeholders,” Mr. Jobe noted. “Our presence at the this sports industry event was an important way to spread the word that our region is a great place to hold future sporting events.” The hand-painted canoe raised more

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SPRINGFIELD — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is now accepting applications for a statewide winter New Graduate RN Residency Program, a paid program for nurses to transition to professional practice. For nurses with less than a year of hospital experience, the residency combines classroom lectures, hands-on activities and clinical scenario simulation with the support of a highly skilled education team. It is designed to ease the transition of newly graduated nurses from the classroom setting to the clinical practice environment, to promote quality and safety and reduce turnover rates for first-year nurses. Nurses returning to the bedside after more than five years in another role may also benefit from the program. Residency participants receive clinical experience with one-to-one preceptors, didactic and simulation practicum, learn complex scenario-based concepts and are provided professional and emotional support to help them be successful in their new careers. As noted,

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STAUNTON - Sara Angel, RN of Community Hospital of Staunton (CHS) was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. Sara, a registered nurse on the Med/Surg Unit at CHS was nominated by an appreciative husband whose wife with special needs was cared for with great compassion by Sara. His anonymous submission read: Sara was my wife’s admitting nurse. She was new to the hospital but had a lot of experience. She admitted my wife and was so very kind to her. My wife had stopped eating and had been told from a previous hospital stay she had dementia. Sara was so very kind to her. She got her cleaned up and talked to my wife like she was a person and not just a patient. My wife was a RN. When Sara found out and started talking to her; my wife lit up. She hadn’t talked nursing in so long with someone that wanted to hear about her. Sara

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair announced three-time Grammy Award-winning entertainer, author, and actor Tim McGraw will headline the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Thursday, August 17. McGraw has sold more than 90 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 46 number one singles. McGraw is one of the most successful touring acts in the history of country music. His projects have spawned some of the most meaningful songs of all time, including “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “Humble and Kind,” whose messages continue to impact fans around the world. His newest single, “Standing Room Only,” launched with the most first-week streams of any track in McGraw’s career. “We are excited to add one of country music’s biggest artists to the 2023 Illinois State Fair Grandstand lineup,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “The extensive music catalog Tim McGraw brings to the stage will

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