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BRUSSELS - She received a standing ovation. Her family, including her husband, siblings, and children made sure they were there to see it. Every student gave her a hug. That was the scene at St. Mary Catholic School in Brussels after Maureen Tepen, the third/fourth-grade teacher and fifth/sixth-grade language arts teacher in the small, rural school, was announced as the winner of the 2022 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois during a surprise celebration and award presentation at the school May 4. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki presented Tepen with the award. “God is so good, God is so good,” Tepen said, as she fought back tears from the podium during the event. “I decided to be a teacher when I was in first grade, and I had this little seed in my heart that I wanted to teach kids, and to have a spot they knew they could come to be encouraged and grow.” Then, looking at all the students in the room, Tepen said, “I

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COLLINSVILLE - Helping students succeed, keeping them connected, and providing lots of resources were a few things participants praised their program instructors for at their End of the Year and Awards Celebration. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) held its concluding ceremony on Thursday, April 28 at Collinsville High School. “We are so proud of each of you for being hardworking and doing your best,” said UBSA Program Director Yvonne Hart. “We try our best to connect with every student. To my seniors, you all were my first class, and now you’re all headed to college.” The night was filled with accolades for all UBSA students, with awards including: Most Improved Engagement Most Improved Academically Honor Roll (3.3 GPA or above) Rising Stars Scholar of the Month A-Team (3.0 GPA, active and engaged) Outstanding Scholars Class of 2022 Ontrack Modules Completer

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ALTON – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to better understand how important mental health is to your overall health. OSF Healthcare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is calling on the community to recognize the importance of the mind-body connection. Much of what we do physically impacts us mentally; and stressful emotions play a major role in triggering physical illness. Finding the right balance of exercise, nutrition, sleep, and stress reduction helps to keep us both physically and mentally fit. “Just as we schedule a visit with our primary care physicians for a regular medical checkup, it’s also important to be attentive to our mental health and emotional wellbeing,” said Staci M. Knox, LCSW, manager of OSF Psychological Services. During the month of May, OSF Saint Anthony’s Psychological Services is providing free, confidential, adult depression and anxiety screenings to the community. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling

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ST. LOUIS – Schnuck Markets, Inc. today announced that, in partnership with Instacart , customers can now order Schnucks Delivers curbside and delivery directly through the Schnucks Rewards app . Previously, customers were redirected outside the app to place a Schnucks Delivers or Curbside Pickup order. Current Instacart Express members can receive discounts on service and delivery fees by linking their Instacart account in the Schnucks Rewards app via the “Account Settings” menu. Customers will still be able to communicate with Instacart shoppers during the shopper's trip through the store to confirm replacement selections or to add items that were forgotten. Customers can also order for the same day or a future scheduled date with delivery and pickup times available usually in two hours or less. Customers will receive text/email reminders throughout all steps of the fulfillment and delivery process. “By adding additional e-commerce options in the Schnucks

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EDWARDSVILLE - When College of Arts and Sciences senior Samantha Gallatin, of Machesney Park, came to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, she wanted to become a secondary education biology teacher. After joining the GEOPATHS Scholars Program, however, her interests shifted toward geography, and she became inspired in pursuing a career as a researcher and professor at the collegiate level. “My career goal changed, because I want to teach and encourage motivated individuals about the elaborate components of science,” Gallatin said. “Through my courses, involvement as a GEOPATH Scholar and student research opportunities, SIUE has provided the fundamental experience I need.” Gallatin is among 2,356 eligible graduates whose degrees will be conferred during SIUE’s spring 2022 commencement exercises slated for Friday-Saturday, May 6-7. All ceremonies will be streamed live on siue.edu/tv . As a student leader, employee and researcher, Gallatin was heavily

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DECATUR — After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the Millikin University Athletics Department held its end of the year dinner and awards ceremony at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel on May 3. Individual and team awards were presented for the 2021-22 academic year for student-athletes from all 23 of Millikin’s athletic programs. The winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award were sophomore women’s volleyball player Reece Brown (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais H.S.) and sophomore wrestler Zac Blasioli (Wood River, East Alton H.S.) . The Academic Athlete of the Year Award, recognizing excellence both in the classroom and in competition, was presented to junior softball pitcher Aly Armstrong (Effingham, H.S.) and senior cross country and track runner Ben Kuxmann (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais H.S.) The Leadership Award was presented to senior women’s soccer player Maddy Wood (St. Charles, Mo., Francis Howell North H.S.) and senior wrestler

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ALTON - Illinois American Water’s work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers continues. Below is information about this week’s road closures –May 2, 2022 Piasa Valley Area: Pavement restoration is starting 5/3/22 on 6th Street between Alby and George Street, and Alby Street between 6th Street north to 12th Street. During this time, the pavement milling operations will be going on. After the milling operations are completed, the road will be closed to all traffic during paving operations. Local Residents need to plan to park on side streets adjacent to these two roads during that time. 12th Street is closed east to Georg Street. A common detour of using 13th Street and Alton Street will not be allowed, and traffic will need to use Blair Avenue east to Henry Street during this closure on 12th Street. 10th Street is closed between Alby Street and George Street. Brick pavement restoration is currently happening on 8th Street. Pleas

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COLLINSVILLE – Warrior Wrestling announced today that the promotion will make its St. Louis area debut on Saturday, May 28th, 2022 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville when New Japan Pro Wrestling main event star Will Ospreay defends the Warrior Wrestling Championship against St. Louis resident Davey Richards. Ospreay is widely considered the most talented and accomplished professional wrestler in the world today, with his talents surpassing those of any stars in WWE or AEW. Richards was considered the same in the early 2010s before he left wrestling for several years to study medicine and raise his family. This will be the first time that Ospreay and Richards will compete against one another. It will be truly historic when the “best in the world” of one generation clashes with the best in the world of the next generation for one of the most prized titles in independent wrestling – the Warrior Wrestling Championship. While they have not competed

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ALTON – Patients in Alton and surrounding areas needing cardiovascular care can now benefit from a new strategic affiliation of OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center and SLUCare Physician Group, in partnership with SSM Health. The affiliation better serves patients in the greater Riverbend area by bringing exceptional medical and surgical specialties closer to home with the addition of Sridhar Kumar, MD , a SLUCare cardiologist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, who is now chief of Cardiology Services at OSF Saint Anthony’s. Under Dr. Kumar’s leadership, patients receive the highest quality of innovative care and expertise needed to treat heart diseases and cardiovascular conditions. This collaboration provides patients of OSF Saint Anthony’s who require a higher level of care access to SLUCare and SSM Health experts and state-of-the-art facilities with the latest technologies and procedures offered in the St. Louis region. “

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ST. LOUIS - Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution. In conjunction with the start of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership’s daily air quality forecasting season, more than half a dozen partners, who collectively provide an array of transportation options that extend beyond driving in single-occupancy vehicles along with resources and incentives for doing so, are joining forces to kick-off a “Don’t Pollute. Switch Up Your Commute.” campaign. With increasing numbers of people heading back to their offices as we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, this summerlong effort will work to inform people the way they choose to travel impacts the quality of air St. Louis area residents breathe, while motivating them to modify commuting behaviors as often as they are able. “The St. Louis region is no stranger to poor air quality conditions,” said Susannah Fuchs, Director of Clean Air for the American Lung Association in Missouri.

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ALTON - A sidewall of a brick home fell off Monday in the 500 block of Williams Street in Alton. Ameren Illinois was called to the scene around 8 p.m. Monday to turn the electricity and gas off. There were no reports of injuries. The outside home has been taped off and it has been declared off limits until the wall area is repaired. The bricks are shown outside the home in a pile. More information to come.

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ALTON - Shelter Insurance agent Mark Birmingham recently completed an unbelievable feat - he announced his 49th and 50th scholarship-award winners for his business. "It gives me great pleasure in announcing my two Scholarship Recipients, for 2022," he said. "The winners are Monica M. Wendle, from Marquette Catholic High School and Allie L. Schrumpf, from Alton Senior Senior High School. What is the most significant news here other than the honored students is that they are my 49th and 50th students to be selected for the award!" Monica is an outstanding student, athlete and person. She was honored recently with the prestigious Illinois State Scholar Award at her school. She was all-state in tennis and finished higher than any other area player. She plans to attend Lewis and Clark Community College and play on the tennis squad and also study education. Schrumpf is also an Illinois State Scholar for Alton High School. Allie will attend St. Louis University in the fall and her plans

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EDWARDSVILLE - Mikayla Spano is a performance mechanic who works at Turbo Connection Racing in Edwardsville and was invited to last year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas for her work in the automotive industry. Spano said she hopes her success in a male-dominated career can inspire other women to do anything they set their minds to. Spano said her interest in mechanics began long before she could drive - or even reach the pedals. “I started literally from the time I could walk. My Dad and Grandpa are mechanics and they’re my best friends, so growing up, I was in the garage with them. I wanted to know what they were doing and how they were doing it,” Spano said. “So I basically learned from them and then took what I learned from them and progressed to what I know now.” While Spano took some automotive classes in high school and even received a few scholarships, rather than going to college, Spano said she went “straight into the performance world.”

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SPRINGFIELD – The start of the Illinois State Fair is only 100 days away and to celebrate, the Illinois State Fair announced today that Willie Nelson & Family will headline the Illinois Lottery Grandstand on Tuesday, August 16. Tickets for the show go on sale this Saturday, May 7. Willie Nelson has earned every possible award as a musician over a career that has spanned seven decades. The ten-time Grammy Award winner has also garnered reputable credentials as an actor, author, and activist. In 1985, Nelson co-founded Farm Aid to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and help raise money to keep family farms on the land. “Willie Nelson is a true champion for farmers,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “I can think of no one better to help us celebrate our state’s number one industry during the fair. On top of his love for agriculture, he will be performing hits that fairgoers from every generation can sing along to.” Opening

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center and OSF Medical Group are pleased to announce that we are welcoming new patients to all three primary care offices in the Riverbend area. OSF HealthCare understands the importance of establishing a relationship with a primary care provider (PCP), and to better serve our patients and community, we have expanded our hours for greater flexibility to accommodate busy schedules. Primary care providers at OSF Medical Group help guide patients through the health care journey – whether getting preventive care such as wellness checks or referrals to specialists. Working together with OSF primary care clinicians, patients will have access to health education, disease prevention, and healthy living options. When needed, patients will find knowledgeable, highly skilled care teams to diagnose and treat both acute and chronic illnesses. The OSF Medical Group - Primary Care office in Alton is located at #2 Saint Anthony’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Year-round, women strive to make significant efforts to engender equal and equitable space wherever they are. Owing to their broader contribution to the immediate community and beyond, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development Hub (The Hub) recognized 17 Phenomenal Women, comprising faculty, staff, students and community members, who are shaping society with their community involvement, public discourse and exemplary leadership. A virtual event held in March honored the women, including awardees from not only SIUE, but also within the SIU System. “Our campus is stronger with the presence of women like the ones celebrated at this event,” shared Lindy Wagner, assistant vice chancellor for Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development. “Our campus and the community benefit from all the hard work and dedication put in, be it visible or invisible labor.” “This event provides a chance t

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GODFREY - Taylor and Lily will be hosting their 14 th annual Christmas in July on July 29, 2022. "They are looking for raffle ticket items," their grandmother Margaret Freer said. "Everyone has been so generous in the past. The raffle is the main money-maker for the event and 100 percent of what is raised stays here in our community and is tax-deductible. "I believe we have a business donating $2,500 cash prize and we need several items to make the raffle appealing. Condo rentals, timeshares, vacation packages, green seats, etc. are all well received and coveted items. "If anyone can help please call 618-466-6151 and ask for Margaret or Carrie. We are hoping for another successful event. I cannot express enough how many people this helps."

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GLEN CARBON - Freshman Mia Range is a top-notch competitor in both track and field and soccer. She recently won the Madison County Small Schools high jump and 100-meter dash. She was the state indoor high jump champion for small schools. Mia is a Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb, Kalb, Inc., Female Athlete of the Month for Father McGivney Catholic High School. Her best in the high jump is 5-3.75 and she has run a 12.97 in the 100. She is also outstanding in the 200 meters and long jump. She won the state indoors with a 5-3 high jump. “The high jump is definitely my favorite event,” she said. “My goal for the outdoor season in the high jump is 5-foot-5. I hope to get in the low 27s or 26 at state. I want to make it to state in the 200 and high jump.” Mia said her main hope is to take a state outdoor high jump title back to McGivney. She is very satisfied with McGivney Catholic High School and said: “It is a lot different than a public school with a lot

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GLEN CARBON - Junior Jacob Huber is a standout on both the hardwoods and is now in track and field for Father McGivney Catholic High School. He is the Byron, Carlson Petri & Kalb, LLC., Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. Huber is a long jumper and sprinter and has had a strong start for the Griffins in the 2022 track and field season. He is also a guard on the McGivney boys basketball team. Huber said the key to his success in track and field is “perseverance, knowing that I’ll be fulfilled in the end.” The McGivney athlete has participated in track and field since seventh grade and says what he enjoys the most about it is the “pure competitiveness within yourself and the other athletes.” He continued: “Sports in high school have helped me understand what it's like to be faced with adversity and what it means to work hard. Both of these things and more have developed me into a hard-working and determined student and athlete.”

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EDWARDSVILLE – Metro-East Lutheran High School is pleased to announce that four students from the MELHS graduating class of 2022 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, presents this important recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. The State Scholar recognition is based on a combination of ACT or SAT test scores, class rank and grade point average. The 2022 Illinois State Scholars from MELHS are: Katherine Donovan, Isabella Hartsock, Trevor Pickerell and MaryAnn Rainey “On behalf of ISAC, congratulations to all of the Illinois State Scholars for their hard work and commitment inside and outside of the classroom,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “In the past two years students and families have faced unprecedented difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; from financial

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