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EDWARDSVILLE - Buff City Soap – a rapidly growing retail franchise known for its handmade plant-based soap and body products made in-store daily – is opening this Thursday in Edwardsville. The new Makery will be located at 2328 Troy Road by Target and is slated to open Thursday, May 5. The first 50 people who visit the new store each day Thursday, May 5 – Sunday, May 8 will receive free soap for a year. Customers can also enjoy in-store specials all weekend such as 20% off an entire purchase or buy one Laundry Soap, get a second container 50% off. “We are excited to open our brand-new Soap Makery to the Edwardsville community,” said Brittany Peterman, Director of Operations. “Buff City Soap provides guests with an opportunity to see how our delightfully scented soap products are made daily right before their eyes.” Each Buff City Soap store offers over 30 signature scents across dozens of handcrafted soap products; including its famous soap

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EAST ALTON – Volunteers are needed to help the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC ® ) and the Three Rivers Project plant trees in Alton on Saturday, May 7. “This spring, Alton-based organizations will be planting trees purchased through a Recover, Replant, Restore! (RRR) grant from Trees Forever,” Trees Forever Field Coordinator Emily Ehley said. The first tree plantings will run from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Riverfront Park, located at Landmarks Blvd and 1 Riverfront Drive, towards the playground area. The second planting will go from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Hampton Gardens located at 1402 Highland Avenue, between Hampton and Highland. “Keep an eye out for some edible plants, we will be planting paw paws, persimmon, American hazelnut, blueberries, and a variety of other fruiting trees and shrubs,” Director of Environmental Education at NGRREC, Sarah Fisher said. “Not only are we adding to the diversity of plant

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ROXANA - Roxana Junior High School Theater Director Brittany Sasser said the production this past Friday and Saturday of "The Addams Family Young@Part rated a "huge success." Members of the cast were Emma Martin, Troy Rahn, Talan Blumenstock, Savion Hall, Ari Walker, Sadie Jackson, Laney Meadows, Landon Smith, Gianna Visser, and Evan Bazell. "Theater is back at Roxana Junior High with a full house and an amazing cast," Sasser said. "Some of these kiddos have never been on stage before." Director Sasser, some help was also provided by professional actors Oliver Bacus and Summer Baer from St. Louis. "Oliver is a Roxana graduate and was happy to come back and coach these young actors," Sasser said. "Our backstage and technical crew were manned by high school students who are mentoring our younger students helping them learn the ropes. "Theater is such a nurturing, healing environment that I feel is especially important in this post-pandemic era that the students are experiencing.

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ALTON - The Riverbend Earth Day Festival Saturday at Old Bakery Beer was once again a huge attraction for people to visit environmental groups, artists, and vendors. Lauren Pattan, the co-founder of Old Bakery Beer, hosted the event for the fourth year in a row. “We are glad to have it back here,” she said. “We had 40 environmental organizations, artisans, other vendors, and music. The way we ended up with the event is it seems to rain literally every year, which is why we have it here. We host it indoors throughout are whole building. It is a fun time.” Diana Soliwon, the owner of Alton Yard Farms, was a participant. She said she owns a second-year urban farm. “Our goal is to provide all organic-based, no-till fresh good food for our neighbors," she said. “It's important to all of us here to support the same idea: let’s be more sustainable and more thoughtful,” she added. “Let’s re-use things and upcycle. All of that make

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ALTON - A touching Celebration Of Life was held for Alton's "Can Man" Charley Moyer AKA Joey Moyer Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Elias Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Alton. Charley lived in Alton for much of his life and relied on a collection of cans to sustain himself, thus he obtained the nickname "Charley The Can Man." Charley had cerebral palsy, but with his grit and determination, he was able to live independently and earn a living from his can collection. He is known as Alton's greatest recycler ever of cans and he sparked a multitude of others around the region to collect cans on streets and highways for him. Dale and his wife, Carol, cared for Charley, AKA Joey for more than 30 years. Charley lived with Roger and Pat Lowery at the end of his life in Wilmington, N.C., and they were also dear friends to him. Charley was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Alton. Charley died at age 76 on September 16, 2021. Dale Neudecker was the coordinator of the Celebration of Life for Charley

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BLOOMINGTON - Health officials are working to learn more about a concerning outbreak of serious liver disease in children in Europe and the United States. The latest available data from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that worldwide, there have been at least 169 cases of what the organization calls “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” in young children, including three in Illinois. So far this outbreak has resulted in dozens of hospitalizations, 17 liver transplants and one death. The children’s ages range from one month to 16 years old. Researchers are scrambling to find the cause of this illness, and while it hasn’t been confirmed, it is believed a common virus among children, adenovirus , could be involved. Many of the children impacted have also tested positive for a variation of the virus called adenovirus 41. “I definitely think it's a major concern and something that we all need to be alert and be aware of,” says Dr. Rebecca Sierra

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GODFREY - For current information regarding Lewis and Clark Community College’s operations during the pandemic, please visit lc.edu/coronavirus. 4/30 – NGRREC Exhibit at Riverbend Festival: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., The Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd. Free to attend. (618) 463-1470 or info@oldbakerybeer.com. 4/30 – Trailblazers Softball vs. Lincoln Land: 1 and 2 p.m., Godfrey Ballpark, 1401B Stamper Ln., Godfrey. (618) 468-6370. 4/30 – Trailblazers Baseball vs. Vincennes: 1 and 3:30 p.m., Godfrey Ballpark, 1401B Stamper Ln., Godfrey. (618) 468-5352. 5/1 – Trailblazers Baseball vs. Vincennes: noon and 2 p.m., Godfrey Ballpark, 1401B Stamper Ln., Godfrey. (618) 468-5352. 5/3 – Applied Student Recital: 1 p.m., Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. (618) 468-4731. 5/5 – College for Life Spring Performance and Art Show: 10 a.m., Ann Whitney Olin Theatre, Hatheway Cultural

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ST. LOUIS - In honor of National Pet Month in May, Purina is deepening its support of the Purple Leash Project by offering specially marked packaging from several of its flagship brands including Beggin' , Tidy Cats , Purina Cat Chow , Beneful , Purina Beyond , and Friskies Party Mix Cat Treats . The Purple Leash Project is a national initiative founded by Purina and nonprofit RedRover aimed at creating more pet-friendly domestic violence shelters across the country, allowing survivors and pets to begin the healing journey together. Throughout the US, nearly half of all domestic violence survivors (48 percent) delay leaving an abuser because they don't want to leave their pet behind, and as few as 15 percent of domestic violence shelters can accommodate pets. Purina and RedRover are working to change that. Since 2019, Purina and RedRover have provided 30 Purple Leash Project grants totaling over $500,000 to domestic violence shelters across the US. Purina has provided more tha

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BETHALTO – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Eagles of the Month” program at Civic Memorial High School. Senior students are selected each month by members of the Civic Memorial faculty to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. Two Seniors (1 female student and 1 male student) that were selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $500.00 “Eagles of the Year” scholarship each at the end of the school year. 2022 April's Eagles of the Month winners: - Math – Kaili Stanford - Fine Arts – Luca Wiley - Social Studies – Reid Buffington - PE/Health – Braden Dorris - Choir – Alyssa Sickmeier - Band – Clarence Arnold - Science – Hailey Becker - English – Ryne Breyer - C.T.E. – Parker Scottberg April’s Teacher of the Month winner: - Spanish – Angela Wood Congratulations to all the Civic Memorial “Eagles

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ALTON - Pop-up stops featuring the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau’s new mobile visitor center, Traveler, will take place this week as part of the bureau’s celebration of National Travel & Tourism Week which kicked off Sunday, May 1, and runs through Saturday, May 7. Traveler will visit Collinsville, Litchfield, Edwardsville, and Alton May 4 through 6 and staff members will be available to answer questions and encourage people to sign up for a $250 gas card sweepstakes at each stop. The annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry this year will spotlight the critical role travel plays in driving economic growth and building the path forward. This year’s theme is #Future of Travel. “National Travel & Tourism Week is also a great way to start our summer travel season,” Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau said. “Travel benefits and supports the local economies and reconnects us to each other

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ST. LOUIS — World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, will present its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Weekend on June 3-5. Madison County Transit and the St. Clair County Transit District will offer NASCAR fans a convenient and money-saving option. St. Clair and Madison will offer four free shuttle bus lines to and from the speedway. The four free SCCTD and MCT shuttles will operate for more than 11 hours each day on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. “One of the reasons NASCAR chose World Wide Technology Raceway to host the Enjoy Illinois 300 was because of the tremendous community support of local, county, and state governments with our venue. Having two first-class transportation districts working together to accommodate race fans with free service to the event illustrates our region welcomes the opportunity to host great events,” said WWTR Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair “When race fans come to our track for these magical

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GRANITE CIY – As Music in our Schools Month comes to a close, Granite City High School band director Wyatt Roberds recognized the 25 members of the GCHS Marching Warriors. The Class of 2022 helped lead the Marching Warriors to a memorable year, which included: Smith Walbridge Drum Major Clinics – July 25, 2021 Thumbs Up Award Runner up Squad of the Day Jonas Etchison - Outstanding Drum Major and Drum Major First Class O’Fallon Metro East Marching Classic – September 11, 2021 3rd Place Band – Class 3A 1st Place Color Guard EIU Panther Marching Band Festival – September 25, 2021 1st Place Band – Class 6A 1st Place Music 1st Place Visual 1st Place Drum Majors Grand Champion Fort Zumwalt North River City Showcase – October 9, 2021 7th Place Band – Class 6A 8th Place Band Overall in Finals U of I – Illinois Marching Band Championships – October 23, 2021

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TROY - The Troy Police Department is seeking assistance in a missing person - Richard Maedge. Troy Police say Maedge was last seen leaving his residence in Troy on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, on foot. He was wearing blue jeans and a blue T-shirt when last viewed. Anyone who can assist in locating Maedge is encouraged to call the Troy Police Department at (618) 667-6731.

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HARTFORD – The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site will celebrate the 218th anniversary of the start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with the Point of Departure Celebration May 7 and 8. Visitors will have an opportunity to interact with military demonstrations, historic artisans and more at this free event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Military reenactors will portray soldiers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s Corps of Discovery. The War of 1812 American 2nd Regiment Artillery will discuss the war in which many Lewis and Clark Expedition members would serve, while demonstrating black powder muskets and artillery. Volunteers will interpret the “White Pirogue,” a replica of the only boat to complete the entire round trip on the Missouri River with the Corps of Discovery. The reconstructed settler’s cabin will be busy with demonstrations offering a glimpse into frontier family life. Historic artisans will exhibit skills including candle

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COTTAGE HILLS - On May 6 and 7, more than 30 local and regional bands will take the stage for Trinity River Festival at VFW Post 7678 in Cottage Hills, Ill. to help raise funds for the local nonprofit Trinity’s Way. Tickets are $10 per day at the gate, cash only. Festival-goers can also purchase a weekend pass, online only, before the day of the event. Advance tickets can be purchased using debit card, credit card, or PayPal on the Trinity’s Way website or by using this link https://www.trinitysway.org/event-details/trinity-river-festival-2022 . Trinity’s Way formed in 2018 after 17-year-old Trinity Buel was killed in a tragic car accident. The nonprofit was started by her mother, April Gray, and her godfather, Chris Unthank, to carry on Buel’s kindness and compassion for animals and the environment. That same year, the group hosted their first annual Trinity River Festival. The organization uses funds raised from the festival to provide support for area animal-related

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GRANITE CITY - School Districts and teachers have continued to battle the distraction of cell phones in the classroom. Bill Henricks, a teacher at Granite City School District has developed a solution to help maintain the privacy of the student but cut back on the distraction they bring to the learning process. Bill founded Jordiam, a company that manufactures phone lockers, to help solve a problem he has seen in his own classroom. These are not just any electronic storage device, they are designed with the student, teacher, administrator, and parent/guardian in mind. These electronic storage devices are clear and controlled remotely by the teacher by the push of a button. They can be mounted to any wall, desk, or table. Teens spend an average of seven hours and 22 minutes on their phones a day, kids ages 8 to 12, are not far behind, at four hours and 44 minutes daily, according to a report by Common Sense Media. “After a case study I did during my classes, I found that

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KEWANEE - When pop star Britney Spears recently announced her new pregnancy, she also openly shared that she struggled with perinatal depression during a past pregnancy more than 16 years ago. In the social media post, Spears says “women didn’t talk about it back then” and that “some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained” when pregnant. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), perinatal depression is a mood disorder that can affect women during pregnancy and after childbirth regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), one in seven women experience perinatal depression during pregnancy or in the first 12 months after delivery. “It may occur sooner in the pregnancy if a patient has a history of major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, anxiety, depression, or even bipolar disorder. If they have these prior to pregnancy,

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URBANA – In 2019, farmers across Illinois launched into the first growing season for industrial hemp with mixed results. Hemp is one of the newest and fastest-growing specialty crops in the Midwest, and the University of Illinois Extension is helping producers keep up by providing cutting-edge research updates straight from the field. By collecting data from more than 180 hemp growers over the past two years, Illinois Extension researchers now have a better understanding of how to produce hemp and are sharing that information directly with growers through the Midwestern Hemp Database . Illinois legalized the growth of industrial hemp, which is used for fiber and food, in 2018. Demand for the new crop outpaced the data. Phillip Alberti , Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educator, recognized that producers did not have basic information about how to grow the newly available crop. The database project is a collaboration between Midwestern researchers and growers. “

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URBANA – Over the years, there has been a growing demand for organic-based fertilizers to use in the garden and landscaping. There are of course ways to manufacture these organic fertilizers, but what if we could use a byproduct of the manufacture of a different product? It is an efficient use of our natural resources and perhaps even creates a sustainable source. “This has given rise to many different types of organic fertilizers appearing on the market that are the “leftovers” of some other type of industry,” says Chris Enroth , University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. For instance, corn gluten meal is an organic fertilizer that is a byproduct of the corn milling industry. Milorganite is a hybridized trade name of an organic fertilizer. “Mil” means Milwaukee, “orga” shortened from organic, and “nite” for nitrogen. Though I was originally taught “nite” came from the term “night soil”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High's distance runner Ryan Watts recently had a weekend to remember. On a Friday night in a showcase meet at Carmel, Ind., Watts broke the school's 3,200-meter run record previously held by Stephen Pifer since 2003 when he won the race at 8:54.09, then came back on Saturday to win the 1,600 meters at the Winston Brown Invitational meet at home, winning with a time of 4:19.93, with teammate Geo Patrylak coming in second at 4:27.49. Watts is the iCAN Clinic Male Athlete of the Month For Edwardsville High School. Watts was very happy with the outcome of the record on that Friday. "I'm feeling good," Watts said in an interview that followed the 1,600-meter race. "It's been a full day to recover. Now, this meet is nice to get a good mile in." The race Watts competed in had a loaded field, with a pair of state champions running with him and Patrylak. "It was great competition down at Carmel," Watts said. "Two All-Americans, a couple of state championships

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