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EDWARDSVILLE – This year’s Green Thumb nominations yielded a bumper crop of award recipients for the Edwardsville Beautification and Tree Commission. The annual awards honor efforts to beautify the City through landscaping, flowering and gardening projects. For 2023, 16 properties throughout Edwardsville are receiving Green Thumb Awards, and will show off the honor with a Green Thumb sign on site for about a month. Over the past 24 years, the commission has honored more than 200 properties, including homes, neighborhoods, businesses, civic sites and other locations. “Green Thumb Awards not only recognize well-curated yards, but honor the creativity and passion these recipients have for the art of gardening,” said Sarah Cundiff, the chairman of this volunteer committee, which helps oversee landscaping and plantings at various City sites, including downtown. The awards wouldn’t be possible without the observations and appreciation of nature’s finery

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ALTON - The Alton Fire Department battled a difficult fire in hot conditions at 9:16 p.m. Sunday in the 3700 block of Horn Avenue. Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer said when the fire department arrived, the house was fully involved with fire coming out of multiple windows. He said the firefighters confirmed in rapid fashion that there were not any occupants in the fire. “The humidity was pretty bad, so our people took breaks and made a fairly quick hit on it,” he said. “We called in the State Fire Marshal to investigate and they are still investigating with the Alton Police Department.” Fischer said he couldn’t state the cause of the fire at this point as the State Fire Marshal’s investigation continues.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Vandalia, Illinois man prosecuted by his office was sentenced to 30 years in prison for possessing, reproducing and disseminating child pornography and indecent solicitation of an adult. The guilty plea and sentence are the result of an investigation Raoul’s office conducted into an alleged child pornography ring operating in Fayette County. Ferrell Mason Kissiar, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of dissemination of child pornography, a Class X felony; one count of reproduction of child pornography, a Class X felony; two counts of possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony; and one count of indecent solicitation of an adult, a Class 1 felony. Kissiar was sentenced to 30 years in prison by 4th District Circuit Judge Martin Siemer. Two other defendants in the case pleaded guilty in May to charges stemming from their involvement in the alleged child pornography ring. Andrew Wehrle, 39, of Vandalia, and Amber Wehrle,

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ST. LOUIS - Boeing has announced its future aerospace program would be a $2 billion investment in St. Louis which would create 500 jobs. The company will seek tax breaks and Boeing is in discussions with St. Louis International Airport about the expansion. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page issued this statement: “This project will reinforce our dominance as a region that builds the future of aviation, creates pathways to exciting careers, and showcases the pride and talent of St. Louis County.” Boeing would receive tax breaks on the expansion that would amount to a 50% break on real and personal property tax for 10 years if St. Louis County approves the proposal. There would be no tax breaks on existing taxes. Boeing announced on Monday it is deepening support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its efforts to promote aerospace safety, security and sustainability. The company today named its first liaison to the United Nations agency, which is

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WOOD RIVER - At 4:09 a.m. on Monday, July 24, the Wood River Police Department received a 911 call reporting a person had been shot near the 800 block of Tennyson St. in Wood River. Emergency personnel and Wood River Police responded immediately. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said: "The Wood River Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services responded and began to treat the victim at the scene. Several people were at the single-family residence. Several police agencies, including the Madison County Sheriff’s Officer, the Alton, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford, East Alton, and Bethalto Police Departments, responded to assist Wood River Police officers at the scene. "The victim was transported by ambulance to the Wood River Police Department, where he was transferred to a helicopter. He was flown to a St. Louis area hospital. The victim died at the hospital of an apparent gunshot wound."An autopsy is pending. The victim was identified as Wood River resident Jacob A. Wall,

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ALTON - The Marquette Catholic choir was the opening act Wednesday night at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Mo., for the Foreigner and Loverboy Historic Farewell Tour. Foreigner and Loverboy were both some of the 1980s' biggest hit makers. The show featured more than 20 combined chart-topping songs. Streams of Foreigner's hits have approached 15 million per week. Loverboy has sold more than 10 million albums. Marquette Catholic Music and Theater Director Brett Klauss said: "It was a great experience for the students in front of a large crowd, with a professional sound system, audio engineers, and all that comes with a national touring show. We are so proud of our performing arts program and these talented students." Marquette Principal Tim Harmon said the choir members have worked hard and that he was very proud of their representation of Marquette Catholic at this concert with big-name rock and roll bands.

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MADISON COUNTY - Nick Novacich, a highly experienced and dedicated law enforcement professional, has officially announced his candidacy for the position of Madison County Coroner. With an impressive background in policing and extensive expertise in investigative and tactical operations, Novacich brings a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to serving the community in his pursuit of this crucial role. Novacich's career spans over 23 years with the Granite City Police Department, where he has excelled in various positions of increasing responsibility. Since 2009, he has served as a Police Supervisor, demonstrating his exceptional leadership skills and ability to manage complex situations. His command experience, which spans seven years, has equipped him with the necessary skills to effectively oversee operations and guide his team towards successful outcomes. "I am thrilled by the opportunity to serve as your next Coroner in Madison County. With my extensive years in law enforcement,

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JERSEYVILLE - Three individuals have been charged with a range of crimes including unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, damage to government property, and more in Jersey County over the past week, according to recent court filings. Venus V. Arrietta, 43, of Alton, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and driving on a revoked license on July 18. She “knowingly possessed a taser or stun gun” after being convicted of a felony, according to court records. Arrietta was also charged with driving on a license which had been revoked due to driving under the influence. She had previously been charged with driving on a revoked license on the following dates and in the following counties: October 31, 2007 in Macoupin County January 23, 2008 in Macoupin County July 19, 2010 in Macoupin County October 20, 2010 in Macoupin County May 9, 2011 in Madison County August 13, 2012 in Madison County August 14, 2017 in Madison County A Super

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Natalie Rosales-Hawkins, assistant director of recreational programs, was a featured panelist on Hidden Talents National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) with NIRSA President Wendy Windsor. “I was very honored to have an opportunity to share my experiences and journey about what it meant for me to attend college,” said Rosales-Hawkins. “All of my past experiences, challenges and mentors have impacted my life to where I am now, and I feel I have grown from these past experiences into the campus recreation professional I am today.” The discussion featured NIRSA leaders who were first-generation college students. Along with Rosales-Hawkins, panel members included Carlos Garcia, director of aquatics at Texas A&M University, Ashford Evans-Brown, assistant director of fitness facility operations at Florida State University, and D.J. Preston, director of recreation and wellness at Radford

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COTTAGE HILLS - Cottage Hills Fire Protection District members were dispatched at 12:30 a.m. Monday for a fully involved garage fire in the 500 block of Wood River Avenue in Cottage Hills. Mutual Aid was requested from Bethalto, Rosewood Heights, and Meadowbrook Fire Departments.Fosterburg Fire Department covered CHFPD’s station while on scene. IEMA was also at the scene providing water to firefighters. There were no injuries in the incident. No cause was yet released for the fire, although the garage appears a total loss.

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that weather permitting, the eastbound lanes of East Broadway Avenue in Alton in Madison County will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. July 24, 2023. Two-way traffic will be maintained on the westbound lanes and there will be a width restriction of 10 feet 6 inches between Illinois Route 3 and Illinois Route 140. It is expected that this work will be completed by 5 p.m. on July 26, 2023. The lane closure is required for Illinois American Water Company to work on the sanitary sewer. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices, and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies from eleven states in National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 5 and 7 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri) on July 26th for this year’s high visibility Speed Awareness Day enforcement campaign. This campaign is an effort to address a continued trend of speeding and hazardous moving violations as contributory cause violations leading to personal injury and fatal crashes. Speeding is involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide. Early NHTSA statistical projections for 2022 show 42,759 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes which represents a marginal decrease of 0.3% in traffic deaths when compared to 2021 (42,939 fatalities). In 2021 there were 5,864 fatal injuries in the Region 5 six-state area with 1,780 (30.35%) being speed-related fatalities. Traffic crashes

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford reported that at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, a passerby noticed a male subject jump over the guard rail and out of eyesight as they entered Alton over the Clark Bridge. The passerby contacted the Alton Police Department. Ford said Alton Police officers responded immediately and the investigation revealed the area where the pedestrian left the roadway was a short jump down to land. "The pedestrian was attempting to access the area below the bridge," Ford said. "No one was injured during this incident."

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BELLEVILLE - The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is preparing for its 80th Annual Healing and Hope Novena happening July 28 through August 5. A lot of people agree that healing and hope are exactly what they’re looking for right now. “The shrine has an overarching sort of mission statement: It’s a place of healing and hope. Those are two things that people constantly need,” said Reverend Father Salvador Gonzalez, OMI. “While it is a Catholic Mass and it is a Catholic prayer, it’s open to everyone. Everyone’s welcome to come, especially if they’re dealing with one of these issues that we are praying for that night.” Gonzalez, known affectionately as Father Sal to his congregation, explained that the novena is nine nights of prayer. Each night has an intention, and the prayers will be led by local preachers and accompanied by area choirs. After the Mass, they honor a tradition from the first novena: an outdoor candlelight

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SOUTH ROXANA - Officer Bryce Dell, South Roxana Police Chief Bob Coles and Mayor T.J. Callahan exemplified community dedication in a Friday evening rescue operation. In the event that encapsulates the spirit of a close-knit community and dedication to public service, a regular Friday evening turned into an unexpected community service call when a concerned citizen reported a potentially hazardous situation involving a tree limb precariously hanging over the roadway. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday in South Roxana, emphasizing that the duty to serve and protect extends well beyond regular business hours. Officer Dell was alerted to the problem by a resident. Officer Dell notified Chief Bob Coles about the issuer. Recognizing the safety risk, Chief Coles brought the situation to the attention of Mayor Callahan, who recently took office. Mayor Callahan told me he would be there to help me whenever needed. "To the surprise of some, Mayor Callahan agreed to get

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 17, 2023 – Cava Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Cava Group, Inc. in Washington D.C., is issuing a voluntary recall of one lot of its packaged CAVA Spicy Hummus due to the potential for the product to contain undeclared sesame, which is a food allergen. People who are allergic to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product. The single affected product lot was distributed to retailers including Whole Foods Market, Giant Foods, MOM’s Organic Market, and regional independent retailers. CAVA’s packaged Spicy Hummus is sold nationwide. CAVA voluntarily initiated the recall after a single retail store notified the company that packaging lids for CAVA Spicy Labneh (which do not declare sesame as an ingredient) were applied to containers of Spicy Hummus, which contains sesame, a common allergen. The wrong lid was applied to a limited number of Spicy Hummus containers by a third-party

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY - Recently, the Cross-River Crime Task Force completed deployments in Alton, and Granite City areas. Below are the results of the area law enforcement deployments. On July 15, members of the unit assisted in a special enforcement detail which was coordinated due to reports of a large gathering of members of motorcycle clubs in the Granite City area. During that detail, officers conducted 11 traffic stops involving approximately 25 individuals. Officers issued 10 traffic citations and arrested two subjects on charges of disorderly conduct or public intoxication. One allegedly was making obscene gestures at motorists on a roadway, while the second allegedly attempted to start a fight. On July 1 and July 2, members of the unit deployed in the Alton area. That deployment resulted in 15 traffic stops, seven citations, one arrest on a felony Failure To Appear warrant and one U.S. Marshals Service felony warrant arrest. While conducting the deployment in the Alton area,

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ALTON - Summer is the new season of giving in the Riverbend. Freer Auto Body hosted their 15th annual Christmas in July fundraiser from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 21, and it was the most successful fundraiser yet. The first year, they raised $2,500. Last year, they donated around $56,000. Margaret Freer had noted that it would be difficult to top that number, but as donations continued rolling in on Friday, they had surpassed $57,000 by early afternoon. The Christmas in July event includes a luncheon and raffle at Freer Auto Body, located at 4512 North Alby Street in Godfrey. All proceeds go to United Way’s Community Christmas program, which provides toys, clothing, personal care items and more for families in need during the holiday season. “This event makes a difference in whether there is something underneath the tree for a child at Christmas or whether there is not,” Margaret Freer said. “We are so appreciative for the support we

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WASHINGTON COUNTY – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was requested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department to investigate a body found in the area of Lunte Creek Road, west of Nashville, in Washington County. During the investigation, the victim was identified as 44-year-old Montez Pearson of East Saint Louis. On July 19, 2023, at approximately 8:44 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a deceased Black male located near Lunte Creek Road. ISP DCI Zone 7 investigations and ISP Crime Scene Services responded to the scene. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Illinois State Police DCI Zone 7 Investigations at (618) 542-2171 Ext. (1203). Witnesses can remain anonymous. ISP DCI is leading this open and ongoing investigation. No additional information is being released at this time.

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EAST ALTON/BETHALTO - Cayden’s Café opened today, July 21, and the sky is literally the limit. Located at the St. Louis Regional Airport at 16 Terminal Drive, the new restaurant aims to serve great food with a family feel. Cayden’s Café will host their grand opening from 2–10 p.m. on July 21, complete with karaoke, drawings and a special limited menu. “We want this restaurant to be different than every other one that there is. We want everybody that comes in to feel like they’re at home,” owner Dawn Malone said. “Our philosophy here is when people come in, we want them to come in as a customer, leave like family.” Malone explained that it’s always been her dream to own a spot like this. Cayden’s Café had a soft opening earlier in the week, but this bigger event will mark the official beginning of the restaurant. They decided to serve a limited menu tonight; guests can choose between fried catfish,

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