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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole held a very brief meeting on Monday night, during which they approved a partial abatement of the 2022 Tax Levy, a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System agreement, and awarded a bid for 1819 Woodland Avenue. Alderwoman Elizabeth Allen was the sole member absent from the meeting. According to the wording of the tax levy resolution, the director of Planning & Development recommended abating (or decreasing) the 2022 Tax Levy, which established the General Obligation Refunding Bond of $8,750,000. This resolution essentially lowers the maximum amount of property tax dollars that can be collected by the city, though the new amount was not specified. The resolution passed unanimously. A resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (known as the “MABAS Master Agreement 2022”) also passed unanimously. This agreement essentially allows local units of government to collaborate and use

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville is partnering with the Bank of Madison County to finance the construction of its new East Fire Station through the issuance of $6.87 million in general obligation bonds. The City Council on Tuesday, November 15, approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds, with Mayor Art Risavy subsequently signing the financing agreement. The bonds will cover costs for the $5.1 million East Fire Station, 7407 Governors Parkway. They also will cover the costs of a new aerial ladder firetruck and building improvements to the City’s Campus Fire Station at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. “With the support of our aldermen, we are following through on a pledge to ensure the best response times and emergency services for all of our residents,” Risavy said. “We appreciate the support of the Bank of Madison County in helping us to see this important project through to completion.” The bonds are to be paid

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ST. LOUIS - Start your holiday shopping season with a little help from Scooter’s Coffee, a one-stop holiday shop with gifts to make anyone on your list smile. The Scooter’s Coffee Holiday Shop has the total package – from dazzling drinkware to curated holiday gift sets, last-minute gifts, and stocking stuffers. To help you share the love and reap the savings this holiday shopping season, Scooter’s Coffee has three exciting deals which will go fast, just like their drive-thru line. Black Friday Sale: Shop early at the Scooter’s Coffee Holiday Shop online from Nov. 25-27, 2022, and receive $10 off any order of $50 or more with the promo code FRIDAY10 . Enjoy free shipping on orders over $39. This offer is only available online, Nov. 25-27, 2022. Give a Gift, Get a Gift: At participating in-store locations, customers will receive a bonus $5 Gift Card for every $25 Scooter’s Coffee Gift Card purchased between Nov. 25 and Dec. 27, 2022. Gift card

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has granted over $9 million to 55 organizations, including 36 community colleges throughout Illinois to help address education and unemployment gaps. Lewis and Clark Community College will receive $130,225.68 in funding from the grant. The funding will be used to help minority and low-income students as well as individuals with disabilities remove barriers to completing their education and career goals through the Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant program (IBT). “The Illinois Community College Board is committed to bridging equity gaps in education by investing in our own community college system as well as other community organizations throughout Illinois that focus on removing barriers for traditionally underserved students. Supporting and scaling effective and equitable education and career opportunities is critical to the ICCB mission,” said ICCB executive director Brian Durham. This year, the ICCB

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ELSAH - Come home to historic Elsah and start your holiday season off with an inside look at some of the village’s beautifully decorated historic homes, shops, inns, and churches all while enjoying musical entertainment, carriage rides, and more from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3. Tickets for the event are on sale now and are $20 per person in advance or $25 per person the day of the event. Tickets are available at the Elsah General Store, Green Tree Inn, and Maple Leaf Cottage Inn, all in Elsah or online at: http://historicelsah.org/tour/ Tickets will be available the day of the event starting at 12:30 p.m. at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill St. “People love walking the streets of Elsah, to soak in its beauty and to feel the presence of the past,” Blair Smith, one of the event’s organizers. “Elsah’s Home for the Holidays House Tour does just that – it gives everyone an opportunity to finally have an ‘inside look’ at some of

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today released his annual Safe Shopping Guide highlighting recently recalled hazardous toys, children’s products and household items to help Illinois families shop safely this holiday season. The 2022 Safe Shopping Guide includes detailed descriptions and photographs of children’s products recalled in the last year, including children’s toys, clothing and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that pose choking and fire hazards. Attorney General Raoul is urging people to be aware of products such as e-bikes, toy guns and headphones with batteries that can overheat, ignite and pose a fire hazard. Some other products, like flashlights and electric bicycles have been recalled due to battery latch malfunctions, which result in batteries falling out unexpectedly and potentially causing a fall hazard. Attorney General Raoul also warns parents and caregivers of clothing and toys with lead levels exceeding the allowable limit and clothes that d

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has granted over $9 million to 55 organizations, including 36 community colleges throughout Illinois to help address education and unemployment gaps. The funding will be used to help minority and low-income students as well as individuals with disabilities remove barriers to completing their education and career goals through the Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant program (IBT). “The Illinois Community College Board is committed to bridging equity gaps in education by investing in our own community college system as well as other community organizations throughout Illinois that focus on removing barriers for traditionally underserved students. Supporting and scaling effective and equitable education and career opportunities is critical to the ICCB mission,” said ICCB executive director Brian Durham. This year, the ICCB is increasing funding from $4 million in 2021 to $9.1 million in 2022 to support innovative

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 17 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure that the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is given the full amount of authorized funding allocated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request. In their letter, the Senators emphasize that properly funding DOE will demonstrate the U.S.’ commitment to remaining a leader in global research. “As you work to finalize the Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, we urge you to follow through on the United States’ commitment to science and innovation by supporting the authorization levels set by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science…A strong signal of support for its provisions in the FY2024 budget request is vital to solidify the United States’ renewed commitment to global

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police investigated a Tuesday morning call about a possible shooting at St. Mary’s High School in south St. Louis, but it appears to be a false alarm. The school is located in the 4700 block of South Grand Avenue and is a Catholic, all-boys high school. There was a heavy police presence at St. Mary’s as officers investigated. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said a call came into a non-emergency line of a possible shooting at the school, not St. Mary's School. “We have no indication at this time to believe any incident occurred,” St. Louis Metropolitan Police said.

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ALTON - Let the Riverbender Tech Center help your business run more efficiently. Their technicians can remove viruses from your business computers, back-up data, and help you upgrade your current computer with more memory. They can even upgrade your computer with a new Solid State drive! But, if you are in the market for a new computer, they also sell refurbished laptops – all with Solid State drives and either Windows 10 or 11. They will transfer the data from your old computer to one you purchase from our shop at no charge, and you even get a warranty! Local small businesses move to the front of the line for repairs. This means you will have your computer back to you right away. Before going to a big box store, give the Riverbender Tech Center a try. You will not be disappointed! The Riverbender Tech Center is located at 312 Belle Street across the street from Mac’s Timeout in Downtown Alton. Reach them by phone at (618) 433-8989 or visit their website at RBTechCenter.com

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CHICAGO - If you bought a Powerball ticket in Tinley Park for Saturday night’s drawing, you may want to check it right away - that’s because you might be a newly-minted millionaire! The winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven, located at 7601 W. 159th St. in Tinley Park, and matched all five numbers to win the $1 million prize for the Saturday, November 19 drawing. The winning numbers were: 7-28-62-63-64. The lucky winner is now the seventh Illinois Lottery player who has won a prize of a million dollars or more playing Powerball so far this year. This is also a win for 7-Eleven for selling the winning ticket, as the retailer will receive a selling bonus of 1% of the prize amount. For the convenience store, that means a bonus of $10,000. In total, more than 17,000 winning tickets were sold, and nearly $1.2 million in prizes were won in Saturday evening’s Powerball drawing. Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize

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Every day in America, 13 kids die from gun-related injuries. Every day, eight kids are shot by accident. Firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death in kids ages 1 to 19, surpassing for the first time, motor vehicle accidents, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As an attending emergency room physician for OSF HealthCare, I’ve seen the aftermath of accidental shootings involving children – the physical injuries, the emotional impact on all involved and the loss of life. I can’t forget two instances when boys ages 9 and 7 were brought into the emergency room just six days apart. Both boys were at the homes of a relative or friend and were asked by another young boy, “Do you want to see my daddy’s shotgun?” The gun accidentally went off in both incidents, inflicting gunshot wounds to the abdomen. Very graphic, very severe traumas. One boy recovered and went home. The other boy

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ALTON – Simmons Hanly Conroy , one of the nation’s largest mass torts firms and a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that the 2023 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has recognized the firm with a national Tier 1 ranking in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs. In addition, the firm received seven Tier 1 and five additional metropolitan rankings across its offices. The 2023 edition of “Best Law Firms” includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan areas. Rankings are based on client evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a national or metropolitan ranking, a law firm practice area must have at least one lawyer in that practice listed in the current edition

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ALTON - When the Riverbender Community Center closed last May, John Hentrich and his board of directors had the end goal of finding an entity or individual who would re-open the center under new management. For more than 10 years, the center had served thousands of teens and provided programs and meeting spaces for people of all ages from toddlers to seniors. The center focused primarily on middle schoolers, for whom the center was designed, to provide safe, fun recreation away from the lure of negative influences like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. While Hentrich and his board had run a very successful operation, they were ready for someone else to take the reins. A year ago, Brigit Holt moved from Chicago to Alton with her middle-school son who discovered the Riverbender Center and really enjoyed the Friday night parties. “I learned the hard way that tickets to the parties sold out pretty quickly,” said Holt. “My son was really disappointed one week when I didn’t

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ALTON - Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project and Alton Main Street are celebrating Small Business Saturday by hosting the 20th annual Green Gift Bazaar. On Saturday, November 26, this event will give community members the opportunity to purchase eco-friendly gifts for upcoming special occasions while supporting small businesses during the holiday season. The bazaar will feature over 40 vendors selling homemade jewelry, art, ceramic pottery, clothing and accessories, herbal products, and much more. Plan a day of shopping with your friends and family to celebrate Small Business Saturday and pick up unique, locally-made, “green” gifts for everyone on your list! Join us in Downtown Alton between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 26 at two different locations — the Jacoby Arts Center located at 627 East Broadway, and Post Commons located at 300 Alby Street. There is no entry fee to shop at either location. Both locations will feature vendors selling

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Two Freeburg residents - Joe and Patty Kreher - died in a plane crash in Winston-Salem on Saturday. Winston-Salem Police said the couple was on their way to see their son and grandchildren for Thanksgiving. The crash occurred in Winston-Salem at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. The plane was described by Federal Aviation Administration authorities as "a twin-engine Piper PA-30." A family member tells two who died in the crash had flown from St. Louis to North Carolina several times. Authorities said the plane came to a rest in a wooded area behind a couple of houses in a residential area. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

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GRANITE CITY - Three Granite City High School football players recently concluded their seasons and their statistics and contributions to the squad are impressive. Brady Smallie, a senior punter, Ian Poston, a senior kick returner, and Marquese Berry, a senior linebacker have played their last downs as Warriors. Brady, Ian, and Marquese are Stillwater Senior Living Male Athletes of the Month for Granite City. These are some key stats on the three players: Brady Smallie – Senior Punter 23 punts, 871 yards, 37.87 average 14 th in STL Area Ian Poston – Senior kick returner 4 attempts, 142 yards, 35.50 average 11 th in STL Area Marquese Berry – Senior Linebacker 101 tackles – 67 solo, 34 assisted 12 th in STL area in tackles Granite City’s head football coach Kindle Lyons said Poston will also be a strong Warriors boys track team performer in the spring. “Ian is a fast kid who showed a lot of resiliency throughout the

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SPRINGFIELD - The Lewis and Clark Community College Alton Area Family Literacy Program and the L&C Project READ Adult Volunteer project received funding from Secretary Of State Jesse White’s Adult Literacy Grants. A total of $50,000 was awarded to the L&C Alton Area Family Literary Program and $64,606 was given to Godfrey Lewis and Clark Community College Project READ Adult Volunteer Project. Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White awarded over $5.6 million in Adult Literacy Grants to help students develop and enhance their reading, math, writing and English-language skills. “An estimated two million Illinois residents need adult literacy and/or English-language instruction,” White said. “I am pleased to provide funding for 108 local literacy projects that will allow adult students to help them achieve their utmost potential in the upcoming year. It has been an honor serving as Secretary of State and State Librarian for the last 24 years, helping

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CARROLLTON - Several individuals were arrested in Greene County on drug/alcohol-related charges, and one on battery charges, over the course of about a week from Nov. 10-18, according to the latest Greene County Jail Booking Report. Nathan C. Young, 30, of Jerseyville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a revoked/suspended license. He was arrested by the White Hall Police Dept. on Nov. 13 and has since been released on bond. Two individuals were charged with meth delivery on the same day by different police departments. Ryan C.D. Large, 33, of Carrollton, and Casey J. Farris, 36, of Jacksonville, were both charged with meth delivery last Tuesday, Nov. 15. Large was arrested by the Carrollton Police Department at 11:08 p.m. and remains in custody, while Farris was arrested by the White Hall Police Department at 9:38 p.m. and has since been released on bond. Ramon G. Colon-Melendez, 40, of Roodhouse, was arrested fo

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PONTOON BEACH - At a time when 84% of transit agencies around the country are experiencing workforce shortages, affecting their ability to provide service, Agency for Community Transit (ACT) is pleased to announce that despite its own multi-year driver shortage, proposed Madison County Transit (MCT) service reductions won’t be necessary any time soon. ACT operates all services for Madison County Transit and all drivers are ACT employees. Thanks to ACT’s recent recruiting efforts, which led to the hiring of 16 new drivers, service reductions that were proposed in October will not be required. After delaying a decision on the service change in October, the MCT Board of Trustees approved a revised plan at its Thursday, November 17 meeting that avoids frequency reductions on three MCT bus routes. “First I want to thank ACT’s positive, energetic drivers for staying with us, working long hours, and taking extra shifts in order to keep bus service on the road for

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