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More pics at: https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-Tree-Lighting-Ceremony ALTON - It was a brisk night Friday for the Annual Community Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton, but it was packed with people who were ready to get into the holiday spirit. The arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus kicked the celebration off at 6 p.m. Friday. The free festivities included caroling, cookies, and hot cocoa and continued until 6:45 p.m. when Mayor David Goins flipped the lights on the beautiful tree, which is provided by the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club. Many took pictures with Santa and costumed holiday characters. Sarah McGibany, Alton Main Street executive director, said it was cold but those in attendance were definitely in the holiday spirit Friday night. "It was a little cold but people started filling up Lincoln Douglas Square by 6 p.m.," she said. "By 6 p.m. it was filled with people. It was an excellent turnout and has such a great tradition. I want to remind everyone

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ALTON - Popular hair stylist Andrea Guthrie accomplished a dream for her entire career on Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting hosted by the RiverBend Growth Association and opening of The Mirage Salon and Barbershop at 222 Herbert Street in Alton. “I am really excited about it,” Guthrie said. “This has been a dream my entire career and seeing it take shape as quickly as it has is a dream come true. I have always loved doing hair even as a kid. As a kid, I cut my friends' hair. My vision has always been having a salon where the entire family could get their hair done.” Guthrie has hired girls who specialize in barbering and also hired others who specialize in colors and women’s hair. She also has eyelash extension girls and waxing in the mix at her new salon, along with several other services. Guthrie has entered her 12th year as a professional stylist. She said she has such a special relationship with her clients and she gets excited talking to each

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ALTON – According to Marquette Catholic seniors Myles Paniagua and Charlie Fahnestock, they aren’t quite tired of each other yet. The two have been playing soccer together for most of their lives, playing together for the Explorers and their club team, Alton Fighting Irish SC. Now they get to continue to be teammates in college because they’ll both be heading to Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) come August. It all happened after the SWIC head coach Lindsay Eversmeyer popped over to Gordon Moore Park to catch a home game against Belleville East. “She came to one of our games, and really liked what she saw in us, so I figured why not, I get to go with my best buddy too,” Paniagua said. “She reached out to us both, we both went out and visited it and liked it. We’re going there with a couple of other buddies from CM so it should be fun,” Fahnestock added. Marquette soccer head coach Brian Hoener only had good things to say about

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COLLINSVILLE - The 19th annual Cahokia Mounds Annual Holiday Market will showcase the artwork of over 35 Native American artists who will also teach attendees about their heritage. The event is being held at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville next weekend, November 25-27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Cahokia Mounds Executive Director Linda Krieg described the event as “full of activity.” “The Holiday Market is full of activity - it’s a very busy day, it goes by very quickly,” Krieg said. “The Native American artists that are here from across the United States, they’re really involved with explaining their heritage, their traditional ways, and their traditional arts.” She said the event will feature several unique items and help spread awareness of Native American culture from its history to the modern day. “They’re all Native American, handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces,” Krieg said of the items at th

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JERSEYVILLE - Students of Jersey Community High School’s Advanced Welding class were given a challenging task by Ben Poletti, division manager of the Sydenstricker Nobbe John Deere tractor dealership in Jerseyville. He needed an adjustable ramp for loading/unloading lawn and garden equipment from trucks and trailers and tasked the JCHS students with getting the job done - which they did. Poletti said he got the idea to ask the JCHS Advanced Welding class from his daughter, who also attends the school. “I was talking to my daughter, who’s a sophomore now at the high school here in Jerseyville, and she suggested I get in touch with Allen Snyder who leads the Advanced Welding course and that they’re always looking for those sorts of projects,” he said. “I got on a call and that same day, he came out and looked at an example of one of the ramps that we have at the Jerseyville store and he said, ‘Absolutely. This is the sort of project this tea

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ALTON - The Overnight Warming Center of Alton is activating tonight, Friday, November 18 – doors open at 5 p.m. We are located at the Deliverance Temple Church at 1125 East 6th St. in Alton. Doors are located on Cherry Street. Please share the attached flyer so that anyone in need of a warm place can join us this evening. We also post our activations on our Facebook page: Overnight Warming Centers Alton .

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O'FALLON, IL. - HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction celebrates St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors. “HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is dedicated to improving patient care by adhering to the latest evidence-based safety guidelines,” said Chris Klay, president and CEO at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “I’m very proud of the work our colleagues do to prioritize patient safety to deliver high-quality care to the communities we serve.” The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Hospital

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SPRINGFIELD - State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala has announced plans to retire at the end of her current contract, which concludes January 31 st , 2023. Dr. Ayala has served as State Superintendent since early 2019, shepherding Illinois schools through COVID-19 and kickstarting their academic recovery – leading most recently to a decade-high in the state’s graduation rate. As the capstone of her nearly four-decade career in education, Ayala was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as permanent superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). “Dr. Ayala represents the highest level of dedication to public service, and over her long career she has positively impacted thousands of Illinois students,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Not only did Dr. Ayala’s steadfast leadership guide our schools through an unprecedented pandemic, but she also kick-started students’ academic recovery. Under her leadership,

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GRAFTON - All aboard Santa’s Chocolate Express in Grafton! The popular event will return on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. All participants will receive a starter bag of chocolate at registration at the Grafton Visitor Center from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Participants will collect additional chocolate at participating businesses. Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 on the day of the event. Only a limited number of tickets will be available! The tickets include free shuttle service throughout town, a complimentary treat at each participating business, and a holiday shopping bag with a selection of chocolates and a holiday wine glass. Advance tickets can be purchased at graftonilchamber.com/ chocolate-express Stroll through Grafton and stop at local shops and businesses to sample chocolate holiday treats and also shop sales. You can take in views of the majestic bluffs and the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers or stop for a bite to eat and a beverage of your choice

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced the recipients of the 2022 Law Enforcement Public Service Awards on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Personnel from several federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who contributed to the success of federal cases were recognized for their commitment to pursuing justice and public safety. These awards recognize law enforcement officers and support personnel for exceptional leadership, outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement and excellence, victim assistance, and community engagement. “Today we honor exceptional law enforcement officers and the vital public service they provide. These women and men engage in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe every day. It is an honor today to recognize each of you for your service and successful investigations,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Each law enforcement partner was nominated by

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, applauded House passage of several pieces of veterans legislation this week, including his VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research (VIPER) Act. This bill will give the Department of Veterans Affairs resources to improve its research programs. “This week the House passed a number of veterans’ bills, including 4 bipartisan proposals to bolster VA medical research, expand VA cybersecurity, and improve oversight of IT projects and the community care program,” said Bost. “I am especially glad to see my bill, the VIPER Act, pass out of the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. VA has long been a leader in medical and prosthetic research, and our bill will help VA continue that mission.”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Metro East Humane Society (MEHS) announced today the kick off of its annual holiday fundraising campaign “Yappy Pawlidays” with a fee-waived Black Friday adoption event on November 25 th sponsored by Judy Streif and Trouw Nutrition USA. This is the fifth year that MEHS has been able to offer fee waived-adoptions on Black Friday, placing homeless animals into loving homes before the holidays. Yappy Pawlidays gives residents and business leaders throughout the Metro East region the opportunity to get involved and support MEHS’ mission in various ways throughout the giving season. "We're thrilled to be partnering with so many local businesses around the Metro East throughout the Holiday Giving Season. We really hope these partnerships not only bring awareness to our cause, but also greatly benefit these amazing businesses in our community," said Mady O’Reilly, MEHS development manager. The current lineup of Yappy Pawlidays fundraising events an

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BETHALTO - SIHF Healthcare is hosting a free HIV testing event on Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 8 am – 4 pm at SIHF Healthcare, 2 Terminal Drive, Suite 8, Bethalto, Illinois. “Ending the HIV epidemic requires us to first recognize and address the social challenges our patients face and to increase access to services in our communities,” says Lawrence Mayhew, Program Manager. “We are here to serve those in need of our services, by providing the tools they need to stay healthy, regardless of their HIV status,” notes Mayhew. Our team aims to be sensitive, non-judgmental, and supportive of anyone participating in this event regardless of age, gender, lifestyle, religion, or sexual orientation. Our services are completely confidential. For more information or to register for this event, call 618.258.8460.

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BETHALTO - Jared and Tabitha Kloempken came into the Bethalto Police Department today unprompted and announced that they would like to donate to the Bethalto Police Department Christmas for All event, Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said. The Bethalto Police were nearly overwhelmed with their donation of $3,150. "The Kloempkens didn’t ask for any recognition and were clearly just donating to the program to pay good fortune forward, expressing a true desire to help those in need, but I wanted to publicly tell them to thank you on behalf of all the children that will experience the true joy of the holiday season because of their generosity," Chief Dixon said. "I have said it many times before, but it can’t be said enough, we are truly fortunate to live in such a caring and giving community. This donation brings the total raised funds for this year’s event to $12,500. "Last year we raised more than $17,000 and were able to help more than 75 children i

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O’FALLON — Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers worldwide, claiming more lives yearly than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. Many people consider lung cancer a “smoker’s disease” as well as assume it is mostly a cancer found in men. However, while it is true that smoking is the top cause of lung cancer by a large margin, approximately 15 to 20% of cases in the U.S. happen in people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their life. Being exposed to secondhand smoke can play a part, as nonsmokers have a 20 to 30% greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work. Other factors may include radon, occupational exposures to carcinogens and outdoor air pollution. Being typically considered a disease found mostly in men, recent statistics from the American Lung Association reveal that more women are getting lung cancer, even if they have never smoked.

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ALTON - Charles Hicks is Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Alton High School Remarkable Redbird of the Month. Junior Charles Hicks is this month's Remarkable Redbird of the Month. He is a student that always thinks of others first. He has been reported by several administrators as the individual who stays in the cafeteria multiple days during the week cleaning off tables because he feels it is the right thing to do. Assistant Principal Mike Brey shared during a recent conversation that Charles cleans off tables and still has the urgency to get to his next class before many of the students he has just cleaned up after. Charles also recently completed his second year as a member of the Alton High football team. He has been known for running extra sprints after games because he wanted to do everything he could be better for the next game. In talking with Charles recently he shared of this activity, “that he was pushing himself and doing it to help his team. He doesn’t want anyone t

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COLLINSVILLE – Today, Ameren Illinois announced the appointment of two new officers and the retirement of an officer. Patrick Smith, Sr. named Senior Vice President, Operations and Technical Services Smith will lead electric and natural gas field operations; including subtransmission and distribution maintenance, engineering design, safety and training, reliability planning, dispatch operations, electrical and natural gas emergency response, and construction services for Ameren Illinois. Smith's appointment is effective Nov. 16, 2022. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and organizational psychology and an Executive MBA from Washington University. He spent more than 37 years working for Ameren's Missouri segment and most recently served as Vice President, Economic, Community and Business Development for Ameren Missouri. He led a team focused on driving energy solutions, including customer renewable energy and sustainability options, clean electrification,

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SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers returned to Springfield this week for the fall veto session and will return on November 29th to finish up work for the 102nd General Assembly. Agenda items include making clarifications to the SAFE-T Act to ensure proper implementation and new member orientation. "I was happy to see my colleagues in Springfield this week and I'm eager to get back after the Thanksgiving holiday to get some important work done for the people of Illinois," said House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch. "I'm honored by the trust and confidence the Democratic Caucus has placed in me to lead them for another two years as Speaker of the House, and I'm excited to welcome many new House members to the State Capitol." House Democrats will welcome 12 new members for the 103rd General Assembly. Next week they will complete new member orientation where they will familiarize themselves with the legislative process, the House's rules and traditions, and receive the necessary training to ensure

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ALTON - The next American Red Cross blood drive at Alton Memorial Hospital will be from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in the AMH café meeting rooms. To register, go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=AltonMemorial or contact Dave Whaley in AMH Marketing & Communications at 618-433-7947 or david.whaley@bjc.org . The Red Cross is thanking all those who present with a $10 Amazon e-gift card. The Red Cross currently has about four days’ supply of most blood products. However, the Red Cross strives to keep a five-day supply of all blood types on hand at all times to meet daily patient needs and be prepared for emergencies requiring significant volumes of donated blood products. More donors are needed to help ensure the Red Cross can meet the needs of all patients, including in times of emergency. The need for lifesaving blood transfusions never takes a break. It’s important to have blood ready to go when every second counts

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Maureen Kahn, CEO of Blessing Health System located in Quincy, Illinois. In their meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kahn spoke about the challenges rural hospitals face, including workforce shortages, the burnout health professionals are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing public health threats. “Day in and day out, we rely on our health care workers, who face incredible challenges to deliver high quality care to our patients. COVID-19 will not be the last health crisis our country sees, and we must ensure that our rural hospitals are well-equipped to care for their community’s needs,” said Durbin. “It was informative to speak with Blessing to discuss how the federal government can better support rural hospitals amid the strains they face.” “I am so grateful to all of the doctors, nurses, janitors, administrators

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