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COLLINSVILLE — The City of Collinsville recently completed a review by Moody’s Investor Services, which is required to analyze the overall credit worthiness and financial outlook of the City. As a result of this review, the City will maintain its Aa3 credit rating. There are several key factors that led to this rating being upheld and the negative outlook being removed. The recent vote upholding the City’s Home Rule Status by its citizens was the largest factor leading to this rating. Additional factors include growth in reserves and liquidity through strong financial management, which includes long-term liability management (elimination of debt service), economic developing leading to revenue growth, and management of overall spending to maintain and grow reserves. Collinsville City Manager Mitch Bair said the credit rating is an outstanding outcome for the City. “Maintaining our Aa3 credit rating from Moody’s is tremendous for the residents of the City.

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SOUTH ROXANA - A strongman competition was held in South Roxana last Saturday at The Complex Training Facility. Owner Ryan Szymarek said the event was “the first of its kind” and so successful that they plan to host another competition later this year. “The strongman event was the first of its kind for the gym and in South Roxana that I know of,” Szymarek said. “Even though the weather was terribly cold, we had a great turnout of around 70 people and 10 competitors from gyms around the Illinois and Missouri area.” The event was sanctioned by United States Strongman (USS), which oversees all strongman events throughout the country. The competition featured the following weightlifting challenges: Deadman Barge Chain Pull - 600lbs and 1000lbs for 50ft, timed Tire Flip - 600lbs Yoke Deadlift for Max Weight One-arm Circus Dumbbell Press/Keg Medley - Circus Dumbbell 120lbs/140lbs, Keg 140lbs/225lbs Fire Truck Pull - 40,000 lbs for 50ft,

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CASEYVILLE – The non-profit Gateway Pet Guardians in East St. Louis is getting an influx of donations from the community this month thanks to a fun promotion organized by Morrison Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical , based in Caseyville. Over the next several weeks, Morrison is giving away logo-branded T-shirts to anyone who drops off pet supplies at the company’s Caseyville location or gives items to their technician during a home appointment. Morrison is also contributing $5 to Gateway every time a customer places a sign in their yard. The month-long program ends with free pizzas on Sunday, April 2, at Peel Woodfire Pizza in O’Fallon, IL. For every individual, couple or family that comes to the restaurant that day to donate supplies or make a monetary donation, Morrison will pay for one large pizza and two large, non-alcoholic beverages — up to $5,000 total. The event begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. or until the $5,000 runs out. “It's a privilege

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CARLINVILLE – Even though Mark Glenshaw has spent much of his life studying owls, he knows they can be tough to spot. “I’ve talked to people in their seventies and eighties who tell me they’ve never seen an owl in their lives,” said Glenshaw, an award-winning naturalist known for his observation of owls. “Owls are just so hard to find. I want to help others find owls and learn as much as possible about them, just as I have.” Glenshaw will present “How to Find an Owl in Your Neighborhood” at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m. The free, one-hour program is designed to help residents locate and identify various owl species near home. In his program, Glenshaw will discuss which species of owls are the most easy to see or hear, where and how to look for owls, what sounds to listen for, and the importance of research and collaboration. “I’ll share as much as I can about finding owls to help

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement across the state for the holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign from March 10 through March 18, and reported eight citations for impaired driving. “We can’t stress this enough: Impaired driving is illegal, potentially deadly behavior, and it puts the driver, passengers, and all road users at risk,” said Lt. Brandn Whittaker. “The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign helps our law enforcement officers address this problem head-on. If you use any impairing substance, do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle.” Whittaker said the Edwardsville Police Department ramped up its usual enforcement efforts, adding 11 hours of patrol dedicated to impaired driving. In addition to impaired driving arrests, officers working the directed patrol issued three speeding citations and eight

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GLEN CARBON - Many people might be unaware that collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found in bones, muscles and tendons. It’s also responsible for helping people maintain a youthful appearance. Kristen M. Jacobs, MD, aesthetic physician, best-selling author of “Live Life Beautifully (With a Little Help)” and owner of Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging & Wellness, is educating people on the benefits of using products and services that help your skin produce more collagen. “I am always so excited to help people understand the important role collagen plays as you age,” Dr. Jacobs said. “Collagen is a protein found in your skin’s connective tissue, and it can help slow down aging, wrinkles and increase skin elasticity. When we don’t have enough of it, that leads to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles. Luckily, skincare products and services exist that can help our bodies produce more collagen.” Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined The Hill’s Bob Cusack to discuss the future of airpower in our nation’s national defense strategy and military readiness. In her remarks, Duckworth highlighted the need to fund and encourage innovation and diverse ideas across all types of industry. A full video of the Future of Defense event can be found here . “Innovation is key to remaining competitive with our rivals and making sure the airpower in our military is ready for the next fight—and our nation is far more innovative than any other nation on the face of the earth,” said Duckworth. “To best prepare airpower for tomorrow, we must search for diverse ideas across all types of industries, be open-minded to incorporating them and have the processes in place to do so. I’ll continue to do everything I can to make sure Congress supports our military

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 17 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief to uphold and preserve state-law remedies for misconduct by gun manufacturers and sellers. In the brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in the case Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands et al ., Raoul and the coalition urge the court to recognize that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) creates only a narrow restriction on state-law remedies against the firearms industry. Raoul argues, under PLCAA’s plain terms, gun manufacturers and dealers are not exempt from liability when they violate state or federal laws governing the sale and marketing of firearms. “I am honored to be part of this coalition to ensure gun manufacturers and dealers are held accountable when they violate firearm sale and marketing laws,” Raoul said. “I will continue to support efforts to address reckless and dangerous practices

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GODFREY – The Criminal Justice program at Lewis and Clark Community College is inviting the public to an open house to explore the program, Thursday, March 30. The event will feature a number of criminal justice professionals, including representatives from law enforcement, corrections, juvenile and department of social services, each of whom will provide insights and answer questions. According to Criminal Justice Program Coordinator Jessica Noble, positions in the industry, which often extend beyond law enforcement, include careers in probation, parole, advocacy and telecommunications, among others. “This event is designed to give those considering a career in criminal justice a solid overview of the range of positions available to them with appropriate training,” Noble said. “The open house will give prospective students a chance to learn about the program, meet the faculty and even network with local professionals.” The event will be held from 6-7:3

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SPRINGFIELD - State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) partnered with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) Education Foundation to push for the passage of legislation designed to build a workforce of the future by increasing education opportunities and removing barriers that prevent students from exploring jobs in the manufacturing industry. “We must explore ways to build career pathways for students and remove barriers that make it difficult to enter the workforce,” said Rep. Elik. “I’m proud to partner with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association on these important issues.” A bipartisan measure (HB 3307) sponsored by Rep. Amy Elik would allow students to take two years of career training education in place of two years of foreign language study. An additional measure sponsored by Rep. Elik would create a pilot program to allow manufacturers to open on-site childcare centers at no cost to their employees. Under HB 3308, manufacturers

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - The story of Abraham Lincoln’s many experiences and connections in Montgomery County will be the topic of a free, one-hour discussion at the Challacombe House in Hillsboro at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 16. Author Tom Emery of Carlinville will discuss his work Lincoln in Montgomery County, Illinois , which he released in 2021. The book includes a wide variety of stories on the sixteenth President in Montgomery County, many that have never been covered. The discussion is part of the ongoing celebrations of the bicentennial of the city of Hillsboro, which was founded in 1823. Emery will discuss Lincoln’s ties to some of the earliest names of local and county history, including John Tillson, Joseph Eccles, Francis Springer, James Davis, Levi Boone, and Wickliffe Kitchell. Lincoln’s connections to Simeon Ryder, who developed Litchfield, Nokomis, and Irving, will also be covered. In addition, Lincoln’s speaking appearances in Hillsboro will be discussed

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TROY - Senior midfielder Laney Harshany has been a staple for the Triad High School girl's soccer team and has seen a lot of success. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled her freshman season, but when it was time to get back at it in the 2020-21 season, she, and the rest of the team, got to work. Laney scored 14 goals and had 13 assists in her sophomore season as Triad went undefeated and won a state championship. She was a key part of all that. Then came her junior year. Things started off well for her and the team. She had scored four goals and assisted three while her team began the season on a 15-game win streak. As seen in the photo above, she is sporting a protective knee brace this season. That's because she tore her left ACL and meniscus in May of 2022. She could only watch on as her team went and won a second straight state championship. "It was a great experience," Laney said of last season's playoff run. "I still got to travel with them even though I was on crutches." After

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BELLEVILLE - Caritas Family Solutions has moved up in the rankings of the largest nonprofits in the St. Louis region. The 2022 report shows Caritas’ moved up from the 16th largest on the 2021 list to the 15th largest in 2022. The rankings were published in a St. Louis Business Journal based on the organization's 2022 fiscal year operating budget. The nonprofit has an operating budget of $45 million. Caritas Family Solutions services include foster care, pregnancy care for women experiencing homelessness, adoption, counseling and independent living for adults with disabilities among other service lines. The agency currently serves more than 7,000 people, including 2,300 foster children, throughout the Southern Illinois region. “Right now, one in ten kids in the state of Illinois are being served by Caritas Family Solutions which gives you an indication of the impact we make across the region,” said Caritas Family Solutions CEO Gary Huelsmann. “But foster care

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EDWARDSVILLE - The remarkable contributions of inspiring women who embrace and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion were recognized during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s ninth annual Phenomenal Celebration held Wednesday, March 22. “What the goal here today is to ensure these women are seen, celebrated, and supported,” said Kevin Leonard, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences’ during his opening remarks. “It is imperative we recognize these women for the works they have accomplished on campus and in their community, but we also want to ensure they know we as a community support them on their journeys as they continue great works into the future.” “Every woman receiving this recognition today is making a positive impact at this University and in our greater community,” said keynote speaker Candi Johnson, program coordinator for SIUE’s Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Center. “These women

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ALTON - A 48-year-old Alton woman was taken into custody in a theft case on Wednesday morning. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford reported the following: "At 9:31 a.m. on 03/22/23, the Alton Police Department was contacted regarding a theft from person incident that had just occurred in the 1800 block of E. Broadway, Alton, Illinois. "Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Brandi Vaughn, 48 years of age, of Alton, had just stolen a woman’s purse from the backseat of the victim’s vehicle. As Vaughn attempted to flee with the purse, she was struck by the victim’s vehicle. "Despite being struck by the vehicle, Vaughn continued to flee on foot. She was subsequently located by officers while hiding in a closet inside an apartment of a nearby apartment complex. She was taken into custody and transported to the Alton Police Department. Vaughn was in possession of the victim’s property at the time of her arrest." Chief Ford continued and said: "Vaughn later

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ALTON - Illinois American Water today provided an update of work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers. Below is information about road closures beginning March 23, 2023: "Sewer work is progressing north up 9th Street in Alton," Illinois American said. "Currently, the work is between Bluff and Augusta Streets. Please continue to utilize State Street, Belle Street, Alby Street, and U.S. 67 for north-south travel thru this area of town. Belle Street at 10th Street will remain open for traffic to access Piasa Street. Sewer installation has started on 9th Street east of U.S. 67 moving toward Alby Street. "Market Street south of 9th Street is planned to be closed in the next week. North-South traffic on Piasa Street (U.S. 67) will not be impacted. Pavement restoration work is starting on Belle Street near the intersection of 9th Street." Please avoid these areas if possible until pavement restoration work is completed. Illinois American stressed agai

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JERSEYVILLE - Pig on a Wing will be closing its restaurant located at 807 State Highway 16 in Jerseyville on March 31 and shifting focus to its food trucks. Owner Steve Walker said they will be adding a second food truck under a different name and with different food options later this spring. “This winter we decided to start building another food truck, and in April, that’ll be complete and ready to roll out,” Walker said. “That gives us two food trucks to work with and two food trucks that I have to staff, so we decided to put our efforts into the food trucks.” The name of the new food truck is going to be “Rolling Dogs,” and Walker said it will feature a different sandwich selection from the original Pig on a Wing food truck. “The second food truck, it’ll be sandwiches also, but just different from Pig on a Wing,” he said. “So it’ll be different varieties for people to look forward to.” Walker

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JERSEYVILLE/GRAFTON - Pre-Registration/Screening appointments for upcoming Jersey 100 kindergarteners are opening soon on Thursday, April 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at West Elementary School, located at 1000 W. Carpenter St. in Jerseyville. If your child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2023, and will be attending kindergarten in Jersey Community Unit School District (CUSD) 100, call (618) 498-4322 to schedule a Pre-Registration/Screening appointment. This includes students attending both West Elementary and Grafton Elementary School. The following items are required for kindergarten students: Proof of residency (Electric/water bill, driver’s license, voter registration card, etc.) Child's legal birth certificate Recent physical (physical no older than 1 year prior to the first day of school) Immunization records Eye examination form Dental examination form Parents/guardians are asked to bring at least proof of residency and the child’s

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BETHALTO - Junior Abrianna Garrett has been a constant for the CM Lady Eagles soccer team. The dangerous forward must always be marked, or she is going to make the other team pay. She burst onto the scene her freshman season with a 27-goal, 10-assist campaign. She followed that up the next season by scoring 37 and assisting seven. Her freshman year she teamed up with teammate and close friend Aubree Wallace. Wallace netted 23 goals to go along with Garrett in the 2020-21 season. As many know, Wallace was sidelined the entire following season dealing with an ACL tear during basketball season. That's when Garrett stepped it up the most and scored 37 to help bolster her team's attack. "She does what she does. She's relentless and very direct," CM head coach Eric Zyung said about his goal scorer. "She shares the ball well, but then she has an act for the goal. She just knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. She knows how to finish." As a junior, she's picking up right

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EDWARDSVILLE - The first “Battle of the Badges” blood drive of 2023 is set for Monday, April 10. The Edwardsville Police and Fire Departments have rekindled this friendly competition in an effort to encourage much-needed blood donations. The blood drive will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Safety Building, 333 S. Main Street. The American Red Cross will operate the event from the second-floor training room. The fire and police departments collaborate on the Battle of the Badges blood drive at least twice a year. While it’s dubbed a “battle” between the departments, Police Chief Mike Fillback said the friendly competition is just a lighthearted way to tackle a serious problem: medical blood shortage. “It’s a good way for people to give back to the community and fill a vital need,” he said. “It’s very much appreciated for people to donate blood.” Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs

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