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LIVINGSTON - A Belleville woman has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence causing death and driving under the influence causing great bodily harm in the traffic death of a child and severe injury to another. Laura Schmittling, 28, pleaded guilty to the two counts with no agreement as to her sentence. The crimes each carry a sentence of between three and 14 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be held at a later date. Schmittling was southbound on Interstate 55 when the Chevrolet Malibu she was driving went off the road and hit a guardrail, then ended up on the left lane. A tractor-trailer truck swerved to avoid the Malibu but side-swiped a Ford Focus in an adjacent lane. Another big truck then hit the Malibu. Court documents said tests showed she had methamphetamine, amphetamine, and marijuana in her system. A 4-year-old and a 6-year-old in the Focus were also injured. Schmittling was originally charged with three counts of aggravated driving causing death, three counts

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Simmons Hanly Conroy attorneys represented 76-year-old Missouri man diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer decades after replacing asbestos-containing brakes ST LOUIS – Simmons Hanly Conroy , one of the nation’s largest mesothelioma law firms, has secured a $20 million verdict against Ford Motor Company on behalf of Missouri resident William “Bill” Trokey who was diagnosed in 2020 with mesothelioma, a rare and fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mr. Trokey was exposed to asbestos starting in high school during the 1960s while working at a service station in St. Louis. He suffered repeated asbestos exposures to the toxic dust while servicing asbestos-containing brakes manufactured by Ford Motor Company. The jury found that Ford failed to warn Mr. Trokey about the dangers of asbestos and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $10 million to his wife, Cathy, for loss of consortium. “After examining hundreds of pieces of evidence,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Fire Department announced Friday afternoon it is currently responding to a crude oil leak at the intersection of Illinois State Route 143 and Illinois State Route 159 near Old Alton Edwardsville Road. Teams from Madison County Emergency Management Agency, Madison County Hazmat, Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery, and Marathon Pipeline have responded to the site. Residents should avoid the area and note the following road closures: - Wanda Road from New Poag Road to Wagon Wheel - Old Alton Edwardsville Road from Illinois State Route 143 to the west of the Cahokia Canal. Further information will be available on the City’s website as it is made available. See: www.cityofedwardsville.com

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police obtained warrants for the person believed to be the second offender in the February 15, 2022, burglary at the Bethalto Walgreens. Today Felony charges of Burglary and Retail Theft Over $300 were issued by State's Attorney Thomas Haine's Office against: KEVIN D. LACEY M/B AGE 32 SPRINGFIELD, IL. Judge Slemer set Lacey's bond at $50,000. Lacey is actively wanted on this charge and currently being sought by police. "Mr. Lacey, I kept my word that I'd let you know when we got the warrant, now you do the right thing and turn yourself in," Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said. "In the event, you choose not to do that I want you to know that I'll be making the United States Marshall's Service aware of the issuance of this warrant as well. "I'd again warn anyone choosing to commit these kinds of crimes to know the Village of Bethalto is not the place to do it. This police department will do everything within our powers to apprehend and deter offenders

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ST. LOUIS - On Thursday, May 10, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and World Wide Technology (WWT) Chairman and Founder Dave Steward welcomed fellow Black mayors at the company’s Global headquarters for a summit focused on tech solutions to the issues faced in every city. Programming during the summit included a presentation by the City of St. Louis’ Interim Public Safety Director Dr. Dan Isom highlighting the city’s alternative response models, after the city saw a decrease in homicides between 2020 and 2021 of more than 25 percent. “Today’s summit brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to hold interactive workshops, share best practices, and learn from each other so we strengthen our respective cities and lift up our communities,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. Founded in 1990, WWT has grown to become a global technology solutions provider with $14.5 billion in annual revenue. Based in St. Louis, WWT has approximately 8,000 employees

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits are being extended until July 31, 2022. The previous extension was set to end on March 31, 2022. As a result, expired driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits will remain valid until July 31, 2022, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, especially during inclement weather. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. White’s office has expanded online renewals for expired driver’s licenses and ID cards and continues to mail letters to eligible customers. The letter provides driver’s license and ID card holders with a unique PIN needed to renew online instead of visiting a facility and waiting in line. Customers may call 217-785-1424 to confirm their eligibility for online renewal or to obtain their PIN. Customers

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Ilinois has lost a true giant of Route 66 -- the Windy City Road Warrior, David Clark. Author, historian, tour guide, meticulous researcher, and presenter, he knew his subject, loved to share it, and was known to Route 66 fans around the world. A downtown Chicago resident, David lived in a condo in a former garment factory on Adams Street, across the street from the iconic “Begin Historic Route 66” sign. “Dave,” as his friends knew him, passed away on Tuesday, January 4, at the age of 64. On Thursday evening, January 6, many of his friends and fans were online, ready to enjoy one of Dave's monthly Route 66 programs, presented virtually for many months during Covid. But for those attempting to enter the program, all anyone could access was the message, “waiting for host to begin the meeting.” It was an ominous start to what was anticipated to be an enjoyable evening. Later that night, the news began to spread – Dave had died on Tuesday, after

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AMES, Iowa (March 11, 2022) – An Edwardsville and Glen Carbon student are both ranked among the top 2 percent of students in their college at Iowa State University. The two are: Edwardsville, IL Kurt Brase , senior, College of Engineering Glen Carbon, IL Jack Raffaelle , senior, College of Engineering

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is supporting measures to ensure that Direct Support Personnel are fairly compensated for the assistance they provide to individuals with developmental disabilities. “Support workers are essential workers,” Belt said. “These individuals care for residents who rely on them to do basic day-to-day tasks that many of us do without thinking. It’s vital that these workers are taken care of and paid a fair wage.” DSPs are vital in community residential settings, where they help residents with daily personal care like eating and hygiene as well as teaching life skills and attending to complex medical needs. While funding for these services has increased over recent years, starting wages remain barely above minimum wage, and vacancies remain high. This disparity is because the state does not always require community agencies to pass wage increases through to the workers. Belt joined State Senators

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SEE VIDEO: ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) St. Louis District kicked off its 150 th Anniversary celebration with great reception recently at the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton. Col. Kevin Golinghorst, Commander, USACE St. Louis District, Grafton Mayor Michael R. Morrow, and Alton Mayor David Goins, signed proclamations recognizing the District’s history, partnerships, and contributions to the region. On February 19, 1872, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established a new district in Saint Louis, the Gateway to the West, and few could have foreseen this auspicious occasion of their 150th Anniversary would usher in a successful long-lasting partnership between the states of Missouri, Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps in Saint Louis. “Today, we celebrate a history of innovation with our partners, without which we could not deliver the vital engineering solutions that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the regions we are so

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ALTON - Cruise port development and high-speed rail are critical to the success of tourism and community development in southwest Illinois, Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau told an Illinois Senate Committee Thursday. “Both represent massive infrastructure opportunities to move people to destinations -- not just commodities and freight,” Jobe told the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee during testimony on Thursday, March 10. “We must quit thinking of our waterways as only highways for commodities and freight. The cruise ship industry is poised and ready to ramp up cruise experiences on Illinois Waterways.” Development of outdoor recreational opportunities goes hand-in-hand with attracting travelers to southwest Illinois, Jobe pointed out. The bureau is working with key partners and service providers to activate a plan for a regional approach to better utilize the natural resources, open spaces and byways in the

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EDWARDSVILLE - Chief Judge William A. Mudge announced on Friday that he is retiring at the end of his term on December 4, 2022. Judge Mudge obtained his law degree in 1985 from Saint Louis University School of Law. After serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, he was a partner at Lucco, Brown and Mudge, a private general practice law firm in Edwardsville, for 16 years. He is licensed to practice in both Illinois and Missouri. Including his time as an Assistant State’s Attorney and as a part-time Assistant Public Defender, Mudge served the citizens of Madison County as their State’s Attorney for eight years from 2002 to 2010. In 2010 he was elected Circuit Judge, and was retained for another six year term in 2016, and was later elected Chief Judge in 2019. His retirement will bring to an end 25 years of public service in those capacities. “My professional career has been incredibly rewarding. I was privileged to be a law partner with Bill Lucco and Joe Brown

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ALTON - A woman with a long history of drunk driving was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for crashing head-on with a motorcycle, knocking Natasha J. Dillinger, 27, of Bethalto off the bike, killing her. Erin L. Arras, 45, of Belleville, agreed to plead guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in injury or death, in exchange for an eight-year prison sentence. She will have to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence. The normal sentencing range is three to 14 years. “A few years in prison in exchange for a life doesn’t make sense to me,'' said Zachary Cable, her cousin, in his victim impact statement. Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Thierry said the defendant’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.21 percent, compared with a level of 0.08 for a legal presumption of intoxication. He said Arras was westbound on Broadway on Sept. 7, 2020, when she turned into a parking lot in the 700 block of Broadway, then headed back east where

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ST. LOUIS - See St. Louis Union Station in a whole new light this spring during GLOW, a neon-themed event opening Friday, March 11, and continuing through the end of May. LET'S GLOW PLAY A variety of neon art installations, perfect for capturing Instagrammable moments, are placed throughout the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Guests can participate in new hands-on activities and glowing animals -- including coral formations and scorpions that glow under black light -- will be featured. Aquarium team members will explain nature's bioluminescent phenomena as they help guests explore the fun. GLOW is free with Aquarium admission. Outside on the Union Station Plaza, the St. Louis Wheel will be glowing nightly with millions of colors and patterns. St. Louis Mini Golf will get in on the glow with neon golf balls and glowing flag markets at each of the course's 18 holes. The Fire & Light Show will glow on the Union Station lake every hour throughout the evening. Carnival games are set

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Lewis and Clark Events Calendar March 12-19, 2021 For current information regarding Lewis and Clark Community College’s operations during the pandemic, please visit lc.edu/coronavirus . Recurring event: Alton Area Tax Project: 5-7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, Templin Nursing Building, NU201, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. Appointments are required. Visit https://AltonAreaTaxProject.com/appointment or call (314) 292-9597. 3/11-13 – Positive Vibes Dance Competition: 3 p.m., Friday; 7 a.m., Saturday and Sunday; Hatheway Cultural Center, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. (618) 520-2637. 3/15 – NGRREC Neighbor Nights, What Makes a River Great: 6:30 p.m., virtual event, registration required at https://conta.cc/3C5bhXl . Contact jenryoung@lc.edu . 3/16 – Bella Milano Catering Open House: 6-8 p.m., The Commons, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey

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AGENDA PLANNING & ZONING MEETING 6810 GODFREY ROAD-VILLAGE HALL GODFREY, ILLINOIS 62035 MARCH 16, 2022 6:00 P.M. Introduction of Members and Officials PUBLIC HEARING R. DEAHL CONSTRUCTION 111 E. 5 TH . STREET, STE. 350 ALTON, IL. 62002 This is an application from A.R. Deahl Construction requesting a minor subdivision of 4528 Levis Lane to split a 7.6 acre lot into two lots. The lot will be split as follows: Lot 1 will be 3.65 acres and Lot 2 will be 3.93 acres with approval of two variances Section 70.303 (K) flag lots and Section 70.303 (K) 4 number of flag lots. PPN: 24-1-01-33-00-000-006.001 REGULAR MEETING Motion for Approval of the Minutes for Planning & Zoning meeting September 15, 2021. Motion for Approval of the Minutes for Planning & Zoning meeting February 16, 2022. Motion for Approval of Application for minor subdivision to split a 7.6 acre lot into two lots. Next Planning and Zoning meeting

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This story would have been better for the February issue of The Buzz since we got a major snow storm the day after we finished delivery. But I didn’t know the forecast enough in advance. And it was, in fact, that snowstorm that brought these memories back to life in my mind, and made me decide to share them with you. For the sake of the story, it would be nice if we had a major snowfall in March - which conceivably could happen but it won’t this year. Weather.com says temps will range from 46-61 degrees this month. And I won’t complain about that. The snowfall on Feb 2-3 this year in this area of Illinois ranged from 10-15 inches, depending on where you live. I think we got about a foot here at our house. The second day high winds caused drifts on already cleared roads and parking lots. We can see the interstate from our house and if I recall correctly, this is the first time I saw that interstate with almost zero traffic for that long of a period. People buckled down

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March is Women’s History Month. What better place to start than with a new book from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Tyle, one of our most esteemed living fiction writers. Some may remember her great novels from years ago: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant , The Accidental Tourist , and Breathing Lessons , among many others. Baltimore has been her principal location for her fiction as it is in her newest book, French Braid . Beginning with a family vacation in 1959, Tyler takes us along on a brilliantly perceptive journey deep into one family’s foibles from a boyfriend with a red Chevy in the 1950s to a longed-for reunion with a grandchild in our pandemic present. Margaret Atwood, celebrated as the author of The Handmaid’s Tale , offers us nearly two decades of her musings in Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces , 2004-2021. In more than 50 pieces, Atwood aims her prodigious intellect and impish humor at the world, taking us on a roller-coaster

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(Note: This is released by Associate Judge Ryan Jumper) EDWARDSVILLE - Following the announcement by Circuit Judge William A. (Bill) Mudge that he will not seek retention, I am excited to announce that I will seek to fill that vacancy in the upcoming 2022 elections. Let me be the first to congratulate Judge Mudge on his distinguished career as a public servant, and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors. It has been fifty years since Clayton Williams was first appointed an associate judge in Madison County, since that time there has not been a single black circuit judge or county-wide officeholder. Although my candidacy is historic, I’m not running just to be the first black anything, I’m running because the 3rd Circuit needs good smart people who care about and invest in this county to join its leadership. I’ve spent my career both in private practice and on the bench working with principled friends from all backgrounds and know that whatever

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COLLINSVILLE – Illinois State Police District 11 Troopers continue to investigate a shooting that occurred Thursday morning near East St. Louis. State troopers were dispatched to a single unit crash on the ramp from Interstate 70 eastbound to Interstate 64 eastbound. While Troopers were responding to the scene, the victim, a 49-year-old male from St. Louis, MO., called District 11 telecommunicators. He advised that as he was traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 near Milepost 3 in St. Clair County, a black male in a dark-colored vehicle fired an unknown number of shots at his vehicle. The victim fled from the suspect vehicle and subsequently crashed into the concrete median at the above location. The suspect vehicle also fled the scene. There were no injuries to the driver or defects in the vehicle. The investigation is still open and ongoing. There is no further information available at this time. ISP Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 6 agents and ISP Crime Scene

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