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ALTON - Alton Main Street and Jacoby Arts Center are partnering to present First Fridays, a late-night art and shopping experience which spans 19 locations across the Downtown Alton district. This event will be held on the First Friday of each month through December 2022, providing you with an opportunity to check out new shops and galleries and visit familiar favorites to experience art and great specials at each business. Participants are offering a variety of discounts, refreshments, and giveaways. Everyone who has their passport stamped at each location will receive a $10 gift certificate to any participating business. Free parking is available in the lot next to Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway, and a free shuttle bus will be provided from 5:00-9:00 p.m., running a continuous loop between all participating locations. Find "Where’s Wadlow" hidden at one of the locations to win a $100 gift certificate! On Friday, November 4th, start your evening by picking

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber Of Commerce Halloween Parade once again had beautiful floats and an incredible community, business, and school participation Monday night in Edwardsville. The parade participants lined up in the Lincoln Middle and Woodland Elementary School parking lots in Edwardsville and departed the lots with the Edwardsville Police promptly at 6:30 p.m. Parade organizers were ecstatic the weather held out and many remarked the conditions were "perfect" to be in the crowd as a spectator. The floats were once again well done and the competition for parade winners in five judging categories will be difficult for those making the final decisions. Halloween Parade winners in each of the five judging categories, including the grand champion, will be announced on Wednesday, November 2. The Fan Favorite will also be available on the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber Facebook page on Wednesday, November 2. The Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber spends

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ALTON - Eye Envy Studio, a new beauty business located at 200 N. Center Drive, Suite E, in Alton, is hosting its official soft opening this weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. Owner and Founder Kayla Covington said visitors will have chances to win several prizes, including a free service, merchandise, and discounts. “The first person can get a free service,” Covington said. “I’m going to have a little food, some door prizes, stuff like that. I’m giving out a bag and it has some items with my company name on it - pens, keychains, flyers for 30 percent off - just like a ‘thank you’ for coming … little knick-knack stuff to appreciate the people coming out.” Covington added this is a free public event, and that she’s hoping for a good turnout. “It’s free to the public,” she said. “I would like for any and everybody to come out!” Eye Envy Studio offers everything from

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EDWARDSVILLE – Marti Elford, PhD, instructor in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior, has been named a Fulbright Specialist for the second time by Fulbright Finland for her contributions to special education teacher preparation. “The competition is quite rigorous to be selected to join the Fulbright Specialist roster,” said Elford. “I am honored to be recognized for the contributions I have made to special education teacher preparation. Returning to Finland for a second time is a huge honor.” During her first stint in Finland in 2018, Elford spent six weeks working alongside scholars, researchers and professors to integrate technology into teacher preparation programs. Her acceptance to return to Finland as a Fulbright Specialist will involve her being part of special education faculty on developing processes and protocol for distance supervision of teacher candidates. “The two objectives

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased in a crash near the intersection of Grovois Road and Cinnabar Drive resulted in the death of a teenage male that has been identified as Quintyn Lewis, 17, of the 9200 block of Confederacy Drive in St. Louis, Missouri, 63126. St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives and the Accident Reconstruction Unit are investigating a fatal motor crash near the intersection of Gravois Road and Cinnabar Drive which resulted in the death of a teenage male. At 1:20 a.m. on October 29, 2022, St. Louis County police officers from the Affton Southwest Precinct responded to a call for service for a motor vehicle accident near the intersection of Gravois Road and Cinnabar Drive. Arriving officers located a single motor vehicle crash. Preliminary investigation has revealed a Lexus sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Gravois Road when it left the roadway, striking a utility pole. The vehicle contained a total of 6 passengers, including

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ALTON - The highly anticipated flash mob performance was back once again during the Alton annual Halloween Parade. Students from local Principia College in nearby Elsah were able to put on a “flash mob” dance as part of the Alton Halloween parade. This was Principia’s ninth year participating in the parade. The event took place this year at the intersection of 3rd and Piasa Streets. With hundreds waiting at the specific spot to see the “hip-hop” styled dance. Assistant Professor of Dance at Principia College, Erin Lane, was able to organize the flash mob with help from students. Lane described the performance, “It’s really exciting, there's an adrenaline rush when you perform, and when the students do really well and share their enthusiasm about the event and then the art, it's just fantastic!” Choreographers of the dance were Emily Kraack and Hanna Dow, both sophomores attending Principia College. Kraack stated that the practices

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More pics at: https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-Halloween-Parade ALTON - The 105th Alton Halloween Parade was again one for residents to remember with a long group of floats and participants. The Grandpa Gang were well-deserved grand marshals of the parade. The Grandpa Gang each year decorates the Christmas Wonderland at Rock Spring Park with more than 2.5 million lights and donates profits to community organizations. The East End Improvement Association is the coordinator of the parade each year. The Alton Halloween Parade started at 7 p.m. Monday on Broadway and Washington and concluded on Piasa. Steve Schwartz, a spokesperson for East End Improvement Association said the parade was in a word, "fantastic." "We had some great float entries and a great crowd," he said. "The weather also held out and overall it was a very good parade. We were thankful to be able to honor the Grandpa Gang as the parade marshals. They do so much for the community."

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville High School Marching Tigers finished their competitive season this past weekend at the Illinois State Band Championship. In prelims, the band finished second place in Class 5A, earning a ticket to finals for the fourth time in school history, where they finished sixth overall in the finals. "We are very proud of the hard work these students put in this year, and hope that anyone who saw the show enjoyed it," the band directors said. "Congrats on an amazing year, students!" The Marching Tigers performed Monday night in the Edwardsville Halloween Parade and also will participate in the Edwardsville Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2022.

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ST. LOUIS - Talented teens have the chance to perform before a live audience on The Fabulous Fox Theatre Stage. Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is proud to underwrite and produce an adjudicated competition showcasing teens of the St. Louis region. Teens are encouraged to compete in a talent category of their choice, whether they sing, dance, act, or do something eccentric. All talent is welcome! For the chance at $8000 towards a college scholarship, head over to FOXPACF.ORG and complete the “St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Registration Form”. From there, registrants will be able to submit details about their act. REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 2 nd. THERE ARE NO FEES TO PARTICIPATE. Open to High School students that live within 50 miles in any direction of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Students must be enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 during the 2022-2023 academic year to participate. Performers under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police Department is once again embarking on its 2022 “Christmas For All” Fund Raiser. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon made this statement: "I know it seems early, but Christmas will be here before you know it, and there are a lot of families and children in our school district/region who without our help will go without this holiday season. The Bethalto Police Department has once again decided to collect donations to be distributed to those who are most in need in our region this Christmas. "Last year our collective efforts resulted in raising $17,027.85 in cash contributions, which were used to provide Christmas gifts, help, and aid to more than 70 children and their families who reside in Bethalto's School District and the surrounding areas. Because of your generous contribution, these children and their families were able to experience the true joy of the holiday season. "Just as we have done in the past we will work with our school

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SOUTH ROXANA - The South Roxana Police Department responded to a call of shots fired involving a domestic disturbance on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at Central Park Place Apartments. South Roxana Police said the victim fired a gun at the intruder, her ex-boyfriend, Warren Beauford. The victim missed Beauford with the gunshots. Police added that during the investigation of the incident, Beauford was taken into custody on scene and lodged at the Madison County Jail until formal charges could be sought. Beauford was charged with the following: COUNT I: HOME INVASION COUNT II: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY COUNT III: DOMESTIC BATTERY COUNT IV: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT His bond was set at $200,000, and he remains in jail. The charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine on Tuesday announced that he charged two men in connection with the shooting and armed robbery of a woman in Granite City. Semaj J. Bass, 20, of St. Louis, and Brian L. Doss Jr., 19, of St. Louis both are charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, a class X felony punishable by 6 to 30 years in prison, and one count of armed robbery, a class 1 felony punishable by 4 to 15 years in prison. The charges allege that Doss and Bass fired a .22-caliber rifle at the woman on Sept. 29 as she walked in the area of Grand Avenue and State Street, and demanded her property – a cell phone and purse. The woman survived a gunshot to the back. Haine said he expects the facts of the case to show that, after the robbery and shooting, the suspects fled in their vehicle, but police used data from Automated License Plate Readers to track the vehicle back to St. Louis. The case was investigated by Granite City Police

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ST. CLAIR - Memorial Hospital, HEALTHIER TOGETHER, SIHF Healthcare, and the Healthy Start Consortium have joined forces to help prevent sleep related infant deaths in St. Clair County. October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month, a nationwide prevention and education campaign aimed at reducing the risk of sleep-related infant deaths by providing essential information to parents, caregivers, and the public about the importance of creating a safe sleep environment. Approximately 3,500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and SIDS disproportionately impact low-income families, and families of color, especially Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native. In 2020, 111 Illinois babies died from SUID before their first birthday. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is the 3 rd leading cause of infant mortality in Illinois. Hospitals and community organizations have come

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ALTON - The Elijah P. Lovejoy Memorial will sponsor four events in November to help perpetuate the memory of Elijah P. Lovejoy. Please join us and celebrate Lovejoy, a man whose life was taken on November 9, 1837 by a mob while he was defending our rights for freedom of the press and freedom from slavery. Lovejoy Week Music Festival The Lovejoy Week Music Festival is scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd in the Alton High School Gymnasium at 4200 Humbert Rd. in Godfrey, IL. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. Featured in the program are the East Elementary School Chorus directed by Thora Buis, the Alton Middle School Honor Choir directed by Melissa Sharpe, the Alton High School Symphonic Orchestra directed Laura Plummer, the Alton High School Chamber Singers directed by Leah Galbraith and the Lewis & Clark Community College Jazz Band directed by Tim Jarden. Lovejoy Day Lovejoy Day is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 th at the Lovejoy Monument

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EDWARDSVILLE – Metro-East Lutheran High School will host an Open House at its campus on Center Grove Road on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, will allow attendees to take a tour of the school’s campus, meet with faculty and administration and find out more about the school’s academic, athletic and extracurricular offerings as well as get answers to questions about tuition, financial assistance and scholarship opportunities. Metro-East Lutheran High School (MELHS) has been providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment for more than 40 years. For more information about Metro-East Lutheran High School, email admissions@melhs.org or go to www.melhs.org .

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More pics at : https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-Halloween-Parade ALTON - Alton Halloween Parade winners were announced late Monday night. The winners are as follows: Junior Youth Division: 1st East Alton Skating Academy 2nd Alton Middle School 3rd St. Ambrose 4th Cub Scout Pack 8001 Family/Neighborhood: 1st Geisen Family 2nd Fred’s Towing 3rd Scott Schultz Jurassic 4th Don Fuller Senior Youth Division: 1st Piasa Bird Soccer Team 2nd AHS Dance Team 3rd Marquette Homecoming 4th Alton Matching 100 Organizations: 1st Great Rivers Research & Education Center 2nd Great Rivers Museum 3rd Jacoby Arts Center 4th Alton Pride Commercial: 1st Alton Orthopedic Sports Medicine 2nd Alton Physical Therapy 3rd Tarrant & Harman 4th The Home Depot

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EAST ALTON - These are some area Halloween decoration submissions. The photos above and the photo immediately below are decorations at Darrell and Gwen King's home. Darrell and Gwen King of South Roxana always have a Halloween display that draws attention. This year is no different at the 925 Biltmore location in South Roxana. Gwen said she and her husband have lived in their house for 40 years and both “love Halloween and handing out candy to all the kids who walk and visit in the neighborhood.” “Our grandkids now from ages 15 and 23 all come and dress up and help with passing out candy,” Gwen said. “ “The Zombie girl shining on the swing might be the most popular with the Zombie woman in the rocking chair.” Gwen laughed and said one time one of her family members once thought the zombie woman in the chair was her in disguise. Gwen even takes candy to the children to the road if they are too scared to visit their Halloween display.

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Halloween Parade was rated a success by organizers. The Wood River Fire Department made this comment about the parade: "We are grateful and appreciate everyone that participated or attended and made the 2022 Wood River Halloween Parade a success!" The annual Wood River Halloween Parade kicked off at Sixth Street Park Saturday morning promptly at 10:30 a.m., then traveled south all the way to Ferguson Avenue, turned west and went in front of the library and through Downtown Wood River, and then turned north onto Wood River Avenue, and ended at the Round House. Float winners were as follows: Dazzler Dance Company East Alton Skating Academy/Ice Arena 1st Mid America Credit Union

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WOOD RIVER - The inaugural Wood River Chili Cookoff was what organizers called "a huge success" on Saturday in Wood River with an estimated 500-plus people in attendance. Kristen Burns, marketing and promotions consultant for Wood River, said 21 contestants participated in the first Wood River Chili Cookoff. "We had music, drinks, chili, kids activities," Burns said. "We are always wanting to show people what a great community we are in Wood River for families. This gives people the opportunity to come see some of the restaurants we have here and have good family fun." The Chili Cookoff winners were: Restaurant Grand Champion - The Pump House Bar & Grill Organization/Business - Three Stooges BBQ People's Choice - Bootleggin BBQ Mayor's Choice - C and B Boiled Bagels City Managers Choice - Buenos Aires Cafe. Burns closed by saying: "Thank you to everyone who came out, our chili participants, volunteers, and residents! We hope you enjoyed yourselves,

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Lovejoy Week Events 2022 The Elijah P. Lovejoy Memorial will sponsor four events in November to help perpetuate the memory of Elijah P. Lovejoy. Please join us and celebrate Lovejoy, a man whose life was taken on November 9, 1837 by a mob while he was defending our rights for freedom of the press and freedom from slavery. Lovejoy Week Music Festival The Lovejoy Week Music Festival is scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd in the Alton High School Gymnasium at 4200 Humbert Rd. in Godfrey, IL. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. Featured in the program are the East Elementary School Chorus directed by Thora Buis, the Alton Middle School Honor Choir directed by Melissa Sharpe, the Alton High School Symphonic Orchestra directed Laura Plummer, the Alton High School Chamber Singers directed by Leah Galbraith and the Lewis & Clark Community College Jazz Band directed by Tim Jarden. Lovejoy Day Lovejoy Day is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 th at the

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