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ALTON - The Hayner Library hosted its first annual Local Author Book Fair Saturday afternoon in the parking lot adjacent to their building in downtown Alton. Guests were able to visit with all the authors and buy their books, register for library cards, and much more. There were over 20 local authors in attendance. 2022 Participating Authors: Erin Heil Justin Kennon D.L. Anderson Evelyn Francis S.M. Cornthwaite Renee B. Johnson Deedee Hass Laura Perry Ken Wendle Dave Emmons Edward Holmes Elizabeth Lynn Blackson Marybeth Timmermann Sara Bushway Amoriah Gray Kendra Slone Isaac Sandidge James Killon & Eugene Baldwin Stormy White Kathryn Claywell Frances Altheimer Johnson Donna Henry Sharon Emerick Virginia Slachman Joyce M. Lakes Danial Margeson Pat Danna Ron Habeck Melissa Simmons "We decided that we have a lot of local talent, so we wanted to showcase all the authors in the area," Mary Cordes said, Assistant Director of Circulation and Strategic Services

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ALTON - Challenge Unlimited today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation." The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month. “Our national recovery from the pandemic cannot be completed without the inclusion

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It’s time everyone stepped back and simply appreciate Democracy and all this incredible governing process has given humankind, and as importantly - acknowledge no nation on this planet has ever provided so much for so many in such a short time while using so much diversity in the governing process. What I write next is my truth, from an agenda based on opinion, research, and decades of experience. I’ve traveled this world and held leadership positions as president of a South African company, served on the Board Director for six Fortune 500’s, was the founding General Manager of Honeywell’s Telecommunication Business, served as Global Executive VP- Corporate officer for Honeywell; was co-Founder and President of the Black Executive Leadership Council, followed by 15-years ownership of the Harlem Globetrotters and Chairmanship of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. These roles afforded three things. First, confidence that my opinions are both relevant

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City's Month Of Magic & Mayhem had an impressive kickoff with the Creepy Crawl Halloween Parade that concluded with The Monster Dance Party in the Streets Saturday in Granite City. The parade began at 27th Street in Granite City and crawled down to Madison Avenue and ended at Civic Park. The Monster Dance Party then went from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Granite City Downtown Arts and Entertainment Director Brenda Whitaker said she was "thrilled" at the outcome of Saturday's parade and kickoff events. "Downtown Granite City was just packed Saturday," Whitaker added. "We are so excited people are supporting these endeavors. We have listened to the public on what they want to see and we are glad they are coming out." The streets were lined with young to older adults for the Halloween Parade, which was a first and it was a hit, Whitaker said. "After the parade, people just stayed downtown," she explained. "We had food vendors and a DJ. "It was just like a big dance

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EDWARDSVILLE - The 30 th Annual Leclaire Parkfest will be held Sunday, October 16, from noon to 5 p.m. at Leclaire Park in Edwardsville, Illinois. The annual festival, a celebration of the Leclaire National Historic District, is a long-standing fall tradition. The festival will kick-off this year with music by the Gaslight Squares, a St. Louis band with a special blend of Ragtime and Jazz. New this year is a 1920s-themed children’s parade. Participating children are asked to wear costumes or carry homemade signs to portray a 1920s-era Carrie Nation, a flapper, or a Gatsby character. They might also portray an activist marching for the woman’s right to vote. The parade begins at the corner of Hale Avenue and Lake Drive at noon and will circle the entire park. Trolley tours of the historic district will be back with tickets sold from the Friends of Leclaire booth for $1 (children) and $1.50 (adults). Due to COVID, walking tours were substituted for the trolley last year

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ALTON - To shed light on domestic violence and remember the victims and their families, Alton Memorial Hospital is serving as host for a special memorial service from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the AMH Healing Garden. Since the event has not been held since 2019 due to COVID, a total of 14 victims from Madison County who have died in domestic violence-related circumstances since that time will be remembered. Since 1996, there have been more than 100 victims of abuse who have died in Madison County. Because of the prevalence of domestic violence, Alton Memorial Hospital in 2002 began screening for domestic violence everyone 12 and older who was being assessed in the hospital. Trained staff members confidentially ask these patients if they feel safe at home or have experienced mental, physical or sexual abuse. Alton Memorial supports a coordinated domestic violence committee that includes members from the hospital staff, Zonta Club of Alton-Wood River, Oasis Women’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Locally-owned Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors (CBBR) is encouraging people to consider a sweet, not scary, addition to their families this Halloween. The REALTOR group will be hosting its 6th annual Partners for Pets event on October 15. The Howl-O-Ween Open House event is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 9136 Lower Marine Road in St. Jacob, Illinois. The event is designed to raise donations to support Partners for Pets and find adoptive homes for the animals currently in their care. “Coldwell Banker Brown Realtor’s support of our organization over the last several years has been a tremendous help,” said Partners for Pets Director Erika Pratte. “Fundraising efforts have enabled us to launch new initiatives, such as our Unicorn Foster program and on-site Behavioral Trainer, which helps save some of the most at-risk dogs across the region. Facility tours will be offered to see Partners for Pets improvements, such

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ALTON – Illinois 111th district Representative Amy Elik was recognized Oct. 7 by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) at Lewis and Clark Community College’s Scott Bibb Center for her sponsorship of a bill that will help erase the stigma of a high school equivalency diploma versus a high school diploma. The bill also will reduce the cost of GED exams for adult education students. For more information, visit www.coabe.org .

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EAST ALTON – October through mid-April marks the prescribed burn season for the Habitat Strike Team, part of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ). Prescribed burns are controlled applications of fire to the landscape by a team of experts under specific weather conditions and is characterized as a low-intensity fire, as opposed to high-intensity wildfires that are unintendedly set. “From a management perspective, fire is one of the most efficient and effective options to help restore habitat on the landscape,” Conservation Program Manager, Justin Shew said. “The fire is doing the work, instead of a chemical or chainsaw controlled by a human; therefore, it covers a lot more ground in the right conditions.” The Habitat Strike Team works within a 90-mile radius of NGRREC’s Field Station, and depending on seasonal conditions, may conduct or assists on at least 25 burns in a season, covering over 6,200 acres. “The

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ALTON - Tammy Iskarous, Executive Director of Riverbend Family Ministries, is presented her Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award by Leonard Berg at a recent Riverbend East Rotary Club meeting. A $1,000 contribution to The Rotary Foundation was made by the club in Tammy’s name. Established in 1957, individuals who are honored with this award have met high professional and personal standards in their community set forth by Rotary founder Paul Harris. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary. She was recognized for her continued dedication to the community, founding Riverbend Family Ministries in 2007 with a unique concept of housing multiple not-for-profits under one roof. RFM concentrates on children, youth, and families who’ve experienced trauma due to violence, addiction, poverty, and homelessness, treating clients with love and compassion.

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ALTON - Alton's David Goins and his wife, Shelia, hosted the Mayor's Ball Saturday night at Lewis & Clark Community College and it was a memorable evening on many fronts. Alton-native Jesse White, the long-serving Illinois Secretary of State, was honored at the affair. More than 400 people attended the elegant event and Oasis Women's Shelter was the non-profit selected as a beneficiary for some of the proceeds. Goins said it was "a tremendous honor" to recognize the retirement of Secretary of State Jesse White "for his services to our country and state and for his humanitarian contributions to our youth, particularly his work with the International Jesse White Tumbling Team, which serves as a positive alternative for at-risk children residing in public housing." "Jesse White is an absolute legend and has done so much in his lifetime in politics around the state," Mayor Goins said. "It felt amazing to honor Jesse here in where he was born - Alton, Illinois. He was grateful and welcoming

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MARYVILLE - The Anderson Hospital Foundation recently welcomed Joann Barton to its Board of Directors. Joann holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance from University of Illinois, Urbana IL, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minors in Chemistry/Psychology, Quincy University, Quincy, IL, Certified Employee Benefits Specialist, IFEBP and The Wharton School of Business, Trust Certification, National Trust School, American Bankers Association. Joann works at Busey Bank (formerly TheBANK of Edwardsville), Edwardsville, IL from 2002-Present. She is the Senior Vice President-Director of Fiduciary Services Busey Wealth Management 2018-Present. In addition to being a Director on The Anderson Hospital Foundation Board, Joann served as a lead on multiple organizational committees and nonprofit/community /charitable boards. She has served on the board of United Way of Greater St. Louis and UWGSL Southwestern Illinois Division holding positions of Board Chair, Campaign

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MARYVILLE – To show his appreciation and ensure local veterans have access to their owed benefits, State Senator Kris Tharp is hosting two events to connect the brave men and women who have served our country with free assistance and services. “Veterans have exemplified courage having served our country and safeguarded our freedoms, and unfortunately they may not have access to their owed benefits for their sacrifices,” said Tharp (D-Bethalto). “Assistance is available, and I’m looking forward to bringing free services to Wood River and Edwardsville.” Starting promptly at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 17 at the Wood River Police Department, located at 550 E. Madison Ave., representatives from the Illinois Attorney General’s office will show a presentation on Military and Veteran’s Rights to ensure individuals receive the benefits they have earned. Attendees will receive information on state and federal benefit programs. Lunch will be provided

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - The Highland Arts Council is set to celebrate world-class art in a hometown atmosphere with its 18th annual Art in the Park AND its recently dedicated mural on the wall of the Weinheimer Community Center in Highland. A multitude of people will enjoy the two-day juried exhibit and sale of works by professional artists on October 7-9, 2022, at Lindendale Park in Highland. Art in the Park is free and open to the public and features original works in a wide range of art mediums, including painting, clay, glass, drawing/pastels, fabric/fiber, wood, sculpture, photography, jewelry, graphics/printmaking, and mixed media. A special area for emerging artists (college students or recent graduates) to showcase their work and offer artwork for sale is new for Art in the Park. HAC feels it is important for the community to support these emerging artists and encourage them to become the best they can be. “This family-friendly festival brings professional artwork to the

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - This Veterans Day marks the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedication. Polished black granite was selected for the 70 inscribed panels so visitors can see their reflection in the names, connecting the living to the lost. The names of lost service members are listed in chronological order by the date of their casualty, and they begin and end at the center where the walls meet. Having the names begin at the center is meant to form a circle symbolizing the completion of the war. Unfortunately, too many lives were “unofficially” lost after the war due to exposure-related illnesses, agent orange, and the psychological trauma from war. Since many cannot make the trek to Washington DC to view the memorial, Truck Centers, Inc. in Troy will be hosting the American Veterans Traveling Tribute’s (AVTT ) Traveling Vietnam Wall this month at their training center, 2376 Formosa Road, Troy. The AVTT Vietnam Wall was created to honor the great sacrifice

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas A. Haine announced Friday that a jury convicted a Granite City man of murder in the shooting death of a Madison teen in 2020. The jury on Friday found Nicholas Rickman III, 18, guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery. A codefendant, 19-year-old Deandre Richardson, had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The jury found that Rickman and Richardson together robbed and murdered 18-year-old Sean D. Williams of Madison. Williams was fatally shot on June 4, 2020, outside a residence in the 2500 block of Madison Avenue in Granite City. Several family members of Williams were in the courtroom for the verdict. They tearfully hugged Assistant State’s Attorney Morgan Hudson and Assistant State’s Attorney Katie Warren. “This conviction won’t heal the family’s wound, but we’re happy that at least we were able to bring Sean’s killers to justice,” Haine said. “We’re

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PIASA - Southwestern High School's Student Government will host the 2022 Homecoming Dance from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 in the High School MPR with coronation at 9:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “The Fabulous 50s.” The Homecoming court candidates are (back left to right) Sam Marshall, Collin Robinson, David Watkins, Blayne Thornsbury, Hank Bouillion, Jacob Fisher, and (front left to right) Rylee Crane, Gracie Schneider, Alison Wilson, MaCaylin Day, Tristyn Ditterline, and Jillian Beilsmith.

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These photos and more at: https://www.randymanning.com/St-Marys-October-Fest ALTON - The St. Mary's Oktoberfest kicked off with a sell-out one-mile race and closed with the annual Sweepstakes. In between those two events, there was a lot of German food, beer, entertainment, and fun. The one-mile run also featured a costume contest and all 60 spots were sold out. It appears the run will become a permanent part of Oktoberfest and likely expand in 2023. The Glendale Riders are one of the area's most well-known bands and they always start the Oktoberfest entertainment. As usual, they attracted a big crowd, Carolyn Simansky, the publicity director for Oktoberfest said. "We had a big crowd on Friday night and everyone enjoyed them," she said. Simansky said it was wonderful to have a full range of activities back for Oktoberfest. She added they could not have asked for better weather and she described it as "awesome." "I am constantly amazed at the hard work of the committee members

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ALTON – The Alton Chili Cook-Off which has been a community tradition for 35 years will not happen on October 15, 2022, as planned, and the event’s fate in future years is uncertain. “Earlier this week we were informed by the Madison County Health Department that the way the Alton Chili Cook-Off is conducted is not allowed,” explained Sara McGibany, Executive Director of Alton Main Street who coordinates the event, adding, “I’m not sure when these particular rules were put into place, but we were asked to assume responsibility of planning the event and given the how-to guide in 2013. There was a foodborne illness outbreak at the Belleville Chili Cook-Off in 2016 which apparently caused area Health Department regulations to become stricter.” The three options for a cook-off to adhere to the Health Department’s guidelines include: only having restaurants or teams who cook in certified kitchens involved, having teams cook everything on-site,

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City's Month Of Magic & Mayhem gets underway with an excellent kickoff - a Creepy Crawl Halloween Parade ending with The Monster Mash Dance Party in the Streets, Saturday, October 8, 2022. The parade begins at 4 p.m. at 27th Street in Granite City and crawls down Madison Avenue, ending at Civic Park. The Monster Mash Dance Party starts at 5 p.m. Granite City Downtown Arts and Entertainment Director Brenda Whitaker said the costume theme for parade participants will be their favorite Halloween movie or television show. "I think this is a great way to introduce the Month of Magic & Mayhem," Whitaker said. "We will have something for everybody on the Saturdays in the month. Hopefully, our activities will appeal to a lot of different people." Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson is excited about the Creepy Crawl Halloween Parade and the other events in Magic & Mahem Month in his city. “We are to do things that work for kids,” Mayor Parkinson said. “The

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