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O’FALLON - Visitor restrictions put in place at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital have been updated due to a decline in COVID-19 numbers in our region. Effective April 11, two visitors per patient per day will be allowed for COVID-positive patients. Visitors of COVID-positive patients must check in with nursing staff before entering a room to be provided with the mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) for their safety. As the pandemic has improved, the adequate supply of PPE has allowed St. Elizabeth’s to provide this protection to families and visitors. It is also recommended that visitors of COVID-positive patients leave personal belongings at home , as purses and bags will not be allowed in the patient’s room. Paper, medical-grade masks (non-cloth) are still mandatory for all in health care facilities, per CDC guidelines. Hospital leadership reminds the public that no one should visit persons in a health care facility if they have any of the following:

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 10,786 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 71 deaths since April 1, 2022. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,080,436 cases, including 33,465 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since April 1, 2022, laboratories have reported 505,189 specimens tested for a total of 57,898,053 since the beginning of the pandemic. As of last night, 502 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 62 patients were in the ICU and 24 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. A total of 21,509,463 vaccines have been administered in Illinois. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 19,926 doses. Since April 1, 2022, 139,480 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’

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ALTON– Patients of OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in the greater Riverbend community will soon have access to a comprehensive network of specialty and subspecialty physicians through the formation of a new strategic affiliation with SSM Health, a Catholic health care system based in the St. Louis area. The strategic affiliation will better serve patients in the community by bringing exceptional medical and surgical specialties closer to home. This collaboration between OSF Saint Anthony’s and SSM Health combines a commitment to exceptional care with an expanded network of expert specialty and subspecialty physicians to provide a comprehensive network. One of the first collaborations is the addition of Sridhar Kumar , MD, a cardiologist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, who will become chief of Cardiology Services at OSF Saint Anthony’s. Under Dr. Kumar’s leadership, patients will receive the highest-quality of innovative

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BELLEVILLE – Officials with Art on the Square are happy to announce that Michael Gard, a highly lauded sculptor from San Francisco, has made his way to southwest Illinois this week. Gard has been a featured artist at Art on the Square in Belleville, and now he is working with Belleville East High School students as this year’s artist for the High School Sculpture in the City Program. “We are excited because this visit will coincide with a little art show being held at Belleville East this week,” said Ramona Effinger, Coordinator of Sculpture in the City for Art on the Square. About 84 students are participating in the project with Gard, on April 27th and 28th, who is creating 100 two-inch wax spheres for the students to wrap wire around. Gard will then melt the wax and assemble it into a sculpture that he plans to have hanging from strings in a frame. The school will get to keep the artwork and have it on display. About Michael Gard Michael was born and

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ALTON - Illinois American Water’s work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers continues. Below is information about this week’s road closures –April 11, 2022 Piasa Valley Area: Monday morning, April 11, Alby Street will be closed at 13th Street, south to 10th Street. 12th Street will be closed from Alby to Easton Street. Southbound traffic on Alby Street will need to use Blair Avenue to access Henry Street. 8th Street is closed between Easton and George Streets. All streets highlighted yellow are closed to thru traffic, with surface restoration starting very soon as weather permits. 10th Street between Alby and Easton Street is two-way traffic only temporarily. East of Easton Street is still only one-way traffic in a westward direction. Turner Tract Area: Danforth Street pavement restoration has started and will be completed in the next week or so, weather dependent. The alley south of McKinley east of Lincoln is back

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GODFREY - "The organized unit of Godfrey First United Methodist Women shall be a Community of whose Purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation of the Church." There are approximately 40 active women in the Godfrey U.M.W. And this is the 57th year for their rummage sale. The goal of this rummage sale is to make money to be immediately distributed to area missions such as Community Hope Center, Thrive, Food Crisis Center, Dream Home Charities, and Oasis Women’s Center. U.M.W. believes the need is now and not just at Christmas. This is an exceptional rummage sale. It is clean and totally organized. U.M.W. gets much support from the whole church. The entire church is transformed into a department store. There are divided areas such as housewares, linens, holidays, sewing, books, women’s, men’s ad children’s departments.

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LIVINGSTON - Two St. Louis females died in a two-vehicle fatal crash at 4:06 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2022, on Interstate-55 Northbound at Milepost 37 near Livingston, Illinois State Police District 11 reported on Sunday. The two who died were Juandria S. Pickett, 30, of St. Louis, and Tiyana C. McCoy, 32, of St. Louis. This is the preliminary ISP report on the fatal crash: WHERE: Interstate 55 northbound at milepost 37, near Livingston, Madison County. WHEN: April 9, 2022, at approximately 4:06 a.m. VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2020 Gray Toyota Camry. Unit 2 – 2021 Black International Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination. DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Juandria S. Pickett, a 30-year-old female from Saint Louis – Deceased. Unit 2 – Luvator N. Pierce, a 52-year-old female from Saint Louis, MO. - Transported to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. PASSENGER: Unit 1 – Tiyana C. McCoy, a 32-year-old-female from Saint Louis,

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Police Department provided information on Sunday about an arrest in a long-investigated armed robbery case. Detective Ross Tyler never gave up on the situation and did an exceptional job as the lead in the investigation for Glen Carbon Police to execute the arrest. This was the information provided by Glen Carbon Police Department Public Safety Administration Supervisor Coleen Schaller: "At about 6:53 a.m., on Friday, September 3, 2021, Glen Carbon Police responded to an armed robbery reported by 911 phone call and activated panic alarm at the Glen Mart BP Gas Station, #4 The Game Drive. Arriving on scene within minutes, Glen Carbon Police officers and detectives found the lone armed robber had successfully fled the scene toward Highway 270 in a Black Chevrolet passenger car. "During the ensuing months following the armed robbery, Detective Ross Tyler led the investigation for the Glen Carbon Police Department, and he discovered the Glen Mart armed robbery

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HARDIN - The Calhoun Sheriff's Office announced on Sunday that at 9:55 a.m. on April 9, 2022, it executed two court-authorized warrants at an apartment building located in the 300 block of South County Road, Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation, the following arrests were made: Joshua A. Foster, age 32, of Hardin, Illinois. was arrested for the offenses of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Carrie L. McAdams, age 34, of Hardin, Illinois, was arrested for the offenses of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes. William P. Conway, age 52, of Hardin, Illinois, was arrested for the offenses of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. All three (3) suspects are lodged in the Jersey County Jail. The investigation

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GREENVILLE – Greenville University will celebrate the Class of 2022 during Commencement weekend, May 13-14. GU expects 240 students to receive a degree this spring. “We are excited to welcome graduating students and their families and friends to campus to celebrate this great milestone in their lives,” says Suzanne Davis, GU President. “Commencement weekend is one of my favorite times of the year, as it marks the beginning of the next chapter for GU students as we send them out to go change the world.” The weekend begins with a GU Choir concert at 5 pm on Friday, May 13, at the Whitlock Music Center on campus. The Ivy Cutting ceremony begins at 6:30 pm on Scott Field. Students begin their freshman year at GU by planting ivy and the Ivy Cutting ceremony for traditional students symbolizes the end of the students' university life together. GU students, their families, and GU faculty are all invited to Baccalaureate, which begins at 7:30 pm on

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THE CONVERSATION - Around the world, revolutionary changes are underway in transportation. More electric vehicles are on the road, people are taking advantage of sharing mobility services such as Uber and Lyft, and the rise in telework during the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way people think about commuting. Transportation is a growing source of the global greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, accounting for 23% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in 2019 and 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. The systemic changes underway in the transportation sector could begin lowering that emissions footprint. But will they reduce emissions enough? In a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released on April 4, 2022, scientists examined the latest research on efforts to mitigate climate change. The report concludes that falling costs for renewable energy and electric vehicle batteries, in addition to policy changes

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CHATHAM - When Debbie Hauschildt and her husband Tim relocated from Lyons, IL to Chatham, IL in 2017, they often drove around town getting familiar with the area. On Mulberry Street, they saw a quaint little building with a sign that said “Mulberry’s”. Debbie mentioned to her husband that it would be a neat place for an antique store. Though she had never owned a store of any type before - she worked for a legal consulting firm - she had a deep passion for antiques. She was always going to auctions, estate sales, and antique malls, adding to her collection of finds that filled her home. The thought of opening such a store was never far from her mind. But although retired, she was quite busy, caring for Tim’s mother who lived with them. Just five months after moving to Chatham, Tim had a major stroke and everything changed. His mother was moved to live with Tim’s sister, as now Debbie had to care for Tim himself, since he was now confined to a wheelchair

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has named Cathy Taylor, MPA, interim vice chancellor for University Advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation, effective Monday, April 11. Taylor is senior director of Constituent Relations and Special Projects. As a longtime advancement team member, she brings great understanding of Foundation systems, and has demonstrated dedication to SIUE’s alumni and philanthropic constituencies. Taylor’s wealth of experience includes building alumni engagement, increasing donor giving through relationship development, and advancing strategic development initiatives. “SIUE maintains its focus on advancement efforts that propel our transformational impact through robust initiatives,” said Chancellor James T. Minor. “To more powerfully pursue our educational mission, we must cultivate partnerships with our dedicated supporters and prospective donors from all sectors.” Taylor assumes the interim role as Vice Chancellor

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office of International Affairs is helping international students feel at home by offering unique cultural experiences that create a sense of belonging and connectedness that will lead to lasting memories. One such experience is India Night, which will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 9 in the Student Fitness Center on the Edwardsville campus. Tickets are available at siue.edu/muc/tickets . The event will immerse guests in Indian culture through traditional cuisine and entertainment. Students and friends of the Indian community will be treating guests to cultural music and dance performances throughout the evening. With the return of more in-person events on campus, International Program Advisor John Ampomah has coordinated a variety of activities catered to international students. In March, 22 international students participated in a one-day field trip to the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis Zoo. Students explored

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BELLEVILLE - The University of Illinois Extension will host a Global Youth Service Day on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, from 9:00 am to noon at the Turkey Hill Grange in Belleville for youth ages 12 and up. "If you like escape rooms then you will love participating in the Ag Innovators Escape Box challenge. We will work with youth in groups of 6-8 to complete and solve an Ag Innovators Escape Box then visit our Community Service stations." Community Service Stations will include: Notes of encouragement for the Meals on Wheels program Decorations of paper sacks for the Meals on Wheels program Creation of "thinking of you" cards for local nursing homes All youth participants that complete the challenge will receive a Rubik's cube and be entered to win a gift basket. They will be accepting two canned goods for the price of admission and collecting plastic lids for a "Build-a-Bench" 4-H project. Please register by April 25th, 2022, at https://go.illinois.edu/GlobalYouthServiceDay . Universi

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SPRINGFIELD – All distractions – whether texting, eating, or talking – can be dangerous when you’re behind the wheel. Throughout April, the Illinois Department of Transportation is teaming up with the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to promote Distracted Driving Awareness Month, save lives, and make Illinois roads safer. “Distracted driving is a serious issue that also is preventable,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Plenty of people think they’re excellent drivers and can multitask. Distractions behind the wheel jeopardize your safety, your passenger’s safety, and the well-being of those around you when you shift your attention from the road.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 26,004 people died in crashes nationwide involving a distracted driver between 2012 and 2019. While overall crash fatalities decreased

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Photos from this article, (or gallery), may be purchased (for personal use) at: https://www.randymanning.com/Easter-Egg-Hunt-Godfrey GODFREY - The Village of Godfrey’s 19th Annual Easter Egg-Stravaganza was widely embraced by children and families on Saturday afternoon at Glazebrook Park. The children were divided into separate age groups to find prize-filled eggs. The groups were: Ages 0-2, 3-4, 5-7 and 8-10. The Easter Bunny was available for photos until 4 p.m. and there were games, crafts, coloring activities, and more for children. Village of Godfrey Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Logan said the event was fantastic and it was nice weather and it was a hit. “I think everybody had a good time,” Logan said. “This is a really neat event and it is free and something we see as a service. We had an outstanding turnout and I couldn’t be happier. The kids had fun all day." Logan mentioned Big Truck Day is coming up in Godfrey and

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ALTON - Alton Fire Department responded to a fire in an old warehouse at Piasa and Highway 67 in Alton around 11:05 p.m. Friday. East Alton Fire Department also responded to battle the fire. Paper products and more were stored inside the warehouse and that was the area where the fire originated, fire officials said. Alton Fire Department Battalion Chief Derrick Richardson said while the cause is undetermined of what started the fire, it could have been homeless trying to keep warm or a dropped cigarette. "We are still investigating," he said of the origin of the fire. Richardson said the steel structure of the warehouse remains intact because of the quick efforts of the firefighters. The fire started with paper products on the second floor, he said. When Alton Fire received the 911 dispatch, it was reported that there could be two possible homeless people inside the building. However, there were two found outside on arrival, and a primary and secondary search was done to make

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THE CONVERSATION - It’s springtime in California, and bees are emerging to feast on flowering fields – acres upon acres of cultivated almonds, oranges, and other fruits and nuts that bloom all at once for just a few weeks. Farmers raise these lucrative crops in monoculture fields, each planted with neat, straight rows of a single type of crop. The agricultural heart of California is the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. I recently drove north through the valley on Interstate 5, a 450-mile (724-kilometer) stretch of monoculture farms and agricultural land that runs from Bakersfield to Redding. Flowers were blooming as far as the eye could see. There is so much bloom here that commercial beekeepers truck in over 2 million colonies of bees in spring to ensure that every last flower is pollinated. As a bee biologist , I study why bees are dying . Although monoculture blooms provide food for bees, scientists know almost nothing

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EDWARDSVILLE – As social distancing restrictions continue to lift and the weather finally starts to warm up, we’ll be spending more time outdoors and in public with our furry friends. But every time you visit the dog park with your pooch, bring them to the local farmer’s market, or even play catch in the backyard, you could be putting your pet’s health at risk if they’re not fully protected against heartworm disease. The Midwestern mosquitoes that bug us every summer can be extremely dangerous—and even deadly—to our dogs and cats by transmitting heartworms into their bloodstream. In fact, one in 200 dogs are infected with heartworm each year, but many owners don’t realize it until it’s too late. However, with one monthly treatment or twice-yearly injections, your pet can play outside all summer and stay safe all year long. Why Metro East pets are at a greater risk for heartworm While pets can become infected anywhere in the country,

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