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BLOOMINGTON - Now that Labor Day has come and gone, so have the days of summer sun into the evening hours. While this is a typical sign of changing seasons, it can also come with a change in mood for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It’s estimated that SAD affects 5-million to 8-million people a year in the United States, particularly in late fall and colder, winter months when days are shorter and nights are longer. It is thought to be related to the lack of available sunlight, leading to a deficiency of Vitamin D. This can disrupt a person’s natural sleep cycle, and the effect on the brain can cause a person to function differently. “People in the winter time, particularly in northern, far northern latitudes or far southern latitudes, farther away from the equator will tend to get kind of sluggish and maybe depressed, they start to have carbohydrate cravings, and it may be enough that it’s really a significant problem for them,”

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MASCOUTAH - Work to add nearly 3,100 linear feet of new Taxiway Lima pavement and a new Taxiway Bridge over Crooked Creek is underway at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV). The $37.7 million project will provide airfield access to a future aviation business park on the south side of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, where the new Boeing Production Facility already under construction will be the first tenant. The project will also include drainage improvements, a new perimeter security fence, the extension of the existing perimeter road and improvements to the electrical and access control. Begun in April 2022, the project is funded through grants issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The work is set to finish by mid-2023 and will ultimately serve to connect the airport to the Boeing Production Facility and other new developments surrounding it. The new Boeing facility is set to be completed in

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Almost everyone suffers from bouts of insomnia from time to time. In fact, nearly 60 million Americans a year experience insomnia and wake up feeling unrefreshed. The common sleep disorder can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause someone to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. “It needs to have some daytime consequence to be considered insomnia,” explained Dr. Sarah Zallek, medical director of OSF Sleep in Peoria, Illinois. “You can’t just have a little trouble sleeping and feel great in the day and we would call it insomnia; we would say that’s a little trouble falling asleep. Insomnia is really trouble sleeping that is associated with daytime dysfunction, like tiredness or inattention or mood problems and so on.”For most people, insomnia goes away after lifestyle factors like family or work stresses resolve. However, for those who suffer from ongoing untreated insomnia, the National Institutes of Health

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) is ramping up efforts to educate the public on ovarian cancer’s impact this September, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Now in its 20th year of service, the organization will be hosting community events throughout September and October that serve as an invitation to community members, and women, in particular, to attend and learn about the four most common symptoms (“Watch 4 the Signs”), support those battling ovarian cancer and remember loved ones, and help fund ovarian cancer research. Overall signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include: Abdominal bloating or swelling. Quickly feeling full when eating. Weight loss. Discomfort in the pelvic area. Fatigue. Back pain. Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation. A frequent need to urinate. SLOCA is the only nonprofit in Missouri devoted solely to ovarian cancer awareness and survivor support. The organization was founded in 2002 by

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department has released information about a fatal traffic crash at 3:43 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in the 3200 block of Belle Street in Alton. The driver in the crash has been identified as a 15-year-old juvenile. Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said: "With him being a juvenile, his name is not being released. His family has been notified and his family was with him at the hospital." Officers and members of the Alton Fire Department arrived and located the vehicle in the wood line in the 3200 block of Belle Street. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was transported via ambulance to a local hospital. He was later pronounced deceased by the Madison County Coroner’s Office as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Deputy Police Chief Ford said the investigation revealed that the Kia vehicle was traveling northbound on Belle Street when it left the roadway, entered the wood line, and struck a tree. "Further investigation has determine

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EVERGREEN PARK - For years, colon cancer was believed by many to be an “old person’s disease.” However, a study revealed that young patients ages 20 to 29 have recently seen the highest spike in rates of diagnosed colon cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 18,000 people under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year in the United States. Many of these cases are being diagnosed at late stages, which is believed to be happening in large part because many young people brush off symptoms as being nothing out of the norm. “I think there is a misconception that when you are young, your risk of colon cancer is smaller. What ends up happening is a lot of people just discredit it as something they ate, or needing to be on a better diet or other issues that have been going on. But when you talk to these people who have had colon cancer who are younger, they typically have been having these symptoms for some time,”

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SHEFFIELD - People across the United States have been turning to essential oils more and more frequently in recent years. Their growing popularity has made them easy to access, and there seems to be an essential oil for everything. But are they really good for your health? Rachel Gustafson, an OSF HealthCare family medicine advanced practice nurse, breaks it down for us. “They can be used topically, aromatically, or some people take them as capsules. They can help with reductions in stress, nausea, anxiety, depression, headaches – there is a wide range of reasons people use them,” says Gustafon. There are a number of scents that have different benefits to them, but some scents in particular are more widely used than others. Lavender is commonly used for decreasing stress, anxiety, and aiding in sleep; lemon is recommended for a fresh, clean feeling; peppermint helps with headaches and nausea; and tea tree is widely used in skin care. There are also products available

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announces intermittent lane closures on I-270 between IL 3 and Riverview Dr. in Missouri, beginning on Monday, September 12, 2022, weather permitting. Lane restrictions for Eastbound I-270 will be between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm while the lane restrictions for Westbound I-270 will be between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times. This work is needed to inspect the bridge deck and will be completed by Friday, September 23. Motorists should expect delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Motorist should consider alternate routes to avoid the work area if feasible. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view are

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EAST ST. LOUIS – At 1:15 a.m. on August 24, 2022, a 59-year-old male of East St. Louis was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in the 1800 block of State Street in East St. Louis. The Illinois State Police and East St. Louis Police Department are requesting assistance in identifying a person of interest. Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866-371-8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org . Witnesses can remain anonymous. A video of the person of interest can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/dhe2MGnrZis

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School Homecoming activities kick off on Monday, September 12, with Spirit Week which is organized by Student Council. The students spend time decorating and having fun activities planned for each day of Homecoming Week which includes Themed Dress up days which also bring awareness to local charities and cancer organizations. This year's Homecoming Court will be introduced at Johnson's Corner at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, which will include a caravan led by the MCHS Drumline to the Public School Stadium field. The game begins at 7 p.m. The Homecoming Dance at Marquette is the following Saturday, Sept. 17, and Homecoming Week at MCHS will end with a Homecoming Mass beginning at noon on Sunday, September 18, at Alumni Plaza. "The students and faculty are looking forward to a fun, eventful week celebrating all things Marquette!" - Nichole Stevenson, Student Council Moderator, said.

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ALTON - Alton Main Street and Jacoby Arts Center are excited to present a new Downtown Alton Mural Grant Program. This program is designed to assist property and business owners in the funding and implementation of murals and artwork for the purpose of creating a positive visual impact, stimulating private investment, and complementing other community development efforts, while tapping into community talent and investing in local artists. In order to be eligible, the building must be located within the Alton Main Street district boundary. A business or property owner may apply for a proposed project with a budget of $1,250. The grant is designed to cover estimated material costs of $250 and an estimated artist stipend of $1,000. Interested property owners and tenants with owners’ permission may submit an application along with a photo of the intended location to be painted. Full details as well as a form for artists to express interest in painting a mural can be found at:

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EDWARDSVILLE - The colorful Artbus from the Macoupin Art Collective (“the Mac”) was in Edwardsville Wednesday afternoon at the Gugger house to get additional storage space and shelving installed by Amy and Chuck Gugger with the assistance of Brandace Cloud, Director of the Mac. Chuck and Amy are experienced handypersons and helped plan the design of this bus to be used for an outreach program taking art to locations where children have limited opportunities to develop art skills and self-expression. Joe Gugger, brother of Chuck, stopped by to check in on the progress and remarked on the eye-catching bus that was decorated by community volunteers. Amy said, “We feel fortunate to be able to help such a unique program as this Artbus. It was a challenge to figure out how to change a school bus into a mobile art studio but an interesting process to design and build it. When I first heard of the Artreach idea, I was hooked and offered to help.” Chuck

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JERSEYVILLE - The JCHS theater department starts the school year with The Plot Like Gravy Thickens. The play is a murder mystery and comedy with audience interaction that is enjoyable for any age. The show will take place on September 22 through 25 and tickets are $10 per person; audience members can purchase them in the office or at the door. As the play begins, Walter, a playwright’s alter-ego, paints the perfect crime on Edward’s 50th Birthday. The only leads in the murder are 13 prime suspects, all with different motives. Audience members will help the detective solve the case and arrest the guilty party. During the second act, improvisation is a primary aspect for the actors on stage, presenting a few challenges for them. “Honestly, I just try to be my character. Like truly be Tony, and not just memorize lines,” said Camden Schroeder, the actor who plays Tony Blackwell. All the actors are finding means to overcome these challenges; by

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ALTON - It can be an embarrassing ailment, but experts say it’s time to talk about it. Urinary incontinence is when a person leaks urine by accident. Uwais Zaid, MD , a urologist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois , says urinary incontinence can wreak havoc on a person’s social life and intimacy with partners. In other words, you can’t go out and have a good time with friends if you don’t know when you’re going to suddenly “go.” “It can be associated with medications. It can be associated with aging,” Dr. Zaid says. “It can be associated with certain surgeries. A lot of our cancer survivors, whether they're from prostate cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer…they can have effects on their urinary control. “Things as normal as having children,” Dr. Zaid adds as a cause. “Over time can wreak havoc on the pelvic floor and on the urinary sphincter, and you can have urinary accidents as a result.”

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ALTON - The subject on the ledge of Clark Bridge in Alton voluntarily came off the bridge just after 2 p.m. Friday, and officers transported him to seek mental health assistance. Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said crisis officers negotiated with the man for about 5 hours before he left the bridge ledge, back to safety. "It was definitely several difficult hours on the bridge," Deputy Chief Ford said. "I am very proud of the officers for the job they did. They maintained communication with him the best they could and ultimately in the end he decided to seek mental health treatment. We gave him transportation to a place he wanted to go and hopefully he will get help." The deputy chief said the training for these types of crisis situations is vital. "We also had a highly publicized incident recently, so this is something we are always training on," he said. "The training puts us in a good situation to handle mental health crisis situations the best we can. This is one of

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Bonita Springs, Fla., artists will be part of the Edwardsville Art Fair on Sept. 23-25 at City Park. The work of the three artists is featured today. Artist Name: Brent Langley Location: Edwardsville, IL Artist Statement: "My objective is to create works of art that are harmonious in all aspects, from both a compositional and a scientific viewpoint. While the primary goal is to bring pleasure, a secondary goal is also to educate, to prompt in the viewer the desire to preserve the wonderful, extravagant, beautiful diversity of life that surrounds us." Artist Name: April Riley Tate Location : Saint Louis Artist Statement: "I am a fiber artist and toy designer. My designs are based on inspiring memories from my childhood. I transform my original sketches and illustrations into custom-printed textiles and original patterns and bring them to life in 3D form." Artist Name : Christine Adele Moore Location: Boni

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EAST ST. LOUIS - The U.S. State's Attorney Rachel Aud Crowe announced today that Fulton Lee Gully, 61, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, after previously pleading guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. As part of his guilty plea, Gully acknowledged that between July 28, 2020, and October 27, 2020, while knowing he was a convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a shotgun at a residence in East St. Louis, Illinois. Gully had likewise been convicted in 2003 in this district of being a felon in possession of a firearm and, in that case, received a sentence of 1 year and 1 day to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. In 2005, Gully’s supervised release was revoked after he was found to have possessed cocaine and marijuana. He was sent back to prison for 6 months to be followed by 6 months of home confinement. In 2006, Gully’s supervised release was again revoked and he was returned to prison

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ALTON - At about 1 p.m. on Friday, Alton Police allowed traffic to resume for the southbound lanes of the Clark Bridge in Alton. The bridge has been the location of a crisis situation where a man is on the ledge of the bridge. Negotiators have been working with the man since this morning. "Traffic was allowed to resume for the southbound lanes of the Clark Bridge ," Deputy Chief Jarrett Ford said. "However, officers and their police vehicles are still on the bridge attempting to assist the subject. Please use caution if you must drive on the bridge, but it’s best to avoid the area if possible." Deputy Chief Ford added: "No further updates at this time." For those in need of help in crisis situations, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline of 988 is active across the U.S.

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ALTON - The Alton Fire Department and Alton Police Department had a busy overnight with fires on both Amelia and Seminary in Alton. The State Fire Marshal has been called to investigate the fires and Alton Fire Chief Jesse Jemison said they may be related. "An incident on Ridge seemed to have been from a domestic dispute," Jemison said. "A couch was on fire in that situation. That case is under investigation by the Alton Police Department." Chief Jemison said the Amelia fire occurred first then the Seminary call came about 2 hours later at 5 a.m. The chief said Amelia was vacant and gutted after the fire and Seminary had someone in an RV behind the house, but that person was safe. The Seminary home is also a total loss and the fire was shooting through the roof when firefighters arrived. "The man in the RV in the backyard said he heard a big 'woosh' and he got out of the RV as the fire grew," Jemison said.

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CARROLLTON – Food, entertainment, hospitality and shopping will be available to visitors to the Greene County Historical Society on Friday, September 9, and Saturday, September 10. Bernie Faul and fellow Society members will be serving rib eyes, large hot dogs and porky burgers on Friday, from 11 AM ‘till gone, in the yard of the historic Lee-Baker-Hodges house located at the northeast corner of the Courthouse Square in Carrollton. On Friday also, Jeanne Coates, Society staffer and noted piano player, will be entertaining on the honky-tonk piano, located in the first floor dining room. On Friday and Saturday, tours will be conducted throughout the building which dates from the 1820s, and was restored and furnished in period pieces a decade ago. Volunteer staff members will conduct the tours of the museum and the genealogy library. Specials for the GCD event will be a display of photos and items from Eldred, along with a loose-leaf notebook about the Greene County Almshouse

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