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ST. LOUIS - On Thursday, June 2, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Grant Gaumer, 37 years of age, of the 700 block of Bismark Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63122, for two counts of Statutory Sodomy in the Second Degree and one count of Sexual Contact with a Student. Gaumer is being held on $500,000, no 10%, cash bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads that an alleged sexual act occurred between the defendant and the victim March 1, 2022, and March 31, 2022. The victim was less than 17 years of age and the defendant was a teacher at Lindbergh High School. Gaumer has been a teacher at Lindbergh High School for 8 years and in addition to teaching, he was the assistant water polo coach and the teacher liaison for the Gay Straight Alliance group at the school. Anyone with information about this case

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NEW ATHENS — The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has been activated today after a man was killed, another suffered critical injuries, and another injured during a burglary in New Athens on Thursday morning. The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department said the shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m. Thursday at a residence on Golden Mine Road in rural New Athens. The sheriff's office said law enforcement found one man had died and the other two were injured when they arrived. The sheriff's office said a man with critical injuries was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital and another man was rushed to a hospital. The second man's injuries were apparently not life-threatening. It appears when the men arrived at the home, they realized someone was trying to burglarize the home. When they tried to stop the burglary, someone shot them. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated to handle the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Freeburg Police Departmen

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JERSEYVILLE - Ivy + Blush, a women’s boutique at 116 N. State St. in Jerseyville, is celebrating its first year in business this weekend with giveaways, cookies, and lots of new clothing arrivals. The store’s first-anniversary celebration will be held this Friday, June 3, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. In addition to providing Cookies by Shari, Ivy + Blush is also entering all customers into giveaways which will be drawn at the end of both event days. Customers will have a chance to win several prizes including jewelry, gift certificates, coffee mugs with chocolates, candles, and more. Ivy + Blush owner Jamie Bechtold said the store is “a women's boutique with hand-picked, quality trendsetting styles,” adding they carry boutique dresses, tops, denim, shoes, and accessories. She said their goal is to provide “all women with the latest styles in fashion including all sizes, small-3X.” She said Jerseyville residents

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ALTON - When someone enters a community the initial appearance is something that can help determine whether they stop in the city or not. Executive Director Pat Stewart and Pride, Inc., have been working diligently with the Alton Foundation and Frankie's Landscaping to restore and landscape the Welcome To City of Alton Sign area at Landmark and Ridge. As shown from the before and after photos above, Stewart said: "an amazing job" has been done in taking this landmark from an eye sore into an attractive entrance to our beautiful town. Stewart, who has an adoration of the Alton and Godfrey areas and their beauty, said this project, in particular, has meant a lot to her. Stewart is pivotal now in many of the Pride, Inc., projects that help beautify this area. She said Frankie's Landscaping did some remarkable work with the Welcome To Alton Sign area project and went above and beyond through the entire process. The owner was just "a fantastic person," Stewart said. She also commended Caroly

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SPRINGFIELD — Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser gave a presentation on structuring investment portfolios during the Illinois County Treasurers’ Association Spring conference. “My hope is that other County Treasurers are able to emulate the investment strategies assembled in Madison County,” Slusser said. “From year to year our investment portfolio continues to be a top performer throughout the state.” Public funds are bound by the Public Funds Investment Act, which only allows these funds to be placed in “safer” types of investments. County investments are shaped around three main factors- safety, liquidity, and yield. Throughout Illinois county treasurers are tasked with investing public dollars to create less reliance on property tax dollars. “Chris Slusser has been a great asset and a wonderful mentor to many County Treasurers across the state,” said Betty Asmussen, President of the Illinois County Treasurer’s

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COLLINSVILLE – It’s a big weekend for the metro-east with NASCAR coming to World Wide Technology Raceway for the Enjoy Illinois 300. In Collinsville, it’s the 35th annual International Horseradish Festival. Thousands of people will be in the area for these events and to help get all those people around and introduce them to all the great things on offer in Collinsville, the city will be having two hospitality shuttles running between the hotel district and uptown. “A NASCAR race is more than just the race on Sunday, it’s an entire weekend of activities and with the Horseradish Festival happening the same weekend we want to take advantage of the influx of visitors to really show off what we have to offer in the city,” City Manager Mitch Bair said. The local shuttle will begin running on Friday, June 3rd, at 3:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. and will run on Saturday, June 4th from 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Those looking to ride the shuttle can look for signs

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department today announced the number of citations issued during the recent Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period. Edwardsville Lt. Barry Jones said: “Through the Memorial Day enforcement campaign, we helped make Illinois roads safer and spread the word that seat belts and child safety restraints save lives. While Illinois’ 2021 seat belt compliance rate was 93.5%, unbelted occupants still account for over half of those killed in traffic crashes. The 'Click It or Ticket' campaign aims to change the behavior of the millions of people who don’t buckle up." Lt. Jones emphasized that thousands of lives could be saved each year if every vehicle occupant was properly restrained when traveling. During the enforcement period, the Edwardsville Police Department wrote 20 citations for seat belt violations and took the following additional actions: 10 DUI arrests 6 suspended/revoked licenses 17 uninsured motorists

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CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), announced today a single presumptive monkeypox case in an adult male Chicago resident with recent travel history to Europe. Initial testing was completed Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at an IDPH laboratory, and confirmatory testing for monkeypox is pending at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Based on initial epidemiologic characteristics and the positive orthopoxvirus result at IDPH, health officials consider this a probable monkeypox infection. Health officials say the patient is doing well, the probable case poses little risk to general public. CDPH and IDPH are working closely with the CDC and the patient’s health care providers to identify individuals with whom the patient may have been in contact while they were infectious. This contact tracing approach is appropriate given the nature and transmission of the virus. The person did not require hospitalization

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EDWARDSVILLE - It is not often a coach has a son who shares a love of a sport as much as they do. Geo Patrylak, the son of George and Roxanne Patrylak, shares the adoration of track and field and cross country just like his parents. For the family, this past weekend’s IHSA Class 3A State Track and Field Boys Meet was special as Geo notched an All-State position, placing ninth in the 1,600 meters with a fantastic time of 4:14.43. Teammate Ryan Watts won the race in a time of 4:11.16. Geo plans to run cross country and track for Missouri Southern State in the fall, another one of his dreams. Geo Patrylak is an iCAN Clinic Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers for his extraordinary performance at state and in his final meets of the season. Possibly what was most special for George, Geo and Roxanne occurred after the meet when the team received a second-place trophy. For the Patrylaks what made it extra special was the fact that Edwardsville Head Boys Track and Field Coach Chad

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GRAFTON - The American Legion Post #648 hosted Grafton’s Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony on Monday, May 30, 2022, at the American Legion Post’s World War I Monument overlooking the Cemetery in Grafton. The ceremony honored the nation’s fallen military members with a twenty-one-gun salute by the Legion’s Honor Guard and the playing of taps. “We were pleased to see so many people attend the ceremony," said Bruce Olmstead, the Commander of American Legion Post #648. The invocation and short remarks were given by Father Martin Smith, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Jerseyville who is a veteran of the Iraq War having served with the 82nd Airborne Division. The keynote speech was delivered by Colonel (Ret.) Michael Morrow, Mayor of Grafton, a veteran of Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Following the speakers, the Legion’s honor guard presented a 21-gun salute followed by the playing of taps. Terry Day, Chairman of the Grafton’s

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ALTON - Spectrum today announced it has implemented mandatory 10-digit dialing for Spectrum Voice ® customers and Spectrum Business Voice clients in Illinois. The new 10-digit dialing, required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), allows for the July 16 launch of 988 as the nationwide three-digit phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. To facilitate this launch, area codes using 988 as the first three digits of a seven-digit phone number must transition to 10-digit dialing. The change requires customers to dial the area code followed by the seven-digit phone number in order for local calls to be completed. Additionally, important safety and security equipment, such as medical alert devices and alarm systems should be programmed to use 10-digit dialing. Beginning July 16, dialing 988 will automatically route calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Prior to the launch, customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-8255 to reach the hotline. T

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RANDOLPH COUNTY - The Illinois State Police is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on Illinois Route 3 at B Road in Randolph County. A 50-year-old female Amy J. Brown, of Ellis Grove, died in the accident . The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 13: WHAT: Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Illinois Route 3 at B Road, Randolph County WHEN: May 31, 2022 at approximately 4:51 p.m. VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2013 Silver Chevrolet Equinox Unit 2 – 2006 White Dodge Grand Caravan DRIVERS : Unit 1 – Savannah N. Sunneberg, 19-year-old female from Wentzville, MO – Airlifted to a regional hospital with serious injuries. Unit 2 – Amy J. Brown, 50-year-old female from Ellis Grove, IL – Deceased PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 3 near B Road. Unit 2 was traveling northbound at the same

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GODFREY - This is the St. Ambrose Catholic School 4th Quarter High Honor Roll and Honor Roll 2021-2022 Honor Roll List: Honor Roll Karina Chew (4th) Emma Crews (4th) Leon Kerkemeyer (4th) Averie Kochan (4th) Lydia Kribs (4th) Adelyn Labrenz (4th) Genevieve Merkle (4th) Audrey Nailor (4th) Parker Williams (4th) Mallory Cronin (5th) Addie Estes (5th) Max King (5th) Ryan Kline (5th) Maggie Pruetzel (5th) Kynlee Adams (6th) Josie Anderson (6th) Alisa Buchanan (6th) Henry Franklin (6th) Joseph Gaither (6th) Diego Lara (6th) Colin Mueller (6th) Nolan Pichee (6th) Lucas Stephan (6th) Myra Sutton (6th) Natalie Adams (7th) Hubert Allen (7th) Eli Baggio (7th) Charlotte Beasley (7th) Emerson Bruns (7th) Mia Buchanan (7th) Sophie Copple (7th) Kooper Morrissey (7th) Caden Ontis (7th) Ella Osborn (7th) Mya Pickens (7th) Luke Brown (8th) Isabella Macias (8th) Finnley Stevenson (8th) High Honor Roll Piper Adams (4th) Bennett Anderson (4th) Erin Crawford

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EDWARDSVILLE - Have yourself a day Cade Hardy. The junior outfielder went 3-4 with five RBIs and three runs against the Belleville East Lancers in the Class 4A Sectional Semifinal game Wednesday night. He single-handedly batted in half of the runs scored by Edwardsville as they went en route to winning 10-0 over their new Southwestern Conference rivals. Hardy faced arguably the best pitcher his team has seen all season, Zander Mueth. Mueth shut out the Tigers and ended their 22-game win streak back on May 5. Mueth struck out Hardy in his first at-bat yesterday. Hardy came back up to bat again in the bottom of the third inning and knew what he had to do. "My first at-bat I was seeing the ball well off Mueth, but he struck me out. So, I knew my second at-bat I had to come up and do something," Hardy said. That's exactly what he did. With runners on second and third, he managed to hit a single over the second baseman's head and into shallow center field. The center fielder ran onto

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EAST ALTON – Former Southwestern Illinois College Dean of Math and Sciences Paige Mettler-Cherry has joined the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ), a division of Lewis and Clark Community College, as the new Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives. As part of NGRREC’s leadership team, Mettler-Cherry will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction for the education and conservation departments, along with supporting research operations. “My career in higher education gives me the best of both worlds, working with students and conducting research,” she said. “I am passionate about conservation and love introducing students to science, ecology and the great outdoors.” Mettler-Cherry started her career as an undergraduate research assistant at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), working with Professor of Plant Biology Marian Smith. “I was extremely lucky to meet Dr. Smith - she

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(OSF HEALTHCARE) - Thirty years of smoking a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes per day. Breathing problems. Three trips to the emergency department. Throat cancer. Nearly losing his vocal cords. Radiation treatment. A temporary tracheotomy leading to a soft food-only diet. A stroke. Depression. Relying on oxygen and a cane daily. For Ralph Federle of Alton, Illinois, it all adds up to one message to young people who want to start smoking or vaping : don’t do it. “I wasn’t really scared because I know where I’m going after I die,” Federle says of the cancer diagnosis. “But just the mere thought of my family members, my daughter, my granddaughter. I have too much to live for. And so I would fight.” Federle and Karen Boyd, one of the nurse navigators who cares for him at OSF Moeller Cancer Center in Alton are among those taking notice of the latest annual report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on young people vaping. “Youth

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(The Center Square) – Wednesday marked the repeal of parental notification of underage abortion in Illinois, and each side of the argument is making their position known. The 1995 parental notification law didn’t go into effect until 2013 after years of litigation. The law allowed for a judicial bypass of the notification requirement. Last year, the Democratic supermajority at the Illinois statehouse passed a measure to repeal parental notification. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the repeal in December. The repeal took effect June 1, 2022. At a campaign stop in East St. Louis Wednesday, Pritzker promised to keep abortion legal in Illinois, even for girls without their parents being notified. “Just across the river, Missouri Republicans have nearly eliminated women’s ability for women to access vital reproductive health care,” Pritzker said. “While here in Illinois, we’ve fought to expand women’s rights.” In 2020, more than 9,600

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - The Illinois State Police is investigating another fatal accident that occurred early Thursday morning. A 24-year-old male from St. Louis died in a two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 185 at Montgomery Road, Montgomery County, from a call that came in at 2:21 a.m. on June 2, 2022 . Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police: WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Illinois Route 185 at Mulberry Grove Road, Montgomery County? WHEN: At approximately 2:21 a.m. June 2, 2022 VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2003 White Ford Mustang Unit 2- 2015 Mack Truck Tractor Semi-Trailer DRIVERS : Unit 1- 24-year-old male from St. Louis, MO – Deceased Unit 2- Larry W. Temple, a 65-year-old male from Indianapolis, IN – Uninjured PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on Illinois Route 185 just west of Mulberry Grove Road. Unit 2 was traveling westbound

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ADAM NIEMERG - One party rule is destroying our state. According to a report from 24/7 Wall St., Illinois is the seventh worst-run state in the country. The report states, “Compared to most states, Illinois is not well positioned financially. Saddled with debt, a woefully underfunded pension system, and a virtually empty rainy-day fund, Illinois has a Baa3 credit rating from Moody’s and a negative outlook — the worst of any state.” As a result of the mismanagement in Illinois, our state had the second highest outbound moves in 2021 according to United Van Lines. Anecdotally, my office hears all of the time from people who have either moved or are thinking about moving. The people I talk to are disheartened by what is going on in Springfield and they have little hope anything will change. They are tired of the one-party rule in Illinois, and they are equally as tired of the inept leadership in the opposition party. It would be easy to lay the blame of the state’s

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ST. LOUIS - Events leading up to Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 get started today and you can still get tickets. PLEASE NOTE: Although Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter is sold out, tickets still may be available on the TicketSmarter resale site: https://www.ticketsmarter.com/venues/world-wide-technology-raceway-at-gateway?utm_source=wwtr&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=partners Thursday, June 2: 4-8 p.m. – WWTR Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise (601 Clark Ave., across from Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis). Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson: 4-4:15 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series driver Cole Custer (TBD). 6 p.m. – NASCAR haulers depart WWTR staging lot. 6:30 p.m. – NASCAR hauler parade passes Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise and Busch Stadium. Link to weekend schedule: https://wwtraceway.com/inaugural-wwtr-nascar-cup-series-weekend-schedule/

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