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Pics from this article (and gallery) may be purchased for personal use at: https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-Food-Trucks ALTON - The annual Alton Food Truck Festival Saturday presented by Sauce Magazine at the Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater had perfect weather and those present seemed to enjoy the wide variety of eating options. Dan Herkert, chair of the Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater Commission, said he couldn't have asked for more at this year's food truck festival. “We had great weather, it was warm, but not too hot,” he said. “People were patient in line, but the lines moved quickly. After eight years of having the food truck festival, people know the food will be great and they have to be a little patient. The Groovethang band was again wonderful. They pretty much hit every type of music from the 1970s to the 2000s. The Food Truck Festival is a great event, people love to come here and eat and hang out with friends and family on the Alton riverfront.”

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Lewis and Clark Community College Veterans Club will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1, in the Leclaire Room on the college’s N.O. Nelson Campus, 600 Troy Road, in Edwardsville. “We are proud to be joining forces once again with the American Red Cross on this community blood drive,” said L&C Director of Career and Veteran Services Terry Lane. “By taking part in this opportunity to help others, you just might save a life. Please make an effort to attend, and please share this information with your family and friends.” To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: LewisClark1 or call 800-RED CROSS. Walk-ins are always welcome, but scheduling an appointment online helps the Red Cross ensure they have the right number of people and supplies on hand for the drive. Those who wish to donate can streamline their donation experience and save up to 15

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Friday, August 26, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued a summons in lieu of arrest on suspect Johnathan Cunningham, 36 years of age, of the 11900 block of Villa Dorado Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63146, for Stealing $750 or More. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: The Defendant has worked as a Lieutenant for the St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) since March of 2022. Prior to that, Lt. Cunningham was a patrol officer for SLCPD beginning June of 2008 rising to the rank of Sergeant on April of 2017. Beginning June 1, 2022, it was determined through investigation that Lt. Cunningham worked secondary employment for Hudson Services who provides security services for Spire utility company on the following dates and times: 06/01/22 from 6:30 am till 10:30 am 06/20/22 from 6:30 am till 10:30

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ALTON - At 8:12 a.m. Saturday, August 27, Alton Police investigated a crash at State House Circle in Alton. This was the report from Alton Police Deputy Chief Jarrett Ford: "Investigation into the crash revealed the vehicle was traveling east in the 800 block of College Avenue as it approached the Statehouse Circle in Alton. "The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, failed to properly navigate the traffic circle and drove into the interior of the circle before coming to rest within the landscaping. No injuries were reported." Ford said the cause of the accident remains under investigation at this time.

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ALTON - Bruce Egelhoff is announcing his campaign for the Madison County Board District #9. Retirement from a long career in sales will allow Bruce the free time to give back to Alton and Madison County. Bruce also owns and manages a long-standing residential real estate investment company with his partner, John Meehan. They are responsible for the restoration of over thirty properties in Upper Alton. After representing his constituents, his driving ambition for Alton and Madison County is to maximize the opportunities for economic development, job creation, and the preservation of housing stock. For additional information, you can follow Bruce on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or you can contact him directly at https://www.facebook.com/bruceegelhoff

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ALTON - The Alton Food Truck Festival set for Saturday, August 27, has an array of strong participants, and Liberty Bank Amphitheater Commission Chair Dan Herkert said Thursday he expects a "huge crowd" with such a bright weather forecast. The event starts at 4 p.m. and runs to 8 p.m. The National Weather Service in St. Louis predicts a sunny day on Saturday with a high of 90 degrees. Herkert said there will be 22 different food trucks from around the St. Louis area at the Alton event. The Alton Food Truck Festival is free of charge. Cajun Seduction, TreauX’s Cajun Barbecue, and Sugarfire Smoke House Barbecue are some new ones that will create attention, Herkert said. Others back include The Sweet Divine, Pig on a Wing, and Tuk Tuk Thai. The entire Food Truck Festival participant list is at the bottom of the story. Herkert said this year there will be a wide variety of food and there will be "something for everybody." Doughboy's Wood Fired Pizza will offer a variety of product

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis area weather in July was a roller-coaster with extremely hot temperatures at one period to torrential rain in another. The first three weeks of the month were by far the warmest with temps in the mid-to-upper 90s on many days and consecutive 100-degree temp days July 20-24. National Weather Service in St. Louis meteorologist Chris Kimble said the temps in St. Louis for the month of July were the 17th warmest on record for that month. He also added that St. Louis Lambert Airport records go back to 1874. In July 2022, it was the third-hottest on record, the NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information said. The average temperature was 76.4 degrees. Only July 1936 (first) and July 2012 (second) were warmer. Late in the month, torrential rains came to the region. The heavy rains started on July 26 and 8.5 inches of rain fell at St. Louis Lambert Airport that day. St. Peters, Mo., was hit the hardest with more than 12 inches of rain. The Metro East Illinois

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GODFREY - Students at Lewis and Clark Community College enjoyed lunch in The Grove, outside of The Commons, Wednesday, August 24, courtesy of L&C Student Activities. Students returned to campus to begin the fall semester on Monday. This is the college's 52nd school year and it was an exciting week for the students.

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COLLINSVILLE - The Illinois Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions that will be encountered Monday, August 29, 2022, through Thursday, September 1, 2022, on northbound Interstate 255 over Interstate 55/70 in Collinsville. Weather permitting, beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, August 29, 2022, the right two lanes on northbound Interstate 255 over the eastbound and westbound ramps from Interstate 55/70 will be closed with only one lane on northbound Interstate 255 remaining open. These restrictions are needed to do emergency bridge deck patching on the bridge carrying Interstate 255 over the eastbound and westbound ramps of Interstate 55/70. IDOT District 8 Operations forces will make the needed improvements. Full access will be restored as soon as possible. The middle lane will open by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, leaving the far-right lane closed. All lanes are expected to be open by 4 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2022. All exit ramps from Interstate 255 wil

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ALTON - At about 8:24 p.m. Thursday, the Alton Police Department responded to a residence in the 200 block of Wonderland Drive, in reference to several reports of a disturbance. Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido said information the department received was that someone involved in the disturbance may be armed with a firearm. Chief Pulido said a preliminary investigation revealed that there was a disturbance between several people at this residence, in which one person did display a firearm. The subjects involved were generally familiar with each other. The suspect was taken into custody and is being held at the Alton Police Department. The information learned during this investigation will be presented to the Madison County States Attorney's Office for the possibility of felony charges.

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DES PLAINES – On August 25, 2022, at approximately 7:55 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP District Chicago Trooper on Mannheim Road over Interstate 290 eastbound in Cook County. On the above date and time, an ISP District Chicago Trooper was stationary on the right shoulder assisting a stopped motorist with emergency lights activated, when the Trooper’s squad car was sideswiped. A black Dodge van, traveling northbound on Mannheim Road, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the left driver’s side door of the ISP squad car. There were no injuries reported as a result of the crash, 29-year-old Tomas Rybovic of Justice, IL was issued a citation for a violation of Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of an Emergency Vehicle. So far this year, there have been 17 ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and seven Troopers have sustained injuries from Move

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine announced Friday afternoon that a jury found Mantia Johnson, 35, of Granite City, guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Ahmaad Nunley on August 2, 2021. The jury also found Johnson guilty of attempted murder for the simultaneous shooting of Shamyia Seay and the aggravated discharge of a firearm. Haine said: “This highway shooting and murder were truly terrible. We are happy the jury agreed and convicted Mantia Johnson. Now, the victims' families can begin to gain closure after their pain and loss." On August 2, 2021, police and emergency personnel responded to a shooting on Illinois Route 3, where one car had shot numerous rounds into another while driving. Nunley, who was in the victim’s car and had been shot multiple times, was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital, succumbing to his injuries. Seay was also in the victim’s car and shot multiple times but recovered from her wounds and was one of many

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EDWARDSVILLE - This is another in a series of articles with photos and descriptions of entries in the Edwardsville Art Fair at City Park on September 23-25. Today, both an Edwardsville and Alton artist is featured with another from Minneapolis. Artist Name: Angela Burns Location: Edwardsville Artist Statement: "I'm an impressionist artist whose work captures the beauty of people and places with a dreamlike quality, quiet energy, and expressive technique." Artist Name: Jenna Muscarella Location: Alton Artist Statement: "I collect cigar boxes and keep physical memory keepsakes inside of them. I admire the detail and craftsmanship of each box. I observe each line in the design every twist and curve. I visually represent the box details with my quick, calligraphic one-shot mark." Artist Name: Layl McDill Location: Minneapolis, MN Artist Statement: " My polymer clay sculptures are filled with the sensation of a story. Much of my work makes the viewer

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EDWARDSVILLE – Classes are in full swing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and so are the Cougar Welcome activities for new and returning students. This week, students have taken part in a back-to-school barbeque, resource fair, kick-off event, and trivia night, among many other activities. “My experience has been amazing so far,” said first-year theater major Colin Hoef, of Collinsville. “I moved in last Thursday and have gotten to meet my neighbors. All of my classes have been great. My acting class is especially amazing.” Students took a break between classes on Wednesday, Aug. 24 to attend the annual Merchant Fair featuring representatives from a variety of community businesses and organizations. They also enjoyed an ice cream social, which included free Dairy Queen Blizzards being handed out by SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, and Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs/Dean of Students Rony Die. “We came to the Goshen

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BETHALTO - When Civic Memorial High School football fans walk into the stadium with new turf and refinements in the facility Friday evening, they are sure to see it as “breathtaking,” said Bethalto School District 8 Superintendent Dr. Jill Griffin. Civic Memorial Athletic Director Todd Hanaford said there will be a ribbon cutting of the new field at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Marquette Catholic at CM football game. “We have had a significant upgrade of the stadium and there will be a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about the field and stadium,” Dr. Griffin said. “There are still some finishing touches that need to be done on the stadium but it is close to done. The turf is a significant upgrade. It has great colors and it is very attractive. It is something the community should be really proud of. We can’t wait to show it to everybody.” CM High School has also had gymnasium updates as well as elementary school changes over the summer and work

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership today released data from the first half of the 2022 air quality forecasting season. While the findings reveal no poor or “red” air quality days to-date, the need to continue taking steps to help clear the air remains important as we head into the final stretch of summer. To that end, the Clean Air Partnership continues to work collaboratively with Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and other partnering organizations to inform people the way they choose to travel impacts the quality of air area residents breathe, while motivating them to modify commuting behaviors as often as they are able through the summerlong “Don’t Pollute. Switch Up Your Commute,” campaign. Over the past few months, the St. Louis region has seen its share of scorching temperatures and a related increase in the number of days when the air quality has reached moderate to unhealthy ranges. At the mid-point of the air quality forecastin

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan F. Kelly, today announced the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) change in command. Colonel Sean M. Cormier is retiring from ISP after more than 26 years of service. On September 1, 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Trame will be promoted to Colonel and will be the newly appointed DCI Deputy Director. “Congratulations to Colonel Cormier on his many years of distinguished service to the people of Illinois and thank him for his dedication,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Colonel Cormier has been a true leader at ISP and his impact will live on through the officers he led under his command. As we celebrate our Centennial year at ISP, we welcome Lieutenant Colonel Trame into his new role as the Division of Criminal Investigation Deputy Director and look forward to his leadership as we enter our second century.” Colonel Cormier began his career with ISP in 1995, as a member of Cadet Class

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ST. LOUIS - September is Better Breakfast Month and there has never been a better time to celebrate. Breakfast has long been called the most important meal of the day and for good reason. The documented benefits of eating breakfast include boosted brainpower, improved nutrient intake, and revved metabolism. Yet, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, while 93% of Americans believe that fueling an empty tank every morning is important, less than half jump-start the day this way. “Breakfast is the first nutrition opportunity of the day and a chance to get more of several foods that may be lacking in our diets, like dairy, fruits, and whole grains. These foods pack a powerful punch of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Research shows that breakfast-skippers may not make up these nutrients later in the day,” notes St. Louis District Dairy Council Registered Dietitian Maggie Cimarolli. While Americans may be “in the know” about the

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ALTON - The Alton High School boys' soccer team did not have a season to remember last year. Senior forward Ashton Scheppers will be the first one to tell you that. He's ready to put all that behind him though and is looking forward to his senior season. The Redbirds' season kicked off Thursday night (August 25) against Springfield Southeast with a huge 6-0 win. The scoresheet credits Scheppers with a couple of goals in that win. One of them was off a nice breakaway from the half-field line. He timed his run perfectly to accept a well-delivered through ball and put it past the keeper. That was the sixth and final goal of the game. Ashton is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for Alton High School. Ashton played club soccer growing up but then switched to baseball. He said he was happy to get back into the sport in high school. "My parents usually like baseball," he said, but according to him, he plays soccer because it's a fun way to stay in shape. After last year, it's easy

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ALTON - A Food Giveaway open to the community is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday and supplies last with Alton Fourth Ward Alderwoman Rosie Brown. The giveaway will be at the Millennium Temple Cogic at 801 Blair Ave., Alton. Those in need of food are recommended to drive up and get a bag, Brown said. Alderwoman Brown said there are always food needs around the area and now, especially because school is back in session. “We will have items that will be easily accessible for children to prepare themselves,” Brown added. “We just see a need to help the parents and make sure food is available for them for their children. Sometimes the parents may not be home, so we are providing some food that can be prepared in their absence.” Brown pointed out that some Alton residents may have lost their jobs and be in need of some accessible food. “I am always wanting to give back and look at what is needed in the community,” Brown said. “We are partnering

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