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ALTON - At a young age, Alton community activist Abe Lee Barham's father instilled in him a love of gardening. Over the years, he formulated a dream of establishing an Inner City Garden for area youth so other Alton children could learn the adoration and skills in a garden as he did as a child. The Inner City Garden is sponsored by Alton Housing and Theodora Farms with the goal to empower youth in the Alton area with another skill and experience that will stay with them forever. Faye Taylor and Lisa Brown assist Barham in the project. This year the project will start with 10 selected youth. However, Barham pointed out that last year, the project swelled to 25 kids once they learned what the others were doing and the others wanted to participate. Theodora Farms Manager Kris Larson said: "We are excited about this project and making sure local youth have access to not just garden-fresh foods but to learning how to grow food. Abe has been a real champion of teaching kids how to grow

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ST. LOUIS — Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures will whisk families away on an immersive getaway chock-full of magical participatory moments. Featuring new and classic tales, this multi-generational experience visits Chaifetz Arena, September 23 - 25. Disney On Ice Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting today, May 17, to get the best seats available before tickets go on sale to the general public on May 24. Fans can still sign up to become a Disney On Ice Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code. Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and his pals for a high-octane ride in Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures. Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and guests of all ages embark on an interactive and memory-rich adventure to iconic Disney destinations. See the world from the rooftops of London with Mary Poppins and Jack and his band of dancing lamplighters. Travel to the sun-soaked Motunui and help Moana

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EDWARDSVILLE - Sheriff John D. Lakin has announced two Madison County students selected to receive the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Scholarship on behalf of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The honor this year was given to two distinguished students in Madison County, one from Glen Carbon and the other from Wood River. The recipients are Olivia Melosci of Glen Carbon and Grace Byron of Wood River. Olivia attends Edwardsville High School. She received a 32 on her ACT and will graduate with a 4.0-grade point average. Olivia plans to attend Illinois State University to study Mathematics, she is a Tiger Choice recipient, Spanish Top 10%, received High Honor Roll, Silver Medallion Academic Excellence recipient, was an Illinois State Scholar, and received the Outstanding Service Award. Grace attends East Alton-Wood River High School. She received a 1050 on her SAT and will graduate with a 3.8-grade point average. Grace plans to attend Illinois State University

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ALTON - Over the course of her four-year career at Alton High, Taryn Wallace has been a remarkable student and athlete. Taryn has been hard at work in her studies while also leading a cause for someone she cares about very much. For all of her work and selfless efforts, she has been selected as an Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Remarkable Redbird of Month. Recently, Taryn found out that her longtime boyfriend had been diagnosed with cancer. In order to raise money for his care, Taryn took it upon herself and worked with a local organization to print T-shirts to sell as a fund raiser for him. Over 200 T-shirts were sold in just over a month during lunches and also online, predominantly to students and staff at Alton High. While working to raise money for her boyfriend's treatment, Taryn was able to keep her grades up and she received straight A's both semesters of her senior year while taking five honors classes, some of which had dual credit. She is a Silver Medallion recipient, which

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ST. LOUIS - Varicose veins are a common condition affecting up to three in ten adults each year. A local vascular physician and cardiologist, Dr. Raffi Krikorian, wants to raise awareness about a simple treatment method that can alleviate the symptoms and in some cases, minimize the appearance of varicose veins. “Millions of people suffer from varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency,” said Dr. Raffi Krikorian. “While it is common, it can still impact a person’s quality of life in many ways and can lead to further issues down the road. We recommend people get their veins evaluated by our medical professionals so they know what type of vein condition they have and what treatment options are available. Compression stockings are a simple first step we often take to help improve a patient’s circulation and reduce the appearances of varicose veins.” Dr. Krikorian said varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency can cause heavy, tired, swollen

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CHICAGO – As Illinois celebrates World Trade Month, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the 2022 trade show schedule and additional international business development opportunities to assist companies in starting or expanding global sales. DCEO’s Office of Trade and Investment (OTI) will coordinate the State’s presence at nine international trade events on four continents. “Illinois’ network of diverse industries and workforce have made Illinois a force in the global export economy, propelling our products around the world to over 200 countries,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From trade shows to development opportunities, my administration is proud to help Illinois companies expand their international market share during World Trade Month and beyond.” Illinois offers a convenient geographic location and proximity to airports, railways, and shipping ports, and has

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ST. LOUIS - The National Museum of Transportation Transportation Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution in the transportation industry. Inductees are recognized for their leadership or contribution in industries that move our community. Those recognized have demonstrated insight, innovation, and a progressive contribution in transportation throughout their distinguished career. Recipients are nominated in the summer of each year and are honored at The National Museum of Transportation Transportation Hall of Fame Awards Breakfast in December. Applications are accepted through August 31 for the 2022 inductees. For additional information, please contact: Frank Cunetto, Chairman TNMOT Transportation Hall of Fame TNMOT Board of Directors 314.791.2362 To nominate an individual visit: https://tnmot.org/nominate-for-the-transportation-hall-of-fame/ The National Museum of Transportation houses 'one of the largest and best collections of transportation

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EDWARDSVILLE - The fifth edition of International Studies Days at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, held virtually May 3-6, was as successful as previous editions in helping address important global issues. The series of events included senior assignment presentations, panel discussions on organizations with an international focus regionally, and international education opportunities available to students, as well as a lecture aimed at educating the public on current developments in Ukraine. “International Studies Days has become a tradition of student, faculty, and community engagement for the International Studies Program within the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Sorin Nastasia, PhD, director of this program and associate professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies. “Given the war in Ukraine and the plights of students, both local and international, this year’s series of events featured prominently a discussion of the difficulties

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ALTON - The Vintage Voices committee has set an audition date for the 2022 edition of Vintage Voices. Auditions will be held Saturday, June 25, 2022, at YWCA of Alton, 304 E 3rd St, Alton, Illinois 62002. Actors wanting to audition should arrive anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and will be asked to do a cold reading. The event consists of tours held in the Alton Cemetery with actors in period costumes telling the story of Altonians who have shaped the area’s history. Auditions will be held to cast the roles of nine characters of a variety of ages, gender, and race. Commitment is five performances and an individualized rehearsal schedule. “Vintage Voices highlights the stories of so many people who contributed to the Alton area: people who were often well-known during their lifetimes, but whose legacies are now buried in books and newspaper articles. We need you to help bring these stories back to life! Please come out for auditions on June 25, 2022,” says

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BELLEVILLE - The St. Clair County Transit District is encouraging people of all ages to register now for its annual Summer Riding Program, so they are ready to hit the trails when the program gets underway on June 1. The program allows participants to track miles and earn prizes as they bike, walk, wheel, run, skate or skip along with the MetroBikeLink System, which boasts 14 miles of continuous trails and bike paths adjacent to the MetroLink alignment in Southwestern Illinois. Registration can be completed at www.scctd.org . Mileage tracking begins June 1, 2022. “The Summer Riding Program is much like those offered through libraries that incentive kids to read, but instead of reading a certain number of minutes to earn prizes, we are encouraging people of all ages to track miles on the MetroBikeLink System,” commented Ken Sharkey, managing director for the St. Clair County. “It’s a fun way to get people outside and active, as they enjoy this treasure in ou

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SPRINGFIELD – A bill strengthening the Child Labor Law passed by the General Assembly was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker. Senate Bill 3161 enhances the Child Labor Law and is the result of negotiations among the Illinois Department of Labor, the business community, worker advocacy groups, and unions. “Protecting the youngest and most vulnerable workers is critical to preventing exploitation. This bill gives the Illinois Department of Labor additional tools to ensure that child workers in the entertainment industry are safe on the job,” said Illinois Department of Labor Acting Director Jane Flanagan. The Child Labor Law regulates the terms and conditions in which children can work. The changes enacted as part of SB 3161 provide IDOL with more discretion when it comes to protecting children in the entertainment industry from working through the overnight hours. In the fiscal year 2021, IDOL received 14,846 child employment certificates. During the same

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SPRINGFIELD – A bill strengthening the One Day Rest in Seven Act has been signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker. Senate Bill 3146 is the result of negotiations among the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), the business community, community groups, and unions. “The changes will strengthen the One Day Rest in Seven Act and reflect the ongoing mission of the Illinois Department of Labor to protect the rights, wages, and working conditions for people in Illinois,” said Illinois Department of Labor Acting Director Jane Flanagan. The One Day Rest in Seven Act gives workers the right to a day of rest every workweek and meal or rest breaks during daily work shifts. The changes enacted as part of SB 3146 are intended to clarify the day of rest requirements for workers whose schedules don’t align with a Sunday to Saturday calendar week and apply to any consecutive seven-day work period. The amendments also require an additional 20-minute break for workers during

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ALTON – Although Alton Memorial Hospital was unable to hold its annual Employee Awards Banquet again this year because of the pandemic, the hospital was still able to honor several of its top staff members for their 2021 accomplishments during the recent Health Care Week. Among the awards handed out was the Virginia Ilch Team Quality Award. The ”Promoting Vaginal Births” team was the winner for its part in a 2021 quality initiative as a part of the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative. “The aim was to support vaginal births and reduce primary cesarean sections to reach the Healthy People goal for a low-risk cesarean section target rate of 24.7 percent by December 2021,” said Debbie Turpin, chief nurse executive at Alton Memorial. AMH had a C-section rate of 22.5 percent in 2020. A team of nurses and physicians led the 2021 efforts for AMH, which included: Educating physicians and nurses on ACOG/SMFM labor management guidelines and labor support

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ROXANA – Sophomore pitcher Calista Stahlhut threw all seven innings and hit a home run as the Roxana High School softball team defeated the Alton Redbirds by a score of 3-1. With the win, the Shells end their regular season with a record of 9-13. As for Calista, she’s the Shells’ number one pitcher and she now has a 9-11 record through 20 regular-season appearances. She leads her team in games played and strikeouts with 118 coming into the game against Alton. The Shells led 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Calista took to the batter’s box with no one on and two outs. With a quick swing of the bat, she took the ball over the fence in left-center field to make it 3-0 over the visiting Redbirds. It was her third home run of the season which leads her team. Because of that she was intentionally walked later on in the game. When asked what she thought was more important, the pitching performance or the home run, she had this to say: “I think they were

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EFFINGHAM – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8, is releasing video of a shooting that occurred at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in McLeansboro, IL on October 20, 2021. On October 20, 2021 at approximately 12:20 a.m., the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office asked ISP to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in McLeansboro, IL. Aaron J. Sealy, a 30-year-old male from Herrin was in custody after being arrested by McLeansboro police officers and was transported to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. While seated in a chair, Sealy was able to loosen the handcuffs, after which he grabbed and discharged a fire extinguisher toward a McLeansboro Officer and a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy. Both officers ordered Sealy to drop the fire extinguisher before discharging their firearms. Sealy was struck once. Officers rendered aid to Sealy until he was

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido reported on Monday that early Sunday morning, just after midnight, the Alton Police Department investigated a report of shots being fired in the general area of downtown Alton. "Officers arrived on scene immediately as they were patrolling in the downtown area at the time of this incident," the chief said. "Preliminary investigation revealed that shots were fired after an altercation took place." "The subjects involved were generally familiar with each other and no injuries were reported." The Alton Police Chief said the investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the Alton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – After a final arrest last weekend, federal authorities are releasing the results of a month-long, large-scale, multi-agency, law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, operating primarily throughout March 2022. The operation resulted in more than 150 arrests, including three individuals being charged with homicide in St. Clair County in connection with one of the firearms seized. Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worked countless hours concentrating their efforts on known gang members, wanted subjects, and other known violent offenders. Operation Washout (OWO) is a United States Marshals initiative deployed to local areas to bring immediate relief from violent, gang-related crime. The goal is to foster safer communities by investigating and arresting fugitives and members of criminal organizations responsible for committing violent crimes. The detail yielded 153 arrests with 5

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JERSEY - Jersey Community High School’s Panther Athletic Club recently presented the Don Snyders/PAC $1,000 Scholarship Award to Morgan Johnson and Sam Lamer for their athletic achievements, strong character and leadership, academic success, and PAC involvement. In addition to these seniors, the PAC awarded an additional $4,500 in scholarships to the following senior athletes: Kate Jones, Austin Hayes, Liam McGuire, Tyler Noble, Edward Roberts, Kyndal Price, Garret Smith, Karli Talley, and Zachary Wargo. Congratulations to all recipients, and a special thanks to Mr. Snyders for always supporting the PAC and our Jersey Athletes.

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EDWARDSVILLE -This week’s poll administered by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), found that Judge Amy Sholar is the only candidate recommended by Bar Association members in her race for Third Judicial Circuit Judge. “I am proud to receive this recommendation from my peers and members of ISBA,” stated Sholar. “It’s a validation of the hard work I’ve put in as a private attorney and now as a Judge.” Based on this evaluation Circuit Judge Amy Sholar was recommended in the ISBA advisory poll with a 79.09 rating based on her ability to meet the requirements of the office. She was rated by 112 attorneys and judges. Her opponent was not recommended with a rating of 56.92 in the same category. The Illinois State Bar conducts this advisory poll through a survey of all licensed attorneys in the circuit. Sholar scored higher than her opponent in every category and scored especially high in the areas of legal ability, integrity, and court management.

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TAYLORVILLE - U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-III.) announced today that he is accepting applications from students who wish to seek a congressional nomination to one of our nation's service academies for the Class of 2027. Davis can nominate to the following academies: U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), U.S. Military Academy (USMA), U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). His office will also be hosting a Service Academy Day informational event for interested students, parents, and school officials with the office of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood in Springfield on Saturday, June 18th. More details are below and registration is required. Service academies offer fully-funded four-year scholarships to young U.S. citizens with a desire to serve their country, who qualify by age and academics, who demonstrate desirable leadership qualities, and who have the wherewithal to strive for excellence in all their endeavors. A four-year education at one of the service academies

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