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ALTON - Amoriah Gray, the 7-year-old author of “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs,” will be holding a book signing event from 4-5 p.m. on August 10 at the Boys & Girls Club of Alton at 2512 Amelia St. in Alton. This event will cap off what’s been a busy summer for Amoriah, touring her book at everything from daycares to entrepreneur expos and even two City Halls. Copies of “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs” will be available for $10 at the next book signing, in addition to T-shirts for $10, custom affirmations with your child’s name and adjectives for $10, and coloring book kits for $3. Angela Gray, Amoriah’s mother, said the Boys & Girls Club has been very supportive of Amoriah and that she plans to return there each year. Amoriah’s summer book tour kicked off with an event on Juneteenth (June 19) at James Killion Park in Alton, which Gray said went well. “It was our first year attending a vendor event, and it was very

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ALTON - Juniors Parker Mayhew and Nate Bartlett won the championship of the Riverbend Tennis Open in the boys under 16 division and had an outstanding summer of play. The Redbird teammates defeated James McKeever and Alex Teutken, also from Alton, and Caden and Ryne Breyer from Civic Memorial. Parker and Nate are selections for the Auto Butler Alton High Athlete of the Month. Mayhew played number one singles and doubles for the Redbirds and Bartlett played number six singles and three doubles. Coach Jesse Macias said: “The nice part about playing summer tennis tournaments is that you have the opportunity to play with different partners. I don’t think Parker and Nate played together at all during the season, but they played well in the Riverbend Open. "Both players are steady from the baseline and they are aggressive at the net. They make a good team.” While Mayhew has been a varsity member and all-conference performer since his freshman year, Bartlett cracked

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GRAFTON - The Grafton Family Fun Committee held the annual Family Fun Night from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2022, at Red Hawk Park in Grafton, and it was an enjoyable evening for a large crowd. Face painting, a dunk tank, and various games made for a lively evening. Hot dogs, chips, and bottles of water kept the crowd well-fed and hydrated. Emergency vehicles (police car, firetruck, helicopter, and ambulance) were present for close inspection, provided by Grafton Police, QEM fire station, Survival Flight crew, and Jersey Community Hospital EMTs and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Carrie Purdy. Jersey County Queen, Matilynn Thornsbury, and Little Miss Jersey County, Tessa Huelskoetter, were enthusiastically welcomed and shared in the fun. After dark, a movie on the big screen, complete with popcorn, candy, and glow sticks, wrapped up this most memorable summer fun night for all. “The most important reason for holding this annual event is so the community can come together,

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GRANITE CITY - GCS Credit Union employees joined together to raise $930.00 in the month of July to benefit WILD Canine Rescue through their Don’t Stop Donatin’ Jeans Program. The Don’t Stop Donatin’ Jeans Program is funded by GCS employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, GCS employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. This year, GCS Credit Union is focusing on giving back to the 18 counties that they serve. July’s focus was on Sangamon County, IL. GCS proudly raised $930.00 for WILD Canine Rescue. The WILD Canine Rescue is a 100% foster-based rescue that provides care and welfare to homeless animals, abandoned and abused. Visit WildCanineRescue.org. to show your support for WILD. To find out more about GCS Credit Union, visit myGCScu.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Jennifer Korte candidate for State Representative in the 112 th District, says with rising crime throughout the State of Illinois it is time for lawmakers to get serious about public safety concerns beginning with the repeal of the SAFE-T Act. The SAFE-T Act (House Bill 3653) eliminates cash bail and requires officers to only issue a citation when someone is committing a Class B or C misdemeanor instead of detaining them. “The message we are sending with this law is that small crime don’t matter,” Korte said. “I understand that we don’t need to necessarily bring the full weight of the law on everyone who commits a crime, but we should not ignore minor offenses completely either. The solution to rising crime is not to create incentives for more crime but to put policies in place that discourage crime. We need to repeal the SAFE-T Act and replace it with practical policies that will stop the rise in crime in our communities.” Korte

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EDWARDSVILLE - A unique regional event is just around the turn. Come out for a wide variety of entertainment ranging from professional cyclists, running, live music, food trucks, family fun, kids races, and much more on the streets of downtown Edwardsville Saturday, Aug. 20 during the Busey Bank Edwardsville Rotary Criterium Festival. Last year over 200 cyclists from 14 states competed for $10,000 of prize money. A fundraiser and community celebration hosted by the Edwardsville Rotary Club, the festival includes a series of high-speed bicycle races complimented by a foot race and free kids races. The Criterium has grown rapidly over the past decade into a unique signature event for the St. Louis metropolitan area. Some of downtown Edwardsville’s streets will be closed at noon to prepare for the extravaganza that starts at 3:00. Downtown restaurants and bars prepare for well over 5,000 spectators who can open carry beverages over most of the course. The Entertainment Zone,

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public about an open house-style public meeting to discuss plans to improve the Interstate 64 and Illinois 111 interchange in St. Clair County. The meeting will be held: Tuesday, August 9 4 – 7 p.m. James Avant Elementary School 1915 N. 55 th St. Washington Park, Ill. The project involves replacing the Illinois 111 bridge over I-64 and improving the interchange between the two highways. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information about the progress and issues concerning this project and obtain public input. Due to the project’s location at the former sites of the Douglas-Lawnridge and St. Clair County cemeteries, IDOT welcomes input from the community, families, and loved ones of those interred in these cemeteries. Handouts and display boards regarding the proposed improvement will be available for review, as will information regarding engineering, land acquisition,

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is meeting the changes and challenges in the growing real estate field by offering classes to help individuals enter that career field as brokers. An individual must pass a total of 75 hours of instruction to take the Real Estate Broker’s licensure exam. Lewis and Clark is offering three different classes of Real Estate, all of which are needed for the exam: Real Estate Brokerage (REAL 135 – A6) – 7-9:40 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, Aug. 22, 2022, through Oct. 12, 2022 Real Estate Transactions (REAL 136 - 01) – 9:25-10:40 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 23, 2022, through Dec. 15, 2022; (REAL 136 – B6) 7-9:40 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, Oct. 17, 2022, through Dec. 14, 2022. Real Estate Transaction Applications (REAL 137 - 60) – 6-9:30 p.m, Tuesdays, Nov.22, 2022, through Dec. 13, 2022. All three classes are being taught in-person or online via Zoom. In-person classes will be held on th

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ST. LOUIS - Spectrum today announced a donation of $2,500 to Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis through the company’s national community philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants. This is the third grant totaling $8,500 presented to Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis for their work to support, serve and strengthen our community. Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis provides a variety of community support programs including Operation Backpack, where backpacks full of food are provided to students to ensure they have nutritious meals for the weekend. Spectrum officials joined leaders from Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis to celebrate the grant with a check presentation. Through an employee-led collection drive, the church collected hundreds of school supply items to donate as students head back to class. “Through Spectrum Employee Community Grants, we’re proud to provide support to vital

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ALTON - Starting today and continuing through Monday, August 15, all 112 Schnucks stores across the Midwest will host a “Shop Out Hunger” food drive to support food pantries, homeless shelters, and transition houses in every community Schnucks serves. Those wishing to donate should look for collection volunteers or a donation bin at the front of each store. The most requested non-perishable items include: Canned Goods Cereals Pasta Peanut Butter Schnucks is committed to helping communities thrive, and as a champion for reducing hunger, the company annually donates more than $13 million in food to pantries that help those in need.

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, August 9, at 5:15 p.m. This is an open meeting and will be streamed live on Zoom. The purpose of the meeting includes: Hire of new GCHS Assistant Principal Hire of new GCHS Special Education Teacher School handbook approval Staff Resignations Extracurricular resignations and extracurricular assignments LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82513579194?pwd=aDVJMENNK25RS0VaR050S3hzTGNqZz09 Meeting ID: 825 1357 9194 Passcode: 185934 For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, today announced his support of a joint effort by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to revise and strengthen regulations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The CRA is a critical civil rights law enacted by Congress to prevent racially-discriminatory redlining in housing, and encourage banks to help meet the credit needs of their entire communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and individuals. In a comment letter , Raoul and the coalition express support for the federal agencies’ proposed rule, and urge them to go even further in implementing reforms to help tackle persistent racial and economic disparities exacerbated by COVID-19. “Everyone deserves access to housing. As people continue to feel the financial impact of the pandemic, it is more important than eve

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WEST FRANKFORT, IL. – Centerstone, a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, will host hiring events on August 9 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at four Centerstone locations. Participants are asked to register before 8:30 a.m. on August 9 at indeedhi.re/3BFhRG4. For the event, job seekers should dress casually and bring their most current resume and, if they intend to apply for a clinical role, their transcripts. The hiring events will take place at the following Centerstone facilities: 2615 Edwards, Alton - group room 800 N Main, Anna - conference room 2311 S Illinois, Carbondale - conference room 902 W Main, West Frankfort - conference room Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, Centerstone offers rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in

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NEW ORLEANS, LA. — Formerly of Illinois and a 2020 candidate for the state’s 8th congressional district, W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson has qualified for placement on the ballot by the Office of the Secretary of State of Louisiana. The candidate was detained for an extraordinarily lengthy amount of time at the Archives building in Baton Rouge, during which bureaucrats scrambled to apologize for stately incompetence. Yet the form of payment impressed upon the candidate to the point of distraction. “Cash is king in this lousy state,” La Fontaine insists. “I would have preferred to pay in twenty dollar bills, so that I might have further mocked the cultural fawning upon Andrew Jackson, but my speed these days requires a certain plasticity, and wads of cash tend to adhere a filthiness better suited to craven politicians, such as several of my opponents.” When asked to be specific, La Fontaine only signals b

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ALTON - Tab’s Cafe seems to be a new business destined for success in the Downtown Alton area. Tab’s will open soon at 400 State St. in Alton, in a building that was previously a barber shop and shoe store. Tabitha Craig plans to bring life to the establishment that has sat vacant for a period of time. Tabitha recently spoke about her new venture at a What's Up Downtown segment at the Riverbender Building in Downtown Alton. Tabitha said it has been her dream to have her own restaurant since she was a young girl. “My husband was in the military police in Hagerstown, Maryland, that is how we met,” she said. “When we came back to where he was in the St. Louis area, we started going to church in Alton and just fell in love with it. I really wanted to open a restaurant. I just give glory and praise to God that I love feeding people.” Tabitha grew up in a small town in West Virginia and said Alton reminds her of her original home. Tabitha then laughe

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The American Red Cross provided shelter Saturday night for 17 people who were impacted by recent flooding in the St. Louis area. Since first opening shelters in the metro starting on Tuesday, July 26, the Red Cross has provided for a total of 249 overnight stays. One shelter remains open at St. Vincent Community Center, 7335 St. Charles Rock Rd., St. Louis, MO., 63133. The Red Cross in partnership with local and state disaster assistance organizations and the State of Missouri Emergency Management will provide services at three additional Multi-Agency Resource Center dates starting Tuesday, August 9 for those impacted by recent flooding. These centers (MARCs) are “one-stop shops” for people needing assistance to recover from flooding. Three Additional MARC Dates: Days: Tues., Aug. 9, Wed., Aug. 10, and Thurs., Aug. 11 Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Location: Friendly Temple, 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., St. Louis, MO 63130 Who: Services

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MADISON COUNTY - Johna Murphy and Skylar Touchette seem to be perfect choices for this year’s Miss Madison County Fair Pageant queen and runner-up. Skylar also was Miss Heart of Heirtlieb and the People’s Choice. Murphy, of Troy, was so "thrilled" to win the Miss Madison County Fair Pageant. “I was surprised; I am over the moon to win,” she said. This is my second pageant. I would like people to know they are more than welcome to invite me to any event, and I will try to be there.” Skylar was equally excited to walk out with three awards. She said she is a small-town girl from Edwardsville, and she was also thrilled with the honors. “All the fellow contestants were so nice and loving to me,” she said. Both girls said the Miss Madison County Pageant was a wonderful experience, and they encouraged others in the county to enter next year.

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HARDIN - At 7:20 p.m. on July 29, 2022, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Park Street near North County Road, Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation, the driver, Gabriel S. Powell, age 47, of Alton, was arrested on the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine (Over 5 Grams). Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. Powell was arrested without incident and lodged in the Jersey County Jail. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ICRCC) today announced the removal of one silver carp from Lake Calumet in the Chicago Area Waterway System. Lake Calumet is approximately seven miles from Lake Michigan. The fish was captured Thursday by gill netting and electro-fishing crews from IDNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following a reported sighting of an invasive carp by a member of the public earlier this week. The silver carp was 38.3 inches in length and weighed approximately 22 pounds. The silver carp capture has triggered a response effort in the area of the captured fish to determine whether additional invasive carp could be present. It is important to note that the capture of this silver carp does not indicate that a reproducing population of bighead and silver carp exists above the electric dispersal barriers or within the Great Lakes. This is the third time a bighead or silver carp has

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CARLINVILLE - The Carlinville Public Library has received a major grant to cover the cost of some overdue physical upgrades. The library has been awarded funding through the Illinois State Library’s Live and Learn Construction Grant Program. The program, which is funded by an annual appropriation by the state legislature, helps public libraries with construction costs in their physical facilities. The Live and Learn program was established in 1993, and has been one of the most popular grant offerings by the Illinois State Library ever since. The Carlinville library received money through the mini-grant section of Live and Learn, which was available to libraries with limited funds. Local matching funds are not required. Live and Learn funds may be spent for various interior and exterior physical improvements in existing library buildings. The grants are overseen by Secretary of State Jesse White who, by law, also serves as State Librarian. During his six terms in office,

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