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WOOD RIVER - Those in the mood for a Chili Cookoff for the fall will have one to visit in Wood River from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, presented by Wood River Economic Development and the City of Wood River. The event will be held next to the Roundhouse at 633 N. Wood River Avenue. There will be free admission to the cookoff event with not only chili but cold drinks, live music, and awards handed out. The awards will consist of Police and Fire Bragging Rights, People’s Choice, Mayor’s Choice, City Manager’s Choice, First Place Restaurant, and First-Place Organization. There will be an abundance of children’s activities from pumpkin painting and face painting to a bounce house and much more. The Wood River Halloween Parade is set for 10:30 a.m. on that Saturday, so the Chili Cookoff is a natural second destination in Wood River that day after the parade. Kristen Burns, the marketing coordinator for the City of Wood River, said the Chili Cookoff used to

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ALTON - New asphalt is now down on Belle Street across from Mac’s and Riverbender buildings. Next week, striping for the new asphalt strip will take place. Mayer Company has done the concrete work and the asphalt and done an outstanding job, Rob Lenhardt, an owner of Mac’s, said today. Mac himself, and Rob, were both out surveying the new asphalt Thursday afternoon. Mayer Company was busy with asphalt work on Belle Street beyond Mac's area as Thursday ended. “We are glad it is over,” Rob said of the sewer repair work near his location on Belle Street.” “It has been hard on business, but in the future, with floods and more it will help all of us downtown.”

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ALTON - The Alton Boys & Girls Club has been innovative for years with fundraisers under Executive Director Al Womack. The fundraisers help the organization in its mission to assist area at-risk youth. One of the most creative and successful fund-raiser events is the annual Tennies & Ties Dinner, scheduled this time for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2022, at the Lewis and Clark Community College Commons. “This is our fourth Tennies and Ties Dinner," Womack said. “It is our largest fundraiser each year. “We haven’t had a Tennies and Ties event since 2020 when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit," Womack said. "Things have started settling down and become more relaxed, so why not throw on some tennis shoes and ties and support the Alton Boys & Girls Club? We try to give people a feel for the boys and girls who take part in our club at the dinner. Women can wear ties, or can wear a dress, although we encourage ties.” “This is also a great socializing and networkin

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GLEN CARBON - The Village of Glen Carbon is pleased to announce a renewed municipal electricity aggregation program with a new supplier, Constellation NewEnergy. The Village’s primary goal is to protect residents from the continued rise in electric supply rates. Since June, Village residents and small businesses participating in the municipal electricity aggregation program, have been receiving rates of $0.0429 cents versus the Ameren rate of $0.10628 cents. This equates to an average household savings of over $50 per month, with larger households saving considerably more. Ameren's current price to compare (PTC) as of October 1 st , 2022, through May of 2023 is $0.12236 cents. The Village, along with their consultant Good Energy LP, has secured a fixed rate of $0.1210 cents for a 22-month term starting in February of 2023, which is less than the current Utility PTC. Therefore, if the rate with Ameren continues to increase, the residents and small businesses in the Glen Carbon

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WOOD RIVER - The City of Wood River is pleased to announce they have renewed the municipal electricity aggregation program with a new supplier, Constellation NewEnergy. The City's primary goal is to protect residents from the continued rise in electric supply rates. Since June, the City's residents and small businesses participating in the municipal electricity aggregation program, have been receiving rates of $0.0429 cents versus the Ameren rate of $0.10628 cents. This equates to an average household savings of over $50 per month, with larger households saving considerably more. Ameren's current price to compare (PTC) as of October 1st, 2022, through May of 2023 is $0.12236 cents. The City along with their consultant Good Energy LP has secured a fixed rate of $0.1220 cents for a 22-month term starting in February, which is less than the current Utility PTC. Therefore, if the rate with Ameren continues to increase, the residents and small businesses in our community have the option

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department today reminded motorists of the dangers of impaired driving, particularly on Halloween when little ghouls and goblins are out in neighborhoods and on busy streets after dark. If you plan to be out celebrating, keep these fearsome warnings in mind: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drive High Get a DUI. “If you know you’re partying this Halloween, make sure you designate a sober driver to get you home safely,” said Lt. Barry Jones. “Don’t put yourself, or others, at risk by driving impaired by alcohol, marijuana, or any other impairing substance.” Each year throughout Illinois, hundreds die in impaired-driving crashes, while others face the ramifications of a DUI, including jail time, loss of license, and thousands of dollars spent on attorney’s fees, fines, and lost wages. The Edwardsville Police Department urges everyone to follow these simple tips to help keep our roads safe during Halloween:

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Office of Sustainability, along with CJD e-Cycling and the Village of Godfrey, will host a community eWaste drive from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Tolle Lane parking lot across from the college’s Godfrey Campus. Most items will be accepted for free, providing community members with a secure, Earth-friendly option for discarding used electronics. The following is a sampling of the items that will be accepted: Computers, printers, cables and peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.) Fax machines, scanners, digital converter boxes, cable receivers, satellite receivers Video game consoles, digital video disc player/recorders, portable digital music players Networking equipment, server, telecommunications, phones, cell phones, clocks, etc. VCR, stereos, and audio/video equipment (including cable/satellite) Holiday lights, metal decorations and metal furniture Electrical, cabling, communication

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MARYVILLE – National Mammography Day is recognized during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and State Senators Christopher Belt and Kris Tharp are reminding women to schedule this potentially life-saving exam. “Early detection for breast cancer is vital to patient care,” said Senator Belt (D-Swansea). “National Mammography Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month serve as a reminder for women to schedule their yearly exams, and this simple test saves lives.” Breast cancer affects more than 250,000 women and 2,400 men in the United States every year. But unfortunately, the National Cancer Institute reported an estimated 9.4 million screenings that normally would have taken place in 2020 did not occur due to the pandemic. “Mammograms are one of the best tools doctors have to screen for breast cancer,” said Senator Tharp (D-Bethalto). “I urge women to make an effort to ensure they are up-to-date on their breast screenings and to make mammogram

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CHICAGO – On October 19, 2022, at approximately 12:52 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP Trooper’s squad car on Interstate 55 southbound south of LaGrange Road in Cook County. On the above date and time, an ISP Trooper was stationary in the right lane with emergency lights activated assisting a stopped motorist. A black 2023 Land Rover Velar, traveling southbound, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the rear end of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was outside of the car at the time of the crash and there were no injuries reported as a result. The driver of the Land Rover, Yuri F. Ferreira Da Silva, 28-year-old of Hoffman Estates, IL, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and issued a citation for a violation of Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle. There have been 21 ISP Move Over Law-related crashes this year and eight Troopers

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EDWARDSVILLE - A first-place finish in an international competition highlighted a recent showing by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s Cougar Baja team. The team competed in the Baja SAE® series held Sept. 29-Oct. 2 in Green Valley, Ariz. The series consists of competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. “We placed first in the sled pull at the competition and that means a lot to everyone on the Cougar Baja team,” said Mattew Buchholz, president of the Cougar Baja team. “It feels great to have all of our hard work pay off.” Along with the 1 st place finish in sled pull, the team also succeeded in the following categories: 8 th in maneuverability 16 th in acceleration 22 nd in suspension 33 rd in endurance Buchholz, together with teammates Michael Voltz, Joshua Ford, Ethan Ditzel, Caleb Hildebrandt, Brian Smith, Gabe Dudek, Curtis Lake and Sam Churchill,

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WOOD RIVER - The William M. BeDell Achievement and Resource Center (ARC) will host its 41 st annual dance and auction on Saturday, November 5 from 7:00 to 11:00 pm. The event will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1713 Stamper Lane in Godfrey. Board member, Shirley Weidman, has organized the dance since 1980 as the primary fundraiser for the agency. Chairing the event this year are John and Kirstin Hamilton of Fosterburg. The Hamiltons have been attending the dance for 15 years. Kirstin said, “I grew up with the Wiedman family and spent time at their home. Shirley has always welcomed us to the event, and we’ve enjoyed it.” John added, “My father said the arc dance has been one of the premiere events in the community for many years. We’re happy to be a part of it.” Kirstin is a physical therapist for OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center and John is co-owner of Hamilton Fabrication and Steel, and farms with his family. Tickets to

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EAST ALTON - Volunteers are needed throughout October to help the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois and the City of Alton plant trees in Alton, Illinois. This project prioritizes the planting of native tree species in areas of Alton that currently do not have a diversity of tree species, have limited canopy cover, or have lost trees to past flooding events. “We are excited to be able to increase tree cover and access to green spaces in parks throughout Alton,” said NGRREC Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher. “This fall, students from the Swarovski Waterschool program will help care for the trees and learn about the importance of trees and green space in communities.” Tree plantings will take place on the dates at the following times and locations: Saturday, Oct. 22 10 a.m. – Northside Park Noon – Olin Park 1:30 p.m. – Hellrung Park Monday,

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ALTON - The Illinois Department of Transportation announces intermittent lane closures of the westbound lanes of IL 3 (Homer Adams Parkway) between Alton Square Mall Drive and Alby St. beginning on October 25, 2022, weather permitting. This work is needed to perform pavement repairs and is expected to be done by the end of October. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The contractor on this project is the C. E. Mahoney Co. of Swansea, Illinois. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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GRANITE CITY - In continued partnership with our transportation provider, First Student, Granite City Community Unit School District #9 is launching FirstView, a bus tracking and parent communications app for your smartphone or desktop. For instructions to install the FirstView App, please click HERE . The FirstView app allows parents to stay up-to-the-minute with the following: Live Tracking The FirstView map screen shows you the location and direction of your student’s bus, for both morning and afternoon trips. FirstView also provides caregivers with confirmation when the trip is complete. Customizable Bus Proximity Notifications With FirstView, you set up a geofence around your location and are alerted when the bus enters the geofence. The geofence size and alert times are customizable, so parents are in control of their notifications. Students should still be at their assigned bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time. Custom Alerts and Messages

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SPRINGFIELD - On October 18, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated two separate Scott’s Law Violations that occurred less than an hour apart involving injury to a trooper and two deaths. The first violation involved a traffic crash in District 12 - Effingham where an ISP Trooper received minor injuries. The second violation involved two construction workers who were fatally injured while setting out construction barrels in District 14 – near Burlington, IA. On October 18, 2022, at approximately 7:25 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic crash involving an ISP District 12 Trooper, on the ramp from U.S. Route 45 to Interstate 57 southbound in Effingham. The Trooper was on the right shoulder with emergency lights activated, parked behind a truck-tractor semi-trailer (TTST), while investigating a traffic crash. The Trooper was gathering information from the driver of the TTST involved in an earlier

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department recently received notice that they have secured over a half million in grant funding. Mayor Goins took office with the City of Alton in financial distress. The City had a deficit of approximately $3.8 million. As part of Mayor Goins’ focus on economic recovery, he asked all his department heads to seek grant opportunities. As such, Chief Pulido, Deputy Chief Ford, and the Alton Police Department applied for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, COPS Hiring Program Grant, Illinois Secretary of State Office Grant, and the Microgrant-Community Policing Development Solicitation Grant. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG program is intended to support a range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. JAG funds may be used for state and local initiatives, technical

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GODFREY - Village of Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said on Tuesday that unfortunately, electric rates are going to increase, but by staying with the electricity aggregation program, residents will still save money with lower rates than Ameren Illinois. "The most important takeaway from this press release is, in order to participate in the aggregation program, or to continue participating in the program, do nothing," he said. "The Village of Godfrey, along with over 100 other Illinois communities, participates in the electric aggregation program. Homefield Energy, which has been the energy supplier since its inception, chose not to participate in the competitive bidding process for the next period beginning at the start of 2023." On bid day, Constellation NewEnergy was locked in as the new supplier. Here’s what to expect: "Residents will receive a notice from Ameren in the next few weeks stating that all customers will return to Ameren due to the aggregation expiring, THEN, D

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EDWARDSVILLE - On Friday evening, September 23, a special fundraiser was held to benefit the Edwardsville Arts Center called an ARTini competition. The event took place at the Edwardsville Art Fair. Six local restaurants were challenged to create a unique cocktail inspired by works of art. Attendees sampled the creative drinks and voted for who should be named ARTini’s Best Cocktail 2022. “All of the drinks were amazing, but Moussalli’s Prime “Melons” drink was voted by our attendees as ARTini’s Best Cocktail 2022," Colette Poettker, one of coordinators of the event, said. "Taking inspiration from both the subject matter and the colors found in “Melons” by Daoud Corm, their drink was made with Witness Distillery vodka, compressed watermelon, lemon juice, Aquafina, simple syrup, and sesame seed garnish with a slice of fresh watermelon.” The Arts Center capped the event at 100 attendees, and it quickly sold out. The competitors were

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Juliana Barnerd of Marquette Catholic High School and Eleanor Schuler of Alton High School were honored as Students of the Month for October at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant. This is a profile on Juliana: Juliana Barnerd, the daughter of Amy and John Barnerd, is a senior at Marquette Catholic High School. She is currently the Student Body President and was Class President for her Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years. She is the President of the Marquette Fellowship Club and is also a member of the National Honor Society where she is on the tapping committee, and is a coordinator for the Sadie Hawkins Dance. Juliana is also actively involved in the Rotary International Interact Club, where she enjoys participating in community service projects such as creating Christmas boxes for families in need and raising money for victims of the recent hurricane. Juliana is also a member of the Breast Cancer Awareness Club and Campus

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Eleanor Schuler of Alton High School and Juliana Barnerd of Marquette Catholic High School are the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club October Students of the Month. Eleanor is the daughter of Ryan and Diana Schuler, and is a senior at Alton High School. Her academic awards include The President’s Award, Junior Marshall at the 2022 graduation, High Honor Roll all four years, and Honor Roll at Lewis and Clark Community College. She is ranked #2 in her class with a 4.707 GPA. Eleanor's extracurricular activities are varsity swimmer, her freshman and sophomore year, varsity tennis player in her junior and senior years, All-Conference and Academic All-Conference in tennis as a junior, and Co-Team Captain of the Alton High Tennis Team during her senior year. She was elected junior class vice president and served as vice president of the student council. She is a member of the Alton High Math Team, Biology Club, French Club, Minority Excellence Club, Physics Club, National Honor Society,

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