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Lawmakers question child welfare officials on recent problems

3 years 5 months ago
The Center Square – The first of several hearings was held Friday on the problems plaguing the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. State Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Oak Park, said the subject matter hearing would be held in the House Appropriations-Human Services Committee amid reported department shortcomings so lawmakers could “form holistic, long-term solutions.” Some lawmakers during the virtual hearing Friday said issues like children being kept in psychiatric facilities rather than being with families is alarming. The latest is the case of a 13-year-old boy who was held in emergency custody for months despite a judge’s order to move him to a more appropriate setting. Earlier this month, a Cook County judge cited DCFS Director Marc Smith for contempt for failing to relocate the boy to a therapeutic foster home. Now there is word that a particular emergency housing facility was the subject of 161 service calls to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s

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Madison County Teenager Receives Recognition As Entrepreneur

3 years 5 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE —Seventeen-year-old Aria Burnside is able to able to list “small business owner” and “entrepreneur” on her resume and starting last week she can call herself “ Madison County Made .” When the Edwardsville teen started baking two years ago, the furthest thing from her mind was opening a bakery. At the time, Burnside was struggling in high school, which led her mother, Charmian Aaron, to enroll her in homeschool classes online. Not only did Burnside’s grades improve, but she discovered a new talent — baking. “After I started home-school, I was always at home, so I just started baking,” Burnside said. “When my mom got home from work, I would be like, ‘Here, taste this.’ I started giving it to people at my church, and they encouraged me to start selling it.” Burnside’s mother helped launch the business — Aria’s Cookies & Confections — which began selling goods

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Local Wood River Student Makes Minnesota State Mankato 2021 Fall Semester Dean's List

3 years 5 months ago
MANKATO - The Academic High Honor and Honor lists (Dean's lists) for the past fall semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato have been announced by interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Brian Martensen, and Delaney O'Donnell of Wood River, IL, has been named to the Honor List. Among 3,6,55 students, a total of 1,054 students qualified for the High Honor List by achieving a 4.0 straight "A" average, while 2.601 students earned a 3.5 to 3.99 average to qualify for the Honor List. To qualify for academic honors, undergraduate students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours for the semester. For additional information, please visit theri website. Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,546 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.

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Illinois State Police Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting In Peoria

3 years 5 months ago
PEORIA - Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 4 was requested by the Peoria Police Department to investigate an officer-involved shooting involving Peoria Police Officers. The incident occurred at 11:59 p.m. on January 30, 2022, at a location in the 1200 block of East McClure Street in Peoria, IL. Preliminary information indicates the officers were responding to a call of a suspicious person armed with a gun. When the officers arrived at the location, the officers made contact with a male subject who subsequently fled the scene. A foot pursuit ensued and there was an exchange of gunfire between the subject and the officers. No officers were struck by gunfire during the incident. The Illinois State Police was requested by the Peoria Police Department to investigate the use of force incident which occurred in Illinois. No additional information will be released at this time by ISP Zone 4. ISP Zone 4 Investigations is leading this open and on-goin

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Riverbend Axe Throwing Aims for Jerseyville Opening in February

3 years 5 months ago
JERSEYVILLE - Riverbend Axe Throwing will open its second location in mid-to-late February at 806 Tri-Point Lane in Jerseyville, along Route 16 across from Farm & Home. The new location will feature 11 axe throwing targets: four standard lanes with two targets per lane, and one triple lane with three targets for larger parties and events. It will also feature a bar serving local and domestic bottled and canned alcoholic beverages, pool and foosball tables, two dart boards (owner Dan Brynildsen said a dart league will be starting soon), and an outdoor area for games and food trucks. Brynildsen said he’s always had his eye on expanding, but a few things made him choose Jerseyville. “Looking at where our clientele is coming from, we saw that a lot of them are coming from up North, like Jerseyville and even further north,” Brynildsen said, adding that several Riverbend Axe Throwing League members are also from Jerseyville. “This summer, we had our mobile

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Nelson Elementary Reading Specialist Cari Wencewicz Helps Her Students "Unlock The Reading Code"

3 years 5 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - As a first grade teacher, Cari Wencewicz quickly learned that her favorite part of the day was sitting at the reading table working with small groups of students to become better readers. It was that love of figuring out what they were struggling with and helping them grow that drew her to being a reading specialist. Wencewicz is in her 17th year of teaching, 16 of which have been in District #7. After spending eight years teaching first grade, she is in her ninth year as a K-2nd reading specialist. “Being a reading specialist allows me to focus all of my energy on one area,” she said. “I get to really zoom in on the reading process and find what works and doesn’t work for each student.” Wencewicz said her favorite thing about being a reading specialist is that is incredibly rewarding. “To know that I have helped hundreds of children unlock the reading code and go on to be successful students and adults is pretty wonderful.

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Steven & Lauren's Love Story

3 years 5 months ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Steven and Lauren from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: December 9, 2020 Briefly Describe First Date: St Louis Aquarium after he flew here from Los Angeles Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Watching Rams football, Eating Mexican food, Being with our kids Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always support each other. Communication is key in a happy relationship

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Celebrating Black History At The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library And Museum

3 years 5 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will mark Black History Month with “Women of the Movement” creator Marissa Jo Cerrar, historian Tamika Nunley and the debut of a new theatrical presentation. The ALPLM also has digitized a rare interview with track-and-field legend Jesse Owens and will make all six hours of audio available to the public for the first time. February also includes Lincoln’s birthday. Admission to the museum will be free for everyone on Feb. 12. “Black history is American history, and it must be celebrated all year long. But February offers a chance to put an extra spotlight on the tragedies and triumphs of African Americans,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Shutt will interview Cerrar in a special online discussion on Feb. 17. Cerrar is the creator and writer of the mini-series “Women of the Movement,” which focused on

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Mayor David & First Lady Sheila's Love Story

3 years 5 months ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Mayor David Goins and First Lady Sheila Goins of Alton Date Met/Started Dating: August 15, 1981 Briefly Describe First Date: David and I had our first official "outing" when he was home (Alton) for spring break from college. I was only a sophomore in high school. He took me to see the movie "Endless Love" at the Alton Cinema. I was a bit uncomfortable watching a LOVE movie with him, as I really wasn't feeling him in that way! lol I thought it was a bit presumptuous of him! In my mind, I thought...Endless Love? Really, dude? lol I guess he knew what the future would hold for us. Nonetheless, that was our first real date even though we were technically not dating! Date Married: June 16, 1984 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love shopping! In fact, David loves shopping just as much as I do! We have a good time while out in the stores. We also enjoy spending time with our beautiful family. We have 3 adult children and 12 grandchildren!

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