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ST. LOUIS, MO. — O'Fallon Band Director Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds has a significant reason to celebrate as she heads into the 2024-2025 school year. Prior to a recent concert at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, legendary singer and songwriter Barry Manilow presented her with a $10,000 donation. This honor is part of the Manilow Teacher Award, recognizing her contributions to music education. Dr. Gustafson-Hinds' O'Fallon Marching Band also finished with a strong summer and is anticipating a big year ahead. Half of the Manilow $10,000 grant goes directly to high school band musical instruments and the other half to Gustafson-Hinds. O'Fallon Township High School lauded her achievement, stating, "Congratulations to Dr. G., who was selected for the Manilow Teacher Award! This is a special recognition from legendary singer and songwriter Barry Manilow." The donation is part of the broader Manilow Music Project, which aims to support music education programs across the nation.

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Even before some 19,000 St. Louis Public Schools students started the 2024-25 school year yesterday, questions have swirled about the district’s leadership, its financial stability, and its capacity to get students to and from school. STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley discusses the challenges facing the district.

Let the kids run wild–but stay safe–at these parks with enclosed play structures.

The bank has found a new home at 175 Carondelet Plaza in the Shoppes at the Crescent.

BETHALTO - As the school year begins, Meadowbrook Intermediate School fourth and fifth graders are experimenting with departmentalized classrooms. This model means that students’ days are divided between two classrooms. They work with one teacher for science and math and another teacher for language arts and social studies. Shelby Norris, the new principal at Meadowbrook, explained that the goal is to provide more comprehensive instruction and help students prepare for middle school. “What an opportunity, right? We’re all about what opportunities we can provide for kiddos, and we’re really excited about that,” she said. “Plus, it helps with that transition to middle school. They’re going to be moving between six classes, so if we can start that planning and preparation a little bit earlier for that smooth transition and success in the middle school, why not? Why not give them this opportunity when we can provide it?” As part of

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BETHALTO - A Bethalto man is facing multiple felonies after he allegedly admitted to stabbing his dog repeatedly. Nikolas G. Duley, 25, of Bethalto, was charged with animal torture, a Class 3 felony, and aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class 4 felony. Descriptions of the charges state that he “repeatedly stabbed a boxer-type dog in the neck and rib cage with a knife, inflicting pain on the animal." On Aug. 8, 2024, Duley was reportedly seen with lacerations on his hands at Alton Memorial Hospital, where he indicated to nearby security officers “that he had killed his dog,” according to a petition to deny his pretrial release. “Officers went to his apartment, finding a dog deceased from multiple stab wounds to the ribs and neck,” the petition states. “The animal was left on the couch, with blood throughout the apartment.” The petition concluded by adding Duley “has been involuntarily committed in the past, and shows signs of

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(The Center Square) – As the border crisis continues, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security to learn how many foreign nationals the Biden-Harris administration is flying from the border to Missouri. He’s…

Police said the officer told the man to drop a knife he was holding multiple times. It is unclear if the man, whose ID was from Honduras, spoke English.

ALTON - After a years-long series of abusive incidents, an Alton couple faces several counts of battery against children and weapon-related charges. Anthony L. Glen, 55, and Jazmin S. Keyhea, 36, both of Alton, were both charged with aggravated domestic battery (both Class 2 felonies), with each separately facing additional charges. Keyhea faces an additional Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery, as well as one count of possession of a firearm with no valid Firearm Owners’ Identification (FOID) card (a Class A misdemeanor). Glen was additionally charged with unlawful use or possession of weapons by a felon, his second or subsequent such offense and a Class 2 felony, as well as one count of domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). The two aggravated domestic battery charges against Keyhea concern two incidents from years prior. She allegedly “beat” a 16-year-old family or household member “with an extension cord, leaving a raised scar”

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IS THE MAPLEWOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT’S GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? By Rob Birenbaum Is the proverbial glass that represents downtown Maplewood’s business climate half empty or half full? It would be disingenuous to say that there haven’t been some spills lately, but we had avoided issues like these for a long time while they […]

ALTON - AP Cigar will host its first “AP After-Hours at Mac’s Downtown” event next week. On the last Thursday of every month, AP Cigar will take over the patio at Mac’s Downtown for a night of cigars, free appetizers and conversation. The first AP After-Hours event is scheduled for 6:30–9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, and AP Cigar owner Mike Weller couldn’t be more excited to share his love of cigars with the Alton community. “Name a better patio to enjoy cigars on,” Weller said. “It’s such a beautiful thing. It’s really not so much about cigars, but it’s supposed to be elevating what you’re already doing. If it’s a conversation with somebody new or somebody that you’ve known your whole lifetime, that’s what it’s about. It’s just elevating that experience.” Located at 202 State Street in downtown Alton, AP Cigar sells premium hand-rolled cigars from around

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The new owner of the St. Louis family favorite plans to build upon the legacy of the previous generation of the business, while also pulling in inspiration from another cherished, now-shuttered local kids’ boutique.

A previous Our Daily Show! interview dedicated to Staunton's Rich Henry with host C.J. Nasello. STAUNTON — Route 66 has lost a beloved figure with the death of Rich Henry, the operator of the renowned Henry's Rabbit Ranch. Henry, who was known for his unique blend of Volkswagen Rabbits and his affection for the animal namesake, died suddenly on Friday, according to local sources and Route 66 enthusiasts. Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, also known as Henry’s Ra66it Ranch, has been a popular stop for Mother Road travelers for nearly 30 years. Located on a historic alignment of Route 66 on the southeast side of Staunton, Illinois, the ranch has attracted visitors from around the globe. Henry's Facebook page indicates he graduated from high school in 1965. Tributes from friends and visitors began pouring in on social media following the news of his death. Cheryl Eichar Jett, a fellow Route 66 enthusiast, reflected on Henry's contributions to the community. "Sad news from

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Swim lessons and adult supervision are crucial to avoid tragedies in the pool. After decades of decline, drowning deaths are on the rise in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over 4,500 people died each year from drowning from 2020-2022, reported in the CDC’s Vital Signs study . The study shows drowning to be the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4. The research points out that 55% of American adults have never taken a swimming lesson, and that drowning death rates for Black people were 28% higher in 2021 than 2019. Jon Gehlbach, MD, is the medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Unit at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. He says swim lessons and adult supervision are two of the most important things for kids getting in the water. “The best thing we can do to keep kids safe around the water is getting them comfortable with swim lessons. A common misconception among young,

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(The Center Square) – A coalition of states led by Kansas has sued the Biden-Harris administration to block the federal government from providing free health care through the taxpayer-funded Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, to foreign nationals in…

ST. LOUIS COUNTY – Detectives from the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating the death of a teenage male in the 300 block of Goetz Avenue. The incident has been classified as suspicious. When officers from the South County Precinct responded to a report of a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, they discovered a teenage male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is currently ongoing, and authorities are working to gather more information. No further details have been released at this time. Residents with any information regarding the incident are encouraged to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Those wishing to remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward can reach out to CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

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GODFREY – This fall, The Nature Institute (TNI) is joining Monarch Watch, a citizen science initiative aimed at aiding scientists in understanding the migration patterns of monarch butterflies. The Monarch Watch Tagging Program, established in 1992, focuses on marking and recapturing monarchs to study their fall migration dynamics. On September 10, 2024, TNI staff will be at Heartland Prairie, located across from Gordon Moore Park, at 5:30 p.m. to facilitate this project. They will provide butterfly nets and offer training on how to safely catch the butterflies. Once tagged, participants will release the monarchs to continue their journey. "This program is free for TNI Members and $10 for non-members," TNI stated. The organization encourages participants to register in advance to ensure there is sufficient equipment available. "The Monarch Watch Tagging Program was initiated in 1992 to help understand the dynamics of the monarch's spectacular fall migration through mark and

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Wednesday is Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. Overdose deaths from drugs overall have declined slightly for the 1st time in 5 years…3% nationwide according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, and the MO Dept of Health and Senior Services is reporting that MO has seen a bigger decrease of 12% between 2022 and 2023.…

The post Fentanyl Awareness Day appeared first on The Big 550 KTRS.

The Democratic National Convention heads into its second day Tuesday. Former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC, a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obama’s vice president. Biden won’t be in the hall to see his former running…

The post The Latest: Day 2 of the DNC will feature the Obamas and second gentleman Doug Emhoff appeared first on The Big 550 KTRS.

HARDIN - Installation of a sodium permanganate chemical feed system at Illinois American Water’s water treatment plant in the Village of Hardin was completed this summer. The sodium permanganate feed system has been operating successfully for the past month. Early indications show a noticeable improvement in the historic aesthetic discoloration issues throughout the community’s water system. The installation of the sodium permanganate feed system is an important step to strategically address aesthetic issues in the Hardin community’s water system. Sodium permanganate is a chemical oxidant commonly used in community water treatment systems to control taste, odors, biological growth, zebra mussels, and to remove manganese and iron. It allows for better control of the natural iron and manganese levels that are present in the raw groundwater. Removing iron and manganese will help address the water’s historic aesthetic issues, including taste and appearance which

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