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Wary of ladders and wanting a professional look, homeowners pay light installers to give their house a festive glow.

Thanksgiving is a special time at the Free Little Pantry and Library, which is a neighborhood staple for ... well, anyone who wants to stop by.

WOOD RIVER - This Thanksgiving, one of the many things Riverbend residents have to be thankful for are the countless volunteers who make our communities cleaner, better places to live. Rusty Wheat, a one-man cleanup crew and outspoken advocate against roadway litter, is one of those volunteers taking action and making a difference in his community. Wheat has a well-documented history of not only advocating for a cleaner community, but taking action to make it happen. In 2023, he told the Madison County Board to “ do a better job ” regulating garbage trucks with loose netting that were spilling trash along county highways towards the Roxana landfill. Frustrated by the lack of local government action, he took matters into his own hands and formed the “Chain Gang,” the name of his not-for-profit charter under the Illinois Adopt-A-Highway code. In a recent Letter to the Editor , Wheat said the name refers to his “ties to the community,”

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GODFREY - Students at Evangelical School recently enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal together. Along with the parent group EPIC, students helped prepare a Thanksgiving feast to share last week. Students made side dishes in the days leading up to the meal, and then all 350 students ate together in the gym on Nov. 20, 2024. “It embodies a sense of community,” said Jamie Milligan, who chairs the event with EPIC. “We’re a small community here. It's important to develop those relationships across the age timeline. I think it’s important for the older kids and the younger kids to interact.” Middle school students were paired with kindergarteners and pre-schoolers to help the younger kids decorate placemats and collect their meals. Many students wore hand-made turkey hats and enjoyed sampling the food they prepared. Principal Amanda Macias noted that the tradition is a fun way to bring the school community together. She said the Student Council also

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JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville’s tenth annual Downtown Country Christmas Festival promises a fun day for families this weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, kids of all ages and their loved ones can come out to City Center Park in Jerseyville. The festivities kick off at 1 p.m., and Santa Claus will be arriving by helicopter at 1:30 p.m. Kids can enjoy a movie, bounce houses, activities and Elf School, all for free. The event will conclude with a City of Jerseyville tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. and a parade to Dolan Park at 5:30 p.m. “It’s going to be great,” said organizer Michael Ward. “Honestly, it’s good to see everybody enjoying themselves and getting out in Jerseyville. There’s a lot going on that day.” Ward said that the Downtown Country Christmas Festival is often compared to a Hallmark movie. The entire community comes out to kick off the holiday season. The Stadium Theater will be showing “The Polar Express”

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ALTON - Prerak Patel, owner of Milton Food and Liquor in Alton, provided a meaningful Thanksgiving contribution to each Alton Police Department and Fire Department member. The Alton Police Department expressed gratitude this holiday season for Patel's generous contribution and the generosity of local business owners who contributed to their festive celebrations. The initiative was announced by the Alton Police Department, highlighting Patel's significant contribution as a gesture of appreciation for the hard work of local law enforcement and fire personnel. In addition to Patel's generosity, the department also acknowledged Mike Schwegel and Schwegel's Market for their role in facilitating the smooth pickup of the turkeys. "This kindness and community spirit are truly appreciated and mean so much to all of us," the department stated in their announcement. The collaboration reflects a commitment to fostering community relationships and supporting those who serve the public.

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CHICAGO – Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is reminding Illinois residents to exercise caution when shopping both online and in person to avoid fraud and scams. “Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days of the year, but it is important that shoppers not inadvertently become victims of scams or purchase unsafe products in their rush to chase down the best deal,” Raoul said. “My office provides advice and free resources to help avoid scams while shopping for loved ones. I encourage all Illinois residents to visit my office’s website for free tips to a safe holiday shopping season.” Attorney General Raoul also encouraged shoppers to take steps to protect themselves from scams, such as those involving drained gift cards. Scammers steal gift cards to copy the card number and then put the cards back on the shelf. Once the card has been purchased and a consumer’s funds are loaded o

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies throughout the state are ramping up patrols and reminding the public to buckle up and drive sober this Thanksgiving. Hundreds of enforcement zones and other enforcement patrols will be looking for seat belt law violators and impaired drivers through Dec. 2. “Buckling your seat belt is the law in Illinois – and your best defense if you’re in a crash,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “If you think you might drink or use drugs, plan to designate a sober driver so your and everyone else’s Thanksgiving holiday is safe and filled with memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.” During the Thanksgiving holiday period from Nov. 22-26 in Illinois last year, IDOT reported 2,842 crashes, including 16 people killed in 16 crashes, six of which involved alcohol. “The

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding Illinoisans to celebrate the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday safely by taking precautions to protect everyone from foodborne illnesses as well as uninvited guests - those seasonal viruses that may be circulating. Hosts can protect their guests by following basic food safety steps, including keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and properly thawing frozen turkeys before roasting them. “Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “I love the food, spending time with family and friends, and the football. As we gather in community this week, I want to remind everybody, and especially those preparing food, that we can prevent unwanted illnesses by following proven food safety tips. Two of the most important are: thoroughly thaw frozen turkeys in the fridge and make sure the turkey and stuffing are cooked to a safe temperature of 165° Fahrenheit.”

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WOOD RIVER - During this Thanksgiving holiday time, Wood River residents are saluting a cherished man who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Jacob Miller, a World War II veteran in the U.S. Army, was honored recently at the Wood River City Council meeting. To celebrate a century of life and service to his community, Wood River resident Jacob Miller was honored this week as Mayor Tom Stalcup recently proclaimed Nov. 18, 2024 “Jacob Miller Day.” “I have known him practically all my life,” Stalcup said of Miller. “He raised his family in Wood River, he came from Arkansas. All the kids were born in Wood River - they had two boys and a girl, and Jacob’s wife was a cook at Roxana High for forever. Really, really nice family.” The official proclamation describes Miller as “an individual whose journey has inspired and touched the lives of family, friends, and community.” “Jacob has witnessed a century of change

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Are retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target extending their return windows? Here's what we found.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Two men were left injured after an overnight crash on Highway 30 early Thursday morning. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) crash report, the incident occurred a little after 2 a.m. on Highway 30, east of Northwest Boulevard, involving a Nissan Sentra and Mazda 3. Officials say the [...]

As dinner plates get filled this holiday season, it’s important to decide what to, and what not to add to your meal. Health experts say moderation is key. “Make sure you choose a little bit of everything you want and savor those foods you enjoy. Don’t fill your plate with foods you don’t like to eat,” says OSF HealthCare registered dietitian Sara Umphfleet. “When referring to moderation, also think about alcohol. It’s typically one drink for women and two drinks for men is the definition of moderation. It’s important that if you’re going to have alcohol, to have a glass of water every time you have a drink, because alcohol can really dehydrate you.” Surrounded by holiday staples like turkey, casseroles, stuffing and more, it’s an easy time to overeat and break any healthy eating habits. Umphfleet shares some ways you can combat this. “If you know it’s going to be some time after breakfast before you have

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EDWARDSVILLE - A team of 26 student entrepreneurs is bringing a family-friendly event to Edwardsville to kick off the holiday season and raise seed money for their own business ventures. Students in the Edwardsville CEO program have been hard at work planning their first-semester fundraising event. “ Jumpstart To Joy - Winter Wonderland Edition ” is coming up soon on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the YMCA Meyer Center in Edwardsville. Tickets are $10 each (plus service fees) and can be purchased online here . While tickets will also be available at the door, the price will increase to $15 each. Ticket holders will gain access to the following activities at no additional cost: Bounce Houses & Obstacles Courses Roller Skating Meet and Greet with Santa & Mrs. Claus Meet and Greet with Princesses ( Brittain's Princess Parties ) Face Painting ( Glitter Faces ) Arts & Crafts Jumbo Games Scavenger Hunt Raffle Items The Edwardsville

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Karen Uhlenhuth always has a few gallons of water in the back of her Prius and an eye toward the side of the road. When she sees one of the 80 or so saplings she recently planted looking thirsty, she’ll pull over and give it a drink. “The real test is the first summer,” she […]

ST. LOUIS - Rain has exited to the east, and it'll be a chilly day on Thanksgiving Thursday. Clouds will mix with the sun, and highs struggle to make it to 40 F. Overnight will be clear and cold as lows drop down into the 20s. Friday will be even colder, with highs in the [...]

I am certainly looking forward to a fine and scrumptious dinner, but I will also have a hope that this Thanksgiving will have brought one family truly together.

This year, I hit the ground shopping, from Webster Groves to the Delmar Maker District, in search of that special something for your most creative and inspiring friend and family members.