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Collinsville High Graduate Billy Tracy Earns April Officer of the Month Award

3 months 1 week ago
COLLINSVILLE — A Collinsville High graduate has made a positive name for himself in the community as a Collinsville Police officer. The Collinsville Police Department has named Officer Billy Tracy as Officer of the Month for April 2025. A 2013 graduate of Collinsville High School, Officer Tracy joined the department in 2021. According to the Collinsville Police Department, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to identifying and apprehending individuals involved in criminal activity within the community. “We thank Officer Tracy for his dedication to our community,” the Collinsville Police Department said in a statement.

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Alton Pediatrician Dr. Kyriazes Combines Medical Expertise With Local Community Involvement

3 months 1 week ago
ALTON — Dr. Jenna M. Kyriazes has joined Pediatric Healthcare Unlimited in Alton as a new pediatrician, bringing with her a strong commitment to medicine and community involvement. Dr. Kathie R. Wuellner, MD, FAAP, praised Dr. Kyriazes for her active engagement in the local area and her work in the practice. Dr. Wuellner said, “Dr. Jenna is a wonderful addition to our group of providers here at Pediatric Healthcare Unlimited; in addition, she has already become active in the Alton community, which speaks to her commitment to being part of the Alton area." Dr. Kyriazes, who has been with the practice for just over three months, moved to Alton last summer with her husband, Jonathan Lin. She has since become involved with a local church and other community groups. Reflecting on her career choice, she said, “I started wanting to do this at a really young age. There are home videos of me at age 3 saying I was going to be a pediatrician. "I have terrible allergies,

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June Is Pet Preparedness Month

3 months 1 week ago
SPRINGFIELD – It’s not just two-legged loved ones who need a disaster preparedness plan. Four-legged, no-legged, and other pets will need assistance if there is an emergency. A survey by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals indicated that while 83 percent of pet owners live in an area impacted by disasters, fewer than half have a preparedness plan. “Just like for humans, we need to be prepared for disasters on behalf of our pets,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “Not only do we need to think through all the items necessary to care for pets when we are at home, we need a plan in case we are not home and need arrangements for care.” For example, a recent photo of you and your pet will be key if you are separated and want to be reunited. Rescuers will want proof that your pet belongs to you. More pet preparedness tips: Create

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St. Clair County Rolls Out New Interactive Online Map Of Its MetroBikeLink System

3 months 1 week ago
BELLEVILLE - In advance of National Trails Day on June 7, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) is rolling out a new, interactive online map of its MetroBikeLink System, which consists of more than 39 miles of interconnecting trails and bike paths in St. Clair County that connect to six Metro Transit Centers. The new map – available at www.scctd.org – features each of SCCTD’s trails. When users select a trail, it displays trail-specific information, including the trail name, its length in miles and the surface type. The map also includes pop-ups indicating the location of available parking, emergency call boxes, bridges, trail signage and photos of most. The digital map display is highly customizable. Users can change the basemap to highlight different features such as day and night views, topography, street names and more. Navigation features also include zoom, return to original view, locate and re-orient. Optional layers, such as restroom locations,

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Granite City High School Announces 2025 Spring Semester Honor Roll

3 months 1 week ago
GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School Principal Tim McChristian announced that 568 students earned Honor Roll accolades for the second semester of the 2024-25 school year. Students who obtained a grade point average of 5.0 or higher during the first semester earned high honors, while students with a 4.2-4.999 GPA with no D earned was named to the honor roll. All GPAs are based on the current semester GPA (not cumulative). To view the complete list of honorees, click below: HIGH HONOR ROLL - 230 honorees HONOR ROLL - 338 honorees For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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Mississippi Hippie and Mom Said No Shops are Favorites for Local "Weirdos"

3 months 1 week ago
ALTON - Local stores Mississippi Hippie and Mom Said No are Alton staples for the “weirdos.” Or so says owner Fred Pollard, who means it affectionately. Pollard opened Mom Said No, a gift shop that specializes in toys and horror collectibles, in 2019, then purchased Mississippi Hippie and its boho clothing inventory in 2020. Located at 300 East Broadway in Alton, the stores have grown in the past year, and Pollard is pleased to see how the local business community has welcomed him. “Our block is — I always say that it’s where the weirdos like to hang out. And I mean that in the best possible way, because that’s our counterculture strip,” Pollard said. “The guideline that I go by when I’m shopping with a supplier for inventory for the shop, whether it’s clothing or toys or collectibles or gifts or whatever, I just kind of keep in mind, ‘Okay, is this something that I’m going to see at Target or Walmart?’

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