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National Weather Service And Jersey County Emergency Management Agency Partner To Offer Storm Spotting Classes

2 years 10 months ago
JERSEYVILLE - Do you have an interest in weather and helping your community? Well, we have an excellent opportunity for you! The National Weather Service in St. Louis, in coordination with Jersey County Emergency Management Agency, is offering storm spotter classes at Jersey Community High School on February 6th at 6:30 PM. Classes usually take approximately two hours and cover the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure, the features to look for, and where to find them. They will also cover what, when, and how to report information, as well as basic severe weather safety. If you would like to assist your local community by becoming a volunteer storm spotter and reporting severe weather to the National Weather Service, or if you simply want to learn more about severe weather, consider attending these informative classes! More information can be found at https://arcg.is/1y0G1m .

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Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance Celebrates More Than $1.5 Billion In Economic Development Opportunities Coming To Region

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA) is celebrating a record year in terms of advancing economic development and partnership opportunities across the region. SSGA was formed five years ago with the goal of promoting and pursuing economic development efforts in Springfield and Sangamon County. CEO Ryan McCrady said SSGA has played an instrumental role in pushing forward several significant community projects including the Land of Lincoln Energy Center (LLEC), which has been issued its final construction permit and Double Black Diamond Solar, which will be the largest solar development in Illinois and recently broke ground. In addition, SSGA supported efforts for the SCHEELS Sports Park at Legacy Pointe and the University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center. SSGA also partnered with the City of Springfield to fund the phase 2 environmental study of the Pillsbury Mills Site, an 18-acre development site in Springfield’s north end which has allowed th

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Alton Little Theater Bringing SINATRA: LAST CALL To Stage This February

2 years 10 months ago
ALTON - Alton Little Theater's Artistic Director, Kevin Frakes, has something special planned in early February that should delight everyone who has ever admired the many, many songs that Frank Sinatra made famous! Yes, Kevin & a talented company of performers will produce SINTRA: LAST CALL on February 10th and 11th at 7:30 pm; Sunday, February 12th at 2 pm. CNB Bank is the Corporate Sponsor for the event and the Theater is going all out to celebrate Kevin's Farewell Concert and tribute to the "crooner" he admires so much. Indeed, Kevin has produced six concerts in the last nine years, honoring the works of Kenny Rogers, Barry Manilow, a Family Christmas Concert, and three tributes to the 400+ songs in Frank Sintra's catalog. Each prior concert focused on a particular era of Frank's life with Big Band sounds, famous duets, and stories --and after digging into research and listening to so many songs, Kevin decided to bring the "love" to the ALT stage. Sinatra was a " Ladies

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Beatle Bob Says His Concert Streak Is Coming to an End After 27-Year Run

2 years 10 months ago
For the first time in 27 years and 9,439 days (minus the pandemic), Beatle Bob will not dance at a concert tonight. The St. Louis native, whose real name is Robert Matonis, announced on Sunday evening through social media that he has been living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as ALS, since February 2022.
Benjamin Simon

L&C To Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. And His Legacy On Jan. 26

2 years 10 months ago
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s campus and greater communities are invited to join together for a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. next week. The celebration, to be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Trimpe Ahlemeyer Atrium (TR 141), will include a keynote address by Alton's First Lady, Rev. Sheila Goins, live music by Blancas (led by L&C's own Brenda Lancaster), readings by L&C students, and free refreshments at the conclusion of the event. Rev. Goins’ address will focus on financial literacy. A native Altonian, Rev. Goins began her career as a banker in 1986 – first, as a part-time teller, then she worked her way up to management. She was the first African American woman to be hired as the branch manager of a financial institution within the Riverbend community. “I am honored to be the keynote speaker for the annual MLK event for Lewis and Clark Community College,” she said. “My career has awarded me the opportunit

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SIUE To Host Inaugural Speaker Series

2 years 10 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE – The Successful Communities Collaborative (SCC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is hosting the inaugural Speakers Series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31 in the Meridian Ballroom in the Morris University Center. The Speaker Series will focus on food systems, including production, distribution, access, and consumption. Designed to complement SCC partnerships, the series will elevate expert voices from both local communities and the region to launch dialogue and spark action around our region’s food systems. Yves Doumen, founder of the Motherland Community Project in Springfield, will present, “Strengthening Community Capacity and Increasing Access to Healthy Food Through Sustainable Urban Agricultural Systems.” Doumen recognizes that access to healthy food among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and communities affected by poverty is limited, but urban agriculture has the potential to change this dynamic by boosting access to

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Secretary Of State Giannoulias Reveals Rejected Vanity Plates In 2022

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - There will be no PEEPEE, SUKIT, or DUCKYOU for Illinois drivers. Those are just a few of the nearly 400 requests for vanity and personalized license plates that were rejected by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office in 2022, according to Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Last year, 54,236 Illinoisans requested vanity and personalized plate requests and 383 were shot down due to their tawdry, lewd or offensive nature or because they were difficult to read. "We love the creativity and pride Illinoisans take in choosing their personalized license plates,” said Secretary Giannoulias. “Most plate requests are approved, but a small percentage fail to meet the standards of good taste and decency and are rejected because they violate the state’s vehicle code." The Secretary of State’s Office oversees the process by which Illinoisans may request specific vanity or personalized license plates for their vehicles. Many use the office’s

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Cheap Sewer Pipe Repairs Can Push Toxic Fumes Into Homes And Schools - Here's How To Lower The Risk

2 years 10 months ago
THE CONVERSATION - Across the U.S., children and adults are increasingly exposed to harmful chemicals from a source few people are even aware of. It begins on a street outside a home or school, where a worker in a manhole is repairing a sewer pipe. The contractor inserts a resin-soaked sleeve into the buried pipe, then heats it, transforming the resin into a hard plastic pipe. This is one of the cheapest , most common pipe repair methods, but it comes with a serious risk: Heating the resin generates harmful fumes that can travel through the sewer lines and into surrounding buildings, sometimes several blocks away. These chemicals have made hundreds of people ill , forced building evacuations, and even led to hospitalizations. Playgrounds , daycare centers, and schools in several states have been affected, including Colorado , Connecticut , Massachusetts , Michigan , Pennsylvania , Washington , and Wisconsin . With the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law now

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Redbirds' Sam Ottwell Qualifies For State Bowling Tourney With Six-Game 1,255, Is An Auto Butler Male Athlete Of Month

2 years 10 months ago
COLLINSVILLE - Alton High sophomore bowler Sam Ottwell qualified as an individual for the IHSA state bowling tournament on Jan. 27-28 by throwing a six-game series of 1,255, which tied him with Collinsville's Ben Sloan for the last two individual berths at the sectional tournament at Camelot Bowl in Collinsville Jan. 21. Ottwell had a high game of 257 in the morning session, and in the afternoon half, had three games of 195, 191, and 199 to help him go through to state as the only Redbird bowler to qualify. At the time of a post-tournament interview, the final team and individual standings had yet to be announced, but Ottwell felt that he bowled well enough to qualify. "I did pretty well the first block," Ottwell said. "I think I shot a 670 (series) and then, the last block, I was just kind of trying to hold on. I never really shot a 200, but a lot of high 190s. So I was really happy with my first sectional." At the time, Ottwell was very hopeful that he and the Redbirds would advance

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Belt Launches Valentine's Day Card Drive For Seniors

2 years 10 months ago
EAST ST. LOUIS – To express love and lift the spirits of local seniors, State Senator Christopher Belt is collecting store-bought or handmade cards to deliver to long-term care facility residents for Valentine’s Day. “It’s important for us to take time out of our day to show appreciation for people in our community,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “A little act of kindness can go a long way and make someone’s day. Let’s show our seniors that we appreciate them.” Belt is collecting store-bought and handmade cards for local seniors. People are encouraged to write kind notes and drop them off or mail them to his district office, located at Kenneth Hall Regional Office Bldg. #10 Collinsville Ave., Suite 201A, East St. Louis, IL 62201. He is collecting cards until Feb. 10 and then will deliver them to local long-term care facilities. People with questions can reach out to Belt’s office at 618-875-1212.

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