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An Illinois Route 66 Icon Is Gone: The Windy City Road Warrior

2 years 10 months ago
Ilinois has lost a true giant of Route 66 -- the Windy City Road Warrior, David Clark. Author, historian, tour guide, meticulous researcher, and presenter, he knew his subject, loved to share it, and was known to Route 66 fans around the world. A downtown Chicago resident, David lived in a condo in a former garment factory on Adams Street, across the street from the iconic “Begin Historic Route 66” sign. “Dave,” as his friends knew him, passed away on Tuesday, January 4, at the age of 64. On Thursday evening, January 6, many of his friends and fans were online, ready to enjoy one of Dave's monthly Route 66 programs, presented virtually for many months during Covid. But for those attempting to enter the program, all anyone could access was the message, “waiting for host to begin the meeting.” It was an ominous start to what was anticipated to be an enjoyable evening. Later that night, the news began to spread – Dave had died on Tuesday, after

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Belt Supports Measures To Raise Wages For Direct Support Personnel

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is supporting measures to ensure that Direct Support Personnel are fairly compensated for the assistance they provide to individuals with developmental disabilities. “Support workers are essential workers,” Belt said. “These individuals care for residents who rely on them to do basic day-to-day tasks that many of us do without thinking. It’s vital that these workers are taken care of and paid a fair wage.” DSPs are vital in community residential settings, where they help residents with daily personal care like eating and hygiene as well as teaching life skills and attending to complex medical needs. While funding for these services has increased over recent years, starting wages remain barely above minimum wage, and vacancies remain high. This disparity is because the state does not always require community agencies to pass wage increases through to the workers. Belt joined State Senators

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U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, Area Mayors, Kick Off 150th Anniversary Celebration

2 years 10 months ago
SEE VIDEO: ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) St. Louis District kicked off its 150 th Anniversary celebration with great reception recently at the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton. Col. Kevin Golinghorst, Commander, USACE St. Louis District, Grafton Mayor Michael R. Morrow, and Alton Mayor David Goins, signed proclamations recognizing the District’s history, partnerships, and contributions to the region. On February 19, 1872, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established a new district in Saint Louis, the Gateway to the West, and few could have foreseen this auspicious occasion of their 150th Anniversary would usher in a successful long-lasting partnership between the states of Missouri, Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps in Saint Louis. “Today, we celebrate a history of innovation with our partners, without which we could not deliver the vital engineering solutions that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the regions we are so

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Cruise Port Development & High-Speed Rail Needed in Southwest Illinois

2 years 10 months ago
ALTON - Cruise port development and high-speed rail are critical to the success of tourism and community development in southwest Illinois, Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau told an Illinois Senate Committee Thursday. “Both represent massive infrastructure opportunities to move people to destinations -- not just commodities and freight,” Jobe told the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee during testimony on Thursday, March 10. “We must quit thinking of our waterways as only highways for commodities and freight. The cruise ship industry is poised and ready to ramp up cruise experiences on Illinois Waterways.” Development of outdoor recreational opportunities goes hand-in-hand with attracting travelers to southwest Illinois, Jobe pointed out. The bureau is working with key partners and service providers to activate a plan for a regional approach to better utilize the natural resources, open spaces and byways in the

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Chief Judge William A. Mudge Announces He Plans To Retire On December 4, 2022

2 years 10 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Chief Judge William A. Mudge announced on Friday that he is retiring at the end of his term on December 4, 2022. Judge Mudge obtained his law degree in 1985 from Saint Louis University School of Law. After serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, he was a partner at Lucco, Brown and Mudge, a private general practice law firm in Edwardsville, for 16 years. He is licensed to practice in both Illinois and Missouri. Including his time as an Assistant State’s Attorney and as a part-time Assistant Public Defender, Mudge served the citizens of Madison County as their State’s Attorney for eight years from 2002 to 2010. In 2010 he was elected Circuit Judge, and was retained for another six year term in 2016, and was later elected Chief Judge in 2019. His retirement will bring to an end 25 years of public service in those capacities. “My professional career has been incredibly rewarding. I was privileged to be a law partner with Bill Lucco and Joe Brown

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Woman Pleads Guilty In Drunk Driving Death In Alton

2 years 10 months ago
ALTON - A woman with a long history of drunk driving was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for crashing head-on with a motorcycle, knocking Natasha J. Dillinger, 27, of Bethalto off the bike, killing her. Erin L. Arras, 45, of Belleville, agreed to plead guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in injury or death, in exchange for an eight-year prison sentence. She will have to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence. The normal sentencing range is three to 14 years. “A few years in prison in exchange for a life doesn’t make sense to me,'' said Zachary Cable, her cousin, in his victim impact statement. Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Thierry said the defendant’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.21 percent, compared with a level of 0.08 for a legal presumption of intoxication. He said Arras was westbound on Broadway on Sept. 7, 2020, when she turned into a parking lot in the 700 block of Broadway, then headed back east where

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Schnucks stores to stay open one hour later starting Monday

2 years 10 months ago
ST. LOUIS - Schnucks announced that most of their stores will return to a 10 p.m. closing time beginning Monday. This is one hour later than the store's previously scheduled hours. The new hours will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for 103 Schnucks stores. The deli, meat, and seafood counters will also start new [...]
Monica Ryan

GLOW At Union Station Opens Today

2 years 10 months ago
ST. LOUIS - See St. Louis Union Station in a whole new light this spring during GLOW, a neon-themed event opening Friday, March 11, and continuing through the end of May. LET'S GLOW PLAY A variety of neon art installations, perfect for capturing Instagrammable moments, are placed throughout the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Guests can participate in new hands-on activities and glowing animals -- including coral formations and scorpions that glow under black light -- will be featured. Aquarium team members will explain nature's bioluminescent phenomena as they help guests explore the fun. GLOW is free with Aquarium admission. Outside on the Union Station Plaza, the St. Louis Wheel will be glowing nightly with millions of colors and patterns. St. Louis Mini Golf will get in on the glow with neon golf balls and glowing flag markets at each of the course's 18 holes. The Fire & Light Show will glow on the Union Station lake every hour throughout the evening. Carnival games are set

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