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Jerseyville's Wally Fisher Memories Of Hospital: 'Patients Were Treated Like Family'

4 months 2 weeks ago
Do a web search for “a life well lived,” and you might just find Wally Fisher’s picture. The 87 year-old from Jerseyville, Illinois, is adding her voice to those marking 100 years since the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George came to St. Louis, Missouri . The Sisters eventually established what today is OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in nearby Alton, Illinois. Fisher’s story Fisher hails from northern Germany. After eighth grade, her parents said her school days were over, and helping on the family farm would be her profession. But turning 18 afforded her some freedom. Fisher says she met the Sisters, who introduced her to nursing and recruited her to come to America and work at Saint Anthony’s. “I think they thought we would become nuns,” Fisher says with a smile. Instead, it was the start of a long career serving the sick at Saint Anthony’s – from 1961 to 1997. “I couldn’t

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Granite City Man Charged With Sharing Child Porn Via Reddit

4 months 2 weeks ago
GRANITE CITY – A man accused of sharing child porn via Reddit faces three Class X felonies after authorities linked the Reddit account to his Granite City address. Cameron K. Krause, 21, of Granite City, was charged with three Class X felony counts of child pornography on Sept. 25, 2025. On March 6, 2025, Krause allegedly shared multiple video files via Reddit depicting children under the age of 13 engaged in sex acts with adults. According to the state’s petition to deny his pretrial release from custody, the investigation began after detectives with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department “received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a suspect was disseminating child sexual abuse material via Reddit.” After serving Reddit and Spectrum with search warrants and/or subpoenas, authorities linked the IP address associated with the dissemination of child porn to an address in Granite City. The case was then transferred

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Commemorating 100 Years Of Care In Alton, Illinois

4 months 2 weeks ago
Key takeaways: OSF HealthCare is marking 100 years since a group of Sisters from Germany established the hospital that is now OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony's Health Center in Alton, Illinois. OSF Saint Anthony's offers comprehensive care in cancer, cardiovascular, urology, diabetes and more. Telehealth and clinics in Godfrey and Bethalto, Illinois, provide care for people in their neighborhood. On December 28, 1923, five Sisters arrived in St. Louis, MO, from Germany with the intention to open a hospital. It is said those early Sisters, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George , brought only themselves, a bag of oranges and a lot of determination — determination to make Christ’s merciful love more visible. They would succeed in their goal. The next year negotiations began for the Sisters to purchase Nazareth Home, a residence for the elderly, in Alton, IL. On April 1, 1925, the Sisters moved to Alton, thus establishing the first Thuiner

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Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds Honored at CMA Foundation Event

4 months 2 weeks ago
O'FALLON, IL. - Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, band director at O'Fallon Township High School Panther Bands, was honored at the 2025 Country Music Association Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence event. The ceremony recognized music educators nationwide who inspire students, develop music programs, and sustain the influence of music in schools and communities. The CMA Foundation opened nominations for the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence award, inviting submissions through November 13, 2025. The program encourages recognition of educators who make a significant impact through music education. “We’re incredibly proud to share that our very own band director, Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, was honored at the 2025 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence event,” the OTHS Panther Bands announced. “This celebration recognizes music educators from across the country who go above and beyond to inspire students, build programs, and keep the power of music aliv

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PERSPECTIVE: Dick Gephardt Says STL Growth Is Right in Front of Us, If We Can Say “Yes”

4 months 2 weeks ago

From STLToday: Like most of you reading this, I’m a St. Louisan through and through. I was born in St. Louis when it was one of the top ten cities (by population) in the United States. We had a predisposition that said yes to growth and opportunity. And now, the opportunity is in front of […]

The post PERSPECTIVE: Dick Gephardt Says STL Growth Is Right in Front of Us, If We Can Say “Yes” appeared first on Construction Forum.

Tom Finan

Donald Trump Declares War On Portland Because Of A Few Anti-ICE Protests

4 months 2 weeks ago
One of the few, small things the US press could do is stop pretending this administration is normal. It isn’t. It’s motivated solely by cruelty and revenge, in service of imposing its will and white Christian nationalist imperatives on the nation, which is nothing less than fascism. So, when President Trump says he’s sending the […]
Tim Cushing

Catholic Sisters' Compassion Leaves Lasting Impact on Care

4 months 2 weeks ago
From Patient to Pediatrician Author's note: between being interviewed for this story and its publishing, Sister M. Christine Crowder passed away . She was too young to remember it herself. But when Marci Well, MD, throws on the stethoscope, she sometimes recalls stories told to her about her life-threatening illness half a century ago. As an infant, Well spent a month at the hospital now known as OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois. She’s sharing her story as part of the hospital marking 100 years of care in 2025, and she even credits the ordeal – and the comfort from one generous Catholic Sister – with partially inspiring her to pursue a career in medicine. Flashback to 1972 Carol Well, Marci Well’s mother, says in February of 1972, the family was living in the Alton area when 15-month-old Marci got sick. “She lost a lot of weight. Pneumonia-like symptoms. Low protein in the blood,” says Carol Well,

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Edwardsville High School Marching Band Freshman Invited To Prestigious London Parade

4 months 2 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE — Jeff Waters, a 14-year-old freshman at Edwardsville High School, has been invited to perform as a tenor saxophone player in the Tiger Marching Band at the 2026 London New Year’s Day Parade. The event, scheduled for January 1, 2026, offers Waters a unique opportunity to represent his community and country on an international stage. However, Waters’ family is unable to cover the expenses associated with the trip. To help fund his participation, Tim Mitchell has organized a fundraiser seeking donations from the community. Waters expressed gratitude for any contributions, emphasizing that every donation, regardless of size, will help bring him closer to this once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I have the incredible honor of being invited to perform in the 2026 London New Year’s Day Parade,” Waters said. “This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent my Edwardsville community and country on a global stage. Unfortunately,

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ISP Announces Results Of Violent Crime Suppression Detail In Metro East Area

4 months 2 weeks ago
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF VIOLENT CRIME SUPPRESSION DETAIL IN THE METRO EAST AREA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2025 EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a violent crime suppression detail on September 22 - 24, 2025, in St. Clair and Madison counties, focusing its efforts on East St. Louis and neighboring Metro East communities. ? The operation utilized intelligence and technology to target known high crime areas, violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East. Detail Results Arrests 37 Felony Charges 37 Criminal Charges 61 Firearm Related Charges 17 Firearms Seized 13 There were several notable events and arrests during the detail. On September 22, 2025, Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an Illinois Vehicle Code (IVC) violation. They conducted a probable cause search and seized a rifle, a handgun, and cannabis.

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Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Service Female Athlete Of Month: Freshman Maggie Pruetzel Shines In Girls Golf Season

4 months 2 weeks ago
ALTON - Maggie Pruetzel, a freshman at Marquette Catholic High School, is being recognized for her achievements in girls' golf this season. Pruetzel has distinguished herself by winning three matches, earning a spot on the all-conference team with a fourth-place finish, and being named the low freshman at the Gary Bair Invitational. She also played a key role in leading her team to a second-place finish in the conference tournament. She is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete Of The Month for the Explorers. Pruetzel has been playing golf since she was 5 years old and recently began competing in Junior PGA tournaments. "One thing I like about golf is that there is always something you can do better and that pushes me to keep practicing every day," she said. Her coach, Jacob Simmons, has supported her development throughout the season. Pruetzel credits her determination and consistency as qualities that have helped her succeed. She also expressed gratitude toward her

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Prairie Cardiovascular Welcomes Dr. Summit S. Pandat To O'Fallon  

4 months 2 weeks ago
O’FALLON, Ill. – Prairie Cardiovascular is pleased to welcome Dr. Summit S. Pandat to its team in O’Fallon. Dr. Pandat is a board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care rooted in respect, compassion and a commitment to excellence. He believes in building strong relationships with his patients, always prioritizing their best interests and personal preferences in care. He looks forward to partnering with patients on their journey to better heart health. Dr. Pandat completed his clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in Houston, where he developed advanced expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders. He is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine and holds certification in adult echocardiography from the National Board of Echocardiography. Throughout

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