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CARROLLTON - The Carrollton Fire Protection District firefighters and other departments battled an intense fire at the Oasis in Carrollton late Monday night and remained at the scene Tuesday morning extinguishing hot spots. Carrollton Fire Protection District Chief Tim Thaxton described the situation as “a total loss” for the Oasis bar and grill. The nearby motel remained intact thanks to the efforts of the firefighters. Chief Thaxton said the call came in around 11:30 p.m. on Monday. Chief Thaxton said the cause of the fire was not yet determined and that they were still investigating. Multiple neighboring departments responded to assist from Jerseyville, White Hall, Greenfield, and Roodhouse on standby. Thaxton thanked all the other departments and his firefighters for their efforts in the difficult situation.

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ALTON - Below is information about this week’s road closures – Mar. 7, 2022 Piasa Valley Area: 6th Street east of Alby Street is open to George Street, with surface restoration work being completed as weather permits. Please drive carefully as some of the roadways are still rock surfaces. Alby Street is closed from 6th Street north to 9th Street, with closures north and east of Alby/7th Street in place. 7th Street from George to Mechanic Street is closed. 8th Street east of Alby is closed to Easton Street. Turner Tract Area: Danforth Street will continue to be closed this week to all thru traffic to allow for sewer installation work. The alley south of McKinley east of Lincoln is back open to traffic, with pavement restoration happening soon. Douglas Street, between State and Lincoln Streets is open, with pavement restoration started and being completed in the next couple weeks, weather permitting. Please drive carefully. Shields Valley Area: The west end of Greenwood

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GRANITE CITY - Caylie McElroy has not only skills as an athlete, but she is an outstanding student for Granite City High School. Caylie's top sport of the season is about ready to unfold - girls soccer. She has been a three-year member of the Warriors girls soccer squad. She also played girl's golf in 2021. Caylie is the Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for Granite City High School. Recently, Caylie also earned the Granite City Rotary Club Student of the Month honor with Lauren Wilson. Students for that honor were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular, and civic honors and awards and organization membership and leadership. She is a three-year youth vocalist and a Sunday service vocalist. She is very involved in school activities from Member of Fellowship Of Christian Athletes, Renaissance Club, Spirit Club and Varsity Club.

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BENTON – Bryan Flanagan, 35, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Thursday, March 3, 2022, on two counts of distribution of child pornography and five counts of interstate communication with intent to extort. Flanagan pleaded guilty to charges in federal court on September 16, 2021. Flanagan extorted multiple minor girls online to send him sexual videos and images. Beginning in February 2020, Flanagan used fake profiles pretending to be a teenage boy on Facebook to contact multiple underage girls across the United States. Flanagan pressured and threatened his victims into sending him sexually explicit videos and images. When some victims refused to do so, Flanagan lied and told them that he was babysitting a young child and would rape or molest the child unless his online victims sent him the requested images. Flanagan distributed images of child pornography to at least two of his victims. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood,

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BENTON – Bryan Flanagan, 35, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Thursday, March 3, 2022, on two counts of distribution of child pornography and five counts of interstate communication with intent to extort. Flanagan pleaded guilty to charges in federal court on September 16, 2021. Flanagan extorted multiple minor girls online to send him sexual videos and images. Beginning in February 2020, Flanagan used fake profiles pretending to be a teenage boy on Facebook to contact multiple underage girls across the United States. Flanagan pressured and threatened his victims into sending him sexually explicit videos and images. When some victims refused to do so, Flanagan lied and told them that he was babysitting a young child and would rape or molest the child unless his online victims sent him the requested images. Flanagan distributed images of child pornography to at least two of his victims. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood,

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ROXANA - Sophomore Kinsley Mouser was a key to her Roxana Shells girls basketball team in the 2021-2022 season. Kinsley is the Midwest Members Credit Union Roxana Female Athlete of the Month. The most important thing Kinsley thinks she has derived from playing sports is "you have to work hard for everything you want and the harder you work, the bigger the outcome." Kinsley has played basketball since about third grade she enjoys playing against girls of all age levels because she believes it improves her own game. The Roxana sophomore thanked her parents, grandparents, and sister for attending all her games and constant support. She also had only positive remarks about her coaches Brian Diskin, the head coach, and Carol Fletcher, the assistant coach. "My coaches always push me and the team to get better," she said. Coach Fletcher said Kinsley has a nice shot and advanced to the sectionals of the three-point shooting competition. Kinsley is a versatile athlete and soon she will

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GRAFTON - When Kateryna Savienkova was 9 years old, her family fled their home town of Luhansk, Ukraine. The year was 2014. At that time, the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, backed by the Russian government, was embroiled with Ukrainian people in armed conflict. Since then, Kateryna’s family has made their home in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Since the Russian invasion just over a week ago, Kharkiv has been under attack. Today Kateryna (Katya) is an exchange student at Jersey Community High School. She is a junior and lives with her host family in Grafton. Almost 3 years ago, she learned of a program that offers scholarships for Ukrainian exchange students. After a lengthy application process, she was awarded the opportunity of a lifetime from the Future Leaders Exchange Program in cooperation with the American Councils. Scheduled to attend the 2020/21 academic year, her plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Determined to make her dream

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ALHAMBRA - Bank of Hillsboro Alhambra Branch Manager Jeanne Reckman will retire after 25 years with the branch at the end of the year. Julie Jett, head teller at the Alhambra branch, has stepped up to branch manager in preparation for Reckman’s retirement. “My time at the Alhambra branch has been phenomenal. I love our customers and there is no greater reward than seeing someone young and helping them to build their accounts,” said Jeanne Reckman. Reckman grew up in Alhambra and started at Bank of Hillsboro in 1997 as a part-time teller. She then became a full-time teller and moved up to branch manager, 21 years ago. Reckman said she’s enjoyed getting to build relationships with her customers and watch them grow alongside their bank accounts and achieve their financial goals. Reckman said her replacement, Julie Jett, has been at the branch for 5 years and she’s excited to see her lead the branch and help it grow. “I’ve known Julie Jett

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that flashing yellow arrow traffic signals will be installed in the coming months along U.S. 67 from Illinois 140/Broadway Connector in Alton to U.S. 67 and Illinois 111/267 Lars Hoffman Crossing in Godfrey, improving safety and traffic flow along a major commercial thoroughfare. The first flashing yellow arrow signal was recently activated at the Walmart entrance on Godfrey Road and U.S. 67. Installation of all 12 planned flashing yellow arrow signals is expected to be complete in June. Temporary daytime lane closures will be required. The Federal Highway Administration encourages flashing yellow arrow traffic signals at certain intersections to reduce left-turn crashes, following research that shows drivers found them easier to understand and fewer collisions occurred where they were used when compared to traditional yield-on-green signal configurations. They also have been proven to increase intersection

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SPRINGFIELD - Legislation sponsored by State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) to improve the safety of transportation for foster children was recently approved by the Illinois House of Representatives. Rep. Elik sponsored the legislation on behalf of a local foster parent following concerns shared with her about the safety of children under the care of DCFS. According to State Representative Amy Elik, “When it was brought to my attention that transportation providers for children under state care were not picking kids up on time or not picking up children at all on a Friday night – I knew something had to change.” HB 5064 sponsored by Rep. Elik provides that transportation services to children and families must comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Drivers must submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check. New changes also include proper training for drivers on the installation and operation of a child car seat, possession of a vali

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FOSTERBURG - Long-time firefighter Kevin Wallace brings a wealth of experience to his new position in Fosterburg as fire chief. He was recently sworn in as the new chief for Fosterburg Fire Protection District. Wallace said his goal was never to be a chief but he is now excited to work with the other firefighters in his department. Kevin is a Fosterburg native and joined the fire protection district the summer of 1986 while in school at Cedarville, Ohio. He obtained his EMT license and began working for Campbell’s Ambulance (now Lifestar) in Alton in the 1980s. He married his wife Tonya in 1989 and joined the Godfrey Fire District staff. He continued his education and obtained Illinois and Missouri paramedic licenses and worked at St. Louis City EMS before getting a position with the University City Fire Department in St. Louis in 1991. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of captain and he retired in December of 2017 after a 27-year career. He then worked for Banner Fire Equipment

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) recognized 32 nurse anesthesia doctoral candidates for the hard work they have put into preparing for their clinical training with a White Coat Ceremony held Friday, March 4. The registered nurses from the Midwest region are specializing in the practice of nurse anesthesia. The students were chosen from a competitive pool of more than 150 applicants and will graduate in 2024 as the SON’s seventh cohort of doctorally-prepared nurse anesthesiologists. “The impetus for developing this ceremony came from the desire to recognize the hard work our nurse anesthesia doctoral candidates put into preparing for their clinical training in anesthesia,” said Kevin Stein, DNAP, CRNA, chair of the SON’s Department of Nurse Anesthesiology. “These students spent four years preparing to become registered nurses, have worked at the bedside in critical care units providing for the needs

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EDWARDSVILLE - “All Aboard!” is an upcoming exhibit at the Edwardsville Children’s Museum centered around trains which will bring a weekend jam-packed with events for its grand opening. The festivities will begin the night of Friday, March 25 for a free members-only grand opening event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The first 15 registrants will have the opportunity to create their own wooden train car. The exhibit will open to the public the following morning, March 26 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. That afternoon from 1-3 p.m., there will be a Train Car Workshop. The first 15 registrants for this event will also have the opportunity to create their own wooden train car. Sensory Time will be held in the train exhibit on Sunday, March 27 from 1-3 p.m. This will be limited to 8 children and registration is required. The exhibit will also feature a 550-pound model train table designed by Tom Stephenson, which will be showcased at the National Train Show at the Collinsville Gateway

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SPRINGFIELD – To address the teacher shortage, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) supported the passage of a package of legislative measures to help recruit substitute teachers, teacher assistants, and support educators in the classroom. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are more than 4,000 unfilled positions in schools. “As chair of the Senate Education Committee and a former school board member, I know how essential it is that we address the shortage head-on,” Belt said. “My colleagues and I have been working to combat the teacher shortage to ensure our children are getting the best educational experience and opportunities for their futures.” Belt supported the following legislative measures: Senate Bill 3915 – Would waive the application fee for short-term substitute teaching licensees when the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Senate Bill 3988 – Would lower the

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EDWARDSVILLE – The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has welcomed Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Mingjun Ma, PhD. Ma joins NCERC’s growing team of researchers who focus on a variety of research topics that help support the expansion of the bioeconomy in the U.S. and globally. The Post-Doctoral Research Fellow program is supported through funding from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board which has been a longtime supporter of the NCERC and its workforce training programs. “We’re extremely grateful for Dr. Ma’s arrival to our team. We have big plans to expand our research services and expertise in 2022 and he will play a critical role in doing so,” said John Caupert, NCERC Executive Director. “We’re particularly excited to utilize his skill sets in Lifecycle Analysis and Technoeconomic Analysis as we take the next steps in projects related to novel uses of bio-based feedstocks and

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GRAFTON - Emergency preparedness is high on the list of priorities for Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow because of his long-time Corps of Engineers career. Morrow has a broad understanding of river flooding and proper preparedness because of his previous service as a Corps of Engineers supervisor that spanned several decades. Each year, Grafton has an Emergency Management Committee Meeting and one was held last week at Grafton City Hall. In attendance was Doug Downey, IEMA Operations, Keith Norman, Jersey County EMA, Hal Graef PM and Jennifer Moehlmann from the Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, Cindy Cregmiles, CFM and Derek Russell from the Jersey County Code Administrators office along with the Grafton Committee members. The group reviewed and discussed the newly updated Grafton Emergency Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual. “The time to prepare for an emergency is when there is no emergency,” said Mayor Morrow as he welcomed the group. The mayor explained that

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ALTON - Mississippi Valley Christian School recently had its first induction ceremony for the new MVCS Riverbend Chapter of the American Christian Honor Society. The first induction ceremony for the group was on Tuesday, February 22. The Honor Society’s goals are to “advance Christian scholarship, challenge Christian leadership, honor Christian character, and stimulate Christian service.” After a rigorous selection process, the following seven students were the first to be inducted into MVCS’s American Christian Honor Society: Olivia Allen, Jonah Feuerhak, Drew Gaworski, Sarah Markel, Timothy Vaughn, Caleb Waddell, and Peyton Wright. The inductees’ families joined the student body and faculty in honoring the inductees with a formal candle lighting and pinning ceremony.

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WACO, Texas - Jerseyville native Faith Franke was named recently to the fall Dean's List in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The Dean's Academic Honor List recognizes Baylor undergraduates for their outstanding academic work during each semester. Students honored on the Dean’s List earned a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.70 with no grade lower than a "C" while enrolled in at least 12 graded semester hours.

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WOOD RIVER - Work is moving along as planned with the East End Retention Project, along Illinois 143 in Wood River, near the Kia dealership, Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said late last week. The project is funded by a 1 percent sales tax from a vote in 2019. Stalcup said pipe will be placed in the area to remove water. Also, he said a retention pond is in the works. He said it is amazing how much the ground has been raised. “Before that area was always saturated with water when we had heavy rains,” he said. “Sometimes before the water would back up and go across Illinois Route 143 when it was heavy enough. That problem will be resolved with this work.” The area will be developed commercially once this East End Retention Project is finished. “We haven’t had anyone decide yet decide to locate there but we have had some inquiries,” Stalcup said of the area just outside the Kia dealership in Wood River. “We are excited about the future

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The Illinois State Police (ISP) commissioned 29 new Troopers of Cadet Class 133 at a graduation ceremony at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield, Illinois on Friday, March 4. The new Troopers will report to two ISP patrol districts in the Chicago area on Monday, March 7, 2022. “The new troopers of Cadet Class 133 embody the excellence that defines the Illinois State Police, and I wish them a heartfelt congratulations as they step into their new roles,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to have worked with the Illinois General Assembly to rebuild ISP by adding hundreds of sworn officers to our forces after their numbers were severely reduced over the last two decades. The 29 individuals who join the force today are leaders in their communities who have committed to serve and protect, and I am so grateful for their commitment. We couldn’t keep our residents safe without them.” Cadet Class 133 marks the fifth cadet class graduation under

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