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ALTON - Illinois State Representative Amy Elik says politicians indicted on corruption charges in Illinois continue to benefit, they get to collect a taxpayer-funded pension while on trial and these trials can take a long time. Take former House Speaker Mike Madigan’s corruption trial, for instance, Madigan’s trial won’t begin until February 1st of next year. That’s why State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) filed legislation to suspend a lawmaker’s pension if they are convicted or charged with corruption by federal investigators. “Lawmakers should be held to a higher standard when it comes to corruption and that’s why I think this taxpayer-funded pension benefit should be suspended so that politicians don’t game the system and delay the outcome just to get more money,” said Rep. Elik. “Suspending pension payments while awaiting the resolution of a case will send a strong message to corrupt politicians that if you break

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SPRINGFIELD - The State Fair in Springfield is showcasing Illinois as a place where innovation happens everywhere, and visitors will be able to see that on display at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo in the air-conditioned Orr Building on the fairgrounds. OSF Innovation will once again be there – August 17-21– with short STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities and demonstrations that’ll wow children of all ages. At the OSF Innovation Jump STEAM booth, visitors will receive a passport to encourage them to take advantage of interactive STEAM activities that highlight multiple careers in medicine. Today, there are opportunities to join the medical field in a variety of ways, including as a bioengineer, medical illustrator, app designer and many more. Jump STEAM educators will share the possibilities through highly-interactive activities. Admission for kids 12 and under is free all week long! At the State Fair, children will be able to receive

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - IMPACT Strategies continues its work at Building 111 in Alton, Illinois ­ formerly known as the Millers Mutual Building ­ with an 8,900 square foot tenant finish project for American Water. The firm began renovation work on the building in 2017; this assignment marks IMPACT’s eighth interior remodel project in the building. The approximately $1 million project for American Water includes renovation of 3 existing tenant/shell spaces by providing modern office finishes. The project features an exposed concrete structure with acoustical ceiling baffles, huddle rooms, updated break room, conference room, and preservation of the decorative wood paneled walls within the old Miller’s Mutual Director’s Meeting Room that dates back to the early 1920’s. The renovation work began in July with completion expected in October 2022. American Water expects to bring several new jobs to Alton with the completion of the new space, which will be used

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ST. LOUIS – Today, President Joe Biden granted Governor Mike Parson’s request for a federal disaster declaration following July’s record-setting rainfall and flooding. The declaration will help eligible St. Louis residents get the resources through FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. “July’s historic rainfall and floods devastated neighborhoods across our city. While surveying damage in Ellendale, Kingsway West, and Walnut Park, I heard from dozens of St. Louisans whose lives had been upended by severe flooding. As hundreds of families continue to fill the region’s Multi-Agency Resource Centers, it’s clear there is an ongoing need for help that federal resources will help us address,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “Thank you to President Joe Biden, our congressional delegation - especially Senator Roy Blunt and Congresswoman Cori Bush - and our state, local and community partners who have come together to support St. Loui

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a bipartisan coalition of 10 attorneys general in fighting for increased transparency in the poultry industry. Raoul and the coalition submitted a comment in support of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule, Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments , to reduce the information imbalance between farmers and processors in the poultry industry. This increase in transparency would make it easier for small poultry farmers to compete for fair pricing terms from large poultry processors. “The proposed rule will help put a stop to anticompetitive behavior and will support poultry farmers in Illinois and throughout the United States by increasing transparency,” Raoul said. “That’s why I have joined the bipartisan coalition to support this rule proposed by the USDA.” The USDA is proposing the rule under its authority in the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921

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LITCHFIELD - The Sunday, Aug. 14 Pickers Market in Litchfield has been canceled, city officials have announced. A building collapse in the area of the market has prompted the cancellation. City officials cite an abundance of caution for the safety of vendors and attendees as the primary concern. Please see the attached press release for additional information. Due to the incident that occurred over the weekend in downtown Litchfield with a building collapsing in the 300 block of North State Street, the Pickers Market scheduled for August 14th has been canceled. As of Monday, August 8, 2022, at 11:30 am, the structural engineer(s) have not been on site to assess the building(s). The City wanted to provide as much notice as possible to the vendors of market cancellation, so the difficult decision has been made to cancel the market for Sunday. Please understand that much has been considered when making such a decision as no one wants to cancel. Public safety is our utmost concern and keepin

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ALTON - The memoir of life-long Alton resident, Henry Eugene “Gene” Maul, has been released by LuLu Press, Inc. The memoir, Diary of Henry Eugene Maul, Prisoner of War , is a compilation by his eldest daughter, Diana Maul Halstead, a 1970 graduate of Alton High School. The Maul family was a fixture of Alton going back to the late 1830’s. Gene Maul was influenced and angered by the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Shortly after graduating Marquette High School, Gene enlisted in the United States Army Air Force, training to take on one of the most dangerous positions in the Air Force as a waist gunner. As a member of the 96 th Bomb Group and the 338 th Bomb Squadron he completed 8 missions before his plane was downed by enemy fire, May 8, 1944, causing him and his crew to be captured by German scouts. This diary is not a story told in the typical day-to-day accounting of time, but a visual drawing-by-drawing, poem-by-poem, note-by-note diary. Gene

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A Batchtown driver refused to stop as the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office attempted to do a routine traffic stop on the Illinois River Road near Gallinepper Road in rural Calhoun County at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2022. The driver of the 2004 Pontiac refused to stop, increased speed, and then fled from the deputy. The Pontiac then turned westbound on Batchtown Road and the vehicle continued to flee from the deputy, reaching speeds over 100 MPH. The deputy continued to pursue the vehicle. The vehicle continued to travel toward Batchtown at a dangerously high rate of speed. The deputy was able to catch up to the Pontiac in the village of Batchtown, however, the driver continued to fail to stop. Eventually, the vehicle pulled into the driveway of a residence. A traffic stop and subsequent investigation then resulted in the arrest of Jonathan M. Logsdon, age 54, of Batchtown, for the following offenses: Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Aggravated

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HARDIN - The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Illinois River Road August 6, 2022, near Krause Road in Brussels, Calhoun County, and subsequent to the investigation, an Eldred woman - 34-year-old Brittany Hilton - was arrested. Hilton faces the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Unlawful Possession of Hypodermic Syringes DUI - Drugs. Hilton was arrested without incident. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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CALHOUN COUNTY - At 2:42 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2022, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on South County Road, Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation the driver, Katie N. Scott, age 28, of Fieldon, was arrested on the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Operating With Suspended Registration, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. A passenger, Anthony J. Bushnell, age 30, of Hardin, Illinois was arrested on the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Calhoun County, Illinois, Warrant for Failure to Appear, Calhoun County, Illinois, Warrant for Failure to Pay. Scott is currently lodged at Jersey County Jail. Bushnell is currently lodged at Greene County Jail. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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HARDIN - At 11:11 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2022, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Illinois River Road, near Hagen Road, Brussels, Calhoun County, Illinois. Subsequent to an investigation, the driver, Amy R. Morris, 36, of Jerseyville, was arrested on the following charges: Aggravated DUI - Alcohol (While Transporting a Child Under Age of 16) Speeding Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. Morris was arrested without incident and lodged in the Jersey County Jail. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Today is International Cat Day, and there are many other days in August to celebrate your furry best friends! Centerstone's Lynda Killoran provides insight into how great it is and how challenging it can be to care for our pets. Still, the best benefit is a decrease in mental health struggles—as it releases the "happy hormones" known as oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin! After a bad day at school or work, many people look forward to being home with someone or something they love. Coming home to a beloved pet can be truly comforting. Cats, dogs…a multitude of animals are often considered best friends - they are loyal, loving, and can often sense when their human is feeling a little low. Studies show that pets can make us happier by lowering blood pressure and releasing the "happy hormones" known as oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. "Having a pet also makes people feel less lonely," says Lynda Killoran, therapist at Centerstone. "For those who struggle with sadness

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ALTON - Carli Foersterling and Hayley Porter are two softball players and leaders that are almost impossible to replace in a program. The two girls have graduated from Marquette Catholic, but their legacy will live on with the other players they have inspired. Carli is embarking on a continuation of her softball career at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville and plans to major in pharmaceutical science. Hayley has already been a Tucker's Automotive Repair and Tire Female Athlete of the Month for Marquette and now it is Carli's turn to shine in the honor. "I chose this school (Southwestern Illinois College) because it is one of the best JUCO’s in the area, I really like the coach, and I get to play with some of my best friends," she said. Marquette head girls softball Coach Dan Wiedman said the Porter and Foersterling families have been tireless volunteers for our softball program. "Debbie and Jessica have helped with fundraising by coordinating and working concessions

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ALTON - Amoriah Gray, the 7-year-old author of “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs,” will be holding a book signing event from 4-5 p.m. on August 10 at the Boys & Girls Club of Alton at 2512 Amelia St. in Alton. This event will cap off what’s been a busy summer for Amoriah, touring her book at everything from daycares to entrepreneur expos and even two City Halls. Copies of “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs” will be available for $10 at the next book signing, in addition to T-shirts for $10, custom affirmations with your child’s name and adjectives for $10, and coloring book kits for $3. Angela Gray, Amoriah’s mother, said the Boys & Girls Club has been very supportive of Amoriah and that she plans to return there each year. Amoriah’s summer book tour kicked off with an event on Juneteenth (June 19) at James Killion Park in Alton, which Gray said went well. “It was our first year attending a vendor event, and it was very

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ALTON - Juniors Parker Mayhew and Nate Bartlett won the championship of the Riverbend Tennis Open in the boys under 16 division and had an outstanding summer of play. The Redbird teammates defeated James McKeever and Alex Teutken, also from Alton, and Caden and Ryne Breyer from Civic Memorial. Parker and Nate are selections for the Auto Butler Alton High Athlete of the Month. Mayhew played number one singles and doubles for the Redbirds and Bartlett played number six singles and three doubles. Coach Jesse Macias said: “The nice part about playing summer tennis tournaments is that you have the opportunity to play with different partners. I don’t think Parker and Nate played together at all during the season, but they played well in the Riverbend Open. "Both players are steady from the baseline and they are aggressive at the net. They make a good team.” While Mayhew has been a varsity member and all-conference performer since his freshman year, Bartlett cracked

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GRAFTON - The Grafton Family Fun Committee held the annual Family Fun Night from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2022, at Red Hawk Park in Grafton, and it was an enjoyable evening for a large crowd. Face painting, a dunk tank, and various games made for a lively evening. Hot dogs, chips, and bottles of water kept the crowd well-fed and hydrated. Emergency vehicles (police car, firetruck, helicopter, and ambulance) were present for close inspection, provided by Grafton Police, QEM fire station, Survival Flight crew, and Jersey Community Hospital EMTs and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Carrie Purdy. Jersey County Queen, Matilynn Thornsbury, and Little Miss Jersey County, Tessa Huelskoetter, were enthusiastically welcomed and shared in the fun. After dark, a movie on the big screen, complete with popcorn, candy, and glow sticks, wrapped up this most memorable summer fun night for all. “The most important reason for holding this annual event is so the community can come together,

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GRANITE CITY - GCS Credit Union employees joined together to raise $930.00 in the month of July to benefit WILD Canine Rescue through their Don’t Stop Donatin’ Jeans Program. The Don’t Stop Donatin’ Jeans Program is funded by GCS employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, GCS employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. This year, GCS Credit Union is focusing on giving back to the 18 counties that they serve. July’s focus was on Sangamon County, IL. GCS proudly raised $930.00 for WILD Canine Rescue. The WILD Canine Rescue is a 100% foster-based rescue that provides care and welfare to homeless animals, abandoned and abused. Visit WildCanineRescue.org. to show your support for WILD. To find out more about GCS Credit Union, visit myGCScu.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Jennifer Korte candidate for State Representative in the 112 th District, says with rising crime throughout the State of Illinois it is time for lawmakers to get serious about public safety concerns beginning with the repeal of the SAFE-T Act. The SAFE-T Act (House Bill 3653) eliminates cash bail and requires officers to only issue a citation when someone is committing a Class B or C misdemeanor instead of detaining them. “The message we are sending with this law is that small crime don’t matter,” Korte said. “I understand that we don’t need to necessarily bring the full weight of the law on everyone who commits a crime, but we should not ignore minor offenses completely either. The solution to rising crime is not to create incentives for more crime but to put policies in place that discourage crime. We need to repeal the SAFE-T Act and replace it with practical policies that will stop the rise in crime in our communities.” Korte

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EDWARDSVILLE - A unique regional event is just around the turn. Come out for a wide variety of entertainment ranging from professional cyclists, running, live music, food trucks, family fun, kids races, and much more on the streets of downtown Edwardsville Saturday, Aug. 20 during the Busey Bank Edwardsville Rotary Criterium Festival. Last year over 200 cyclists from 14 states competed for $10,000 of prize money. A fundraiser and community celebration hosted by the Edwardsville Rotary Club, the festival includes a series of high-speed bicycle races complimented by a foot race and free kids races. The Criterium has grown rapidly over the past decade into a unique signature event for the St. Louis metropolitan area. Some of downtown Edwardsville’s streets will be closed at noon to prepare for the extravaganza that starts at 3:00. Downtown restaurants and bars prepare for well over 5,000 spectators who can open carry beverages over most of the course. The Entertainment Zone,

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public about an open house-style public meeting to discuss plans to improve the Interstate 64 and Illinois 111 interchange in St. Clair County. The meeting will be held: Tuesday, August 9 4 – 7 p.m. James Avant Elementary School 1915 N. 55 th St. Washington Park, Ill. The project involves replacing the Illinois 111 bridge over I-64 and improving the interchange between the two highways. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information about the progress and issues concerning this project and obtain public input. Due to the project’s location at the former sites of the Douglas-Lawnridge and St. Clair County cemeteries, IDOT welcomes input from the community, families, and loved ones of those interred in these cemeteries. Handouts and display boards regarding the proposed improvement will be available for review, as will information regarding engineering, land acquisition,

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