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ALTON - As of Wednesday, July 6, Alton's Golden Corral announced it will be closed for multiple months ahead. The handwritten sign on the door pretty much told it all: "We will be closing at 4 p.m. today for approximately 4 months. We appreciate your business and hope you'll come to see us when we reopen." This closure comes as a complete shock to many and a disappointment to others. After having to shut down for a long period of time during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the buffet's future was already in question. But, Golden Corral did open its doors to sit-down dining again earlier this year. Alton Mayor David Goins said the immediate Golden Corral closing was disappointing and he hopes it is a temporary move. “Golden Corral has been a staple in our community for quite some time,” he said. “I am looking forward to when they reopen again and we will be communicating with the owners to see what is ahead.” Before COVID-19, the company had nearly 500 locations

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board voted on Wednesday night to stop hiring and firing privileges for Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler during a spirited, well-attended special meeting. Prenzler commented afterward that he definitely disagreed with the 19-6 vote to limit his privileges without board approval. The board members who voted in favor of the power restraints said that a big part of the reason for the decision was the amount of money that had been paid out in lawsuits from former county employees. “I will remain fighting for the taxpayers, and I will listen to and work for the citizens of Madison County,” Prenzler said. “I didn’t think what they did was legal in certain respects, but only time will tell.” The board appears also planning for a vote on installing a chairman pro tem, who if approved, would serve as a vice-chairman and take over some of Prenzler’s duties. Some board members said Prenzler’s judgment was put in focu

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ALTON - On Tuesday, Illinois American Water started the process to rehabilitate the sanitary sewer system and replace approximately 1,200 feet of water main in Alton. The work will be done along U.S. Route 67 from 20th Street/College Avenue south to 3rd Street in Alton. U.S. Route 67 (Piasa Street), from 20 th Street/College Avenue south to 3 rd Street in Alton, will be closed for approximately one month barring any unforeseen circumstances and weather, Illinois-American Water says. Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said due to the construction on Piasa Street, please figure in additional time for travels in that area. State Street and other streets in the Downtown Alton area were extremely busy in the 5 p.m. range on Tuesday with motorists in their commute home from work. "Please be aware Belle Street between 3rd and 4th Street is 'One-Way Only,'" the deputy chief said. He continued: "Please be patient during the construction process and reduce speeds in the

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BRIGHTON - Library Director, Holly Hasquin announced today that renovations to the Brighton Memorial Library District building have begun! Among some of the changes are foundation and basement repairs, new staff workspaces and office space, new space for teens and tweens, and an updated youth room. A fresh new design will welcome patrons with new carpeting, vinyl flooring, and paint throughout. New shelving and furniture, including the circulation area, will be updated. All computer stations will be updated and repositioned to better serve patrons. Additionally, a new layout of the main area of the library will welcome the community with open and inviting space, which will improve the space and allow for easier browsing and access. Please note during this time the library will be offering curbside service and library hours will remain the same; Monday & Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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PONTOON BEACH - In an effort to recruit qualified individuals for a series of critical positions, the Agency for Community Transit (ACT) has established a new $1,000 sign-on bonus for drivers, bus cleaners, fuelers, and mechanics. These new hires will receive $250 after two weeks of employment and $750 upon completion of six months of employment. Located here in Madison County, Ill., conveniently off I-270 and IL-111 in Pontoon Beach, ACT offers a positive team atmosphere, competitive wages, excellent benefits, necessary training, and a desirable work environment for all positions. Below are the four positions covered by ACT’s sign-on bonus program. Drivers : Bus drivers start at $17.50/hr with an increase to $19.73/hr after the probationary period. Successful and reliable drivers can reach top pay of over $26.00/hr. ACT can help interested individuals obtain a full CDL (commercial driver’s license) by providing thorough preparation for the test before completion of training.

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Spoudazo will perform at Our Lord’s Lutheran Church on Wednesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken. The program, “No Escaping His Love,” is a 60-minute presentation that features music made popular by Francesa Battistelli, Kari Jobe, and We the Kingdom. Join Spoudazo for an escape room in real-time to find out how it resembles life. Two players look for clues to solve the puzzle and, in the process, learn about God’s unwavering love. In the end, they find that there is “No Escaping His Love.” Spoudazo is an ecumenical high school Christian music & drama ministry group from Fremont, Nebraska. To get to Our Lord’s Lutheran Church, follow the frontage road past Elmwood Care Center, turn right at the drive just before the church building, and park in the parking lot. Masking is not required indoors. Our Lord’s Lutheran Church is a community of people who are committed to loving God, caring for

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WASHINGTON – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that Greenville University is one of 35 providers from 22 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs (EPPs). The Spring 2022 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 35 newly-accredited EPPs, bringing the total to 471 providers approved under the CAEP Accreditation Standards – rigorous, nationally recognized standards developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs. “These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.” The CAEP Board of Directors updated the educator preparation standards in 2020

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ALTON - Misty Woolsey of the Alton Memorial Hospital Digestive Health Center (holding plaque) was named the AMH Employee of the Month on July 7. Presenting her the award was left to right, Debbie Turpin, chief nurse executive of AMH; Amy Toenyes, manager of the DHC; and Vicky Garvey, team leader of the DHC. The nomination from co-worker Lisa Roach said that “I have worked with a lot of PCTs over the years and no one has stood out compared to Misty. She is a team player. She has great initiative and never has to be told to do anything. "She does her job well, goes above and beyond her duties, and is always pleasant and friendly. The patients love her. She has also learned to clean scopes and can fill in that role as well. Misty is a wonderful asset to Alton Memorial and makes the DHC a better place to work. ”

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EDWARDSVILLE – In what can only be described as one of the worst, most blatant, and egregious examples of sour grapes after an election, the Republican members of the Madison County Board have begged the Democrats for their help to save the County. “This is the absolute height of hypocrisy,” said Madison County Democratic Chair Randy Harris, “the Republicans on this Board have gone along with Prenzler, supported him, campaigned for him, and defended him at every turn, now they want the Democratic Party to bail them out.” “They know they’re unable to govern effectively, Democratic Board members and officials have been sounding this alarm for years,” Harris continued, “This is nothing new, the only thing that changed, is some of these Republican Board members lost an election, and now they’re asking the Democrats to help them.” Several incumbent Republican County Board members were defeated in the primary election on June

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SPRINGFIELD – On June 23, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved a Stipulated Agreement to improve public safety at three highway-rail grade crossings of the Kansas City Southern Railway Company’s track in Greene County. The total combined estimated costs for the new automatic devices at the three crossings is $1,124,500. New automatic flashing light signals and gates will be installed at the KCS crossings near White Hall and Roodhouse including, Cinderella Lane (AAR/DOT #294614W, railroad milepost 66.35), Grand Avenue (AAR/DOT #294618Y, railroad milepost 67.41), and Briggs Street (AAR/DOT #294619F, railroad milepost 67.63). ICC staff recommended that the Grade Crossing Protection Fund be used to pay up to 95 percent of the signal design and installation costs, not to exceed $1,068,275. KCS will pay all remaining signal design and installation costs, and all future operating and maintenance costs related to the new automatic warning devices at the crossings. “Keeping

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EDWARDSVILLE – It was a streak of success as the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s Cougar Baja team concluded another competitive academic year at a Baja SAE® event held in May and hosted by Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tenn. Baja SAE® consists of competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. Engineering students are tasked to design and build an off-road vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of rough terrain. Each team’s goal is to design and build a single-seat, all-terrain, sporting vehicle that contains the driver. The vehicle is to be a prototype for a reliable, maintainable, ergonomic and economic production vehicle that serves the recreational user market. Senior Samuel Churchill, of Ottawa, president of the SIUE Baja Team, together with teammates Matthew Buchholz (treasurer), Curtis Lake, Josh Ford, Carson Spies, and Nathan Buss (secretary) competed

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EDWARDSVILLE - From July 25th to the 31st, Edwardsville High School will host the Edwardsville Futures Tennis Tournament. It's one of the only local professional tournaments around and has been a part of Pro Circuit for 11 years now. Not only will the tournament have a great impact on the sport around the 618 area code, but it will also do wonders for local businesses and overall boost Edwardsville's already booming economy. This tournament brings in players from all over the world who will be staying at local hotels, supporting local restaurants and businesses, and overall enjoying their time in Edwardsville. "It's about a quarter of a million dollars overall," EHS head tennis coach Dave Lipe said. He said that's the case yearly based on an economic study that is done. He's looking forward to having that kind of impact on the community again for the tournament's 11th year. The almost week-long event will also bring in plenty of fans/spectators who will spend their money at the

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ST. LOUIS - More than two dozen high school students from around the country and the bi-state area converged on St. Louis Downtown Airport as part of a weeklong camp to learn more about careers in the aviation field. Juniors and seniors in high school participated in the Aviation Summer Academy event, which was held the last week of June and was hosted by Saint Louis University’s Oliver L. Park Department of Aviation. This was the first in-person Aviation Summer Academy since 2019. The students spent time in the university’s flight simulators at St. Louis Downtown Airport and took short discovery flights over the downtown St. Louis area on June 28. Then the students went flying with experienced flight instructors from SLU on June 29 for longer, cross-country flights, during which they flew into a different airport and landed before returning to St. Louis Downtown Airport. While many of the students had experienced discovery flights before, for some, the flights represented

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ST. LOUIS - Independence Center, a nonprofit committed to helping those with chronic mental illness, has unveiled its new ADA ramp and Welcome Center. The $180,000 improvement project is an effort to make the nonprofit’s building more accessible to those with physical disabilities and establish a unified point of entry to allow for better coordination of care. “Both the new ADA ramp and the new Welcome Center will help further our mission of creating a community atmosphere which promotes those with mental illness feeling wanted, needed, and accepted,” said Trish Holmes, Executive Director of Independence Center. “These improvement projects would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors through our annual fundraising events. We are very thankful for everything they do and are looking forward to the difference it will make for the members we serve.” The Welcome Center was formerly located on Laclede Avenue but has now been moved

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a McHenry County man pleaded guilty to allegedly defrauding the state out of more than $3 million in sales tax revenue. Kenneth Kilberger, 53, of Lake in the Hills, pleaded guilty in McHenry County Circuit Court to sales tax evasion, a Class 1 felony. He was sentenced to four years in prison followed by one year of mandatory supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and court costs related to the case. “Business owners who defraud the state out of tax revenue harm their communities by depriving needed programs and services of funding,” Raoul said. “I commend the Illinois Department of Revenue for its work on this case and am committed to our continued collaboration in recovering critical revenue and holding accountable the individuals who attempt to defraud the state.” Raoul alleges that from January 2016 to October 2020, Kilberger evaded taxes on sales from 11 Denny’s restaurants

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GRAFTON - The date and details of the 4th annual Grafton Family Fun Day have officially been announced, and Grafton-area visitors will have plenty of activities for the whole family to choose from on the fun-packed evening. Grafton Family Fun Day 2022 will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m on Friday, August 5, at Red Hawk Park in Grafton, located at 1200 Grafton Hills Drive. Grafton Family Fun Day committee chair Christina Petrea said several activities including face painting, a dunk tank, and outdoor games such as cornhole and kickball will be available. She also said kids tend to come up with their own games, such as hide and seek. Petrea said Survival Flight helicopters will also be there (weather permitting) and will be joined by QEM Fire Trucks, Grafton police, and ambulance vehicles. A family-friendly movie will also be shown, though the exact movie has yet to be determined. Hot dogs, chips, popcorn, and water will also be provided - the day’s festivities and food

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MERAMEC RIVER - The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released the official report about the death of a 25-year-old Collinsville man in the Meramec River on July 4. The report says the man - Uriel P. Ramirez - "jumped off a bluff and could not self-rescue or be rescued by bystanders." Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene. Missouri Baptist Sullivan EMS responded to the drowning and Ranger A. Carlson, Ranger E. Ferrel, Trooper Giesler, Cpl. D. Duffie, Cpl. B. Groves and the Sullivan Fire Department all responded the report said. Cpl. A. Michels directed the investigation into the drowning for Missouri State Highway Patrol. No other information was available at this time.

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BELLEVILLE - Illinois American Water is encouraging customers who qualify and need financial assistance with their water and/or wastewater bills to utilize the federal assistance program LIHWAP. LIHWAP is a federally-funded program that provides bill payment assistance to help low-income families pay their water and/or wastewater bills. Qualifying residential customers could receive up to $1,500 for their water and/or wastewater bill. The program is available through Aug. 31, 2023, and is open to residential customers only. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the program and assistance is provided by local Community Action Agencies (CAA) throughout the state. “We understand the water bill may be one of the lowest household bills, but it can also be easy for customers to fall behind when household costs continue to rise,” said Illinois American Water Vice President Beth Matthews. “These federal funds can further help

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WOOD RIVER - Tim Gegen was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief for Wood River Police at Tuesday night's Wood River City Council Meeting. Ken Lutz was sworn in as a patrol officer. Officer Lutz had previously served with the Staunton Police Department and has considerable law enforcement experience. He also served as a Fairmont City Police officer, and railroad special agent in the first part of his career. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells is thankful to have both new officers in their respective positions. "Tim Gegen has been with the Wood River Police Department for close to 20 years," Chief Wells said. "He has been an investigator and runs a patrol shift for several years. He is very knowledgeable and he is what you picture as a police officer who tries to help people when there are issues to work through. He was the obvious choice to be promoted to deputy chief." Lutz is "a very solid police officer," Chief Wells said. "We talked to him extensively before we hired him and

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MARYVILLE - Got Your Six Support Dogs will be hosting their 6 th Annual Golf Scramble at Belk Park on Friday, August 19 th . All proceeds from the event go towards their mission to provide lifesaving service dogs to veterans and first responders with severe PTSD and/ or sexual trauma. The organization gives these dogs to recipients at no cost. Andy Canning, the past recipient at GYSSD, is eager for the upcoming event. “This, in particular, the scramble is my favorite to play in, out of the numerous scrambles I get into every year. Outside of the outstanding facility it’s held at and the great benefits added in for the players from Got Your Six, I also get to support an organization that helps our nation's heroes, as well as assisting their families to regain their life and independence,” explained Canning. Teams of four can register for the event by emailing or mailing forms to GYSSD Development Coordinator, Sam, at sam@gyssd.com . The registration

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