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GRAFTON - The American Legion Post #648 hosted Grafton’s Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony on Monday, May 30, 2022, at the American Legion Post’s World War I Monument overlooking the Cemetery in Grafton. The ceremony honored the nation’s fallen military members with a twenty-one-gun salute by the Legion’s Honor Guard and the playing of taps. “We were pleased to see so many people attend the ceremony," said Bruce Olmstead, the Commander of American Legion Post #648. The invocation and short remarks were given by Father Martin Smith, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Jerseyville who is a veteran of the Iraq War having served with the 82nd Airborne Division. The keynote speech was delivered by Colonel (Ret.) Michael Morrow, Mayor of Grafton, a veteran of Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Following the speakers, the Legion’s honor guard presented a 21-gun salute followed by the playing of taps. Terry Day, Chairman of the Grafton’s

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ALTON - Spectrum today announced it has implemented mandatory 10-digit dialing for Spectrum Voice ® customers and Spectrum Business Voice clients in Illinois. The new 10-digit dialing, required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), allows for the July 16 launch of 988 as the nationwide three-digit phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. To facilitate this launch, area codes using 988 as the first three digits of a seven-digit phone number must transition to 10-digit dialing. The change requires customers to dial the area code followed by the seven-digit phone number in order for local calls to be completed. Additionally, important safety and security equipment, such as medical alert devices and alarm systems should be programmed to use 10-digit dialing. Beginning July 16, dialing 988 will automatically route calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Prior to the launch, customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-8255 to reach the hotline. T

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RANDOLPH COUNTY - The Illinois State Police is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on Illinois Route 3 at B Road in Randolph County. A 50-year-old female Amy J. Brown, of Ellis Grove, died in the accident . The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 13: WHAT: Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Illinois Route 3 at B Road, Randolph County WHEN: May 31, 2022 at approximately 4:51 p.m. VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2013 Silver Chevrolet Equinox Unit 2 – 2006 White Dodge Grand Caravan DRIVERS : Unit 1 – Savannah N. Sunneberg, 19-year-old female from Wentzville, MO – Airlifted to a regional hospital with serious injuries. Unit 2 – Amy J. Brown, 50-year-old female from Ellis Grove, IL – Deceased PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 3 near B Road. Unit 2 was traveling northbound at the same

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GODFREY - This is the St. Ambrose Catholic School 4th Quarter High Honor Roll and Honor Roll 2021-2022 Honor Roll List: Honor Roll Karina Chew (4th) Emma Crews (4th) Leon Kerkemeyer (4th) Averie Kochan (4th) Lydia Kribs (4th) Adelyn Labrenz (4th) Genevieve Merkle (4th) Audrey Nailor (4th) Parker Williams (4th) Mallory Cronin (5th) Addie Estes (5th) Max King (5th) Ryan Kline (5th) Maggie Pruetzel (5th) Kynlee Adams (6th) Josie Anderson (6th) Alisa Buchanan (6th) Henry Franklin (6th) Joseph Gaither (6th) Diego Lara (6th) Colin Mueller (6th) Nolan Pichee (6th) Lucas Stephan (6th) Myra Sutton (6th) Natalie Adams (7th) Hubert Allen (7th) Eli Baggio (7th) Charlotte Beasley (7th) Emerson Bruns (7th) Mia Buchanan (7th) Sophie Copple (7th) Kooper Morrissey (7th) Caden Ontis (7th) Ella Osborn (7th) Mya Pickens (7th) Luke Brown (8th) Isabella Macias (8th) Finnley Stevenson (8th) High Honor Roll Piper Adams (4th) Bennett Anderson (4th) Erin Crawford

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EDWARDSVILLE - Have yourself a day Cade Hardy. The junior outfielder went 3-4 with five RBIs and three runs against the Belleville East Lancers in the Class 4A Sectional Semifinal game Wednesday night. He single-handedly batted in half of the runs scored by Edwardsville as they went en route to winning 10-0 over their new Southwestern Conference rivals. Hardy faced arguably the best pitcher his team has seen all season, Zander Mueth. Mueth shut out the Tigers and ended their 22-game win streak back on May 5. Mueth struck out Hardy in his first at-bat yesterday. Hardy came back up to bat again in the bottom of the third inning and knew what he had to do. "My first at-bat I was seeing the ball well off Mueth, but he struck me out. So, I knew my second at-bat I had to come up and do something," Hardy said. That's exactly what he did. With runners on second and third, he managed to hit a single over the second baseman's head and into shallow center field. The center fielder ran onto

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EAST ALTON – Former Southwestern Illinois College Dean of Math and Sciences Paige Mettler-Cherry has joined the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ), a division of Lewis and Clark Community College, as the new Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives. As part of NGRREC’s leadership team, Mettler-Cherry will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction for the education and conservation departments, along with supporting research operations. “My career in higher education gives me the best of both worlds, working with students and conducting research,” she said. “I am passionate about conservation and love introducing students to science, ecology and the great outdoors.” Mettler-Cherry started her career as an undergraduate research assistant at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), working with Professor of Plant Biology Marian Smith. “I was extremely lucky to meet Dr. Smith - she

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(OSF HEALTHCARE) - Thirty years of smoking a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes per day. Breathing problems. Three trips to the emergency department. Throat cancer. Nearly losing his vocal cords. Radiation treatment. A temporary tracheotomy leading to a soft food-only diet. A stroke. Depression. Relying on oxygen and a cane daily. For Ralph Federle of Alton, Illinois, it all adds up to one message to young people who want to start smoking or vaping : don’t do it. “I wasn’t really scared because I know where I’m going after I die,” Federle says of the cancer diagnosis. “But just the mere thought of my family members, my daughter, my granddaughter. I have too much to live for. And so I would fight.” Federle and Karen Boyd, one of the nurse navigators who cares for him at OSF Moeller Cancer Center in Alton are among those taking notice of the latest annual report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on young people vaping. “Youth

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(The Center Square) – Wednesday marked the repeal of parental notification of underage abortion in Illinois, and each side of the argument is making their position known. The 1995 parental notification law didn’t go into effect until 2013 after years of litigation. The law allowed for a judicial bypass of the notification requirement. Last year, the Democratic supermajority at the Illinois statehouse passed a measure to repeal parental notification. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the repeal in December. The repeal took effect June 1, 2022. At a campaign stop in East St. Louis Wednesday, Pritzker promised to keep abortion legal in Illinois, even for girls without their parents being notified. “Just across the river, Missouri Republicans have nearly eliminated women’s ability for women to access vital reproductive health care,” Pritzker said. “While here in Illinois, we’ve fought to expand women’s rights.” In 2020, more than 9,600

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - The Illinois State Police is investigating another fatal accident that occurred early Thursday morning. A 24-year-old male from St. Louis died in a two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 185 at Montgomery Road, Montgomery County, from a call that came in at 2:21 a.m. on June 2, 2022 . Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police: WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Illinois Route 185 at Mulberry Grove Road, Montgomery County? WHEN: At approximately 2:21 a.m. June 2, 2022 VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2003 White Ford Mustang Unit 2- 2015 Mack Truck Tractor Semi-Trailer DRIVERS : Unit 1- 24-year-old male from St. Louis, MO – Deceased Unit 2- Larry W. Temple, a 65-year-old male from Indianapolis, IN – Uninjured PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on Illinois Route 185 just west of Mulberry Grove Road. Unit 2 was traveling westbound

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ADAM NIEMERG - One party rule is destroying our state. According to a report from 24/7 Wall St., Illinois is the seventh worst-run state in the country. The report states, “Compared to most states, Illinois is not well positioned financially. Saddled with debt, a woefully underfunded pension system, and a virtually empty rainy-day fund, Illinois has a Baa3 credit rating from Moody’s and a negative outlook — the worst of any state.” As a result of the mismanagement in Illinois, our state had the second highest outbound moves in 2021 according to United Van Lines. Anecdotally, my office hears all of the time from people who have either moved or are thinking about moving. The people I talk to are disheartened by what is going on in Springfield and they have little hope anything will change. They are tired of the one-party rule in Illinois, and they are equally as tired of the inept leadership in the opposition party. It would be easy to lay the blame of the state’s

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ST. LOUIS - Events leading up to Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 get started today and you can still get tickets. PLEASE NOTE: Although Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter is sold out, tickets still may be available on the TicketSmarter resale site: https://www.ticketsmarter.com/venues/world-wide-technology-raceway-at-gateway?utm_source=wwtr&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=partners Thursday, June 2: 4-8 p.m. – WWTR Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise (601 Clark Ave., across from Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis). Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson: 4-4:15 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series driver Cole Custer (TBD). 6 p.m. – NASCAR haulers depart WWTR staging lot. 6:30 p.m. – NASCAR hauler parade passes Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise and Busch Stadium. Link to weekend schedule: https://wwtraceway.com/inaugural-wwtr-nascar-cup-series-weekend-schedule/

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URBANA, Ill. – Ticks, once limited to the northeast region of the United States, are making a westward migration across the U.S. and with them, tickborne diseases that cost the healthcare system up to $1.3 billion a year to treat. Exposure to ticks can happen anywhere - from backyards to parks to agricultural fields. Agricultural workers who spend significant time outdoors are at great risk for exposure to ticks. Ticks are considered vectors since they carry diseases that they transmit to other organisms. In the first year of a two-year study by University of Illinois researchers and Illinois Extension professionals, three prevalent tick species in Illinois were studied: deer tick, American dog tick, and Lonestar tick. Diseases associated with ticks include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Powassan virus, anaplasmosis, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, heartland virus, and Alpha-gal syndrome. Based on previous studies, researchers want to better understand the level of knowledg

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O'FALLON, Ill. - Gear Girls for the win! The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Robotics Team from O’Fallon, Gear Girls, recently took home the prestigious 1 st Champions Award from the Liberty Science Center Invitational in Jersey City, New Jersey. This award celebrates a team that fully embodies the FIRST LEGO League Challenge experience with high achievement in Robot Performance, Robot Design, and the Innovation Project along with FIRST’s Core Values. Congrats, Girl Scouts!

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $21.2 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support Head Start services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. The funding, awarded by the HHS Administration for Children and Families, will go to five organizations across Illinois. “Head Start programs, even through the COVID-19 pandemic, have offered critical support to our youngest Illinoisans,” Durbin said. “Today’s significant investment will help build the foundation for lifelong success for these children by supporting their early learning, health, and family well-being.” “Head Start and Early Head Start programs are critical for kids throughout Illinois to have the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom,” Duckworth said.“Investments

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COLLINSVILLE, IL – The City of Collinsville is looking for your feedback about your neighborhood and what can be done to improve it. The Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative’s goal is to solicit feedback on several criteria like where you live and satisfaction with living in the city, level of satisfaction with city services, and gauging interest in establishing neighborhood associations to name a few. “What we’re looking to do is really empower people to take initiative, identify the problem, communicate that to the appropriate staff so that we can be more proactive in our service efforts, code enforcement and our other outreach efforts,” Yancey said. The goal of the project is to have departments work more closely together, increase the ability to identify and respond to neighborhood issues and capital improvement needs, improve customer service, responsiveness, community outreach, and education efforts and encourage neighborhood-based,

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police released a notice today that it is attempting to identify the woman shown above. Wood River Police said this is in regard to an active investigation and no further details can be released at this time. "If you have information that can assist in identifying her, please call the Wood River Police at 618-251-3114. "As always, we appreciate the assistance and support of our community," the police department said.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County officials want to warn those visiting the Administration Building or Courthouse in downtown Edwardsville about changing road closures in downtown Edwardsville. Work is continuing and closures on St. Louis Street will be alternating from day-to-day from one end of the street to the other. Second Street remains closed. Sidewalks and crosswalks will remain open for pedestrians from the large parking lot (Off Second Street) behind the county administration building. Access to the large parking lot from W. Vandalia Street would be closed this week and the public is asked to use Clay Street to reach the parking lot. The county is asking the public not to cross or park in areas that are blocked off by barricades or caution tape. In mid-April, construction started along Second Street at St. Louis Street and goes to High Street. Due to the construction and the installation of a new water line, the pedestrian crosswalk from the parking lot to the back of

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ALTON - Many times, split-second decisions by police officers save lives. On Wednesday, Alton Police officers were presented with life-saving awards from OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center after they were sent to an area for an unresponsive person. The officers involved were John Hoefert, Jeffrey Thornton, and Dan Jensen. Upon arrival, the person involved showed no signs of life, and they administered CPR and took other life-saving measures to revive the individual. Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido said he was "absolutely proud" of these officers for their heroic actions. "As those officers arrived and found the person not showing any signs of life, without hesitation, they all worked together to revive the person," the chief said. "After several minutes of CPR, as well as other lifesaving methods, they were able to bring that person back to life. I am so proud of them."

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CARROLLTON - The 168th annual Greene County Agricultural Fair kicked off Tuesday and continues into this weekend with a lineup of exciting events, carnival rides and more. Last night , the Miss Greene County Fair 2022 Queens were crowned as Miss Kennedy Ruyle, Junior Miss Kenna Brannan and Little Miss Paisley Osterman. The horse racing event originally scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. has been rescheduled to tomorrow, Thursday, June 2 at 1 p.m. Mark Walker, secretary with the Greene County Agricultural Fair, said all other carnival rides and food/drink vendors, including the “Beverage Garden,” will still be available as scheduled tonight - tomorrow will just be an extra-busy day at the fair. Admission to the fair itself for children under 12 is free; single-admission tickets are $4 for adults until Thursday and $5 on Friday and Saturday. Ticket prices for each grandstand event vary by event and can be viewed on the Greene County Agricultural Fair website

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EDWARDSVILLE - Alton junior track sprinter Khaliyah Goree got off to a great start this past track and field season as part of the Redbirds' 800-meter sprint medley relay team at the Southern Illinois Relays meet that won the prestigious Edwardsville High's Winston Brown Track Center, with a time of 2:00.18. She was extremely valuable in 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relays for the Redbirds throughout the outdoor season. The 4 x 100 relay had a 51.61 time in the Southwestern Conference Championships and a 51.69 in the Madison County Meet. For Goree and her Redbirds' teammates, it was great to be back out after the last two years resulted in the cancellation of many meets because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. "I feel like I did lose a lot to COVID," Goree said, "but I'm just glad that I can get a full season back in and just run." Goree will be a senior this coming fall at AHS. Goree's goals for next season will be to get the 4 x 100 relay to state and continue to improve in the 400 meters,

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