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ALTON - Swapping is the new shopping! Clean out your closet and join Alton Main Street on Sunday, May 1st from 12:00-4:00 p.m. for a Pop-Up Clothing Swap. The event will be held in the ballroom at Mineral Springs Mall, located at 301 E. Broadway. To participate, you simply bring gently used clothing, accessories, and shoes that you no longer wear and trade for as many new items as you can carry out. An option to bring your items in advance is available; early drop-off is on Saturday, April 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the same location. Participants should enter through the side door to the lower level which faces Alton Street. The event is open to the public, and the entrance fee is $5.00 if you bring clothes to swap or $10.00 to attend empty-handed. Leftover clothing will be donated to local charities. Attendees may also bring fabric in any condition (such as worn-out clothing, pillows, blankets, etc.) which will be recycled with Remains Inc. A Needs Assessment conducted by Alton Mai

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville resident Kenny Krumeich has been on a long-time campaign to remove propane tanks that rest at the corner of First Avenue and Longfellow in his city. This is how Kenny tells the story: "In 1967 the City of Edwardsville awarded a variance to a gas company to place adjacent to a quiet neighborhood. How this got on First Avenue and the corner of Longfellow, you must go back to the start. "It started at the Edwardsville City Planning Commission which heard the request of Skelly Oil Company (Skelgas) for a variation to store 60,000 gallons of flammable material on 1 lot on First Avenue and corner of Longfellow. On August 24, 1967, the city council, Alderman Abert made a motion (seconded by Alderman Kreiuter) to approve the 60,000 gallons of flammable material placed to be placed on First Avenue and Longfellow. "They were to have someone present in the office six days a week. This was the original agreement when Skelgas requested this variance.

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GODFREY - Rosemary Manns turned 100 on Friday and she is described by both her grandson and son as "the sweetest and smartest lady they have ever met." In amazing fashion, she still reads a book a day, her grandson said. Her grandson, Mike, a firefighter, and his father, James, live in Kansas, but they still get back to see her frequently. Rosemary had four children - James, Leslie, Tom and Marilyn. She has a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "My grandmother is extremely intelligent," he said. "She is also super modest and doesn't want any attention. She has always cared for other people and set the foundation for me and others in the family to want to serve people and help others." Rosemary and her husband, Erwin, were always happy together, her grandson said. Rosemary is a strong Catholic and has been a member at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey for many years. "She has been somebody that has been a definite leader of the family spiritually and from a

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To the Editor: As a veteran of law enforcement in Illinois, I have served over twenty-eight years with the Decatur Police department retiring as Chief of Police. My additional twelve years of service as a training administrator with the United States Attorney CD/IL and Deputy Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, have given me insight to issues and concerns of local law enforcement and the citizens they represent. I have known Jeff Larner and his family for over forty years and was delighted to hear that Jeff has announced his candidacy for Sheriff of Madison County. Please accept my endorsement of Jeff Larner for Sheriff of Madison County. Jeff is the kind of individual who would carry out the duties of Sheriff in a professional manner and give the citizens of Madison County the courtesy and respect they deserve. Jeff was an exemplary police officer for the City of Decatur. He came to our city after service in the U.S. Marine Corps as an intelligent

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TROY - Troy Fire Protection District and the Madison County Emergency Management Agency members battled a serious mulch fire Saturday around the area where Interstate 270-Interstate-55 intersect near Troy. The mulch fire was at 2466 Formosa Road in Troy. The smoke from the mulch blaze could be seen for miles around the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon-Maryville and Troy vicinities. The Madison County Emergency Management Agency was activated and had their drones up and assisting Troy Fire. A part of Routes 270 and I-55 was blocked during the fire battle. All EMA units returned to service at 8 p.m. "At the time of our departure, the fire had been knocked down significantly with the hard-working firefighters of Troy Fire still extinguishing hot spots. Excellent work by all involved.”

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LOS ANGELES - Legendary rock band The Who has announced an exciting line-up of special guests to join them on THE WHO HITS BACK!Tour. The Who has raised the bar once again on their incredible legacy by inviting a wide range of special guest artists to join on the tour: Texas rockers Los Lonely Boys, the hard-rocking band fronted by the lead guitarist/songwriter from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs, singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson, British (female-led) rock band The Wild Things, Americana soul singer Amythyst Kiah, singer/songwriter (founder of Barenaked Ladies) Steven Page, and opening for one night at the Bethel Woods show Willie Nile. (Scroll down for dates/details) The iconic band’s upcoming North American trek promises to be another rock n’ roll knockout, bringing singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend back to U.S. venues two years after their acclaimed MOVING ON! Tour, which wowed audiences with a series of sold-out

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today issued updated public recommendations regarding wild birds and the EA H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) currently impacting some wild and domestic bird species. While HPAI has not been detected in songbird species (passerines), IDNR recommends the use of bird feeders and bird baths cease through May 31, or until HPAI infections in the Midwest subside, especially those that waterfowl may visit. During spring, wild birds will have ample food sources while bird feeders are removed. Further IDNR recommendations: • Clean and rinse bird feeders and baths with a diluted bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach) and put away or clean weekly if they can’t be moved away from birds. • Remove any bird seed at the base of bird feeders to discourage large gatherings of birds or other wildlife. • Avoid feeding wild birds in close proximity to domestic flocks.

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CARLINVILLE - A pair of Carlinville men have received an award from the Illinois State Historical Society for a ground-breaking study of the state’s oldest public institution of higher learning. Tom Emery and Carl Kasten earned the Certificate of Merit for Abraham Lincoln and the Heritage of Illinois State University , a comprehensive 288-page volume on the sixteenth President’s many connections to the school. The book has won rave reviews from some of the leading names in Lincoln research. The award was presented at the ISHS’ Best of Illinois History awards banquet in Springfield on April 9. Lincoln spent ample time in Bloomington, and had numerous political supporters there. He served as attorney to the state Board of Education, which oversaw Illinois State in its earliest days, and prepared various documents, including the guaranty to secure funding for the university. In doing so, Lincoln ensured that the university would be located in Bloomington-Normal.

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COLLINSVILLE - A farmer knowing how corn or soybean crops are progressing or being able to identify an insect can mean the difference between a profitable harvest and a bad year. The youth Illinois Crop Scouting Competition puts teams of agriculture students to the test. This hands-on contest in August gives high school students from across the state the opportunity to learn and network. “This competition is back for a second year with more challenging and team-building exercise that give these future ag professionals the chance to engage with their peers from around the state and agriculture researchers and experts," says competition coordinator Chelsea Harbach with University of Illinois Extension. Harbach, an Illinois Extension Agriculture Educator, says crop scouting is an important skill for farmers that can help lead to higher yields and increased profit per acre. Scouting keeps farmers aware of what is happening in the field with crop growth or yield stealers, including

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COLLINSVILLE - Woodlands are a valuable resource that many forest owners use to make income by selling timber. But landowners may have more opportunities to make money from their property than they realize. Landowners can explore income-generating specialty products and recreational services in a free webinar at 6 p.m. on July 12. In “Generate Income from Private Woodlands,” Purdue University Extension Forester Lenny Farlee will cover topics such as sourcing medicinal herbs, fruits, nuts, and craft items from woodlands. He will also explore how owners can provide services by leasing land to the public for hunting, camping, and other recreational opportunities. Sign up in advance for the program at go.illinois.edu/WoodlandIncome . For more information, contact Taryn Bieri at tbieri@illinois.edu . If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Taryn. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs. SOURCE: Taryn

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PEORIA - Some therapy patients are getting an out-of-this-world experience – under the watchful eyes of their therapists. New virtual reality (VR) technology called REAL VR is marrying high-tech activities with traditional therapy needs. REAL VR provides VR therapeutic activities that focus on strengthening, range of motion, and postural control. The system can also address cognitive functions like spatial and depth perception awareness. According to Anne Horowitz, an occupational therapist at OSF Rehabilitation in Peoria, Illinois, virtual reality allows patients to practice a number of skills – all in one sitting. “What I really like about this device is we're working on balance, we’re working on arm motion: overhead, eye-level, below the waist. You can actually hold onto an item as if you're painting. You can also do it standing. So working on standing balance and sitting balance. And if they have vision problems you're working on scanning your environment,”

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Earth Day is not the only date on the calendar in April to honor the environment. Another spring holiday with many of the same ideals has been around for a lot longer, though few notice today. In many Midwestern states, Earth Day comes just before Arbor Day, which has roots dating to 1872. Celebrated in pockets across America, Arbor Day is one of the earlier examples of a national movement to protect the environment. Illinois and many neighboring states celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, which this year is April 29. However, Arbor Day is observed on different dates in many other states, owing to differences in the local climate. The first Arbor Day celebration dates to 1872 in Nebraska and was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton, who moved to the plains from Michigan and missed the trees and shrubbery of his former home. A journalist and newspaper editor who served on the Nebraska board of agriculture, Morton also saw the need for windbreaks and soil anchors in th

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The Civil War battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest of the western theater in the Civil War. Several Palmyra men were among the 13,000 Union troops who were casualties in the battle, 160 years ago this month. The troops were part of the 32nd Illinois, which lost 224 of 546 effectives at Shiloh, contested on April 6-7, 1862. The regiment was commanded by Col. John Logan, a Carlinville physician who is often confused with his first cousin, the controversial John A. “Black Jack” Logan of southern Illinois political fame. The fighting was particularly fierce on the first day near the Union center, where the 32nd was stationed for part of that day’s action. The combat was so intense that the position earned the nickname “Hornet’s Nest,” reflected in the words of an officer of the 52nd Illinois, who wrote that “balls flew around and among us like hail.” There, several central Illinois regiments manned an increasingly untenable position.

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PEORIA - Like many of us, Kelli Ballard, a Washington, Illinois, school administrator was hoping after a tumultuous 2020, that 2021 would be a better year. It didn’t quite turn out that way. In January of last year, just as the new school semester was beginning at her K-8 school, the then 42-year-old Ballard received a phone call that would change everything. Ballard was told she had three tumors in her breasts. Tests showed she had stage 1a invasive ductile breast cancer. “They weren’t bringing people in because of COVID and so that was really hard. I actually had a co-worker who had had breast cancer the year before and she was there with me that day when I found out and she was just my huge support system.” It was quite a blow. Ballard’s cancer journey began when after a few years of taking a CancerIQ assessment before every mammogram, she finally decided to talk to someone about her high risk score. The five-minute online tool from the Chicago-based

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic's ACES Academic Challenge Team, led by John Walters, returned home from state competition with several winners this past week. Regional medal winners from left to right back row: Peter Walsh 2nd Bio, Will Schwartz 1st Chem, Skylar Schuster 2nd Chem, Dre Davis 1st Physics, Nathan Bennett 2nd Physics. Front row: Nina Walters, 2nd Math, 2nd Chm, Elizabeth Guenther 3rd Math, Emma Bohannon 1st Biology. Of Special note; Nina Walters took second place in both chemistry and math at Sectionals while Skylar Schuster was first in chemistry.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Friday, April 8, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Marcus Payne, 39 years of age, of the 200 block of Duquette Lane in Florissant, Missouri 63033, for four counts of Stealing $750 or More. A mugshot of Payne is shown. Payne is being held on a $50,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. On Thursday, April 21, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Terrence Cooper, 33 years of age, of the 8300 block of Pepperidge Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63134, for four counts of Stealing $750 or More. A mugshot of Cooper is shown. Cooper is being held on a $50,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. The probable cause statement for Payne reads: On four separate occasions within a period of approximately six weeks, Defendant acted with others to steal from two ULTA Beauty stores (in Fenton and central St. Louis County) and the Marshall’s store in south St. Louis County. Defendant and

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BELLEVILLE - After getting input from transit riders, area residents, elected officials and stakeholders through a series of in-person and virtual opportunities, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), has approved a finalized design concept for the “Transit Stop Transformation” project at the Belleville Transit Center, located at 800 Scheel Street. The project – being completed in conjunction with Citizens for Modern Transit, AARP in St. Louis and Metro Transit and through a partnership with the City of Belleville – will transform the concrete area between the bus bays and MetroLink entrance into an interactive, playful and engaging space. The finalized design – developed by St. Louis-based transportation engineering and planning firm CBB – boasts a vibrant-colored “Art Grows in Belleville” theme. It features musical, custom bike racks, shade structures, a Belleville city logo sign, benches, planters and elevated window artwork

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SPRINGFIELD – Spring is here, the weather is getting warmer and the Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public to be on the lookout for maintenance teams picking up litter throughout the state. As part of its ongoing Think Before You Throw! initiative, IDOT is stepping up efforts to remove litter from roadsides while encouraging you to be part of the solution. “Litter might seem like a temporary problem, but it can have long-term, far-reaching impacts,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “During the pandemic, we have observed much more littering taking place. We are committed to helping maintain a positive impression of Illinois by keeping roadsides clean, but we can’t do it alone. We’re asking you to think before you throw and properly dispose of trash.” The Think Before You Throw! campaign aims to reduce roadside litter by raising awareness of its impacts. Litter is more than just an eyesore –

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URBANA - May 27, 2020, was a heart-wrenching day Bryanna Dobbs will never forget. But it was also a day that set the home daycare operator on a journey of empowerment and planted the seed of a bond with an OSF HealthCare Mission Partners who cared for her. Dobbs and her husband Austin were at the Blessed Beginnings Birthing Center at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois. The Villa Grove, Illinois, couple was preparing to welcome their daughter, Ivy Faye. Instead, Dobbs suffered a stillbirth. “We don’t have a whole lot of answers as to what happened,” Dobbs says. “We think it was an cord accident, and I kind of dealt with some low fluid problems.” Pregnancy loss is more common than people think, says Emily Ontis, a registered nurse at OSF Heart of Mary who was Dobbs’ nurse in 2020. Statistics show around one to two in 10 women will suffer a miscarriage , which is pregnancy loss in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some

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GRAFTON - Back by popular demand, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau will celebrate local foods with an epic foodie experience throughout the month of June. Businesses and restaurants that serve up great burgers, wings, ice cream, and pizza will be highlighted throughout the month of June during Epic Food Month. Each week a different local favorite food will be celebrated. The epic weeks include: Epic Pizza Week, Epic Wing Week, Epic Burger Week, and Epic Ice-Cream Week. “We started highlighting our epic foods last year and it was an amazing success,” said Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “We had 100 different restaurants participate serving up thousands of burgers, pizzas, and ice cream treats to residents and visitors alike. Now we want to take our epic foods to the next level” Epic Food Month will kick off with Epic Pizza Week June 6 – 10; Epic Wing Week June 13 – 17; Epic Burger Week June 20 - 24, followed

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