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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced a new app that provides audible route navigation for oversize/overweight loads and a tamp plate that ensures proper compaction of road patches have taken the top prizes in its fifth annual Innovative Ideas Contest. The contest rewards employees for innovative problem-solving that improves safety and efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars. “This year’s contest has once again produced a bounty of innovations from creative employees throughout the state,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “With an eye toward ingenuity, this contest is yet another example of how our team is always looking to improve the services we provide to the people of Illinois.” Ideas in two tracks – Operations and Technical – were submitted to IDOT’s internal selection committee. Projects were evaluated by size and scope of the problem, creativity in finding solutions,

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Public Health Director Urges Illinoisans to Monitor Local COVID-19 Case Counts and to Protect Themselves by Remaining Up-to-date on Vaccinations SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a warning today that COVID-19 case rates are slowly rising in many areas of the state and that members of the public should be paying close attention to conditions in their local communities and staying up-to-date on their vaccination status. “While hospitalizations and deaths tied to COVID-19 remain stable at this time, we are seeing a slow increase in cases in many areas of the State,” said Acting IDPH Director Amaal Tokars. “This is a reminder that we all need to remain vigilant and remain up to date on our vaccination status. This is especially important for those who are at higher risk for serious outcomes.” Tokars stressed that vaccination is the most effective tool we have to fight the virus – and that it is easy to find a

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HARDIN - The Barefoot Restaurant is about to make a triumphant return in Hardin at 106 Water Street within just days. The Barefoot has been closed during the COVID-19 Pandemic, but Brian Matthews, his sister, Kelly Sievers, and brother-in-law, Phil, purchased the restaurant’s name, recipes, and menu use from previous owner Judy Herter. The purchase came in late September and the group has been working hard since that point on the old Illini Medical Building structure to be the new Barefoot. The good news is this Barefoot will be above the 1993 Great Flood levels and should be safe during difficult floods. The Barefoot was hit hard at its location during the floods. Matthews said he is thankful to continue the landmark for Hardin and bring the delicious fish fritters, chicken, and other Barefoot favorites back to life. Shown here is a picture of the back of the existing building where a new kitchen is being built. Another photo shows Brian Matthews and his son and nephews

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ALTON - On February 11th, the Riverbender Community Center (RBCC) reopened its doors to the youth of the Riverbend. Pre-teens and teens from Alton, Godfrey, and many neighboring communities flood the Center each Friday night from 6:30 - 10:00 p.m., evidence that the need in our community for a safe place for our youth on the weekends still exists and cannot go unanswered! Since the reopening 8 weeks ago, the “Friday Night Open Play” events have sold out within a few days of tickets going on sale. “We are overwhelmed with the response we have seen from the public since our doors reopened,” said Daniel Nosce, Director. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RiverBender Community Center (@riverbendercommunitycenter) “The Center has received countless notes, calls, and texts from local families thanking us for providing a well-supervised, exciting event for our kids. For 11 years, our doors have been open to teens and

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JERSEYVILLE - Dan Brynildsen, owner of Riverbend Axe Throwing and a top-10 axe-throwing world champion, competed in and hosted a series of major axe-throwing competitions last weekend at Riverbend Axe Throwing’s Jerseyville and East Alton locations. Things kicked off last Friday, April 8 with a “big axe” throwing tournament at the Jerseyville location. Tyler Flynn, an axe thrower from Ohio, won the first-place prize of $600; cash prizes were paid out from places first through sixth. Josselyn Allen, a 14-year-old Jerseyville resident, tied for ninth place, beating several highly-ranked axe throwers in the process. The tournament continued on Saturday in East Alton with hatchet and knife throwing competitions. Flynn also won the hatchet competition’s first-place prize of $800; cash prizes were paid to places first through eighth, and Brynildsen won fourth place in the competition. On Saturday night, Austin Bock won the knife-throwing tournament’s

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JERSEYVILLE - City Center will be bustling on Thursday, May 5th with the first Ladies Choice Night. This public-private partnership between a number of businesses in and out of the District gives visitors from all over the region the opportunity to grab the gals and Journey to Jerseyville for the evening. 3 scheduled events happening at locations within walking distance really allows for people to plan their evening to their liking. Starting at 6:00 pm, Sweet Peas Florals and Gifts & Ruby Mae’s have teamed up with DJ’s Pub and Grill to host “Bubbles and Bouquets.” Come in for a showcase of wonder grab-and-go flowers soon available at the floral shop along with other gifts for any occasion, and sip on some great drinks from the bar. As a bonus, it’s also steak night at DJ’s. Just across State Street at 3 Sister’s Tea, Apothecary & Yoga grab a wonderful cup of organic & sustainably sourced loose leaf tea blends and hear about how to take time

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COLLINSVILLE – Today, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials dedicated Illinois Route 3 from Kaskaskia Road to GG Road in Waterloo, Illinois as Trooper Nicholas J. Hopkins Memorial Highway in honor of the fallen Trooper. On August 23, 2019, Trooper Nicholas Hopkins, #6141 and other ISP Troopers were executing a search warrant at a residence in East Saint Louis when Trooper Hopkins was struck by gunfire. Trooper Hopkins tragically lost his life as a result of his injuries. “Nick was known for his selfless acts and the huge smile permanently affixed across his face,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Trooper Hopkins made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people of Illinois and his dedication and service now will be known to everyone traveling down this stretch of Illinois Route 3 as they see the sign in his honor.” Trooper Hopkins was 33-years-old and a 10-year veteran of the Illinois State Police. Trooper Hopkins’ family and friends joine

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ALTON - Alton’s Spring City-Wide Litter Clean-Up will be held on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., rain or shine. The community is invited to pitch in by picking up bags, gloves, a free donut, and directions to areas that need cleaning. Registration stations are open from 8 am-12 pm and located Downtown at the corner of 3rd & Belle St., and in Middletown at Hellrung Park at 7th and Central Ave. At 9:00 a.m., groups are departing in Upper Alton from Taqueria Maya at 621 College Ave and in North Alton from Joe K’s Restaurant, located at 2530 State St. If needed, groups can pick up supplies at Great Rivers Tourism Center, or Jacoby Arts Center two weeks prior. Alternatively, volunteers can simply pick up litter in their neighborhood and deposit it in their own trash & recycle bins at their convenience. The bi-annual cleanups are coordinated by Pride, Incorporated, collaborating with Alton Main Street who share the vision and understanding that litter-free

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GODFREY – The annual Trebuchet competition returned to the George C. Terry River Bend Arena at Lewis and Clark Community College on April 8 for its 15 th year. “We were very excited to hold the annual Trebuchet contest once again, after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus,” Mathematics Professor Kevin Bodden said. “It was great to see kids enjoying a STEM experience and learning more about what L&C has to offer through our programs.” Out of a field of 10 teams, Team AVC from Bunker Hill High School won the contest, with Team Rass-putin from Edwardsville High School placing first in the reporting competition. Bunker Hill teacher and Trebuchet team advisor Jeremiah Goltz, who brought two teams to the competition, said he and his students look forward to the contest every year. “When our students were able to get a consistent shot forward, they began to get really excited,” he said. “We went into the contest just hoping to compete and make

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ALTON – Elsayed Abo-Salem, MD, MSc, FACC, joined the Alton Memorial Hospital medical staff April 1. Dr. Abo-Salem is board certified in Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, and Echocardiology, and has a special interest in congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, preventive cardiology, and telemedicine. Dr. Abo-Salem joins St. Louis Cardiology Consultants in Medical Office Building A on the hospital campus after spending the past six years at Saint Louis University Hospital. For more information, call St. Louis Cardiology Consultants at 618-466-6612.

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BRIGHTON - The Second Annual Ray Botterbush Memorial Sporting Clays Shoot is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Nilo Farms in Brighton. Lunch catered by Chef Bob's will feature pulled pork, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, garden salad, and iced tea and lemonade. Nilo is the Olin Corporation’s and Winchester Ammunition’s nationally known hunting and shooting facility. Event Chairman Kevin Botterbush said that money raised from this event will benefit Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Venturing, and Explore Scouts in the Riverbend, and Camp Warren Levis. This event is named in honor of long-time Madison County Deputy Sheriff, community leader, and scouter Ray Botterbush for his many years of service to the community. Kevin Botterbush said: “Ray was a lifelong scout who epitomized the best of the Boy Scouts of America.” As a young man, he earned his Eagle Scout, then continued on with scouting and eventually received the Silver Beaver Award for

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LITCHFIELD - There are some seed labels that can sometimes be hard to decide on which is best for your garden. The terms I see on seed packages that used to be confusing to me were “Heirloom”, “Hybrid” and Non-GMO”. What do they mean? What should I choose? “Non-GMO” simply means that the seeds in this package are not GMO seeds. GMO seeds are Genetically Modified Organisms. These are seeds that have had their DNA intentionally altered in a lab. For anyone who is hesitant to use GMO seeds, I have some good news for you! It is illegal to sell GMO seeds in any home garden retail venue. There are absolutely no Genetically Modified garden seeds available for sale to the public. They are for commercial sale only. You will never accidentally pick up a package of genetically modified beets at your local garden center or any online store carrying seeds sold to the public. The “Non-GMO” labeling on the packaging of seeds is just for show. It's

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ST. LOUIS - Spectrum is hosting a hiring event for Customer Service Representatives at its Bridgeton Call Center. Job seekers interested in a fast-paced career with Spectrum, a leading St. Louis employer, are encouraged to attend and apply. Thursday, April 14, 2022, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Holiday Inn Express & Suites – St. Louis Airport 10000 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, MO 63134 Interested applicants can bring their resume and meet with a Spectrum recruiter to learn more about the position. Text “REP” to 97211 to apply before the event. Customer Service Representatives provide over-the-phone Internet and phone support and repair services, which keep our customers connected. All the new roles offer hourly wages of at least $20 an hour. Along with highly competitive wages, Spectrum provides comprehensive health benefits, and for the past nine years, has absorbed the full annual cost increase of medical, dental and vision coverage. The company also offers a market-leading

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GREENVILLE – An agreement between Greenville University and The Salvation Army gives affiliates of The Salvation Army and their family members priority access to the Panther Scholarship. The $19,500 GU-sponsored Panther Scholarship is a character and service-based leadership scholarship awarded to students who strive to exhibit the qualities of a person of character with a mindset to serve others. “Greenville University and The Salvation Army are very like-minded,” says Victoria Clark, GU’s chief enrollment officer. “Every interaction we have had with The Salvation Army shows us that they embody our mission of character and service.” Now available for the fall 2022 semester, affiliates of The Salvation Army receive priority access to the Panther Scholarship. Students must gain acceptance from GU and submit a scholarship application prior to the application deadline. Any student applying must be a degree-seeking student, live on campus, and be enrolled

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Negative narratives, bad perceptions and stereotypical typecasting about the Illinois town is why former and current East St. Louis residents wanted to tell their own stories about their city. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center hosted “Meet the Authors: A Look at East St. Louis Through Real Community Stories” on Monday, April 11 in the SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center. “Since fall 2020, students have been collecting oral histories to highlight truths about East St. Louis and its residents,” said Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and TRHT director, “with a goal of shifting the narrative from one controlled and dominated by falsehoods generated by outsiders to a narrative that is controlled and shaped by those who have a sense of belonging to the community.” THRT debuted its documentary film, “We

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BELLEVILLE - April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Caritas Family Solutions is working to raise awareness about some of the common signs of child abuse. As the largest provider of foster care in Southern Illinois, Caritas currently serves more than 6,500 people including 1,700 foster children. Caritas Family Solutions also provides resources and programs for children who have experienced some form of neglect, abuse, and trauma throughout their childhood. Caritas Training and Compliance Manager, Rico Dunn, said it’s important for everyone to be familiar with how to identify the warning signs of child abuse. “It’s important for people to remember that abuse comes in many forms, whether that be physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect,” said Dunn. “The most important thing to look for, aside from physical indicators, is a significant change in the child’s behavior or attitude. Caritas puts strong importance on training our staff,

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ALTON - The Alton Little Theater Showplace is running full speed ahead and presenting the wildly hilarious comedy, THE WILD WOMEN OF WINEDALE less than two weeks after showcasing a big spring concert tribute to Barry Manilow. Of course, the cast and crew of the last production of the 88th season, have been hard at work rehearsing in the newly renovated ALT foyer - and loving every minute of the non-stop action. THE WILD WOMEN OF WINEDALE stars Kathy Piercy, Donna Wilson, and Lee Cox, and Cox says there is "nothing better than live theater and creativity going on in every part of our building." The May comedy (running May 6th -15th) is written by the favorite American playwrighting team of Hope, Jones, and Wooten and is the fourth production presented by the popular writing team in the last 10 years. THE WILD WOMEN OF WINEDALE was released just before COVID shut-downs and so bringing the show to the stage has an extra-special good-time feel says Cox. She is also thrilled that

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United States inflation is hitting a 40-year high as US inflation is up 7.9% year-over-year. While that is not good news as we are all paying more for almost everything we need to purchase daily, it does provide some unique opportunities for investors. Let’s look at a few sectors of the market that should be attractive for the foreseeable future. The US economy is still strong as 678,000 jobs were added during the month of February. Americans are leaving their homes to spend money at restaurants, retail stores, and hotels despite inflation. The unfortunate military conflict in Russia presents multiple opportunities for investors. 1. Fertilizer - Russia is the world’s largest exporter of nitrogen in the world which is used to manufacture agricultural fertilizer. Fertilizer prices have already risen significantly and may well continue to do so. We have identified two large publicly traded companies that manufacture potash and nitrogen-based fertilizers as attractive Investments.

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BETHALTO - Villa Rose, an independent senior living community, is hosting an open house event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, at their location at 401 South Moreland Road in Bethalto. Villa Rose Executive Director Cindy Cannon said attendees will get an inside look at the range of apartment styles Villa Rose has available for seniors ages 55-plus. “Our plan is to kind of do mini-tours every 15-20 minutes,” Cannon said. “They’ll get an overview of all the different services that are included with the rental program. They will also get to see a couple of different types of apartments … we have a range of different apartments that very suited to their needs, so we’ll be able to show them different apartment types.” Cannon said that in addition to taking the tours, attendees can also enjoy some refreshments while they meet some of the current Villa Rose residents. She sees this open house as an opportunity to facilitate the type

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SEE WOMEN OF DISTINCTION MEDIA DAY VIDEO: For Women Of Distinction Ticket Information Click Here: https://www.altonywca.com/ (This is one in a series of Women of Distinction honoree profiles) Bio – Debra Frakes ALTON - Debra Frakes is an exemplary example of the Women of Distinction Award in each day of her busy life. Debra's contributions to the region and seniors are endless. Her full-time role is the Marketing Director for Senior Services Plus (SSP). For seniors, Ms. Frakes seeks to connect them with services they may require. She has moved even a step beyond SSP in her role as Vice President of the Madison County TRIAD, a model organization in Illinois that creates collaboration between law enforcement and health care agencies to enhance seniors’ quality of life. TRIAD has led the way in protecting seniors from scams that devastate their finances. Debra has played a big role in the development of the TRIAD organization. During the last two years,

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