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URBANA - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is renewing its focus on healthy lungs with a fresh set of advertisements featuring former smokers. While quitting smoking goes a long way, sometimes surgery is unavoidable. But what used to be a big undertaking with a long recovery is now much simpler thanks to a minimally invasive surgery for serious issues within the chest offered at OSF HealthCare. Dr. Ronald Cossman , a cardiothoracic surgeon with OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute, has been performing robotic thoracic surgery at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana since 2017. Dr. Cossman only has to make several tiny cuts in the chest to use the da Vinci robot to operate on things like tumors. Traditionally, doctors have to make a large incision in the front or side of the chest, causing more painful recovery for the patient. “This has been a great thing for the patients because it's a much easier thing for them to recover from, and we're

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PRINCETON - Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is important. When healthcare providers look at an individual’s overall health, they typically ask about their eating habits and the amount of activity they get each week – but they also often ask what your sleep schedule looks like. Sleep is so important for our health that the National Sleep Foundation launched Sleep Awareness Week in 1998 – and it kicks off each year with the start of daylight saving time, when most people lose an hour of sleep. While many people tend to try and power through after a night of limited sleep, and may even pride themselves on this, it is not healthy in the long run. So, why is sleep so crucial for our health? “A lot of important things happen when we sleep. Our body cells and tissues can regenerate and restore at that point. Sleep is very important for our cognitive health – our mind and mental functions. If you have gone on very few hours of sleep, you know the

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BELLEVILLE - I often hear stories from people about how their pet was the only one there for them during difficult times - maybe the only thing that got them through their trials and tribulations. But no matter how good the intentions, sometimes life brings challenges that make caring for pets difficult or impossible. So I?was so thrilled to hear about the first animal assistance program in Southern Illinois that provides temporary care for pets of those experiencing domestic violence. The Belleville Area Humane Society (BAHS) has created an alternative to surrendering a beloved pet during such a time, and the RedRover organization has awarded grant funding to support the first animal assistance program in Southern Illinois providing temporary care for the pets of those experiencing domestic violence, so that every family member can find safety. One in three women experience domestic abuse within their lifetime, but very few domestic violence shelters allow pets (only 10% nationally).

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Like everything else in the nineteenth century, the Civil War was a male-dominated affair. But one woman proved invaluable to the Union armies and was revered by even the likes of William T. Sherman. “Mother” Mary Ann Bickerdyke became one of the war’s larger-than-life figures, but in 1861, she was a 43-year-old widow from Galesburg, Ill. whose occupation was listed as “botanic physician.” That spring, she was moved during a local church sermon by Rev. Edward Beecher, the brother of Uncle Tom’s Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe, on the misery of military hospital conditions at Cairo, Ill. A relief collection was raised, and Bickerdyke was sent to distribute the contribution. Arriving in the calico dress and Shaker bonnet that became her signature, she was appalled at what she saw at Cairo, and quickly went to work. Among her first actions was to locate two hogshead barrels, saw them in two, and create a makeshift bathtub in which she washed dozens

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CENTRAL ILLINOIS NATIVE WON OSCAR IN 1950 For movie fans, the Academy Award carries a mystique like no other, and represents the pinnacle of cinema in any given year. Sixty-nine years ago, a central Illinois native took home an Oscar, a highlight in a lengthy movie career spent behind the scenes. Marjorie Best, an acclaimed Hollywood costume designer who was born in Jacksonville on April 10, 1903, won an Oscar for her work on The Adventures of Don Juan, a 1948 film starring Errol Flynn and Raymond Burr. Film critic Leonard Maltin referred to The Adventures of Don Juan in 2004 as a “handsome tongue-in-cheek swashbuckler” with Flynn playing the lead. It was one of four Oscar nominations for Best Costume Design for Best, who was also mentioned for Giant, the winner of Best Picture in 1956. Best’s work was also recognized in 1960 for Sunrise at Campobello, which portrayed Franklin D. Roosevelt and starred Greer Garson, and in 1965 for The Greatest Story Ever Told, featuring

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ALTON - On Sunday, March 20, 2022, Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist will celebrate 75 years as a constituted church. The church is located at 105 Fairway Drive in Moro, on Highway 140, across from the Casey's General Store. The church was a mission church, that was started in 1945 by Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, under Pastor Guy P. Hall. Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist Church existed first in the prayers and hearts of people that felt a need for mission work in Meadowbrook. Rev. Kevin Auten said he anticipates a large crowd for Sunday, March 20, services and celebration. "It will be a celebration for what God has done for the church in the past, and what He is going to do at Meadowbrook in the future. They are planning a big reunion celebration, with Sunday Worship at 10:45," Rev. Auten said. "Lunch at noon Sunday, and then an afternoon service at 2. Pastor David Denton, who grew up in the church, and now pastors at Bethesda Baptist in Granite City, will be preaching in the

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ALTON - An Alton home in the 3200 block of Duco Street suffered significant damage in the basement area Friday morning after a serious blaze, but because of Alton Fire Department efforts and a quick hit, the home was salvaged. The call to Alton Fire Department came in at 7:07 a.m. Friday. The home damage was not very visible on the outside, but most was located in the basement. The Alton Fire Department arrived at the Duco scene quickly and did "a tremendous job stopping the fire," Alton Battalion Chief David Eichen said. "There was visible damage downstairs." Battalion Chief Eichen said the house should be repairable. However, he said a licensed electrician will have to be hired to fix all the wiring damage, and right now the house is safe but has no power or gas. He also said Alton Building and Zoning would have to inspect and approve the home is safe before residents could return.

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MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. - University of Minnesota junior, Maryn Heidt, of Edwardsville, has been named to the 2021 fall semester Dean's List at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the university announced today. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must complete 12 or more letter-graded credits while attaining a 3.66 grade point average.

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ALTON - A man and a woman from Bowling Green, Ky., are charged with robbery for allegedly taking a car and house keys from an Alton man. Jasmine C. Watley, 33, is accused of taking the car and the keys, as well as hitting a household member in the back with a metal rod. She was also charged with battery for hitting a woman over the head with a metal rod. The robbery charge is a felony; the other two charges are misdemeanors. Also charged with the robbery of the same victim is Aaron A. Longstreet, 36, Bail for each suspect is $50,000. The incident was on Feb. 28. The charges were filed on March 15. ALTON - Clarence Estelle, 30, of the 300 block of Big Arch Road, Alton, is charged with felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor domestic battery. He allegedly damaged a 55-inch television of a woman on March 7. He is also accused of p utting his hands on the victim’s throat and pushing her backward. Bail is set at $25,000. ALTON - Jason W. Pellazari, 20, of the

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ALTON – Excited. Impressed. Hungry. That’s how local restauranter Laura Windisch wants people to feel when they think about Alton’s new food truck park, Flock, which is scheduled to officially open in early May. “I believe people want locally grown and sourced food, both on their tables at home and when they go out to dine,” said Jayne Simmons, President of AltonWorks and Alton resident. “I have dreamed of opening a food truck park for quite some time – a place where friends and families can go to pick up a quick, delicious meal and just spend time together. The last two years have really opened people’s minds to how they get their food, where it comes from, and what they want to experience when they nourish themselves and their families. I hope when they think of great food and great conversation, they think of Flock.” Flock, located at 210 Ridge between Broadway and Landmarks and adjacent to the Jacoby Arts Center, will serve peopl

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EDWARDSVILLE - Former Madison County Administrator Doug Hulme filed to run for County Treasurer in the Republican Primary on June 28th, 2022. Hulme spent over six years working at Madison County as Kurt Prenzler’s Chief Deputy Treasurer and later County Administrator. “I am a qualified, experienced, conservative Republican running for Madison County Treasurer,” said Hulme. “I worked side by side with Chairman Kurt Prenzler as County Administrator and his Chief Deputy Treasurer. I share in his conservative values of smaller government, better ethics, and lower taxes.” As the former Chief Deputy Treasurer under Kurt Prenzler, I have the education and experience of operating the Madison County Treasurer’s Office for Prenzler, and his resume includes a Masters in Business Administration and all Illinois CPA education requirements. The current county treasurer has no financial, business, or accounting education at the college undergraduate or graduat

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Dennis Dewrock, 29 years of age, of the 1900 block of Glatt Drive in Arnold, Missouri 63010, for two counts of Stealing $750 or More, one count of Property Damage 1 st Degree, one count of Attempted Stealing $750 or More, and one count of Tampering with a Motor Vehicle. A mugshot of Dewrock is attached. Dewrock is being held on a $75,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation, and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement for Dewrock reads: In the early morning hours of December 12, 2021, several related incidents on Lemay Ferry Road were reported to St. Louis County Police. The wheels and tires from a 2012 GMC Yukon (valued at a total of $3,840) were stolen from a business at 745 Lemay Ferry Road (Count 1) by a man driving a red Dodge Ram truck. At 762

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POCAHONTAS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that I-70 from the Madison County Line East to Sugar Loaf Road near Pocahontas in Bond County will be intermittently restricted to one lane in each direction beginning Wednesday, March 30, 2022, weather permitting. Work can be anticipated at any time Monday thru Saturday and is necessary to complete pavement repairs. Work is expected to be completed by late June 2022. Motorists should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to construction signage and watch for changing conditions, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The contractor on this project is The Kilian Corporation of Mascoutah, Illinois. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information

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WOOD RIVER – Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser (R-Wood River) announced his campaign for reelection today, with plans to build on his track record of success in the Treasurer’s Office. The Republican Primary election will be held on June 28, 2022. “In the last five years, I led reform efforts that paid off in record gains for taxpayers,” said Treasurer Chris Slusser. “We prioritize customer service and transparency while never compromising the integrity of the office with political gamesmanship. Each year, our office has come in under budget and returned money to the general fund.” As Treasurer, Slusser’s adjustments to the county’s investment portfolio resulted in Madison County being the top performer in the state, generating more than $10 million in additional interest than his predecessor, which in turn has helped the county government lower its property tax burden. When the Governor’s Covid-19 mitigations shut down

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EVERGREEN PARK - March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), endometriosis is when the tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus, causing bleeding, inflammation, and scarring. While the most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, this is also a common side effect women experience during their menstrual cycle. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 80% of women experience pelvic pain during their period. This may make it difficult to differentiate what is causing your pain – especially because the pain caused by endometriosis typically occurs during the same time. Dr. Vanessa Foster, an OSF HealthCare OB/GYN, recommends talking to your OB/GYN if you experience heightened pain during your menstrual cycle, as your provider can help determine its root cause. “Sometimes it is difficult to tell because everybody’s

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 7,467 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 123 deaths since March 11, 2022. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,053,185 cases, including 33,198 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since March 11, 2022, laboratories have reported 596,385 specimens for a total of 56,328,379. As of last night, 528 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 88 patients were in the ICU and 35 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of the total tests from March 11-17, 2022 is 1.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 11-17, 2022 is 1.2%. A total of 21,273,924 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day

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ALTON - Excavation work on the terrain at the McDonald's rebuild has made significant progress this week. Work began on Monday, but much of the concrete has been removed and the ground leveled. Construction of the new McDonald's will begin soon. The hope is to have the McDonald's at 717 E. Broadway in Alton open by June. A fire on June 17, 2021, destroyed the old McDonald's at that location.

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JERSEYVILLE - Germania Brew Haus has been making progress on its Jerseyville location with Edison bulbs, plants and other decor now adorning the interior. Owner Jared Brynildsen said he’s aiming to open this location over the course of April, and that he’s eyeing a location in Bethalto for the near future. Brynildsen said he’s aiming to open the interior to pedestrians for an “interior soft opening” by April 15 - he said the parking lot and drive-thru construction will still be ongoing, which is why the soft opening will be pedestrian-only for now. Some cozy lounge furniture - a Germania trademark - is also on the way. He also said the “exterior” soft opening should hopefully come at the end of April, when the exterior work on the western end of the project should be completed. The eastern end of the project, which will house the space occupied by WOW Event Center, will immediately follow. “I’m extremely happy with how thi

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville sophomore backfielder Ulla Sharp had helped anchor a solid defensive wall that conceded only one goal in the Tigers' first two games, a 3-0 win over Belleville Althoff Catholic and a 4-1 win over Rochester Wednesday evening in the Metro Cup showcase tournament at Tiger Stadium. Following the win over Rochester, Sharp felt very excited about the outcome and felt that her team played very well in getting their second win of the season. "I'm feeling awesome," Sharp said in a post-match interview. "I'm so proud of my team. We really worked hard and it's an amazing feeling." The defense has gotten off to a great start, playing solidly in front of goalie Kaitlyn Naney and not allowing quality chances for their opponents. Sharp explained her defensive style as one where she marks tightly and doesn't allow her opponent to make a move towards goal. "I just mark my players tight," Sharp said, "and not letting them turn at all and not letting them turn at all and

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has launched a convenient new online degree completion program in psychology to prepare individuals to pursue careers in both the private and public sectors. Individuals with an associate degree can complete a bachelor’s in just two years through high quality, accelerated study that builds knowledge and skills in mental processes and behavior, psychological issues and human potential. Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of fields, including human resources, mental health, research and development, sales, non-profit organizations, health services, government and more. “Now is a great time to pursue this opportunity as students will be able to progress through the program in a timely manner,” said Greg Everett, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Psychology. “Online classes will be taught by the same expert faculty who teach in the on-ground program, and students wil

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