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GRANITE CITY - GCS Credit Union will award a $2,000 scholarship to one high school senior in early May. GCS opens their Nicole R. Thorp Scholarship for the thirteenth year. Candidates are required to submit an essay explaining why saving and budgeting are important habits to develop. GCS supports youth in growing and reaching their savings goals and wants to hear how teens have succeeded. GCS also looks for applicants who actively volunteer in the community. Nicole R. Thorp, who the scholarship is named after, was a big believer in the credit union philosophy of people helping people. Scholarship applications can be filled out and submitted entirely online at myGCScu.com under the Member Center section. Applications are due Saturday, April 30th, 2022. All GCS Credit Union members who are seniors in high school are eligible for the Nicole R. Thorp Scholarship. Not a member? It’s simple and easy to open an account online. For more information about GCS Credit Union, visit myGCScu.com

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SPRINGFIELD - While consumer prices and the price at the pump continue to rise, House Republican lawmakers, including State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) are advocating for reforms to provide relief for Illinois families. At a press conference held inside the capitol this morning. Rep. Elik said, “I stand here today just as frustrated as every person in Illinois and every family that is outraged with the rising cost of gasoline and many other items we purchase on a day-to-day basis. Illinoisans are paying more and more while state government continues to tax everything politicians can get their hands on. Immediate relief can start today. Inflation is at an all-time high, now is the time for taxes to be reduced.” To provide relief to consumers at the pump, Rep. Elik sponsored legislation ( HB 5723 ) to cap the sales tax on gas at .18 cents per gallon for motor fuel and 80% of that amount for gasohol. In addition, to provide relief to consumers purchasing food an

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ST. LOUIS - The victim in the homicide in the 1400 block of Dunn Road in St. Louis County has been identified as Brandon Lockhart, 19 years of age, of the 3400 block of Brookshire Drive in Florissant, Missouri, 63033. At 2:20 p.m. March 15, 2022, St. Louis County Police Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for sudden death in the 1400 block of Dunn Road, the Budget Inn. Officers discovered an adult male deceased in a room in the hotel. Further investigation revealed the death to be a homicide. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at (636) 529-8210 to speak to investigators if you have any information regarding the incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) if you have any information regarding the incident.

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EAST ALTON – New research findings from local Terrestrial Ecologist Lyle Guyon are changing the game for Japanese hops control and management in large floodplains. Guyon, who holds a doctorate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a senior scientist at Lewis and Clark Community College’s National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) and has over 15 years of experience in floodplain research. His recent paper, “Japanese Hops ( Humulus japonicus ) Control and Management Strategies in Large River Floodplains” was published in the Journal of Forestry earlier this spring. “Japanese hops is a fairly new invasive species that many individuals may not be familiar with,” Guyon said. “Unfortunately, it is spreading rapidly and can create a real problem where it takes hold.” His research findings show that the most effective long-term strategy to manage Japanese

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GRANITE CITY - An 81-year-old Granite City woman - Anna M. Rookard - tragically lost her life in a fire Wednesday night, March 16, 2022, in the 3100 block of West Chain of Rocks Road in Granite City, Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn said Thursday morning. The fire was reported to 9-1-1 at approximately 11:33 p.m. Wednesday. Nonn said Rookard was pronounced deceased at the scene by Madison County Coroner’s Office Investigator Kelsey Jones at 12:30 a.m., March 17, 2022. When Mitchell Fire Department Units arrived at the scene, they found the residence to be fully engulfed in flames. When the fire was extinguished Rookard’s body was then located inside of the residence. The coroner said an autopsy examination has been completed and the preliminary findings of the examination show that the decedent suffered from smoke inhalation. A final cause and manner of death will be issued upon completion of toxicological testing and the investigation. The cause of the fire remains

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and the Restoration Ecology program will conduct a prescribed burn today, Thursday, March 17, 2022, on portions of the Benjamin Godfrey campus between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. During the burn, smoke or flames may be visible. Certified prescribed burn managers and other trained personnel with proper vehicles and equipment will be working in the area until the burn presents no danger to the public. A Burn Plan has been developed and approved to appropriately control the fire and to ensure personnel and public safety. Prescribed burns are held on parts of campus and grounds owned by L&C with the objective of controlling the spread of invasive plant species as part of the woodland’s overall management plan. If you have any questions or concerns about this operation, please contact Campus Safety at (618) 468-3160. #

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EDWARDSVILLE — Officials approved a $3.86 million sale of Madison County land Wednesday night to a St. Louis developer. The Madison County Board approved selling 15.41 acres of property along Illinois Route 159 to The Staenberg Advisors, LLC of St. Louis for $3,868,000. The acreage is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Plum Street (Route 159) and Governor’s Parkway in Edwardsville. The county put the land up for bid, or “silent auction,” and The Staenberg Group was the sole bidder and met all specifications. “By statute, this is what the county must do — put the property up for auction,” Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. A group of Edwardsville citizens submitted a petition with more than 1,200 signatures to the county, asking for the land not to be sold until the developer disclosed what it planned to build. The group asked the county to keep the land as green space. Prenzler said the county has no parks and the site is locate

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JERSEY COUNTY - The candidates running in the Jersey County general primary elections on June 28 have been revealed. Three Republicans will compete for County Treasurer: Gregory “Greg” Weiner, Katie Steckel-Abbey and Martin “Marty” Ward. The winner will replace incumbent Treasurer Gilbert Ashlock, also a Republican. Republicans Kevin Ayres and Collin Crawford are running for County Coroner, replacing incumbent coroner Kari Jo Alexander. After the passing of her father last fall - Larry Jo Alexander, who served as Jersey County Coroner for the county’s record of nearly 30 years - Kari Jo was sworn in as the youngest and first female Coroner in Jersey County history. County Clerk Pam Warford and Sheriff Mike Ringhausen are both seeking re-election unopposed. Twelve County Board Member seats - three for each of the county’s four districts - are also up for election. In District 1, the three Republicans running are Kenneth Grizzle and incumbents

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EDWARDSVILLE — Officials updated Madison County’s Animal Care and Control ordinance Wednesday night, which will allow residents and rescue groups to carry out Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for community cats. “This ordinance will encourage partnerships between local groups and animal control to work together in preventing the deaths of feral cats,” Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. Prenzler said the county worked diligently to update its ordinances and bring them in line with state law. He said the new rules with go even further to avoid euthanizing feral cats. “Years ago, the county killed two-thirds of the cats brought into animal control,” he said. “Now we are a ‘no kill’ facility. The county worked hard to achieve that status.” Prenzler said when he first took office in 2016; one of his priorities was to make Madison County “no-kill.” In order to be a “no-kill” facility, there must be a 90 percent save

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GODFREY – Have you ever donated plasma? Would you like to, or would you like to again? Freedom Plasma of Wood River is now providing locals the chance to donate plasma without the need to travel across the Mississippi. With a combined 150 years in the industry, Freedom Plasma is owned and operated by ImmunoTek Bio Centers. The Wood River facility opened its doors in October 2021. It is located at 530 Wesley Drive, the site of the former Office Max, with Wood River Walmart as its closest neighbor. Currently, Freedom Plasma has 15 full-time employees. Earlier this month, the RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome Freedom Plasma to the region. Attendees included RBGA members, City of Wood River representatives, and Freedom Plasma staff. The Cookie Factory and Café of Alton provided treats for the celebration, and Freedom Plasma handed out “swag bags” full of goodies. When asked about choosing Wood River a

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GRAFTON - Air Evac Lifeteam had an emergency call in Grafton on the riverfront near the Lighthouse Wednesday morning. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said after a conversation with his police chief the situation was a citizen who had stroke-like conditions and was quickly transported to St. Louis. Mayor Morrow said the person lived in an area on Market Street in Grafton. Morrow, a former long-time member of the Army Corps of Engineers, and also a combat veteran, said he understands the importance of the helicopter emergency transport to St. Louis and quick treatment of people in distress. ARCH Medical Services, Survival Flight, and Air Evac Lifestream handle air emergency services for Grafton. He said whoever is closest or has availability comes out. “It saves critical time using air medical services,” he said. “They say the first hour in regard to a stroke is the golden hour. If a victim can get into treatment quickly, their chances are vastly improved. “We are

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EAST ALTON – The Illinois Chapter of The Wildlife Society is holding its annual meeting, April 10-12, in The Commons, on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey Campus. The three-day annual chapter meeting will feature approximately 20 presenters, who will be discussing topics pertaining to wildlife monitoring and management, disease, ecology and more. The event is open to the public, and will include the option to attend in-person or virtually. In addition to talk and poster presentation sessions, there will also be a workshop, a banquet and a business meeting. “This is a wonderful opportunity for students throughout Illinois, but especially students at Lewis and Clark Community College interested in the wildlife field” said Justin Shew, the Illinois chapter’s President-elect, and Conservation Program Manager at L&C’s National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ). “I’m excited to have several of my students

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WICHITA, KAN. - Wichita State University has announced the names of 3,246 students who were on the WSU dean's honor roll for fall 2021, including Morgan M. Cook from Jerseyville, IL. To be included on the dean's honor roll, a student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. About Wichita State Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven. Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The Innovation Campus,

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GLEN CARBON - Kristen M. Jacobs, M.D, a local aesthetic physician with more than 14 years of experience, will be hosting a book launch happy hour at her office in Glen Carbon on March 31, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dr. Jacobs shares her expert knowledge about skin secrets and healthy aging in her new book and Amazon Best Seller in the U.S and Canada, called “Live Life Beautifully (With a Little Help)”. “I am excited to host this event to encourage people to learn proper skincare techniques and to help them learn how to age healthily, prevent skin cancer, and improve self-confidence,” said Dr. Jacobs. “My goal in writing my book is to help make the knowledge and expertise I’ve gained through my years of practice accessible to everyone.” Dr. Jacobs, who is considered a leader in the industry of aesthetic medicine, has transformed thousands of patients’ lives utilizing her approach to healthy aging. Her new book highlights her five-step approac

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GODFREY – Have you ever donated plasma? Would you like to, or would you like to again? Freedom Plasma of Wood River is now providing locals the chance to donate plasma without the need to travel across the Mississippi. With a combined 150 years in the industry, Freedom Plasma is owned and operated by ImmunoTek Bio Centers. The Wood River facility opened its doors in October 2021. It is located at 530 Wesley Drive, the site of the former Office Max, with Wood River Walmart as its closest neighbor. Currently, Freedom Plasma has 15 full-time employees. Earlier this month, the RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome Freedom Plasma to the region. Attendees included RBGA members, City of Wood River representatives, and Freedom Plasma staff. The Cookie Factory and Café of Alton provided treats for the celebration, and Freedom Plasma handed out “swag bags” full of goodies. When asked about choosing Wood River as the

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and the Restoration Ecology program will conduct a prescribed burn today, Thursday, March 17, 2022, on portions of the Benjamin Godfrey campus between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. During the burn, smoke or flames may be visible. Certified prescribed burn managers and other trained personnel with proper vehicles and equipment will be working in the area until the burn presents no danger to the public. A Burn Plan has been developed and approved to appropriately control the fire and to ensure personnel and public safety. Prescribed burns are held on parts of campus and grounds owned by L&C with the objective of controlling the spread of invasive plant species as part of the woodland’s overall management plan. If you have any questions or concerns about this operation, please contact Campus Safety at (618) 468-3160.

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ST. LOUIS – Charter Communications, Inc. today announced it is now offering a minimum starting wage of $20 an hour including target commissions for all employees across its 41-state service area. The milestone is the fulfillment of a multiyear commitment that began in 2018 with the establishment of a $15 minimum starting wage. Charter announced in April 2020 that it would permanently raise its starting wage to $20 an hour in 2022 — nearly triple the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour — with annual increases of $1.50 an hour in 2020 and 2021 boosting the starting hourly wage to $16.50 and $18, respectively. “Our $20 an hour starting wage is an important investment in our highly skilled employees, who deliver connectivity and entertainment to more than 32 million customers,” said Tom Rutledge, Chairman & CEO of Charter. “Providing strong, competitive wages from day one, comprehensive benefits and dozens of progression paths make Charter a place t

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ALTON/GODFREY - Abigail Hasty of Alton High School and Elizabeth Guenther of Marquette Catholic High School were honored as Students of the Month for March at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant. Abigail Hasty, a senior at Alton High School, is the daughter of Jeanna and Michael Hasty. During her four years at AHS, she made high honor roll and received the St. Louis Post Dispatch “A” Student designation every year. She was selected as an Illinois State Scholar during her senior year. Abbie is a member of multiple Honor Societies, including The National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and The Tri-M Honor Society. Additionally, she is on track to graduate as a “Platinum Alpha Student,” the highest educational designation offered by Alton High School. Abbie currently serves as Alton High School’s National Honor Society President. She leads weekly meetings of 60+ members and coordinates a tutoring program for

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Nearly $66 million in funding is on its way to improve access to health care for people across many communities in central and northern Illinois living at lower income levels. The Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) is providing the funding over the next five years to Peoria-based OSF HealthCare and several Federally Qualified Health Centers (HQHCs) that have formed the Medicaid Innovation Collaborative (MIC), which will address social factors that impact health such as financial strain, housing, and food insecurity among others. The MIC includes OSF HealthCare , OSF Medical Group, and Heartland Health Services (Peoria, IL), Chestnut Health Systems, Inc . (Bloomington, IL), Eagle View Community Health System, Inc . (Oquawka, IL), and Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness (Danville, IL). Through this partnership, the MIC will engage with community-based organizations to address social determinants of health needs. Additionally, the MIC has partnered with

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ALTON - YWCA is pleased to announce the 2022 Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leader (JMBFL) Scholars: Guadalupe Calixto, Bethalto, and Renee Raglin, Alton. Guadalupe currently attends Civic Memorial High School and intends to major in biochemistry. Renee Raglin is from Alton High will be majoring in sports medicine. In addition, Samantha Evanoff, Troy, Taryn Geiger, Bethalto, Ashlyn Green, Alton, and Tristan Johnson, Hardin were approved for renewal scholarships. YWCA, with strong support from the Women of Distinction Academy, is able to offer $1,000 renewable scholarships to deserving young women in honor of Josephine Marley Beckwith, Woman of Distinction class of 2002. “This year's Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leaders’ scholarship recipients are empowered young ladies; an excellent representation of future business leaders and YWCA's Women of Distinction Academy.” said Erica Bratton, YWCA Board Member and JMBFL Scholarship Chair. As required as part of their

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