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SAUGET – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that Illinois Rt 3 from North of Monsanto Avenue to Ruby Street in Cahokia will be intermittently restricted to one lane in each direction beginning Monday, March 21, 2022, weather permitting. This work will take place daily between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Traffic in each direction will be maintained using flaggers and arrow boards. This work is necessary to complete pavement repairs. This work is expected to be completed by the end of Summer 2022. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. The contractor on this project is The Christ Bros of Lebanon, Illinois. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Pastor Paul and Melody Westbrook have become household names not only throughout Edwardsville/Glen Carbon but around the area with their dynamic ministry for the past 31 years. Paul and his wife moved here in 1991 from Oklahoma to start Metro Community Church in Edwardsville. When they started, they began their journey in a basement of a home. Pastor Paul has always been able to captivate people with his messages and the aura he exhibits. Quickly, Metro Church grew to where they had services at nearby Edwardsville schools - LeClaire School and ultimately, Lincoln Middle School and for several years that was their home. Pastor Paul said at the start, he led a group that contacted 20,000 people around the Edwardsville region to see if they had a church. He said they only really tried to move people toward his new church who didn’t have a place of worship. Their intent was not to take people from other churches but to bring new people to Christ. A total of 35 members,

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SEE VIDEO: EDWARDSVILLE - For three-plus decades, Rev. Paul Westbrook has been the Senior Pastor at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville. In that time, he has touched thousands of lives. This past weekend at a Metro Community Church service, he announced with great emotion with his wife, Melody, that they will be leaving the congregation. Paul has accepted a position with the State Baptist Association and will be working all over Illinois to start new churches. “This is right up my alley,” he said of the new position. Paul and his wife, Melody, co-founded Metro Community Church in 1991. Melody has played a critical role in starting and leading women’s groups over the years. Paul and Melody have three sons - Caleb, Luke, and Joshua. “God is leading us into a new season, into a new chapter of our lives,” he told the congregation on Sunday. “One of my life's greatest honors and pleasures has been being a part of Metro for 31 years.; being

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WOOD RIVER - Robert R. Kopp, 33, of the first block of Carroll Wood Drive, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of fentanyl on March 11. The charge was filed on March 14. Bail was set at $30,000. EAST ALTON - Neal L. Proffer, 31, of Hillsboro, was charged with forgery. He allegedly delivered a fake $50 to an employee of Jimmy John’s, 1203 E. Edwardsville Road. Bail was set at $15,000. The alleged crime was committed on Feb. 22. Proffer was charged on March 15. WOOD RIVER - Isaiah Thurmond, 25, of Granite City, was charged with criminal trespass to a residence, criminal damage to property, and obstruction of identification. He allegedly broke into a home in the 500 block of Colonial Drive while the resident was present. Thurmond is accused of damaging an exterior door frame. Because of the value of the damage, that charge is a misdemeanor. A charging document also claims he furnished false identification,

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WOOD RIVER - Michael S. Butler, 37, of the 200 block of Whitelaw Avenue, Wood River, was charged with burglary and forgery after he allegedly took $17,000 in merchandise from Dr. John’s in Wood River and allegedly tried to cash a bogus check at Wood River Market. Butler entered the Dr. John’s building just before closing time on Feb. 21, and hid as employees were leaving, according to John Coil operator of the store, which is officially known as Dr. John’s Lingerie and Novelty Boutique 100 North Wood River Ave. Coil said that Butler took a shopping cart and filled it with merchandise. “He went shopping,” Coil said. In addition to lingerie, among the items sold at the store are adult toys. The owner said Butler allegedly turned off the electricity to the store so as to defeat the security cameras; however, he was unaware that the cameras included backup batteries. Officers were able to identify Butler from the video. The forgery charge alleges

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COLLINSVILLE - There is an intense amount of work underway in the lot next to Old Herald Brewery & Distillery at 115 E. Clay in Collinsville. On Wednesday morning, Hayes Contracting was busy with what they described as "site civil work." Old structures were demolished last week on the property. The building demolition part of the project concluded on Friday, Bud Sparks of Hayes Contracting said on Wednesday. Old Herald Brewery & Distillery owner Derik Reiser aims for a grand opening event at what he describes will be a new plaza called Herald Square with an ice cream shop called Uptown Scoops. Reiser is the owner of the property adjacent to Old Herald Brewery & Distillery. He said the rest of the area will be a place for live entertainment and festivals. “We are getting the site ready for the construction of footings and concrete work,” Hayes Contracting's Sparks said. “We should be finished with our part in a couple of days. This is going to be a very nice addition

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ST. LOUIS – United Way of Greater St. Louis awarded 26 nonprofits who serve Missouri and Illinois residents with emergency response grants totaling $252,400. The funding was earmarked for United Way member and non-member agencies serving people in Jefferson, Warren, Lincoln, and Franklin Counties in Missouri and Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, and Randolph Counties in Illinois. Funding through these grants have supported the ongoing needs of thousands of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families who continue to face emerging gaps. The grants ranged from $2,500 to $12,000 and were awarded to the following organizations to provide access to food, medicine and supplies; rent, mortgage and utility assistance; childcare assistance; transportation; mental health support and counseling; and services for seniors. AGAPE Ministry of Warren County, Inc. Aging Ahead Beauty for Ashes Ministry -- Shielded by Faith Recovery Center Broken But Not Shattered Ministries Calhoun County Health

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WOOD RIVER - Local attorney Tim Berkley of Wood River announced he will be a Republican candidate for circuit judge in the election of 2022. Berkley, a lifelong resident of Madison County, has more than 3 decades of experience as an attorney and dedicated servant of the community. He attended Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, graduating with a bachelor degree in government in 1985. He then graduated from University of Tulsa College of Law in 1990. Since then he has worked as a prosecutor, public defender, private practitioner, and for the Appellate Court system. Before becoming an attorney, Tim was a union contractor at the Wood River Refinery. “I am honored to run for Judge, I come from a typical working middle class family of Madison County. I’ve lived in the Roxana/Wood River area my entire life and built a legal career I am very proud of. This is a great place to live and raise a family. I love it here. I will take tha

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EDWARDSVILLE - Pursuant to the rule governing the destruction of school records by the Office of the Secretary of State of Illinois, the Guidance Office of Edwardsville High School will destroy the temporary records of those students from the graduating class of 2017. Those individuals from this class who would like to obtain these records must contact the registrar at 618-655-6717 or bohm@ecusd7.org by Friday, July 8, 2022. "If your parent or relative is picking them up please see that they have a letter giving consent for them to pick up your records," Edwardsville High School Prinicpal Steve Stuart said. "Anyone picking up records will be asked for an ID."

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Letter To The Editor: Two topics that Steelworkers are well versed in, and they collided with one another during the recent rupture of the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, now operated by Marathon, spilling over 160,000 gallons of oil into Cahokia Creek in Edwardsville, Illinois. USW members are very familiar with the importance of steel chemistry, especially when the end-product will be a 32-inch spiral-weld pipeline that pumps highly corrosive tar sands, a very heavy oil that requires high pressure to push the product 1,600 miles. Steelworkers and our allies warned TransCanada that the chemistry oversight during production of this steel should have been more vigilant before they chose to procure the order from Wellspun, an India steelmaker. They chose cheap over quality control and long-term integrity. One thousand people rallied in Granite City, Illinois when 260 railcars were being unloaded within the shadows of US Steel/Granite City Works to highlight the many pitfalls, such

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THE CONVERSATION - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy virtually addressed the United States Congress on March 16, 2022, and, as widely expected, requested additional U.S. military assistance for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also asked for the U.S. to create a no-fly zone over some portion, or potentially all, of Ukraine. “Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people. Russian troops have already fired nearly 1,000 missiles at Ukraine, countless bombs. They use drones to kill us with precision. This is a terror Europe has not seen for 80 years,” said Zelenskyy, delivering the first virtual address by a foreign leader to Congress. He wore the army green T-shirt that has become his civilian uniform while leading Ukraine’s response to the war from Kyiv. “Is this a lot to ask, to create a no fly zone over Ukraine to save people? Is this too much to ask? A humanitarian non-fly zone, so that Russia would not be able to terrorize

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EDWARDSVILLE - The chief external architect of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s campus core, Gyo Obata, passed away on Tuesday, March 8 at the age of 99. Obata, of St. Louis, was a world-renowned architect. He co-founded the global architecture-engineering firm Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) in 1955, and designed the University’s Edwardsville campus in the early 1960’s. In an HOK release posted Thursday, March 10, Bill Valentine, FAIA, HOK’s chairman emeritus said, “Gyo embodied everything that’s honorable about the architectural profession. Instead of designing for the fashions of the times or to make a personal statement, Gyo designed to improve lives. He was a kind, thoughtful man who developed warm, personal relationships with his colleagues and clients. People believed in him, which is an essential part of turning drawings into buildings.” In highlighting many of Obata’s significant accomplishments as principal o

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The Center Square – The 2022 ballot for the June 28 primary election in Illinois is coming into focus. Monday was the deadline for candidates to file their intent to run for office. Gov. J.B. Pritzker learned he will have an opponent in the Democratic primary in his bid for re-election. He will be challenged by Chicago nurse and Army veteran Beverly Miles. "I’m a concerned citizen who is sick and tired of the issues that are going on in the state of Illinois and I decided to do something about it,” Miles said. Several Republican candidates have ambitions to be governor, including Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, state Sen. Darren Bailey, suburban businessman Gary Rabine, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, Max Solomon, Emily Johnson and Keisha Smith. “We have a generation of leaders that have driven our state into the ground,” Sullivan, who waited until Monday to file, said. “They are best represented by Mike Madigan

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ALTON - There are still two opportunities to participate in a Seed Swap with the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois. The next Seed Swap will be held in partnership with the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) on March 26 and the final event will be held in partnership with The Lodge Bar at Lovejoy on Saturday, April 9. Join Three Rivers Project staff, our partners, and fellow farmers and gardeners while swapping or sharing your quality seeds, cuttings, and bulbs. These community events are free to attend and all are welcome. Join us in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the spring gardening season! The next seed swap will be held outdoors at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) on Saturday, March 26 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. To register for the Seed Swap at NGRREC, go to sc.org/NGRRECseedswap . The third and final seed swap in this event series will be held at The Lodge Bar at the Lovejoy on Saturday,

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SPRINGFIELD – Due to the improving economy in Illinois and the statewide unemployment rate falling to 5%, the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act is no longer in effect as of March 14th. The law, which requires employees on all public works projects to be comprised of a minimum of 90% Illinois residents, took effect on July 1, 2020, when the jobless rate was above five percent for two consecutive months. On March 14th, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the state’s jobless rate was five percent, triggering the suspension of enforcement of the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act. “Following two challenging years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois’ economy is improving thanks to policies implemented by the Pritzker Administration,” said Illinois Department of Labor Acting Director Jane Flanagan. “The Illinois Department of Labor will continue enforcing the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act to ensure public tax dollars

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O’FALLON – Thirty-five percent of U.S. adults report sleeping less than the recommended minimum seven hours each night; 73 percent of teenagers say they get less than the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep for their age, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Sunday, March 13 marked the beginning of Sleep Awareness Week. It’s also the day to move clocks ahead one hour as daylight saving time begins. Sleep is one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Sleep technician from HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Sleep Disorders Center Lia Turpin says sleep is when the brain and body disconnect from the senses, no longer allowing us to process information from the outside. In turn, sleep allows us to review activities and experiences from the day which strengthens memory; gives our organs time to rest; allows our immune system to scan for infections and fight illnesses; and allows a child or teenager’s

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Municipal League and Illinois mayors to discuss federal funding for Illinois infrastructure projects allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). During their meeting, Durbin broke down the $17 billion in direct and guaranteed funding for Illinois from the IIJA. Durbin also spoke about COVID-19 recovery funding for local governments through the American Rescue Plan and received updates from the mayors about concerns they have in guiding their communities through COVID-19 recovery. “Our local leaders have been diligently putting in the work over the last two years to get their neighbors through a difficult, unprecedented public health crisis. It was great to host them in Washington again,” Durbin said. “Today, we focused on how best to rebuild our communities and make historic, much-needed investments in our infrastructure. I’ll continue to be a strong

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NORMAL - The Illinois Board of Higher Education today approved a new College of Engineering at Illinois State University that is designed with an equity lens to help close long-standing gaps in enrollment, retention, and graduation of underrepresented and underserved students in the engineering field. “Illinois State understands that our whole state is stronger when more of our residents have access to opportunities in STEM, and I applaud the University’s commitment to build an engineering program that opens doors for traditionally underrepresented students,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m committed to opening doors for all of our residents to thrive in the 21st century economy, and our higher education ecosystem is one of the greatest tools we have to do better by all of Illinois.” “The Board applauds President Kinzy and her team at Illinois State University for their leadership in centering equity as they developed the College of Engineering.

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The next Madison County primary election is officially underway, following Monday’s deadline for candidates to file their intent to run. Madison County will see some competition over a few offices and county board seats on June 28. Republicans Mike Walters and Linda Andreas will compete for the office of Madison County Clerk, while incumbent Debbie Ming-Mendoza will run unopposed for the Democratic ticket. Doug Hulme will challenge incumbent Chris Slusser for County Treasurer, both Republicans. Two Republicans will also face off to become County Sheriff, Jeff Connor and Jeff Larner. There will also be some competition over several Madison County Board seats this year. In the county’s 2nd District, incumbent Stacey Pace will be challenged by Christopher J. Willis for the Republican ticket. Democrat Charles “CJ” Metheney will run unopposed. Districts 7 and 8 will both see their incumbent candidates challenged. In the 7th District, incumbent Ray Wesley

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are currently investigating a homicide in the 1400 block of Dunn Road which resulted in the death of an adult male. On March 15, 2022, at approximately 2:20 PM, St. Louis County Police Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a 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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