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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced today that a Madison man has received a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder. Chauncy D. Lucas Jr., 24, received the sentence after pleading guilty Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Williams, 20. The shooting happened May 10, 2023, in the area of Rock Springs Drive in Alton. Alton Police responded to a report of a shooting and located the victim, who later died at a St. Louis hospital. “Our prayers remain with the family and loved ones of Tyrone Williams,” Haine said. “Our hope is that this conviction and sentence can begin to offer them closure.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager, who is assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit at the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Assistant State’s Attorney Gina McNabnay. Haine commended Alton

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GLEN CARBON - Izzie Vernasky, a 5-foot-8 senior at Father McGivney Catholic High School, has earned recognition as a special mention member on the Illinois Coaches Basketball Association IHSA Class 1A team and as a first-team selection for the All Gateway Conference team. She is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month for McGivney. Throughout the basketball season, Vernasky emerged as a leading scorer for the Griffins, showcasing her abilities as a strong rebounder and defensive player. Her contributions on the court were noted by her coach, Jeff Oller, who praised her performance, and said, "Vernasky was a fantastic player and did a great job all season for the Griffins." Oller expressed pride in her achievements, highlighting her all-conference and all-state selections. In addition to her basketball accolades, Vernasky is also recognized as a standout athlete in other sports. She has made significant contributions to the volleyball and softball teams at McGivney

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GRAFTON - On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, three motorcyclists were cited for excessive speeding along State Highway 100 near Grafton, by Jersey County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kevin Ayres. The individuals were clocked at speeds of 142 miles per hour and 130 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone, leading to their arrests for Reckless Driving. The motorcyclists were subsequently transported to the Jersey County Jail, and their motorcycles were towed. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement emphasizing the dangers of high-speed driving. “If you lose control of any vehicle while traveling at such speeds, you will not survive. Moreover, anyone you hit, that person will not survive,” the statement read. The JCSO reiterated the importance of adhering to traffic laws, urging drivers to exercise caution and consider the safety of themselves and others on the road. “We respectfully ask that everyone obey our traffic laws and use common sense, and respect

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BETHALTO - Tom Beiermann is proud of the Bethalto school district. Beiermann, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who he is and what he stands for. He has served on the school board for approximately 35 years, and he has more to give to continue building the Bethalto community. “The school district maybe is the most important thing to this community,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of industry and we don’t have a great deal of retail, but I think we do have a very good school system, and I think people appreciate that. Of course, nothing’s more important than their kids, and we try to take care of them as best we can.” Beiermann met his wife at Civic Memorial High School when they were students. He was a business owner in Cottage Hills for several years, with an auto repair business and a salvage yard, as he raised his three children in the Bethalt

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BETHALTO - Michael Kirby wants to give back to the community that gave so much to him. Kirby, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who he is and what he stands for. He noted that he always puts the kids first, and he has done a lot to contribute to the community. He wants to combine these ideals as a member of the school board. “I feel I have an awful lot to offer, and I feel I can certainly make an impact upon the leadership of our school district,” Kirby said. “I want to be a part of that continued educational and social growth, and I want to do so while representing all the needs of our community and not just a select few.” Kirby is “lifelong police officer/investigator.” He previously worked as a patrolman for the Bethalto Police Department, then transferred to the Alton Police Department, where he also served as a founding member of the Alton

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SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) continues to fight to protect the rights of parents to choose the best educational experience for their children. HB 2827 , the “Homeschool Act,” was heard in committee today and passed over the objection of tens of thousands of families choosing home or private school for their children. This bill mandates that non-public elementary and secondary schools register annually with the Illinois State Board of Education, and also requires homeschools to fill out a Homeschool Declaration Form or risk truancy, which could lead to fines and even imprisonment. It further requires administrators to submit personal information about themselves and their students to state and local authorities. “Illinois should empower parents to place their children in education environments that help them learn and succeed,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “Bureaucrats in Springfield have bigger problems to solve than tracking

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ALTON - The inaugural Alton Art Expo is going to be weird, and organizer Charles Mooneyham wouldn’t have it any other way. Mooneyham, owner of Mooneyham Art , has spent the last six months planning the expo, scheduled for 12–7 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 and 12–5 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Milton Schoolhouse. He and co-organizer Stephen Scordias are excited to launch the event to benefit Centerstone , an organization located in Alton that combats mental health and substance use disorders, while also celebrating all the authenticity of Milton Schoolhouse and the artists who have come together to make the expo happen. “Can you get any more Velvet Underground than this place?” Mooneyham said. “It is so Warhol. And that’s been my goal, just to make it Warhol. Keep it freaking Warhol.” Mooneyham “came into this town loud” a few years ago, working as crisis hotline clinician while his husband, Jon Ross-Mooneyham

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SPRINGFIELD – At a Capitol news conference Tuesday, Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) joined his House Republican colleagues to highlight a legislative package focused on stopping illegal immigration in Illinois. Under the Biden Administration’s Open Border policy, the United States and the State of Illinois were unable to keep up with the flood of migrants coming into the country. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, Illinois is home to the fifth most foreign nationals in the country, with at least 530,000 illegal immigrants residing across the state. “The surge of illegal immigrants into Illinois has led to a string of horrific crimes, endangered public safety, and has blown a huge hole in our already-strained budget,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. Representative Davidsmeyer is sponsoring legislation ( HB 1317 ) to repeal the Illinois TRUST Act, a misguided law that prohibits law enforcement agencies from working with

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ALTON - The Ninian Edwards Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held the 72nd annual award ceremony on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Asbury Village in Godfrey. DAR Good Citizenship Award is given to seniors based on their involvement in extra-curricular activities; contributions to the community; scholarship; and demonstration of the good citizen qualities of dependability, honesty, leadership, and patriotism. This year’s winners are: Alton High School: Jacobi Solomon Civic Memorial High School: Carlie Pritchett East Alton-Wood River High School: Kelsey Moore Marquette Catholic High School: Rodger Zawodniak Mississippi Valley Christian School: Herbert Gray Sapp III Roxana High School: Meredith Pitchford In the essay portion of this award, Carlie Pritchett’s essay was picked to advance to district competition. She was given a $100 gift card for being chosen.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to combat trafficking, including human trafficking. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly, along with key stakeholders representing human trafficking survivors, law enforcement, and support service providers, will appear before the Senate Criminal Law Committee today to speak to Senate Bill 2323 . The proposed legislation includes development of a strategic plan to improve the victim-centered, trauma-informed law enforcement response to individuals who have been trafficked, as well as developing training standards for detection, investigation, and response to human trafficking. “Human trafficking can come in many forms, from commercial sex acts to forced labor,” said Director Kelly. “Because human trafficking has many faces and can happen almost anywhere, it is important to have a comprehensive, statewide trauma-informed response that encompasses those who may come in contact with individuals who are

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to simplify the college admissions process for high school seniors and community college transfer students. “To keep more students in our state for college, we have to make the application process as seamless as possible,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We have done a lot of work on the admission process in Illinois in recent years, and this measure is another step in the right direction.” Senate Bill 2448 would reduce barriers for students by offering direct admission to qualified applicants at all public institutions of higher education and community colleges that participate in the program. Under the legislation, students would no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education. The measure would also require school districts to provide student directory information to each public institution

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SPRINGFIELD – This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Frank Mrvan (IN-01), and Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) led a letter to President Trump expressing willingness to work with him to invest in domestic manufacturing and American steelmaking. The members expressed support for tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to counter the influence of bad actors in the global market, incentivize the use of American-made materials and promote fair trade, but highlighted concerns with implementing tariffs on close trading partners like Canada. The members write , “Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, like those you announced on February 10, can help counter the influence of bad actors in the global market, like China, India, and Mexico. The use of this important policy tool can also incentivize the use of American-made materials and promote fair trade. While your administration should be applauded for wanting to pursue policies to

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ALTON – Support beautification efforts in downtown Alton with the purchase of a new T-Shirt available for sale now at the Alton Visitor Center, 200 Piasa St., Alton. The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau created a new T-Shirt designed to specifically support on-going Alton beautification efforts. That work is spearheaded by Pride, Inc. which will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the shirts. Pride, Inc. is a community beautification organization which focuses its volunteer efforts on the greater Alton region. “Every purchase of a T-Shirt directly contributes to enhancing the look and feel of downtown Alton,” said Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “This initiative will foster community pride and promote a more vibrant and attractive downtown environment.” The Bureau purchased the T-shirts which are selling for $25 each plus tax. The Alton Visitor Center is open Wednesdays through Sundays

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This weekend offers an exciting array of events that cater to diverse interests, from engaging community fundraisers and delicious fish fries to lively music performances and creative workshops, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy. For a complete listing of all events happening in the area, be sure to visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ . Featured Join Fish Haven at Alton VFW Post 1308 for a Fish Fry Every Friday in Lent . Come hungry, bring your crew, and enjoy great food, cold drinks, and live music! Dinner includes Fish (Buffalo, Catfish Filet, Catfish Nuggets, or Cod), Hushpuppies, 2 Sides, and Bread for $15. Available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Godfrey Knights of Columbus Friday Fish Frys will be held Every Friday, March 7 through April 11, 2025 , from 4-7 p.m. at the McNicholas Club on Stamper Lane. Buffalo, whitefish, whole catfish, shrimp, and baked fish and cheese pizza will be served. Buffalo and whitefish are All You Can Eat. Sides will include fries,

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ALTON - As I step down from my role as Ward 7 Alderman, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on my time in office and express my strong support for Mayor David Goins’ continued leadership. Serving on the City Council has given me a firsthand look at the challenges our city faces and the critical decisions required to move Alton forward. Over the past several years, Mayor Goins has worked diligently to stabilize the city’s finances, foster economic growth, and take the long-overdue step of developing a city-wide strategic plan—something Alton has not had since 2003. His leadership has been defined by fiscal responsibility, proactive decision-making, and a willingness to collaborate with businesses, developers, and state and federal officials to bring meaningful opportunities to Alton. One of Mayor Goins' most significant accomplishments is launching the process to develop a comprehensive strategic plan. A strategic plan serves as a roadmap for a city’s

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ROLLA, MO. - McKenna Tosh, a junior in industrial engineering from Alton, representing Kappa Delta, has been named one of the Missouri S&T students named Knights of St. Patrick. The practice of knighting students every spring can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th Century, when Missouri S&T students declared St. Patrick the patron saint of engineers. The students were knighted on Friday, March 7, 2025.

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GODFREY - A Meet and Greet for Godfrey Village Board and Clerk candidates is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at IBEW 649 Union Hall at 3945 Humbert Road in Alton, IL., 62002, on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The Alton and Godfrey Democrats are inviting residents to meet their local candidates and share their views, ask questions and support the community! There will be no formal questions, organizers said. There will be an opportunity to informally meet each candidate on a one-on-one basis.

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ALTON - The Riverbend CEO program is preparing for the conclusion of their year, and Director Katie Sabolo couldn’t be prouder of her students. The Riverbend CEO program allows high school seniors from Alton High School, Marquette Catholic High School, Civic Memorial High School and East Alton-Wood River High School to learn more about local businesses and create their own business plans. The goal is to foster entrepreneurship, practical life skills and community involvement among these students. “That’s one of the tenets of CEO, real life experience,” Sabolo said. “You’re not just taking notes off a PowerPoint on how to network. You’re actually doing it. So it’s great for them to get that experience, but also another important thing is having the ability, if you need it, to fail in a safe space. Everybody around here understands who CEO is, what we’re doing.” Riverbend CEO collaborates with the North Alton-Godfrey

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GODFREY – Godfrey residents caught parking on grass or dirt for over 48 hours could be cited under a newly passed ordinance. The Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday to pass an ordinance which forbids parking for more than two days on soft, non-paved organic surfaces. Building and Zoning Administrator Tony Cain said the village has received several calls complaining about yard parking, but couldn’t take action without an ordinance on the books. “This is to keep people from parking in their yards, basically,” Cain said. “It’s become an overwhelming issue in the town and we continue to get calls.” According to the ordinance, the village has found that “parking on grass causes depressions, ruts and damage to grass, dirt and other unpaved areas which can collect water and harbor mosquitos and other pests and is hereby found to be a nuisance.” Under the ordinance, parking in the front, back, or side yards of privat

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — A 38-year-old man was taken into custody on Saturday, March 15, 2025, following an attempted wire theft in the 9700 block of St. Clair Avenue, according to the Fairview Heights Police Department. Edwin J. Gonzalez was apprehended after officers responded to a tamper alarm reported by AT&T, leading to the discovery of suspicious activity in the area. Upon arrival, police officers heard sounds consistent with tampering and located long strips of wire on the ground, suggesting a potential theft. Officers identified a pickup truck parked nearby, which they suspected belonged to the suspect. After determining that Gonzalez had fled the scene on foot, law enforcement coordinated with additional agencies to establish a perimeter. To aid in the search, an Illinois State Police K9 unit and a Fairview Heights Police drone equipped with thermal imaging technology were deployed. The drone pilot successfully directed officers to Gonzalez's location in the wooded area,

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