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BETHALTO - Piston Aviation has officially opened at the St. Louis Regional Airport in Bethalto, and they’re pleased to see their flight school growing. Joe Ord, co-owner of Piston Aviation, explained that the flight school’s second location in Bethalto has expanded rapidly since they opened earlier this year. He is excited to welcome more people into the aviation industry, and he wants people to know that there are countless opportunities for a career in aviation. “There are so many different paths. Most people don’t realize how many different paths there are,” Ord said. “There are so many awesome opportunities that you can make a career out of. It’s a lifestyle thing. That’s what’s so cool about aviation. It’s a fun, fun thing to do, and if you figure out a way to do it to make money and make a life out of it, then that’s just beautiful.” Piston Aviation offers several programs to help people get their

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City School District #9 received a significant boost for the upcoming school year with a donation of 400 backpacks filled with supplies from Amazon.com STL6. The donation, which was split evenly between Prather Pre-K/Kindergarten Center and Wilson 1-2 Education Center, was made to support students as they prepare for the 2024-25 academic year. Melissa Wyrostek and members of the Amazon team visited both schools to personally deliver the backpacks and engage with students and staff. "This is a very generous donation and will have a big impact on our GCSD9 students," said a representative from the school district. The contribution from Amazon aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens on families and ensure that students have the necessary supplies to succeed in their education.

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City School District #9 received a significant boost for the upcoming school year with a donation of 400 backpacks filled with supplies from Amazon.com STL6. The donation, which was split evenly between Prather Pre-K/Kindergarten Center and Wilson 1-2 Education Center, was made to support students as they prepare for the 2024-25 academic year. Melissa Wyrostek and members of the Amazon team visited both schools to personally deliver the backpacks and engage with students and staff. "This is a very generous donation and will have a big impact on our GCSD9 students," said a representative from the school district. The contribution from Amazon aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens on families and ensure that students have the necessary supplies to succeed in their education.

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JERSEYVILLE - Brinley Kelly is having an outstanding year as a freshman runner for Jersey Community High School's girls cross country team. She has posted the best time this season of 21:00.3 for three miles in the Highland Cross Country Invite. Kelly is a Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. Kelly also was 12th with a time of 22:50.9 in the CM Twilight Invite. She had a time of 21:29.0 for 14th on Sept. 7, 2024, in the prestigious Granite City Robinson/Lang Invite. Recently on Sept. 25, she was third in the Alton Cross Country Invite with a time of 21:14.6. “I love running,” Kelly said after the Granite City race earlier in September. “I have been running for a long time. My goal for the season get to 21-minute three miles and improve from there. There is always room to improve and I think everyone else on my team will as well.”

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JERSEYVILLE - Brinley Kelly is having an outstanding year as a freshman runner for Jersey Community High School's girls cross country team. She has posted the best time this season of 21:00.3 for three miles in the Highland Cross Country Invite. Kelly is a Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. Kelly also was 12th with a time of 22:50.9 in the CM Twilight Invite. She had a time of 21:29.0 for 14th on Sept. 7, 2024, in the prestigious Granite City Robinson/Lang Invite. Recently on Sept. 25, she was third in the Alton Cross Country Invite with a time of 21:14.6. “I love running,” Kelly said after the Granite City race earlier in September. “I have been running for a long time. My goal for the season get to 21-minute three miles and improve from there. There is always room to improve and I think everyone else on my team will as well.”

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BETHALTO - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office is transforming its Bethalto DMV facility into a “One-Stop-Shop” design, offering reduced wait times and increased efficiencies. The renovation also includes updated signage to create a more logical flow and help customers know where to go, Giannoulias said. The Bethalto DMV is the first facility in Southwest Illinois to become a One-Stop-Shop facility, The DMV will temporarily close from Oct. 7-18, while renovations take place. During that time, a temporary “pop-up” location will service customers at the Village of Bethalto building located at 100 E. Central St. The pop-up facility will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. after the office recently shifted hours of operation to better align with customer availability. Customers can make an appointment online. As a part of the Secretary of State’s ongoing modernization efforts, the new DMV experience will save customers

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BETHALTO - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office is transforming its Bethalto DMV facility into a “One-Stop-Shop” design, offering reduced wait times and increased efficiencies. The renovation also includes updated signage to create a more logical flow and help customers know where to go, Giannoulias said. The Bethalto DMV is the first facility in Southwest Illinois to become a One-Stop-Shop facility, The DMV will temporarily close from Oct. 7-18, while renovations take place. During that time, a temporary “pop-up” location will service customers at the Village of Bethalto building located at 100 E. Central St. The pop-up facility will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. after the office recently shifted hours of operation to better align with customer availability. Customers can make an appointment online. As a part of the Secretary of State’s ongoing modernization efforts, the new DMV experience will save customers

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GRAFTON - During a ceremony held at City Hall on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Officer Mike Angel was promoted to sergeant with the Grafton Police Department. Police Chief Eric M. Spanton and Mayor Mike Morrow officiated at the promotion ceremony. Chief Spanton recommended Officer Angel for promotion with an effective date of September 1, 2024. The chief said, “Officer Angel has proven his value and capabilities on a daily basis while on city patrol and by handling a multitude of ever-increasing daily responsibilities and duties within our department. We are pleased to see him promoted to sergeant today with his family in attendance.” After serving with other police departments, Sergeant Angel came to Grafton as a part-time patrolman in 2013 and became a full-time officer in 2019. “My career in law enforcement began in 2002 at the age of 22, but I really like serving the people of Grafton,” he said. Mayor Morrow noted how Sergeant Angel now officially fills the

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GRAFTON - During a ceremony held at City Hall on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Officer Mike Angel was promoted to sergeant with the Grafton Police Department. Police Chief Eric M. Spanton and Mayor Mike Morrow officiated at the promotion ceremony. Chief Spanton recommended Officer Angel for promotion with an effective date of September 1, 2024. The chief said, “Officer Angel has proven his value and capabilities on a daily basis while on city patrol and by handling a multitude of ever-increasing daily responsibilities and duties within our department. We are pleased to see him promoted to sergeant today with his family in attendance.” After serving with other police departments, Sergeant Angel came to Grafton as a part-time patrolman in 2013 and became a full-time officer in 2019. “My career in law enforcement began in 2002 at the age of 22, but I really like serving the people of Grafton,” he said. Mayor Morrow noted how Sergeant Angel now officially fills the

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The St. Clair County Health Department reported on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, multiple cases of gastrointestinal illnesses linked to LongHorn Steakhouse located at 6115 North Illinois St. in Fairview Heights. The outbreak has raised concerns as health officials confirmed that 12 of 14 individuals who tested positive for gastrointestinal symptoms had dined at the restaurant between Sept. 21 and 22, 2024. In response to the reported illnesses, LongHorn Steakhouse voluntarily closed its location for two days to conduct a thorough sanitization of the premises using a hospital-grade disinfectant. The restaurant's management emphasized that the health and safety of both guests and team members remains their top priority. “Our Total Quality manager on site will also be reinforcing our food safety and sanitation practices with our team,” the restaurant stated. The health department indicated that six of the affected patients required hospitalization due

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The St. Clair County Health Department reported on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, multiple cases of gastrointestinal illnesses linked to LongHorn Steakhouse located at 6115 North Illinois St. in Fairview Heights. The outbreak has raised concerns as health officials confirmed that 12 of 14 individuals who tested positive for gastrointestinal symptoms had dined at the restaurant between Sept. 21 and 22, 2024. In response to the reported illnesses, LongHorn Steakhouse voluntarily closed its location for two days to conduct a thorough sanitization of the premises using a hospital-grade disinfectant. The restaurant's management emphasized that the health and safety of both guests and team members remains their top priority. “Our Total Quality manager on site will also be reinforcing our food safety and sanitation practices with our team,” the restaurant stated. The health department indicated that six of the affected patients required hospitalization due

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October 3 has been marked by significant historical events across various domains. In 1990, Germany achieved reunification, a momentous occasion that marked the end of the Cold War division between East and West Germany. The Berlin Wall, a symbol of this division, had fallen the previous year, and the reunification process was a monumental step toward peace and stability in Europe. The event not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape but also paved the way for the expansion of the European Union. Further back, in 1967, on this day, the world of literature mourned the passing of Woody Guthrie, a legendary American folk musician whose songs of protest and social justice resonated with the struggles of the common people. Guthrie's influence extended beyond music, inspiring generations of artists and activists to use their voices for change. His legacy lives on in the countless musicians who continue to draw inspiration from his work, reminding us of the power of art in advocating

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October 3 has been marked by significant historical events across various domains. In 1990, Germany achieved reunification, a momentous occasion that marked the end of the Cold War division between East and West Germany. The Berlin Wall, a symbol of this division, had fallen the previous year, and the reunification process was a monumental step toward peace and stability in Europe. The event not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape but also paved the way for the expansion of the European Union. Further back, in 1967, on this day, the world of literature mourned the passing of Woody Guthrie, a legendary American folk musician whose songs of protest and social justice resonated with the struggles of the common people. Guthrie's influence extended beyond music, inspiring generations of artists and activists to use their voices for change. His legacy lives on in the countless musicians who continue to draw inspiration from his work, reminding us of the power of art in advocating

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Everyone knows that community is important. A community is a place made up of people just like you and me, and it’s up to us to take care of our own individual communities. A community is a place where people come together to celebrate, learn or just have fun. Community offers a sense of comfort, peace, safety and support, memories, and hopefully, unity. These are the ties that bind the business and people of a community together. These are the reasons that communities have things such as homecoming celebrations, parades and seasonal events. If a community lets these things meet their demise, everyone suffers. Such a calamity threatened the small community of Litchfield not so long ago. For a time, community celebrations and events were juggled between dwindling organizations, such as the now disbanded Jaycees and the Rotary Club, until there was no one left willing to take charge and coordinate to continue events. That is, until a group of businesses owners

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Laura Boehm was a teacher in Carlinville for 12 years. For 12 years, she drove past an old building on the corner where West Main meets North West Street, just a block off the downtown square. Something about the building pulled at her heart, but she wasn’t sure why. The building was empty, and in a state of deterioration, yet she felt there was something majestic hidden behind the locked door. Then, in October of 2022, she noticed a for sale sign in the window. She excitedly told her husband Eric and they set an appointment to see the inside. “The building was in pretty rough shape, but I envisioned setting up shop inside,”Laura said. “We had my parents come and take a look and they said, ‘Absolutely do not get yourself into this, it’s too much.’” Laura’s mother, Jane Settles, knows a thing or two about owning a business. She has over 20 years experience in home decor/retail, owning and operating Lula Bells

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Everyone knows that community is important. A community is a place made up of people just like you and me, and it’s up to us to take care of our own individual communities. A community is a place where people come together to celebrate, learn or just have fun. Community offers a sense of comfort, peace, safety and support, memories, and hopefully, unity. These are the ties that bind the business and people of a community together. These are the reasons that communities have things such as homecoming celebrations, parades and seasonal events. If a community lets these things meet their demise, everyone suffers. Such a calamity threatened the small community of Litchfield not so long ago. For a time, community celebrations and events were juggled between dwindling organizations, such as the now disbanded Jaycees and the Rotary Club, until there was no one left willing to take charge and coordinate to continue events. That is, until a group of businesses owners

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - Laura Boehm was a teacher in Carlinville for 12 years. For 12 years, she drove past an old building on the corner where West Main meets North West Street, just a block off the downtown square. Something about the building pulled at her heart, but she wasn’t sure why. The building was empty, and in a state of deterioration, yet she felt there was something majestic hidden behind the locked door. Then, in October of 2022, she noticed a for sale sign in the window. She excitedly told her husband Eric and they set an appointment to see the inside. “The building was in pretty rough shape, but I envisioned setting up shop inside,”Laura said. “We had my parents come and take a look and they said, ‘Absolutely do not get yourself into this, it’s too much.’” Laura’s mother, Jane Settles, knows a thing or two about owning a business. She has over 20 years experience in home decor/retail, owning and operating Lula Bells

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ALTON - A new apartment complex is taking shape in Alton, as construction progresses on the Sunnybrook development located in the 800 block of Washington Avenue. The complex construction work is shown above by 618 Drone photos. The project, which will feature multi-level buildings, is set to include 10 four-plex townhouses, totaling 40 residences, along with a community building spanning 2,000 square feet. Alton Mayor David Goins expressed optimism about the development, stating, “It seems like the shells of the building are going up and the project is moving well.” He added that the new apartments will be a great asset for the Alton community and its residents. The Sunnybrook development will occupy seven acres and is designed to enhance community engagement. Planned amenities include a one-acre natural green space complete with a walking path, a 50 x 40-foot playground, and a 50 x 50-foot hard surface play court. The development will also feature concrete streets

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ALTON - A new apartment complex is taking shape in Alton, as construction progresses on the Sunnybrook development located in the 800 block of Washington Avenue. The complex construction work is shown above by 618 Drone photos. The project, which will feature multi-level buildings, is set to include 10 four-plex townhouses, totaling 40 residences, along with a community building spanning 2,000 square feet. Alton Mayor David Goins expressed optimism about the development, stating, “It seems like the shells of the building are going up and the project is moving well.” He added that the new apartments will be a great asset for the Alton community and its residents. The Sunnybrook development will occupy seven acres and is designed to enhance community engagement. Planned amenities include a one-acre natural green space complete with a walking path, a 50 x 40-foot playground, and a 50 x 50-foot hard surface play court. The development will also feature concrete streets

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WOOD RIVER - A woman from Wood River was charged with storing a loaded firearm in her 5-year-old child’s backpack after using the weapon during a domestic dispute. Lanita L. Gore, 27, of Wood River, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and endangering the life or health of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. On Sept. 17, 2024, Gore allegedly used a 9mm handgun to strike a victim in the head during a domestic dispute. She was additionally charged after reportedly storing the firearm in her child’s backpack. A petition to deny Gore’s pretrial release states she “initially lied to police about being armed during this incident, claiming that the victim was the aggressor.” “She also lied about the location of her firearm, which was eventually found by police in her 5-year-old child's backpack,” the petition adds. A Release Order was later filed denying the petition to keep Gore detained, instead granting her pretrial release

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