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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy announced Tuesday, February 13, 2024, that the City has acquired two parcels of greenspace – one just south of downtown and the other adjacent to Governors’ Parkway – to be preserved as Edwardsville park properties. Community members will have an opportunity later this month to share ideas for how those properties might be used and amenities that could be considered for the two sites. The properties purchased include .34 acres of land at 211 S. Benton Street, an empty lot at the intersection with West Park Street. It is part of the Crocker Gardens neighborhood in the City’s 4th Ward, bordering Ward 3. The other property is 3.42 acres of undeveloped land at the northeast corner of Gerber Road and Governors’ Parkway. It is located in the 7th Ward, bordering Ward 6. Acquisition funding was made possible by the Edwardsville Enhancement Plan, which utilizes revenue from the quarter-percent sales tax increase

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ALTON - If you are looking to replace a bed in your home, now is the time. Alton High School Band is excited to announce they will be hosting the Annual one-day Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For one day only, Alton High School will be transformed into a mattress showroom. For information about the sale, go to bit.ly/beds4alton24 . There will be 25+ mattress styles on display in all sizes in styles for customers to try, priced below retail. Adjustable power bases, premium pillows, bed frames, and mattress protectors will be available as well. The brands include Simmons Beautyrest, come with full factory warranties, are made to order, and will be available 2-3 weeks after the fundraiser. Delivery is available. Best of all, the Alton HS Bands benefit from every purchase. The company, Custom Fundraising Solutions (CFS) first introduced The Mattress Fundraiser to the Cleveland, Ohio market in 2005. The company now has nearly 100 locations and works

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education discussed plans for the expansion of the Edwardsville High School (EHS) commons during their work session on Feb. 12, 2024. The commons expansion project will add 8,000 square feet to the existing commons space. This new area will include a grab-and-go “Tiger Bites” area where students can purchase snack options, space for studying and events, and renovated restrooms. Construction will begin on Sept. 9, 2024. The existing restrooms will be renovated starting during spring break 2025. The goal is for the EHS commons project to be substantially completed by Aug. 6, 2025, in time for the 2025–2026 school year. The project will be completed by Holland Construction Services for a total of $6,844,242. “They really are working with us and making sure we’re being as efficient as possible,” said Alex Metzger, the district’s architect. There was a lot of discussion

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic recently honored its Scholar Bowl team seniors who were described as "a very special group." The seniors' loyalty and support have certainly helped Marquette Catholic's efforts toward a successful season. Here are the 2024 Marquette Seniors and their parents: Anna Bridegroom is the daughter of John & Amanda Bridegroom. She has been a member of the Scholar bowl for 2 years. Her future plan is to study Pre-veterinary medicine at undecided college at this time. Her favorite memory is Viking baby clothes and the bus rides. She would like to thank family, friends and Mr. Koehler for taking over Scholar bowl after Dungeon Prairie grass master Ian Edward Caveny left last year. Makaila Irby is the daughter of Nicole McCormick. She has been a member of the Scholar Bowl for 2 years. Her future plan is to attend Central Methodist University and major in Biology and Chemistry. Her favorite memory is the Taylor Swift debate. She would like to thank Mr

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ST. LOUIS, MO. – United Way of Greater St. Louis is excited to welcome seven new leaders to its board of directors, including: Kyle Anderson, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Executive Director Merri Berry, Missouri AFL-CIO, Secretary/Treasurer Katie Deatheridge, UAW 2250, President Zach Gietl, Edward Jones, Director Jose Gomez, Laborers Local 110, Business Manager Lisa Weingarth, Washington University, Senior Advisor for St. Louis Initiatives Jeremy Williams, Bayer, Head of Climate LLC, Digital Farming and Commercial Ecosystems “The addition of these remarkably talented individuals will continue to expand our reach and impact in the region by incorporating their expertise into our decision-making processes,” said Michelle Tucker, President and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “We look forward to collaborating closely with our new board members and the organizations they represent to collectively fuel efforts to empower our neighbors.”

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District will display an Abraham Lincoln Letter at the Genealogy & Local History Library at 401 State St. in Alton on Saturday, February 17, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mary Todd Lincoln’s China will also be on display and a lecture discussing Lincoln’s Alton Connections will be delivered. The letter written by Abraham Lincoln and owned by Hayner Library, will be displayed in the Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library. This letter, written before Lincoln became the sixteenth President of the United States, is addressed to Alton resident Simeon Ryder. Ryder was a sea captain and fisherman who moved to Alton in 1834 and opened a grocery, dry goods, and hardware business. He was also involved with developing the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad. The Ryder Building, now housing My Just Desserts in downtown Alton, was built and owned by Simeon Ryder. “We’re so happy to be able to share this document with our patrons,” say

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today encouraged Illinoisans to be vigilant when dating online to avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam. “Romance scammers take advantage of victims’ openness and trust,” Raoul said. “It is important to be mindful of red flags that could indicate someone is not who they claim they are. If you think you may be a victim of a romance scam, do not let any embarrassment deter you from seeking help or filing a complaint with my office.” With Valentine’s Day approaching, Attorney General Raoul issued the following tips to help prevent individuals from falling victim to online romance scams: Online scammers often create fake profiles or pose as celebrities and may attempt to contact you via social media. You can identify a fake profile by running a reverse image search of the account’s profile photo. If the search turns up different names for the same photo, or if the photo appears in multiple sources

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EDWARDSVILLE - Two SIUE professors hosted a “Building Community Resilience to Radicalization to Violence” community briefing to share information on the threat of violence in southern Illinois and ways to prevent radicalization. Drs. Suranjan Weeraratne and Laurie Rice, political science professors at SIUE, invited students and community members to attend the briefing on Feb. 12, 2024, where they spoke about the ways in which people are radicalized and how communities can prevent domestic terrorism. “The success of a targeted violence and terrorism prevention program depends on dedicated partners from all sectors of society working together,” Rice said. “In other words, it takes all of us to help keep our communities safe from the threat of targeted violence.” Weeraratne and Rice presented findings of a survey they distributed across 41 counties in Illinois. Their work was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s

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WASHGINTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to bolster U.S. national security and provide additional support for our partners and allies by a bipartisan vote of 70-29: “After months of delays demanding policy changes they apparently didn’t even want, I’m relieved that Senate Republicans have finally joined Democrats to pass this critical national security legislation. “With our nation confronting increasingly complex and escalating threats to global security, this bill would make important and substantial investments in our military industrial base—replenishing critical U.S. military equipment and creating good-paying jobs here at home—while helping Ukraine defend themselves from Putin’s forces, supporting our Indo-Pacific partners as we work together

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ALTON - Alton Main Street’s quarterly information exchange, called “What’s Up Downtown”, will be held on Tuesday, February 13th at 5:30 p.m. at the iMerge Community Center, located in the Riverbender building at 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton, Illinois. The public is invited to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton’s historic downtown district, including updates from new & existing businesses, news on real estate transactions and details of upcoming events and projects. You’ll be in the know on topics from the evening’s featured speakers, including: - Fred Pollard, who is announcing the move of his two retail shops Mom Said No and Mississippi Hippie from Mineral Springs into one consolidated space across the street at 300 E. Broadway - Mike McReynolds will speak about renovations currently taking place at 204 State Street in preparation for the forthcoming Bentley’s Bar & Grill - The Sierra Club’s Christine Favill

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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole on Monday voted 5-2 to preliminarily approve $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds which will reportedly help the Alton Police Department assist the city’s unhoused population with various services. After much discussion between city officials, and an unsuccessful attempt to table the item, details about exactly where and how the money would be spent were still unclear moments before committee members were called on to vote. The item appeared on Monday night’s agenda as a resolution to authorize “the Disbursement of American Rescue Plan Act Funds in the amount of $200,000.00 for priority projects within the City of Alton, Illinois.” According to the resolution itself, this is “funding for homeless services” in the amount of $200,000. The agenda item and resolution both contain no mention of the Alton Police Department, but Mayor David Goins said at the meeting that he requested the

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MARYVILLE - Revolution Dispensary is proud to announce the grand opening of a new location in Maryville, Illinois. The St. Louis community is invited to celebrate this milestone, which exemplifies Revolution Dispensary's commitment to superior quality and customer connections. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. on February 16th, with the official ribbing-cutting ceremony to begin at 11 a.m. at the brand-new Maryville location. Honored guests in attendance include Maryville Mayor Craig Short, President/CEO of the TMSM Chamber of Commerce, Dawn Mushill, and Bolden Investments CEO Charles Bolden. Revolution Dispensary Maryville is thrilled to join the local community and officially welcome customers. Shoppers visiting during the grand opening celebration will enjoy exclusive deals and discounts. The event also allows visitors to explore a curated range of top-tier cannabis products in a welcoming and highly knowledgeable environment. This is a unique opportunity to discover why Revolution

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WORDEN - The small community of Worden, population 1,110 was filled with individuals and families not only from the city itself but from communities all over the region and beyond on Saturday. The attendance was estimated in the 5,000 range and it was every bit of that. The Worden bars were filled with people and there were food trucks present this year and vendors. The parade participation was astonishing with everything from trucks, jeeps and motorcycles and much more. The parade was long and merry throughout with not only parade participants but the crowd. Rick and Nikki Landrem, owners of the Yellow Dog Bar in Worden are two of the event coordinators. The event has grown a lot, Nikki said. “It has put Worden on the map,” she said of the annual Mardis Gras Celebration. “The parade is loosely organized but very successful.” There was entertainment into the evening after the parade ended and once again, the Wordi-Gras appeared to be a big success for th

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GRAFTON - There are only two more days to enjoy the Raging Rivers Valentine’s Day deals that can save you up to $100. The park promises another fun-filled, sunny season with new additions to celebrate its 35th year in Grafton. You have until Feb. 14, 2024, to check out two package deals with big savings. “It is the place to be for the summer,” said park owner Ken Handler. “We want them to come out and enjoy and think summertime and get excited for this coming summer.” It might be cold now, but Handler sees a fun summer ahead with deals that make it easier for your family and friends to enjoy the waterpark. The Valentine’s Day deal allows customers to purchase four tickets and a cabana — a value of $239 — for $150. Customers can also purchase four tickets, meal vouchers and parking, which is valued at $198, for just $100. These deals are only available Feb. 7–14, 2024, in the Special Event Section on RagingRivers.com .

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RIVERBEND - Not sure where to go for Ash Wednesday this year? We have the ultimate Ash Wednesday guide right here, with Mass times and more to help you decide where to go on Feb. 14, 2024. Email sydney@riverbender.com with Mass times if there is a church we’re missing. St. Mary’s Catholic Church Where: 519 E. 4th Street in Alton When: Mass at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 5:15 p.m. More information: StMarysAlton.com St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Where: 717 State Street in Alton When: Mass at 8:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. More information: SSPPAlton.com St. Ambrose Parish Where: 820 W. Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey When: Mass at 8:15 a.m. and 7 p.m. Service of Ashes at 2:15 p.m. More information: SaintAmbroseParish.org St. Francis Xavier Church Where: 506 S. State Street in Jerseyville When: Mass at 8:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. More information: JerseyCountyCatholicChurches.org/Churches/St-Francis-Xavier

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ALTON - Alton Main Street is seeking a local car club partner in order to continue hosting Alton’s All-Wheels Drive-In Car Show into its 27 th year. The club would be responsible for providing a minimum of twelve people that would be available for the entirety of the event to manage the following responsibilities: set-up from 6:00 until 8:00 a.m., directing traffic and registering each participant from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., judging automobiles from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and conducting the awards ceremony from 4:00 until 4:30 p.m. Experience with auto-related event coordination is preferred, but training could be provided to a group that can offer a sufficient number of committed participants. Alton Main Street staff coordinates all of the logistics leading up to the event, including: city permit, liability insurance, advertising, fundraising, vendors, on-site amenities & activities, etc. "This amazing show has grown into a huge event over the years, and as time ha

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ALTON - Alton High School freshman Jillian Dwiggins has done something incredible - she has advanced to the IHSA State Girls Bowling Meet in her first year on varsity. Jillian put together games of 212, 160, 204, 202, 162, and 202 for a total of 1142 in the sectional this past weekend. She finished 10th overall, earning her a trip to Rockford next weekend for the state finals. Jillian is the daughter of AHS head girls bowling coach Jamie, and has been the Redbirds' top bowler all year. Her coach said: "She is our hardest worker, putting in additional time practicing and spending a lot of her own time working on various aspects of her game. While we would have loved to see the team advance to the state finals, this is the next best scenario. We are beyond proud of Jillian for making it to state. She is an excellent student as well." Jillian Dwiggins is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Jillian played volleyball in the fall for the Redbirds but cut her seaso

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BELLEVILLE - A woman from Belleville is facing one felony and a misdemeanor after allegedly making “racially charged” death threats against an employee of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Shannon B. Benavidez, 43, of Belleville, was charged with threatening a public official and harassment by telephone on Jan. 25, 2024. Benavidez allegedly made racially charged verbal threats towards a DCFS employee, according to Madison County court documents. A petition filed to deny Benavidez’s pretrial release specifically states that she “made multiple phone calls conveying racially charged verbal threats against a DCFS employee.” In one message, she reportedly called the DCFS employee a racial slur and a “bitch,” immediately followed by the words, “you’re dead.” The petition also states Benavidez was previously known by DCFS because she surrendered her parental rights to a minor child in March o

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EDWARDSVILLE - Five individuals from around Madison County have been charged by various local law enforcement agencies with illegal meth possession and operating uninsured vehicles in recent months, according to county court filings. Jason D. Wanick, 51, of Wood River, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine on Jan. 12, 2024. Wanick reportedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine in his possession and was charged with a Class 3 felony. His case was presented by the Wood River Police Department and he’s since been released upon his signature of a Conditions of Pretrial Release Order. Elmer J. Varble, 47, of Bunker Hill, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Court documents allege Varble drove a vehicle on Lewis and Clark Boulevard in East Alton while the vehicle was uninsured, and also had less than five grams of methamphetamine in his possession, on Dec. 27, 2023. Varble faces a Class

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ALTON - Sophomore Lydia Fite and her creative eye have been recognized as the Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Alton High School Remarkable Redbird of the Month. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Lydia became very interested in sunsets and started taking pictures of them. As her interest in photography continued to be more involved, she asked for a camera for Christmas and started taking pictures of many other things. She was recently selected to have her photograph of a train car on the Alton Riverfront with graffiti on it to be shown in the Webster Gallery High School Photography Exhibition and she was also selected to have the picture shown in the Southwestern Conference High School Art Exhibition at the Edwardsville Art Center for the month of January. Alton High Art Department Chair Bridget Heck selected the photo to be shown in both of these exhibitions. Lydia is also a current member of the Art Club at Alton High. She took Digital Photography and is now in Advanced Photography. She has

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