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GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School seniors Lucas Hutchings and Reece Smallie were recognized at the 2024 SKILLED Award Winners Ceremony on Feb. 6 at the S.M. Wilson & Co. Headquarters in St. Louis. The event consisted of appetizers, networking and a short ceremony. Hutchings and Smallie were awarded $500 each for their plan in further developing the GCSD9 mobile classroom. Their plan included purchasing “more tools, machines, computers and other technology” for the trailer. "We have been fortunate to have S.M. Wilson as a part of our district growth in GCSD9. Their approach to a project goes past the physical construction, but also includes their celebrating the completion of a project with us," said GCSD9 Superintendent Stephanie M. Cann . "Their Skilled & Follow the Build programs bring student engagement into the educational forefront through specific classroom presentations by field experts, and on-site field trips to our own active project

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College Associate Professor of Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Meghan Becraft has been nominated by her peers for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s (ICCTA) Outstanding Full-time Faculty Award. The award recognizes high-achieving Illinois full-time community college instructors. “I was so surprised and overwhelmed with gratitude to receive this nomination; it has been such a humbling experience to be honored in this way by my colleagues and friends,” Becraft said. “I am aware of the distinction this award comes with and will continue to do my very best to represent the Lewis and Clark team.” Becraft came to L&C in 2008 as a well-seasoned professional with 15 years of experience, working in a variety of private dental practices. She began as an adjunct, teaching dental hygiene clinical courses while still providing patient care in a private facility. “I really enjoyed

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EAST ALTON - As spring approaches, the East Alton Parks and Recreation Department has several clinics and programs coming down the pipeline. Tyler Lafferty, the department superintendent, explained that the Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor multiple youth clinics throughout March and April before tri-city volleyball and baseball begin later in the season. The department will also hold a Generation Gap trivia night on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, to raise money for a sports scholarship and senior programs. “It takes support,” Lafferty said. “We’re very blessed in East Alton in having so many connections locally. Everyone’s wanting to see the community grow.” In March, East Alton will offer a t-ball clinic for ages 3–5 and a basketball clinic for ages 5–7, followed by a “Soccer 4 Tots” clinic in April for ages 3–7. The clinics are scheduled for every Saturday for four weeks, and it costs $30 to participate.

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ALTON - Alton Family Martial Arts & Fitness invites you to join them at one of their classes. Steven Fisher, general manager, explained that the gym offers jiu jitsu, MMA and kickboxing classes. They also have a seven-day free trial period for people to check out their classes firsthand. He encourages people to give it a shot. “It’s never too early to start,” Fisher said. “We have every flavor in the gym and we take it at your pace, not our pace, so you have time to build that strength, build that momentum, and then you can go from there.” Fisher joked that many people are overconfident when they come to the gym at first, and the first class is known as the “ego killer.” While it can be intimidating at first, the coaches and fellow classmates are there to practice, and they always welcome newcomers. Adam Peipert knows this firsthand. Peipert has lost 100 pounds over the past 12 months of working with Alton Family Martial Arts & Fitness

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SPRINGFIELD – This Super Bowl Sunday, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police as well as law enforcement agencies throughout the state are taking a timeout to spread two very important safety messages to the public: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket.” “If you’re attending a Super Bowl party, the best call you can make before you start to celebrate is to plan for a safe ride home so that when the party’s over, you don’t get sidelined – or sideline anyone else – by driving impaired,” said IDOT’s Director of Highways Project Implementation Steve Travia. “Driving impaired is not a game and can have fatal consequences for you and others on the road.” If you’re driving this weekend, safety should be the top goal in your gameplan. When it’s time to leave the party, make sure your designated driver is sober. Remember that walking impaired also

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ALTON - Believe it or not, for professionals like Thomas Nealeigh, fire-eating is easier than it looks. “Fire eating, in a way, is one of the easiest acts to learn. But it is the most difficult one to master,” the performer said. “And you continually work with it and you have to keep in mind that at some point you’re going to catch on fire.” Nealeigh would know. He tells the story of a bad performance where the wind changed and the fire singed off his eyebrow and burned his chin. Ever the professional, he slathered on some burn ointment and lit up to perform the trick again — and quickly realized that burn ointment is flammable. This is part of the job for FreakShow Deluxe, the production company that Nealeigh helped start in 2001. The show travels all over the country, but Nealeigh and his family live in Alton, where he recently performed at Alton Little Theater before a production of “Elephant’s Graveyard.” He has a

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WORDEN - Worden once again is waiting in anticipation of the Wordi Gras Celebration. The parade begins at 3 p.m., followed by an abundance of festivities with bands and more around the community. The event has grown from 2006 to about 5,000 people, much bigger than the Worden population of 1,096 in the 2020 census. "It is just great for our small town," said one of the coordinators - Rick Landreth - who works with his wife Nikki to organize the event. The couple also puts on one of the bigger shows and displays of the event at the Yellow Dog Bar and Grill in Worden. The Baywolfe Band will perform from 1 to 5 p.m. and the Cheers band from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be several food trucks there also on the day and plenty of hurricane drinks, Nikki said. The Yellow Dog and other establishments in Worden order a significant amount of food and drinks for the affair. Any float or vehicle can enter the parade - all an entry has to do is just get in line, and entry is free. Each year

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EFFINGHAM - U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced that he has nominated 18 local young men and women for admittance to the U.S. Service Academies. Nominations were made following the recommendations of an independent panel that reviewed applications and conducted formal interviews. Final determination on admission is made by the individual academies. "Southern Illinois is fortunate to have some of the brightest and most patriotic students in the country," said Bost. "With Scott Air Force Base in our backyard, it's easy to see why service to our nation is an important value within Illinois's 12 th District. These students are an exceptional part of our community and set a fine example for others both inside and outside the classroom. As our next generation of leaders, these nominees have incredibly bright futures ahead." ACADEMY NOMINATIONS Gregory Adams - Attends Mascoutah High School and was nominated to the Air Force Academy. Elijah Bishop - Attends Herrin High

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser has proposed a plan that will allow senior citizens in Madison County an automatic extension for their senior citizen homestead exemption. This new proposal to be voted on at the Madison County Board finance committee meeting next week. “We should be reducing pointless red tape whenever we can,” said Slusser. “We recently found a clause in the state statute governing the senior citizen exemptions that allowed for automatic renewal if passed by the County Board. Once someone turns 65 and they’re given the exemption, automatic renewal only makes sense. It’s not like they’re getting any younger,” Slusser said. “In Illinois, we have the second highest property taxes in the country,” said Slusser. “Senior citizens are often the hardest hit by this property tax burden. This is the least we can do to make things easier for them to receive the savings they’re eligible for.

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a bipartisan coalition of 18 attorneys general, filed comments with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressing support for a recently proposed rule to crack down on deceptive and unfair fees faced by consumers. The recently proposed rule by the FTC – called the Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees – is intended to deter deceptive and unfair acts or practices involving fees. The rule seeks to promote a level playing field that enables comparison shopping and allows honest businesses to compete. “Hidden and junk fees drive up the price of goods and frustrate consumers to no end, decreasing trust in the marketplace and putting honest businesses at a disadvantage,” Raoul said. “My office’s Consumer Protection Division will continue to go after bad actors who exploit consumers for their financial gain.” In the comment letter , Raoul and the coalition detail the widespread

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ALTON - Sacred Spaces of CARE will host a trivia fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, to raise money for the organization’s programs to support mental health in the community. Megan Tyler, the executive director, explained that the organization just celebrated its first anniversary and has stayed busy connecting people with resources and working with the Alton Police Department to promote officer wellness and crisis intervention. The trivia night, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club, will fund these initiatives for another year. “I think this next year is going to be phenomenal. Everybody’s passionate, everybody’s eager to just dive in,” Tyler said. “Now we have that traction and we see fruit and we see the change, the difference it’s making, and so I think it just fires everybody up and we want to really go through ’24 with a lot of great projects, great plans moving forward.” The

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EDWARDSVILLE - The theft of an iPad from Alton City Hall resulted in felony charges filed against a homeless man who also reportedly damaged the iPad late last year. This case joins a long list of other thefts reported in Madison County court documents. Terrell E. Porter, 45, homeless, was charged by the Alton Police Department with one count of theft and one count of criminal damage to government-supported property. Porter allegedly stole a 5th generation Apple iPad valued at over $500 from Alton City Hall at 101 E 3rd St. in Alton on Dec. 26, 2023, according to court documents. Porter was additionally charged with criminal damage to government-supported property after reportedly causing damage to the same city-owned iPad he stole from the City of Alton. Porter faces a Class 2 felony for theft and a Class 4 felony for damaging government-supported property. Court documents indicate he was released upon his signature of a Conditions of Pretrial Release Order. Deana M. Kirkwood,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Several people have been charged with various forms of theft across Madison County, including one man from Kentucky and another charged with theft of labor, services, or use of property, according to county court documents. Thomas P. Healy, 60, of Arnold, Mo. was charged with theft of labor or services or use of property on Jan. 11, 2024. Healy reportedly failed to return a power washer valued at over $500 which he had rented from Lowe’s in Alton, according to court documents. Healy’s case was presented by the Alton Police Department, and he faces a Class 4 felony. Court documents indicate he was released upon his signature of a Conditions of Pretrial Release Order. Rory C. Waddell, 37, of Springfield, Mo., was charged with one count of retail theft over $300 on Jan. 7, 2024. Waddell allegedly stole “multiple packs of Pokémon trading cards” with a total value in excess of $300 from the Walmart located at 1040 Collinsville Crossing

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WOOD RIVER - Junior Jordan Ealey has been one of the catalysts of a successful East Alton-Wood River High girls basketball team this season. She is an exceptionally hard worker and so important to the offensive and defensive schemes of the Oilers girls squad. Ealey is an outstanding student with a 4.433 grade point average. "I've continued to keep all A's in my classes throughout each year and I am proud of that," she said. Ealey is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. She said she has scored more this season for the Oilers and put in a lot of effort to improve her game. Jordan is averaging 5.8 points a game and 1.8 rebounds per game for her team. She said she has played basketball since middle school and loves it. "What I like most about basketball is the energy and rush on the court," she added. She also plays select softball for the Black Widows team. "I’m hoping to go to college to play softball," she said. "I’m still looking

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City will host their third annual Mardi Gras celebration with a parade, block party and bar crawl on this Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. The parade starts at 1 p.m. at 29th and State Street in Granite City. It will end at Civic Park. The block party is scheduled for 2–5 p.m. at Civic Park, followed by a local bar crawl until 10 p.m. Over 25 floats will participate in the parade. The block party will include several local food and drink vendors. Kids can check out crafts and snacks at Alligator Alley, a free attraction sponsored by Granite City Township. There will also be a live DJ and an ax-throwing booth for community members to enjoy. “The block party is fun for the whole family and we cannot wait to celebrate with everyone,” the City of Granite City said in a Facebook post. The bar crawl includes 17 bars in the area. Buses will be available to take participants to bars throughout the city, departing from City Hall at 5 p.m. and running until

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City School District continues to expand horizons for students in the arts field with some dynamic performers for their children in multiple grade levels this past week. Students and staff enjoyed a pair of performances by Beyond Measure Dance, LLC called "Africa to America" on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, as part of a celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth at Prather Pre-K/Kindergraten Center . The Dancers delivered a dynamic performance involving the history, culture, language and creation of three dance styles: West African, Jazz Swing and Hip Hop. Through the use of song, dance, and poetry written by the creator, Alicia “Sunshine” Gbaho, students participated in an educational and interactive celebration. Memorable Day At Coolidge Junior High With National Jazz Artists It was a memorable day for Granite City School and Coolidge Junior High band students at Coolidge Junior High School who joined national jazz artists Michael Dease a

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Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz released a statement today about Illinois American Water’s $152 million rate-hike request before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC): Illinois American’s $152 million rate-hike request is severe and greedy—the company is pushing for an excessive profit rate for its shareholders—and CUB will do everything it can to reduce it. We often hear complaints from Illinois American customers about painfully high bills, fueled by the utility’s aggressive strategy of buying up municipal systems across Illinois, along with winning legislative approval to add a "Qualifying Infrastructure Plant" surcharge to bills. While water customers struggle, Illinois American’s parent company has pulled in about $1.6 billion in profits over the last two years. This punishing rate hike will be a hardship to consumers who depend on the utility for a vital service–and that’s why we’re challenging

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC), also members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to reintroduce the bipartisan Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Act ( VICTIM Act ), a bill to help improve the clearance rate for murders and violent gun crimes. The legislation would establish a grant program at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide funding to State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies to hire, retain, and train detectives and victim services personnel to investigate unsolved homicides and support victims. The national clearance rate for murders – or the percentage of murder cases solved by law enforcement agencies— has been in continual decline for decades and, in recent years, has reached its lowest point. Between 2019 and 2022, murder clearance rates fell from

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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 voted to proceed on the package to bolster U.S. national security that will provide additional support for our partners and allies: “With our nation confronting increasingly complex and escalating threats to global security, I’m relieved that Senate Republicans have finally joined Democrats to enable us to strengthen our own national security—including by investing 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, expanding life-saving humanitarian assistance to the innocent civilians suffering in Gaza, supporting our Indo-Pacific partners as we work together to counter China and helping Israel eliminate

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WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Amir Ali, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia; Judge Sunil Harjani, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jasmine Yoon, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia. Durbin began his questions by asking Mr. Ali about his work that bridges organizations with opposing ideologies. “You submitted numerous amicus briefs over the course of your career as a litigator. In some of those briefs, you’ve been joined by organizations across the political spectrum, including the Cato Institute. Speak about some of the issues that you worked on, bringing together unusual political allies, as well as why you think these issues are so important,”Durbin said. Mr. Ali first noted that the work Durbin referred t

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