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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is excited to announce new theme and discount days for 2023. Changes have been made from theme days in years past. County Fairs and Horse Racing Day will start it all off on Thursday, August 10 with gates opening at 7 a.m. This change will provide a full day of horse racing, county fair celebrations, free entertainment, carnival rides, all of your favorite fair food, traditional kick off activities, and the annual Twilight Parade. In addition to a full day of fair fun, anyone who pays for parking on the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Thursday, August 10, will receive a voucher for free parking to be redeemed on either Tuesday, August 15, Wednesday, August 16, or Thursday, August 17. Agriculture Day moves to Friday, August 11, allowing for more livestock exhibitors and youth in agriculture participants to be on the grounds to celebrate our state’s number one industry. The move to the first Friday will also help minimize the impact

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JACKSONVILLE - State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) today announced Jeanmarie Shafer from Winchester, Illinois as the top winner in the first round of his district-wide photo contest. Ms. Shafer submitted the winning photo of a Heli Team crop-duster helicopter turning into a corn field. “Thank you to everyone that participated. We have so many talented people in the 100th District. It was great to see so many pictures to make me feel at home. My staff and I had a hard time choosing just one. I will be hanging several in my Springfield Office. I look forward to the next round of photos,” stated Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer.

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ST. LOUIS - Gateway Arch Park Foundation announces star-studded lineup for 8th annual Blues at the Arch Festival August 11-13 With fans driving for hours hear some of today’s best blues artists, Blues at the Arch Festival presented by the Missouri Division of Tourism includes delicious food, drinks, all ages activities, a Kids’ Corner and more. A ticketed Sunday Blues Brunch will cap off the weekend. ST. LOUIS, MO (June 20, 2023)—Blues at the Arch Festival returns August 11-13, this year presented by the Missouri Division of Tourism, Visit Missouri. Held at the North Gateway of Gateway Arch National Park (bordering Laclede’s Landing), the Festival is free and open to the public on Friday and Saturday. Hosted by Gateway Arch Park Foundation as part of its mission to bring exciting, accessible community events to the national park, this popular end-of-summer celebration pays tribute to St. Louis' storied blues history and showcases the talents of national and local

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GODFREY – The RiverBend Growth Association has awarded the Small Business of the Month for August 2023 to Quality Buick GMC Cadillac, a third-generation family business. Located at 1620 Homer M. Adams Parkway in Alton, the business has been thriving now for 65 years. It has been part of the Stevenson family’s livelihood for decades, with Cody Stevenson and Chad Stevenson as its third-generation leader today. Quality Buick GMC Cadillac continues its mission to provide quality and affordable vehicle sales, care and repair to customers throughout the Riverbend region. To ensure its continued quality service, the company has built a new facility that doubled its body shop capacity and increased its service department’s overall capacity by 20 percent. They’ve also expanded north, setting up a new dealership in Jerseyville at 1200 S. State St. known as Quality Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Stevenson notes that the dealership has also seen an increase in its number of

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LITCHFIELD - The Litchfield Pickers Market returns Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 400 N. State St. in downtown Litchfield. This vintage and antique market is a fun, family-friendly event and we are excited to welcome back visitors and vendors for the third market of the season. It is the largest open-air pickers market in the region and specializes in antiques, collectibles, vintage items and refurbished items. Each month the market welcomes musicians to perform at the Carnegie Park stage. On August 13, two favorite picket market bands will return to the stage – B & B Strings will start the music at 9 a.m., followed by Skibbereen, who will take the stage at noon. A limited number of picnic tables are provided in the park area, so bring a lawn chair or blanket so you can sit and enjoy the music. To make the most of your pickers market experience, it is recommended that you bring totes, wagons, carts, pick-up trucks, and anything that will help haul all the great

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JERSEYVILLE - Award-nominated Christian artist, Hope Darst, is coming to Jerseyville on Saturday, September 9! You may recognize many of Hope’s songs if you are a listener of Joy FM or one of her 18,000+ followers on Instagram. Some of her hit songs include: Peace Be Still, Promise Keeper, If The Lord Builds The House, and her current single: Never Walk Alone. 1AG Church on 500 Cross Avenue in Jerseyville, will be hosting the non-profit concert. There will be a moment taken prior to the concert to discuss the needs of local children. Between the counties of Jersey, Calhoun, Greene, Macoupin, and Madison there are 975 children in foster care. We hope to bring awareness of ways to support these children, their foster families, and birth families. The evening will begin around 4 p.m. with food trucks in the parking lot with the show starting at 7 p.m. Local band, Uproar, will be the opening act prior to Hope Darst’s set. Their captivating performances will touch your heart,

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GLEN CARBON - A preliminary site plan for a new Club Car Wash to be built in Orchard Town Center was approved by the Glen Carbon Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday. The 5,300 square-foot facility will operate as a self-serve, drive-thru tunnel car wash serving a peak estimate of 70 cars per hour during the week. Joseph Howley, an engineer with Civil Engineering Design Consultants (CEDC), spoke at the meeting on behalf of Club Car Wash. He said the car wash is entirely self-service and will see even more cars on the weekends. “ called a ‘self-service’ tunnel, you actually drive in, you stay in your car and it just pulls you through there,” Howley said. “We’re looking at peak estimates of about 70 cars per hour during the week - there’s a higher estimate on the weekends, of course. The car wash panel itself has a capacity of about 100 cars an hour.” He credited the current plan for having “lots of stacking area” t

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EAST ALTON - East Alton is known as a community that cares about its children. Another prime example occurred on Saturday with East Alton’s Annual Back To School event. The village took 200 children for the special event to provide the following: Haircut, three sets of new clothing, hygiene products, backpacks with grade-appropriate supplies, lunch, tennis shoes and socks, underwear garments, coats and jackets and laundry soap. “We have many organizations and businesses that came together to help supply and support the needs for these children, co-chair Robin Carlton said with the other co-chair Suzette Cranmer. “We are supported and helped by the Village of East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton and the village trustees. This was our fifth year of organizing this free event for our community.” “It takes an average of 80 volunteers, 30 of those are personal shoppers made up of a lot of East Alton teachers. We are blessed and have a great rapport with the Eas

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PONTOON BEACH - The Pontoon Beach Party at The Beach had remarkable attendance and was a great time for those who attended, officials said in the summary statement Monday. The 11th Annual Party was held Friday and Saturday in Pontoon Beach. The event featured carnival rides, games, food vendors, cold beverages and entertainment. On Friday, entertainers Dake White and Gary Allan appeared. Saturday the Long Lake Fire Department had a corn hole tournament. KSHE 95's Street Team and Sweetmeat were there at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Anthology, featuring the music of the Allman Brothers took place at 7 p.m., then the Marshall Tucker Band appeared at 9 p.m. and was well-received as the final main act of the weekend. This was the comment by the Pontoon Beach officials: "The Village of Pontoon Beach administration, Board members and Police Department would like to thank all that came out to Party at the Beach 2023. We hope you all had a great time. We work very hard to put this on every year

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that repairs on southbound Interstate 55 between New Douglas Road and Illinois 4 will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. One southbound lane on I-55 will remain open at all times. Simultaneously, the ramp from northbound I-55 to Illinois 143 will be closed. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 14. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. 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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SPRINGFIELD – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray and other FBI officials to discuss a range of matters. Among other topics, Durbin and Wray discussed the reauthorization and reform of Section 702, children’s online safety, the fentanyl crisis and online drug trafficking, and border security. In June, Durbin and the Senate Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on Section 702, which is set to expire at the end of this year. “Today’s meeting with FBI Director Wray in Springfield was productive. As I’ve said before and reiterated to Director Wray today, I will only support the reauthorization of Section 702 if there are significant reforms addressing the warrantless surveillance of Americans. The FBI plays an integral part in our government’s responsibility to keep Americans safe from a wide range of threats,

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ALTON - The Alton branch of the NAACP will focus on increasing job opportunities, homeownership and entrepreneurship in the Black community with Leon Smallwood Bey as the organization’s new president. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an activist organization that advocates for civil rights and social justice for Black people across the U.S. The local branch embodies these ideas and also plans to develop youth-specific programs for Alton residents. “We know it takes a village to raise up a community. It takes unity, and we want to be the vehicle that tries to spearhead the unity in our community,” Smallwood Bey said. “We want to be a part of showing people that we will fight against injustice, discrimination and racial inequality anywhere that it occurs.” To increase community involvement, the group hopes to form more connections with local businesses, schools and politicians. One of Smallwood Bey’s

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GRAFTON - Ron and Mary Jo Cote, owners of the Grafton Pub, continue to show their appreciation of the Grafton Police Department. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, Ron and Mary Jo Cote, owners of the Grafton Pub, donated $2,000 to the Grafton Police Department. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said this was the second year they expressed their strong support of Grafton’s policemen and women with a cash gift. “We really appreciate everything that the police do; they do a fantastic job,” Ron said. The check was presented to Chief Eric Spanton by Justin Cote, Ron and Mary Jo’s son. Justin is well known in town as “The Mayor’s Assistant” and he has the T-shirt to prove it. The presentation was made during a lively family fun event at the Pub in support of individuals like Justin with Down Syndrome. Chief Spanton accepted the generous donation on behalf of the police department. “These funds will be used to update equipment and we are most appreciative,”

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COTTAGE HILLS - The 10th annual Foodstock food drive is returning to Cottage Hills VFW Post 7678 on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 1 to 10 p.m. With two live bands, a Cornhole Tournament paying out up to $1,250, a “Stack Off” Competition, axe throwing, and much more, Foodstock 2023 is set to be more than just a typical food drive. The cost is just $5 to enter, and all proceeds will benefit the Community Hope Center, Oasis Shelter for Women, a local cancer patient, and the VFW. The full list of activities includes but is not limited to the following: Late4Work (Band) - 1 to 4 p.m. Owlz Band - 7 to 10 p.m. Cornhole Tournament paying out up to $1,250 Stack Off Food Drive competition Axe throwing Food Raffles Karate demo by Piasa Martial Arts Cake Walk Last year’s event saw over $16,000 in cash donations and seven tons of food donations raised with over 600 attendees. An $8,500 donation to Oasis was matched by an anonymous donor. This year’s

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RIVERBEND - Today, Aug. 8, is National Pickleball Day, and to celebrate, local players are hitting the courts while the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveils their first pickleball bobbleheads. Bob Biarkis, a local pickleball player, remembers the day he stumbled upon a pickleball game. He was immediately fascinated by the game and how people of all ages could play. “The thing that was so obvious to me was everybody was having fun, because everybody was laughing and having a great time,” Biarkis said. “I was hooked. And that’s one thing you will learn about playing pickleball: It’s addicting. Once you play it, you want to play it all the time.” Pickleball has been identified as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum , located in Milwaukee, has recognized this with their new pickleball bobbleheads. The museum has a wide collection of bobbleheads available for purchase. This

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EDWARDSVILLE – With school starting right around the corner, 14 regional high school teachers are prepared to implement their newly learned skills in rocketry thanks to a professional development session held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earlier this summer. “The objective of the professional development session was to train the teachers on single-stage rocket kit and how to implement the project in their own classes,” said Michael Denn, PhD, instructor in the Department of Mechanical Mechatronics in the School of Engineering. “Our goal is for the single-stage rocket class to generate interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” Denn added. “Specifically, we encourage interest in space-related technologies by having students participate in a rocketry project that combines theory with hands-on experience.” Denn along with SIUE’s Jeffrey Sabby, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Physics

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VANDALIA – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Vandalia, Illinois couple was sentenced today to prison for their role in a child pornography ring operating in Fayette County. Today’s sentencing is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Andrew Wehrle, 39, was sentenced to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty in May to two counts of dissemination of child pornography and one count of production of child pornography. Amber Wehrle, 38, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty in May to two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of indecent solicitation of an adult. Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Matoush handed down the sentences. “Child pornography is a heinous crime that re-victimizes survivors each time an image or video is downloaded

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COLLINSVILLE – Madison County Conservative Caucus is pleased to announce the appointment of Pastor Myles Holmes to its esteemed Board of Advisors. Pastor Holmes' extensive background in ministry, community engagement, and advocacy for conservative principles will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective and valuable insights to the Caucus's mission of promoting and upholding conservative values across the nation. Pastor Myles Holmes, a well-respected figure in the realm of ministry and public discourse, has now extended his dedication to serving his community by joining the Board of Advisors for Madison County’s Conservative Caucus. As a pastor, author, and speaker, Pastor Holmes has demonstrated his ability to inspire and lead, and his commitment to conservative ideals aligns seamlessly with the Caucus's objectives. In his role as a member of the Board of Advisors, Pastor Myles Holmes will play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the Conservative Caucus. His extensive

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today a full closure on Illinois Avenue (Martin Luther King Bridge) from the Interstate 55/64/70 exit ramps to the MLK bridge and Third Street in Missouri starting, weather permitting, Friday, Aug. 11, at 9 p.m. The closure is necessary to accommodate deck sealing work and is anticipated to be completed by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14. Motorists will have to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. 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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GLEN CARBON – Walmart customers in Glen Carbon were welcomed inside the newly transformed Supercenter at 400 Junction Drive Friday morning as the much-anticipated project is now complete. The store’s associates marked the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony, community celebration and unveiling of a community inspired mural by local artist, Steve Hartman. The event was attended by various local Edwardsville and Glen Carbon nonprofit organizations who were recipients of $9,000 in grants. Friday’s event featured an official ribbon cutting with the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce and Ernestine Hardin, Glen Carbon Walmart’s longest tenured associate of more than 40 years. Guests also enjoyed refreshments, vendor samples, food trucks, a live DJ, balloon animal artist, special appearances from the Cocoa Puffs bird and a Prairie Farms live cow and calf, and more. During the re-grand opening celebration, Walmart Store Manager Skip Sponeman highlighted

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