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ALTON - The 2023 Relay For Life Survivor Dinner saw 62 cancer survivors attend on Tuesday night at the Vera Lee Meeting and Event Venue in Alton. Event Lead Volunteer Sherri Carroll said the turnout at this year’s event was double the attendance from last year. “Last year, we had about 30 survivors at our dinner, and this year we’ve doubled it,” Carroll said. Each survivor wore a purple ribbon and was able to bring one guest with them to the dinner. One of those survivors, Jackie Ridgley, was also the guest speaker for the evening. “She spoke about her breast cancer treatments, and her thing was ‘Goodbye Felicia’ when her cancer was gone,” Carroll said of Ridgley’s speech. Carroll said the overall goal of the event was “to celebrate the win of each cancer survivor.” “I just said, ‘Congratulations to all of you. Each new day is a day of surviving.’ Everybody was in good spirits last night,”

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EDWARDSVILLE - When Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Luke D. Lack enrolled into the business administration program in the School of Business, he had no idea how far his career would take him. Starting off as a police officer for the Illinois Secretary of State Police following his undergraduate education, Lack now serves as a special agent at Secret Service Headquarters in the Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC) after earning a master’s in public administration from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in the spring of 2017. “I never thought as a young business student that I would land in a career in law enforcement, let alone at one of the most prestigious federal law enforcement agencies, but I have enjoyed the path that landed me here,” said Lack. Luke was able to utilize his previously mastered analytical skills from the business world and apply them to the public sector, where he plays a critical role as part of the GIOC in

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ALTON - The YWCA Southwestern Illinois Board of Directors recently announced the addition of its three newest Board Members for Alton: Desira Caffey, Dr. Dorothy Mosby, and Kidada Miller. All three women have connections to Alton, and YWCA of Alton Executive Director Dorothy Hummel said they bring a diverse set of professional backgrounds to the board. “These women bring a wealth of professional experience and knowledge to the YWCA Board of Directors,” YWCA of Alton Executive Director Dorothy Hummel said. “Being long-term area residents and active community volunteers for many years, these women know our community well and truly are poised to assist YWCA in furthering our goals of eliminating racism and empowering women.” Desira Caffey is a graduate of Alton High School and has been an advocate for the disabled for over 25 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, her master’s degree from Fontbonne University,

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College sophomore Madeline Bouillon took top prize in this year’s “You Have A Voice!” humanities speech competition, held March 28, in the Hatheway Cultural Center’s Ann Whitney Olin Theatre. She is also a former Madison County Fair queen. The contest, which is held annually by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society and hosted by PTK Sponsor and Speech Professor Elizabeth Grant, provides students the means through which they can share their thoughts and experiences on what it means to be human. “We pause to celebrate the power of the human voice to prevail over life’s circumstances,” Grant said. “When we listen to the news, we can get down. That’s a great reason to lean on one another through the staring of our stories. This year was one of our best and I wish we had prizes for all. We do this every March, so be watching for your next opportunity to join in.” This year’s

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PINCKNEYVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) announce the arrests of 21-year-old Logan Hutchings and 21-year-old Sophia Kelly, both of Pinckneyville, for First Degree Murder (Class M Felony). On June 12, 2022, ISP DCI was requested by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Pinckneyville Police Department to investigate serious injuries sustained to a 3-month-old male infant. The infant had been admitted to a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri and was discovered to have a skull fracture, along with multiple rib fractures. Prior to the arrival at the hospital, the infant had been in the care of Hutchings and Kelly, the infant’s parents, in Pinckneyville. On June 14, 2022, the infant was pronounced deceased at the hospital as a result of these injuries. On April 4, 2023, the States Attorney's Appellate Prosecutors office charged both parents with three counts each of First-Degree Murder. Both Hutchings

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Police Department has sent out a request seeking assistance in identifying the suspect seen in this video . St. Louis County Police said the video shows the suspect with brown hair. He shaved his head after he was recorded in this video. The suspect is wanted in connection to the incidents below. St. Louis County Police provided this information about the crime: "At 8:41 PM, on April 1, 2023, St. Louis County police officers from the City of Fenton Precinct responded to a call for service for a robbery at the Phillips 66, located in the 900 block of S. Highway Drive. Responding officers located the store clerk, a 35-year-old woman, suffering from a head injury. Preliminary investigation has revealed that a white male struck the employee in the head and stole lottery tickets from the convenience store. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. At 7:45 PM, on April 5, 2023, St. Louis County

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JERSEYVILLE - Jersey baseball hurler junior Easton Heafner had a day this week he will never forget when he pitched a no-hitter and was one play away from a perfect game. He faced a minimum amount of batters - 35 pitches - and his team won 12-0 over Hillsboro in a shortened five-inning game. Heafner said it was the first no-hitter of his career and described it as "a really cool experience." "All my teammates and coaches were cheering me on, the defense behind me," he said. "No-hitter that was my first time was a big part of it. Just going out there and having the confidence we could win the game was the key. I couldn't ask for more support from the coaches and the team." Jersey baseball has been on a hot streak lately with five straight wins. The Panthers baseball team is now 6-5 overall on the season. Heafner is a Jersey Community High School Male Athlete of the Month. Heafner said he definitely found a groove in the Hillsboro game Tuesday after a few innings. "I like to keep

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ALTON - Brown Bag Bistro recently celebrated five years of being in business. The restaurant, which specializes in sandwiches, soups, salads and more, has become an Alton community staple over the years. To celebrate this milestone, they’re offering discounts on gift cards and encourage readers to “stock up” as there’s no limit - $50 gift cards are available for $40 or $25 gift cards are available for $20. Chris and Erin Velloff, co-owners of the Brown Bag Bistro, recently appeared on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the restaurant’s success so far and how they got to this point. “I’ve always loved to cook and I thought, ‘You know what? When and if this building next door becomes available, let’s start a restaurant,’” Chris said. “So that’s what we did, with absolutely no experience except Erin working at Loading Dock - other than that, I had never stepped foot in a

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspects Daryl Powell Jr., 31 years of age, of the 1000 block of Oran Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63137; Javon Crawford, 30 years of age, of the 5200 block of Louisiana Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63111; and Adrianna Evans, 28 years of age, of the 1600 block of McLaran Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63147; for Robbery First Degree, Assault Second Degree, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. A booking photo of Crawford is attached. Booking photos are not available for Powell or Evans. Crawford and Powell are each being held on $250,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. Evans is being held on $100,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement for Powell reads: The defendant drove co-defendants Javon Crawford and Adrianna Evans

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ALTON - Alton Odyssey Tours has announced their full tour lineup for 2023, including the brand-new Prohibition Tour and two new variations of the popular Haunted Craft Beer Walk: the new Historical Craft Beer Walk and “Behind the Bricks” Haunted Walking Tour. “We’ve responded to requests from our customer base,” Managing Partner Caleb Lewis said. “We’ve added a historical beer walk for craft beer lovers more interested in the history of Alton than the hauntings. And we’re offering a ‘Behind the Bricks’ walking tour which includes the haunted history of each of the five locations we enter, without serving beer. This tour will be appropriate for ages 14 and up.” On Saturday, April 22, Alton Odyssey Tours will launch the area’s first Prohibition Tour in partnership with Vintage Voices, who will bring Prohibition-era characters to life for the tour. “We’re excited to announce our partnership with

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker announced the investment of more than $105 million for the construction of a health sciences building and renovations to existing buildings at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) campus. The funding is made possible by the Governor’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, the largest capital plan in state history. "The investment at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is one of many examples of how Rebuild Illinois prioritizes higher education," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Healthcare continues to be the fastest growing industry globally, so it is critical that Illinois students have the training, resources, and facilities required to be the best in their fields." Funding will support renovating and connecting two existing buildings on University Park Drive. The scope of work also includes constructing a new 110,000 square foot building to accommodate the School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing. New classrooms,

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GLEN CARBON - Junior AJ Sutberry is enjoying the ride alongside his Father McGivney baseball teammates this season. The Griffins are off to a 13-0 start after a 10-1 win over the Staunton Bulldogs Wednesday afternoon. In that game, AJ went 1-4 with four RBIs. He hit a bases-clearing double in the fifth inning to go ahead 8-1. It was his fourth extra-base hit this season. AJ is a Byron, Carlson, Petri, and Kalb Athlete of the Month for Father McGivney. "I had a really solid day," he said after the win over Staunton. "I'm happy I got to help the team out and get the win. Get a little break and we can get back at it." His team remains undefeated heading into the Easter holiday, and it doesn't come as a surprise. He says that he and the team have put in a lot of work to get the results in the first third of this season. "We've been working all winter. We've been training every day and been expecting it," he said. "We went down to Memphis and had a really good tournament that boosted

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and CJD E-Cycling will host a community e-Waste event from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22, in the Tolle Lane parking lot across from the college’s Godfrey Campus. Most items will be accepted for free, providing community members with a secure, Earth-friendly option for discarding used electronics. The following is a sampling of the items that will be accepted: Computers, printers, cables and peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.) Fax machines, scanners, digital converter boxes, cable receivers, satellite receivers Video game consoles, digital video disc player/recorders, portable digital music players Networking equipment, server, telecommunications, phones, cell phones, clocks, etc. VCR, stereos, and audio/video equipment (including cable/satellite) Holiday lights, metal decorations and metal furniture Electrical, cabling, communication machinery, and equipment Home electronics, blenders, toasters,

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 states, urged the Biden administration to scrap dangerous federal rules that allow employers to interfere in the reproductive health decisions of their employees. The rules, put in place under the prior administration, took away contraceptive coverage from women who should have been entitled to complete coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They added broad, unreasonable exemptions that allowed nearly all types of employers to deny birth control coverage to their employees based on religious or moral objections. In a comment letter addressed to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su, Raoul and the coalition applaud the Biden administration’s proposal to restore access to cost-free contraceptive coverage by rescinding the moral exemption and creating alternate means to cover contraceptive services for

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt joined the Illinois Department of Transportation in announcing funds from the Illinois Competitive Freight Program that will improve the movement of freight throughout the state, while creating jobs and economic opportunity and enhancing safety and local quality of life. “Continued investment in roads and railways are crucial to ensure freight is moving swiftly and efficiently throughout the state,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Projects like this will not only improve the flow of freight, but will also create jobs and boost economic growth in the region.” Every year, 1.6 billion tons valued at $2.5 trillion of freight flows in and out of the state, making Illinois one of the top three states for freight activity. Nearly $200 million in funds among 22 projects that are high traffic areas for freight mobility were announced last week – including two in the Metro East. A rail project at the Terminal Railroad

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ALTON - At 1:45 p.m. on April 5, 2023, a Madison County Sheriff's deputy was at a residence in the 3200 block of College Avenue, Alton, to serve legal documents. While the deputy was standing on the front porch of the residence, a person inside opened the front door to speak to the deputy. When the door was open, two dogs exited the residence in an aggressive manner. Madison County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Marcos Pulido said the person in the residence quickly told the deputy that the dogs were not friendly. "The deputy then retreated, backing away from the porch," he said. "Both dogs continued to aggressively approach and chase the deputy. The deputy continued running away, across the front yard of this residence. The dogs continued chasing the deputy onto the property of the Alton Fire Department. "At that point, one of the dogs stopped chasing the deputy, while the other continued to aggressively chase the deputy. The deputy then discharged one round from his duty weapon hitting

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ST. LOUIS - The Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas is hosting the 2023 Walk for Wishes presented by Centene & Spectrum in St. Louis. This year's walk is at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Forest Park, Upper Muny Parking Lot, Macklind Dr. St. Louis, MO., 63110. Organizers said this community walk is a fundraising event that shines a light on the nonprofit and how they provide life-changing wishes to children battling critical illnesses. A wish has the power to transform lives, bring communities together, and create life-changing moments. It is estimated that each year nearly 600 children qualify for a wish from Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. All proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas and their efforts to grant wishes to children with critical illnesses. Many wish children to go on to live healthy lives and reflect on their wish as a turning point in their recovery. This year, Make-AWish Missouri & Kansas is celebrating its 40th anniversary and four decades of granting more than

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O’FALLON — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Wound Care Center has been named a recipient of the Center of Distinction award by Healogics ® , the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. This is the third consecutive year that the center has achieved this recognition. The Wound Care Center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92%. There were 532 centers eligible for the Center of Distinction award and 305 achieved the honor. Other Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals receiving this same honor include HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. “We couldn’t be prouder of our Wound Care Center team for once again achieving this national distinction,” shared St. Elizabeth’s Hospital President and CEO Chris Klay. “The compassionate, high-quality care that

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CARROLLTON - Greene County voters have officially elected several candidates as alderpeople, school board members, and more in the April 2023 Consolidated Election. Greene County voters elected three candidates to serve as members of the Regional Board of School Trustees for Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, and Macoupin counties - one for a six-year term, one for a four-year term, and one for a two-year term. Sandra R. Moore was elected to serve for the six-year term on the Regional Board of School Trustees. Moore won 57.93% of the vote against Mark Prose, who received 42.07% of the vote. Michael Painter was elected to serve for the four-year term on the Regional Board of School Trustees, winning 64.72% of the vote compared to Jack N. Stork’s 35.28% of the vote. Jeff Clanton was elected to serve for the two-year term and won 47.37% of the vote, defeating Terry Strauch and John Henry, who won 29.11% and 23.52% of the vote respectively. Peggy J. Clough won the race for Carrollton’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Play It Again Sports, a new and used sporting goods store, officially opened to the public in Edwardsville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 29. Owner Dan Brynildsen said that “it’s been a long road to get here,” but he’s excited to bring a store like this to the community. Play It Again Sports has been buying quality used sporting goods from the public for the past six weeks, and they’re now ready to open and start selling those goods - and more - to the community. “We buy and sell quality used and new sporting goods,” Brynildsen said. “A lot of sporting goods out there have a lot of life left in them. We specialize in bringing those things in and marketing them to be able to sell them to the next person who can continue to get life out of them at a great value. “On top of that, we carry the new products as well, so we are a full-blown sporting goods store … if we don’t have it, I can order

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