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EAST ALTON - An Alton man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to sexually assaulting an 8-year-old after he claimed the act was consensual. Deven Brazier, formerly of the 2300 block of LaSalle Drive told an officer that there was a “mutual relationship” with the 8-year-old girl. The East Alton “relationship” was between Nov. 25, 2016, and Nov. 25, 2017. He also admitted to an attempted sexual act with an 11-month-old girl in Alton in May of 2021. Brazier was sentenced to 37 years in prison for the predatory sexual assault of the 8-year-old girl in East Alton. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted criminal sexual assault of a child in relation to the crime committed in Alton. Had he been convicted at trial, he could have been sentenced to natural life in prison. In exchange for his plea in the East Alton case, the state agreed to a sentence of 37 years in prison. He will have to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence. The state also agreed

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Foundation Adds Two New Board Directors The Edwardsville Community Foundation has appointed two new board directors, Andrea Miracle and Karen Schoenthal. Miracle has volunteered for ECF’s Education Committee for the last five years and is currently a volunteer at the Neighbors Bakery, a member of the City of Edwardsville’s Planning Commission and the Ordinance & Land Use Committee. She brings a wealth of community service experience with 20-plus years of volunteering in the community, including leadership positions at the Edwardsville Arts Center and Edwardsville High School booster clubs. "After assisting with scholarship interviews the last few years, I was looking for an opportunity to serve the Edwardsville Community Foundation in a more meaningful and significant way," Miracle said. Miracle currently lives in Edwardsville with her husband Trent. The couple has three children, Hannah, Ethan and Brynn. Andrea and her family have

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ELDRED - It was Clay Hansen’s lucky night Tuesday at the Eldred American Legion when he pocketed the top prize of $500,000 at the Queen Of Hearts Drawing. Hansen was surrounded by well-wishers after he won the coveted prize and was extremely happy and probably a little bit stunned at what had just happened. He didn’t have any immediate plans for the large prize, but “to pay off debt” and he did plan to return to his construction work on Wednesday morning. The crowd was extensive for the event, more about the night itself in a related story. Hansen said he had only purchased tickets for the Eldred Queen of Hearts drawing at the previous large event multiple years ago, but he was glad he returned this time around.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Sneaky’s Burger Truck is now serving customers its 100% wagyu beef burgers and plant-based impossible burger patties at Recess Brewing in downtown Edwardsville. Owners Tyler Ottwein and Casey Hinman are clients of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and have benefitted from Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May’s business know-how and connections. The owners described opening a business like stepping into a new world, “Jo Ann reassured us that we were doing the right thing and got us on the fast track to success.” Di Maggio May put Ottwwin and Hinman in contact with business lawyers and certified public accountants and assisted in completing an exceptional business plan with a forward-thinking mindset. The SBDC connected the owners with CorkTree Creative, who completed a logo that is being used for branding across all platforms including the exterior of company’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) announced in an email to students Wednesday morning that the university’s policies on masking will change effective April 4. “Effective April 4, SIUE’s updated masking policy will only require masks in campus healthcare settings, on public transportation, and at COVID-related testing and vaccination sites,” according to the email. It will be up to individual faculty members to determine whether masks are required or optional in their classrooms for the remainder of the spring semester. Faculty have been asked to clearly communicate their expectations to students within the week, and students should keep an eye on their SIUE emails for updates. All students should keep an approved mask on them at all times to use if “requested by faculty in instructional spaces and occupants of private spaces.” According to the email, “failure to wear a mask when requested by a faculty member

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EAST ALTON - Ty Bechel has been a part of many crusades to help others, from his work to help others battle and beat drug addiction to helping the less fortunate. Now Bechel and his friend, Paul Stover, will celebrate a new dynamic project - Renegade Gardens - this weekend with a groundbreaking at 509 Fifth Street in East Alton at the corner of Fifth and Harper Streets. The festivities will take place on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3, and the public is extended an invitation to help create garden plots for the upcoming season. Work hours each day are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The rain date for the event is April 9 and 10. “We also have something special planned for the kids, so bring the whole family,” Bechel said. The mission statement of the new gardens group is as follows: "to plant, harvest and distribute organic produce to local communities to promote healthy and nutritious eating and educate volunteers and participants on food independence."

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ST. LOUIS - The Wednesday morning commute ended with strong rain and made driving difficult for Metro East Illinois motorists. The rain is supposed to continue until about 2 p.m., forecasters say. Madison County is under a wind advisory but it was lifted for the area around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service in St. Louis has said. Saint Clair County is also included in the advisory. Some of the storms could be severe in the Metro East area, the NWS said. "Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects," the NWS added. "Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result." The thunderstorms are predicted to move east this morning.

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BETHALTO — 1 st MidAmerica Credit Union will be holding a hiring event Friday, April 8. Part time and full time job opportunities are available. 1 st MidAmerica will be holding open interviews on Friday, April 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Applicants are reminded to bring their resumé to the in-person event located at 301 Mechanical Drive in East Alton. 1 st MidAmerica Credit Union has a mission of exceeding member expectations. Additional information can be found at www.1stMidAmerica.org.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Nancy Werden has been hired as the new principal of Worden Elementary for the 2022-2023 school year, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 announced today. The hiring was approved on March 28, 2022, by the District #7 Board of Education. Werden will assume her role for the 2022-2023 school year. Werden will replace Dr. Beth Renth, who will be stepping down as principal at Worden Elementary School at the end of this school year, and then retiring in December 2022. “Ms. Werden is an experienced educator who brings a wealth of talent and skill to this position,” said Edwardsville School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton. “We look forward to seeing our staff and students at Worden Elementary thrive under her leadership.” Werden has spent much of her career at Staunton CUSD 6 as a teacher, elementary and junior high principal, educational services coordinator, and interim superintendent over the past 27 years. She has worked

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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 has named Melissa Edwards as the permanent principal at Nelson Elementary. The hiring was approved on March 28, 2022, by the District #7 Board of Education. Edwards will assume her role starting with the 2022-23 school year. Edwards has served in the interim principal position at Nelson since December 2021. “Ms. Edwards provided a seamless transition to Nelson earlier this year and has proven herself as a talented and passionate school leader,” said District #7 Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton. “We look forward to her continuing to provide leadership and support for the students and staff at Nelson.” Edwards joined District #7 prior to the 2020-21 school year as an assistant principal at Liberty Middle School. She previously spent 13 years in the Alton School District, including seven years as an assistant principal at Alton High School. Edwards began her career in education as an eighth-grade

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior baseball player Mason McMurray is a key player for the Granite City High School baseball team both as a pitcher, in the field, and at the plate. McMurray has contributed defensively to the Warriors, making several good plays in helping the Warriors to a 2-2 start. He's also considered one of the team's hardest workers, making positive contributions and helping out on the team wherever he's needed. For his efforts on the baseball field this early season, McMurray has been selected as Granite's Stillwater Senior Living male Athlete of the Month. McMurray, who plays for head coach Scott Smallie, felt the Warriors played hard and well against the Tigers in a recent game, especially in a rally that led to three runs in the top of the fifth inning, and actually had the potential game-tying run on deck before the Tigers countered by scoring five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. "I feel like we put in a good effort as a team overall," McMurray said during

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ALTON – The YWCA Of Southwestern Illinois is pleased to announce the 2022 Women of Distinction honorees: Vernetta Caffey, Robin Carlton, Catherine Coffman, Terrien Fennoy, Debra Frakes, Staci Herron, Nancy Johnson, LaTasha LeFlore Porter, Nancy Orrill, and Faye Taylor. Lisa Brown, Women of Distinction Co-Chair said: “YWCA presents Women of Distinction awards to women who serve as outstanding role models for others in their community, who have shown strong achievement in their work and personal lives, and who have given back in the spirit of the advancement of other women. The 2022 honorees embody our mission to empower women and eliminate racism and are trailblazers in their professions, pathfinders for social justice, and bring forth key issues facing women and girls in the Southwestern.” YWCA Board of Directors and the staff are grateful to all persons who submitted the nominations and to the selection committee for their efforts in choosing the 2022 Women of Distinction.

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E LSAH - Connect Elsah is a group of community members working with Accelerate Illinois and the Benton Institute to try to get improved internet services for the Elsah area. Elsah-area residents can take an online or paper survey about their current internet conditions, which will lay the groundwork for the steps ahead. “Initially, our group thought that everyone had good internet services except for the homes in the valley of Elsah,” said Susan Young, a member of Connect Elsah. “But as we investigated, we kept finding more folks in the rural areas around us who also have either poor or no coverage at all. Young said the first step in improving internet services around the area is determining what the current conditions are like. To help do this, Connect Elsah has created a survey that can be taken online or by paper. To take the survey online, visit go.illinois.edu/ConnectElsah . If you need a paper survey, call (314) 514-5493 or email connectelsah@gmail.com

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JERSEY - Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 has a strong music program and once again it was exhibited this past Friday at the Southern Illinois University Ellington Festival. JCHS had nine students in a jazz ensemble honored for exemplary performance. The nine students are: Merris McDuffie, Elizabeth Lyons, Leann Woodring, Cameryn Brown, Gavin Goff, Owen Roberts, Owen Weber, Zane Peuterbaugh, and Chris West.

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EAST ALTON - Mike Marko has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He has taken on the challenge of cleaning up land tracts where the old power plant used to be located and across Illinois Highway 143 on the bank of the Mississippi River. Mike Marko is the long-time owner of Mike's Shipyard Facility in East Alton and Mike's Inc. in South Roxana. Marko has a plan to develop an industrial park in the old power plant location. He said he purchased 180 acres on the dry side and about 7-8 acres on the other side. He plans to establish a riverfront dock on the Mississippi once he gets the Corps of Engineers' approval. “It is the biggest thing I have ever gotten into,” he said. “Right now, I am trying to get it all cleaned up.” Marko said he sat and watched as the original old energy plant was built at Illinois 143 in East Alton. “I lived in a home in Rosewood Heights and could see it being built,” he said with some nostalgia in his voice. Marko said

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ELDRED - It has been quite some time since excitement has taken over Eldred as it has Tuesday for another huge Queen of Hearts Drawing at the Eldred American Legion. This time, the pot is up to $500,000 for the much sought-after ticket for the Queen of Hearts card in the drawing. Eldred's population of 300 will swell to thousands for the big drawing. The last big Queen of Hearts Drawing at the Eldred American Legion was on Aug. 14, 2018, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Jeff Quigley of Murrayville, IL., won the last big prize of $409,908, at the raffle on Aug. 15, 2018. On Tuesday night, nine cards will be drawn, what is left from the deck since the last drawing and the Queen of Hearts will be pulled from the barrel. Someone will win either the $500,000 prize if they are present or $250,000 if not present. Dave Lehr, an adjutant for the post, was interviewed on Monday and he said he and the others with the Legion are excited to have the big drawing again. Jon Baker is commander

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ALTON - Tim Ditman is the new media relations coordinator for OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center for Alton, Danville, and Urbana Hospitals. Tim has several local ties and is the son of former Carrollton resident/standout athlete Greg Ditman and his wife, Jean, a former Greenfield athlete/cheerleader. “I am thrilled to join such a well-regarded organization and look forward to spreading the ministry’s message,” Tim Ditman said. Tim, 32, has an extensive media background and has spent 10 years in the Champaign media (WDWS Radio and WCIA TV) before joining OSF. “I do continue to be heard on the radio as the play-by-play voice of the University of Illinois women’s volleyball,” he said. “I have held that position since 2019.” Tim’s primary duties in the new position are to work with the media in a variety of ways, but a focus is to cultivate content for the OSF online newsroom at: newsroom.oshealthcare.org Jerry Ditman, Tim's

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BETHALTO – It’s not only one of the hardest things to pull off in baseball, but one of the hardest things to do in all of sports; throw a no-hitter that is. Well, Civic Memorial High School senior pitcher Nick Williams accomplished the feat Monday night (March 28) when the Eagles toppled the Alton High Redbirds by a score of 9-1. Nick Williams is the Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for CM. Nick mentioned feeling very confident in the first inning when he struck out his old friend James Vambaketes for his first K of the game. He threw all seven innings facing 23 batters. Of those 23, he struck out 10 of them and only allowed two walks. “Pretty dominant performance for him,” CM head coach Nick Smith said postgame regarding Williams’ outing on the mound. Nick admitted that he knew about and was openly discussing the no-hitter in the dugout saying that he doesn’t believe in superstitions. He let his pitching do all the

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ELDRED - As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the Eldred American Legion was packed full with anticipation of the $500,000 drawing set for 7 in the evening. The good news is someone will walk away with $500,000 if they are there on Tuesday night and their ticket is drawn for the Queen of Hearts card. If they have purchased a ticket and aren't there, they will receive half that amount. The other good news - tickets can still be purchased until 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Eldred American Legion on Locust in Eldred. Only nine cards of a deck will be drawn tonight and one of the cards is the Queen of Hearts so a $500,000 winner is guaranteed Tuesday. A Legion spokeswoman said vehicles were already being parked in the town of 300 as of Monday night and already the community's population is swelling and will each hour that goes by until the drawing. By tonight, there will be thousands of people in the small farming community in Greene County. Because this drawing is a Draw For A Winner, there will be no

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GRAFTON - Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow recently saluted a community member Bob Beloit for his volunteer efforts during a recent bad snowstorm. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow recently presented a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the City Council to Bob Beloit, Organizing Coordinator for Machinist District 9 and citizen of Grafton’s 3rd Ward for his volunteer work during the storm. “Bob called me the day before the big snowstorm and said if we needed any maintenance work on the snowplows to call him,” said Mayor Morrow. The mayor said when the big snowstorm hit, the power went out in the entire city. "We awoke on a Friday to a blacked-out city and a report from our Public Works Director that one of our plow trucks was down with a broken hydraulic line," he said. "I called Bob around 5:30 a.m. and told him about the broken plow. He said he was making a thermos of coffee on his camp stove and would be right down. "Bob went to the city maintenance bay, assessed the situation

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