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EAST ALTON - Kelsey Jones has posted a GoFundMe page to assist with the costs of her father's funeral and vet expenses for his dog. The dog, Iris, was attacked in a situation that developed at 10:37 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Old Oak Ridge Trailer Park, 100 Wesley Drive in East Alton. Kelsey's father, Dale, died of an apparent heart attack during the struggle between dogs. Dale was walking his dog when his dog and two others started to fight in the neighborhood. A female was walking two dogs when the dog fight occurred. She suffered multiple bites and other associated injuries and was transported by EMS from the scene for hospital care. This is what Kelsey posted on the GoFundMe: "My name is Kelsey Jones. On July 23rd, my father, Dale Jones was walking his dog, Isis, around the neighborhood as he did every day. As he was walking her, two dogs out of the neighborhood came up and started attacking her. The dogs did not attack my dad, but as a result of him struggling to get

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ALTON - Weather dependent, the final restoration (asphalt work) will start at the end of this week on U.S. Route 67 (Piasa Street) from 20th Street/College Avenue south to 3rd Street in Alton. The project started on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, and was projected to take about a month to complete. Karen Cotton, Senior Manager, External Communications Illinois American Water, said the sanitary sewer has been installed in the latest U.S. 67 project. These were Cotton's comments on Monday, July 25, about the Alton progress: "The crews are currently working on installing the casing pipe for the new water main that is crossing U.S. 67 at 9th Street," she said. "Weather-dependent final restoration (asphalt work) will start at the end of this week. Once asphalt work is completed, the road will be striped and opened back up. For the most part, everything has gone as planned." Cotton said the road closure in this area was needed for Illinois American Water to upgrade its water and wastewater

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BETHALTO - Christopher J. Wicker, 51, of the 200 block of Lakeside Drive, Bethalto, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and a charge of Battery, by Bethalto Police. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said the charges stem from an investigation into a report of a subject being battered in Old Oak Trailer Park, 100 Wesley Drive, East Alton. "An officer responded and met with the reported victim who told them that Wicker physically threw her out of the home she has been living in, which caused her minor injuries," the chief said. "Officers located Wicker shortly thereafter and took him into custody for battery. Wicker was found to be in possession less than 5 grams of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest. "He was taken into custody and transported to the Madison County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of a $15,000 bond on the charges, as set by the Honorable Judge Janet Heflin." It is important to remember that all defendants, including Mr. Wicker, are innocent

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ALTON - A man from Alton starred in a recent episode of the MTV show “Catfish: The TV Show,” which tells the stories of people who have been “catfished,” or misled into a relationship by someone pretending to be someone else online. The episode, titled “Charles & Nikki,” follows the story of Charles Teague and “Nikki,” who met through the virtual-avatar-based social network IMVU . “We came across each other and she said my voice sounded amazing, so we became friends,” Teague said. “We started gathering feelings for each other over time being friends, then we eventually got together.” While they “got together” via IMVU, Teague said things started to feel suspicious as more time passed and Nikki refused to show her face. “I felt I was getting catfished when she never showed her face on camera, and my friend Zack is the one who actually told me she’s probably a catfish,” Teague

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ALTON - The details for the visitation and funeral for the beloved Alton resident Yvonne M. Campbell have been released. The visitation will be Friday, August 5, 2022, from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. The visitation and funeral service be held at Shalom Church (City of Peace) 6491 North Highway 67 Florissant, MO., 63034. Burial to immediately follow at Upper Alton Cemetery in Alton, Illinois. Cathy M. Williams and Sons Funeral Home of Alton is in charge of arrangements. Sheila Goins, Alton's first lady, said the response following Yvonne's death has been one she has never seen before. "I think the response is a testament to the light she poured into people," she said. "Even people who didn't really know her felt her light. The outpouring of love in the community is a true compliment to the character she displayed every day. "She greatly influenced younger people. She was very engaged in her children's day to day lives and valued, supported them and mentored children

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EAST ALTON - At 10:37 a.m. o n Saturday, July 23, 2022, the Bethalto Police Department responded to a 911 call from a resident of Old Oak Ridge Trailer Park, 100 Wesley Drive, East Alton, who reported multiple dogs fighting and attacking people. An officer arrived to find a female, who had been bitten multiple times wrestling with two actively fighting dogs, an unresponsive male lying on the ground, and a third dog that was badly injured. The responding officer secured the scene and proceeded to render aid to the unresponsive male by initiating CPR in combination with a defibrillator. The Bethalto Fire Department and Alton Memorial Hospital Ambulance services were also dispatched to the scene. Despite the officer and emergency medical services' best efforts the man, who has been identified as Ronald D. Jones, age 64, lost his life. Jones was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Madison County Coroner’s Office. The female was transported from the scene by EMS to a St.

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s biannual Used Book Sale returns from August 28-September 1 with offerings in every genre, including mysteries, general fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and much more. “The Used Book Sale at the J is a great place to find amazing bargains and valuable collectibles, “said Lynn Wittels, President, and CEO of the J. “The sale is well recognized by book dealers and the literature community as being among the best in the St. Louis region.” Preview day is Sunday, August 28 from 10 am-4 pm with a $10 admission and free admission begins on Monday. Hours are 10 am-7 pm Monday-Wednesday and on Thursday customers can fill a bag for $5 between 10 am and 6 pm. Masks are required for entry. Thousands of books will be available for sale at the Annual J Used Book Sale. Stock up on your reading material. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Cultural Arts Department. Book lovers, collectors, and avid readers

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CHICAGO - Mega Millions is the hottest ticket in town - and it just got a little hotter. The jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, July 26 has just been increased to $810,000,000. That's a lot of zeros! Illinois Lottery players are keen to get in with a chance to hit the big prize, and lottery retailers across the State are reporting more players coming in-store to get in the game. If won, this would be the fourth largest jackpot ever won in the history of the U.S. Mega Millions is played every Tuesday and Friday night, with the next draw taking place on Tuesday, July 26 at 10 p.m. (CT). Mega Millions tickets are $2 each, and players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Top five jackpots ever won in the U.S. $1.586 billion - Powerball. Jan. 2016 in California, Florida, and Tennessee $1.537 billion - Mega Millons. Oct. 2018 in South Carolina $1.05 billion - Mega Millions. Jan. 2021 in Michigan $768.4 million - Powerball.

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CHICAGO – The Illinois State Police is joining law enforcement officers from Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin for this year’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 5 high visibility Speed Awareness Day enforcement campaign on July 27, 2022. This campaign is an effort to address the drastic increase in speed and hazardous moving violations that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speeding is involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide. NHTSA shows traffic deaths grew by 10.5% to 42,915 in 2021. This also represents the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the highest annual percentage increase in the recorded history of data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). “We take speeding seriously because the consequences can be deadly,” said ISP Division of Patrol Deputy Director Colonel Margaret McGreal. “During Speed Awareness Day, ISP Troopers will saturate

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Third Judicial Circuit is pleased to announce they are recipients of two grants from the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice. One grant was awarded to continue funding of two part-time positions dedicated to assisting at the Order of Protection and Stalking and Civil No Contact dockets. A second grant was awarded to assist with funding for the Foreclosure Mediation program. Self-Represented Litigants Coordinator, Angela Wille, will manage the grant related to Order of Protections with the Presiding Judge of the Family Division, Circuit Judge Amy Sholar. Sholar said: “The Order of Protection Assistants role is critical to the efficient functioning of the docket and the timely response to the litigants. With the number of self-represented litigants continuing to rise, having assistants in the court allow the staff in the Law Library and Self-Help Center to maintain their role helping self-represented litigants.” Self-Represented Litigants

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PEORIA - It is a situation that has become all too familiar in the U.S. – watching in horror as news of a mass shooting spreads. While public events in the United States remain safe more often than not, some high profile shootings, like the one at a grocery store in New York in May, or another at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, are causing anxiety for many Americans, leading some to avoid public spaces or large gatherings altogether. Last year a survey commissioned by Evolv Technology sought to quantify the mental toll gun violence takes. If the 2,000 Americans surveyed, researchers found one third (31%) report increased anxiety when going into a large gathering, and 28% feel they are likely to encounter an active shooter in their lifetime. This is concerning to mental health professionals, because while these acts of violence tragically do occur, they shouldn't dictate our lives or experiences. “These are rare incidences. We don't want to be fixated

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URBANA – Sour, sweet, bread and butter, Kosher dills, spears, chips, or slices on a sandwich, or as a snack or side dish – pickles are everywhere. For home gardeners with an abundance of cucumbers and other produce, pickling is a great way to preserve your bounty. While cucumbers are one of the most commonly pickled items, many foods can be pickled says Mary Liz Wright, University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator. “Fruit, eggs, artichokes, mushrooms – you name it and it can probably be pickled,” Wright says. Pickling is an ancient form of food preservation, dating back to 2030 BC when cucumbers from India were pickled in the Tigris Valley. The word “pickle” comes from the Dutch pekel or northern German pókel, meaning “salt” or “brine.” The pickling process, for the most part, falls into two categories or methods: quick pickles and fermented pickles. Fresh pack or quick pickles are made with

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URBANA – Imagine eating only one type of food your entire life. Your survival depends entirely on being able to find this food. This is the challenge monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, face every day as landscapes change nationwide and fewer native plants are available. But home gardeners can help. Along with other insects, monarch butterfly populations have been declining for decades. This week, the non-governmental organization International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed a subspecies of monarch butterflies as endangered. The U.S. government maintains its own endangered species list which entitles species to federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Monarch butterflies were denied federal endangered status in 2020. The monarch caterpillar feeds exclusively on milkweed, Asclepias sp., plants says Brittnay Haag, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “It is a unique relationship,” Haag says. “If no milkweeds are growing

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits are being extended until December 1, 2022. The previous extension was set to end on July 31, 2022. As a result, expired driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits will remain valid until December 1, 2022, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. White’s office expanded online renewals for expired driver’s licenses and ID cards and continues to mail letters to eligible customers. The letter provides driver’s license and ID card holders with a unique PIN needed to renew online instead of visiting a facility and waiting in line. Customers may call 217-785-1424 to confirm their eligibility for online renewal or to obtain their PIN. They may also visit https://apps.ilsos.gov/renewaldlid/eligible.jsp

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EAST ALTON - A ribbon cutting was held for Joe's Pizza and Pasta in East Alton at its 17 Eastgate Plaza location. Joe's Pizza and Pasta's Corey McMahan said the staff is ready to serve the public and the signage is in place for the new business. The Riverbend Growth Association hosted the event at Joe's on Friday. "We love it here, and it has been going very smoothly so far," McMahan said. "We are excited to be here. We had a spot in Wood River and everything was going really well there, but the building there was old so we always wanted to keep our eyes open for any other locations in the near vicinity. When this came open we thought this location was perfect." The business is closed on Monday but is open Tuesday through Sunday and it serves lunch at 11 a.m. each day, except 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. For more information, check Joe's Pizza East Alton Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JoesEastGate or call (618) 216-2346.

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EAST ALTON - East Alton Fire Department was called to a report Monday morning of a large cloud of black smoke from a fire and when they arrived, a man who is known as part of the homeless population had a fire going with a large pile of debris. The fire was quickly extinguished, East Alton Fire Chief Tim Quigley said. Chief Quigley said prior to this call they were needed at a serious EMS call and the problem with these types of situations is it takes them away from necessary runs that often result in lives being saved. “I have been here three years, and we have had about a dozen of these calls,” he said. “It does often take us away from important EMS runs.”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Jackson Suhre, who competed in the 11-12 age group for Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, had one of the biggest days for an individual swimmer at the 60th Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association championship meet July 17 at the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center at Edwardsville High School. Suhre won his three individual events - the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard individual medley and the 50-yard butterfly - along with a second with his team in the 200-yard freestyle relay and a third in the 100-yard medley relay in helping the Pirates finish third in the meet. Suhre is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for Granite City. In an interview conducted after one of his races, Suhre felt he had swam well, but also knew that he can improve in other aspects in his form. "I think I'm doing pretty well," Suhre said. "I could have done some things better, but it's always nice to come up here and have a good time." During the regular SWISA season, Suhre broke

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madelyn Pamatot, who swam this season in the 13-14 age group for Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, had a good SWISA Championships meet, gaining two thirds and a fourth for the Pirates, along with a pair of second-place finishes in relay races. The Paddlers placed third overall and also third in the girls' meet at the 60th annual Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association championship meet on July 17th at the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center at Edwardsville High School. Pamatot thought her overall season was a good one, and she felt that she swam a good meet for the Pirates at SWISA. "Well, I've done OK," Pamatot said. "I've placed in all my events so far, so I've got two." Madelyn is the Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for Granite City. Placing at the top, where points are greatest, is always important for how the team scores add up during the meet. "Yes, it is," Pamatot said. "It's important for the team, so we can do our best." The championship

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JERSEY COUNTY - A 26-year-old Lebanon man died in a fatal motorcycle accident on Illinois Route 100, approximately 1 mile north of Mills Street in Elsah at 11:15 p.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022. Illinois State Police District 18 released the accident information Sunday afternoon. The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police: VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2012 Black Yamaha Motorcycle. DRIVER : Unit 1- Dustin Brown, a 26-year-old male from Lebanon, IL - Deceased. PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling south on Illinois 100 approximately 1 mile north of Mill Street in Elsah, Jersey County. Unit 1 left the roadway to the right and struck a guardrail. Unit 1 then crossed the road before coming to rest in the left ditch. The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on scene.

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See Photo Gallery: Photos in article and gallery may be purchased for personal use at: https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-Football-Practice ALTON - Alton Redbirds quarterback Graham McAfoos and running back Keith Gilchrese have emerged as strong leaders for the team over the summer of 2022. Graham and Keith will be keys to this year's Alton fall football success. The pair both believe Redbird football will be different in 2022 than the 2021 season. Graham and Keith are Auto Butler Alton High School Male Athletes of the Month. "In the past, Alton Redbird football has been very special to the community," Graham said. "We have a new coaching staff (led by Coach David Parker) that are bringing a different effort and ways to put in the effort. I think they are making some changes and I think we will be a different team this fall." "I think there is a different energy that appeals to the guys a lot of the guys who are a little younger and gives them inspiration," the quarterback

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