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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Cougar Baja team had a great showing at the Winter Baja competition held in January. The team’s newest car, Reeba #81, placed sixth out of 42 teams, an improvement from last year’s competition. “I was happy to see that our cars are highly competitive competing against some of the best teams in the nation,” said Matthew Buchholz, a senior mechanical engineering student and president of Cougar Baja . “This continued success shows that our dedication to a quality build can help us to perform very well at a variety of events.” Cougar Baja’s Night Rider #57 had a couple of difficulties during the race, but still placed 20 th respectively. Overall, the team was happy with their performance and is looking forward to their next opportunity to compete. "Being on a team like ours shows students the practical side of engineering and management of time and other critical resources,”

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Couples names: Bri & Tanner City: Alton Date met or started dating: May 23, 2022 What makes your relationship special? Even though we’re barely 9 months in, it feels like we’ve known each other longer. We believe we’re both each others missing piece. Not only did we find lovers in each other, but best friends as well. Share a memory you have made together: We made matching hoodies, it may sound cheesy but we love being that way.

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MILSTADT, Ill. - In light of the recent house fires in Cahokia Heights, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is reminding area residents to implement a fire prevention plan. As many as two houses have caught fire in Cahokia Heights in the span of one week killing three people. Schmidt says families should have a fire escape plan and should take other precautions both to prevent fires as well as to ensure escape should a fire break out. “These horrific fires in Cahokia Heights should serve as a reminder of the need to take fire prevention seriously,” Schmidt said. “It is important to have a plan for fires and to make sure everyone living in the house knows the plan.” The American Red Cross recommends taking these steps to prepare for a fire: Install the right number of smoke alarms . Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. Ensu

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GLEN CARBON - Center Julia Stobie has been a mainstay for Father McGivney Catholic High School throughout the Griffins' highly successful 2022-2023 season. As playoff action begins, Stobie will be a force for the Griffins inside. She is a rebound leader for Father McGivney, averaging six rebounds a game. Stobie is a Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb LLC., Father McGivney Catholic Female Athlete of the Month. As a senior, Stobie is entering some of the final games of her high school career as the regional tournament continues for the Griffins this week. Julia and the Father McGivney girls' squad hope to move far in the post-season tournament. She stated previously the key to the team’s success is “strong offense, defense and being quick on any press.” Stobie is a force under the basket and on the defensive side for the Griffins. She says at the moment she is planning on focusing on academics in college. She is an honor student at Father McGivney. Father McGivney

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Couples names: Maraya & Christapher City: Alton Date met or started dating: August 2, 2020 What makes your relationship special? Our relationship is special because we have gotten through a deployment (11 months of being apart), having a child together, moving from place to time place, and coming out stronger despite all odds. Share a memory you have made together: A moment we have made is when Christapher came home from his deployment where he met his son for the first time.

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Village Board of Trustees held a brief meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, during which they passed several items including Public Works vehicle purchases, property annexation, and much more. Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus also made a few announcements about some things going on around the village, starting first by saying "Happy Valentine's Day!" Mayor Marcus announced that the Village of Glen Carbon was recently recognized as one of the Green Cities in the 2022 St. Louis Green Business Challenge . Among the village’s achievements were the Tree Giveaway event last spring, during which 500 native species trees were distributed to residents, children and elementary schools. The village also received a “Trees Forever” grant to plant 14 new native trees in village parks. Glen Carbon was also recognized for their expansion of the community garden, developing an ordinance regarding Electric Vehicle charging station requirements, and investigating

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WOOD RIVER - Signs for Wood River City Council candidate, Kristen Burns, are popping up all over, so what exactly are her goals for the city? Burns, a lifelong Riverbend resident and a proud proponent of progress, has officially announced her campaign. An avid supporter of small businesses, Burns consistently volunteers in the community and works towards improving Wood River. Growing up with a local family business, Budget Signs, in Wood River, pushed Burns to use her public relations and marketing skills to help other locally owned small businesses and entrepreneurs to energize economic growth in the downtown district and other areas of town. Her main objective is for everyone to work together to create a better, more inclusive, community. Recently she has been working alongside Mayor Stalcup as a Marketing Consultant. Together they have helped bring Wood River into the technological age and continue the Mayors transparency initiative. As for her volunteer work in the community,

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CARROLLTON - Dean and Carole Mann are a married couple that will never be forgotten in their small hometown of Carrollton, IL. The two were married on November 3, 1973, in the community and have remained glued hand-in-hand for nearly 50 years. The two will be married 50 years as of November 3, 2023. Carole and Dean have always exemplified what it really takes to have a wonderful, lasting marriage to their children, grandchildren, and first and several degrees of cousins and other friends and relatives. The two started dating on May 21, 1971. Dean was drafted into the Vietnam War and they started seeing each other shortly after that. "We communicated by letters, as there were no computers or cell phones," Carole said. "Dean was discharged in February 1973 and we got married November 3, 1973 - 50 years this year! We appreciate every day together and enjoy each day together. We love to walk, bike ride, and hike at Pere Marquette. Simple things together!" Carole said she shares so many

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is announcing that its on-campus Family Health Clinic will close its doors this June, after 15 years of serving the campus and the greater community. The move will become official once approved by the college’s Board of Trustees at their regular meeting in February, but the clinic will continue its operations through the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 2023. Ongoing, the college will retain a full-time registered nurse to continue providing first aid and basic health services to the campus, both of which were offered prior to the clinic’s opening. “This decision was not an easy one, given the tremendous impact our clinic and its caring staff have had on our campus and our community since 2008,” said L&C President Ken Trzaska. “The college has spent a great deal of time evaluating the current clinic model over the past two years. The combination of feedback from student and team member surveys, the

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JERSEYVILLE - Chris Collins was promoted as the newest Fire Captain with the Jerseyville Fire Department last week, and will now lead one of the department’s three companies. Collins has been a member of the Jerseyville Fire Department since 2006 and became a certified firefighter in 2013. Jerseyville Fire Chief Keith Norman approached him about the position left open by former fire captain Dr. David Harmon, who went on to accept a different position as a Safety Officer. Collins said the entire department, aside from Chief Norman, are volunteers - and that all of them are “dedicated” to the community. “The rest of us are all volunteers,” he said. “We have about 18 to 20 guys, and they’re all very committed to the Jerseyville community,” he said. He thanked the department for their support as he goes forward as Fire Captain. “I’m appreciative of the support they’ve given me, and I’m looking forward to

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Rep. Katie Stuart today explained more details about the Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force bill she created with State Rep. Jay Hoffman and what will transpire in the legislature in the near future. "The bill was finally passed at the end of last year and the task force will begin meeting in the coming weeks," she said. "I, along with the other task force members, will provide quarterly reports of our findings, discussions, and decisions to the Governor and the General Assembly. Everyone should have the right to a safe and healthy working environment and to return home unharmed at the end of each shift. The work we do through this task force will help to ensure this." She continued and said entire committee assignments were issued at the beginning of this month. "In addition to continuing my role as Chair of the Higher Education Committee, I will also be serving as Vice Chair of the Ethics & Elections Committee. "I would also like to highlight my continue

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HARDIN - David P. Robertson, 32, of Granite City, pled guilty to a Class X Felony charge of Armed Violence and was sentenced to 12 Years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on Jan. 31, 2023. These charges were filed in response to an incident from October 2022 in which Robertson stole a pickup truck and several firearms - one of which was loaded and on the front seat - and attempted to flee the police. A press release from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office describes the incident as follows: “On Oct. 19, 2022, at 3:20 p.m., the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary that occurred at a residence on Illinois River Road, south of Hardin, Illinois. The caller stated that he came home from work and his house was ransacked and all his firearms were missing. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to the residence, where the victim also noticed his vehicle, a red 2019 Dodge Ram, was also stolen. The victim believed

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CARROLLTON - In recent news, there has been considerable discussion of fentanyl exposure and presence within regional communities. Molly Peters, Greene County Health Department Director said: "We know fentanyl is here and that it has been here for some time. The Greene County community must do more to continue to protect ourselves, our families, and our loved ones. Over the past year, Greene County Health Department has increased its presence and tools to combat this crisis including providing Naloxone (Narcan) throughout the community. "We have provided over 660 doses to key partners, friends, and family members. We must continue to do more because this crisis isn’t going away soon. Naloxone is a powerful lifesaving tool that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when administered in time. Naloxone won’t hurt someone if used when an overdose involves other substances or someone has another medical emergency, so it’s always best to use it if you even suspect

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BARRY - Two men are in custody in reference to a robbery and theft incident reported to the Pike County Sheriff's Office at 7:12 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2023. The two men in custody and charged after an investigation are: Robert Lee Ledbetter, age 59, of Hannibal, Mo., and Braden A. Harn, age 20, of Hannibal, Mo. The two were arrested and charged with the following offenses: Residential Burglary, Financial Exploitation of the Elderly, Robbery, Theft ($10,000-$100,000), Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Both Ledbetter and Harn are lodged in the Marion County, Mo., Jail pending extradition to the State of Illinois. At 7:12 a.m. on February 12, 2023, the Pike County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of State Highway 106, Barry, Pike County, Illinois in reference to a robbery and theft incident. The victim(s) reported two (2) men came to their house on February 11, 2023, where they made an agreement for an asphalting job. The victim issue

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MADISON - A Granite City victim has been identified after a single-vehicle crash in Madison on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. Madison Police Chief Jeffery Bridick said the deceased man is identified as Sterling D. Harrell, 29. An autopsy was conducted, and the Madison Police Department is awaiting the official medical examiner’s report. "Preliminary examination indicated that the cause of death was likely a gunshot wound to the head and blunt force trauma caused by the crash," the chief said. "He was airlifted to an area hospital, but the Madison Police Department was contacted by the St. Louis Medical Examiner's Officer and advised the victim succumbed at the hospital to his injuries. A second male victim is still in an area hospital in stable condition and will not be identified at this time, added the chief. The call to Madison Police came at approximately 5:43 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. The Madison Police Department responded to the intersection of Washington Avenue at 10th

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Leslie Forrester of Education (center) is Alton Memorial Hospital’s February Employee of the Month. She received the honor on Feb. 14 from AMH President Dave Braasch and Lisa Blaes, manager of Education. Her co-workers say that “Leslie can stop and prioritize when something comes up that needs immediate attention. She promotes continuous improvement and leadership by remaining up to date with new policies, and procedures and participating in several committees. She is super knowledgeable about many different departments and the inner workings at AMH as she has held many roles and been on several different committees throughout her years here. Leslie has put her heart and soul into her many jobs at AMH and she deserves to be employee of the month.”

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Couples names: Tiffany & Memphis City: Jerseyville Date met or started dating: August 14, 2020 What makes your relationship special? He's my best friend I can go to him for anything and everything. I'm so grateful for him and I'm so grateful that he took my 2 kids in as his own. We have 3 beautiful babies now I wouldn't trade it for the world. Share a memory you have made together: We have so many memories but my all-time favorite is when our son was born. It was the most scariest but amazing day.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinois residents who plan to donate to support Turkey and Syria earthquake relief efforts to be on the lookout for fundraising scams. Raoul warned donors who want to give to the earthquake relief efforts to be wary of requests for clothing, food or other in-kind donations, which may not be appropriate. Attorney General Raoul advised donors to ask questions to determine who receives the donations and what the charity’s transportation and distribution plans are to ensure the organization can effectively provide aid. He also said unless the charitable organization has the staff and infrastructure to distribute such aid, the donations may be more of a burden than a help. “The devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have sadly caused widespread destruction and loss of life. I urge Illinoisans who want to help by donating to the relief effort to take the time to look into the charitable organization before donating,”

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Couples names: David & Brittney City: Belleville Date met or started dating: April 18, 2014 Date married: September 12, 2020 What makes your relationship special? No matter what thrown our way we’re always honest to one an other and at the end of the day were aways there for each other besties till the end I love you!!!! Share a memory you have made together: Year of 2015 we were bless with our beautiful daughter, The year of 2020 we got married!!!!, And the year of 2023 we were blessed again with our son.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC) is hosting the Weave, Coil, Twine, Plait, Knot: Traditional and Contemporary Basketry Exhibition from February 10th – March 24th, with the Opening Reception taking place on February 17th from 6-8 p.m. The basketry exhibition is co-curated by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) University Museum Executive Curator, Erin Vigneau-Dimick and artist, Sun Smith-Foret. “We are incredibly honored to host this amazing exhibit that Erin and Sun have co-curated,” said EAC Executive Director, Beth Browne. “It's a wonderful history of functional traditional basket making and contemporary interpretations of basket techniques, highlighting the importance of preserving traditional crafts and their influence on contemporary artworks.” “In conjunction with the exhibition,” follows Browne, “we are hosting a series of basketry-related programs throughout February and March including a free lectur

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