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GRAFTON - The Illinois Office of Tourism today kicked off its summer travel season campaign with a fun series of TV ads, digital ads, and social media ads that highlight Illinois as being in the Middle of Everything! Southwest Illinois and Aerie’s Resort in Grafton were featured in the TV ads directed by and starring Illinois native and actor Jane Lynch. “The state’s new tourism campaign ‘The Middle of Everything’ is the perfect kick-off to the summer travel season,” Cory Jobe, President, and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau said. “Southwest Illinois is front and center in the state’s TV ads with Aerie’s Resorts’ Grafton SkyTour featured along with the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. What better way to attract visitors to Illinois and our region than with these snappy, funny, and scenic ads. “Karla Flannery, deputy director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, deserves credit for ensuring

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ALTON - Alton Community Service League Grants were awarded at the Alton Community Service League meeting on April 11th, 2022. The allocation for Charitable and Beautification Grants were recommended and voted on for this year. Total grants allocated were $7,396. Receiving Charitable Grants totaling $3,996 were: Girl Scouts of Southern Il., Alton Youth Symphony, Alton Juneteenth Committee, Seasons of Life, Thrive Metro East, Be a Bridge, and East End Improvement Association. Receiving Beautification Grants totaling $3,400 were: Riverbend Family Ministries, Riverbend Head Start and Family Services, Jacoby Arts Center, North Alton/Godfrey Business Council, and Alton Main Street. Thanks to the community for supporting ACSL in their quest to help the community. The guest speaker for the meeting was Sara McGibany, head of Alton Main Street speaking about “What’s Happening in Downtown Alton”! During the meeting, Janet Hansen, placement chairman, recognized Jean Conrady

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PRINCETON - Every year, millions of Americans who live in regions that experience harsh winters count down the weeks until warmer weather returns. For many of these people, warmer weather also means spring allergies – especially in the Midwest, where pollen is the main culprit. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), spring allergies typically begin in February and last until early summer, with tree pollination starting earliest in the year followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer. Dr. Shitaldas Pamnani, an OSF HealthCare internal medicine physician, says identifying whether your symptoms are, in fact, caused by spring allergies is an important step in order to best treat them. Common symptoms of seasonal allergies include congestion, sneezing, eye irritation, cough, wheezing, and headaches. However, allergy symptoms can sometimes be tricky to identify. For example, Dr. Pamnani says that while irritated eyes can be an indicato

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ALTON - A vehicle struck a power pole at Main and Broadway in Alton early Sunday. Ameren Illinois was called out to the scene for repairs. An estimated 900 customers were without power for two hours. Alton Police Department and Alton Fire Department responded to the scene. There were no reports of injuries in the incident.

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ALTON - An uprooted tree fell across Fernwood Avenue in Alton on Thursday afternoon. The tree that fell broke wires in the area, but there was no damage to nearby poles or the house. Ameren Illinois was called to the scene to repair the wires and remove the tree. A small amount of Ameren customers were without power for a period of time.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 16 SPORTS ROUNDUP BASEBALL TRENTON WESCLIN 11, EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER 1: Wesclin went out to a 9-0 lead, scoring five in the second, three in the third and once in the fourth, then added on two more in the fifth after EAWR scored in the home half of the fourth, in taking a 10-run rule win over the Oilers at Norris Dorsey Field. Caleb Handler, Tyler Robinson, Drake Champlin and Lucas Moore had EAWR's hits, while Seth Slayden struck out four on the mound and Moore fanned two. The Warriors are now 7-6, while the Oilers fall to 3-12. CIVIC MEMORIAL 14, STAUNTON 4: CM bounced back from a tough loss at Jersey on Thursday by taking the win over visiting Staunton at the Bethalto Sports Complex. Bryer Arview led the Eagles with three hits and six RBIs, with Luke Parmentier adding two hits and two RBIs, Braden Arview had a hit and drove home two runs and Peyton Keller had a hit and RBI. Matthew Haar struck out four while on the mound for CM. The Eagles

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GREENVILLE - Two Alton juvenile females were transported to a hospital with injuries following a two-vehicle accident at 1:27 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2022, on Illinois Route 127 at U.S. Route 40 in Greenville. A 23-year-old Greenville female died in the accident. The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by the Illinois State Police District 11 WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Illinois Route 127 at US Route 40, Greenville, IL., Bond County WHEN: April 16, 2022, at approximately 1:27 p.m. VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2005 White GMC Pickup Truck Unit 2 – 2007 Blue Nissan Maxima DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Juvenile, 16-year-old female from Smithboro, IL. – Transported to an area hospital with injuries. Unit 2 – 23-year-old female from Greenville, IL. – Deceased PASSENGER: Unit 2 – Juvenile, 17-year-old male from Alton, IL. – Transported to an area hospital with injuries. Unit 2 – Juvenile,

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WOOD RIVER — Midwest Members Credit Union has been ranked No. 35 among the top-performing 100 credit unions in the country and 1 of only 7 recognized in the state of Illinois, according to the 2021 S&P Global Market Intelligence Ranking, which assesses the performance of community banks and nearly 5,000 credit unions across the nation. “It is an honor to receive this ranking from S&P Global Market Intelligence,” said Lou Bicanic, President and CEO of Midwest Members Credit Union. “As an organization, we take great pride in delivering the products our members need with service they expect and deserve. Having achieved yet another unprecedented year of growth further solidified Midwest Members Credit Union as a leader within the financial services industry across the country. We are extremely proud of achieving this level of success and are grateful to our employees who have shown remarkable resilience, and to our members who have stood by our side and supported

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Route 66 has always been known for its diners, cafes, and mom 'n pop businesses. But now, just like in Route 66's heyday, sometimes it's just a “mom” shepherding the business operation. In this day and age of women-owned and -operated businesses making news, there's one in Mitchell, Illinois (an unincorporated community near Granite City) that harkens back to the days of women establishing a little cafe or shop along the historic highway. But this business is no pocket-handkerchief-size tea room or six-stool diner – this woman operator has grown a large operation – now up to a whopping 21,000 square feet total. Gina Korte first opened up the Route 66 Flea Market in 2006 at 3117 W. Chain of Rocks Road – Old Route 66. But in 2019, she moved the operation next door to her present location at 3121 W. Chain of Rocks Road. Although it all began with just ten vendors, now Korte has over 150 vendors in the storage rental facility in Mitchell, Illinois. “Every

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate fell -0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased by +18,300 in March, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The February monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +19,600 to +25,100 jobs. The February unemployment rate was unchanged from the preliminary report, remaining at 4.8 percent. The March payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflects activity for the week including the 12th. In March, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Professional and Business (+9,700), Financial Activities (+3,800), and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,500). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines were: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,500), Other Services (-1,200), and Mining (-100). “We are

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GODFREY - The Lewis and Clark Community College Veterans Club will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in The Commons on L&C’s Godfrey Campus. “We are proud to be working again with the American Red Cross on this great campus and community blood drive,” said L&C Director of Career and Veteran Services Terry Lane. “By taking part in this opportunity to help others, you just might save a life. Please make an effort to attend, and please share this information with your family and friends.” To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: LewisClark1 or call 800-RED CROSS. Walk-ins are always welcome, but scheduling an appointment helps the Red Cross make sure they have the right number of people and supplies on hand for the drive. Those who wish to donate can streamline their donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete

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ST.LOUIS - Virtue Vein & Lymphatic Center, a locally owned clinic with seven locations throughout Southwest Missouri and Illinois, is promoting limb preservation during Limb Loss Awareness Month in April. According to the Amputee Coalition , more than 2 million Americans live with limb loss or limb difference, and more than 28 million are at risk of amputation surgery. Dr. Raffi Krikorian, a local physician with more than 25 years of experience treating venous and cardiovascular conditions throughout Missouri and Illinois, is working to raise awareness about treatment methods that can help prevent the need for amputations. Dr. Krikorian is also a member of the global Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) group which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people experiencing limb loss. “Hearing you need an amputation can be devastating and is a life-altering decision,” said Dr. Krikorian. “It is important you always explore all options and seek a second opinion

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville location of Germania Brew Haus held its soft opening on Friday from 6 a.m. - 1 p.m. Coffee lovers from the Jerseyville area gathered at 309 N State St. and enjoyed drinks from a small starting menu in the now fully-furnished interior. “If you made it this far, you’re awesome. Thanks for your patience as we built out this wonderful space,” Germania Brew Haus wrote in a Facebook post announcing the soft opening. “We are so excited for y’all to come in and try out our coffee and enjoy this space!” The hours at this location will remain 6 a.m. - 1 p.m. daily for the next two weeks until it fully opens at the end of this month, except for Easter Sunday when it will be closed. The location is currently open to pedestrian/lobby traffic only, as the drive-thru is still under construction but should be completed by the first week of May, according to Germania’s Facebook page . There is a small amount of parking

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and the governor’s office to ensure the passage of several pieces of pro-public education legislation during the 2021-22 legislative session in Springfield. This legislation will mean stronger K-12 schools and stronger community colleges and universities for our students, and it will help us address the growing teacher and education support staff shortages in our state. “We are about to end our second full school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. These have been the hardest years of most of our educators’ careers and are also likely the most difficult two years of our students’ learning careers. Our lawmakers recognized that. They acknowledged that not with mere words, but with action. We thank you for standing by our teachers, support staff, students and communities,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said. “This legislative session brought positive

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SPRINGFIELD — Each year in mid-April families are encouraged to have the often-difficult conversation with loved ones about health care decision-making. Putting your wishes in writing is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you remain in control of health care decisions, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 70% of Americans do not have an advance care plan. Medical providers at HSHS Illinois hospitals remind everyone that discussions around advance directives, living wills and naming a health care power of attorney are critical. Decisions made now can help mitigate potential struggles down the road for your family and health care providers. National Healthcare Decisions Day was founded in 2008 to encourage families to discuss health care decision-making sooner, rather than later. The day reminds families to make end-of-life health care decisions known. Many families begin their discussions in private and then meet with a doctor to

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ROCHESTER - Ray Bruzan and his wife Pam have lived for over 50 years in one of the Orange Judd historic homes of Rochester, Illinois. Once they both retired, Ray and Pam began to research the history of Rochester, Illinois. Spearheading the creation of The Orange Judd Historic Walking Tour Guide to Rochester's historic homes in 2015 led directly to more detailed investigations of the people and events that make up the history of their adopted Rochester community. It's those people and events that now appear in the Bruzan’s book, Cotton, Violins & Shots in the Night / A Timeline Visit to Rochester, Illinois. The Bruzans have researched and authored seven books based on the history of Rochester Township, and they have contributed to the study of Sangamon County. Two of their writings have received awards of excellence from the Illinois State Historical Society. Have Violin, Will Travel-The Louis Persinger Story by Raymond Bruzan offers a historic journey as he explores the

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THE CONVERSATION - After following a white rabbit down a hole in the ground and changing sizes several times, Alice finds herself wondering “Who in the world am I?” This scene, from Lewis Carroll’s “ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ,” might resonate with you: In a world that’s constantly changing, it can be challenging to find your authentic self. I am a social psychologist , and over the past few years, my colleagues and I have been conducting research to better understand what it means to be authentic. Our findings provide some valuable insights that not only shed light on what is meant by authenticity – a somewhat vague term whose definition has been debated – but can also offer some tips for how to tap into your true self. What is authenticity? In “ Sincerity and Authenticity ,” literary critic and professor Lionel Trilling described how society in past centuries was held together by the commitment of

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SPRINGFIELD – Every pet owner wants to make sure their beloved companion animal is healthy and receives appropriate and humane healthcare essential to long life. The connections people have with their pets are vital links to unconditional love, support, and overall well-being. April is Healthy Pet Month and the member veterinarians and certified veterinarian technicians of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA) want to remind pet owners of the importance of preventative and annual health care for any companion pet or food animal. “Veterinarians are the vital connection between a pet owner and their beloved companion animal,” says Devon Hague, DVM, ISVMA President, Clinical Associate Professor, Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Service Head, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois. “A veterinarian dedicates themselves to using scientific knowledge and skills to promote public health and

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URBANA – Culinary herbs are a favorite of many gardeners. They are easy to grow as they require little care, have few insect and disease problems, and generally prefer moderate fertility levels. In addition, they add fragrance and beauty to the garden. Many herbs such as lavender, sage, and purple basil, are very ornamental and combine nicely in flower or vegetable gardens. “Now is the time to plan what herbs you will plant this spring,” says Jennifer Fishburn, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “First consider what herbs you use in food dishes, then consider which herb plants will add texture, color, and fragrance to your garden.” Seeds and plants can be mail ordered and most can be purchased locally. Herbs such as dill, cilantro, and basil are easy to grow from seed. Lavender, rosemary, sage, and thyme are easily grown from purchased plants. “Mint and oregano are easy to divide, so ask a fellow gardener for a start of their

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the recipients of the 2022 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $2.5 million was awarded to 104 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. "All communities deserve safety, and this program helps ensure our smaller and rural fire districts aren't left behind when it comes to the tools they need to do their jobs," said Governor JB Pritzker. "I'm proud to be able to provide more than 100 districts with new lifesaving equipment. It's another way we can demonstrate our gratitude for all that they do to help their neighbors live safely." This program is an innovative approach to a problem that has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those that have hardships in generating the necessary

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