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KAMPSVILLE - Wade Gibson, co-owner of Papa Toodles in Godfrey and a beloved hairdresser, died June 19, 2025, after complications from a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He was 58 years old at the time of his death. Wade was a long-time resident of Kampsville, with his husband, James. Wade was a loving father and grandfather. More information about his family and funeral information will be released in a later obituary. In an April social media post, Gibson shared the difficult news of his cancer diagnosis, writing, "This is the most difficult announcement I've ever had to make." He detailed his symptoms, including weakness, fatigue, and pain, which were initially attributed to medication and aging. Following the diagnosis, Wade said he would focus on his health and spending meaningful time with loved ones, adding that he would no longer be working as a hairdresser. James, his husband, reflected on Wade’s character and final days. "One of life's greatest challenges is bidding farewell

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GODFREY – A proposal to raise Godfrey’s sales tax rate instead of replacing the Illinois sales tax on groceries aims to ease grocery costs for residents while boosting tax revenue from visitors. Village Engineer Rich Beran suggested raising the village’s sales tax by 0.5% at the June 17, 2025 Village Board meeting. This would effectively cut the sales tax on groceries in half from the state’s 1% grocery tax to the new 0.5% Godfrey sales tax, while raising the village’s sales tax on all other goods and services from 6.85% to 7.35%. Beran said this strategy would be “the right combination to get the most for Godfrey residents.” “More than half of Godfrey residents get their groceries locally, but then a lot of the sale tax revenue that’s generated, it’s mostly from outside – someone coming into Godfrey and doing some shopping,” Beran said. “Lowering the grocery tax would help the Godfrey residents, while

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ALTON - Honeybee Vintage has celebrated one year in their downtown Alton location, and owner Melissa Bland is pleased to continue her work within the community. Located at 114 E. Broadway in Alton, Honeybee Vintage sells clothing, antiques, “upscale resale” items, home decor, local art, gifts and more. Bland explained that she houses 20 vendors and curates the remainder of her store to appeal to every customer. She encourages people to come out and see everything Honeybee Vintage has to offer. “There’s tons of heart in these products,” Bland said. “I curate for quality. I curate for style. I curate for price. If we get that mix right, then it works well.” The store is open year-round, seven days a week, which Bland feels provides more consistency for vendors than other markets. They have a variety of seasonal products in addition to their regular items. The store also sells several local and historic items, such as Alton-themed t-shirts.

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PLEASANT HILL — A burglary investigation in Pike County led to the arrest of a man connected to a multi-county crime spree spanning Calhoun, Jersey, Macoupin, and Pike counties, authorities said. On June 9, 2025, at approximately 3:55 a.m., the Pike County Sheriff’s Department responded to an alarm activation at the Jiffi Stop convenience store in Pleasant Hill, where deputies found the glass entry door shattered and merchandise stolen. Chief Deputy Zack Orr and Sergeant Matt Frazier launched an immediate investigation. Through analysis of extensive surveillance footage and coordination with surrounding law enforcement agencies, investigators identified two additional burglaries at businesses in Calhoun County. Evidence recovered by the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office linked the crimes to a location in Jersey County. Detective Sally Arbuthnot of the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office identified the owner of the suspect vehicle involved in the burglaries. With assistance

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O’FALLON, IL. — Detective Benjamin Callahan was promoted to sergeant during a joint promotional ceremony with O’Fallon-Shiloh EMS on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The O’Fallon Police Department recognized Callahan for his service since joining the department in 2016. Sergeant Callahan currently serves in the Criminal Investigations Division and is a member of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. He also participates on the SWAT Team as part of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Special Response Team. In addition, Callahan advises the O’Fallon Police Explorer Post and is a member of the department’s Honor Guard. Prior to his assignment in Criminal Investigations, he served as a Field Training Officer and Senior Officer. Before his law enforcement career, Callahan served more than eight years in the United States Marine Corps. The department expressed confidence in Callahan’s leadership as he assumes

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ALTON — Despite being cut short by weather on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the Alton River Dragons game became a memorable community event that celebrated local first responders. Before the rain interrupted play at Gordon Moore Park, Officer Allen Averbeck, Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik took the mound together for a ceremonial first pitch. The event was followed by a tribute honoring Officer Averbeck’s K-9 partner, Odin, who was presented with a retirement jersey by Steve Marso and the River Dragons organization. The shootout involving the K-9 Odin occurred on Aug. 22, 2024. In a gesture of respect, the team announced that Odin’s number 19 would be retired and never issued again. The tribute underscored the strong partnership between the Alton community and its first responders. Organizers thanked attendees for their support of the Alton Police K-9 Division and the Alton Fire Department during the event.

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ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust , Sarah Crane shared her belief in God and her advice to new Christians who want to develop a relationship with Him. Crane believes that God shows grace, but people must work hard to learn from their sins and not repeat them. She feels the only way to grow and find peace is through your relationship with God, and she encourages people to focus on building that relationship through prayer, studying scripture, and putting your trust in Him. “You can search all day long for peace. You will not find it because God is the only one who is going to give you the peace that you’re looking for,” Crane said. “Jesus didn’t call us to be Christians. He called us to be disciples. That just means to live out what Jesus did. Live it out. Read your Word. Apply your Word to your life every single day. Let it resonate to everyone else around you.” Crane urges people to

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Did you know that the first day of summer has been celebrated in some form for thousands of years, with ancient cultures marking it as a moment of renewal, abundance, and community? This day, often overlooked as simply the start of warmer months, offers a unique opportunity to embrace joy, creativity, and connection. Whether you’re seeking ways to gather with friends, indulge in outdoor activities, or simply refresh your routine, the first day of summer invites a vibrant celebration that goes beyond tradition. Embracing the Spirit of Celebration The first day of summer is more than a calendar milestone—it’s a chance to pause and honor the potential of the season ahead. Across the globe, people have historically used this day to gather, reflect, and energize themselves for the coming months. Today, this spirit can be captured in various ways that suit different lifestyles and preferences. Example: In Scandinavia, Midsummer festivals bring communities together wit

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June 20th has been a date marked by remarkable moments throughout history, spanning politics, science, culture, and beyond. Looking back, June 20th holds many noteworthy events that have made their mark on history. In 1789, during the early stages of the French Revolution, members of the Third Estate took the famous Tennis Court Oath. This bold declaration vowed that they would not disband until a new constitution was established, symbolizing a critical step toward democracy and the reshaping of French society. The oath represented an assertion of popular sovereignty and challenged the traditional authority of the monarchy. Moving into the 19th century, June 20, 1837, marked the opening of the first Canadian Parliament in Toronto. This event signaled important progress in Canada's journey toward self-governance and parliamentary democracy. The establishment of a formal legislative body was essential in laying the foundation for modern Canadian political institutions and fostering

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center invites the public to join them for a truly unique musical experience as Estonia’s top handbell ensemble, Arsis, brings their shimmering sound “From Bach to Pärt” to the Riverbend region as part of the ensemble’s summer U.S. tour. The FREE concert will be held on Saturday, July 12, 7 p.m., in the Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel on the campus of Lewis & Clark Community College (5800 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey, IL). Seating is “first come, first served,” and free-will offerings will be accepted. Concert goers can expect dazzling arrangements of classical favorites (Bach, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky) and powerful works by Estonian masters, including Arvo Pärt. Music lovers won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to hear one of Europe’s most celebrated handbell groups live on stage. More information on this FREE concert can be obtained by calling (618) 474-6101.

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An article printed in the Alton Evening Telegraph on June 24, 1925, mentioned that a newspaper in St. John, New Brunswick, Ontario, Canada, had recently printed a photo of an Upper Alton resident on the front page. William L. Hughson (72) of Washington Avenue was pictured with his 77-year-old brother Winslow Hughson of St. John. The brothers had not seen each other in 48 years. In 1877, four Hughson brothers “set out from home into the world” after their hometown of Havelock was destroyed in a devastating fire. Winslow went to St. John and never left. William went to New York, then to St. Louis, and eventually made it to Alton. He worked at the Beall shovel plant on Piasa Street for over 20 years and had just quit his job there three months before his trip north. William’s wife, Alice Etta Wood Hughson, had died the previous year, and after her death, William corresponded with his brother in St. John. The two had not talked much for many years. Winslow planned

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Author's note: between being interviewed for this story and its publishing, Sister M. Christine Crowder passed away . JERSEYVILLE - Wally Fisher, an 87 year-old from Jerseyville, Illinois, is adding her voice to those marking 100 years since the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George came to St. Louis, Missouri . The Sisters eventually established what today is OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in nearby Alton, Illinois. Fisher’s story Fisher hails from northern Germany. After eighth grade, her parents said her school days were over, and helping on the family farm would be her profession. But turning 18 afforded her some freedom. Fisher says she met the Sisters, who introduced her to nursing and recruited her to come to America and work at Saint Anthony’s. “I think they thought we would become nuns,” Fisher says with a smile. Instead, it was the start of a long career serving the sick at Saint Anthony’s &ndash

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BETHALTO - The nonprofit Bethalto Spirit will host the Bethalto Farmers’ Market throughout the summer. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday until Sept. 28, 2025, community members are invited to Bethalto Central Park for the market, where they can shop for produce, baked goods, homemade crafts and more. Jane, who oversees Bethalto Spirit, explained that the goal of the organization is to support the community through events like the market. “Our primary function is to provide education, arts and events for the Village of Bethalto,” she said. “As a 501(c)(3), we’re able to provide those wonderful things to the village.” Of the 20 vendors who come every week, Jane explained that some vendors are signed up for a half season, while others plan to stay in their spot until September. Bethalto Spirit also welcomes drop-in vendors. “We’re always looking for new vendors,” she said. “We love to give people opportunities.

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JERSEY - Jersey Community High School’s Marching 100 Band is concluding its fundraising campaign for new uniforms and equipment on Monday, June 23, 2025, after receiving strong community support and donations totaling $18,524.72, which included an $8,000 matching donation. The campaign, led by the JCHS Band Boosters, aimed to raise funds to replace worn uniforms and purchase new instruments for the band’s approximately 90 students, including freshmen through seniors, color guard members, and several other ensembles such as concert, symphonic, and jazz bands. The band is also preparing for a trip to Disney next year. Band director Erin Bittles has earned acclaim for the Marching 100's presentation, which has much innovation involved. Sheri McDuffie, president of the Band Boosters, said the campaign has exceeded expectations. “It has just been tremendous community support and beyond it. We never imagined getting this much support,” McDuffie said. The group set

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BETHALTO - The Village of Bethalto and Bethalto Spirit will host their Music in the Park series at 7 p.m. every Thursday this summer through August. Community members are invited to Bethalto Central Park to hear a variety of music every Thursday night until Aug. 21, 2025. Trella, with the Bethalto Spirit nonprofit, explained that Music in the Park started in the 1980s, but “kind of just fizzled out” until she and a friend revived it three years ago. “It’s just grown a little bit every year,” Trella said. “This is the third year, I believe, that I’ve done it, and that has been my goal, to just make it a little better every year.” When Trella and Bethalto Spirit first started talking about restarting Music in the Park, they knew they needed to fundraise. They held a few yard sales to raise money, and Trella’s friend hid the money under her mattress until the time came to pay the bands. These days, Bethalto Spirit has “ver

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An adult male bicyclist was fatally struck by a vehicle Thursday afternoon, June 19, 2025, in the 9900 block of Big Bend Boulevard near Grant’s Trail, St. Louis County Police said. Officers from the Affton Southwest Precinct responded at 12:27 p.m.Thursday to a report of a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, they found the bicyclist with life-threatening injuries. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died, according to the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons and Accident Reconstruction detectives. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Additional details will be released as they become available.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pressing him on his recent reckless decisions to slash funding for critical vaccine development. In May, the Trump Administration announced that it would cut off millions of dollars that the federal government had committed to the development of the critical bird flu vaccine, and HHS abruptly ended an over-$250 million program to develop an AIDS vaccine. “This is a grievous mistake that threatens to leave the country unprepared for what experts fear might be the next pandemic – and there appears to be no rationale for this decision other than your ill-informed and dangerous war on vaccines,” wrote the Senators. In January, HHS championed the development of new vaccines to make sure "Americans have the tools they need to stay safe.” Now, the RFK Jr.-led HHS is ripping those tools

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GLEN CARBON – Glen Carbon Police have charged a Fenton, Mo., man in a domestic battery case involving an elderly victim. David M. Pace, 46, was charged on June 9, 2025, with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery and one count each of domestic battery and violation of pretrial release, both Class A misdemeanors. On June 8, 2025, Pace allegedly threw an object which shattered, causing bodily harm to a 65-year-old victim. Pace was charged with violating the conditions of his pretrial release from a domestic violence case filed earlier this year, as he contacted the protected party and was present at the protected residence. The state’s petition to deny Pace’s pretrial release in this latest case states Pace “began damaging property around the residence” before throwing the object, which struck the victim in the face and shattered. After being placed under arrest, Pace reportedly admitted to throwing the object. The petition notes that at the time

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EDWARDSVILLE - Abby Packer, a graduated senior for Metro East Lutheran High School, qualified for the 100 meters at the Class 1A IHSA State Track and Field Meet with a time of 12.69. Packer was sixth in the Riverton Sectional in the 200 meters with a time of 29.51. The MELHS star sprinter placed 31st at state with a time of 13.10 for the 100 meters. Abby is a BJ's Printables Female Athlete of the Month. Coach Mike Cook was exceptionally proud of Packer's efforts this season. He said that Abby was his best sprinter and a leader for the team in 2025. Rob Stock, an assistant principal for MELHS, who is involved in coaching multiple Knights girls' sports, said he was very proud of Abby's efforts this year to obtain a state berth. He said her strong work ethic was an inspiration to all the MELHS female athletes this past year.

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River’s Farmers’ Market opens today and runs through the end of the summer. The farmers’ market is open from 4–7 p.m. every Thursday starting on June 19 through Aug. 28, 2025, in downtown Wood River. Kristen Burns, director of Wood River Main Street, expressed her excitement to kick off the season. “We’re excited to have our first one this week on Thursday,” Burns said. “Hopefully the weather is going to be great.” To start the farmers’ market fun, Spencer McDole will perform throughout the evening on June 19. Klausti’s Kitchen and Downtown’s WestEnd & Courtyard will both be out with food and drinks for community members to enjoy. Burns noted that she is especially excited for The Rolling Honeysuckle, a mobile flower shop where you can make your own bouquets or purchase pre-made bouquets. This “cute little concept” will be out at the market every week. Burns acknowledged

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