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EAST ALTON – Nine regional fifth-grade classes explored interactive booths focusing on the importance of water during the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) 20 th Annual Water Festival, held Friday, Sept. 30, at the Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey campus. Since 2002, more than 13,000 students and 150 teachers from 42 schools in about a dozen counties and two states have participated in the Water Festival. “Water is something that we rely on every day and the work that we do here at NGRREC is dedicated to not just studying and protecting our freshwater resources, but also educating people about the importance of those valuable resources,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “Water Festival is a way for us to bring together regional schools and community partners in a day dedicated to celebrating and learning about water.” Water Festival, which began as the Water Stewardship Project,

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CALHOUN COUNTY - Teresa L. Hammitt, age 59, of Barry, Illinois, was arrested on multiple charges as a passenger in a traffic stop on Illinois Route 96 near the Mozier Junction in Mozier, Calhoun County, at 5:26 p.m. on Sept. 23, 2022. Hammitt faces the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Pike County, IL Warrant Subsequent to an investigation, the driver, Stephanie A. Shelton age 45, of Barry, Illinois, was arrested on the following charges: Pike County, IL Warrant Calhoun County Warrant. Both subjects were arrested without incident and transported to the Pike County Jail. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

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WOOD RIVER – Today, Democratic Candidate for State Senate Kris Tharp (IL-56) announced his endorsement from yet another law enforcement organization, the Sheriffs of Illinois. This makes him the Democratic state senate candidate with the most endorsements from law enforcement groups in Illinois. “I’ve been a police officer for 25 years, an elderly service officer for the seniors in our community, and deputy commander for one of the oldest, most successful homicide task forces in the country,” said Tharp. “I know the importance of public safety and will always stand with my fellow police officers and law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the resources to keep our communities safe.” “Kris Tharp is one of us, a public servant dedicated to protecting his community and improving the lives of community members,” said Sheriffs of Illinois Chairman Dwight Baird, Kendall County Sheriff. “The Sheriffs of Illinois endorses Tharp because

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COLLINSVILLE – On October 2, 2022 at approximately 9:55 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) District 11 Troopers responded to a reported expressway shooting on Interstate 55 southbound near milepost 5. The victim stated they were traveling southbound on Interstate 55 at the above location and time when someone inside a dark gray or black pickup truck (possible 4-door) fired an unknown number of shots at their vehicle. The victim reported no injuries and the suspect vehicle and occupants have not been located. On September 25, 2022, at approximately 12:16 a.m., ISP District 11 Troopers responded to a reported expressway shooting on Interstate 55 southbound near milepost 6. The victim stated they were shot at by someone in a dark blue or black pickup truck. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was treated at a local hospital. The suspect vehicle and occupants have not been located. These shootings occurred in the same area and the suspect vehicle is very similar. Th

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GLEN CARBON - Senior middle blocker Sophia Ivnik has shown great leadership and has also been a rallying point around the girls' volleyball team at Father McGivney Catholic High School during the 2022 season. After two Gateway Metro Conference wins Sept. 27 over Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran and Sept. 29 over Maryville Christian, Ivnik has played well. having two service points for the season, with 62 kills, 95 blocks, 44 assists and seven digs in matches through the win over the Lions, helping the Griffins to a 14-8 record going into the final month of the season. She's also one of the team's leaders and hardest workers, helping to set the standard for the younger players to follow and a player the others rally around for leadership and strength. For her efforts both on and off the court, Ivnik has been selected as a Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month. Ivnik, who plays for head coach Jake Williams, was feeling very good after the sweep over COR on Sept. 2

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is pleased to add a new clinical psychologist to its staff to better serve the Alton community and surrounding areas. The addition of Ari Lakritz, PsyD, ensures increased access for patients in need of behavioral health and psychological testing services at the OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center – Psychological Services office at 1 Saint Anthony’s Way in Alton. In addition to providing clinical assessment and outpatient therapy treatment, Dr. Lakritz will provide psychological testing for diagnoses that include ADHD, chronic pain and cognitive impairments including dementia, post stroke, concussion and IQ testing/learning disabilities. Dr. Lakritz received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Yeshiva University in New York, and he received both a Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from William Paterson University. Dr. Lakritz interned with Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital

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ALTON - Alton Public Works Department members have been busy in recent days preparing for fall tourist visits to the city during the fall colors rush and other constant autumn activities. “We want things to look nice for fall,” Alton Public Works Director Mike Parsons said on Monday morning, with his group active with mowing efforts near the Clark Bridge area and beyond to Cpl. Chris Belchik Memorial Expressway. Parsons said he puts a lot of emphasis on safety, so they only cut the grass about once a month in the area near the bridge - and when they do, they mark the areas with warning signs for motorists. He said there has also been some painting work in areas along Broadway that has been done with crosswalks and center lanes, and more will be done before fall ends. He said they will do as much as they can in these efforts because by December, the main attention normally turns to handling any snow and ice situations through winter.

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(Photos by Michael Allio and J.R. Compton) MADISON - On Sunday, World War II POW veteran Sgt. Vincent Rowles served as grand marshal for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison and is a day he will not ever forget. Sgt. Rolves on stage during pre-race ceremonies and when 16-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force takes time to speak with Sgt. Rolves during pre-race ceremonies. Wilbert Vincent “Vince” Rolves was born in Albers, Illinois, in 1924. The 98-year-old resident of Carlyle, Illinois is one of the last living WW II prisoners of war in Southern Illinois. Rolves was drafted into military service in 1942. After 13 weeks of basic training, he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 45 th Infantry Division and shipped overseas to the North African region of the European Theater. In December of 1943, Rolves was shot and wounded during a battle in L’Aquila, a mountainous region in central Italy.

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ALTON - Alton Main Street and Jacoby Arts Center are partnering to present First Fridays, a late-night art and shopping experience which spans 16 locations across the Downtown Alton district. This event will be held on the First Friday of each month through December 2022, providing you with an opportunity to check out new shops and galleries and visit familiar favorites to experience art and great specials at each business. Participants are offering a variety of discounts, refreshments, and giveaways. Everyone who has their passport stamped at each location will receive a $10 gift certificate to any participating business. Free parking is available in the lot next to Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway, and a free shuttle bus will be provided from 5:00-9:00 p.m., running a continuous loop between all participating locations. On Friday, October 7 th , start your evening by picking up your First Fridays passport at Jacoby Arts Center. There you will receive a 10% coupon fo

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ST. LOUIS - Through their giveback initiative, Closets for a Cause, Saint Louis Closet Co. is announcing plans to donate a portion of their October profits to Special Spaces. This nonprofit is dedicated to creating dream bedroom makeovers for dependent children, ages 2-19, battling cancer or within one year of treatment. Special Spaces focuses on transforming a child’s bedroom because it’s where they sleep, rest, play, and spend time away from the challenges of their illness. All funds go directly to the St. Louis chapter for room makeovers. “Our bedrooms are designed around the child’s wishes and dreams of what they want in their special space,” says Keelyn Schwegel and Teresa Hutton, Co-Directors of Special Spaces St. Louis. “Through our partnership with Saint Louis Closet Co., we will be able to provide more dream bedrooms to children battling cancer in St. Louis and surrounding counties.” Serving the St. Louis area since 2011, Special

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GODFREY - Join The Nature Institute for a magical evening of Halloween fun! Enchanted Forest will take place on October 21st from 6 – 9 pm. This family-friendly event will include a self-guided hike, a movie on the big screen, timed star shows in our pop-up planetarium dome, yard games, a cozy fire, and educational activities. Children will receive a passport to be stamped by all of the nocturnal animal characters that they meet along the trail. Every child will receive a bag of goodies in exchange for their completed passport! The entrance fee for this family fun event is $5 for everyone over the age of 2. This event is perfect for families looking for a fun night of strolling through the forest and learning about animals. Children and adults can wear their Halloween costumes for the evening. Activities will be spread out along the paved Frog Trail, the skeet range, and around the lodge. Some partner organizations that will be participating include Treehouse Wildlife Center

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EDWARDSVILLE - A “base ball” game in Edwardsville, on Saturday, October 15, will be played using rules established in 1860 when “swearing, spitting and sliding” were considered taboo. Hosted by the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS), the game will be played at the Winston Brown Recreation Complex (Hoppe Field) on Schiller Avenue in Edwardsville. Adults and children over age 10 are invited to attend batting practice (12:30-1:30 p.m.) before the main attraction, a 1:30 p.m. game between the Belleville Stags and the St. Louis Brown Stockings. Both teams regularly play ball using the old rules, uniforms, and equipment. There are numerous differences between modern baseball and vintage base ball, including spelling the name of the game with two words. In 1860, there were bounce rules, that meant if a ball was caught after the first bounce the batter was out. The hurlers (pitchers) throw the ball underhand, but it’s not slow-pitch, the ball comes in fast.

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BELLEVILLE – Over the last six years from 2016 through 2021, Illinois American Water has partnered with Illinois farmers to apply over 109,000 dry tons of residuals and biosolids, rather than sending them to landfills. The water treatment residuals and wastewater treatment biosolids from Illinois American Water’s Champaign, Fisher, Granite City, Peoria, Streator, Jerseyville and Chicago Metro service areas were applied to agricultural fields across the state. Biosolids are primarily organic materials produced during wastewater treatment. Residuals are produced during the water treatment process and are typically alum or lime based. These materials are beneficial for agricultural land. According to Ryan Schuler, water quality & environmental compliance manager, the partnership supports environmental sustainability. He said, “As the local water and wastewater provider, we know how important it is to protect our precious resources and to reuse what we can. This is why

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ALTON - Think you’re tough? Prove it at the inaugural Tough Mudder event coming to southwest Illinois April 29-30, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Tough Mudder, a global leader in obstacle course adventures, will hold its Spring Midwest event at WWT Raceway thanks to a partnership between the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau and World Wide Technology Raceway. Tough Mudder is known nationwide for its weekend activities for adventure seekers. Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau spent several months working with officials from Tough Mudder to pinpoint the perfect location for the adventure event. Previously, Tough Mudder had been held in Wright City, MO. “This is a big win for Madison County,” Jason Troop, Sports Tourism Manager with the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau said. “From our initial conversation with Tough Mudder months ago at a conference in Texas to recent site visits in our region, the crew at Tough Mudder has been outstanding

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased in a fatal motor vehicle accident where a person was struck in St. Louis County has been identified as Adam Levi, 24 years of age, of the 1500 block of Independence Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63703. St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons Detectives are currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a person struck at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Sappington Barracks Road. At 6:28 a.m. on September 30, 2022, St. Louis County Police Officers from the South County Precinct responded to a call for service for a motor vehicle accident with a person struck at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Sappington Barracks Road. Upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male lying on the ground unconscious and unresponsive. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene. Preliminary investigation has revealed the victim was walking northbound Telegraph Road prior to entering the intersection. The victim

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois State Police is investigating a fatal hit-and-run on Interstate 55 where a truck tractor semi-trailer struck a pedestrian. At 8:50 p.m. on October 1, 2022, the Illinois State Police (ISP) responded to Interstate 55 southbound at milepost 8 for a pedestrian who had been hit by a vehicle. Troopers learned the pedestrian, an adult female, was entering her disabled vehicle on the right shoulder when she was struck by a Truck tractor semi-trailer (TTST). The TTST did not stop and was last seen driving south on Interstate 55 from the scene. The pedestrian sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at an area hospital. The investigation is active and ongoing and no further information is available at this time. ISP is asking anyone with information reference this traffic crash to call ISP at 618-571-4124 or Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477 (TIPS). Witnesses can remain anonymous. The public is reminded all persons are innocent until proven

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with the Coalition to Stop the Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Southern Merger to discuss their concerns with the proposed railroad merger’s potential impact on Chicagoland passenger and freight train service. Duckworth and the group also spoke about how she can help elevate their voices from the federal level, help prevent disruptive and unsafe consequences of the proposed merger and how they all can work together to prioritize efficient and dependable rail service for Illinoisans. “Every day, folks in Chicagoland depend on commuter rail to safely and efficiently get to work, and it’s clear the Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Southern Merger would cause too many problems for our constituents,” said Duckworth. “I was glad to meet with the Coalition today to discuss how the merger, as it’s currently proposed, will negatively impact surrounding communities as well as my concerns

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LITCHFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) District 18 Commander, Mark Gillock, announces the ISP will conduct Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) in Macoupin and Montgomery Counties during November. These sTEPs allow the ISP to focus on these fatal four violations which contribute the greatest to traffic crashes and fatalities: - Driving Under the Influence (DUI); - Safety Belt and Child Restraint use; - Speeding; and, - Distracted Driving. The ISP will increase our daytime and nighttime patrols to ensure the safety of vehicle travelers through enforcement of all traffic safety laws. Impaired driving is a factor in more than 30 percent of traffic deaths in Illinois. Likewise, speeding is a factor in nearly 35 percent of fatal crashes; and, nearly 50 percent of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were known to not be buckled up. This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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ALTON – It was a special occasion Friday evening when the Alton Fire Department decided to host their Firefighter’s Ball once again. It’s one of the only nights out of the year that all the volunteers can be in the same room with one another and their families. The department doesn’t take these opportunities for granted, so when everyone was dressed to the nines inside WOW Event Center in Upper Alton, they were sure to have a good time. Doors opened at 5 p.m. as guests had the chance to get professional photos taken. The bar was open as well to enjoy before dinner. Dinner was provided by Chef Bob’s Catering Company. Before dinner, the firemen presented the colors and said a fireman’s prayer. After that, another prayer blessed the food. Finally, guests began eating around 6:30 p.m. They ate and danced into the night and enjoyed one of the few chances they have to just relax and have some fun.

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker has instructed the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) to temporarily suspend the international fuel tax agreement (IFTA) licensing requirements for 30 days, to allow those assisting with Florida’s hurricane relief efforts to provide help without having to register and pay fuel tax in Illinois. IFTA is an agreement among U.S. states and Canadian provinces to simplify the reporting of tax due on fuel use for carriers that operate in more than one state or province. Carriers report miles driven and fuel purchased. State statute provides the Director of Revenue the authority (35 ILCS 505/13a.4), to temporarily waive the licensing requirements for up to 30 days for commercial motor vehicles that travel through Illinois or return to the state from a point outside of Illinois, for the purpose of assisting in disaster relief efforts. “To our friends in the Southeastern US: here in Illinois, we are no stranger to the devastating effects

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