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Alton Police Charge Edwardsville Man With Home Repair Fraud, Theft From Elderly Victim

4 months 1 week ago
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE – A man from Edwardsville faces felony charges after agreeing to perform repairs on an Alton home, then stealing nearly $1,500 from an elderly victim. Andrew C. Miller, 42, of Edwardsville, was charged on Aug. 27, 2025 with aggravated home repair fraud/deception in an amount over $500 involving a victim 60 years of age or older. He was also charged with one count of theft, with both offenses classified as Class 2 felonies. Miller allegedly entered into a $2,820 agreement with an elderly individual on Feb. 24, 2024 to perform repair work on an Alton residence, which Miller reportedly had no intention of performing. He also allegedly stole $1,450 from the same elderly victim, just over half of the agreed amount. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Miller, who was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Volunteers and Rescue Teams Locate Missing Swansea Man

4 months 1 week ago
SWANSEA — Bill Crispin was found alive in a remote area near Swansea Baptist Church on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, following an extensive search involving local authorities, volunteers, and specialized rescue teams. The search effort, which took place in the Swansea area, was coordinated by Missouri Valley Search and Rescue and included more than 70 citizens who volunteered to assist. Crispin was located at the back of a bean and cornfield, reportedly too weak to move further. Crispin was last seen leaving an independent living facility on Aug. 23, 2025, to visit a local store but never returned. Surveillance and witness reports placed him along Frank Scott Parkway near Christ Church in Fairview Heights. Jeff Parker, mayor of Swansea, expressed gratitude to all involved in the operation. “Without this search guided by Missouri Valley and the citizens who came out, this would not have had this result. Bill was found in a very remote area and too weak to move anymore,”

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Edwardsville School District #7 Celebrates Lincoln Middle School Renovations

4 months 1 week ago
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 recently celebrated the renovation of Lincoln Middle School. On Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, community members gathered at Lincoln Middle School for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the school’s new addition. This celebration also marked the building’s 100th anniversary. “Today, we’re excited to once again host the District #7 community as we welcome you to the Lincoln Middle School ribbon-cutting and centennial open house,” said Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton. Opened as Edwardsville High School in 1925, the property at 145 West Street in Edwardsville has undergone a recent transformation. In April 2023, voters approved a $100 million bond referendum to fund district improvements. The largest amount, Shelton explained, went to Lincoln Middle School. This summer, the district completed a 60,000-square-foot addition to the school and renovated nearly 20,000 square feet of space

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St. Louis Woman Charged In Latest Schwegel's Market Forgery Case

4 months 1 week ago
ALTON – A woman from St. Louis is the latest to be charged with forgery at Schwegel’s Market in Alton. Jasmine E. Allred, 33, of St. Louis, was charged on Aug. 27, 2025 with one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony. On Nov. 21, 2024, Allred allegedly presented a fraudulent check to employees of Schwegel’s Market. The check, purported to have been made out by Ross Dress For Less on Nov. 12, 2024, was made out to Allred in the amount of $702.24. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Allred, who was granted pretrial release from custody. This marks the fifth case of forgery at Schwegel’s Market so far this year. 29-year-old Antwayne O. Bradley , another St. Louis resident, was charged on April 25, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of forgery for reportedly presenting a fraudulent $527.71 check to Schwegel’s Market employees. Three other individuals were charged in separate but similar cases filed in March of 2025 for offenses reportedl

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Every fall there’s a government shutdown warning. This time it could happen

4 months 1 week ago
WASHINGTON — Congress returns to Washington, D.C., this week following an uneventful August recess where little to no progress was made on government funding, even though lawmakers have just weeks left until their shutdown deadline. Republican leaders will need the support of several Democratic senators to approve a stopgap spending bill before Oct. 1, since […]
Jennifer Shutt

How to Create a Family Time Capsule for the Summer of 2025

4 months 1 week ago
Did you know that nearly 70% of people regret not preserving meaningful memories from their family life? In an era dominated by fleeting digital content and ever-changing lifestyles, capturing tangible moments for future reflection has never been more important. Creating a family time capsule is a powerful way to document your collective story, preserving not just objects but emotions and values for generations to come. Why Create a Family Time Capsule? A family time capsule acts as a bridge between the present and the future. It offers a unique opportunity to record your family’s identity at a specific moment in time—summer 2025—when the world is rapidly evolving socially, technologically, and culturally. Beyond preserving nostalgia, a time capsule fosters family bonding through shared storytelling and thoughtful selection of items. Consider the example of the Johnson family from Vermont, who buried a capsule in 1995 and unearthed it 25 years later. The process

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Missouri governor sued for activating National Guard ahead of ‘No Kings’ protests

4 months 1 week ago
The son of a Republican lawmaker is suing Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe alleging his First Amendment rights were violated when Kehoe preemptively declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in anticipation of what turned out to be peaceful protests against the Trump administration across the state and nation in June.  Lucas Cierpiot, […]
Jason Hancock

How to Transition Your Wardrobe from Summer to Fall

4 months 1 week ago
Did you know that the average person owns over 60 items of clothing but wears only about 20% of them regularly? This statistic highlights a common wardrobe challenge: having plenty of options but struggling to make timely, cohesive outfit choices. One of the most practical ways to maximize your wardrobe's utility and style is mastering the art of seasonal transition—particularly from summer to fall. This shift is not merely about swapping shorts for sweaters; it’s an opportunity to rethink your approach to clothing, layering, and personal style. Assess Your Current Wardrobe Before diving into new purchases or wholesale changes, take stock of what you already own. Review your summer clothes with an eye toward versatility and potential for layering. Lightweight dresses, linen shirts, and cotton tees can be valuable assets if paired correctly with autumnal pieces. For example, a breezy summer dress can become fall-ready when layered with a chunky cardigan and ankle boots.

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