ADVANTAGE ATHLETES

FAMILY FEATURES

Over the past year, homeowners from coast to coast have experienced tussles with Mother Nature from arctic storms and heat waves to powerful hurricanes. Not only can storms wreak havoc on homes, they damage the fragile electric grid, which may result in power outages that can sometimes leave families in the dark for days or weeks.

While no amount of preparation can stop the forces of nature, planning ahead to manage blackouts can have a significant impact on you and your family. Get your home ready for what lies ahead with these tips from the Propane Education & Research Council and Anthony Carrino, a home designer, developer and contractor with more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

Outdoor Maintenance

You may not realize it, but chores like cleaning the gutters and keeping your vegetation trimmed can actually make a big difference in the event of a major storm. If your gutters are full of debris, water rushing from your roof has no place to go, and that could mean major damage to your roof, siding and even foundation.

Falling branches and trees can create a great deal of damage not only on your home but also to surrounding powerlines, which can easily break, so it’s a good idea to monitor closely for branches that could be affected by high winds and promptly remove dead trees that are especially risky in inclement weather.

If there’s time, you should also secure any outdoor furniture or belongings that could blow away or get damaged in the storm. If you have them, secure the storm shutters. It’s also a good idea to evaluate your yard’s grading at least once a year to be sure the ground slopes away from the house to keep water from pooling against your foundation.

Standby Power

Major weather events are often accompanied by extended power outages. Homeowners may turn to portable generators to turn the lights back on after the storm has passed. However, they are difficult to find and can only power a small portion of a family’s home.

Unlike a portable generator, which can power only a few appliances in a home, a propane-powered standby generator or backup generator can be a total home solution, depending on the size of the unit. When a homeowner purchases a backup generator, a licensed technician installs the unit outside of the home and wires it to the home’s electrical system. When a power outage occurs, the generator automatically senses the disruption of service and starts the generator’s engine, which then delivers power to select appliances in the home.

Propane-powered standby generators can supply supplemental electricity in as little as 10 seconds after an outage. They are available in a variety of capacities to fit the needs of any size home and can power several major appliances, including furnaces, boilers, water heaters, cooking equipment, fireplaces and clothes dryers. For homes that already run on propane, consider running important systems and appliances like the furnace, water heater, stove and fireplace on propane so they’ll continue to run even during a power outage. The more appliances that run on propane, the smaller and less expensive your standby generator can be. Plus, propane is environmentally friendly and won’t degrade over time like some other fuel sources, ensuring the backup generator reliably powers your home to give you added peace of mind.

Home Systems

If your home is struck by a major storm, you may need to manually turn off the power, gas or water to prevent a life-threatening situation or further damage. Refresh your memory regularly on where the shut-off valves are located. If your home has a propane tank, open the lid of the tank to reveal the shut-off valve then turn it to the right to shut off the propane. If there are multiple tanks, turn them all off the same way. If possible, be certain at least two members of the family are able to perform a safe shut-off just in case someone is injured or unable to access the shutoff site. If you turn off the propane, make sure a qualified technician from your propane supplier turns the gas back on and performs a leak check. Ensuring there isn’t an issue is another step to safeguard your family after a disruption of service.

Insurance Coverage

When your home is in the path of a major storm, insurance is an important way to protect your investment.

Reviewing your insurance coverage at least annually, if not every six months, can help you stay well-informed about possible exclusions and ensure you have the opportunity to increase your limits if you’ve made improvements or values have grown in your area.

An important aspect of good coverage is a thorough inventory of your possessions that details what you own and could potentially lose in a major storm. Including details like purchase price and condition may help smooth the way if you have to file a claim.

Emergency Kit

Storms can blow in fast, so having some emergency equipment you can grab in a hurry may help ease your storm response. Include flashlights, a battery-powered radio, cellphone charger and cash. You should also include first aid supplies, essential medications for everyone in the family, some nonperishable food and an adequate supply of water. Also include clothing and toiletry items, as well as supplies to care for your pets. It’s also a good idea to have copies of important records like your insurance policy, an emergency contact list and any other personal documents you may need.

By planning ahead with an emergency kit, propane-powered generator and other steps, you can put your family and home in a better position to ride it out as safely and comfortably as possible – giving you peace of mind during and after the weather-related event. Find more ideas to help get your home storm-ready at Propane.com/Generators.

Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey honors Students of the Month

Clancy Maag of Marquette Catholic High School and Paige Ontis of Alton High School were honored as Students of the Month for November at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant.

Maag, daughter of Shannon and Vicky Maag of Jerseyville, is taking on a plethora of extracurricular activities, including varsity golf all four years of high school, winning regionals each time and going to state three out of those four times; Breast Cancer Awareness, Student Council, Students for Soldiers, Students Offering Support, and National Honors Society with her 4.3 GPA out of four. She was named first team for golf this year as well. She also played basketball her freshman and sophomore year.

Clancy plans to attend a college close to home on a golf scholarship, but is undecided on what she wants to do.

Ontis, daughter of Chris and Nicole Ontis of Godfrey, is ranked 14th in the senior class of 2022 and is an officer of two student organizations.

She has a 4.55 GPA and is the treasurer of National Honor Society. She has also competed in the Excellence Math competition and is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society. Through Mu Alpha Theta, she has tutored a fourthgrade and an 11th-grade student. Additionally, she is a member of the Interact Club, the Redbird Nest and the Sign Language Club.

Ontis’ primary extracurricular activity is the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA. She has also been a part of the FCCLA Fashion Show, which raised more than $1,000 for the Oasis Women’s Center.

After high school, she plans to attend college and major in accounting, with the goal of eventually becoming a forensic accountant. 3

Alton Optimists honor Students of the Month

Quinn Halliday of Alton Middle School and Andi Baker of Lovejoy Elementary School were named as Students of the Month for November by the Alton Area Optimist Club.

The Alton Area Optimist Club gives a $25 gift card to each student as well as a $25 donation to a nonprofit organization of the student’s choice.

Quinn, daughter of Michael and Angela Halliday of Godfrey, is a seventhgrade student at Alton Middle School. She is a caring young lady who strives to lead by example. She is a high honor roll student and works hard in the classroom. She has incredible leadership skills and goes above and beyond expectations on a regular basis. She is very involved in the music program at AMS. She plays the trumpet and the bass.

Andi, daughter of Timothy and Toni Baker of Alton, is a second-grade student at Lovejoy Elementary. She is bright and inquisitive and always eager to learn.

She participates in class every day and enjoys using different strategies to show her learning. She loves math and reading. She adds her own experience and knowledge to the topics she learns. She is helpful and friendly to her peers and teachers. She is an upbeat, positive role model for all. 3

State’s attorney announces winners of poster contest

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine has announced the winners of the office’s 2021 Red Ribbon Week poster competition.

This annual competition invites third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students from schools in Madison County to create and design posters on the importance of resisting drugs. The theme of this year’s Red Ribbon Week was Drug Free Looks Like Me. One winner was chosen from each grade:

Third grade: Kysen Knebel, Highland Elementary

Fourth grade: Sam Herring, East Elementary (Alton)

Fifth grade: Jemma Dorsey, Our Lady Queen of Peace (Bethalto)

“Congratulations to these student winners and their teachers and parents,” Haine said. “All the entries were wonderful, which made the process of selecting a winner very difficult. Thank you to all the schools who took the time to join in our contest this year. Together, we can continue to strengthen our children to resist drugs and live life to the fullest.”

The winning entries will be displayed for one year in the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Madison County Administration Building. Each winning student will also receive a pizza party for their entire class with Haine.

The Red Ribbon campaign began in support of a murdered DEA agent killed in 1985 by drug traffickers. Displaying a red ribbon demonstrates support of a drug-free America. 3

Invitation For Bids

The City of Alton will receive bids for demolition of 603 Piasa Street for the Building & Zoning Department until 3:00 pm Wednesday, January 5, 2022, and will be publicly opened and read immediately following.

Specifications may be obtained in the Comptroller’s Office, 101 E Third St, Alton, IL. City reserves the right to waive any informalities and to reject any or all bids. This is a prevailing wage project.

2022 Village Of Godfrey Board Of Trustees Meetings

Notice is hereby given that the meetings of the Village of Godfrey Board of Trustees, Godfrey, Illinois, will be held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., at the Godfrey Village Hall, 6810 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, Illinois. The second meetings of the Village Board of Trustees will be held on the 3rd Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Godfrey Village Hall, 6810 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, Illinois, for the purposes of transacting any business that may properly come before said meetings

VILLAGE BOARDS SCHEDULE 2022

** MEETING CHANGED DUE TO ELECTIONS

***CHANGED DUE TO HOLIDAY

One Meeting only in July and August

JANUARY 4, 2022

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

MARCH 1, 2022

APRIL 5, 2022

MAY 3, 2022

JUNE 7, 2022

***JULY 6, 2022

AUGUST 2, 2022

***SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

OCTOBER 4, 2022

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

DECEMBER 6, 2022

JANUARY 18, 2022

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

MARCH 15, 2022

APRIL 19, 2022

MAY 17, 2022

JUNE 21, 2022

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

OCTOBER 18, 2022

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

DECEMBER 20, 2022

If prospective attendees require an interpreter or other access accommodation needs, please contact the Godfrey Village Clerk’s office at 618-466-3381 no later than 48 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting to arrange the accommodations.

Bethany A. Bohn, Village Clerk, CMC

Midwest Members employees support Restore Network

Midwest Members Credit Union employees donated $1,084 to Restore Network through their Jeans Day Program. Employees pay to wear jeans Fridays and Saturdays that month and all donations are made to local charities.

The Restore Network was formed in 2017 as a handful of churches that felt passionately about caring for children in foster care and the families who love them. Since then, the network has grown into approximately 40 partner churches serving six counties, including Madison, Jersey, Bond, St. Clair, Monroe, and Williamson.

The Restore Network’s vision is to change the culture of foster care so every child experiences healing. The foster care system is designed to protect children, but unfortunately, it can harm them further. Children shuffle from home to home, many of which are not equipped to help them heal from their trauma. The Restore Network was created to help the church respond. First, it aims to recruit more than enough foster families, then equip them with trauma-informed training and tools, and wrap around them with ongoing support.

“We believe that whether you foster, volunteer, or give financially, we each have a part to play in transforming stories of pain and suffering to ones of healing and hope,” a press release states. Network volunteers provide assistance in many ways. They have a Clothing Team, Meal Team, volunteers who provide transportation for family visits, and other ways of supporting families. The network hosts a back-toschool party, providing a backpack full of school supplies for children. They also host a Christmas party, providing dinner, presents, and games for families. 3

Midwest Members honors Oiler of the Month

Midwest Members Credit Union sponsors the Oiler of the Month program at East Alton-Wood River High School.

EA-WR faculty members select a senior student each month. Each student is awarded a certificate and Subway gift card. The seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 Oiler of the Year scholarship at the end of the school year.

November’s winner is Valerie Quevreaux. She is involved with Student Council, Peer Leadership, Saturday Scholars, Scholar Bowl, and Big Sisters. She has received honors for high honor roll and is an Honor Society member.

After graduation, she is still undecided between pursuing biomedical engineering or veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois or Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 3

Midwest Members honors Eagles of the Month

Midwest Members Credit Union sponsors the Eagles of the Month program at Civic Memorial High School. Members of the Civic Memorial faculty select students every month to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 Eagle of the Year scholarship at the end of the school year (one male and one female winner for $500 each).

New this year, Midwest Members Credit Union is also proud to sponsor Teacher/Faculty of the Month winners, selected by the students at CMHS.

November’s Eagles of the Month include:

Math: Sydney Law

Fine Arts: Sydney Moore

Social Studies: Abraham Wojcikiewicz

Physical Education/Health: Meredith Schaaf

Choir: Shelton Naumann

Band: Jack McRae

Science: Tyler Winegardner

English Language Arts: Justice Hendricks

Career and Technical Education: Avery Wilson

November Teacher of the Month: Rachael Varland, Math 3

Alpine coaster coming to Grafton in 2022