Archived Articles and Images August 2024
The Twigs sponsored baseball team had an undefeated season for the summer securing a spot in the playoffs. Their luck continued during the playoffs and the team’s practice and hard work paid off allowing the team to bring home the season championship. Congratulations to the RedHats team, coaches and sponsors.
August 19th, 7:00 pm: The next meeting promises to be an exciting one. Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson and Nameoki Township Supervisor Eric Foster will be guest speakers. Among the topics on the agenda is the planning stages of a new dog shelter, a cooperative effort involving the Village of Pontoon Beach, Granite City, and Nameoki Township. Join in at Pizza World (1535 Johnson Road) for an evening of community connection and informed discussion.
September 16th, 7:00 pm: Mark your calendars! The September meeting will feature guest speakers Ray Wesley, Chairman of the Madison County Republicans, and Jennifer Korte, Vice-Chairman of the same organization. It’s an opportunity to engage with local leaders and stay informed about important issues. Remember, democracy thrives when citizens actively participate. Let’s build bridges, share ideas, and strengthen Granite City together!
While the world’s focus seems to be on politics with the recent development of Biden stepping off the campaign trail, after being urged to remove himself from the presidential election by his biggest supporters, is there a bigger headline or crisis being over shadowed? Our digital dependence has opened the door to widespread vulnerabilities that can not only cripple our day to day lives, but paralyze how we function personally, professionally and lives can literally hang in the balance. In today’s interconnected world, our reliance on the internet and software programs is undeniable. From banking and air travel to healthcare and retail, nearly every aspect of our daily lives depends on seamless digital operations. However, this dependence also exposes us to significant vulnerabilities, as evidenced by recent events like the CrowdStrike outage.
The CrowdStrike outage, caused by a faulty software update, highlighted the fragility of our digital infrastructure. This incident led to widespread disruptions, grounding flights, halting banking services, and even affecting healthcare systems. Hospitals faced delays in surgeries and medical treatments, while retail transactions and security systems were paralyzed. Such outages should serve as a lesson that now is the time for preparing to implement an ounce of prevention. To circumvent the chaos caused by internet outages, it is crucial to develop and implement effective backup strategies. At the very least and most basic step would be to equip employees with the skills to operate without internet access. This includes teaching them to handle transactions manually, make change, and maintain essential operations using offline methods.
Common sense procedures such as develop and regularly practice manual procedures for critical operations. This includes maintaining paper records, using offline software, and ensuring that essential services can continue without digital support. Our dependence on the internet and software programs is a double-edged sword. While it brings unparalleled convenience and efficiency, it also makes us vulnerable to disruptions. By proactively developing and implementing contingency plans, we can ensure that our society remains resilient in the face of digital outages. The time is now to prepare for the unexpected and build a robust plan B to safeguard our essential services.
Rocksie the Rock Snake, the Community’s Heartfelt
Project Ends in Disappointment
In the heart of Wilson Park, a community project that once brought joy and creativity to many has come to a disheartening end. Rocksie the Rock Snake, a vibrant and growing symbol of community spirit, has faced repeated acts of vandalism, leading to its unfortunate demise. The project began with enthusiasm and hope. Residents of all ages came together, painting and adorning over 200 rocks with colorful designs, and messages of kindness and hope. Despite the collective effort, Rocksie faced numerous challenges. Vandals repeatedly targeted the project, removing and stealing rocks. The once-impressive snake, which had become a beloved attraction in Wilson Park, began to dwindle as rocks disappeared.
Park employees and dedicated community members made valiant efforts to restore Rocksie. They replaced stolen rocks and tried to rebuild the snake, hoping to preserve the spirit of the project. However, the cycle of vandalism continued, making it increasingly difficult to maintain Rocksie’s presence. In the end, despite the best efforts of the creators of Rocksie and the community and park staff, the project proved to be a losing battle. The repeated acts of vandalism overshadowed the positive intentions and hard work that went into creating the project.
While Rocksie the Rock Snake may no longer wind its way through Wilson Park, the project remains a testament to the community’s creativity and resilience. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to Rocksie the Rock Snake. Your efforts and creativity will not be forgotten.
Fans of horse racing are looking forward to the exciting new development that will transform the long-standing Collinsville Horse Racing track into an entertainment destination. The $35 million dollar investment will secure the ownership of the FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing and has no plans of stopping there. Under the ownership of Accel Entertainment, a new casino will be built right on the same grounds as the racetrack. Pending approvals from the Illinois Racing Board and the Illinois Gaming Board, the acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
Soon, Collinsville will not only offer the thrill of racehorses but also the excitement of slot machines and other games of chance like blackjack tables. So, mark your calendars, gaming enthusiasts because Accel Entertainment is about to redefine the entertainment landscape in Collinsville. Get ready, soon you will be able to place your bets, roll the dice, and enjoy horse racing in Collinsville Illinois.
Locations and Hours: Edwardsville Shelter: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday: 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Wednesday, Thursday: 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Highland Shelter: Monday to Saturday: 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
In 2017 the Granite City Council adopted Ordinance 8607, an ordinance known as the “Mow to Own” program. This program helps property owners who routinely mow and maintain vacant city owned lots that are adjacent to their property an opportunity to acquire these city-owned lots. The program offers residents the chance to improve their property and neighborhood simultaneously.
If a property owner routinely mows and maintains one of these lots for a period of twelve months or longer, they can apply to the city for ownership of the lot and have it combined to their existing property. Satisfactorily maintaining includes mowing, trimming, leaf removal, removal of trash and litter, and shoveling snow where applicable.
Upon completion of the “Mow to Own” application process and the approval of the City Council, title shall be transferred into the name of the applicant through a recordable Quit Claim Deed. More information about the “Mow to Own” program requirements and steps involved in the application process can be found in the mayor’s office at Granite City City Hall.
This ordinance is a “win-win” for all involved. A property owner can improve their existing property by increasing the lot size, possibly increasing their property value, improving the look of their neighborhood and our city will no longer be using important resources to maintain these vacant properties.
Kimberly Godar, owner of the Sweet Treats from the Hart Cafe has relocated her once bakery business to its new location at 2770 Madison Avenue in Granite City. Kimberly and her sweet treats quickly became a Granite City favorite, and her customers can now look forward to a larger building with inside seating and even more treats to choose from. You will find sweet and savory items on the daily menu like biscuits and gravy and a chicken salad croissant sandwich and cupcakes, jumbo muffins, cookies puddings and so much more.
Sweet Treats from the Hart welcomes custom orders like sugar free items and specialty cakes for all occasions, muffins or cupcakes and even cream horns and danishes for the office. Call (618) 823-5005 to place your order today or stop by and let the aroma of fresh baked vanilla and cinnamon be your guide to a scrumptious treat.
