Tricia Higgins joins the show to talk all things Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. They are excited to announce that Build-A-Bear Workshop is now part of our council retail experience! Girl Scouts – as well as non-Girl Scouts – can now build a new furry friend at our retail location at 4 Ginger Creek Parkway in Glen Carbon.

To celebrate this new addition, GSofSI will hold two events and the public is invited to participate. Both events will take place at 4 Ginger Creek Parkway in Glen Carbon.

First, a ribbon cutting, in partnership with the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Thursday, August 7 at 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided as well as a private sneak-peek of the forthcoming grand opening plans.

Next, join GSofSI for an exciting grand opening full of activities! On Saturday, August 9 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., guests are invited to stop in and share in the fun. Tour and explore the Build-A-Bear party room, snap a pic at the photo booth, make and customize your own furry friend (purchase required), enjoy some specially-themed party snacks, and enjoy two free craft stations – the Friendship Rock Garden and the Be Dazzling Hair Studio. A special highlight will be the appearance of Bearemy, the lovable Build-A-Bear mascot, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

At both events, guests are invited to support a donation drive of classroom supplies for teachers. By bringing a classroom supply item to donate – such as writing utensils, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, dry erase markers, etc. – guests will receive $5 off a Build-A-Bear friend purchase (valid 8/9/25 only).

To learn more about the Build-A-Bear Workshop at Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, visit www.gsofsi.org/bab. For more information about the ribbon cutting or grand opening, call 800-345-6858 or email customercare@gsofsi.org.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois serves nearly 6,400 girls and engages over 3,600 adults in 40 counties in Southern Illinois. Call 800-345-6858 or email customercare@gsofsi.org. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by United Ways, businesses, and individual donors throughout the region.

Cris Hayes and Brittany Koenegstein join Jake Linder and the Southern Illinois Insider to discuss home hospice care as well as the stigma surrounding it. Cris and Brittany walk us through many viable reasons for choosing hospice outside of just end-of-life circumstances. It's an eye-opening conversation and if you don't know all the things hospice can do for people, this would be a great listen for you.

Rylie and Hanley make their triumphant return to the radio along with Noelle from the Jefferson County Child Abuse Prevention Committee to talk about April and how it is Child Abuse Awareness Month.