The Chamber Hosts the Regional Competition for the National Civics Bee for the 2nd Year in a Row



On May 6, 2026, the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce hosted the regional competition for the National Civics Bee at The Hett at McKendree University. The event brought together 7th and 8th grade students from the area to compete for recognition, cash prizes, and a chance to advance to the national championship.

30 Chamber Members Connect at the May Restaurant Roulette

Restaurant Roulette continues to be a fan favorite where members are randomly assigned a local eatery to meet at and casually network while supporting local businesses. This month members split between Gia's Pizza, Kampang Thai Restaurant, Joe's Pizza and Pasta, June's and The Coffeehouse.

Add This to Your Coffee. You'll Notice by Lunch.

Okay I have to tell you about something I found.

I was home on a Tuesday night, fell into a rabbit hole, and came across research on an amino acid called L-theanine. I had walked past this word a hundred times. That night I actually stopped. By Wednesday morning I was trying it with my coffee. By Wednesday afternoon I was texting people.

This is not a new supplement. It is not expensive. It requires exactly zero changes to your morning routine. What it does is turn the coffee you are already drinking into something that works completely differently — for your focus, your afternoon, your body, and your sleep. And the science behind why is genuinely one of those things where you wonder why nobody is talking about it. I guess I am now..

In this month's article:

• What researchers found when they added L-theanine to a regular cup of coffee — same caffeine, completely different brain
• The task-switching discovery that reframes everything you think you know about how your brain handles a full day
• The fat loss angle and the connection between your stress response and your body composition that most people never make
• The sleep benefit that makes tomorrow's coffee work better than today's slurry
• 
  

You are already drinking coffee. This is about what happens when you give your brain the thing it's been missing while you do it.

Part of our Chamber Business Performance Series for 2026

Protect Yourself from Check Fraud

We want to alert you to a serious risk regarding sending payments by mail. Recently, there have been reports of credit card and other payments being intercepted and altered - a type of mail fraud sometimes referred to as "check washing". This is where someone illegally removes information from a check and replaces it with their own, potentially resulting in financial loss.

Unfortunately, this can happen to any check sent through the mail, not just credit card payments. To help protect your funds, we strongly recommend using secure electronic payment options instead, including:

• Online Bill Pay
• Debit or Credit Card Payments
• ACH (Automated Clearing House) Payments

These options help ensure your payment is received securely and on time while reducing the risk of fraud or mail theft.

What is mail fraud?

Mail fraud occurs when someone uses the postal system to commit theft or fraud. This can include stealing checks, altering them, or using them to gain unauthorized access to your money. By taking precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

We understand the convenience of mailing payments, but your safety and security are our top priority. Using one of these secure payment methods is the easiest way to ensure your payments reach their destination safely. It is crucial to monitor your online banking regularly for fraudulent activity. This includes reviewing images of cleared checks to verify they were paid to the intended recipient for the correct amount.