Riverbender 🕸

EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band will perform its annual Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 6, at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Wildey Theatre in downtown Edwardsville. The event is free and open to the public, with doors opening one hour prior to the performance at 6:00 p.m. This year's concert features a collaboration with 5th through 8th-grade band students from ECUSD 7, Edwardsville Catholic Schools, and Trinity Lutheran. These students will join the Municipal Band on stage,

EDWARDSVILLE – Greece, Iceland, Guatemala, El Salvador. These are just a few of the remote locations available for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s faculty-led travel study program. Locations such as Mexico City for sociology research and Peru for a course titled Honors, Business and International Studies are a sample of the opportunities SIUE’s faculty experts have on the 2026 schedule. Johanna Schmitz, PhD, professor of Theatre History in SIUE’s Department

SPRINGFIELD — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is using AI to transform chance discoveries of early lung cancer into second chances for patients. Thanks to Eon Health’s AI-driven platform that scrutinizes radiologists’ notes to flag abnormalities unrelated to a lung cancer scan’s original purpose – aka “incidental” findings – patients are diagnosed with lung cancer before they even experience symptoms. Early detection is key to overcomin

COLLINSVILLE - During this past fall, 23,000 students from elementary, junior high and high schools around Illinois participated in a virtual audition process and of those auditions, more than 7,000 students were selected to participate in district festivals celebrating student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses and jazz ensembles. Students in grades 7-12 who participated in the ILMEA District Festivals are also eligible to be selected into ILMEA’s Junior and Senior All-State Student

A December 4, 1925 article in the Alton Evening Telegraph announced that “Jake Schneider of the Broadway Market has a whole Buffalo on display at his market.” He had received it (already slaughtered) the day before. Schneider had purchased the buffalo (technically an American bison) from the famous Scotty Philip herd at Fort Pierre, South Dakota. After several days on display, the buffalo was skinned, cut up, and buffalo steak, buffalo roast, and “buffalo this and that”

COLLINSVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8 Commander, Captain Casey Faro, announces the ISP will conduct Roadside Safety Checks (RSCs) in Madison and St. Clair counties during December. The use of RSCs combine a strong sense of public awareness and enforcement in order to save lives of the motoring public. The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working the detail will be watchful for motorists who show signs of impaired driving, operating vehicles

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a preliminary injunction in an ongoing lawsuit to block the Trump administration from enforcing the “Defund Provision” in the recently enacted federal budget reconciliation law. The Defund Provision was designed to exclude Planned Parenthood facilities and other health centers that provide abortions from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements for other essential health care services like cancer screenings, testing for and treatmen

GODFREY - Community members can support local dancers at the upcoming DK Dance Productions Holiday Show. On Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Hatheway Hall at Lewis and Clark Community College, dancers of all ages will perform to holiday songs. Dancers from the DK Dance Productions Alton location will perform at 11 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. performance by the Florissant dancers and a 3 p.m. performance by the Jerseyville dancers. “It is really just showcasing our holiday spirit,” sai

ALTON/GRANITE CITY - Over 700 local kids will receive a new pair of shoes this month through All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes. This organization allows kids in need to choose a pair of brand new shoes and a packet of socks. Every December, Sue Wooden organizes monetary donations and coordinates visits from area schools to Famous Footwear in Alton. She noted the importance of empowering the kids to choose their own shoes. “For a lot of the kids, this is their big Christmas

ST. LOUIS - With the holiday season in full swing, it’s easy for spending to snowball. First Mid Bank & Trust (First Mid) is sharing tips to help people make smart financial choices to keep spending under control and avoid post-holiday debt. “Holiday spending tends to creep up every year, and while prices rise with inflation, paychecks don’t always keep pace,” said Stas Wolak, Chief Retail Banking Officer at First Mid. “When wages don’t rise at the

GRANITE CITY – Three men from Granite City have been charged in separate cases of stolen vehicle possession, including one man who fled from officers at high speeds into St. Louis. Douglas S. Ray, 45, of Granite City, was charged on Dec. 9, 1979 with one count each of offenses related to motor vehicles (a Class 2 felony) and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (a Class 4 felony). On Nov. 2, 2025, Ray was allegedly knowingly in possession of a 2022 Dodge Durango

COLUMBIA - At the Columbia City Council meeting this week, emergency medical personnel from Columbia and Dupo were recognized for their successful resuscitation of a patient in cardiac arrest. Columbia EMS Paramedics Jason Nonn and Brandon Layton, along with Dupo EMS Captain Melissa Schertz and EMT Shelly Acord, received the ZOLL Clinical Save Award for their coordinated efforts. ZOLL's Clinical Save Award Program celebrates the success stories of our customers who have saved a life using

SMITHTON - An East St. Louis woman died in a two-vehicle crash in Smithton Wednesday night, Dec. 3, 2025, authorities said. Estelle Stamps, 34, of the 600 block of South 42nd Street, was identified as the victim by the St. Clair County Coroner's Office. Illinois State Police said the crash occurred at about 10:22 p.m. Wednesday on Illinois 159 just north of Douglas Road. Stamps was pronounced deceased at the scene, the coroner's office said. Another person suffered injuries in the crash and

EDWARDSVILLE – Two New York residents face major felony charges in Madison County after bringing over 5,000 grams of cannabis into Illinois. Zachary M. Parise, 21, of Long Beach, N.Y., and Victor S. Parise, 49, of New York, N.Y., were both charged on Nov. 19, 2025 with one count each of cannabis trafficking and unlawful manufacture or delivery of cannabis (each Class X felonies). On Nov. 17, 2025, the two allegedly knowingly possessed and brought over 5,000 grams of cannabis from the

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School announced its students selected for the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, scheduled for Jan. 29-31, 2026, in Peoria. The list, released Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, includes band, choir, and orchestra participants who earned spots to represent the school at the statewide event. Victoria Voumard, Edwardsville High School’s Orchestra Director and Fine Arts Department Chair, confirmed the selections and shared a group photo

Did you know that the average American consumes over 1,000 cookies annually? Cookies are more than just sweet treats; they are often a centerpiece in social gatherings, evoking nostalgia and fostering connection. Hosting a holiday cookie exchange party is a delightful way to bring friends and family together, share cherished recipes, and create new memories. But what does it take to orchestrate such an event successfully? This guide will walk you through the essential steps to host a memorable

ALTON — The Alton Police Department announced this week that Officer Bill Reed has been named Officer of the Month for October 2025 and promoted to the rank of sergeant. In October, Reed led a complex investigation involving violations of an Order of Protection. Recognizing the victim’s fear and need for additional support, Reed extended his efforts beyond the initial report. He coordinated with detectives, sought additional investigative resources, and followed the case through

December 4 has always been a day marked by significant milestones across the globe, touching on advancements in technology, culture, politics, and human achievement. Moving back in time, December 4 has been the backdrop for several notable historical events. In 771 AD, King Carloman, co-ruler of the Frankish Kingdom alongside his brother Charlemagne, died unexpectedly. This event left Charlemagne as the sole ruler, setting the stage for the expansion of the Carolingian Empire, which would pla

Today expect a partly sunny but quite cold day with a high of 22 and a low of 7 degrees. Winds will come from the northeast at 7 mph with gusts up to 12 mph. The temperature feels close to the actual reading, with a "feels like" high around 20 degrees. Morning will start chilly and clear, becoming partly sunny by midday. The afternoon remains cold with intervals of sunshine and light breezes. Evening and overnight conditions will be partly cloudy and very cold, with lows dipping to around 7 degrees.

EDWARDSVILLE – A historic building in downtown Edwardsville is one step closer to its transformation into the future home of the Edwardsville Arts Center . Edwardsville City Council members unanimously approved a Professional Services Agreement with Gray Design Group for improvements to 246 North Main Street. The city announced in October that the former Edwardsville Frozen Foods Building at the site is set for a major renovation into the new Edwardsville Arts Center location.