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PIASA - The Southwestern eighth-grade football team, led by head coach Adam Peipert and assisted by a dedicated coaching staff, has compiled a 5-1 record this season while allowing only 20 points against and scoring 190. The team’s success has been attributed to a new offensive scheme, increased physical conditioning, and a roster of talented players. The Southwestern boys are Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athletes of the Month for the Piasa Birds. Coach Peipert said the team has adopted a brand-new offense that incorporates the Wing-T and spread formations, designed to maximize the skills of the players. “The kids absolutely took to it,” Peipert said. He also noted that the players have significantly improved their strength through weightlifting, a commitment that typically does not occur in the offseason. “The junior football players are bigger, faster and stronger than many in the past,” he added. Quarterback Brayden Watson has bee

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ALTON - Brad Jacobs and Max Mashburn teamed up to win the gold medal in the 75-79 doubles division at the Illinois State Senior Games held recently in Springfield, Illinois. The pair, both in their 70s, credited their success to consistent practice, strong local competition, and a shared dedication to the sport of pickleball. Jacobs, 77, and Mashburn, 76, have been active pickleball players for years. Jacobs noted that he invited Mashburn to join him in the tournament after his regular partner, Bob Biarkis of Edwardsville, was unable to compete due to his wife’s knee surgery. “Bob and I played last year and won. Bob could not go back; his wife had knee surgery. I asked Max if he wanted to go up and play in the age group in Springfield and try to win a gold medal again,” Jacobs said. Mashburn, who plays pickleball almost daily and leads a local group of about 65 players in the Riverbend area, described the competitive environment as key to their development. “We

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has strengthened the state’s Securities Department with four high-level hires charged with protecting and safeguarding the financial interests of Illinoisans and their investments. The office has hired a new Deputy Director, Chief of Enforcement, Chief of Examinations, and Senior Investigator, each of whom bring a wealth of knowledge in financial law, litigation and investigations to their respective positions. “Adding these individuals to our Securities team is a huge win for the people of Illinois,” Giannoulias said. “Their combined experience and expertise will bolster an already formidable Securities Department and better position our office to tackle complex financial cases involving cryptocurrency and root out fraud.” In addition, Giannoulias was also reappointed earlier this month as Co-Chair of the Securities Committee of the National Association of Secretaries of State, and his Departmen

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WOOD RIVER – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that pavement evaluations on Illinois 255 in Madison County will take place Wednesday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Oct. 3, weather permitting. The work will require intermittent daytime lane closures at the following locations on Illinois 255: From Illinois 143 to Illinois 140 From Illinois 140 to Fosterburg Road From west of Fosterburg Road to west of Seminary Road Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

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ALTON - First Presbyterian Church in Alton has welcomed a new leader, and Pastor Ian Caveny couldn't be more excited to be a part of the church. Located at E. 4th Alby Street and Alby Street in Alton, First Presbyterian Church has an impressive history that Pastor Caveny is eager to be a part of. He noted that the church is a “High Presbyterian church” that prioritizes traditions, and they work hard to support community members through initiatives to combat food insecurity and homelessness. He is proud to join the congregation and their mission. “It feels like I’ve been on a rollercoaster rocket ship,” Pastor Caveny said. “I feel tired, but not in a tiresome way. I feel tired in the sense that one does when you do good work and the work is meaningful and you feel like you’re making good progress. It’s been fun. There’s a lot of joy-filled people here at this church, and it is a joy to work with them." Before joining First

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MORRIS – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) joined state and local leaders today to celebrate the start of construction on a new crosswind runway at the Morris Municipal Airport to help with landings and takeoffs during adverse weather. The project was made possible Gov. Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, which provided nearly $12 million in capital investments. The new runway will be the airport’s second, improving capacity and safety while creating jobs and economic opportunity, enabling up to 40,000 additional touch downs annually. “Rebuild Illinois isn't just about filling potholes, repairing train crossings, and building runways—we set out to lay the foundation for economic prosperity, better jobs, and a more affordable future for the people of Illinois.” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’re proud to support this critical project in Morris as part of our larger vision

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of attorneys general, counties and cities in filing two comment letters opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed recission of its landmark 2009 Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gas emissions cause climate change, as well as the agency’s proposed repeal of all existing federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for all motor vehicle classes and years. “The Trump administration’s proposals would undo decades of progress we have made to address climate change by eliminating all existing EPA vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards and denying the EPA’s authority to regulate harmful air pollution that causes climate change,” Raoul said. “I proudly join this coalition of public officials to push back against these disastrous proposals, and I will continue to defend science-backed emission standards that protect the environment and our health.” Th

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SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and 26 other U.S. Senators to express grave concerns about the prevalence and treatment of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers urgently requested that ICE stop detaining pregnant women absent exceptional circumstances, and asked the Department to provide information about the number of pregnant women in its custody and the treatment of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women who are in ICE detention—as well as answers to a long list of additional oversight questions no later than September 26th. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study published in 2020 found that between 2016 and 2018, ICE detained pregnant women over 4,600 times. As Congress

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MARYVILLE - The Home Builders and Remodelers Metro East Association wants kids to know that opportunities in the trades industry are “limitless.” Shannon Stelling, executive director of HBRMEA, noted that more schools are putting an emphasis on the trades. She loves to see kids exploring their options. On Oct. 28, 2025, companies with HBRMEA will provide a presentation to 1,300 kids at a local elementary school in Collinsville, and Stelling said they are more than happy to come to your school, too. “The goal is just to get them excited about it and see that these are choices for them,” she said. “The trades industry isn’t just swinging a hammer anymore. There are so many different jobs.” Stelling explained that trades careers have impressive salaries and retirement benefits. She pointed out that there are many different options within the industry, from mixing the chemicals that go on garage floors to putting roofs on homes. Stelling

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BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. — Detectives from the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating a homicide that occurred Tuesday evening, Sept. 23, 2025, in the 1200 block of Bliss Drive in the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors. At 8:04 p.m. on Sept. 23, officers from the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department responded to a stabbing call. Upon arrival, they found an adult female suffering from life-threatening stab wounds. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital but later died from her injuries. Following the incident, the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department requested assistance from the St. Louis County Police Bureau of Crimes Against Persons to take over the investigation. A person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the case. Authorities have not released further details and have stated that additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

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ALTON - The 24th annual Vintage Voices walking tours will be held in the Alton Cemetery (5th and Vine Streets, Alton, IL 62002). Mark your calendars for the first two weekends in October: 4, 5, 11, 12, 2025. The hour-long walking tours begin at noon every day and leave from the main gate on Vine Street in Alton, departing every 15-20 minutes. Tickets are on sale now online at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/vintagevoicestours/tours . Pricing remains at $15 for adults and $10 for students with ID. A non-walking performance will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2025. The one-hour performance begins at 5:00 pm at the Parish Center at St. Mary’s Middle School on Milton Road in Alton, IL. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/vintagevoicestours/vintage-voices-non-walking-performance . Tickets will be sold at both locations with cash. Information about this year’s decedent portrayals: Gail Drillinger will portray Jane

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EDWARDSVILLE – With her silken-polished voice, commitment to news, dedication to community building and love for music – especially the jazzy kind – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Robin Boyce graced the St. Louis airwaves in 1980 during a time when Black voices and views were a “low frequency” on local radio stations. She was a trailblazer. On Saturday, Sept. 20, Boyce, Associate Director of Corporate Support for WSIE 88.7 The Sound FM , received the African American Radio Pioneer Award and was inducted into the 2025 Class of the National Black Radio Hall of Fame. Boyce was one of many Black broadcasters recognized in various categories and inaugurated into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame during a celebratory evening of the Annual Induction Awards at the Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. The event was emceed by well-known producer and social influencer Jade Harrell . “This is a total honor, and it’s

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GLEN CARBON – The future Meijer location in Glen Carbon’s Orchard Town Center will have another year to be built after village trustees approved a third extension of the grocery store’s site plan. Village Board members unanimously approved a resolution granting a one-year extension for the Meijer site plan, extending the plan to October of 2026. Erika Heil, director of Community Development, explained at Tuesday’s meeting that site plans are only “good for one year” in Glen Carbon, meaning the previous plans were set to expire in October of 2025. This comes after the board previously voted in 2023 to extend the store’s site plan to 2024, then voted in 2024 to extend the site plan again into 2025. Heil stated in 2024 that Meijer had “begun work in earnest addressing the mine remediation issues that must be resolved prior to moving forward with the site plan.” At Tuesday’s meeting, Heil said mine remediation work at

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ALTON - A new business at Milton Schoolhouse in Alton encourages people to come out and play foosball. Crane’s Clubhouse, located on the upper floor of Milton Schoolhouse, opened earlier this year and has welcomed hundreds of foosball players of all ages and skill levels. With a variety of tornado and Bonzini foosball tables, the business hosts several tournaments and events every month, including the upcoming Back-to-School Foos Fiesta scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. “It’s a family-run business that is very family-friendly,” said co-owner Joshua Crane. “Unplug and get on a table.” Joshua opened Crane’s Clubhouse alongside wife Kristina Crane in January. The couple, along with their two daughters, have created a thriving business. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 28, community members can experience it for themselves. There will be three free tournaments for kids ages 17 and under. At 12 p.m., kids can join the 2 Ball Roller

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GRANITE CITY - On Friday, September 19, 2025, Granite City's Victoria “Tori” Goss and her son, Dean Anderson, were involved in a head-on collision that claimed Goss’s life and left her son injured but he is recovering. Despite the valiant efforts of first responders, Goss, described by her family as “the brightest light,” did not survive. Goss is remembered as a devoted mother and vibrant spirit. Her young son, Dean Anderson, miraculously survived. Goss’s sister, Katlyn Barnes, shared a statement highlighting her vibrant personality and deep devotion to her son. “She loved fiercely, laughed loudly, and lived vibrantly,” she said. Her sister said Victoria was known not only as a sister, mother, daughter, and friend but also as a source of encouragement to many. Her son, Dean, has demonstrated resilience in his recovery, expressing a desire to get better “for Mommy,” according to the family. In the wake of this tragedy, Goss’

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BELLEVILLE/ST. LOUIS — Communities in St. Louis and the Metro East will come together this fall to raise awareness and support suicide prevention through two Out of the Darkness (OOTD) Walks organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The St. Louis Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, at Creve Coeur Lake Park’s Tremayne Pavilion, beginning at 10:30 a.m., with check-in starting at 9:30 a.m. The St. Clair County Walk will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, at The Square, 19 Public Square in Belleville, Illinois, starting at 9:30 a.m., with check-in at 8:30 a.m. These events aim to bring together people impacted by suicide to connect, support one another, and raise funds for AFSP’s programs. Registration and donations can be made online at afspwalks.donordrive.com for each respective walk. Suicide remains a leading cause of death across various age groups in the United States. In 2023, there were 49,316 deaths by suicide nationwide and an estimated

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Did you know that over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced annually in the United States alone, with a large percentage carved into jack-o’-lanterns? Pumpkin carving isn’t just a creative pastime; it’s a tradition that brings people together in a fun and collaborative way. Hosting a pumpkin carving contest can transform a simple gathering into a memorable event filled with laughter, friendly competition, and artistic expression. Setting the Stage: Planning Your Pumpkin Carving Contest Before the knives and pumpkin guts come out, thoughtful planning ensures your event runs smoothly and everyone has a great time. Start by deciding the scale of your contest. Will it be an intimate gathering of close friends or a larger community event? The number of participants will influence your venue choice, supplies, and timing. Choosing the Venue: A spacious, well-lit area with easy cleanup options is ideal. Outdoor spaces like a backyard or patio work well, especially

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September 24 is a date that has witnessed pivotal moments across the globe, shaping the course of history in politics, science, culture, and more. In 622 AD, the Islamic calendar marks the emigration (Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, an event commemorated annually and foundational to Islamic history. While the exact date of the Hijra is often cited as July 16 in the Gregorian calendar, the 24th of September holds relevance in some historical reckonings related to early Islamic events, reminding us of the complexities in tracing ancient timelines. Jumping to the modern era, September 24, 1789, saw the establishment of the United States Department of the Treasury. This institution played a critical role in shaping America's economic foundation, overseeing fiscal policy, and managing government revenue. Its creation was vital for the young nation's financial stability and growth, setting standards that continue to influence global finance today. In 1948, the first

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GREENVILLE - Two Greenville University students face Class X felony charges for child pornography after authorities allege they distributed an explicit image involving a minor. Ricardo Castillo Cosano, 24, and Alessandro Parolin Romero, 18, both residing on the 300 block of East College Avenue in Greenville, have been charged. Authorities said both men, who are attending Greenville University from Spain, are accused of disseminating a photograph depicting a female minor under the age of 13 engaged in a sexual act with an adult male. During a video conference appearance from the Bond County Jail, Cosano pleaded not guilty to the charge, waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and requested a trial by jury. Romero also appeared via video conference, was appointed an attorney, and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday. The Greenville Police Department is handling the case. Further proceedings are expected as the legal process continues. Defendants are presumed innocent

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This morning will start cool at 56°F, rising to a pleasant 74°F by afternoon. Mostly cloudy skies dominate the day, but be ready for a couple of thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening. Winds will come from the north-northeast at 8 mph, gusting up to 13 mph. Rainfall is expected to be moderate, with about 0.21 inches. The night will remain cloudy with some light showers, with temperatures dropping to about 56°F again. Allergy indexes today show a low level for grass and ragweed, but mold is high, so those sensitive should take precautions. The air quality is good. Tomorrow's Outlook: The sky will clear up to partly sunny with clouds giving way to sun. The high will warm up slightly to 76°F, with a low around 50°F. Expect a dry day with light winds from the north-northwest at about 8 mph and gusts near 20 mph. Allergy conditions remain similar with mold still high. Stay updated on the latest weather at https://riverbender.com/weather .

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