Riverbender 🕸

EAST ST. LOUIS – After a final arrest last weekend, federal authorities are releasing the results of a month-long, large-scale, multi-agency, law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, operating primarily throughout March 2022. The operation resulted in more than 150 arrests, including three individuals being charged with homicide in St. Clair County in connection with one of the firearms seized. Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worked countless hours concentrating their efforts on known gang members, wanted subjects, and other known violent offenders. Operation Washout (OWO) is a United States Marshals initiative deployed to local areas to bring immediate relief from violent, gang-related crime. The goal is to foster safer communities by investigating and arresting fugitives and members of criminal organizations responsible for committing violent crimes. The detail yielded 153 arrests with 5

Continue Reading

JERSEY - Jersey Community High School’s Panther Athletic Club recently presented the Don Snyders/PAC $1,000 Scholarship Award to Morgan Johnson and Sam Lamer for their athletic achievements, strong character and leadership, academic success, and PAC involvement. In addition to these seniors, the PAC awarded an additional $4,500 in scholarships to the following senior athletes: Kate Jones, Austin Hayes, Liam McGuire, Tyler Noble, Edward Roberts, Kyndal Price, Garret Smith, Karli Talley, and Zachary Wargo. Congratulations to all recipients, and a special thanks to Mr. Snyders for always supporting the PAC and our Jersey Athletes.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE -This week’s poll administered by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), found that Judge Amy Sholar is the only candidate recommended by Bar Association members in her race for Third Judicial Circuit Judge. “I am proud to receive this recommendation from my peers and members of ISBA,” stated Sholar. “It’s a validation of the hard work I’ve put in as a private attorney and now as a Judge.” Based on this evaluation Circuit Judge Amy Sholar was recommended in the ISBA advisory poll with a 79.09 rating based on her ability to meet the requirements of the office. She was rated by 112 attorneys and judges. Her opponent was not recommended with a rating of 56.92 in the same category. The Illinois State Bar conducts this advisory poll through a survey of all licensed attorneys in the circuit. Sholar scored higher than her opponent in every category and scored especially high in the areas of legal ability, integrity, and court management.

Continue Reading

TAYLORVILLE - U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-III.) announced today that he is accepting applications from students who wish to seek a congressional nomination to one of our nation's service academies for the Class of 2027. Davis can nominate to the following academies: U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), U.S. Military Academy (USMA), U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). His office will also be hosting a Service Academy Day informational event for interested students, parents, and school officials with the office of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood in Springfield on Saturday, June 18th. More details are below and registration is required. Service academies offer fully-funded four-year scholarships to young U.S. citizens with a desire to serve their country, who qualify by age and academics, who demonstrate desirable leadership qualities, and who have the wherewithal to strive for excellence in all their endeavors. A four-year education at one of the service academies

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with representatives from the Will County Board to discuss how increased federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is helping Will County and to thank Durbin for the Congressionally directed spending he secured for Will County in the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill. Included in the omnibus bill at Durbin’s request was $300,000 for the expansion of the Will County Behavioral Workforce Pipeline project and $175,000 for Will County’s opioid overdose intervention program. During the meeting, Durbin and the county leaders went on to discuss the impact of the IIJA, which allocated $17 billion in direct and guaranteed funding to Illinois. In addition to the direct funding, Will County is eligible and competitive for U.S. Department of Transportation grant applications to fund the expansion of road projects including

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON – Spring brings new possibilities, not only in nature but also in the education department at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ). NGRREC, a division of Lewis and Clark Community College, recently welcomed two new team members to the education department, Kathy Fournier and Jen Mandeville. Fournier joined the team in early January and Mandeville just recently started in mid-April. “I love connecting people to their environment in ways they may not have realized existed,” Fournier said. “Seeing things from a new perspective can have significant impacts on groups and individuals and change how they think about conservation and protecting our planet.” Fournier works as the lead educator for the Critical Interface Network project. Her role is to transform cutting-edge research into education programs and lessons that are useful for teachers throughout Illinois to teach earth science. This position is partially

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ unclaimed property program reached another historic milestone this month when it paid its 1 millionth claim since 2015, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. The achievement is even more noteworthy when considering only 500,000 claims were paid between 2003 and 2014. Frerichs became state treasurer in 2015. The dramatic increase is a result of a complete restructuring of the unclaimed property process, especially the addition of electronic claims, eliminating red-tape that slowed small-money claims, and leveraging technology to allow payments to be made without a claim even needing to be filed. “This milestone was achieved because we reimagined the office and used common sense to make it more efficient,” Frerichs said. “As a result, we have returned a record-shattering $1.4 billion to Illinois taxpayers, who richly deserve to keep more of their own money.” Unclaimed property, also known as I-Cash, refers

Continue Reading

CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker today announced that the State of Illinois has received $5.4 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that will support and expand access to equitable and affordable family planning services for low-income populations across Illinois. This federal grant, along with $5.8 million in state general revenue funds, means the Illinois Family Planning Program is providing approximately $11.2 million in funding in state Fiscal Year 2023 to 29 delegate agencies that operate 98 family planning clinics throughout the state. The new HHS grant to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will support access to Title X services under the Illinois Family Planning Program that were sharply restricted under the previous federal administration, which imposed a “gag rule” that blocked family planning clinics from referring patients to abortion providers. “Now that the Biden administration has reversed Trump’s

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS – Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria is officially revealing their 2022 spring menu and cocktail menu at both Rock Hill and Town and Country locations. Customers can find the return of fan-favorite ingredients like squash blossoms, watermelon, and morel mushrooms. “Chef Jake Sanderson and I collaborated to create our best menu yet,” said Owner Katie Collier. “This year, our inspiration came from old traditions and serious techniques. We traveled and researched a lot, and it shows. These dishes have a history and story, and they highlight the incredible skill in our kitchens.” The full list of spring menu items includes: Appetizers: beets and whipped ricotta, crab arancini, figs and whipped ricotta, fried squash blossoms, peas and speck with taleggio polenta, prosciutto and melon, and scallops en brodo Burrata: black garlic pizza bianca burrata, huckleberry and prosciutto burrata, and pizza rossa burrata Salads: burrata caprese, Rolando's

Continue Reading

PONTOON BEACH -With summer approaching, Madison County Transit (MCT) is once again offering free rides on fixed-route buses for Madison County students (age 18 and under) with the 2022 MCT Summer Youth Pass. The MCT Summer Youth Pass is valid Memorial Day to Labor Day and allows Madison County students in kindergarten through 12 th grade an opportunity to ride MCT for free all summer long. The program has created vital transportation access for Madison County youth since 2008. This year, approximately 9,000 passes have been distributed to junior high/middle school and high schools throughout Madison County. Students or parents can obtain a free MCT Summer Youth Pass by visiting their school office or by contacting MCT at YouthPass@mct.org or 618-797-4600. “For 14 years, the MCT Summer Youth Pass has provided Madison County students with a free and safe way to access summer jobs and classes, shopping, pools, parks, and more,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “And

Continue Reading

CHICAGO - Governor Pritzker signed SB3490, an amendment to the Illinois Act on Aging designating specific protections and services for older LGBTQ adults. This signing took place on National Honor Your LGBTQ Elders Day, a day of recognition for older LGBTQ individuals who fought for equality and led the movement for equality still active today. The amended act creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate and advise on improving services and needs of older LGBTQ adults. “These elder adults are trailblazers in the fight for LGBTQ rights, growing up in an a more hostile time where basic rights were regularly denied based on gender and sexuality,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “This amendment to the Illinois Act on Aging honors that struggle by ensuring all people can age in dignity with equal access to essential care and social supports.” The Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging will study issues relevant to LGBTQ elders including, but not limited

Continue Reading

At some point in their life, many men will have to think about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate. BPH often means the flow of urine from the bladder is blocked by the prostate gland growing inward, leading to frequent and annoying trips to the bathroom. But BPH can also lead to more serious problems of the bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys. According to the National Kidney and Urological Disease Information Clearinghouse, the most common prostate problem for men over 50 is prostate enlargement. By age 60, more than half of men have BPH, according to the American Urological Association. By age 85, the number climbs to 90%. Luckily, BPH is treatable. Ronan Lev, MD, is a urologist who provides care through OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois. His practice was recently designated as a Center of Excellence by UroLift®, an organization that introduced a quick, minimally-invasive procedure to deal with an enlarged prostate and allow for an easier

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Six Metro East Lutheran High School baseball players are concluding their careers. Recently the six were honored on Senior Night in a game against Roxana. The boys are recognized as Metro East Lutheran Boys Athletes Of The Month. The MELHS senior boys are: Collin Jose Trevor Pickerell Tommy Hackethal Seth Linnenbrink Nathan Butler Caiden Downs The boys play at 4:30 p.m. today at Valmeyer. MELHS couldn't come back in a 19-8 loss to Roxana on Tuesday at MELHS. Roxana scored 5 runs in the first inning. Despite the loss, the Knights collected 12 hits in the high-scoring game. Senior Hackethal took the loss for the Knights. Seniors Pickerell, Butler and Hackethal each had multiple hits for the Knights, which seemed like a fitting end to Senior Night. Collin Jose had a triple, and Butler had two doubles. The seniors and their parents were honored in a ceremony before the game.

Continue Reading

ALTON – Revitalizing the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois is no longer a dream but a reality, thanks to a $919,000 Route 66 Grant awarded to the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau by the state. The grant will fund community murals, a new Route 66 Interpretative Visitor Center in Edwardsville, Mother Road monuments in several communities, and the reopening of the historic Cannonball Jail in Carlinville. Those projects are all interlocking pieces of a revitalized Route 66 envisioned by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois. The Tourism Bureau applied for a grant under the Route 66 Grant Program administered by DCEO and the Illinois Office of Tourism. The grant funds are available to certified Destination Marketing Organizations in Illinois that represent and promote the Mother Road. “We have to thank the Illinois Office of Tourism, DCEO, and our local state elected officials including State Senator Rachelle Crowe, State Senator Dori

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE – May means graduation season is upon us. As people gather for outdoor celebrations, Ameren Illinois is asking customers to properly dispose of Mylar balloons in an effort to reduce the potential for power outages. Mylar balloons are metallic and conduct electricity, resulting in surges and shorts that have the ability to knock out power, start fires, and cause significant damage to the electric grid. Each year, Ameren Illinois responds to numerous power outages caused by Mylar balloons contacting electrical equipment. The popular party accessories also pose an unnecessary safety hazard for linemen who must safely untangle and remove what’s left of the balloons from energized high voltage lines. “We realize this is the time of year when everyone is outside celebrating new graduates, newlyweds, birthdays, and spring holidays,” said George Justice, Vice President of Electric Operations for Ameren Illinois. “Keeping the balloons tethered and weighte

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis Zoo announced today that effective Monday, May 23, it will no longer limit attendance and guests do not need reservations. Extended summer hours also currently are underway and we hope that you enjoy the next Zoo visit. Now through May 22, reservations can be made up until 15 minutes before the scheduled Zoo closure on the day of your visit, if the date is not sold out. Please note the Zoo's closing time on the day you wish to visit before making your reservation. If reservations are sold out, please check back periodically, as additional reservations may become available. The Zoo made a statement that said: "We don’t want to turn anyone away from enjoying the Zoo whenever they want to visit." Zoo officials also said visits to the legendary institution will remain free of charge. The Zoo will release a limited amount of reservations approximately one hour prior to posted opening time on sell-out days to best accommodate guests unable to secure

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Department again paid tribute to officers who lost their lives or have been disabled in the line of duty on Friday, May 13, 2022. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said Peace Officers Memorial Day falls on May 15 each year to pay tribute to the brave local, state, and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. "Falling in Police Week, the day is marked with a memorial event in Washington D.C., a candlelight vigil, and speeches commemorating officers past and present," Chief Wells said. "On Friday, May 13, 2022, members of Wood River PD and Mayor Tom Stalcup laid wreaths at the gravesite of Chief Samuel Thompson and Officer John Phipps who both died in the line of duty for the City of Wood River. "We also laid a wreath at the gravesite of Officer Tyler Timmins who lost his life in the line of duty in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, last year. Tyler was Police Cadet in the City of Wood River before becoming

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $4 million in grant awards for various projects across the state designed to spur tourism, bolster educational opportunities, and support an increase of Electric Vehicle (EV) travel – which will create and modernize attractions along the Mother Road leading up to the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. This grant – which was open to Illinois' Certified Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) – was awarded to Great Rivers and Routes CVB, Heritage Corridor CVB, Visit Oak Park CVB, and Springfield CVB for innovative projects that span Route 66 throughout the state. “Route 66 in Illinois is a driver for both national and international travelers and these state grant funds will go a long way towards reinvigorating our Mother Road tourism products in southwest Illinois. We applaud the forward-thinking of Governor Pritzker and state legislators who

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $4 million in grant awards for various projects across the state designed to spur tourism, bolster educational opportunities, and support an increase of Electric Vehicle (EV) travel – which will create and modernize attractions along the Mother Road leading up to the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. This grant – which was open to Illinois' Certified Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) – was awarded to Great Rivers and Routes CVB, Heritage Corridor CVB, Visit Oak Park CVB, and Springfield CVB for innovative projects that span Route 66 throughout the state. “Route 66 in Illinois is a driver for both national and international travelers and these state grant funds will go a long way towards reinvigorating our Mother Road tourism products in southwest Illinois. We applaud the forward-thinking of Governor Pritzker and state legislators who recognize

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Marquette Catholic High School girls soccer team won their 12th Regional Championship in school history on Friday (May 13) when they defeated the Greenville Comets 7-1. Helping out and scoring two goals in that game was junior midfielder, Caroline Stephan. She scored in the 15 th minute to make it a 2-0 game after she tapped the ball in off a cross sent in by her teammate freshman forward Ella Anselm. Her other goal came in the 39 th minute. She crossed half field and ran onto a through ball. She only had to beat one defender which she did before she buried the ball in the back of the net. She’s now scored eight goals this season. Stephan is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Inc. Female Athlete of the Month for the Explorers. Stephan mentioned that in the preseason, winning a regional title wasn’t exactly an expectation, but once her team saw the schedule, they kind of knew they could. “Once we saw the schedule, I think we did expect to get this

Continue Reading