Riverbender 🕸

WORDEN - Businesses and community groups in Worden have joined forces in response to an expected increase in the need for food assistance during the winter months. In June, members of the Worden Methodist Church established a community food pantry, placing a pantry cabinet on the church lawn at 103 S. Lincoln Street. Church members faithfully restocked the pantry each week. However, as temperatures have dropped and a recent government shutdown has impacted the area, visits to the pantry have

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued the following statement after a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued an order finding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must use its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funds to provide benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown. The order comes after Raoul and a coalition of 26 attorneys general and governors filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration

ALTON — To mark the third anniversary of Nourished Revival, organizer Abigail Parker has launched a fundraiser in partnership with Riverbend Rescue, a local nonprofit serving families and children in the Riverbend area for the past two years. The campaign aims to provide personalized Christmas gifts to children attending schools in the Alton, Wood River/Hartford, and Roxana districts. Riverbend Rescue works directly with schools to identify each child's specific holiday wishes, ensuring

First and Last Bakery, LLC of Hartford, CT, is recalling the following products due to a possible health risk identified by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. First and Last Original Marinara Sauce, Tomato & Basil First and Last Original Traditional Pasta Sauce, Meat Flavored First and Last Original Puttanesca Sauce, Mildly Hot & Spicy The products were distributed in Connecticut and Massachusetts through Big Y and Stop & Shop retail stores, starting on September 22, 2025,

WOOD RIVER – Wood River is one step closer to welcoming a Heaterz Chicken location after City Council members voted 4-1 to approve a $400,000 TIF agreement for the project. The proposed location at 316 E. Ferguson Ave. will feature a two-lane drive-thru and small indoor and outdoor seating areas, along with a “food truck hub,” according to an application for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance submitted by Heaterz Wood River LLC Owner Dan King. Councilman Bill Dettmer

ALTON - David C. Pizzurro, a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard, retired in the summer of 2025 after 25 years of service, according to a tribute submitted by his mother, Janet Beneze Filberth. Pizzurro, who was raised in Alton and later lived in Lake Lotawana, Mo., dedicated his career to the Coast Guard, serving in Hawaii, Alaska, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Filberth highlighted Pizzurro’s commitment to his country, faith, and family, noting that he was an excellent student who earned

Photos by Tom Warner. STAUNTON - A large crowd gathered on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, to support Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, a 41-year-old Staunton business owner detained last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sandoval, owner of Caldera Bar & Grill in Staunton, was detained on Oct. 29, 2025 , after dropping his children off at school, according to witnesses. He is currently being held at the Ste. Genevieve County Detention Center in Missouri. On Nov. 2, community members from

TROY/MARYVILLE/ST. JACOB/MARINE - The local Chamber of Commerce stays busy, and you’re invited to join them. The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, led by Dawn Mushill, organizes a variety of community events, networking opportunities, and additional programs for business owners and community members alike. Mushill noted that the chamber can do a lot to help businesses thrive. “You could be in our chamber all year, never attend one networking event, and ge

Every election, millions of eligible voters choose whether to participate in shaping their government—and yet, many abstain. In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout was approximately 66.8%, the highest in over a century, yet that still means one-third of eligible voters did not cast a ballot. Globally, turnout rates vary widely, but disengagement remains a persistent challenge in democracies around the world. This begs the question: why does voting and active civic participation

November 4 stands out in history as a day marked by monumental events that have shaped the world we live in today. Going back, November 4, 1922, witnessed the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun by British archaeologist Howard Carter in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. This archaeological breakthrough captivated the world's imagination, unveiling treasures that illuminated ancient Egyptian civilization and its mysteries. The find sparked a renewed interest in Egyptology and had a profound

Get ready for a mostly pleasant day with a high near 71 and a low around 49. Early winds are light at 3 mph with gusts up to 7 mph, shifting to a breezier south wind at 14 mph this afternoon, gusting near 29 mph. No rain is expected, and it will feel just a touch cooler in the morning but pleasant through the afternoon. This morning will start with plenty of sunshine and temperatures rising from the chilly upper 40s. By afternoon, we'll see partly sunny skies with a noticeable breeze from the south

WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita Police Department has announced that 47-year-old woman - Angelynn "Angie" Mock - was arrested early Friday morning, Oct. 31, 2025, in connection with the fatal stabbing of her 80-year-old mother in southeast Wichita. Mock previously worked as a news anchor at FOX 2 in St. Louis from 2011 to 2015. Wichita Police said Mock was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder after officers responded to a reported cutting at a residence in the 1500 block

COLLINSVILLE — The Illinois State Police announced the results of Roadside Safety Checks conducted in Madison and St. Clair counties in October, aimed at reducing impaired driving and enhancing road safety. During the enforcement period, troopers issued a total of 80 citations and arrests, including one for driving under the influence and nine for other alcohol or drug-related offenses. Additional citations included 14 occupant restraint violations, 41 registration offenses, 38 driver’s

ST. LOUIS – With the escalating local demand for food-related resources, the United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) 211 team and Volunteer Center, alongside our dedicated partners, are unwavering in our commitment to delivering vital support and resources to neighbors in need. Together, we are taking proactive measures to ensure that assistance is readily available to those who need it most. United Way’s 211 is here to help through the uncertain times ahead. We are here to

ALTON - After 22 years of hosting and over a decade of co-hosting with Alton Main Street, the Green Gift Bazaar has served its purpose and will not be held this year. The event began in 2002, when Small Business Saturdays weren’t yet a widespread movement and Black Friday was the primary focus of the holiday shopping season. The Sierra Club and Alton Main Street would like to thank all of the artists, makers, hosts, volunteers, and participants for many years of dedicated participation

COLLINSVILLE - Andrey W. Wilke, 28, wanted on multiple warrants, has been arrested in Missouri and is currently in custody, the Collinsville Police Department announced. Collinsville Police said Wilke, whose last known address was in Collinsville, faced active felony warrants for unlawful use of a credit card and financial exploitation of the elderly. He also had an outstanding warrant from another agency for identity theft, the police said. Authorities had been seeking Wilke as part of their

EAST ALTON - Community members are invited to East Alton for a free spaghetti dinner. From 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, you can stop by the town hall at 33 S. 9th Street in East Alton to enjoy a hot meal and a sense of community. Organized by Jennifer Maher, the community spaghetti dinner aims to bring people together and help those who might be struggling. “We are offering warm meals to anyone and everyone in the community,” Maher said. “Times are tough,

GODFREY - Christopher Sichra of Godfrey served in the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1991, contributing to Cold War and Gulf War era missions. During his military career, Sichra was assigned first to the 69th Ordinance Company in Longare, Italy, where he served as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist with the Southern European Task Force, operating in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. He later joined Bravo Company of the 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion, becoming a certified Military Intelligence Analyst after trainin

GRAFTON - Riverbend residents have only a few more days to get their tickets to the second annual Craft Beverage Festival. Hosted by Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau at Grafton Winery The Vineyards, the festival will run from 12–4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, and feature ten craft beverage producers and six food vendors. Cory Jobe, president of Great Rivers and Routes, expressed his excitement to share the work of so many local businesses with the community. “It’s

JERSEYVILLE — An 8-year-old boy from Jerseyville East School is making a notable impact in his community by helping to support the homeless. Dennis Stumpf, the young boy, has significant support with the local initiative connected to his mother’s cleaning business, TNT. Dennis Stumpf, described by his mother as compassionate and upbeat, has been involved in charitable efforts despite his young age and personal health challenges. Diagnosed with epilepsy at an early age and having experience