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ALTON - The Alton Police Department was reported on the Clark Bridge around 10 a.m. Friday with a negotiator to assist a person in crisis on the ledge of the bridge, Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido said. The top photo shows first responders on the bridge, while the bottom photo shows traffic backed up outside the bridge. The chief said traffic is being diverted from the southbound lanes on the Clark Bridge during this crisis situation . Residents are encouraged to avoid the Clark Bridge area until the situation is resolved. More to come.

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ALTON - Illinois American Water today (September 9) provided its weekly update with work progress on the Alton combined sewer system and the installation of new sanitary sewers. Illinois American Water said 3rd Street between Belle Street and Piasa Street in Alton is still closed, as well as Belle Street from 3rd Street north to 4th Street. "It is anticipated that pavement restoration work could be completed next week on the east portion of 3rd Street," Karen Cotton, an Illinois American Water spokesperson said. "This will be weather dependent. Belle Street sewer work has been halted for the upcoming Alton Pride event scheduled for Sept. 10. "This stretch of roadway will continue to be closed to all-thru traffic for a month or two. A water main replacement is anticipated and is awaiting a permit." Cotton added: "9th Street east and west of Piasa Street (U.S. 67) is back open to traffic. Please obey traffic signals. Belle Street, between 8th Street and 9th Street, will remain closed

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JERSEYVILLE - The 31st annual Apple Festival is officially set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the Jersey County Historical Society, located at 601 N. State Street in Jerseyville, also known as the Cheney Mansion. This year’s festival will feature a lineup of live entertainment from a variety of local acts. First up at 9:30 a.m. is the Jersey County Arts Council (JCAC) Children’s Choir, followed by JCHS Musical Groups at 10:30 a.m. The Gibson Girls will perform at 12:30 p.m., then Back in the Saddle will be the final act of the afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m. Beth McGlasson, Vice President of the Jersey County Historical Society, said there will be pioneer demonstrators making lye soap, weaving rugs on a loom, quilting, and more at the festival. She said there will also be opportunities for kids to get involved with pioneer crafts and chores of their own. “For our pioneer crafts and chores, what we do is we have tables set up around our cabins,

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GRANITE CITY - A victim died after a shooting around 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, in the 2700 block of East 25th Street in Granite City. Granite City Assistant Chief Nick Novacich said Granite City Police was called to the scene to investigate a report of at least one gunshot and discovered a victim and began rendering aid. Treatment of the victim was later taken over by the Granite City Fire Department’s Paramedics, but the person did not survive. The officers arrived on the scene and one subject was immediately taken into custody. The Granite City Police Department is currently investigating this incident, Assistant Chief Novacich said. "As a result of the ongoing investigation, we cannot release any specific information about this case at this time," Novacich added. "The Granite City Police Department has one person of interest in custody and we want our citizens to know that there is no longer a threat to safety in the area regarding this incident." There is n

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Gori Law Firm recently announced attorney John “Jay” Sinovic has joined the firm’s Edwardsville office. Sinovic practices in the firm’s personal injury and asbestos litigation departments. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University in 2014, Sinovic went on to earn his juris doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law. He has worked as a personal injury attorney and a criminal prosecutor. He also has experience as an immigration attorney and is fluent in Spanish. Sinovic is a member of the Missouri State Bar Association and the executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) under the U.S. Department of Justice. “Gori continues to grow, and we are elated to add Jay to the team,” said Sara Salger, managing partner at The Gori Law Firm. “Jay believes in helping clients secure fair and just compensation for the injuries suffered due to negligence or malpractice. We know his knowledge and

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police is investigating a serious incident at an apartment complex at Nameoki Road and 25th Street in Granite City. Several additional agencies were dispatched to the location. An individual appears to have been shot in that area. Granite City Police has stopped traffic near where the incident occurred. The condition of the person injured is not yet known. Granite City Fire Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Venice Police, Madison Police, and ARCH Medical joined Granite City Police at the scene but ARCH departed after a period of time. The law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the scene. Developing.

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ALTON - All vehicles in the eighth annual Ride for Wishes will be getting extra attention from Wish Children this year as the children select their Wish Children’s Favorites. “This year we opened the Ride to all street-legal vehicles and we thought we’d let Wish Children at the event choose their favorite vehicle among the motorcycles, hotrods and dune buggies,” said Jeanne Wuellner, co-director of the event. “We thought that would add a little more fun for the kids and all the participants,” fellow co-director Trena Wells said. “The winners among the different types of vehicles will receive a certificate proclaiming theirs as a “Wish Children’s Favorite.” The ride starts at noon Saturday, Sept. 17, at Ted’s Motorcycle World, 4103 Humbert Road in Alton, and ends at Alton Sports Tap, 3812 College Ave., with an after-ride party and dinner. Sign-up, with giveaways and free bagels, begins at 10 a.m. and leaves at noon

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville girls' volleyball senior Ava Waltenberger ranks at the top of area players at the net as she enters her senior season. The Tigers' girls volleyball hitter Waltenberger played a key role in the Tigers' come-from-behind win over Belleville East on Tuesday night in a Southwestern Conference match, coming up with some big shots that helped Edwardsville go on to a 21-25, 25-11, 25-22 win over the Lancers to help extend the team's conference winning streak to 55 matches in a row. In a post-match interview, Waltenberger was happy with the win, although acknowledging that the Tigers still have much work to do in practice. "I'm feeling happy," Waltenberger said. "I'm just glad that we won, but we definitely need some more practice for sure. But I mean, the win is all that matters this early in the season." The Tigers rallied back from one set down, where the team didn't play its best, to win the last two sets and the match. It's a good indication of the Tigers'

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ALTON - A few readers/viewers of Riverbender.com have inquired about the date of the annual Alton Halloween Parade sponsored by the East End Improvement Association, and the date has been confirmed as 7 p.m. Monday, October 31, 2022. East End Improvement Association parade spokesperson Steve Schwartz said the date was on October 30 last year because Halloween on October 31 fell on a Sunday. “The Alton Halloween Parade is always on October 31 except for when the 31st is on a Sunday, and then it is held the day before,” he said. “That is a long-standing tradition. I have had some calls so far from some people asking when it would be if it would be on the 30th again, but it is back to October 31 again this year.” Schwartz said the parade means “so much to the City of Alton.” “I am getting calls about the parade already, which is a positive,” he said. “We are going to have a meeting and send letters out to those who had floats las

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ALTON - In life, every person has dreams of what they want to achieve. At 10 a.m. this Saturday when Tabitha Craig-Robinson opens the doors of her Tab’s Café at 400 State St. in Alton, it will be “a dream come true.” Tabitha provided a sneak peek of the new restaurant at the State Street location Thursday morning after renovations done by her and her husband, Dan. Dan Robinson has transformed the old barber shop into a classy cafe. The walls are covered with artwork of everyone from acclaimed singers/musicians Patsy Cline, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles. Tabitha loves music and is a singer herself. She said after a period of time, she will have bands perform at the cafe and also has plans for a poetry night. Saturday morning will be an extremely jubilant occasion for Tabitha, her husband, four children, and many friends in the Alton and St. Louis area. One of Tabitha's loves in life is simply watching people eat her

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ALTON - Illinois American Water workers have been busy on a large area - estimated at 15 feet deep and at least 50 feet wide - next to the Riverbender Building and Mac's in Downtown Alton at Belle and Third streets this week. The work is part of the large-scale sanitary sewer project across Alton. Thursday morning, rock is being added to a deep dugout area after water line work has been accomplished. The Third and Belle part of the project has been more difficult because of the traffic in the area and there are many abandoned utility lines. Karen Cotton, an Illinois American Water spokesperson, said even an old brick cistern was recently recovered in the project work. She said there will be an update on the progress of the project coming by this weekend.

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GLEN CARBON – In early 2022, Girl Scouts of the USA sponsored the “Girl Scouts to the Moon and Back” essay contest to give Girl Scouts a chance to win a Space Science badge that’s actually been to space on NASA’s Artemis I. That mission is NASA’s first step toward the goal of sending the first woman and the first person of color to the moon. We’re excited to announce that two local Girl Scouts – who are also sisters – were named winners of the contest. Girl Scout Daisy Isabelle Bates and Girl Scout Senior Evania Bates, both from Belleville, were selected as winners in the essay contest. Each girl will get one of the special badges that have literally been out of this world! In her essay, Evania wrote, “There are three things I would instill in my new community. The first would be to instill honesty. Honesty because I would want my community to feel comfortable in coming up to me to tell me the truth and admit any mistakes

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School Guidance Office and Saint Louis University is partnering to host a Financial Aid 101 seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the GCHS atrium. SLU's financial aid office will be presenting, and senior and junior students and parents are welcome to attend. Financial Aid 101 : Overview of the scholarship and aid process. Includes information on types of aid, how to apply, and how to cover the remaining balance. We also offer a timeline for students who don't know where to start in the financial aid process.

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ST. LOUIS - The world’s quickest and fastest race cars will converge at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, from September 30 to October 2 for the annual NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals. The series’ premier classes are Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car, with nitromethane-burning 12,000-horsepower engines that rocket the cars from zero to more than 330 miles per hour in less than four seconds. Some of the world’s biggest names in professional drag racing include: Five-time WWTR Top Fuel Dragster winner Antron Brown, a three-time NHRA champion. Legendary Funny Car pilot John Force, a 16-time champion with three WWTR wins. Five-time WWTR Pro Stock winner Erica Enders (four NHRA crowns). Two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps (four WWTR final-round wins). Friday’s high-speed action includes a nighttime qualifying session for Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster teams and the white-hot exhaust flames will light up the night

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CARLINVILLE - This fall, Blackburn College will once again celebrate Homecoming with its campus and the Carlinville community. The Wizard of Oz-themed “There’s No Place Like Homecoming” will take place September 23-25, 2022, and will transform the campus into Oz featuring music, fun-filled games, reunions, social gatherings, and even a hot air balloon. Events are open to all alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of Blackburn. “Homecoming is a great opportunity to celebrate as a campus and as a community,” Alisha Kapp, Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations at Blackburn, said. “In addition to our alumni, we welcome our friends from Carlinville and Macoupin County to gather with us throughout the eventful weekend.” The magic will kick off on Friday with a “Pastries with the President” welcome at Blackburn’s historic McKinley House, a musical showcase previewing songs the College Choir will perform this

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ALTON - The Riverbend area has a new, exciting hangout for hunting and fishing enthusiasts to share stories, purchase necessities and equipment, and now even practice their skills. Bluff City Outdoors, a staple in the Alton community and conveniently located along the Mississippi river, is where both Illinois and Missouri residents alike gather supplies for the day when heading out on their next big adventure. What once was a small tackle shop, is now grounds for outdoorsmen of all types. Owners of Bluff City Outdoors, Mark and Felecia McMurray, have continued to grow the footprint over the last year by building an addition to the existing store, creating the first and only archery range seen in the area in many years. Not only does the new facility bring archery back to Alton, but it does so with the newest products and technology. Bluff City Outdoors’ new bow shop is an authorized dealer of Hoyt, Mathews, and Ten Point brands. The range itself includes a Techno Hunt video system,

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HIGHLAND - Everyone wants to tell the story of their lives, and artists are no exception. The Highland Arts Council will celebrate world-class art in a hometown atmosphere with its 18th annual Art in the Park event. At this free, two-day outdoor and indoor juried show, you will have time to meet artists and listen to the stories behind their artwork. How were they inspired to create it? What does it take to create such a piece? Where were you when the inspiration hit? All this will happen during Art in the Park on October 8 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on October 9 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Lindendale Park in Highland, Illinois. Brady Kesner, Photographic artist from Highland, Illinois might tell you this. “I spent four days in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park of East Tennessee chasing this landscape photography addiction that I have and came home with some nice images and a relaxed state of mind. Nature is good for that. I got rained on all four days and didn't

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ALTON - The annual Vintage Voices tours, held in the Alton Cemetery, are returning on the following dates: October 1, 2, 8, and 9, 2022. Tours will leave the cemetery gate every 15-20 minutes between noon and 2:30 pm. The non-walking performance will be held on October 9, 2022, at Jacoby Arts Center. Vintage Voices is produced by a volunteer committee and volunteer actors who bring the history of Alton to life. The tours are an important cultural event in our community. Alton Cemetery is located at 5th and Vine Streets, Alton IL 62002. This year the tours will have nine stops with actors portraying: Marcellus H. Filley, a private night watchman who was murdered on Halloween Lyne Shackelford Metcalfe, an Alton mayor and a founding board member of the Alton Unitarian Church, and his wife Sarah Baker Metcalfe, the daughter of prominent Alton attorney David Jewell Baker Colonel John Kuhn who joined the Alton Jaeger Guard and served as one of the Company’s lieutenants

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O’FALLON - The sixth annual BaconFest is going to be held this Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Sgt. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 in O'Fallon, located at 221 W. 1st St. The event will feature food vendors, non-food vendors, a dunk tank and more, and the event’s proceeds support Relief Funds for veterans. SugarFire, Spud Shack, Peel Wood Fired Pizza and many others will join several food vendors that will be serving up bacon-related items, in addition to non-food vendors offering crafts and more. VFW Post 805 Senior Vice President Marcia Crawford said this year will see several new vendors, including some traditionally non-food vendors that are getting in on the bacon action this year. “A lot of people are new this year. We have a lot of craft vendors this year,” Crawford said. “I’ve got a real estate agent - one of their people has their food handler’s license, so they’re going to serve mac and cheese with bacon

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GODFREY – Just shy of 1,000 riders will converge on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey Campus this weekend to change the world for people affected by multiple sclerosis at the 2022 Bike MS: Gateway Getaway Ride. The two-day ride, hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), will start and finish Saturday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Sept. 11 at Lewis and Clark, as it has since 2015. “We are proud to partner with the NMSS each year for this inspiring event,” said L&C Vice President of Administration Lori Artis, who has ridden as a member of the Trailblazers team during previous years. “The energy on campus on Bike MS weekend is contagious and exciting. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for thousands of visitors to not only experience our campus but also our district communities.” Riders will tackle their choice of 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-mile routes both days, traveling along the limestone bluffs on the Great River Road and

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