Riverbender 🕸

URBANA – Love. Amor. Aimer. Liebe. Milovat. A red rose. Six different languages, all expressing the same emotion. Floriography is the forgotten language or secret language of flowers. Throughout history, including the Victorian Era and many cultures including the Persians have used flowers to send secret messages to others. Nowadays, many people use flowers to convey emotions but rely on florists to translate emotion into flowers. Flowers in a bouquet are like words or phrases in a sentence. Each one can convey a different part of the message or emotion but are you sure your flowers are sending the right message? When thinking about luck, people often think of the four-leaf clover, however, there are other flowers representing luck. Since Victorian times, Bells of Ireland have been considered a symbol of good luck, the perfect flower to send to someone who is starting a new job or moving to a new home. Shamrocks are a symbol of good luck and fortune. Myrtle at a wedding means

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EDWARDSVILLE – A new Chick-fil-A ® restaurant will begin serving the Edwardsville community on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Phillip Brunner as the independent franchised Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Edwardsville. Located at 2319 Troy Road, near the Edwardsville Marketplace shopping mall, Chick-fil-A Edwardsville will be open for dine-in, drive-thru, and carry-out from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Guests of Chick-fil-A Edwardsville can place an order for pickup, dine-in, or drive-thru on the Chick-fil-A ® App or online . When joining the Chick-fil-A One ® tiered membership program, guests receive points on every qualifying purchase, which can be used to redeem available rewards. The Edwardsville restaurant joins 22 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving the wider St. Louis market. Locally Owned and Operated As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A Owner/Operators proudly

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Lincoln School Alumni Foundation has generously provided Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 with funding to employ a part-time home-school liaison. The liaison will be responsible for working collaboratively with families and community partners to ensure the needs of the whole child are being met, while supporting parents/guardians in addressing family needs, social/emotional and academic needs of the student in the home setting, as well as partnering with the educators serving the child. “Part of the Lincoln School Alumni Foundation’s mission is to help under resourced students across the district. Their generosity enables the district to help provide additional resources and opportunities to students who need it the most,” said District #7 Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton. “The historic Lincoln School Alumni Foundation is very much aware of District #7’s effort to improve our students’ reading skills,”

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ALTON - Lorenzo Small and several other Alton-area musicians have been forming a group called “Our Father’s Music” to highlight the connections Alton and its residents have to music and music history. They had a photoshoot at Lewis and Clark Community College on Saturday, Jan. 28 to help the community visualize the group as they go forward. "We decided if we're going to start group, to at least get a picture so that as we try to promote other artists, anyone on the outside of this group would know who we are," Small said of the photoshoot. “Our purpose is to bring attention to people from the Alton area who are accomplished musicians and/or artists themselves,” he added. Other group members include several Alton-area musicians. The current members are as follows: Howard Neal - frontman and visionary of the group Lorenzo Small - percussionist, group secretary Dilbert Caldwell - vocalist from Alton group “Picture This” Louis Bratte

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic’s St. Baldrick’s fundraiser event was highly successful once again Friday afternoon in raising funds for research and cures for cancer. Marquette Catholic Principal Tim Harmon said as of Friday, $7,276 was raised and the class competition donations had not yet been counted. He said usually another few thousand dollars come in from the class competition in the St. Baldrick’s event. “The St. Baldrick’s went very well,” Harmon said. “I believe 12 people had their heads shaved in raising funds for cancer. We also had an overwhelming response from hair stylists to cut hair." The people who had their heads shaved were Mary Donahue (head custodian), Michael Eddy (teacher), Garrett Flowers (teacher), Joe Boevingloh (alumni) Peter Walch (student), Steven Walch (St. Mary’s student), Andrew Roth (student), Christian Maag (student), Thomas Alonso (student), Devon Doherty (student), Michael Wahl (student), Joey Nugen

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Couples names: Kevin & Kesthien Smith City: Godfrey Date met or started dating: August 24, 2010 Date married: October 26, 2019 What makes your relationship special? What makes our relationship special is not the aesthetic, but it is the history and adventure. It is the inspiration we give to not only pursue what you love, but fight for what may seem unbeatable. In the year 2010, two( once unfortunate) kids met on the first day of highschool, and learning more than what meets the eye fell for one another. In the time period for us where it was most advised to "have fun" and take most romantic experiences as a lesson for the future, we fearlessly deemed ourselves ready to take on the world together. We both had come from imperfect backgrounds which brought us closer. We had ever class together from 1st period to lunch, so it only seemed destined, but it wasn't just a snatch and grab. "Kevin had proposed a relationship multiple times but I had rejected it due to distance

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Couples names: Matt & Mary City: Carrollton Date met or started dating: February 25, 2003 Date married: February 25, 2006 What makes your relationship special? We are Highschool sweethearts. We met our senior year of high school and have been together ever since! When I met Matt, I had a daughter already and even tho we were so young, he took my daughter in as his own and eventually legally adopted her. We have been through the ups and downs, the hard times and the best times. We have 3 beautiful children together, 1 daughter and 2 sons. We were also blessed with a beautiful granddaughter in 2021! Share a memory you have made together: Oh where to start?! We have so many memories together but the ones I love the most are when we are traveling as a family. All the road trips, all the camping trips, all the hiking trips and all the places to see!

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JERSEYVILLE - In conjunction with Jersey State Bank, J.C.H.S. has selected their “Student of the Month”. The recipient for the month of January is Kateryna Savienkova. The selection of a “Student of the Month” is based upon the number of F.O.C.U.S. nominations, which a student receives for a given month. F.O.C.U.S. (Finding One Clearly Unique Student) is a program, which acknowledges a student each week for academic or kindness. Each week teachers may recognize students who have performed well in their classes by selecting them as F.O.C.U.S. students for that particular week. During January, Kateryna received the most F.O.C.U.S. nominations. Because she received the most nominations, he was named “Students of the Month” at JCHS. She is being congratulated by Marci Tonsor of Jersey State Bank. In conjunction with Jerseyville Banking Center, J.C.H.S. has selected their “Students of the Month”. The recipients for the month of January

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Couples names: Don & Heather City: Palmyra Date met or started dating: May 1, 1995 Date married: June 8, 2013 What makes your relationship special? We are a bleneded family with 9 kids. We original met back in 1994, but we grew apart and both went on and started a family. After major life changes and many years later we rekindled the fire and got married. Here we are living our best life, going to car shows, cruises and the beaches in Florida. Can't wait to continue this journey. Share a memory you have made together: One of our best memories is the week we spent on the beach. Such a paeaceful, relaxing, making memories time.

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Couples names: Lexie & EJ City: Wood River Date met or started dating: June 4, 2013 Date married: August 12, 2023 What makes your relationship special? We’ve always knew we could come back to each other. Share a memory you have made together: Finding out we were having a baby together after years of knowing each other.

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Couples names: Chris aka Nipper & Brandie DeSherlia City: Grafton Date met or started dating: September 4, 2000 Date married: September 4, 2003 What makes your relationship special? We knew of each other in high school and ran into each other at a Super Bowl Party the year the St. Louis Rams won. There was not an attraction at that time, at least on my part lol we quickly became friends. Nip dated a few of my friends and I just Could not see why they were attracted to him, he would pick me up for lunch everyday. We talked non stop, hung out all the time then he got a girlfriend outside my group of friends and we didn’t really see each other for a few months, I was actually mad at him for making stupid choices so I wasn’t talking to him. He wrote a note on my front door with a bar of soap asking me to call him, I didn’t I was in the hospital and he just showed up one day, the priest came into my room grabbed my hand & his and blessed us. Prayed with

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Couples names: Sarah & Michaela City: Alton Date met or started dating: February 4, 2013 Date married: December 4, 2020 What makes your relationship special? Against all odds, we started our own family. We got married. We now have a child of our own together. Our 2nd child together will make her arrival next month in March. Love is love. Share a memory you have made together: We love traveling the United States together. All of our adventures have made many good memories. Our most epic adventure, was hiking in the mountains in Arkansas. The mountain we were attempting, was so steep, I didn’t even think it was possible to hike up. Half way up, we got caught in a bad rain storm. Thinking it was crazy we even hiked up, and despite’s all the obstacles, we made it to the top. Our adrenaline was going and we was so excited to have finally made it all the way up. We just sat there for hours staring at the view.

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Couples names: Tim & Courtney City: Godfrey Date met or started dating: February 16, 2022 What makes your relationship special? We are like 2 peas in a pod. We laugh together and work great together. Share a memory you have made together: We had our first helicopter ride together and it was awesome.

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CARROLLTON - Several individuals have been charged with battery, drug offenses, and more in Greene County over the last few weeks, according to the most recent Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Dustin A. Schnelten, 46, of Carrollton, was charged with aggravated battery of a police officer and criminal trespass to land. He was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 27 and remains in custody. Jeffrey T. Taylor, 55, of White Hall, was arrested by the White Hall Police Department for aggravated battery - he also had a warrant out for his arrest in Greene County. He was taken into custody on Jan. 26 and has since been released on bond. Jessica M. Giberson, 38, of Carrollton, was charged with domestic battery and arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 25. She has since been released on her own recognizance. Amy D. Faltin, 38, of Carrollton, was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department

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Couples names: Kathy & Garrett City: Hartford Date met or started dating: February 3, 2014 Date married: November 3, 2019 What makes your relationship special? Finding love later in life can be hard. Especially after hard experiences. Finding someone that loves your children grown and young is very important. I was blessed enough to find that in my 60’s. I found someone that shares the same values I do and appreciates having a family that he never got to have. It worked out for both of us. Share a memory you have made together: We just built a beautiful house together. He loves my kids and grandkids as if they were his own. God has blessed both of us.

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Couples names: Matt & Julie City: East Alton Date met or started dating: August 5, 2019 What makes your relationship special? Two broken people met and brought life and love back in each other's life and mended each other. Share a memory you have made together: We love taking the kids to the river and having a picnic! We are also Engaged!

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Couples names: Robby Chandler and Jamie Miller City: Bethalto Date met or started dating: October 3, 2016 What makes your relationship special? I met Robby online a year after my husband had passed away. Unbeknown to us, we had several mutual friends and at one time, he was our Schwann’s delivery driver. I truly believe my late husband had a hand in us meeting…..Robby is the calm to my storm, he completes me. Combined, we have 4 children, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 son in law, and 1 granddaughter. Our blended family fits together like a puzzle. We wake up each day grateful to have one another. Robby is also a cancer survivor. He has been cancer free for about 8 yrs now. I can’t imagine having to lose another love. We are grateful, thankful, and definitely blessed. Share a memory you have made together: We have been deep sea fishing in Key West, fishing in the mouth of the Russian River in Alaska. We love to travel together….our next adventure will

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ILLINOIS STATE POLICE EXPANDS CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is rolling out 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for all ISP officers beginning in February. CIT programs create connections between law enforcement professionals, mental health providers, families, and consumer advocates. The goal of crisis intervention training is to help officers better understand mental illness, which can help resolve a crisis situation with a lower risk of injury to either party, and to connect individuals with treatment. “Law enforcement officers are often still the first to respond to individuals with mental illness given the limits of crisis mental health services across the country,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP’s formalized 40-hour training includes intervention tactics and mental health education to ensure all our officers have the tools to help safely manage interactions with persons i

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CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker today joined state and local leaders, along with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI), and Intersect Illinois in Pullman to announce $40 million in Rebuild Illinois Capital Funds to supercharge the development of megasites – large, developed sites ready for occupancy for manufacturers, distribution centers, industrial centers, and more. The competitive grant opportunity is open to governments, private businesses, or non-profits to support site development in order to attract large-scale industrial investments in underutilized areas and former industrial sites. “Major job creators are consistently looking for investment-ready sites they can get up-and-running in a short amount of time – and Illinois is home to some of the largest such sites in the country, all ripe for fresh development,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “The new Megasites Investment Program

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ALTON - Work on the sewer separation project continues throughout the Alton area. Here is an update on road closures. Piasa Valley Area: 9 th Street remains closed to thru traffic from Alton Street east to George Street. Pavement restoration is ongoing and should be completed in the coming weeks. Belle Street sewer work has moved north of the intersection of 7 th Street. 7 th Street east of Belle Street is partially restored, with some restoration work to continue in the coming weeks. Additional work will be completed west of Belle Street on 7 th street in the coming weeks. Final pavement restoration in this area will follow. Sewer work is progressing around the intersection of 9 th and Belle Streets. Starting Monday, 2/6/2023, a sewer crew will be moving north up 9 th Street. This will close the intersection of 9 th /Hamilton, meaning any southbound traffic on 9 th Street will need to use Madison (20 th Street) or State Street to navigate around the work area.

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