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COLLINSVILLE – With a few days remaining on the holiday shopping calendar, Ameren Illinois and Google are joining forces with the Environmental Law and Policy Center to give Ameren Illinois heating customers the gift of energy savings. Customers can get a $0 Google Nest Thermostat, tax and shipping included, thanks to a special Cyber Monday promotion that runs through December 31. Approximately half of a typical residential customer’s utility costs go toward heating and cooling. With a smart thermostat, customers can create a heating and cooling schedule from their smart device that can help them to remain comfortable and save money. “We’re very excited to partner with Google and the Illinois Environmental Law and Policy Center to promote the final days of this very special offer," said Kristol Simms, Sr. Director, Energy Efficiency & Regulatory Policy Implementation, Ameren Illinois. "Smart thermostats can help customers save between 10%-12% on their

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HILLSBORO - The Hillsboro Police Department released the identity of the body discovered in a creek near Hillsboro High School this past Friday. The decedent has been identified as 33-year-old Joshua L. Ernst of Hillsboro. Ernst's body was located by students walking home from school near Fairground Avenue in Hillsboro around 3 p.m. Friday. Hillsboro Police also said video surveillance footage is being viewed and collected of the incident and the investigation into the circumstances leading up to Ernst’s death remains ongoing. Police said a forensic autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday. Hillsboro High School's home boys basketball game that night was canceled because of the discovery. The Hillsboro Police Department along with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations Unit are investigating the body discovery.

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CHICAGO - As the holiday travel season continues and millions of Americans are set to board crowded flights in the next few weeks, today U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted her new legislation to prioritize passenger safety. At O’Hare International Airport, Duckworth spoke on the importance of her recently introduced Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act, which would ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) do more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its emergency evacuation standards. Joining Duckworth to show their support for her legislation today included Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, Association of Flight Attendants United AFA Chicago President Scott Pejas and Allied Pilots Association Communications Committee Chairman Captain Dennis Tajer. Photos from today’s event are available here . “Imagine being on a crowde

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ALTON — One lucky player changed their life dramatically on Sunday, Dec. 11 with a $15 wager. The player won $652,902 on a parlay that had 16 overs. This was the largest payout at the Argosy Sportsbook since it opened in March 2020 and one of the largest payouts on a $15 parlay. The bet included 7 different NBA games that were to be played that evening. “We are beyond thrilled for this player and welcome our friends from across the region to try their luck,” said Randy Peterson, Vice President, and General Manager of Argosy Casino Alton . “It’s a lot of fun for us to see someone’s life change with a $15 bet.” The Sportsbook is located on the Argosy main floor, next to the Hops House bar, and is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 11 pm. The Sportsbook features individual viewing stations, odds-display monitors, and thirty-six 65-inch HDTVs for viewing live sports including NFL, NBA, and the World Cup. About Argosy Casino Alton With over 45

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EDWARDSVILLE - In line with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s commitment to community engagement, Edward Ackad, PhD, associate professor of physics, shared his expertise in physics and astronomy with Girl Scout Troop 227 from Granite City to help them earn their Daisy Space Explorer badge. “The Department of Physics wants to communicate our love for physics with everyone,” said Ackad. “My hope is the troop gained enthusiasm for learning more about astronomy.” Ackad led the group through activities to help explain what a telescope is. The troop learned how lenses bend light, that the moon has different textures, and had the opportunity to view the moon with their own telescope they built followed by viewing the moon through a large telescope. “We love being able to have the girls meet people from the community and learn in a fun way,” said Kim Smith, Troop 227 leader. “The girls loved building telescopes and then having the

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JERSEYVILLE - Gregory "Sammy" McCarry, the man who opened the business that generations have visited for ice cream and yogurt delights - McCarry's Dairyland - has died. This was the announcement on McCarry's Dairyland Facebook page from his family: "It is with great sadness that we have to share the passing of our father Gregory “Sammy” McCarry. Following his dream, our parents opened Dairyland 43 years ago. "Although he retired in 2014, he was always there to lend a hand or give us some advice. He was truly one-of-a-kind and will be missed horribly. We are so blessed to live in a community that truly supported his dream and made it a reality." Jerseyville Mayor Bill Russell said he had known "Sammy" for a long time and he grew up in the community with him. "He worked first in the grocery business, but then created Dairyland," the mayor said. "We live around the corner from Dairyland and there are always long lines and it is very popular." Heather Brown made this

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, about the apparent disconnect between Mr. Musk’s statements about eradicating online child sexual exploitation on Twitter and his company’s actual efforts to do so. In his letter, Durbin noted that while Twitter certainly had room for improving online child safety before Mr. Musk acquired it, reports indicate that Twitter’s approach to child safety has rapidly deteriorated on his watch. “I know you are a father so I trust you will take this issue seriously… While you have claimed that ‘removing child exploitation is priority #1’ for Twitter, recent reports indicate that Twitter under your ownership is eliminating personnel who have worked to protect children and combat child sexual exploitation, including the sharing and collection of child sexual abuse material,” Durbin wrote.

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WASHINGTON - The FCC’s Robocall Response Team today announced that the Enforcement Bureau has ordered telecommunications companies to stop carrying robocalls related to known student loan scams. Voice service providers must cease accepting robocall traffic from Urth Access, LLC which investigators believe, along with associated entities and individuals specified in today’s Order, generated upwards of 40% of student loan debt robocalls in October. Building on FCC action in November, U.S. voice service providers must now take all necessary steps to avoid carrying this robocall traffic. This operation is also the target of an ongoing investigation by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “Scam robocalls try to pull from the headlines to confuse consumers. The newest trick in their playbook? Trying to take advantage of people who want help paying off their student loans. Today we’re cutting these scammers off so they can’t

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COTTAGE HILLS – The Community Hope Center opened its doors again this holiday season with its annual toy/clothing giveaway. Friday and Saturday over 160 families came through to pick out their own toys for the 411 children registered. The center had a wide variety of items and was organized based on age and gender. All of the toys were donations from the community. The center sends out barrels around September to many businesses and churches and then those are filled up and brought back to the center to be sorted. According to Hope Center Operations Manager Ann Crane, they sent out 70 barrels all over the Riverbend area. She was thrilled with the communities response and said it’s been another big success. “Absolutely. We were a little concerned. We didn’t know with the economy the way it was, what it might look like. But honestly, the public came through with flying colors. Our community is very supportive of this, and this year is no different. We were

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Letter To The Editor: The proposed Delmar Roundabouts, with a projection of traffic disruption for up to 4 years, is unacceptable. The project will actually solve nothing. If you have objections send them to: mayor@godfreyil.org , mchuny@charter.net , weber@godfreyil.org , ballen@godfreyil.org , vwb1221@gmail.com , swoodman@godfreyil.org , rlauschke@godfreyil.org , elik@ilhousegop.org , repcddavidsmeyer@gmail.com Irene Hass

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MARSHALL, Mo. - Wood River's Josh Tobin, majoring in junior management, has been named to the Missouri Valley Fall 2022 College Dean's List. Elizabeth Bellamy, vice president of academic affairs for Missouri Valley College, has announced the Fall 2022 Dean's List. The requirements for the Dean's List are a 3.3 or higher grade point average; at least 12 graded hours for the semester and no "D," "F," or "Incomplete" grades for the semester. ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and many athletic opportunities. The most popular majors include education, agribusiness, nursing and criminal

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - I just love finding out the first of something. In this case, it’s the first Christmas movie. My research led me to Santa Claus in 1898, a silent short British movie roughly a minute and 17 seconds long and the first to showcase Santa, the jolly character we know and love today. Directed by George Albert Smith, the special effects may not seem too special now, but I am sure they were groundbreaking at the time. The short scene is very much commonplace now of children getting into bed before St Nick dressed in traditional red and white comes down a chimney putting goodies in each child’s stocking then disappearing before they wake. The small cast including Laura Bagley, Harold and Dorothy Smith make this a quick but enjoyable watch. You can currently watch it on YouTube and it’s interesting that even back then, the lore of the character has not changed all that much. Anyone who watches Hallmark or Lifetime during the holiday season can tell you there’s

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is fortunate to attract students from all over the world; among them is Honors College and Trailblazers tennis standout Sofija Djunisijevic. Djunisijevic, a sophomore, came to L&C from Cacak, Serbia on a tennis scholarship, but her academic prowess landed her in Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), which is an honor society for high-achieving students. “I came to Lewis and Clark on a tennis scholarship,” she said. “I’d recommend it because the professors and people here are amazing and the campus is beautiful.” She says the highlight of her time at L&C has been winning the NJCAA Division I Region 24 championship and advancing to the National tournament, where the team finished in 14th place – the best result in L&C’s history. L&C Tennis Coach Jim Hunstein said, when he first arrived in August, Djunisijevic wanted to know his plan for improving the tennis team. “Sofija is one o

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ALTON - At 3:48 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022, the Alton Police Department was notified of a gunshot wound victim at Alton Memorial Hospital. Officers and detectives arrived at the hospital and determined the gunshot wound victim to be a 14-year-old area juvenile. The juvenile was airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital. The juvenile is in critical condition at this time and continues to undergo ongoing medical care. Detectives with the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division determined that the shooting had taken place inside a home in the 400 block of Spring Street, Alton. The Illinois State Police assisted in the processing of the home on Spring Street. The juvenile victim and the person responsible for the shooting, who is also a juvenile, are known to each other. Alton Police Department Chief Jarrett Ford said this is an isolated incident with no threat to the public. Investigators continue to gather information in this ongoing investigation. Anyone

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MADISON COUNTY - This past weekend, some generous donor or donors placed a gold coin in the Salvation Army kettle at the Schnucks Store in Wood River. “We are so grateful for this person(s) generosity each year,” Salvation Army Captain Sean Grey said. "It is again a very generous gift." Grey said the generous donor has come through time after time on an anonymous basis in Alton and he is so thankful to whoever the person is or persons are. Bell ringers are braving the elements to help The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign reach its 2022 campaign goal of $217,500 to benefit people in Madison County. As of Thursday, $70,000 has been raised with just eight ringing days remaining, so donations at this point are critical for the Salvation Army to continue its mission in 2023. “We send our heartfelt thanks to you and the many generous donors who are helping people in our community," Grey said. "We would like to make a special plea for bell ringers through 2 p.m. December

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police Department's Christmas For All program once again touched the hearts of many in the community who needed assistance this holiday season. The Bethalto Police exceeded all expectations and made $29,167.13 in donations in just a little over a one-month period. This past Tuesday and Wednesday evening, Bethalto Police Officers, their family members, Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies, Mayor Gary Bost, Senator Kris Tharp, Madison County Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido, Bethalto Village Trustees, the Bethalto Zoning Administrator, Village Clerk Sue Lowrance, retired officers/dispatchers, Santa Claus, and compassionate trusted village residents worked together to shop with or for more than 100 children and their families. In the two-day shopping spree, volunteers aided families in purchasing $26,433.28 in gifts, food, clothing, and essentials. This was the fourth year in a row police had collected gifts and funds that were distributed for area children, Bethalto

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JERSEYVILLE - A Jerseyville residence caught on fire last night in the 200 block of Goodrich Street. Firefighters were able to contain the fire quickly, but the home still suffered extensive structural damage. Keith Norman, director of Public Safety and Fire for the City of Jerseyville, said the fire was called in at approximately 6:56 p.m. on Thursday. At this time, he said they do not know how the fire started, but the situation is currently under investigation. “We were able to get a pretty quick knock-down on the fire and were able to limit the fire damage to the area of origin, but it has extensive heat and smoke damage and some water damage throughout,” Norman said. “We had to ventilate through the roof, so there’s obviously roof damage and other things there, but the damage was extensive due to the conditions of the fire,” he added. Stay tuned to Riverbender.com for updates as they become available.

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ALTON - Thanks to the generosity of a few outgoing Blake Schrumpf State Farm employees, many students had a day they won't soon forget. Cindy Lou Who and The Grinch from the Dr. Seuss classic, 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' came and visited Lewis and Clark Elementary School Thursday afternoon. The two read the famous story, handed out some treats to the kids, and took plenty of photos. "I am thrilled to be able to partner with Blake’s office to have another memorable experience happen for our kids that I’m sure they’ll remember for a long time to come," kindergarten teacher Beth Dunlap said. She had mentioned that Blake's office had partnered with the school this past October. They donated pumpkins so that the children could carve them for Halloween. It was many of the kids' first attempts at carving a jack-o-lantern. Now, as the school celebrates 'Grinch Week' Dunlap said that the students get very excited around Christmas time and that this was something tha

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ELMHURST – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes today to announce her new legislation to increase federal support for and expand access to donated breast milk for parents and their medically-vulnerable infants at nonprofit milk banks nationwide. The Access to Donor Milk Act would allow state agencies to use the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funding to promote the benefits and need for donor milk as well as allows WIC funds to support donor milk activities in states. Additionally, this legislation requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine how donor milk should be regulated. A companion bill was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06). Photos from today’s visit are available here . “We should be doing all that we can to ensure families have what they need to ensure their babies are fed and healthy,”

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ALTON - New York Pastor Timothy Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church is known around the world for his famous quotes. One is “He is a Light for us when all other lights go out.” With that theme in mind, The Bridge Church will once again have its treasured “Candlelight Vigil Service” this weekend. The special Sunday night Christmas Candlelight Service is scheduled for 6 p.m. at The Bridge Church at 504 E. 12th St. in Alton. The service will run from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Pastor Stephen Helfrich of The Bridge Church said the Candlelight Vigil Service and Easter Service are two of his favorites of the entire year for his congregation. Pastor Helfrich again expects a large attendance and says those who wish to be there should arrive early. He also wanted to commend Riverbender.com for streaming the service live, and for those who can’t attend to watch it on the website at this link . The pastor said the candlelight service incorporates the candles more for

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