Riverbender 🕸

GLEN CARBON - After eight years of work, the Edwardsville Township Board voted Wednesday evening 5-0 approving the bid to move forward with the renovation and expansion of Edwardsville Township Hall at 300 West Park Street in Edwardsville. At the bid opening on Tuesday, three bids were submitted with the approved low bidder being Millenium Construction for $1,385,000. “Since being elected to the Township Board in 2017, this project has been a weight around the Township's neck,” said Kevin Hall, Edwardsville Township Supervisor. “To finally be moving forward and seeing an end in sight; a date where we can better serve the taxpayers of Edwardsville Township with an accessible, modern office is a relief.” The project will bring many improvements and upgrades to the building from the late 1980s. It will include an increase in space, updating to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, upgraded HVAC, plumbing, electrical, lighting and more modern standards.

Continue Reading

ALTON - The National Great Rivers Research & Education Center (NGRREC) held a celebration to commemorate the organization's 20th Anniversary Thursday afternoon in front of their research building. The celebration included some keynote speakers including NGRREC Executive Director Dr. Gary Rolfe, Dr. Dale Chapman, and Dr. Ellen Gilinsky. Each of them talked about where and how NGRREC started, what they're doing now, and their extensive plans for the future. "It's truly a milestone in our development and I think over the last 20 years we've grown dramatically," Rolfe said during the event's opening remarks. "We've developed a comprehensive program and we're just really excited about how we're positioned today," he said. "I think our entire NGRREC team believes that we've laid the foundation to be a strong voice in policy issues and management issues related to water quality, interaction between water and land, and human interactions within those systems. That's been our mission sinc

Continue Reading

Name: Jimmie Carrol Denton, Sr. Branch: Army Wars: Korean War Submitted By: Daphne Gvillo

Continue Reading

ALTON - With winter approaching, ice-cold milk on ice-cold days may not sound as appealing as it does in the heat of the summer. Surprisingly, milk sales actually increase throughout the winter months. Milk is a staple in many comfort dishes created for the long nights of winter. So while drinking ice-cold milk may not be a current seasonal choice, enjoying milk in hot winter beverages is still showing to be an American favorite. All dairy milk, whether served warm or cold, contains 13 essential nutrients the body needs. These nutrients include calcium, vitamin D and potassium, all of which are nutrients of concern within American diets. “The dairy case has something for everyone. There are many varieties of milk, including low-fat and fat-free, as well as lactose-free options,” explains registered dietitian Maggie Cimarolli. “Adding milk to a favorite hot beverage is a simple way to work these 13 essential nutrients into a busy day.” Coffee has proven

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER - Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at EAWR High School. A Senior student is selected each month by members of the EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000.00 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. October’s winner is Tyler Robinson. Tyler is a Senior at EAWR and is involved with varsity basketball, football, baseball, soccer, golf, the National Honor Society, and Spirit Club. Tyler has received honors for the National Honor Society, varsity football, basketball, baseball, golf, and soccer. After graduation Tyler plans to obtain a degree in Business at Illinois State University. Congratulations Tyler and we all wish you good luck in your future! Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community for over 87 years. To find out more information

Continue Reading

BUZZ MAGAZINE - The 1953 edition of the Illinois football team had plenty to offer. Not only did the Illini win a Big Ten title, but they also had their own anthem singer. Peter Palmer, a senior tackle, delivered “The Star-Spangled Banner” before every home that season while wearing his football uniform. It was a sign of things to come, as Palmer went on to become a star of the stage and screen. Palmer was part of the original Broadway cast of Li’l Abner, one of the stage hits of the decade, and reprised his role in the Hollywood version. He later was credited with forty television and movie roles. Born on Sept. 20, 1931, in Milwaukee, Palmer spent most of his youth in St. Louis. He later earned a football scholarship to Illinois and played on Big Ten championship teams in both 1951 and 1953. However, the gridiron was not Palmer’s primary reason for choosing Illinois. Though he was offered scholarships by multiple football programs, he selected Illinois

Continue Reading

ALTON - Mac’s Downtown has had many innovations over the past year and its newest adventure is breakfast. A small breakfast menu is now available on Friday and Saturday from 7-11 a.m. The Mac’s brunch will continue on Sundays. Rob Lenhardt, one of Mac’s owners, said there aren’t as many places in the Downtown Alton area for breakfast and he thinks it might fill a niche. “We are going to ease into and try it for six to eight weeks and see how it goes,” he said. “We will have a smaller niche menu and listen to the community’s feedback. If they want it to continue we could add a few more days after the trial." The Mac’s Sunday Brunch has been extremely successful. Rob said staff will come in at 5:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and by 7 a.m. will start serving customers. He said in the beginning there will be a limited menu with 8 items, Lump Crab Eggs Benedict, Steak and Eggs, Biscuits and Gravy, Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, Southwest

Continue Reading

ALTON - After a successful 2022 season on the Alton Riverfront, the Alton Amphitheater Commission has begun planning for 2023. As part of that planning process, the Commission, at its meeting on October 19, 2022, approved the release of Requests for Proposals for both the venue naming rights and for production services to begin in 2023. Interested parties may download one or both of the Requests for Proposals from the City of Alton’s website at https://www.cityofaltonil.com/bidsandrfp/ Parties interested in production services for the amphitheater should submit eight copies of their proposal in a sealed envelope to the Alton Park & Recreation office at 2 Emma Kaus Lane, Alton, Illinois 62002 no later than 12:00pm on Monday, November 21, 2022. All proposals will be opened by the Amphitheater Commission in the lunch room on the second floor of Alton City Hall at its regular meeting on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 4:30pm. Any interested persons may be present and those making submission

Continue Reading

HARDIN - On September 13, 2022, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of Theft and Forgery. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office began conducting an investigation. Subsequent to the investigation, on Friday, October 21st the Calhoun County State's Attorney's Office issued charges and requested a warrant to be issued for Adam J. Webster, age 33, of Hamburg, Illinois for the offenses of Theft, and Forgery. On October 23, 2022, Webster was arrested by the Jersey County Sheriff's Department. Webster posted bond on the aforementioned charges, and was released on bond with a court date at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Hardin, Illinois. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

Continue Reading

ALTON – Alton Main Street is pleased to announce being awarded The Lieutenant Governor Award for Excellence in Revitalization, recognizing the Untold Black Stories of Alton project. The award is one of the most notable recognitions for Illinois Main Street communities to achieve for their work in bringing economic prosperity to their communities. The awards highlight projects, activities and events focused around The Main Street Approach™ (Design, Organization, Economic Vitality and Promotion), as well as outstanding volunteers and board members. “Revitalization is about using talent, resources, new ideas, and paths of collaboration for positive change,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “I am so proud of this year’s award recipients for their amazing work strengthening Main Street communities after the challenges caused by the pandemic. Because of their efforts, our main streets will continue to provide goods, services, economic opportunities,

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine on Thursday filed felony theft charges against the treasurer of a local softball organization. Heather S. Sullivan, 37, of Roodhouse, is charged with stealing approximately $64,200 from Esprit Metro Fast Pitch. The theft is alleged to have occurred between Aug. 1, 2021, and March 7, 2022. Associate Judge Janet Heflin set the defendant’s bail at $80,000. The case was investigated by Glen Carbon Police and Assistant State’s Attorney Bruce Reppert. This charge, as well as the statements made herein, are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Continue Reading

Dear Editor, As the sheriff in Madison County, my job is to protect the public’s safety. In this role, it’s vital to have strong partners in elected officials who share my commitment to making the right decision when it comes to protecting the public and our men and women in law enforcement. That’s why I am supporting Katie Stuart for State Representative. As State Representative, Katie has supported and fought for laws to make our communities safer and that protect our men and women who put their lives in danger each day to help keep the public safe. Katie is fighting for safer communities by delivering millions in new funding to put more police on our streets and for new high-tech resources and collaboration to solve violent crimes, carjackings, and home burglaries. That’s why Katie is the only candidate for State Representative endorsed by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, Sheriffs of Illinois PAC, and the Illinois Troopers Lodge #41 Fraternal Order

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton City Council discussed a resolution for a permanent response to the issues of flooding - a five-foot tall, 1,000-foot wall from the Greater Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau Office on Piasa Street to William Street. Alderman Nate Keener told the council members that originally the plan was to suspend the rules and approve the wall proposition with the State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the City of Alton in an immediate fashion, but now the thought was to receive some public input and have it go directly through Alton Committee of the Whole. He explained that time is of the essence to approve the measure to receive the IEMA funding to match with city funds. “We want to take advantage of federal funds to mitigate flood damage,” he said. “But we would like to see more public input and transparency around the project. I would like to just read it and refer it to the Committee of the Whole.” Keener said there is still time

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that a 25-year-old Madison man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting in Venice. Gerrin L. Massie pleaded guilty to firing a shot that killed Kenneth Stanley Jr., 30, on May 12, 2020. Private surveillance video showed Massie exiting a vehicle on Market Street in Venice, then walking down the street to the rear of a vehicle occupied by Stanley and two others. Massie fired 15 rounds into the back of the car, but only one bullet struck a person - Stanley. Stanley died of a gunshot to the back of his head. The maximum sentence available under the plea agreement is 40 years in prison, while the minimum sentence for first-degree murder is 20 years. Massie’s sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 9. “We intend to ask for the maximum available sentence of 40 years,” Haine said. “Violent crime has to be met with an appropriate measure of justice,

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville and Glen Carbon Fire Departments have implemented an innovative way to treat patients suffering cardiac arrest that’s yielding encouraging results. The departments earlier this year began using an enhanced form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation that takes a cue from NASCAR pit crews. Anyone familiar with a NASCAR event has probably seen pit crews in action: Every member has one specific role that they handle simultaneously, enabling the crew to get their driver back on the track quickly. In the life-and-death situations emergency responders face, anything that boosts speed and efficiency is obviously even more essential. And while the enhanced CPR method doesn’t completely overhaul how cardiac calls are handled, it makes several critical improvements. “Historically, what you’d have is somebody taking charge and giving assignments at the scene, which isn’t as efficient as everybody knowing what they’re going to

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – The Powerball jackpot is now at an eye-watering $800 million for Saturday night’s drawing. If won, it would be the second largest Powerball jackpot and the fifth largest lottery jackpot won in U.S. history. The Powerball jackpot climbed to $800 million after Wednesday night’s drawing yielded no grand prize winning ticket matching all six numbers: 19-36-37-46-56 and Powerball 24. However, Illinois Lottery players should double check their Powerball tickets from last night. That’s because someone is holding a winning ticket worth a million dollars and another winning ticket worth $50,000. The $1 million winning ticket was purchased at Riverside Mobile, located at 503 N. Main Street in Sycamore. The manager of that store claims they know who bought the winning ticket. “A gentleman, who is one of our regular customers, popped into our store early this morning and exclaimed, 'you guys sold me a million dollar winning Powerball ticket - thank

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - The September area unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 3.8 percent, a decrease of -0.7 percentage points from the September 2021 rate of 4.5 percent. Some of the local city results in September were Edwardsville at 2.8 percent unemployment, compared to 2.9 percent in September 2021. Granite City recorded a 4.2 percent rate compared to 5.8 percent in 2021 at the same time, and Alton stood at 5.4 percent, down from 7.0 percent in September 2021. Belleville had a 4.4 percent rate compared to 5.9 percent a year ago. County comparisons showed Jersey at 3.1 percent for September 2022, against 3.6 percent a year ago, Macoupin County had a 3.4 percent rate and was 3.8 percent last year. Greene also recorded a 3.6 percent rate compared to 4.0 percent a year ago. Calhoun was at 3.6 percent compared to 3.8 percent in 2022 at the same time, and Madison County was at 3.6 percent this year and was at 4.3 percent in September

Continue Reading

TRENTON - Roxana's girls' cross country team has had an amazing season and the Shells added another big accomplishment Saturday at the IHSA Class 1A Trenton Regional, with a fourth-place team finish to advance to the sectional this weekend. At Wesclin High, McGivney had three of the top ten spots, while both Roxana and Marquette Catholic went through as teams in the Class 1A regional. Ben Scamihorn, a former SIUE runner, has coached the Shells girls and boys this year and has done a phenomenal job. He said he couldn't be more proud of his girls' group for how hard they have worked for their success. Breese Mater Dei Catholic won the meet with 52 points, with the Griffins coming in second with 75 points. Freeburg was third with 97 points, Roxana came in fourth with 111 points, Breese Central was fifth with 127, the Explorers were sixth at 142 points and Columbia got the final team berth with a seventh-place finish at 182 points. Belleville Althoff Catholic was eighth with 206 points,

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER – Today, Democratic Candidate for State Senate Kris Tharp (IL-56), a police officer of 25 years, announced his endorsement from Madison County’s Sheriff John Lakin. “Kris Tharp is a man of integrity who has consistently demonstrated his devotion to community and to improving public safety in Madison County," said Madison County Sheriff John Lakin. "He has always looked for ways to protect the most vulnerable, worked to reduce crime, and advocated for higher policing standards. I’m proud to have worked alongside him and I strongly believe there is no one more qualified than him to represent the people of Madison County as their State Senator." Kris Tharp has been a public servant for 25 years, working as a police officer, an elderly service officer for the seniors in his community, and Deputy Commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, one of the oldest, most successful homicide task forces in the country. “Working for Sheriff

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - When someone sees the special Mass kit at a Veteran’s Day Mass at St. Xavier Parish Church in Jerseyville, they need to understand the meaning behind it. The kit dates all the way back to the Vietnam War and the special relationship Father Marty Smith has with a Vietnam Chaplain who became a priest - Father Micheas Langston. Father Micheas has had a huge influence on Father Marty and is one of the reasons Marty became a priest. Father Micheas was a chaplain in the Vietnam War and in 2019, marked 60 years in the priesthood. He is now a Saint Meinrad monk. Father Micheas gave Father Marty the Vietnam Era Mass kit and wanted him to find inspiration and continue to use it. The Mass Kit is one of Father Marty's most treasured possessions. Father Marty will perform the Mass at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at the St. Xavier Parish with the kit. “When I met Father Micheas in the service, I think I saw his life of service as a priest and it really resonated

Continue Reading