Riverbender 🕸

CARLINVILLE — Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics will host a community blood drive with ImpactLife on Monday, August 18, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event will take place inside the ImpactLife Donor Bus at 20733 North Broad in Carlinville. ImpactLife, a nonprofit organization that supplies blood products to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical services across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, will conduct the blood collection. The drive aims to support local hospitals by replenishing blood supplies. Appointments are requested and can be made by contacting Vicki Walker at (217) 854-3141 or by visiting www.bloodcenter.org using code 60352. Donors may also schedule by calling ImpactLife at 800-747-5401. Eligibility requirements include being at least 17 years old (16 with parental permission), weighing more than 110 pounds, and presenting a photo ID. Donors must not have given blood since June 23, 2025, or later. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood

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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Acting Director James Jennings today announced a new Notice of Funding Opportunity with a total of $5 million available for projects that will improve water quality in Illinois. The Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) Program has been made possible by Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is posted at: https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/936ac400-7c97-4c3e-8bbb-2e0c9ee711ca . “Under Rebuild Illinois, the Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities Program has already infused $20 million into Illinois communities, improving water quality with each new project,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director Jennings . “Green infrastructure projects not only control stormwater runoff impacting our rivers, lakes, and streams, but also improve the local landscape.” Illinois EPA is seeking proposals for projects

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VICKSBURG, Miss. – The Mississippi River Commission will conduct its annual Low Water Inspection Trip Aug. 15–22, 2025, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers observe its 250th anniversary year, commemorating a legacy of service to the nation. As part of the Commission’s commitment to transparency and engagement, public meetings will be held at key locations along the Mississippi River to gather insights and feedback from stakeholders, local leaders, and citizens. These sessions provide a vital forum for dialogue on river-related challenges and opportunities. The 2025 low water inspection trip aligns with the historic milestone – the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 250th year of service to the Nation. Since 1775, the Corps has played a central role in building critical infrastructure, managing water resources, and delivering engineering solutions that support national resilience and public safety. All meetings begin at 9:00 a.m., and are free and open

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MILLSTADT - After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) was happy to select Millstadt’s IGA to be his “Business of the Month” for July. Rep. Schmidt presented the owners, Craig Norrenberns and TJ Norrenberns, with an official certificate of recognition for their commitment to their employees and engagement with other local businesses in the community. “Craig Norrenberns and TJ Norrenberns make a positive impact on the community of Millstadt through their dedication to go above and beyond for their employees and customers,” said Schmidt. “Working together, they have the ability to use Christian-based beliefs and apply them to their work ethic which has helped build the success of the Millstadt IGA and the relationships they have created with other businesses.” Millstadt IGA prides themselves on supporting local businesses and over thirty union employees. Aside from offering

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SAINT LOUIS — Principia School is pleased to announce Terry Grigsby as its new Head of School. A Principia alumnus and retired U.S. Navy Commander, Mr. Grigsby brings 20 years of distinguished experience, most recently as Principia’s Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management & Residential Life. His leadership advances Principia’s mission to cultivate character, academic excellence, and spiritual growth for students in Pre-K through grade 12. “I’m honored to lead our remarkable community of day and boarding students, faculty, and staff,” said Mr. Grigsby. “At Principia, we lead with love and prayer, and are founded on Christian Science values, which includes viewing each student as limitless. Our applied learning model connects classroom knowledge to real-world purpose—helping students uncover their God-given strengths and develop the confidence to be leaders in an ever-changing world.” Since joining Principia in

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ALTON - Community members are invited to expand their spirituality at an upcoming free three-part series at River Bend Yoga. At 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month for the next three months, attendees can study “Ancient Wisdom for Today” and grow their spirituality from a new perspective. On Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, the first of the series — “The School of Life: What’s In It for You?” — invites community members to River Bend Yoga for a conversation about spirituality and growth. “It’s a spiritual adventure of a lifetime,” said Flora Van Koten, one of the organizers. “Am I practicing fear, or am I practicing love? That’s all it comes down to.” Organizers Van Koten and Sheila Aehle practice Eckankar, the path of spiritual freedom that encourages your personal connection with the divine. What they have learned by being students of Eckankar will be part of the discussion on Aug. 7, but they emphasize

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY – Men from Alton and Granite City face felony charges in separate criminal cases of domestic violence. Garrett E. Redden, 19, of Granite City, was charged on Aug. 1, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 3 felony count of theft, and a Class A misdemeanor count of domestic battery. On July 31, 2025, Redden allegedly intentionally strangled a household or family member before throwing them to the ground, causing bodily harm. Redden was also accused of stealing the victim’s iPhone from them, valued at over $500. The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Redden, who was ordered remanded to jail until his initial appearance in court. Daniel L. McKee, 28, of Alton, was charged in a separate case on July 29, 2025 with a Class 4 felony count of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of domestic battery and battery, both Class A misdemeanors. McKee reportedly struck a family or household

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DOW - The Tri-County Antique Club will host their 34th annual Olden Days Festival with demonstrations, vendors, tractor pulls and lots of fun. On Aug. 23 and 24, 2025, community members from across the region can travel to 23946 State Highway 3 in Dow for the festival, which will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Attendees can enjoy threshing and sawmilling demonstrations, a garden tractor pull, a pedal tractor pull for kids, the blacksmith shop and more fun all weekend. “We really try to cater to family fun and have things to do for the kids,” said Tom Bechtold, one of the organizers. Bechtold noted that breakfast will be served from 7–10 a.m. both days, and then they will sell barbecue pork chops, pulled pork and other favorites for lunch. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, people can attend a Country Church sermon, followed by a car show at 11 a.m. and a plowing demonstration at 1 p.m. The Flautt Building Museum is home to many

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ROXANA - Roxana High School is a school that prides itself on student-athlete excellence in the classroom. The Roxana High School girls basketball squad in 2024-2025 was a perfect example of that, as every member earned high honors or honor roll recognition. "We are proud of these student-athletes," Roxana High School Athletic Director Mark Briggs said at the time of the recognition. The girls are recognized as Midwest Members Credit Union Athletes of the Month. The Roxana girls are primed for a solid season in 2025-2026 as the new school year is about to unfold. Those listed on the 2024-2025 roster were: Zayda Oller, Ava Strohmeier, Ava Cherry, Lexi Ryan, Mikala Murphy, Mia Skinner, Alyssa Luck, Josie Brannon, Karsyn Kamp, Hannah Steinback, Kylee Slayden, Tatum Shaw, Madison Herrin, Daisy Daughtery, Leah Newton, Josie Janes, and Hayley Schlemer. The Roxana girls' achievement was one of the strongest accomplishments of any athletic team in the 2024-2025 school year, as the new year

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CHICAGO — A lucky Illinois iLottery player is now a believer after recently claiming a $1.1 million Lucky Day Lotto jackpot at the Illinois Lottery Prize Center in Rockford. “I received an email saying that I won, but with so many email scams out there, I thought it was fake,” said the winner, who playfully dubbed himself ‘ My Hole-in-One. ’ “Even after checking the winning numbers and calling the Illinois Lottery, I still wasn’t convinced. As the old saying goes—‘the hay's not in the barn yet.’” The lucky winner matched all five numbers—14-22-23-32-36—in the Lucky Day Lotto midday drawing on Sunday, July 27 , scoring the $1.1 million jackpot. “I was out on the golf course a few days before I claimed the prize when it finally hit me—I really did win,” he shared. “Tears came to my eyes. It was incredibly moving.” When asked how he plans to use his newfound fortune, My

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is thrilled to announce heavy-hitting rock legends Night Ranger as the opening act for country music star Randy Houser at the special free Grandstand concert on Monday, August 11. Fairgoers are invited to enjoy an unforgettable night of music—at no cost—thanks to this exclusive Grandstand performance. Gates will open at 7:00 p.m. , with the show beginning at 8:00 p.m. No ticket needed, but attendees will go through security screening before entering the Grandstand. “The Illinois State Fair is one of our state’s greatest traditions, showcasing the very best of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This free Grandstand concert is a way to thank fairgoers for their continued support while making world-class entertainment accessible to everyone. I look forward to seeing families and friends from across Illinois come together for a night of incredible music and celebration.” Night Ranger

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CHICAGO — Two Illinois iLottery players struck it big last night, each scoring a staggering prize of $1?million or more. One lucky online player won a whopping $1,742,056 jackpot playing Ultimate Diamond Jackpot, a FastPlay progressive jackpot game exclusive to the Illinois Lottery. The jackpot starts at $75,000 and increases with every ticket sold across the state—both in-store and online—until someone wins. This is the 10th time a player has taken home a prize of $1 million or more with Ultimate Diamond Jackpot since the game launched in May 2024. So far this year, nearly 693,000 winning tickets have been sold, awarding more than $46.2 million in prizes to players statewide. The second big iLottery winner won a cool $1 million prize playing Lotto . The winner matched all six Lotto Million 1 numbers in the Monday, August 4 drawing: 2-7-12-15-25-29. This marks the fifth time in 2025 that a Lotto player has won $1 million or more. So far this year, over four

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) , the state's college access and financial aid agency, is excited to announce its participation in the Illinois State Fair, from August 7 – 17, 2025 in Springfield, Illinois and the Du Quoin State Fair August 22-September 1. Housed in the Governor’s Tent, Booth D, ISAC’s interactive experience booth will explore Quantum Futures, The Moments that Moved Us Forward . The exhibit will offer a blend of storytelling, interactivity, and visual learning to highlight how small, pivotal moments – “quantum leaps” – can shift the trajectory of a student’s life. Students, educators, and professionals can share their stories; hear others speak to their “quantum moments;” learn more about the Illinois PaCE Framework, ISAC financial aid programs, and outreach and support services; and engage with ISAC staff who can help them explore next steps on their educational path. Th

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ALTON – In response to our nation’s mental health crisis, and due to local demand for mental health resources in the Riverbend region, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center – Psychological Services will offer a second FREE mental health first aid training session to interested individuals. This groundbreaking skills-based training session will give participants the tools to identify, understand and respond to someone who might be struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge — and connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary. The Mental Health First Aid training course will be held on Friday, August 29, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., in the 3rd floor Psychological Services Group Training Room at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton, IL, 62202). Lunch will be provided during this all-day training course. Space is limited for this FREE training session and registration is required –

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GRANITE CITY – A mother from Granite City is asking the community for support with medical costs as her 3-week-old daughter, Gracelyn, battles a tumor and faces a long road to recovery. Brenna Tepen of Granite City organized the GoFundMe fundraiser for Gracelyn, whose health complications were first noticed just hours after her birth. Born with a “concerning neck mass,” Gracelyn was seen by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) and underwent an MRI scan, though Tepen says more imaging is needed for doctors to determine the intensity of the tumor. “She has a tumor that goes from the base of her skull into her brain, around her spine, into her neck/throat, and down into her chest,” according to Tepen. Tepen noted Gracelyn’s oxygen repeatedly dropped while she was undergoing the MRI. She added Gracelyn has been placed on tube feeding after starting to lose weight from difficulties with other feeding methods. “We have a long road ahead of

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band invites the community to a series of concerts this week that reflect the musical heritage of Glen Carbon and Edwardsville in the mid-20th century. The performances will spotlight the work of Anton Poneta, a longtime member of the band whose compositions were a familiar part of local concerts in the 1970s. Inspired by a program performed nearly fifty years ago, the band has reconstructed a full concert that reflects the sound, structure, and style of that earlier era. This special program includes a number of original marches and tone poems composed by Poneta himself, performed alongside works by Franz von Suppé, W.C. Handy, John Philip Sousa, and others—offering a musical portrait of what local audiences would have experienced in a typical summer concert decades ago. The event is presented in cooperation with the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum, which will also display materials connected to Poneta’s musical and personal

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, submitted comment letters to several federal agencies strongly urging that they refrain from moving forward with proposed final rules that rescind regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The rules, which take effect immediately, largely eliminate the agencies’ existing NEPA regulations and replace them with a patchwork of “non-binding” procedures. In the comment letters, the coalition argues that these rules will create significant environmental harm to communities nationwide, reduce public participation, and lead to less-informed environmental decisions. “This misguided proposal fundamentally undermines one of our country’s bedrock environmental laws, harming public health and the environment both within Illinois and nationwide,” Raoul said. “I will continue to advocate across state lines to preserve these necessary protections.&rdquo

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — An off-duty Fairview Heights police officer’s vigilance led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and the arrest of two juveniles early Wednesday morning, July 30, 2025, authorities said. At approximately 5:30 a.m. on July 30, 2025, the Fairview Heights Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle from Moody Park. The vehicle’s owner had gone for a morning walk and discovered the car missing after completing one lap around the park’s track. Officer Nick Hensley, who had just finished his night shift, spotted the stolen vehicle in the 9900 block of Old Lincoln Trail. Although off duty, Hensley immediately alerted dispatch and coordinated with on-duty officers. He observed two individuals, later identified as a 14-year-old female and a 14-year-old male, exit the vehicle and enter a nearby residence. Maintaining surveillance, Hensley was able to identify the exact home. Upon arrival of additional units, police established a perimeter

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department announced Brian Joy as its Officer of the Month for June 2025, recognizing his proactive performance and dedication to the community. Joy has been with the Collinsville Police Department since December 2021 and has consistently demonstrated the qualities expected of its officers. The Collinsville PD aimed to bring some positivity to the announcement on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. “Please congratulate Brian Joy on being recognized for his performance in June,” the department said. “Thank you, Brian, for your service to our community!”

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Two studies out of Finland show promising results for sauna users. The research implies there could be an added benefit to sweating profusely in the controlled setting of a sauna: a decrease in one’s risk for dementia or Alzheimer’s. First, a 2016 study by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland surveyed 2,315 healthy Finnish men, age 42-60, and found that participants doing two to three sauna sessions per week had a 22% less risk of developing dementia, while the men using a sauna four to seven times a week are 66% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia over a 20 year period. The second study by Paul Knekt at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, was much more widespread. It included nearly 14,000 men and women, age 30-69, and followed them for up to 39 years. Deepak Nair, MD, director of Ambulatory and Virtual Neurology Services at OSF HealthCare, studied the findings and says the results are promising. “People who were

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