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BELLEVILLE - Caritas Family Solutions is hosting its 12th annual Heart & Soul Gala on Feb, 8, 2025, at The Regency in O’Fallon, Illinois. The human services agency currently serves more than 6,300 people annually including 1,700 foster children throughout Southern Illinois and the Metro East region. The nonprofit also has service lines which include pregnancy care for women, adoption, counseling, community family stabilization for families experiencing homelessness, youth therapeutic treatment center, emergency shelter, intact family services, assisted living for seniors and independent living for adults with disabilities. The gala serves as the nonprofit’s largest fundraising event, supporting its mission of strengthening the social and emotional well-being of individuals and families to create healthy relationships, loving homes and strong communities. “This is our largest fundraising event of the year and it makes a tremendous difference in our ability to help

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ALTON - The East End Improvement Association is organizing candidate forums for Alton and Godfrey's aldermanic, trustee, and mayoral candidates in advance of the consolidated election scheduled for April 1, 2025. Riverbender.com will televise both the Alton and Godfrey events live. The Alton forum will take place on Feb. 4, 2025, at the Great Rivers Hotel, while the Godfrey forum is set for Feb. 11, 2025, at the Trimpe Building at Lewis and Clark Community College. The forums, which will begin at 7 p.m., aim to enhance voter engagement and provide a platform for candidates to present their views to the community. Steve Schwartz and John Keller, members of the East End Improvement Association, discussed the events on Our Daily Show! with host C.J. Nasello. Schwartz will moderate the forums. Keller highlighted the importance of these forums, noting the low voter turnout in the 2021 election, where less than 25 percent of the population participated, with only 3,700 ballots cast out

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ST. LOUIS — As temperatures fluctuate in the coming days, residents in the St. Louis area can expect a mix of warmer days and cooler air as the week progresses. According to Jared Maples, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, the region is experiencing its warmest day of the week today, Feb. 3, 2025, with temperatures reaching the upper 50s. Maples indicated that there is a possibility of freezing temperatures in the northern parts of Missouri on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, such as near Quincy and Bowling Green, Mo. He said the forecast for the St. Louis area suggests lows of 34 to 35 degrees early in the morning. He noted that any significant impact from colder temperatures is expected to remain limited and confined to areas north of the city. The forecast shows a cooling trend beginning Tuesday, with highs only reaching the low 40s. Following this, temperatures will bounce back to the mid to upper 50s by Thursday, before another shift occurs over the weekend

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ST. LOUIS — A minor earthquake measuring 2.4 in magnitude occurred near the Missouri-Illinois border on Saturday evening, Feb. 1, 2025. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the seismic event occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Saturday Central Time. The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 2.3 miles south-southwest of Valmeyer, Illinois, and 6.9 miles northeast of Festus, Missouri. The quake was recorded at a shallow depth of 3.1 miles below the surface. This earthquake is part of the Illinois Basin – Ozark Dome region, which is known for its moderate earthquake activity. While the frequency of earthquakes in this area is lower compared to regions like the West Coast, tremors can be felt over broader areas due to the geological structure of the region. As of now, there have been no reports of damage or injuries resulting from the quake.

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DUPO - A double-shooting took place around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in the 100 block of North Second Street in Dupo. Police said that two were shot in the incident and that two suspects were in custody after the shooting. Police had not yet released the conditions of the two victims. Dupo Community Unit School District 196 announced schools were placed on lockdown Monday afternoon following reports of gunfire in the surrounding community. The incident, which did not involve any students or staff, prompted the district to take precautionary measures as advised by the Dupo Police Department. Dr. White, the district's superintendent, communicated to the community that the lockdown was initiated "out of an abundance of caution." He emphasized that the safety of students and staff remains the district's top priority and stated, “We are working closely with the Dupo Police Department and will lift the lockdown as soon as we are given the all-clear.” Initially, Dupo

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A LTON - Jacoby Arts Center has a new building. Jacoby will now be located at 208 State Street in Alton, the former site of State Street Market. Executive Director Rachel Lappin and Operations Manager Chantel Morrigan shared that the new space will open soon, with the goal to start programming in the spring. “We have keys to a building,” Lappin said. “Now we’re Jacoby Arts Center at State Street Studios.” The Jacoby Arts Center board has been looking for new locations since May 2024. Lappin and Morrigan said they had ten “very solid, viable options” in the Alton and Godfrey area. The owner of the building at 208 State Street — an artist who has had her work displayed at Jacoby — reached out to them and suggested they look at the site. At first, Lappin and Morrigan were hesitant. But they quickly realized the 4,000-square-foot space would be a good fit. While the new Jacoby Arts Center won’t be exactly like

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GRANITE CITY – The Rotary Club of Granite City recognized juniors Valeria Canales and Vanessa Canales as Students of the Month for January. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on March 25, 2025. VALERIA CANALES Two-year member of girls soccer team ... Volunteer at Renaissance Survival Workshop and St. Elizabeth Picnic ... Member of Foreign Language Club and Renaissance Committee ... Saturday Scholars ... High Honor Roll and Secondary Honors ... Daughter of David Canales and Diana Rojas. VANESSA CANALES Two-year member of girls soccer team ... Saturday Scholars ... High Honor Roll and Secondary Honors ... Member of Foreign Language Club, Renaissance Committee and Science Club ... Volunteer

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GODFREY – A Godfrey resident faces multiple child pornography charges after “numerous cybertips” spurred a multi-agency investigation and search of his home. Matthew P. Costello, 51 of Godfrey, was charged on Jan. 30, 2025 with five counts of child pornography, each Class X felonies. Costello is accused of disseminating child porn via the Kik application throughout the summer and fall of 2024. The offenses reportedly occurred on Aug. 8, Oct. 9, July 17, and July 27, 2024. A petition to deny Costello’s pretrial release states the case against him began on Jan. 23, 2025, when the Madison County Sheriff's Department started investigating “numerous cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children” (NCMEC) which had been transferred from the Edwardsville Police Department. “NCMEC originally forwarded these cybertips of an individual disseminating child pornography on the Kik application,” the petition states. “Edwardsville

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GODFREY/JERSEYVILLE - Riverbend Dental and Jerseyville Dental Group are excited to offer excellent patient care throughout the Riverbend region. Riverbend Dental, located at 5209 Mae Drive in Godfrey, recently acquired Jerseyville Dental Group at 105 South State Street in Jerseyville. They closed their Alton office and merged their doctors and patients into the Godfrey and Jerseyville locations. Throughout the month of February, you can call either office to schedule an appointment and mention RiverBender.com for a discounted whitening treatment. “No one likes going to the dentist. We know that. We don’t even like going to the dentist when it’s our turn,” joked Danielle Schmidt. “But it is a very warm and inviting office. All of our clinicians, our assistants, our hygienists, our doctors, I feel like they pride themselves on patient care, patient education. We want you to be as comfortable as possible and have the best experience that you can.&rdquo

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COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville Township Supervisor Derrick Cox has released information in response to some questions and concerns raised recently about real estate tax exemptions for vulnerable residents in the township. In his information release, Cox clarified that he had recently discovered a costly plan by the Collinsville Township Assessor’s Office to send out several thousand “Exemption Reminders” via first-class postage at a cost of 73 cents each. He argued that this approach resulted in several thousand dollars in unnecessary expenses for taxpayers. Instead, he advocated using a mail house, specifically, Mailing Methods in Caseyville. He said there were also a few other mail house businesses in the area that could be used to send the mailings at a reduced rate. Cox said Mailing Methods quoted him a price of 32 cents per letter, saving the township a significant amount of money. He said he had used Mailing Methods in Caseyville on multiple occasions for mailings

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JERSEYVILLE — A trivia night benefiting the scholarship fund at St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School is set for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Knights of Columbus in Jerseyville. The event aims to raise funds to support local students while providing an evening of entertainment. Participants can register teams of up to eight people for $200 per table, which breaks down to $25 per person. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food, while drinks must be purchased on-site. The trivia night will feature a mix of music and general trivia questions, offering a diverse experience for participants. In addition to trivia, the evening will include 50/50 tickets, raffle baskets, and door prizes. The event will be hosted by Brian Hutchinson, who is expected to contribute to the lively atmosphere. To secure a table, payment must be made by check or cash at the time of registration. Interested individuals can contact event organizer Kelli Travers for payment details and to reserve

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announces lane restrictions will be encountered on I-55/70 in the eastbound direction beginning on Monday, February 3, 2025 through Wednesday, February 5, 2025 between I-64 and IL 203, weather permitting. The left two lanes will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 3, 2025 and will be reopened no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. All entrance, and exit ramps, will remain open. These restrictions are needed to do emergency bridge deck repair work. IDOT District 8 Operations crews will make the needed improvements and restore full access as soon as possible. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow u

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MOUNT VERNON – U.S. Representative Mike Bost has nominated 17 local students for admission to various U.S. Service Academies, a move that highlights the commitment of Southern Illinois youth to military service. Several nominated students hail from several high schools in the region. O'Fallon Township High School had three nominated to service academies. The nominations followed a thorough review process conducted by an independent panel that assessed applications and conducted formal interviews. The final decision on admissions rests with the individual academies. "Southern Illinois is home to some of the brightest and most patriotic young men and women," Bost stated. "It’s exciting to see that the fire of service still burns bright. These students are outstanding members of our community, setting a great example both in and out of the classroom. They represent the next generation of leaders, and I have no doubt they have bright futures ahead." Notable nominations include:

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ROXANA — Andrew Kopp, a teenager from Roxana, was reported missing after he was last seen leaving Roxana High School at 2:58 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. The Roxana Police Department announced on Monday morning, Feb. 3, 2025, that Kopp has been located and is safe. The police department expressed gratitude to the community for their assistance in the search for the missing juvenile. Further details regarding the circumstances of Kopp's disappearance and subsequent recovery have not been disclosed.

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GILLESPIE - Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1 to 6 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym. What: Gillespie Community Blood Drive When: Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, 1-6 p.m. Where: Gillespie Methodist Church Gym, 900 Broadway, Gillespie, IL. Appointments: To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule. 2801 South 10th Street | Springfield, Illinois | (217) 753-1530 Donor Eligibility Criteria: Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org ) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—helped reintroduce bipartisan legislation alongside U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) aimed at addressing freight fraud. The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act would help provide the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with the tools needed to protect consumers from fraud by scammers in the interstate transportation of household goods. “Bad actors are constantly developing new ways to defraud hardworking Americans, so it’s critical we keep our legislation up to speed so we can protect our constituents from the latest scamming techniques,” said Senator Duckworth. “Moving is stressful enough without worrying about whether your movers are actually scammers trying to steal your money and belongings. I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Senator Fischer

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is announcing a monthlong focus on heart health during American Heart Month in February. The annual observance serves as a reminder to the public about the dangers of cardiovascular disease and the resources that are available to help people maintain heart health. Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in urging the public to be aware of, and to take care of, their heart health. “Heart disease remains the number one cause of death both nationally and right here in Illinois,” said Director Vohra. “But heart disease can be preventable when we are aware of our own personal risk factors. The first step in prevention is identifying what can make your heart unhealthy, such as untreated high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high levels of stress. Next, create a heart-healthy action plan. Finally, schedule a check-up with your medical provider

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GRANITE CITY - The employees of Revity Credit Union continue to showcase their dedication to community service and giving back. For 2025, they have pledged a remarkable total of $10,143.50 to United Way. The Board of Directors at Revity Credit Union has committed to donating $14,586.50, resulting in a substantial total donation of $25,000.00 for United Way. The United Way is an organization dedicated to improving lives by harnessing the caring power of communities globally to advance the common good. With generous support from organizations like Revity Credit Union, United Way is able to provide essential services to families and individuals, such as: Food Security: Helping families and individuals put food on the table. Housing Stability: Ensuring people stay safe in their homes. Mental Health Resources: Connecting individuals to necessary mental health support. Revity Credit Union is known for its strong support of various charitable organizations each year. Some of

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SPRINGFIELD – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 170,758 deer during all 2024-2025 archery and firearm seasons, which concluded Jan. 19. 2025. The preliminary total for 2024-2025 compares with a total harvest of 160,313 deer for all seasons in 2023-2024. During the 2024-2025 deer seasons, hunters took 46.27% females and 53.72% males. Final harvest totals by season and county can be found in the annual deer harvest report, which will be published later this spring. Totals from specific seasons: Archery deer hunters took a preliminary total of 73,598 deer during the season that began Oct. 1 and concluded Jan. 19. The total archery harvest during the 2023-2024 season was 71,226 deer. Youth deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 4,057 deer during the three-day Illinois youth deer season Oct. 12-14, compared to 4,576 in 2023. Firearm season hunters took a preliminary total of 82,496 deer during the firearm season Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8. This

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FAIRMONT CITY — Marleen Menendez Suarez, a local attorney, has seen a surge of clients seeking legal assistance since she offered to prepare guardianship and power of attorney documents for free in response to fears of deportation. Her Facebook post on Jan. 20, 2025, has drawn several individuals to her Fairmont City law office in recent days. Suarez commented: “People are very afraid, and they're very afraid for their children because many of them are U.S. citizens. What they're facing is, if both mom and dad get deported, what happens to their kids, and this is what occurred to me, too. This is why I started doing what I was doing.” Recently the small attorney's office in Fairmont City was filled with women, children, and a few men, many of whom had been waiting for about an hour to finalize their legal documents. The clients often arrived with family members who could assist in translating the legal jargon for their mixed-status families. Located approximately

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