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Letter To The Editor: I love my patients, my hospital community, and my job as a mental health nurse. I am Toni Holly, RN, Alton. While every single day we must remain calm amidst life-or-death situations and potential bodily harm from our patients, I am grateful to be living my purpose as a nurse. But unfortunately, as much as I love my community and my career, I am at risk of not being able to afford being a public employee in a profession I love so much. In order for public servants to continue to dedicate themselves to essential worker roles like nurses, teachers, and firefighters, it’s imperative that we fix the broken Tier 2 pension system in Illinois and pass the Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act. In 2010, the state of Illinois created a “Tier 2” of pension benefits for public workers. More than half of all teachers, firefighters, nurses, and other public employees are in Tier 2. Many Tier 2 employees do not receive Social Security and cannot retire wit

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EDWARDSVILLE — Students in Riah Martin’s fifth-grade class at Cassens Elementary School began a science project recently that allows them to explore and teach their classmates about the properties of matter. Working in groups of three to four, each team is responsible for presenting a lesson that includes a demonstration or experiment related to their assigned property. One group focused on electrical conductivity and engaged their peers with a hands-on experiment designed to determine which materials could conduct electricity. Following their presentation, classmates participated in testing various objects, including a metal spoon, a plastic spoon, and aluminum cans — both filled and empty — to observe how well each material allowed electricity to flow. This interactive approach aims to enhance students' understanding of scientific concepts through practical application and collaboration. By encouraging students to work together and engage in experiments,

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JERSEY - Students at Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 showcased their skills recently at the FCCLA Section 8 competition, marking a significant milestone for the newly established chapter of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Students competed in various categories, including Fashion Display, Apparel Construction, Children's Toys, and Cake Decorating. Ten students achieved individual scores in these competitions and will represent their school at the Illinois FCCLA State Competition in April. The newly formed FCCLA chapter aims to provide students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and engage in community service. Starting next year, the club will be open to all students currently enrolled or previously enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) coursework, broadening participation and involvement in the program. The announcement of the chapter and the success at the competition highlight the district's commitment to

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ST. LOUIS – The Gateway Apprenticeship Hub has reached a major milestone, enrolling its 390th apprentice, exceeding the halfway point toward its goal of 750 apprentices. This achievement highlights the Hub’s mission to enhance career opportunities and address workforce needs in education, healthcare, and bioscience throughout the St. Louis region. Launched in 2022 with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Gateway Apprenticeship Hub connects individuals to sustainable career pathways through Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in the healthcare, bioscience, and education fields. The Hub focuses on meeting workforce needs and has been particularly successful in recruiting participants for its education programs, which account for approximately 63% of all apprentices. Given the increasing number of vacancies in education roles, this trend is especially encouraging to employers. “Every apprentice is an investment in the future of our community,”

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CHAMPAIGN — Roxana's Lyndon Thies earned a second-place finish in the Class 1A State Finals at the 165-pound weight class on Saturday, falling to Bowden Delaney of Tremont in a closely contested match that ended with a score of 7-4. Thies began the tournament with a narrow 9-8 victory over Ayden Larkin of Hoopston in the preliminary round. He then advanced to the quarterfinals, where he secured an 11-3 major decision against Brock Finch of Coal City. Thies is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for Roxana. In the semifinals, Thies continued his strong performance with an 11-6 decision over Arkail Griffin of Chicago Hope, setting the stage for the championship match against Delaney. Earlier in the season, Thies demonstrated his skill by winning his regional title with a pin over Granger Motch at the 2:21 mark. He advanced to the state finals after winning by medical forfeit at the Carterville sectional. Last year, Thies finished fourth in the same

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CHAMPAIGN - Civic Memorial High School wrestler Bradley Ruckman finished second at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Wrestling Finals, held over the weekend. Ruckman faced off against Deven Casey of IC Catholic in the championship match, where he lost by a score of 10-1. Ruckman began his journey to the finals with a solid performance, securing a 5-0 decision against Isaac Mayora of Montini in the preliminaries. He continued his strong showing in the quarterfinals, achieving a technical fall with an 18-1 victory over Jackson Palzet of Deerfield. Ruckman is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for Civic Memorial. In the semifinals, Ruckman edged out Tommy Banas of Providence Catholic with a narrow 4-3 decision, which set the stage for the final match against Casey. Prior to the state finals, Ruckman demonstrated his skill at the regional level, where he claimed first place in Bethalto. In the championship match, he pinned Jordan Kholian

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CHAMPAIGN — Drake Champlin of EAWR has claimed the title of Class 1A 215-pound IHSA State Champion after securing a 7-3 decision over Jeremiah Luke in the championship match held over the weekend. This victory marks Champlin as the first state champion for EAWR since Zac Blasioli won the title in 2017. Champlin is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. Champlin's path to the championship began on Thursday, where he showcased his skill with a dominant 16-0 technical fall win against Brody O’Connor of Clifton in the first round of the finals. He continued his strong performance in the quarterfinals, pinning Ryan Darnell of Quincy Notre Dame at the 4:52 mark. In the semifinals, Champlin defeated John Keigher of Cole City by an 8-1 decision, setting up the final match. Before reaching the state finals, Champlin triumphed in both the regional and sectional competitions. He won the sectional championship in Carterville by technical

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—issued the following statement after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the military to reduce the defense budget by 8% for the next five years, jeopardizing our servicemembers, our national security and military readiness: “Abrupt far-reaching cuts to our defense budget won’t make Americans, our servicemembers and their families safer. I’m all for trimming waste and making our government more efficient, but the most unqualified, unprepared Secretary of Defense in history ramming through cuts to a budget that funds all our military training, defense technology and servicemembers’ salaries will hurt our national security, our military readiness and our economy by causing damage to our Armed Services that could take years to reverse.” Duckworth voted in support of the bipartisan FY 2025 National Defense Authorizatio

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EDWARDSVILLE - Whether your academic journey is just beginning, or you are looking for a fresh start, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville invites you to plant the seeds for your future by attending one of this spring’s Preview SIUE events scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 22 , and Saturday, April 12 , 2025 on the SIUE Edwardsville campus. Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Preview SIUE is the University’s largest on-campus recruitment event. High school students, transfer students, and their guests are invited to learn about life as students at SIUE by exploring the full spectrum of academic programming, student-life opportunities, and support services available at SIUE. “It is always exciting to see the moment that things fall into place for our attendees, and they realize SIUE is where they want to be,” said Alicia Taylor, associate director of admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. “For many prospective students, Preview

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is urging Illinois residents to review and practice their fire escape plans while testing and inspection smoke alarms following a wave of recent deadly home fires. Sadly, since Friday, February 14, there have been 8 deadly fires claiming the lives of 10 people in Illinois. So far in 2025, Illinois has seen 16 fatal fires resulting in 19 fire related fatalities. “During the winter months we see an increase in home fires caused by heating deceives or malfunctioning heating equipment,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “This is why it is so important for people to test and inspect all smoke alarms monthly, review and practice their fire escape plans, and follow manufactures instructions on all home heating devices.” According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Fire departments responded to an estimated

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ALTON - In the United States, about 2.5 million adults meet the criteria for severe gambling disorder, and another 5-8 million have mild or moderate problems, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). The NCPG also estimates that the annual national social cost of problem gambling is $14 billion. Some of these costs include gambling-related criminal justice and health care spending, as well as job loss, bankruptcy, and other consequences. With the proliferation of gambling continuing to increase every year, the Psychological Services department at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, in collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems, is hosting an upcoming “lunch & learn” program for individuals to learn more about this important issue and how to recognize the signs of problem gambling. The program will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Psychological Services department group training room at OSF Saint Anthony’s

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CENTREVILLE - Former Centreville Mayor Riley L. Owens III has received the Outstanding Commitment in Community Service award from Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. The former 5-term mayor of the city of Centreville is a semi-retired consultant, entrepreneur, visual artist, and inventor. When Owens, a U.S. Air Force veteran doesn’t have a sculpting knife, hammer, and chisel or paint brush in his hand, he manages the R. Lawrence Company. “We are proud to honor Mayor Owens for his great contributions to our state,” Frerichs said during a Black History Month awards ceremony at the State Treasurer’s Office in Springfield. “His tireless community service has made our state a better place to live and raise a family.” Owens said it has been 50 years since he was first elected mayor of Centreville. “I humbly accept this award from Treasurer Frerichs, and I dedicate it to my parents, Riley and Dorothy, who didn’t have a chance

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EDWARDSVILLE - There’s a new spot in Edwardsville for all your health and wellness needs. NFuze Wellness specializes in IV therapy, medical weight loss and aesthetic services. Located at 104 S. Buchanan Street in Edwardsville, the business will host their ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2025. Everyone is welcome to come out and explore all that NFuze has to offer. “It’s been a long time in the planning and we’re very excited to share it with everybody,” said owner Jen McCormick. “Our goal is to provide personalized care and amazing results. We want you to look and feel your best from the inside out.” McCormick started NFuze Wellness after spending 20 years in the hospital setting as a registered nurse. She is pleased that the business is moving into its own space in Edwardsville, with seven treatment rooms and an IV lounge that has heated massage chairs for people to enjoy while receiving their IV drips. She explained

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WOOD RIVER – The Wood River Fire Department recognized Paid-on-Call Firefighter Jamie Wells as a 2024 Firefighter of the Year for his dedication to the important role at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut said each year, award winners are selected by their department peers for exemplifying the qualities of a firefighter, including bravery, dedication, selflessness, resilience, and more. This year, the department added a Firefighter of the Year Award for its paid-on-call and part-time firefighters, with the 2024 award presented to Paid-on-Call Firefighter Jamie Wells. Stahlhut noted that even with a full-time job aside from firefighting, Wells has shown commendable dedication to the role. “This year’s second Firefighter of the Year Award goes to someone who has made a clear and impressive addition to our Fire Department many years ago,” Stahlhut said. “Jamie Wells has demonstrated extraordinary commitment, not

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ELSAH — Principia College today announced noteworthy placements at the Fourth Annual International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR) Conciliator Tournament in Orlando, FL. Held at the University of Central Florida, this two-day three-round tournament was open to undergraduate mediation teams worldwide. Principia competed among 14 three-person “firms” from schools including Boston University, University of Texas, and Singapore University. The Principia team consisted of two three-person “firms”. Firm members rotate roles in simulating mock mediation cases (often based on real events). Awards are given for individual or advocate/client pairs, and firms can win based on the sum of the firm’s individual (mediators) or pair (advocate/client) scores. Prin Firm A, consisting of Shaun Chore, Sebastian Kyllonen, and Avery Smith, placed second in Team Advocate/Client, and fourth and fifth in Attorney/Client Pairs. Prin Firm B consisted of Chisanga Siameja,

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GRAFTON - Interim Grafton Police Chief, Dave Womack, was sworn in as Chief of Police at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Dave was sworn in as Interim Police Chief in November 2024, and worked with then-Chief Eric Spanton, blending their many combined years of law enforcement experience to facilitate a smooth transition. Dave, who is a native of Grafton and was the senior sergeant on the police force, said, “I’m honored to fill this position and to continue serving the citizens of Grafton.” “We are grateful to Dave for his service to Grafton in various capacities of law enforcement and for the experience he brings to the position of Chief going forward,” said Mayor Morrow.

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EDWARDSVILLE – A man from Bethalto accused of trying to force entry into multiple occupied vehicles near an Edwardsville school faces multiple felony charges. Terry J. Fowler, 47, of Bethalto, was charged on Feb. 18, 2025 with three counts of attempted vehicular hijacking, each Class 2 felonies, as well as one count of aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony). On Feb. 14, 2025, Fowler allegedly pulled on the door handles of multiple occupied vehicles “at a busy intersection near a school” before striking a police officer, according to court documents. A petition was filed to deny Fowler’s pretrial release, describing the incident as follows: “Defendant was identified as the subject found at a busy intersection near a school, attempting to enter multiple passing motor vehicles,” the petition states. “Multiple witnesses reported that defendant was making irrational statements, and pulling on door handles, attempting to make entry. “Officers

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BELLEVILLE – The Illinois State Police (ISP) have charged a 28-year-old Belleville man with multiple felonies, including attempted murder, following a shooting incident that occurred on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. Chase A. Powers faces six charges stemming from an altercation with law enforcement at a residence in the 700 block of South 15th Street in Belleville. ISP said the incident unfolded when the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department (SCCSD) requested the ISP's assistance to investigate a potential welfare concern for a child at the home. An investigator from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was also present during the visit. During the investigation, Powers allegedly disarmed one of the officers, resulting in the discharge of a firearm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Powers was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the St. Clair County Jail. Following a comprehensive investigation, St. Clair

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ALTON - Community members are invited to a free spiritual experience series that aims to help them connect to themselves and the spiritual world. “Raise Your Spiritual IQ!,” a three-part series hosted at River Bend Yoga in Alton, will cover three topics that invite people to explore their spirituality from a new perspective and learn ways to handle challenges from a spiritual perspective. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025, community members can stop by River Bend Yoga for an hourlong discussion titled “Past Lives — Present Lessons,” which encourages attendees to “discover the secrets of karma and reincarnation to answer questions about your life today.” “There's nothing on this planet that isn’t spiritual,” explained Flora Van Koten, one of the organizers. “That really is the emphasis on all of the , to be able to tap into one’s own spirituality to discover their own answers in their own way whatever it is.&rdquo

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EDWARDSVILLE – More information has come to light surrounding an attempted murder and armed robbery case involving an Edwardsville resident. As previously reported on Riverbender.com , Christopher L. Haug, 34, of Edwardsville, was charged on Feb. 18, 2025, with attempted first degree murder (a Class X felony), armed robbery (a Class X felony), aggravated discharge of a firearm (a Class 1 felony) and felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 2 felony). On Feb. 16, 2025, Haug allegedly committed an armed robbery and attempted murder, during which he “fired over 35 rounds of ammunition” into an occupied vehicle. He also struck the victim, threatened to kill them, and stole personal property from them before fleeing the scene, according to a petition to deny his pretrial release. A Detention Order was recently filed upholding the petition to keep Haug detained, adding new details surrounding the case. “The defendant shot a vehicle over 35 times while his was

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