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CARLINVILLE – Brianna Sutton, Director of Blackburn and Beyond, has been named the 2024 Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children (ICEC). Presented at the ICEC Fall Convention on November 16, this recognizes educators who demonstrate outstanding commitment to advancing opportunities for students with disabilities and is the most prestigious honor bestowed on a teacher of students with disabilities in Illinois. Sutton was deeply honored and truly humbled to accept this award. "As a teacher of students with disabilities, I have the privilege each day of working alongside some of the most resilient, insightful, and determined individuals. My students constantly remind me that learning is a journey without boundaries. They redefine expectations, surpassing what others may think possible and showing me—and the world—what real perseverance and strength look like. Watching them grow, step into their potential, and develop confidence

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ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, Dar Bryant shared how he found God after spending time in prison. He went on to help hundreds of incarcerated individuals. Bryant was the director of The Dream Center in Alton, an offshoot of The River Church that helps individuals after they are released from prison. The center, which Bryant called “a resource hub,” meets the needs of individuals following their release with a faith-based approach. Bryant shared that he found God while in prison himself. “When you’re in prison, it’s you and God,” he said. “So many people, they go to prison and they’re shattered. And you can do a bunch of things. Either you dive deeper into the muck, get caught up in all the clique-yness of everything, or else you dive into the Word, the Bible.” Bryant grew up in the Riverbend region but fled to Arizona after he was involved in a series of crimes. He was

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ALTON - Alton Police Correctional Officer Abrielle Roy has graduated from the SWIC Corrections Officer Academy, marking a significant milestone in her career in law enforcement. The graduation ceremony took place recently, celebrating her dedication and commitment to serving the community. Roy's achievement reflects her hard work and perseverance throughout the training program. The academy is known for its rigorous curriculum designed to prepare individuals for the challenges of a career in corrections. In a statement, the Alton Police expressed pride in Roy's accomplishments, stating, “We are excited to see her continue to grow in her career and make a positive impact.” The community has shown support for her journey, emphasizing the importance of dedicated professionals in the field of corrections.

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CARLINVILLE – A special high school basketball event in honor of a beloved area broadcaster returns to the place where it all began this year. The sixth annual T. Todt Shootout vs. Cancer event will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 at Carlinville High School, and will feature five boys’ and three girls’ games. Carlinville was also the site of the first-ever T. Todt Shootout, on Dec. 8, 2018. Tickets are good all day and are $5 for adults, with $2 for children. The annual event celebrates the life of Terry Todt, the longtime sports director at WSMI Radio, who died on May 23, 2019 after a long battle with a debilitating form of appendix-based cancer. He was survived by his wife of 39 years, Brenda, and their two children. Immensely popular with coaches, players, and fans, Todt was familiar to many with his enthusiastic love of high school sports and fervent support of area youth, particularly in his hometown of Raymond. Todt was a member of several Halls of Fame,

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HIGHLAND - GRID Solar has had a busy year, but they’re already looking ahead to a great 2025. Ryan Wagner, co-owner of GRID Solar, explained that the company is working on jobs up until the end of the year. They’re hoping to hire a few new sales reps. GRID wants to share the excitement they feel about solar energy with the customers and employees they work with every day. “Really, more than anything, we’re looking for people with passion who can speak passionately about solar,” Wagner said. “I feel like you have to care about the thing you sell. I’ve sold lots of different things in my life. I landed on solar because I’ll never stop caring about solar. That's why I ended up coming to the solar industry, because this will be cool forever.” For those who wish to apply, Wagner added that sales experience is a plus, but they are looking for people who are willing to learn above all else. They love employees who are as excited

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ALTON - Community members were invited to shop in the final installment of Alton Main Street's "First Fridays Late Night Art and Shopping Experience” series. On Dec. 6, 2024, multiple downtown businesses expanded their hours so that people could stop by from 5–8 p.m. to shop, learn about the businesses and enjoy specials. The “First Fridays” initiative was held in October, November and December to encourage shopping in the downtown district. “It's a unique experience,” said Camille Carpenter with Mississippi Mud Pottery. “I think it gives people a great chance, especially people who work their nine-to-fives, to come in and do small business shopping that they might not typically be able to. We love being part of the community, and it's a great experience for everybody involved.” Fred Pollard, owner of Mississippi Hippie and Mom Said No, echoed Carpenter. He said that every First Friday so far, they have had a few people who stop

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WORDEN - A volunteer firefighter from Worden faces multiple charges of child pornography and indecent solicitation of a child after disseminating child porn and more via X, formerly known as Twitter. Jared Henke, 20, of Worden, was charged with one count of child pornography (a Class X felony) and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child (both Class 1 felonies) stemming from Oct. 19, 2023. He was additionally charged with three more Class X felony counts of child pornography from offenses committed on June 12, 2023. On Oct. 19, 2023, he allegedly requested a child who he knew or should have known was under the age of 13 “to send nude photographs via the X application,” according to descriptions of the charges. He also reportedly solicited an individual under the age of 13 to perform sexual acts on multiple occasions. On June 12, 2023, Henke reportedly disseminated multiple files of child pornography via the X application, each depicting individuals he knew o

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Mueller Furniture, a family-owned business rooted in the Belleville community since 1927, has expanded its operations with a new location in Fairview Heights. This new facility, which features a 55,000-square-foot showroom, aims to provide customers with an all-in-one shopping experience for their furniture needs. The new facility opened on Nov. 4, 2024. Mark Mueller, of the company, can reflect on the long Mueller family history of ownership. He also emphasized the importance of personal service in a market dominated by large retail chains. Customer service has always been a high point of the Mueller Furniture business. "You can give back to the community and get a personalized, one-on-one shopping experience like you can’t get at the big box furniture stores," he said. Mueller Furniture serves a wide range of communities, including Belleville, the entire Metro East Illinois region, Lake St. Louis, Ellisville, and several areas in Missouri and Illinois.

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY - Over 130 students from Granite City Community Unit School District #9 received new pairs of shoes from an Alton-based nonprofit. All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes provides new shoes to kids from school districts across the Riverbend region. On Dec. 6, 2024, Granite City students were bussed to Famous Footwear at Alton Square Mall to pick out their shoes with the help of several volunteers, including Granite City officials. “This is one of the best programs I’ve ever seen,” said Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson. “These kids get to pick out shoes that ordinarily they couldn’t get or some families just can’t afford. It’s good for us to know that these kids have a pair of warm shoes to put on their feet to get to school every day. It’s just a sense of pride for these kids. It’s a great, great program and really fun to watch these kids light up today.” On Dec. 6, 2024, Granite City students

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that municipalities in Madison and St. Clair Counties will receive a combined $97,804 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. “Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and we must make sure they have the resources they need to stay safe on the job,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m thrilled to announce that the Metro East will receive $97,804 in federal grants to purchase critical equipment, address violent crime and strengthen relationships with the community. I’m proud to have advocated for these funds and I’ll continue to work to bring tax dollars back to Central and Southern Illinois.” "We are incredibly excited by the news of receiving funding from the Department of Justice for necessary protective equipment for our officers,” said

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ALTON - Community members are invited to meet with local artists and tour their studios. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, Jacoby Arts Center and the Edwardsville Arts Center will sponsor ArtEast, a self-guided tour of local studios that ran for 15 years before it was discontinued in 2012. Community members can stop at 19 locations across the Riverbend region to meet with 29 artists and see their work. “We’re really interested in elevating the arts on the Metro East side, including our artists,” said Beth Browne, director of the Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC). “So these collaborations are really important, and the ultimate goal with ArtEast is to spread this across the Metro East, to get these art centers as hubs to connect to their local artists.” Community members are encouraged to visit as many stops as they want. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau has created an interactive map of the studios , s

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ALTON — The Alton Police Department announced charges on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, against three individuals in connection with a triple shooting that took place at 11:42 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2024, in the 1000 block of Tremont Street, across from Lovejoy Elementary School. The suspects, identified as William E. Brown, 42, of Alton, Chris O. Bock, 26, and Diondray T. Carpenter, 26, both of Peoria, face multiple charges, including home invasion, aggravated battery with a firearm (three counts), and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Following an extensive investigation led by the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, arrest warrants for all three suspects were signed by the Honorable Judge Jumper on Nov. 21, 2024. All suspects are currently in custody. The investigation utilized various surveillance systems throughout the Alton area and received critical support from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Peoria Police Department, Peoria County

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ALTON - A six-year-old boy in Austin, Texas, is drawing attention to a piece of history through his fascination with Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever recorded. Michael, the son of Bethany Bastura, has been captivated by Wadlow's story for months and chose to honor him by dressing as the towering figure for Halloween. Michael’s mother shared her son’s enthusiasm in a recent submission to Riverbender.com. She noted that Michael has been actively spreading awareness about Wadlow, who reached a height of 8 feet 11.1 inches, making him the world's tallest man. “He has been spreading the history of Mr. Wadlow to all of our family, friends, and neighbors, and they have all said that they didn't know anything about him until now,” Bethany said. The family documented Michael's Halloween costume, which they shared with friends and neighbors before trick-or-treating. Bethany expressed interest in connecting with a local historical society to share Michael’s

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Approaching the New Year, you may be considering things like Dry January or giving up alcohol entirely. If you’re looking for more reasons to switch from cocktails to mocktails, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)’s newest study may encourage you to embrace sobriety. The AACR published its 2024 Cancer Progress Report , showcasing that excessive alcohol use increases an individual’s risk of developing six types of cancer. - Certain types of head and neck cancer - Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma - Breast cancer - Colorectal cancer - Liver cancer - Stomach cancers The study goes on to say that in 2019, 5.4% of cancers were attributed to alcohol consumption. The AACR’s research suggests that by drinking less, or not at all, it can decrease your risk of getting the above-mentioned cancers by 8% and lessen the risk of all cancers by 4%. Jeanna Rich is an oncology registered dietitian with OSF Cancer Support Services. She says that part

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater (ALT) is preparing for the holiday season and a jam-packed new year between their upcoming production of “ A Christmas Carol ” and plenty of entertainment already lined up for 2025. 7:30 p.m. showings for “A Christmas Carol” are set for Dec. 13, 14, 15, 19 & 20, 2024, while matinees will be shown on Dec. 15, 21 & 22, 2024 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the production are nearly sold out, so if they don’t appear on the website , call the Box Office at 618-462-3205 to ask about availability. ALT Executive Director Lee Cox and Artistic Director Kevin Frakes discussed the theater’s next production and some of what’s in store for next year on the latest “Theater Thursday” segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . “It’s exciting, it really is,” Frakes said. “The cast is great, it’s going to be a great show.” Frakes has been hard at work building the

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On December 6, 1924, Lincoln School student Emery Bricker won the Alton Township spelling contest. He spelled 100 words correctly out of 100. Two Horace Mann students rounded out the top three: Thelma Chapman came in second (96 words), and Adolph Clayton came in third (93 words). Bricker and Chapman went on to compete at the County Spelling Contest in Edwardsville on December 13, where about forty students from across Madison County participated. In spelling the first 100-word list, three students missed none. Those three students were given a list of 25 additional words, and the results showed the following ranks: 1st - Virginia Highlander from New Douglas 2nd - John Monroe from Collinsville 3rd - Olive Hill from St. Jacobs 4th - Iris Cooley from East Alton Emery Bricker tied for 5th place with three other students. He was not named in the article, but the Alton Evening Telegraph noted that one of the 5th-place students went to Lincoln School, and Bricker was the only possibility

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and the Illinois Community Risk Reduction Taskforce launched the first-ever statewide smoke alarm installation blitz the week of October 20th in conjunction with Fire Prevention Month. “Data shows that nearly 59% of home fire deaths were caused by fires in properties with no working smoke alarms, almost three out of every five home fire deaths in the U.S. resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working. These are scary statistics as fires burn hotter and faster due to synthetic construction materials in modern construction reducing escape times to less than 3 minutes,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. I encourage all departments across the state to engage with their residents and stress the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes.” “The Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program continues to help keep

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Every year, on January 31st, chocolate lovers across the United States indulge in the rich, velvety goodness of hot chocolate to celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day. This day is not just an opportunity to sip a warm beverage but also a chance to explore creative variations and recipes that elevate this classic drink beyond the traditional cup of cocoa. In this article, we will delve into the history of hot chocolate, explore its many forms, and provide you with some fun and delicious recipes to try at home as the weather turns colder and National Hot Chocolate Day approaches. A Brief History of Hot Chocolate Hot chocolate has a rich history that dates back to ancient Mesoamerican cultures, where cacao beans were used to create a frothy beverage that was often spiced with chili and flavored with vanilla. The drink was considered sacred, consumed primarily by the elite and used in ceremonial practices. When the Spanish conquistadors brought cacao back to Europe in the 16th century,

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December 6th has witnessed its fair share of significant events that have shaped the course of history across various domains. One of the most profound global events occurred in 1989 when the École Polytechnique massacre took place in Montreal, Canada. On that fateful day, Marc Lépine entered the engineering school and targeted female students, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 women and injuries to many others. This horrific incident shocked the nation and sparked a nationwide conversation about gender-based violence and misogyny. In the aftermath, December 6th has been commemorated as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, serving as a solemn reminder of the need for ongoing advocacy and action towards gender equality and the safety of women. Moving to a different realm, December 6th, 1917, marked a significant maritime disaster known as the Halifax Explosion. A French cargo ship, SS Mont-Blanc, laden with high-explosives,

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GODFREY - Freer Auto Body hosted their annual Cookies and Cocoa event to raise money for Community Christmas. Now in its 16th year, Cookies and Cocoa collects toys and monetary donations to be distributed to 12 different agencies, which then give the items to families in need during the holiday season. From 4–6 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2024, community members could stop by Freer Auto Body at 4512 N. Alby St. in Godfrey to drop off donations and enjoy cookies, hot cocoa and a visit with Santa. “So many people support this,” said Margaret Freer, owner of Freer Auto Body and organizer of Community Christmas. “We have such a giving community.” The event on Thursday at Freer Auto Body raised more than $2,300 for Community Christmas. Margaret Freer said that anyone who still wants to contribute to visit the Freer Office and if contributed through a check, make sure it is written out to Community Christmas. She said any donations would immediately go toward the

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