Riverbender 🕸

ALTON – The Alton City Council passed an increased tax levy ordinance in a split vote this week, with two aldermen consistently voting against the item since it was first introduced. City Council members voted 5-2 to pass the ordinance, with Aldermen Michael Velloff and Christopher Bohn voting against the item and all other aldermen voting in favor. The new tax levy of just over $8.7 million is $393,7 55.84 higher than last year’s levy , representing a

ST. LOUIS - On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges against suspect Cortez Cooper, 45 years of age, of the 5400 block of College Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri, 63136, for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution. Cooper is being held on a $150,000 cash-only, no 10% bond. The probable cause statement reads: While investigating a homicide, detectives observed and seized multiple

EDWARDSVILLE - Main Street Community Center (MSCC) invites the community to join the third installment of its Global Talks series, featuring an exciting journey into the culture and traditions of Spain. The event will take place on Thursday, January 15, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM at MSCC and is completely free and open to participants age 50 and older. Led by Dr. Bezhanova, a professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), the presentation promises a fascinating exploration of Spain’s

ST. LOUIS - On Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 17, 2025, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened a special meeting to allocate $350,000.00 to help low-income residents stay current on their utility bills this winter. Heat Up St. Louis will receive funding from the City’s Equitable Relief from Tax Utility fund to support at-risk households by paying overdue utility bills and keeping gas and electric services on line. “Today the Board of Aldermen took another step to help people facing

EDWARDSVILLE - Defender Thea Dimitroff signed recently to play soccer with Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Thea is also Spencer Homes Female Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. Dimitroff had a strong year for Edwardsville's girls' soccer team in 2025 and plays an important role in the back line. She will play a pivotal role in the 2026 Tigers' girls soccer success this upcoming spring. New Edwardsville girls soccer coach Justin Bernaix, who will take the helm from Abby Federmann,

COTTAGE HILLS – A Cottage Hills man accused of recklessly fleeing from a police traffic stop at high speeds remains in custody pending felony charges. Joseph A. Pate, 43, of Cottage Hills, was charged on Dec. 9, 2025, with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and a Class A misdemeanor count of driving while license is revoked. Pate allegedly knowingly attempted to flee from a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy on Dec. 8, 2025, reachin

CHICAGO — The Powerball® jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.5 billion for Saturday night’s drawing, continuing the game’s holiday jackpot streak. If won, the prize would rank as the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the seventh-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. ??While no ticket matched all six numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing, Illinois players still celebrated significant wins. Two Illinois players each won $200,000 by matching four numbers plus

Stars: They’re just like us. Actress January Jones recently took to Instagram to talk about her struggles with misophonia, specifically a family member’s loud chewing. Severe misophonia (pronounced mee-soh-PHONE-ee-ah) isn’t common, says Cassie Elliott, APRN , a psychiatric nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare. She says less than 5% of the population suffers significant symptoms from it. But, it’s still worth knowing about, especially with loud holiday gatherings

Diaper changes. They’re something new parents can have a love-hate relationship with. Your baby’s health is a top priority, but the late-night interactions with urine and feces might tempt you to put off the task. That’s not the approach to take, says Awad Alyami, MD , an OSF HealthCare pediatrician. He says having an ample supply of diapers and knowing how to use them are critical to your child’s well-being. “Diapers take care of the skin. The skin is the body’s

ALTON - A local woman recently embarked on the trip of a lifetime when she helped decorate the White House for Christmas. Christy Schaper, hailing from Alton, was invited to decorate the White House in Washington, D.C., for the Christmas holiday. Schaper expressed her appreciation for the opportunity and noted that the experience reminded her of “the enduring American spirit.” “You have a greater chance of getting into Harvard than you do decorating the White House

SWANSEA - The Swansea Police Department has announced the passing of retired K-9 Leo, a valued member of the force from March 2016 until August 2020. Swansea Police officials said the following: "Leo served alongside officers with dedication and courage, leaving a lasting impact on both the department and the community." Following his retirement, Leo was cared for by Officer VanWaes and his family. Officer VanWaes, who currently serves with the Bloomington Police Department, mourns the

Richard Herman Schenke, founder of the Engraving Shop, died unexpectedly on December 14, 1925. An article in the Alton Evening Telegraph that day announced that he had succumbed to intense pain, causing shock, after a short illness (likely gallstones). He was only 53 years old. Mr. Schenke had been “a strong, powerful man, and one not given to paying attention to his health. When he began to have trouble with his health, he did not take care of himself as he might have done, but continue

GRANITE CITY - Pizza World Gourmet Pizzeria at 1535 Johnson Road in Granite City is donating all proceeds from a $17 buffet that includes pizza, salad and a soft drink and any $12 large carry-out of cheese, pepperoni or sausage proceeds from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, to Granite City Police Officer Tyler Timmons. The Granite City Police Department encourages the public to come out and support the fundraiser for Officer Timmons. Officer Timmons was shot on Dec. 5, 2025, near

COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department has named Officer Stuart Patterson as its November 2025 Officer of the Month in recognition of his proactive efforts and quick response during a critical incident. Patterson joined the department in 2023 after serving with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Patterson's life-saving moves started when he was the first Collinsville officer on the scene of an aggravated battery with a firearm call in November. According to the

JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville Police Department families took part in the annual Kids’ Christmas Shopping Trip on Wednesday night, aiming to bring holiday cheer to local families in need. The event, held in Jerseyville, involved JPD families shopping for gifts to support community members who require extra assistance during the holiday season. The annual tradition is funded entirely by donations from local businesses and churches, reflecting the community’s commitment to helping

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a spotlight forum entitled “Dismantling Education: What the Trump Administration’s Illegal Attacks on Federal Programs Mean for Students, Families, and Educators.” The forum, convened by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), focused on the dangerous consequences of the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for the nation’s students, families,

BENTON – A district judge sentenced an Effingham County man to 12 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to exploiting an 89-year-old man out of more than $400,000. Edward L. Stief, Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of unlawful monetary transactions in criminal derived property. The judge ordered him to pay $411,773.51 in restitution. “Not only did Stief manipulate his victim into cashing life insurance policies

GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Chloe Book and Evan Connolly as Students of the Month for November. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral

MORO/EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board did not approve a solar project in Moro during their regular meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. Larry and Charlene Bandy have requested a special use permit to develop a commercial solar energy facility in an agricultural district in Moro Township. On Nov. 19, 2025, the Madison County Board denied this special use permit. During the public comment period of the Dec. 17 meeting, several people spoke against the solar project and thanked the

What if the simple act of singing door to door could trace its roots back over a thousand years and reflect a tapestry of cultural, religious, and social transformations? Christmas caroling is more than just cheerful melodies echoing through neighborhoods; it is a tradition steeped in history, community spirit, and evolving meaning. Origins of Christmas Caroling: From Medieval Roots to Modern Practice The word “carol” originally referred to a type of dance song in medieval Europe,