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JERSEYVILLE — A missing Missouri man last seen at Pere Marquette Campground has been found and is safe, the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois Conservation Police announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Terry Hanson, 46, of Farmington, Mo., had been reported missing after he was last seen at the campground around noon on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Authorities reported his disappearance Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. The sheriff’s office commended the Illinois Conservation

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A 17-year-old was charged as an adult Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in the killing of a Lyft driver who authorities say was caught in a planned shootout between rival groups in Ferguson. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Kamarionne Carter with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon after the county’s Family Court certified him as an adult earlier that day. Shannon O’Brien, 28, an Edwardsville

History celebrations, live music, pet-friendly gatherings and seasonal activities offer plenty of ways to spend Oct. 2-4, 2026. Explore the upcoming highlights below, and visit RiverBender.com Events for the complete calendar. Local history takes center stage at the Living History Days Festival , presented by the Madison County Historical Society Oct. 2-4 in Edwardsville. With the theme “We the People: Celebrating Our History,” the festival brings together music, a book fair,

Preparing for Seasonal Change: Small Steps That Make a Big Difference The first sign that your routine needs an update might be a shoe. You reach for your usual pair, step outside, and discover that yesterday’s reliable choice is suddenly slippery, soaked, or far too warm. It is a small inconvenience, but it reveals something larger: familiar habits do not always fit changing conditions. Preparing for seasonal change means noticing those mismatches before they become problems. A few thoughtfu

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart brought one of opera's most enduring works to the stage on Sept. 30, 1791, when “The Magic Flute” premiered at Vienna's Theater auf der Wieden. Its combination of popular entertainment and ambitious music helped make it a lasting bridge between the opera house and a broader theater audience. On this date in 2026, that first performance stands 235 years in the past, but the work remains part of the operatic repertoire. Mozart directed the orchestra, while Emanue

This Day in History: September 30, 2026 On September 30, 1938, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy concluded the Munich Agreement , allowing Nazi Germany to take control of the Sudetenland, a border region of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovak representatives were not included in the negotiations that determined their country’s future. British and French leaders hoped the agreement would prevent another European war; instead, it weakened Czechoslovakia and failed to stop further German expansion.

ALTON — Rex Encore and Heaterz Hot Chicken on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, announced plans for Heaterz at the Riverfront, a major new hospitality destination that will take over the current Flock Food Truck Park property at 210 Ridge Street in Downtown Alton beginning in 2027. Under a five-year lease beginning May 1, 2027, Heaterz will take over the Flock property and transform the site into an integrated outdoor hospitality campus anchored by Heaterz at the Riverfront. The property is expected

JERSEYVILLE – The Jerseyville Police Department now has a newly promoted sergeant on staff. Nick Woelfel was officially promoted from the rank of officer to sergeant at the Sept. 29, 2026 Jerseyville City Council meeting. Police Chief Danny Green explained one of the department’s current sergeants, John Lawson , is retiring next summer. By promoting the new sergeant early, Green said Woelfel will have time to complete his First-Line Supervisor Training and settle into the position

ALTON — Flock Food Truck Park & Bar will close Dec. 20, 2026, ending five seasons of food, music, and community gatherings at its downtown riverfront property, and will then prepare to transition to a new business. Flock opened in 2022, bringing together rotating food trucks, a full bar, live entertainment, and community programming in a setting overlooking the riverfront. Its fifth and final season will continue through the closing date. Heaterz Hot Chicken announced on Tuesday, Sept.

ALTON – A sex offender from Alton was charged last week with failing to register with police and driving on a public roadway with a suspended license. John F. Harbaugh, 45, of the 1600 block of Rodgers Street in Alton, faces one count each of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender (a Class 3 felony) and driving while license is suspended (a Class A misdemeanor). The charges against Harbaugh were filed on Sept. 23, 2026 in Madison County court and stem from offenses allegedly committed

LIVINGSTON — A crash involving an RV and a tractor-trailer shut down a part of Interstate 55 near Livingston in Madison County on Sept. 29, 2026, with one occupant being airlifted to a regional hospital, according to Illinois State Police. Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to the two-vehicle crash at milepost 35 at approximately 12:57 p.m. Injuries were reported, but no details about their severity or the number of people injured were available. Traffic was being diverted off the

STAUNTON — A Staunton man was sentenced Monday to 22 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material involving victims younger than 13, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced. Stephen Hokhold, 36, was sentenced in Macoupin County Circuit Court after pleading guilty in June to five Class 2 felony counts of possession of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing collaboration with federal and local law enforcement agencies to apprehend people who download

EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - The Madison County Historical Society will host their annual Living History Days festival this weekend. From Friday, Oct. 2, to Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, community members can visit different historical sites in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon to learn more about local history. With events planned at the 1820 Benjamin Stephenson House, the Wildey Theatre, Yanda Log Cabin, Edwardsville Children's Museum, Chautauqua and more, the weekend promises to be a fun opportunity t

GRAFTON – Federal changes to healthcare funding may cause Jersey County residents to lose their ambulance service unless county and hospital officials find another way to keep the service funded. Jersey County Board Chairman Mark Wagner addressed members of the Grafton City Council at their Sept. 15, 2026 meeting. Wagner said he had recently learned of financial issues threatening the ambulance service offered by Jersey Community Hospital, which serves residents across Jersey County. “I

GODFREY – A Godfrey resident pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime in a Jersey County case involving racially-charged threats, white supremacist motorcycle club affiliation and more. Troy D. Hacker, 39, of Godfrey, pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony count of hate crime in Jersey County court on Sept. 16, 2026. Per his guilty plea, a Class A misdemeanor count of aggravated assault on public property was dismissed. Hacker was sentenced to 24 months of conditional discharge and was ordered

JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community High School students and the Panther Athletic Club have come together to revive a 1990s homecoming tradition. This year, for the first time since the early 2000s, students can purchase homecoming mums to give to a loved one. This tradition previously focused on football players presenting a mum to a girlfriend, cheerleader or their mothers. Now, the Panther Athletic Club (PAC) is encouraging everyone to get involved and share the mums far and wide. “We

When you hear about cancer care, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are often the terms you hear the most. But your oncologist might also recommend immunotherapy. What does my immune system have to do with all this? Can this treatment really help me? Manpreet Sandhu, MD , an OSF HealthCare oncologist, says like any treatment, immunotherapy has a lot of “it depends.” As in, it depends on each patient’s wants and needs. But, she says it’s worth approaching immunotherapy

JERSEY COUNTY — The Illinois Conservation Police asked for the public’s help on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in locating Terry Hanson, 46, of Farmington, Mo., who was last seen nearly a week earlier at Pere Marquette Campground. Hanson was last seen around noon Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, walking in the general area of the campground, the Illinois Conservation Police said. A missing-person report has been filed, and investigators have been unable to locate him. His family remains concerned

EDWARDSVILLE — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, released the following statement in response to proposed cuts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aimed at “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs,” but will effectively reduce the quality of care and support for Head Start programs nationwide: “Head Start provides multi-generational support, giving every child the opportunity to begin school on a footing equal to their peers who are fortunate

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS SCOREBOARD BOYS SOCCER East Alton-Wood River 2, Greenville 1 Trenton Wesclin 10, Valmeyer 1 Mascoutah 7, Lebanon 1 Granite City 5, Civic Memorial 2 Highland 0, Columbia 0 GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL SATURDAY'S RESULT Peoria Central 6, Belleville West 2 MONDAY'S RESULTS Edwardsville 19, Mascoutah 0 East St. Louis 42, Belleville East 7 GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY Oakville 1, Edwardsville 0 GIRLS TENNIS Granite City 6, Metro-East