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EAST ALTON - The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is celebrating the success of the NGRREC Wetlands Collaborative in obtaining funding for research, education and outreach. NGRREC received $1,457,000 and collaborated with the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) for an additional $444,000, bringing the total amount of funding approved over the past two months to $1,901,000. “We’re excited by the early success of the Wetlands Collaborative in obtaining funding from a variety of external sources aimed at evaluating wetland quality on public and private lands across Illinois,” Terrestrial Wildlife Ecologist John Crawford said. Crawford said the primary focus is to provide actionable information on wetland sustainability and conservation to land managers, policymakers and the general public. This funding will help jump-start those efforts. Project Title: Assessment of Populations and Management Techniques for the Threatened

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ALTON - The Alton Food Truck Fest at the Alton Amphitheater was another success on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Dan Herkert, of the Alton Amphitheater Commission, said the Food Truck Festival featured new and returning favorites offering a wide variety of enticing food options and musical entertainment by the upbeat Rock Mafia. “It has turned into one of the biggest food truck festivals in the Midwest,” Herkert said. “It was a little on the warm side, but a great breeze blew, so it was comfortable. There was a lot of great food and music. We couldn’t be more thrilled with it. We were thrilled with the effort of the city staff and the amphitheater commission members to produce another successful event.” This is a list of the food trucks: Cajun Seduction Doughboy’s Wood Fired Pizza Duchess Royal Fire & Ice G Burrito Go Gyro Go Grace Chicken & Fish Jive Turkey The Moobile Mr. Noodle Pig On A Wing Scoops of Joy The Sweet Side Takozz

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GODFREY - A vehicle collided with the front doors of a building in Madison County on Friday afternoon, Aug. 23, 2024, but thankfully caused no injuries, according to local authorities. The crash occurred in the Monticello Plaza area of Godfrey at an Edward Jones office. Marcos Pulido, Chief Deputy of the Madison County Sheriff's Office, stated that the incident occurred at approximately 1:12 p.m. on Friday. Deputies responded to the scene to handle the traffic crash. "Preliminary investigation revealed that while a driver was slowing, she mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, causing the vehicle to collide with the front doors of this building," Pulido said.

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that pavement repairs on southbound Interstate 255 between Illinois 15 and Illinois 157 in St. Clair County will require lane closures over several weekends. Throughout construction, at least one lane will remain open at all times. The pavement repairs started Friday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. The two left lanes of southbound I-255 between Illinois 15 and Illinois 157 will be closed. One of the southbound lanes reopened by 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26. This advance work is part of a $65.4 million project, made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, to resurface I-255 throughout St. Clair County. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. Ove

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that the bridge carrying 26th Street over the Norfolk Southern railroad, between Illinois 15 and Bond Avenue in East St. Louis, reopened Friday, Aug. 23. The project, which consists of repairing the bridge approaches and structural steel, began earlier this summer. In April, the 26th Street bridge approach was fully closed to repair damage after the bridge was hit. During the closure, IDOT also completed pavement patching within the closure area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changing conditions and all detour signs prior to the work zone, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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GRANITE CITY – On June 29, 2024, officers from the Granite City Police Department responded to a call at Gateway Regional Medical Center regarding an unconscious and non-breathing infant. The infant, who had been transported from a residence in the 2100 block of Bryan Avenue, was pronounced deceased by hospital staff upon arrival. The Madison County Coroner’s Office, the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force, and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit were subsequently involved to assist with the investigation. According to Major Gary Brooks of the Granite City Police Department, the investigation identified two persons of interest whose actions were determined to have led to the infant’s death. On August 22, 2024, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s office issued charges against Sarrah M. Cheung and Patrick L. Godfrey. Both individuals face one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of Endangering the Life or Health of

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ALTON - The Alton-based Mercenaries Rugby Club is looking for new members, with a welcoming roster of current players and coaches who make the team an ideal starting place for new and experienced athletes alike. Head Coach Charles Hicks and fellow club member Keegan appeared on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to share more about what the Mercenaries Rugby Club is all about - including its name, which stems from the acronym for Metro East Rugby Club (MERC). Hicks emphasized that while there’s no prior rugby experience needed to play, all interested club members must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Even if you’ve never played rugby before, the Mercenaries have you covered with a helpful coaching and training staff of former rugby players, as well as former college wrestlers, football players, USA Rugby certified officials, and other seasoned athletes. Keegan said that while his rugby skills were rough starting out, he’s had a little help

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Meramec Station Road near Crescent Avenue that resulted in the death of an adult female. On Friday, August 23, 2024, just before 10:30 p.m., St. Louis County police officers from the West County Precinct responded to a call for service for a person struck near the intersection of Meramec Station Road and Crescent Avenue. Officers located an adult female who had been struck by a vehicle. The striking vehicle left the scene. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment but was pronounced deceased. The victim has been identified as Julisa Cannon, 31 years of age, of the sixtieth block of Cheryl Lane, Valley Park, MO, 63088. Preliminary investigation reveal the victim was walking eastbound on Meramec Station Road when she was struck by an unknown vehicle. This is an active investigation. Any additional

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ALTON/WOOD RIVER - Sarah Anderson has always been a creative person. Now, the local mom has decided to invest in her art as she starts her new business, The Painted Garden. After her son was born, Anderson realized that she needed a hobby for herself. She began painting and fell in love with the creative process. She can’t wait to share and sell her art through The Painted Garden. A launch party on Sept. 12, 2024, at Mac’s Downtown will help her spread the word and encourage the community to celebrate a new local business. “I’ve always liked to create, crafting or painting. It’s just been a fun little hobby of mine, but I decided to make it a business probably about a year and a half ago,” Anderson explained. “The plan is to sell the items that I create mostly on an online platform through my website, which is in the works, and through Amazon and Etsy.” Anderson works with texture and acrylic paints on canvas board or wrapped canvas

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ALTON - Three sex offenders from Alton and one “violent offender against youth” from Collinsville have been charged with failing to register as legally required. Anthony W. Jones, 61, of Alton, was charged with unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, his second or subsequent offense and a Class 2 felony. On June 11, 2024, Jones allegedly failed to register within three days after moving to the 1600 block of Langdon Street in Alton, and had previously been charged with failing to register in 2016. Patrick J. Wooldridge, 45, listed from Alton but who “lacks a fixed residence,” was charged with a Class 3 felony count of failure to report weekly to the Alton Police Chief, as legally required for those without a fixed residence. Wooldridge was also charged with a Class 4 felony count of theft for allegedly stealing an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency from Bluff City Outdoors, after previously being convicted of theft in Madison County in 2006.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Multiple fire departments responded to a devastating fire in the 8100 block of Goshen Road late Saturday night, Aug. 24, 2024, as flames engulfed a residence, necessitating a second alarm due to the absence of fire hydrants in the area. Firefighters from departments including Troy, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Hamel, Marine, Hamel EMS, and the Black Jack Fire Department, and others, arrived on the scene to assist in battling the blaze. The need to shuttle water to the location further complicated efforts to control the fire. As of 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, crews were still actively working to extinguish the flames, which had already breached the roof and spread throughout the entire house. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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MADISON COUNTY - State Senator Erica Harriss has spent the summer in the 56th District, learning from constituents. Harriss explained that her goal is to learn more about local issues so that she can accurately represent her constituents in the Illinois Senate, and she is proud of the 87,000 households, or 200,000 people, who she represents. In an appearance on “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello , she broke down some of her recent bills and her philosophy about working with both sides of the aisle. “We tell our kids all the time, and I tell mine, you can control yourself, you can’t always control other people, so just do the right thing every single time,” Harriss said. “I think that’s what it comes down to is just, here’s our goal, how do we do the right thing, how do we do the right thing by everyone?” Harriss pointed to Senate Bill 3571, which passed the Senate in April. This bill requires automated external defibrillators

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HARDIN - Several community favorite events and county fair traditions are making their highly anticipated return at this year’s Calhoun County Fair, set for Thursday, Sept. 5 to Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Fair organizer Patrick Simon appeared on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to share more about the fair as it comes together. He said his fellow organizers have been hard at work getting everything prepared, and emphasized the event wouldn’t be possible without the support of its sponsors. “The local support that we get is wonderful,” Simon said. “Everybody loves the fair, so they want to see it continue on and have it grow, and have it become something that for generations on can be enjoyed.” He added that on Thursday, admission for children 12 and under is completely free, courtesy of the day’s sponsor, Simmons Hanly Conroy. Animal judging for dogs, cats, poultry, and rabbits kicks off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, when the Garden Tractor

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ALTON — The Illinois State Police have identified Vernon Randle Jr., 27, of Alton, as the suspect who died in a shootout near Liberty and 6th Street in Alton on Thursday. The altercation also resulted in the death of Odin, a beloved K-9 of the Alton Police Department, and injuries to Officer Allen Averbeck. The incident unfolded on Thursday, leading to a gunfight that left Randle dead and Officer Averbeck injured. Odin, the K-9, was shot during the exchange and later succumbed to his injuries at Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Glen Carbon. Officer Averbeck, who was wearing a protective vest, has since been released from a local hospital and is expected to continue his recovery at home. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford took to the Alton Police Department's Facebook page on Friday to express his condolences and gratitude for the community support. "While we mourn his loss, I also want to highlight that K-9 Odin performed courageously and sacrificed his life to save the lives of his

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that pavement repairs on southbound Interstate 255 between Illinois 15 and Illinois 157 in St. Clair County will require lane closures over several weekends. Throughout construction, at least one lane will remain open at all times. The lane closures started at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, and the two left lanes of southbound I-255 between Illinois 15 and Illinois 157 will be closed. One of the southbound lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26. This advance work is part of a $65.4 million project, made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, to resurface I-255 throughout St. Clair County. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone

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GRANITE CITY - After exposing a 1-month-old child to multiple controlled substances, resulting in their death, a Granite City couple faces multiple felony charges. Patrick L. Godfrey, 27, and Sarrah M. Cheung, 41, both of the same Granite City address, were both charged with involuntary manslaughter (both Class 2 felonies) and endangering the life or health of a child (both Class 3 felonies). Godfrey and Cheung allegedly used meth and allowed a 1-month-old child to be exposed to both meth and cannabis before “co-sleeping,” or sleeping in close proximity to the child, reportedly resulting in their death. According to petitions filed to deny both Godfrey and Cheung’s pretrial release, officers responded to a report of an unresponsive infant on June 29, 2024. The petitions identify Godfrey as Cheung’s “boyfriend,” and state they both admitted to the drug use described. “Cheung and Godfrey both admit to using meth the day before,”

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O'FALLON — The O'Fallon Police Department is now accepting applications for its upcoming Citizens Police Academy, set to begin on September 11, 2024. With only five spots remaining, interested individuals are encouraged to reserve their place promptly. The academy, which spans eight weeks and includes a total of 10 sessions, offers participants an in-depth look at the operations and practices of the O'Fallon Police Department. Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., with additional sessions on one Thursday and one Saturday. Participants will receive comprehensive training and insights into various aspects of law enforcement, including department history, police operations, patrol tactics, traffic stops and DUI procedures, current drug trends, criminal investigations, CPR/AED training, fire safety demonstrations, use of force simulations, 9-1-1 communications, and canine operations. The program also includes an 8-hour ride-along with an officer. Graduates of the

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GRAFTON - There are only a few more chances to head to Raging Rivers this season. The water park will be open on weekends until Sept. 8, 2024, including Labor Day weekend. They are also giving away four free tickets to a lucky winner. Park Manager Jeremy Hayes said it’s been a great season so far, and he can’t wait to welcome more guests before the summer ends. “You’ve got to make your memories before the summer’s over, and what better place to do it than Raging Rivers?” Hayes said. “The employees love it and the people love it.” Located at 100 Palisades Parkway in Grafton, the water park is a local fixture for families across the Riverbend. From now until Sept. 8, Raging Rivers is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The park usually closes for the season after Labor Day weekend, but they decided this year to expand their season one week in the hope that warmer temperatures will bring more

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EAST ALTON — A dumpster fire on the 900 block of 5th Street prompted a swift response from the East Alton Fire Department on Friday afternoon. Firefighters arrived promptly at the scene and managed to extinguish the flames, preventing further damage. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed, and no injuries were reported. The East Alton Fire Department has not released additional details about the incident.

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BELLEVILLE - The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency expressed its condolences to the Alton Police Department after the loss of dedicated police dog K-9 Odin on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency's statement was as follows: "Our sympathies to Alton Police on the loss of their brave and dedicated K-9 Odin who paid the ultimate sacrifice yesterday in the line of duty. K-9 Odin died protecting his handler (who was also shot) and fellow officers. We wish the injured officer a speedy recovery as well." The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office had these comments about Odin and the other officer: "With a heavy heart, we are sending our condolences to the Alton Police Department on the passing of K-9 Odin. K-9 Odin was killed this morning after a suspect fired shots at police. We are also praying for a quick recovery for the police K-9 handler." Odin was killed while protecting his handler, who was also shot during the incident in Alton. The shooting

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