Riverbender 🕸

CHICAGO – Landmarks Illinois has announced its 2025 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois , calling attention to 10 culturally and architecturally significant sites across the state. The places on this year’s list all face uncertain futures due to a variety of threats, including vacancy, neglect, deferred maintenance, demolition, underutilization and lack of landmark protection. “This year’s Most Endangered list is wide-ranging, not only in the kinds of troubling threats these places face, but also in their historical narratives, geographical locations and building types. Yet all celebrate cultural heritage and tell the important stories of the people who have shaped our communities,” said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. “Landmarks Illinois feels a heightened responsibility this year to speak out and protect the built environment that reflects the rich diversity of our state and nation. As these irreplaceable

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department is warning residents to protect themselves from cryptocurrency scams after investigating multiple cases resulting in losses exceeding $400,000 over the past year. Cryptocurrency fraud has become a significant concern as scammers increasingly target investors with deceptive schemes, the police department said. The department issued a public service announcement outlining key precautions to help individuals avoid falling victim to these crimes. “Cryptocurrency is exciting and the latest and greatest thing — but it’s also a growing target for scammers,” the police department announcement said. Among the tips provided, the department advises skepticism toward any investment promising guaranteed returns or quick profits, emphasizing that no legitimate investment can guarantee profits. They also urge people to verify the identity of anyone soliciting cryptocurrency, noting that scammers often impersonate

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER - IMPACT Strategies, Inc. recently completed the renovation of the Federico Kia dealership in Wood River, IL at 1911 E Edwardsville Rd. The relaunch of the new Kia brand identity was the catalyst of Federico’s renovation. Kia wants their “customers to engage not only through the products but also through all the experience elements.” In the new Kia store design, “Kia aims to shift the mindsets of the consumers and provide them with meaningful and relevant experience with Kia.” As the construction manager, IMPACT Strategies oversaw the demolition and renovation of the existing 33,486 SF building, including extensive updates to the exterior. IMPACT collaborated with the Federico family & Kia’s design team early in the preconstruction phase to maximize efficiencies for constructability and design standards for an aggressive construction timeline. Throughout the project, Federico Kia remained operational, showcasing the seamless execution

Continue Reading

What if the simple act of moving your yoga practice from indoors to outdoors could amplify the benefits you receive for both mind and body? While yoga is widely celebrated for its ability to improve flexibility, strength, and mental clarity, practicing it outdoors introduces a unique set of advantages that many practitioners have yet to fully explore. The Mind-Body Connection Enhanced by Nature Yoga has long been revered as a discipline that unites the physical and mental realms through breath control, posture, and mindfulness. Practicing yoga outdoors deepens this union by connecting the practitioner with the natural environment. Studies have shown that exposure to green spaces reduces cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, and enhances mood. When combined with the meditative components of yoga, being outdoors can accelerate stress reduction and foster a greater sense of calm. For example, a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health

Continue Reading

May 6th has been a date marked by significant events that have shaped the world in various ways. One of the most impactful events on May 6th occurred in 1882, when the United States Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This legislation was the first significant law implemented to prevent a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States. Reflecting the racial tensions and economic anxieties of the time, the act barred Chinese laborers from entering the country and was a direct response to widespread anti-Chinese sentiment in the American West. The Chinese Exclusion Act had profound and lasting consequences on immigration policy and the Chinese-American community, serving as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by minority groups and the complexities of American immigration history. Earlier in history, on May 6th, 1527, the Sack of Rome took place. This brutal event was carried out by troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and marked the end of the Renaissance

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An 11-year-old boy was fatally shot Monday evening in St. Louis County, authorities said. The deceased has been identified as Aleksandr Lanis, 38 years of age, of the 1000 block of Hawkins Bend Drive in Fenton, Mo., 63026. At 8:14 p.m., officers from the North County Precinct responded to a shooting report in the 1800 block of Longford Drive. Upon arrival, they found the child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The boy was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died. The St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating the incident. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under review, and officials have not released further details. Additional information will be provided as the investigation continues.

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER – Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup and Councilmembers Jeremy Plank and Scott Tweedy took their oaths of office on Monday night after securing uncontested re-election bids in the April 2025 elections. All three men briefly stepped down to conclude their terms of office before each being sworn in by City Clerk Danielle Sneed, then being re-seated as the new Wood River City Council. Plank reflected on the council’s accomplishments over the past four years, adding that he’s looking forward to the next four years. He pointed to advancements in transparency such as posting meeting agendas online instead of the door of City Hall, and livestreaming meetings for greater public accessibility. “There are so many things we do differently now and a lot of good things ahead,” Plank said. “I’m just really looking forward to a lot of economic development, and I think we’re well-positioned for growth that we haven’t seen in a long time.”

Continue Reading

PIASA - Greyson Brewer, a senior running back and cornerback for Southwestern High School in Piasa, recently received a college opportunity to play football at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He signed to take a scholarship at Augustana recently at Southwestern High. He has been named an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month. Brewer had a strong senior football season for Piasa Birds' head coach Pat Keith. Brewer appeared in nine games during his final high school season, carrying the ball 111 times for 605 yards, including a longest run of 54 yards. He scored six touchdowns on the ground and added 12 receptions for 187 yards and two more touchdowns. Coach Keith praised Brewer’s performance for the Piasa Birds in his career. His contributions helped lead the Piasa Birds during his senior year, earning him outstanding recognition.

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District is preparing for the Summer Reading Program, and they can’t wait to welcome kids and teens to the library. From June 2 to July 10, 2025, community members can enjoy special programs, events and activities every day to celebrate the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme, “Level Up,” has a gaming feel and reminds kids that they can level up their lives by reading. “There’s programming seven days a week,” said Mary Cordes, Hayner’s executive director. “We have a really good staff.” The staff has been preparing for the Summer Reading Program since January, said Megan Dees, who oversees most of the teen programming at the library. Dees has been busy decorating the library with retro gaming icons, from Pac-Man to Sonic, in preparation for the “Level Up” theme. Each week begins with “Press Start for Art,” a program from 10–11 a.m. on Mondays

Continue Reading

BETHALTO - Civic Memorial junior Taylor Brooks recorded a personal best in the 3,200 meters at the Lady Kahok Invite on May 2, 2025, held at Collinsville High School. Brooks finished 10th with a time of 14:13.28, marking a 13-second improvement in her performance. “That was a 13-second P.R. I am going to try to get under 14 minutes. I love running. Our coach Jake Peal is such a good coach and trainer,” Brooks said following the race. She is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete of the Month for the Eagles. Earlier in the season, Brooks placed second in the Civic Memorial outdoor opener on March 25, 2025, with a time of 6:40.7 in the 1,600 meters. She also took third in the 1,600 at a triangular meet against Columbia and East Alton-Wood River on April 9, clocking 6:49.2. In addition to her individual events, Brooks occasionally competes in the 4x800 and 4x400 relays for the Eagles. On April 28, 2025, she set a personal record in the 800 meters with a time of

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Grant Huneke, a senior forward for the Edwardsville club hockey team, was an important player in the Tigers' run to their 16th Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association Class 2A championship, which was won by the Tigers over O'Fallon 4-0 in February 2025 at the RP Lumber Center in Edwardsville, sweeping the final series in two straight, after having come from behind to defeat the Panthers 6-5 in game one on Feb. 25 at the East Alton Ice Arena, Edwardsville winning a shootout 1-0 to take game one. For the season in league games, Huneke scored seven goals, and had seven assists for 14 points, while taking 14 minutes in penalties. He was a part of one of four potent forward lines which helped guide Edwardsville to the title. Grant is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. In a postgame interview after Edwardsville won its championship, Huneke felt very happy and proud of his team's championship. ""I think our team worked really hard, we had

Continue Reading

GLEN CARBON - Spencer Sundberg, a defensive midfielder for Father McGivney Catholic's boys soccer team, signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Illinois-Springfield next season in a ceremony held inside the Griffins Nest student lounge on April 30, 2025. Sundberg contributed four goals and two assists to the Griffins this past fall in helping McGivney to a 19-5-2 record and advance to the IHSA Class 1A Murphysboro sectional final, where the Griffins lost to Columbia 3-2 at Gene Baker Field in Granite City. Sundberg is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. When asked why he chose UIS to play soccer, Sundberg had some help from former Prairie State player and current Griffins assistant coach Brett Schubert. "Actually, my assistant coach went there," Sundberg said, "and he introduced me to it. I got hooked up with the coach (Graham Shaw). I reached out to him, he said he had a spot, and I went up there, toured, and practiced wit

Continue Reading

ALTON — Officer Dalton Archer and his canine partner, K9 Rico, have officially completed the K9 Academy and are set to begin active duty this week with the Alton Police Department. The department announced the certification of Rico, its newest four-legged officer, who will assist in various law enforcement tasks including tracking suspects and detecting narcotics. The team is expected to contribute to neighborhood safety across the community. “We’re proud to announce that Officer Archer and his partner, K9 Rico, have officially completed the K9 Academy,” the Alton Police Department said in a statement. “This duo will hit the streets this week, and we’re excited for the incredible work they’ll do together.” K9 Rico’s addition marks a continued effort by the department to enhance public safety through specialized units. The new addition marks movements forward after the Alton Police lost K9 Odin, who was shot and killed in

Continue Reading

Smoothies are a popular meal replacement or snack, and when made with fruit, veggies, yogurt and healthy fats that are good for you, they can be healthy. But there are a few things to keep in mind before loading up the blender, says Nicole O’Neill, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare. “The tricky thing is a lot of smoothies are pretty one dimensional and or the wrong size,” she says. “So, my number one thought is, deconstruct your smoothie and put it on a plate. If you put it on a plate and you look at that plate and go, ‘Whoa, that's too much.’ Then that means your smoothies is too much.” Smoothies usually come in 16 to 32-ounce (475–945-mL) servings. There’s a misconception that smoothies are low in calories, but some drinks pack over a whopping 1,000 calories, depending on their size and ingredients. O’Neill says usually, a 100–200-calorie smoothie with 10 grams of protein is a great snack, and a 400–800-calorie

Continue Reading

ALTON — Laila Nael Campbell was born at 1:03 p.m. on January 2, 2025, at Alton Memorial Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and measured 18 1/4 inches long at birth. Laila is the daughter of Chance and Airrel (Watkins) Campbell of Alton. Her grandparents are Lisa Griggs-Campbell of Alton and Stephanie Watkins of Centralia. James Griggs Sr. of Alton is her great-grandparent.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Community Development is offering scholarships to local students planning to attend college in the fall. Scholarships will be awarded to students who are residents of Madison County and attending a college, a university or training program in the State of Illinois. The Community Services Block Grant program will select 5 students to receive a $4,000.00 scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year. Awards will be disbursed in two $2,000 increments at the start of each semester. Those interested in applying for the scholarship may contact local area financial aid offices of Lewis & Clark Community College, Southwestern Illinois College and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, their local high school counselor’s office or click here: https://cms4files.revize.com/madisoncountyilus/Community_Development/Scholarship%20announcement%202025%20UPDATED.pdf To be eligible, students must meet the block grant income guidelines as well as the other

Continue Reading

ALTON – For the third consecutive time in the past 12 months, a metro east hospital with a 100-year health care ministry in the Riverbend region is celebrating national distinction for achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center again has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog, for the Spring 2025 reporting period. OSF Saint Anthony’s also received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group during the Fall 2024 and Spring 2024 reporting periods. While receiving an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group is a very notable achievement in and of itself, especially no less than in three consecutive reporting periods, OSF Saint Anthony’s Spring 2025 “A” grade is also significant because: No other hospital in the state of Illinois south of Quincy received an “A”

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS — Students from East St. Louis School District 189, known as the Peace Warriors, recently returned from their annual trip to Memphis, Tenn., where they engaged in a journey focused on civil rights history and excellence. During the visit, the students toured significant historical sites, including the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the location where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life work is celebrated and where he spent the last moments of his life. The group also visited the “I Am a Man” Plaza, which commemorates the Memphis sanitation workers' strike and highlights ongoing efforts for dignity and justice. In addition to exploring these landmarks, the Peace Warriors toured historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), gaining insight into the traditions, academic achievements, and cultural pride that characterize these institutions. East St. Louis School District 189 described the trip as “more than a tour —

Continue Reading

BETHALTO - Sarah Hughes has spent 20 years as a teacher, and she’s not stopping anytime soon. Hughes is a seventh grade pre-algebra teacher and a math interventionist for grades six through eight at Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. Over the years, she has learned that relationships are at the foundation of every classroom, and she is proud of how her students have grown. “The favorite part of my job is building relationships with students and being able to try and explain math in a way that is easy for students to understand,” she explained. “I love greeting students in the morning and making sure they get their day started with a smile.” Hughes has always wanted to be a teacher. As a child, she would often “play school” with her sister and friends. She soon realized that she wanted to make an impact on children, just like her teachers did for her. That impact extends beyond the classroom. Hughes

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wants Illinoisans to get the facts about REAL IDs as many scramble to get one. Giannoulias will stress the May 7, 2025 “deadline” isn’t really a deadline. On May 7, Americans will need a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or ID, or a valid passport, to board a domestic flight; however, DMVs will continue to issue REAL IDs after May 7. Giannoulias noted if you’re not traveling after May 7, you probably don’t need a REAL ID right away. Given the recent surge at Illinois DMVs, Giannoulias advised Illinoisans who don’t need a REAL ID in May to consider holding off to avoid waits at facilities. The primary reason for Illinoisans over the age of 18 to obtain a REAL ID is to fly domestically on a commercial aircraft after May 7. Individuals who have a valid U.S. passport, Military ID, Green Card, or Global Entry and those under the age of 18 will not need a REAL ID to fly. He also

Continue Reading