Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust , Ryan Sautman spoke about making mistakes and finding God. Sautman shared that he often comes up short, but God’s grace helps him confront his mistakes and find his way back to the Lord. He knows it’s impossible to be perfect, but he believes we should all try to follow the Bible’s teachings and emulate Jesus as much as possible. “We are trying to become more Christlike,” Sautman said. “At the end of the day, we as Christians, that’s our ultimate goal. We will never be sinless. We will never be perfect like He was. But our goal is to get closer and closer and closer, if we can, every single day, get 1% closer.” As a business owner and the primary breadwinner for his wife and four children, Sautman said the “weight” of these responsibilities can be overwhelming at times. Like a lot of people, he worries about his financial future.

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ALTON - The Alton Fire Department, along with the Alton Police Department, responded to 3000 Washington Ave. in Alton to the back lot of Enterprise Leasing, for a traffic crash on Thursday afternoon, June 26, 2025. When first responders arrived on the scene, one vehicle had backed into another vehicle behind the business. The Alton Fire Department Ambulance transported one patient to an Alton hospital with minor injuries.

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ALTON - Alton has welcomed a new restaurant that specializes in “Chicago jerk with Caribbean soul.” Jasmin Donlow is excited to share Jerked Up, her new restaurant located at 2711 Corner Court in Alton. From shrimp tacos to oxtails, she promises everyone will find something to love at the new spot. “We’re bringing something new and different to Alton,” she said. “The community is so supportive. I love being able to make the customers from Alton happy and just to bring this to our community. It's a good feeling.” Donlow explained that she was trained by her friend, a restaurant owner in Chicago, who “showed the ropes” of Chicago jerk food. An Alton native, Donlow was eager to bring her skills back to her hometown. She noted that the Riverbend region doesn’t have a jerk restaurant, and even St. Louis is missing an authentic Chicago jerk place. She hopes Jerked Up fills a space in the community while providing great

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY — Unemployment rates across several cities in St. Clair County showed notable declines from May 2024 to May 2025, according to a recent report by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Belleville’s unemployment rate fell from 4.8 percent in May 2024 to 3.7 percent in May 2025. Collinsville experienced a decrease from 4.1 percent to 3.2 percent during the same period. Granite City recorded a drop from 4.8 percent to 3.6 percent. East St. Louis saw its unemployment rate decline from 7.6 percent in May 2024 to 6.0 percent in May 2025. O’Fallon’s rate decreased from 4.0 percent to 3.2 percent. Overall, St. Clair County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.6 percent in May 2024 to 3.7 percent in May 2025. Bond County reported a decrease from 4.3 percent to 3.3 percent, while the St. Louis section’s rate fell from 4.2 percent to 3.4 percent. “We remain committed to ensuring vital investments in workforce development opportunities

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ALTON - Unemployment rates in both Alton and Edwardsville in May 2025 compared to May 2024 showed a drop in rates. Alton’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.1 percent in May 2024 to 3.8 percent in May 2025. Edwardsville saw a decrease from 3.7 percent to 3.1 percent over the same period. Other counties in the region also experienced declines: Greene County’s rate fell from 3.8 percent to 3.1 percent, Calhoun County from 4.3 percent to 3.7 percent, Madison County from 4.2 percent to 3.2 percent, Jersey County from 3.9 percent to 3.1 percent, and Macoupin County from 4.2 percent to 3.2 percent. The overall unemployment rate for the Illinois portion of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 3.4 percent in May 2025, down 0.8 percentage points from 4.2 percent in May 2024. “With every Metro area experiencing a year-over-year decrease in their unemployment rates, coupled with significant consecutive months of payroll gains in four of our areas across the state,

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NEW BADEN – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that Illinois 161 will be reduced to one lane at Interstate 64 in St. Clair County beginning, weather permitting, Monday, June 30, for bridge painting. Two-way traffic will be maintained using temporary signals. The work is expected to be completed by early fall. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. 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. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ALTON - Congrats to the six new graduates of the SIU Family Medicine Residency Program at Alton Memorial Hospital! Half will stay with BJC, helping fulfill the program’s mission to boost local primary care. Their continued commitment strengthens both the hospital and the community it serves. The SIU Family Medicine Residency Program graduates included: Rebecca Griffon, MD Kamaal Hicks, MD John Iskander, MD Faith Maduka, MD Ashley Osborn, MD Danny Shehata, MD Rebecca Hoffman, MD, MSPH, program director, says this marks the second class to complete the residency. Dr. Hicks will practice at BJC Medical Group Primary Care at Alton on the Alton Memorial Hospital campus, while Drs. Osborn and Maduka will continue their careers at BJC Medical Group Primary Care at Edwardsville. Drs. Shehata and Iskander are returning to Toronto, and Dr. Griffon is considering her next steps.

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SPRINGFIELD - In the latest official independent statewide poll of Illinois voters, Governor JB Pritzker begins his campaign for a third term with an approval rating of 51.9%. The percentage of respondents who disapprove of the Governor’s performance is 40.3%. The approval percentage is down slightly (53.1%) from a similar poll down in February 2025. A similar percentage (51.8%) of respondents say the Governor has earned a third term in office. According to the poll, the Governor’s approval rating continues to lag slightly under the percentage of votes he won in his election campaigns in 2018 (54.5%) and 2022 (54.9%) against Republican candidates former Governor Bruce Rauner and former State Senator Darren Bailey, respectively. Thus far, the only two announced Republican opponents for Governor are DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and former Congressional candidate Joseph Severino. The results are part of the latest Illinois Poll, conducted June 23-25. It is a semi-monthly

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ALTON - In the late 1800s, kids who did not have the money for a baseball game ticket gathered around knotholes in the wooden fences surrounding professional baseball stadiums so they could watch for free. In 1917, the Cardinal Knot Hole Gang began, and boys (just boys) could sign up to “see the Cardinals play free and have good pavilion seats, too, without having to peek through a knothole as dad used to do.” Boys were enrolled through qualified agencies such as the Boy Scouts, the Y.M.C.A., and schools. George A. Rieder was an authorized agent in Alton for the Cardinal Knot Hole Gang during the 1925 season. The Alton chapter of the Cardinal Knot Hole Gang and Alton High Band were scheduled to see the Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, June 23, but rain prevented the trip. An Alton Evening Telegraph article published that day mentioned that the band members still met at the high school at 11 a.m. as they had been told to do and waited there until the

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GLEN CARBON - Justin Terhaar, a senior from Father McGivney Catholic High School, concluded a historic baseball season and is set to continue his athletic career at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Terhaar, who played third base and earned first-team all-state honors, finished the season with a remarkable .521 batting average and broke the school's all-time record with 62 hits. Terhaar is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for Father McGivney Catholic. Coach Chris Erwin praised Terhaar’s performance and character, and said, “He had a season that will go down in the history books from a McGivney standpoint. Justin drove in 52 runs, many in key moments to extend leads, including in the state championship game. He consistently came up with big hits and made great plays at third base. He is a great young man, super respectful, one of the first guys for practice and one of the last to leave.” Terhaar also earned first-team all-state status

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It won’t be long before it’s the Fourth of July and we hear the whistling and thunderous booms of fireworks streaking through the sky. And while “consumer” fireworks such as bottle rockets, skyrockets and roman candles are illegal in Illinois, according to the state’s Pyrotechnic Use Act , others are considered non-consumer fireworks including sparklers, smoke bombs and party poppers. But that doesn’t make them completely safe. In 2023, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received approximately 9,700 reports of injuries and eight deaths because of fireworks. And it’s not just injuries that happen on July 4. According to CPSC, 66% of injuries happened before and after the holiday. Stathis Poulakidas, MD, the burn center medical director at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, says the number of injuries reported is probably low, given the number of people who don’t immediately seek treatment.

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When "men's health awareness month” is talked about, the mind almost always goes to medical screenings first. June is a time to encourage men to take care of their health and prioritize going in to be seen by a medical professional. "Men are notoriously difficult to get in for regular checkups, unless there's a problem. Men tend to ignore problems, a lot of time until it's too late or they develop a problem, when they could have avoided it," says Brian Curtis, MD, vice president, chief medical officer of OSF Medical Group. Dr. Curtis says men need to start regular primary care checkups for blood pressure, cholesterol and weight screenings in their early 20s. At 45, men need to start screening for colon cancer (colonoscopy), along with prostate cancer screening in their 50s. While these are all important things to do, Dr. Curtis says it’s also important for men to prioritize their mental well-being. In terms of mental health, there are two major issues guys run into.

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COLLINSVILLE – One Collinsville man faces a felony for driving under the influence and more while another is charged with unlawful weapon possession in a separate case. Devante D. Jenkins, 32, of Collinsville, was charged on June 18, 2025 with one count of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 4 felony, and two counts of endangering the life or health of a child, both Class A misdemeanors. On May 22, 2025, Jenkins allegedly drove a 2019 Dodge Ram on Bluff Road in Collinsville while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. His actions reportedly endangered two child passengers who were present in his vehicle at the time of the incident. His driving privileges had also previously been revoked or suspended. The case against Jenkins was presented by the Collinsville Police Department, and he was ordered released from custody. Another Collinsville man was charged in an unrelated case with a weapons offense. Bennie B. McClellan, 40, was charged on June 20, 2025 with

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker announced his re-election campaign, pledging to continue to get big things done for working families and keep moving Illinois forward. The announcement comes with the release of a new video “ Keep Illinois Moving Forward ,” where the Governor makes the choice clear between our historic progress here in Illinois and the chaos in Washington – direct from the center of Illinois in Chestnut. “These days, Illinois is standing at the center of the fight: the fight to make life more affordable, the fight to protect our freedoms, the fight for common sense,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We don’t just talk about problems. In Illinois, we solve them. Because we know government ought to stand up for working families and be a force for good, not a weapon of revenge. “I’m running for re-election to protect our progress and continue solving the problems we face. I love this state, and it’s the honor

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit smoking at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. The legislation would repeal an antiquated 1992 law that requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to furnish and maintain designated indoor or outdoor smoking areas. The bill would bring VA in line with smoke-free policies across the federal government and in the private health care system. “No one should be exposed to secondhand smoke, let alone our veterans when they’re attending a doctor’s appointment,” said Durbin. “We should do everything we can to support the health and well-being of our veterans, and this bipartisan legislation will protect veterans from the deadly consequences of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.” “The focus of VA hospitals should be promoting the health and well-being of

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EAST SAINT LOUIS - Local animal shelter Gateway Pet Guardians aims to change the way we approach animal welfare. Located in East St. Louis, Gateway Pet Guardians is an animal shelter that offers several free or low-cost resources for pet owners living in East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights, Washington Park and Fairmont City. Operations Director Jill Henke noted that the shelter helps thousands of cats and dogs every year, and they couldn’t do it without the community’s support. “Gateway Pet Guardians is just a super unique animal welfare organization,” she said. “It’s always been a resource desert for pet owners here until we came along.” As a shelter, Gateway Pet Guardians intakes about 1,600 dogs and cats every year and adopts them out to the four communities they serve. But just as important, they have resources available to help people keep their animals. Henke explained that they offer a low-cost pet retail store where they sell food

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Did you know that nearly 40% of the food produced globally is wasted, yet millions struggle to access fresh, nutritious produce daily? This paradox highlights a disconnect between food production and consumption that many urban and suburban communities are beginning to address by turning to local farmers’ markets. These vibrant markets offer more than just fresh fruits and vegetables—they provide a direct link between consumers and the people who grow their food, fostering community, sustainability, and healthier eating habits. The Rise of Farmers’ Markets: A Movement Toward Freshness and Transparency Over the past two decades, farmers’ markets have experienced significant growth in popularity. According to the USDA, the number of farmers’ markets in the United States increased from around 1,755 in 1994 to over 8,700 in 2020. This surge reflects a broader consumer desire for transparency in food sourcing and a preference for fresh, minimally processed

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June 26 marks a day of monumental events that have shaped our world in profound ways. Let's take a journey through time to uncover the rich tapestry of historic milestones tied to June 26. Starting with the most impactful, on June 26, 1945, representatives from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to sign the United Nations Charter, officially founding the United Nations. This international organization was established with the goal of promoting peace, security, and cooperation among nations after the devastation of World War II. The UN has since played a pivotal role in conflict resolution, humanitarian aid, and global governance, making this date a symbol of hope and international unity. Just a couple of years later, in December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but the groundwork laid on June 26, 1945, was indispensable for this achievement. The declaration has since become a fundamental reference point for human rights

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ALTON – Ward 4 Alderwoman Rosie Brown spoke highly of the Alton Police Department’s effectiveness in getting guns “off the street” at this week’s City Council meeting. Brown, who has been a consistent and vocal advocate for reducing gun violence in the city throughout past council meetings, said last month’s results were “encouraging.” “I would like to commend them with the number of guns that they got off the street last month,” Brown said. “It’s very encouraging to see that those guns are being confiscated.” Police Chief Jarrett Ford said keeping weapons off the streets and out of criminals’ hands is a top priority for his department. Brown further congratulated the chief on a “job well done.” “They did a great job last month – they really got their hands on a lot of illegal guns and took them off the streets,” Ford said. “I know that’s a primary focus

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ALTON – An ordinance replacing the state’s 1% sales tax on groceries with Alton’s own grocery sales tax has been delayed after City Council members on Wednesday laid the item over. The City Council previously passed a resolution to create the grocery tax ordinance, which would be adopted into the City Code when and if passed after a first and second reading. Originally set for its first reading on Wednesday, Alderwoman Stephanie Elliott moved to lay the item over until the council’s next meeting on July 9, 2025. Before coming back to the council in ordinance form, the resolution passed on a vote of 5-2. Ward 1 Alderman Chris Bohn and Ward 3 Alderman Michael Velloff voted against the city’s replacement 1% grocery tax, with all other City Council members voting in support. Since 1990, the State of Illinois has collected a 1% sales tax on groceries, from which 100% of the proceeds went directly to local municipalities. With that tax set to expire on

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