Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - The Alton Expo kicked off today and promises fun throughout the weekend. From Sept. 4–7, 2025, community members can access the Expo for free and enjoy live music on the riverfront at the Alton Amphitheater. A carnival, provided by Luehrs’ Ideal Rides, with rides, games and food vendors will be available all weekend. “It’s really just turned into another chance for the community to come together,” said Dan Herkert, Alton Amphitheater Commission Chair. “It’s a lot of family fun. It’s a safe opportunity and a positive opportunity to show off our community and our riverfront.” On Thursday, Sept. 4, the Expo opened from 5–10 p.m. and CLUless performed from 7–10 p.m. The carnival opens from 5–11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5. DJ She BEATz will spin tunes from 5:30–7:30 p.m., followed by Dirty Muggs from 8–11 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 6, the fun kicks off from 1–11 p.m. NGK performs from 3:30–6:30

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WOOD RIVER – Separate felony cases of burglary in Wood River involve a city resident accused of breaking into a local business and a South Roxana man charged with burglarizing a vehicle. Jeffrey M. Porter, 55, of Wood River, was charged on Aug. 29, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of burglary. On Aug. 22, 2025, Porter allegedly entered Moe’s Corner at 851 Wood River Ave. in Wood River without legal authority and with the intent to commit a theft. Randal L. Mamino, 58, of South Roxana, was charged with one count of burglary, a Class 3 felony. Mamino is accused of knowingly entering an individual’s motor vehicle, a 2012 Ford Econoline E-350, with the intention of committing a theft on July 20, 2025. The Wood River Police Department presented the cases against Porter and Mamino, both of whom were ordered released from custody pending trial. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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BERWYN – Today, Governor Pritzker visited Prairie Oak Elementary School in Berwyn to mark the beginning of the school year and learn more about the impact of pending federal actions on school communities. The Governor visited students in classrooms and met with district and school leadership, teachers, and support staff. "Schools are anchors of the community that provide far more than a high-quality education – they provide stability, meals, and a safe space to learn and grow,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Amid unprecedented attacks on families with immigrants and escalating threats, schools continue to come together to educate and support our students while supporting the communities they serve.” Amid the Trump Administration’s constant attacks on immigrant communities, schools play a critical role in providing a stable and safe learning environment, meals, resources for families, after school programs, and more. Under the U.S. Constitution, every

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College welcomes seven new faculty members for the start of the Fall 2025 semester. The group includes professionals in nursing, biology, emergency management services/paramedicine, graphic design and welding. “We’re happy to welcome these professionals to the team at Lewis and Clark,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Sue Czerwinski said. “Our students will certainly benefit from the amount of experience and knowledge they bring to their respective programs." Sara Clohessy, Assistant Professor of Nursing A 2005 graduate of Lewis and Clark Community College’s Nursing program, Sara Clohessy went on to earn a Bachelor of Nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College in 2012, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University in 2022. She has over 20 years of experience in direct patient care, including critical care, emergency care, leadership and, most

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JERSEYVILLE/BELLEVILLE – The City of Jerseyville, in partnership with American Water Charitable Foundation & Illinois American Water, is excited to announce the grand opening of its brand-new community splash pad, located at Lion’s Club Park. A ribbon cutting celebratory event was held on Wednesday, August 20 with city officials, Illinois American Water team members, and community members in attendance. Grant funds from American Water Charitable Foundation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ FY 2023 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD), as well as funding from The City of Jerseyville helped make the new splash pad possible. This welcoming community splash pad provides a water-based play space designed for people of all ages and abilities. It encourages playful interaction with nature, inspires environmental awareness, and nurtures a sense of connection to the natural world. As part of the city's continued efforts to expand recreational

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JERSEYVILLE – Jersey Community High School (JCHS) is inviting community members to hear from an FBI Special Agent next week on the growing threat of online dangers targeting students. Special Agent Jake Griffin with the FBI Springfield Office will make two presentations in the JCHS auditorium focusing on “Nihilistic Violent Extremism” (NVE) and its impact both locally and nationally. The first presentation, open to JCHS teachers and administrators, will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. The second presentation, open to parents/guardians and community members, will follow on the same day from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. According to a description of the presentation, NVE groups focus recruitment efforts on children and teenagers through online platforms, using certain recruitment methods to introduce them to their ideology with a focus on radicalizing and eventually mobilizing them to violence. “The presentation will provide an overview

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ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s has received the highest national honor for nursing excellence, placing them within the top 8% of hospitals in the U.S. The hospital was awarded Magnet Designation with Distinction. St. Anthony’s went above the benchmark for nursing excellence in 14 categories, putting them into the “with Distinction” category, which is even more exclusive. “We went well above, and we’re really raising the bar,” explained Charlotte R. Liley, DNP, CNL, Director of Professional Practice and Nursing Operations. “We couldn't do this without all of the nursing staff being on board and being involved in the care of their patients and everything we have to do.” Liley credits the hospital’s “professional practice model” and “transformational leadership” as two reasons why they achieved this status. She emphasized that none of this would be possible without the hard work of the nurses on

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a statement in support of a lawsuit District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed today against the Trump administration in response to their unlawful deployment of National Guard troops in the District of Columbia. “I stand in solidarity with my colleague Attorney General Brian Schwalb regarding his challenge to Donald Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional deployment of National Guard troops in the District of Columbia. “As the district’s complaint explains, it is unlawful, under the Posse Comitatus Act, for National Guard units to perform routine law enforcement functions, like searches, seizures and arrests. It is unlawful for the president to deploy National Guard units without the consent of local leadership, and it is unconstitutional and a violation of federal law for the federal military to command out-of-state National Guard troops who are in state militia status. “The president’s

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GRAFTON - QEM Fire Protection District will host their annual fish fry fundraiser. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, community members can join the QEM firefighters at their location at 14905 Elsah Road in Grafton. An adult dinner costs $15 and children’s dinners range from $6–8. All proceeds go back to the firefighters. “For us, it’s pretty important to have that engagement, especially with our community. We do a lot of outreach,” said Firefighter Victoria Westfall. “We are a 100% volunteer department. Our guys, everybody here, we all have full-time jobs, so we take the day off and we dedicate the whole day to the fire department.” The firefighters will fry buffalo fish and catfish, available while supplies last. Attendees can also enjoy hot dogs, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and homemade desserts. Westfall noted that the firefighters’ wives will be busy in the kitchen this year, making it a true family

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EDWARDSVILLE – During the recent Labor Day enforcement period, the Edwardsville Police Department conducted a successful impaired driving campaign. This effort resulted in five arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). In addition to the DUI arrests, officers issued 19 speeding citations, 5 seat belt citations, and 22 other citations. “The Labor Day safety campaign was a success." said Lt. Matt Senci. "It not only made the roads safer but also educated the public about the serious risks of driving under the influence." The Edwardsville Police Department collaborated with other law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners across the state for the Illinois Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High Get a DUI” campaigns. This effort was part of the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” initiatives, funded by federal highway safety

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department is investigating a shooting that injured a woman early Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, on Tara Avenue. At approximately 4:12 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2025, officers responded to multiple calls reporting shots fired in the 300 block of Tara Avenue in Alton. Alton Police said upon arrival, they found a female victim who had been struck by gunfire inside her residence. Emergency medical personnel from the Alton Fire Department provided care and transported her to a hospital in the St. Louis area. She has since been discharged. Officers secured the scene and collected several items of evidentiary value. Detectives from the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and Crime Scene Investigators from the Illinois State Police assisted with the investigation. Preliminary findings indicate the victim was not the intended target, and investigators believe the individuals involved were familiar with one another. Alton Police said the investigation

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GRANITE CITY – Local authorities have charged residents of Maryville and Frisco, Texas in separate cases of domestic battery filed in Madison County. Anais C. Elliott, 33, of Frisco, Texas, was charged on Aug. 25, 2025 with one count each of aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony) and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). On Aug. 24, 2025, Elliott allegedly struck one victim, a household or family member of Elliott’s, about the head and face with her hands before cutting another victim’s arm with a knife. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Elliott’s pretrial release from custody in the case presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to the petition, Elliott became angry with the first victim while drinking and struck him about the face and head before the second victim attempted to intervene. Elliott then reportedly cut the second victim’s arm as they were trying to stop the battery.

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SPRINGFIELD - As a part of his Driving Change campaign, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias hosted a third virtual Town Hall for Metro East residents Wednesday evening to discuss the skyrocketing cost of auto insurance. Between the first three virtual Town Halls, over 600 Illinoisans have participated to learn more about the issue and share their stories. Residents shared their first-hand accounts of auto insurance rates increasing due to a recent move, a poor credit score or advanced age – reasons that have nothing to do with their driving record. This was the third of a series of virtual Town Hall meetings that the Secretary of State’s office is conducting over the next several weeks to gather feedback from Illinoisans to help inform state legislation for members of the General Assembly to consider. Eight of the 10 highest rates of uninsured drivers in Illinois are found in Metro East ZIP codes, which also rank among those with the lowest average credit

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BELLEVILLE - The St. Louis Medical Examiner's Office has identified a 19-year-old man who died from gunshot wounds sustained Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, on North 38th Street in Belleville. DreShawn Mathis was pronounced dead at 9:23 p.m. Aug. 30, 2025, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office said. Belleville Police said they were dispatched to Memorial Hospital at about 7:20 p.m. Saturday after Mathis was brought there seeking medical attention for gunshot wounds. Mathis was later transported to a hospital in St. Louis. The shooting occurred in the 500 block of North 38th Street, police reported. The incident remains under investigation, and no further details were immediately available.

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois chapter (NAMI SWI) will host their annual Walk for Mental Health Awareness this month. At 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2025, community members are invited to Moody Park in Fairview Heights for the family-friendly festival, which will include the walk. Attendees can also enjoy a scavenger hunt, tie-dye station, silent auction, raffles, attendance prizes, resource tables, picnic lunch and more fun. “People can come and just spend the morning with us,” said Heather Kapp with NAMI SWI. “We’re right now at about 250 walkers registered, so it could be one of our biggest events ever, which we’re very excited about. And the timing, obviously, with the climate of everything just going on in the world right now, couldn’t be more perfect, because we really do need to shine that light on mental health and prioritizing it.” Kapp suggests bringing money for the raffles and the

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police Department Sgt. Brian Cave retired on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, after more than 25 years of service. Cave worked his final shift with the department on Tuesday, marking the end of a long career in law enforcement. The Granite City Police Department expressed appreciation for his years of dedication and noted that he will be missed. “We wish him the best in the future,” the department said in a statement.

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COLUMBIA - A local benefit concert will raise money for veterans in the Greater St. Louis region and beyond. On Sept. 5 and 6, 2025, community members are invited to Bolm-Schuhkraft City Park in Columbia for a two-day concert titled “Songs4Soldiers.” All proceeds will go to the Songs4Soldiers nonprofit, which works with VAs across the U.S. to help veterans with anything from housing to transportation to service animals. “You can just expect a really cool, family-friendly concert,” said Dustin Row, founder of Songs4Soldiers. “I’ve played in a million golf tournaments. I’ve donated to a ton of charities, as we all do, right? As everybody does. But what’s cool about Songs4Soldiers is…for your money, we also give you a pretty good return on a pretty quality event. It’s not like you’re just donating to the charity and nothing’s coming back to you. You get to be here. You get to experience it. You get to have fun.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a new funding opportunity to fund projects addressing emerging contaminants in drinking and/or source water in small or disadvantaged communities. The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program will provide over $40 million to assist communities in completing construction projects to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) or Manganese in drinking and/or source water. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this opportunity has been posted to the Illinois EPA website. The EC-SDC Grant program will fund projects for communities on the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program Emerging Contaminant Intended Funding Lists for FY2025 and FY2026. Emerging contaminants are identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Contaminant Candidate Lists (CCL) 1-5. PFAS are a series of man-made

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JERSEY - A former FBI agent and a survivor of a violent family attack will share their story Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2025, in a live podcast episode of "The Brighter Side of Blue." Retired FBI Agent Frank Brostrom previously discussed the Henry Hersman case, a violent and chaotic event that involved Hersman attempting to firebomb his parents’ home with his young daughter inside. At the time, listeners heard the story with a mix of disbelief and dark humor. Unbeknownst to the podcast team, Henry Hersman’s daughter, Sally, was listening. Sally Christine Arbuthnot, now a detective with the Jersey County Sheriff's Office, was six years old when her father tried to set fire to her grandparents’ home while she was inside. Instead of being offended by the podcast’s laughter at the chaos of the case, she reached out to the hosts to share that the laughter was healing. "Because sometimes when you’ve lived through hell, all you can do is laugh at the insanity o

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ALTON - Hop in the car and take a road trip to southwest Illinois this fall and discover authentic small-town charm coupled with stunning fall color drives, scenic and historic guided tours, adventures in u-pick orchards, corn maze adventures and spectacularly spooky haunted sites. When it comes to fall, the Great Rivers & Routes region has more than its share of fun, adventure and relaxing getaways on tap. “Fall is really a great time to visit southwest Illinois and the Great Rivers & Routes region,” says Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “We are the perfect week day escape and weekend getaway destination. There are so many things to do here – from rock climbing in the state’s largest state park, to classically haunted tours, unparalleled scenic color drives and tours to embracing the literal giants of The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois.” The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau offers spectacular

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