Riverbender 🕸

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released a new report on infant mortality that shows the statewide rate decreased to 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, the most recent full year of data, compared to 6.5 per 1,000 in 2018. However, the report released during Infant Mortality Awareness Month also documents the historic racial disparities that have persisted nationally in the area of infant health. Governor JB Pritzker has made it a priority to address these disparities and included more than $23 million in the current state budget to improve birth outcomes. The Illinois infant mortality rate of 5.6 is slightly above the national rate of 5.4. The state has signed on to the national Healthy People 2030 framework established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which sets a goal for all states to reach a rate of 5.0 or lower by the year 2030. “The health of a newborn baby during their first year of life is a critical

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - An exhibit featuring one of the most recognizable and talented trumpeters in the world, Miles Davis, will open to the public at the St. Clair County Historical Society on October 2, from 4-6 p.m. The “Miles Davis, Modes, and Modalities, 1935-1990” exhibit offers community members the chance to learn more about the jazz legend with roots in southern Illinois. Prince Wells III, Associate Professor Emeritus of the Department of Music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will introduce the program, which is free for attendees. This is the second event within the Smithsonian Community Curation 2024: St. Louis event series. The Miles Davis Exhibit is part of a larger community curation project collaboratively produced by the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and local institutions and organizations. The exhibit opening will also feature presenters from each of the collaborating parties – NMAAHC, the St. Clair County

Continue Reading

ALTON – On Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, 14-year-old Zachary led a mile-long run carrying a blue line flag in honor of Alton K9 Odin, who was killed by gunfire on August 22, 2024. The event was organized by Running 4 Heroes, an organization dedicated to honoring fallen first responders. Runners gathered at the Alton Police Department and followed a route down East Broadway to CPL. Christopher Belchik Memorial Expressway before returning to the starting point. Zachary, who began volunteering with Running 4 Heroes in July 2024, said the run is a meaningful way to give back to the community. “To me, it’s just one way to give back to the community,” Zachary said. “When I’m running, I think about who I’m running for and all the people that it means something to.” This weekend marked Zachary's 14th-mile run for the organization. “When it was brought to my attention, I was like, oh, wow, I think this would be great, especially

Continue Reading

September 28th has been a significant date in history, marked by pivotal events that have shaped the world in various ways. 1928 - Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin One of the most groundbreaking discoveries in medical history happened on September 28, 1928, when Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. While working at St. Mary's Hospital in London, Fleming noticed that a mold called Penicillium notatum had killed a surrounding colony of bacteria. This chance observation led to the development of antibiotics, which have saved countless lives and revolutionized medicine. Fleming’s discovery marked the beginning of modern antimicrobial therapy, making it one of the most impactful events in medical history. 1941 - The Siege of Leningrad Begins During World War II, the German Army began its siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on September 28, 1941. This brutal blockade lasted for 872 days, causing immense suffering and loss of life. The

Continue Reading

My Fellow Godfrey Residents, While serving as Mayor of the Village of Godfrey, I have done so with great care, conscientious decision-making, and concern for residents and businesses that call Godfrey home. I take great pride in my community which, after residing in for many decades, I’m proud to call MY hometown. Upon hearing repeated requests from residents to run for another mayoral term, and after careful consideration with my lovely wife, Linda, and my team of dedicated employees, I have decided to run again for the office of Mayor of the Village of Godfrey. It gives me great happiness to see the beauty of our community. Our streets are well-maintained, our parks are treasures, our residents care about their homes and property, and our businesses are doing quite well. This is accomplished all while maintaining a very low tax levy which, over many years of my tenure, has even been reduced. Less than 2% of your property tax bill comes to the Village of Godfey. I can say

Continue Reading

ALTON - Students at North Elementary danced, galloped and skipped their way through a walk-a-thon to raise money for the school district. The Parent Teacher Group of Lewis and Clark and North, or the PTG, sponsored the walk-a-thon to fundraise for Lewis and Clark Elementary and North Elementary. Students collected money for the schools and then celebrated the successful fundraiser by walking a mile on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. “We’re working on that culture of belonging and really making a welcoming place,” said Lisa Harris, principal at North. “It just makes my heart smile to see kids smile and laughing and playing, and that’s what we want, to have fun with our kids.” Harris and Jackie Cooper, who helped organize the event with the PTG, explained that they wanted to create a fundraiser in which all students could participate. All of the students at North Elementary could walk the mile and play in the gym on Sept. 27. “We wanted them t

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - A decades-long conservation effort involving the Saint Louis Zoo reached a historic milestone this month with the discovery of the first wild-born Partula snail ( Partula tohiveana ) since the species went extinct in the wild in the 1980s. In 1990, Saint Louis Zoo joined a global effort of zoos across Europe and North America dedicated to keeping the tiny, but ecologically important Partula snails from extinction. The zoos worked to reintroduce zoo-raised snails to their native island homes in French Polynesia. In early September, Saint Louis Zoo served as a U.S. hub for an annual reintroduction of Partula snails to the wild led by the Zoological Society of London. Saint Louis Zoo Invertebrate Keeper Anthony Oliveira traveled to Tahiti to help care for, release and monitor the snails. Born-in-the-wild unmarked Partula tohiveana snail observed in the wild in September 2024, meaning the species is re-established. Photo courtesy of Paul Pearce-Kelly / Zoological Societ

Continue Reading

GODFREY - The Godfrey Fall Festival scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, has been canceled. “Unfortunately, due to the weather, we will be canceling the Fall Festival tomorrow,” said Chris Logan, director of the Godfrey Parks and Recreation Department. Rain is expected for most of the day on Saturday due to Hurricane Helene. The Great Godfrey Maze and activities are open on Fridays from 6–10 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. To celebrate Halloween, the Haunted Maze will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from dark until 10 p.m., starting next weekend on Oct. 4, 2024. Admission to the Great Godfrey Maze costs $7 for adults ages 12 and up and $5 for kids under age 12. Children ages 5 and under are free. The Haunted Maze costs $9 for adults and $7 for kids ages 6–11. For more information about the Godfrey Parks and Recreation Department’s Great Godfrey Maze, visit their official webpage or the Great Godfrey Maze Facebook page

Continue Reading

FOSTERBURG — A vehicle collided with a power pole in the 4400 block of Fosterburg Road this week, initially leaving 300 customers without power. The incident occurred on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, prompting officials to remind motorists to drive cautiously. Ameren Illinois responded promptly to the scene and managed to restore power to all affected customers within two to three hours. The swift response was critical in minimizing the disruption caused by the outage. Law enforcement officials have emphasized the importance of motorists slowing down when electrical workers are performing their tasks. "Slowing down ensures the safety of the employees and facilitates the restoration process," an officer stated. As wet weather conditions persisted on Friday, authorities urged drivers to exercise additional caution to prevent similar incidents and ensure the safety of both workers and the general public.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville High School gymnasium was filled with more than just the usual cheers and spikes Thursday night, Sept. 26, 2024. In addition to the excitement of a girls volleyball match against Belleville West, it was also Teacher Appreciation Night, an event that brought an extra layer of community spirit to the game. Each player on the Tigers' team invited their favorite teacher to the match, recognizing the significant role educators play in their lives. The teachers were honored with gift bags and heartfelt letters of appreciation from the players, expressing their gratitude for the support and guidance provided throughout their school years. The event took place on Sept. 26, 2024, and aimed to strengthen the bond between students and teachers, highlighting the importance of educational support in extracurricular success. The gym was a scene of camaraderie as teachers and students shared smiles and stories, making the evening memorable for all involved.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Friday that his office has filed felony charges of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery and child endangerment against an Edwardsville man. Misdemeanor charges of child endangerment also have been filed against the defendant’s spouse. Thomas M. Hatley, 46, of Edwardsville has been charged with one count of Aggravated Domestic Battery (class 2 felony), three counts of Aggravated Battery (class 3 felony) and four counts of Endangering the Life or Health of a Child (class A misdemeanor). The charges allege that Hatley committed batteries against two 12-year-olds and a person who is older than 60. The charges also allege that his actions endangered the 12-year-olds and two other children: a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. Hatley’s spouse, Ha T. Hatley, 37, also of Edwardsville, has been charged with four counts of Endangering the Life or Health of a Child (class A misdemeanor). The charges

Continue Reading

GLEN CARBON - Saint Cecilia’s Knights of Columbus in Glen Carbon is hosting its annual Music Trivia Night on Oct. 19, 2024. This fundraiser replaces the Tootsie Roll Drive. It is to raise funds for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The music questions will include all genres of music. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and play begins at 7 p.m. The cost is $200 for a table of eight. There will be a 60/40 drawing and many gift baskets will be raffled. There will also be a cash payout for first, second, and third place. This is a B.Y.O.B event. Food and snacks may be brought as well. For more information or to reserve a table, please call or text Dan Robertson at 618-696-6871 or Phil Gonzales at 618-691-8425. St. Cecilia’s Church is located at 155 North Main Street, Glen Carbon, Illinois. Please join them for a night of fun, music, and prizes!

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE - The St. Clair County Transit District, in partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit and Metro Transit, is hosting Passport to Music on Metro on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. at both the Belleville and Emerson Park Transit Centers. This music festival will feature four musical acts, two at each venue, and is designed to promote community, encourage ridership and showcase the amenities offered as part of recent “Transit Stop Transformation” efforts. The event is free and open to the public. A $5 Metro Day Pass can be purchased for those interested in traveling back-and-forth between Metro Transit Centers. The musical acts will get underway at the Belleville Transit Center (718 Scheel St, Belleville, IL 62221) at 1 p.m. with a performance by jazz, rhythm and blues band First Call. Then the Kecia Davis Band, a Motown, soul and jazz band, will perform at 2:40 p.m. Simultaneously, at the Emerson Park Transit Center (929 N 15th St, East

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON – East Alton School District administration was alerted to a potential threat to school safety posted on social media late Thursday night, Sept. 26, 2024. The administration became aware of the threat at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, and promptly initiated a thorough investigation. Superintendent Nancy Werden communicated to parents and staff that the investigation, now under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement and the Madison County State's Attorney, has not identified any imminent danger to students and staff. "Any student who makes threats such as this will face consequences and disciplinary action," Werden said. In her message, Werden emphasized the district's commitment to student safety and assured parents that it is safe for their children to attend school. The district will maintain its previously scheduled 11:35 a.m. dismissal for the day. "We want to thank the East Alton Police Department for its quick and professional response and will continue

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton Community Service League will have a charity wine tasting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2024, at the Wood River Moose 1349. There will be snacks, prizes, and various wine options for everyone’s taste including non-alcoholic wine! The prizes will include scratch-offs, gift cards to local businesses, and mini spirits that will all sit in a vintage large copper pumpkin, as well as a smaller copper pumpkin decoration. All of the snacks for the event were donated by Schwegel’s, which include cheese, meats, crackers, and grapes. The distributor working this event will be RNDC, which is the second largest distributor of wine and spirits in the nation. Wine, snacks, and prizes aside, supporting and raising money for the Alton Community Service League is the ultimate goal. Cora Miller and Jill Moon from the Alton Community Service League discussed how important supporting events like this one are for the community. “100% of the fund

Continue Reading

ALTON – The City of Alton will receive technical assistance from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) through the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) authority to develop a Riverfront Plan. The USACE’s PAS program helps states and local governments address critical water and land resource issues. The collaboration will involve in-depth studies, data collection, and public engagement to ensure that riverfront development aligns with environmental regulations, economic goals, and community needs. The plan will enable water resources planning and engineering analysis by USACE with city planners and encourage stakeholder input through robust public engagement processes. The plan will inform city decision making about viable riverfront transformation projects and future investment. The plan aims to provide alternatives for consideration of natural and nature-based features to promote flood resilience, improve cruise ship landing and moorings, evaluate the trail dike that protects

Continue Reading

COTTAGE HILLS – The Bethalto Fire Department responded to an incident involving a broken power pole and downed wires on the 100 block of South Williams in Cottage Hills on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find a leaning power pole with lines draped across a vehicle parked in a driveway and extending across the roadway. Ameren was called to the scene to remove the lines from both the vehicle and the roadway. During the operation, the road was temporarily closed to traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The road was reopened following the removal of the power lines.

Continue Reading

GODFREY — The Madison County Sheriff's Office and Godfrey Fire Protection District responded to two separate accidents over the past two days, prompting authorities to advise caution on the roads. One of the accidents occurred Friday morning, Sept. 27, 2024, on Clifton Terrace Road in Godfrey. An accident resulted in a woman suffering a back injury. It appeared the woman was going to be transported to an area hospital. Authorities have urged drivers to avoid the area while cleanup continues Friday morning. The southbound lane of Clifton Terrace Road has been closed to traffic during this time. The second accident occurred on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at Highway 255 and northbound Humbert Road exit. This incident also involved a single vehicle, though no further details have been released. Motorists are advised to exercise caution today as the roads remain damp, contributing to hazardous driving conditions.

Continue Reading

ALTON - Local runners and first responders will honor fallen K9 Odin this weekend , and the one-mile run will be led by 14-year-old Zachary Pruss. Zachary volunteers with Running 4 Heroes, the organization sponsoring the run at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. As one of eight national youth runners, Zachary runs one mile for every first responder or K9 who is killed in the line of duty. “To me, it’s just one way to give back to the community,” Zachary said. “When I’m running, I think about who I’m running for and all the people that it means something to.” Running 4 Heroes was started in 2019 to honor fallen first responders. Since then, the organization has run 1,850 miles for first responders across the country. Odin will be their 103rd K9. Zachary began volunteering with the organization in July 2024. This weekend will mark his 14th mile. He comes from “a family of runners” and first responders, so it was a natural

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS — On Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, East St. Louis School District 189 celebrated a significant academic achievement as 13 high school students were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS). The ceremony, held in front of staff, family, and friends, recognized students for their excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Dr. Tracee Wells, Director of Instructional Support and College Readiness, highlighted the importance of the event. "It was such a great moment celebrating just a few of our amazing students at East St. Louis Senior High School," Wells stated. The NHS induction ceremony featured 12 of the 13 honorees, including four students who are part of the Running Start program, which allows them to attend both East St. Louis High School and Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC). The event was made possible through the efforts of several dedicated staff members, including Dr. Green, Mr. Ford, Ms. DeBoise, Mrs. DeBoe, Mr. Jefferson, Mr.

Continue Reading