Riverbender 🕸

GODFREY - As we near the start of the fall semester, Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) is happy to highlight the College for Life program, which provides non-credit classes to students with disabilities. Students over age 18 who have a documented intellectual or developmental disability or similar learning challenges are eligible for the program. Program Coordinator Roselyn “Rosie” Ellington explained that it’s a great chance for students to engage with campus life and continue their education past high school. “It’s a really fun program, and it’s also amazing because it’s so inclusive,” Ellington said. “There’s no program like ours in the area. And it’s called College for Life because students can come for as long as they want, and it’s a very good way for the students to also be involved in a college setting.” More than 130 students are enrolled in the College for Life (CFL) program at LCCC’s

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office returned more than $11.5 million in unclaimed property during July, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. The total includes nearly $11.5 million in cash and interest and almost $45,000 in stock value. All told, 12,554 claims were paid. “My office helps the Illinois economy by putting money back in people’s pockets,” Frerichs said. “I have taken numerous steps to make the system of reuniting people with their unclaimed property more efficient.” Illinois’ unclaimed property program — also known as I-CASH — is one of the state’s oldest consumer protection initiatives. The State Treasurer is tasked with safeguarding unclaimed property, such as the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. Illinois holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property. The Treasurer’s

Continue Reading

GODFREY - The Evangelical United Church of Christ School in Godfrey will welcome Amanda Macias as their new principal this year. Macias previously taught at Alton High School before serving as the principal at North Greene Junior and Senior High School for five years. She doesn’t have as much experience working with elementary school students, but she’s excited for the chance to learn and get involved with the Evangelical community. “I’m really excited about this new adventure in my life,” Macias said. She joked that her time at North Greene has prepared her for almost anything. “Your feet hit the ground running, and that first year, I just probably couldn’t even tell you my name…The learning that I did there was amazing. I’m not near as nervous for my first year at this job.” This summer, Macias has been adjusting to her new role and noting the differences between public and private schools. She has done a lot of

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville is applying for a grant which, if approved, would fund up to 40 percent of the cost of a new proposed bike/pedestrian trail along Schwarz Street. The new trail would allow greater connectivity between Brent Leh Dog Park, the sidewalk along Schwarz Street, and the Route 66 trail. 4th Ward Alderman SJ Morrison said this project has been on the “priority list” of projects yet to be completed under the city’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan . He added the project has been highly requested by residents. “It’s a good project, I think it’ll score well,” Morrison said. “It’ll connect to the dog park and to the sidewalk along Schwarz. It’ll also connect by a crosswalk to the Route 66 bikeway along 157 … we’ve heard this request for a while.” Specifically, the new trail segment will connect the Route 66 trail at the intersection of Highway 157 and West Schwarz

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON - Early Monday morning, July 31, NGRREC researchers took to the Mississippi River to deploy one of their GREON stations. GREON stations are designed to capture real-time water quality data, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, blue-green algae, and nitrate, to name a few. These data are important for informing watershed health and understanding the ecology of large-floodplains. “We are excited to redeploy our GREON buoy back in Ellis Bay,” Research Specialist Jen Hemphill said. “Data has been collected here since 2014 and has allowed us to study seasonal, annual, and climatic changes on the water quality. One of our goals with GREON is to deploy water quality platforms throughout Illinois rivers gathering data in areas not currently monitored. This will help fill in data gaps of a river system’s overall water quality.” National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems

Continue Reading

ALTON - Marilyn Minor has officially opened her business at 235 East Delmar Road in Alton, Illinois 62002. The RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) team facilitated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for family, friends, and community members on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Team members include Marilyn Minor, Owner/Stylist; Chynethia Hewlett, stylist specializing in skin care; and stylist Carmen Samuels. Marilyn’s upscale salon services include the art of hairstyling, trendy haircuts, express hair weaving (bonding and sew-ins), finger waves for days, natural hairstyling, updos, silk press, hair braiding, eyebrow waxing/razor, hair coloring, and more." "We are a hair replacement center, for men and women," she added. "Our motto is 'We Care About Your Hair," she said. "In Marilyn’s Care is a distributor of age-defying skincare products." Marily said her goal is that every person she comes in contact with is made to look and feel beautiful. Call for a free personal consultation and/or

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - It’s that time of year when it can be pretty easy to lose a couple hours of good sleep. Even if we’re usually pretty good about keeping up with our regular bedtime routines, there can be a lot going on that can get in the way. Evening trips to the park or a late summer concert can keep us up later than usual. Uncomfortably warm bedrooms can make it harder to get to sleep and stay asleep. And the kids in our lives may feel summer coming to a close, bringing some extra energy and disrupted sleep in anticipation of a new school year. Occasionally missing out on a healthy night’s sleep is fine. But, when it happens regularly, it can be more of a concern and have a real impact on our health. “Sleep is essential in maintaining good physical and mental health, as well as well-being,” said Yikyung Park, professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Getting too little sleep

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Construction on “The Station on Main” complex in Edwardsville is expected to be completed in Spring 2024. The site, located at 400 North Main Street, previously housed Edwardsville’s first City Hall and various other public safety services. The new development will include 38 single-bedroom apartments and townhomes, four restaurants, five boutique retail sites and up to five businesses, according to a press release from the City of Edwardsville dated October 2022. “We’re really excited to be making a pretty big impact on downtown Edwardsville,” said Kevin Neffelhauf, the project manager with Pfund Construction . Construction by Pfund Construction started earlier this year. Neffelhauf said there are three phases of construction and it has been going well. They plan to be finished sometime between late March and mid-April. “We’ve been there on site for about nine months now, kind of clearing what was there

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS – A 15-year-old East St. Louis male has been charged with First-Degree Murder (a Class M Felony) and Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (a Class X Felony). The Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) and St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office made the announcement about the charges Friday afternoon after what they described as a "thorough investigation." The 15-year-old is currently detained at the St. Clair Juvenile Detention Center. On Aug. 27, 2022, the East St. Louis Police Department requested ISP PSEG to conduct a death investigation. A female, later identified as 49-year-old Harriett Childers of St. Louis, was located in the 1800 block of Gaty Avenue with a gunshot wound. Childers was a full-time nurse and had been driving for a ride share when the shooting occurred. Childers was pronounced deceased on scene. ISP DCI was assisted by the East St. Louis Police Department, St. Clair County Coroner’s Office, ISP Crime Scene Services,

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – An Illinois Lottery retailer in the Chicagoland area strikes again. A $700,000 winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket was sold at Kostner Korner, located at 4356 W. Howard St. in Skokie. The Lucky Day Lotto ticket matched all five numbers for the Wednesday, August 2 midday drawing to take home the jackpot prize. The winning numbers were: 8-19-26-32-37. “Due to the big Mega Millions Jackpot, we’ve had a lot of new customers coming into the store to buy tickets so I’m not sure who might have bought the winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket,” said Bhupendra Patel, owner of Kostner Korner. “Whomever it is, I’m just very happy that one of our customers is a winner.” This is the second time the store has sold a winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket within the last five weeks. On June 30, a lucky player took home the jackpot prize - a cool $450,000. Kostner Korner is also one of the top 10 Illinois Lottery retailers in the state that have sold the most

Continue Reading

GODFREY - The College for Life program at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) recently celebrated the end of their gardening class with a meal using produce from the garden. College for Life (CFL) is a community education program for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This summer, 12 students tended to LCCC’s Growing Knowledge Garden and learned how to harvest and cook the produce they grew. They celebrated with a homemade luncheon on Aug. 4. “To be a part of is one of the best parts about my job,” LCCC’s garden designer and horticulturist Katie Piper said. “I honestly have so much fun and I really love getting to work with all the students and getting to hang out with the College for Life teachers…You guys brighten my day.” Piper led the students through taking care of the garden and cooking the meal. Administrators and community leaders attended the luncheon with CFL students and staff. They enjoyed a meal

Continue Reading

GODFREY - After much discussion and debate, the Godfrey Village Board of Trustees decided not to vote on an amendment to the village’s Electrical Code which would have established electrical licensing requirements and more. Supporters cited safety concerns, while critics claimed it would discourage electricians from working in Godfrey. Under the proposed amendment, any person or company doing electrical work in Godfrey other than “minor electrical repairs” would need to apply for an electrical license first. That person, or a designated individual chosen by an affiliated company, would be required to pass a licensing exam with a grade of 75% or better. Trustee Jeff Weber criticized the low testing threshold and said it “wouldn’t actually make anything safer.” He noted that this amendment also failed to pass two meetings ago. “This ordinance doesn’t stop the bad people or electricians doing stuff without a permit or without a license,”

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law last week allowing the Metro East Sanitary District (MESD) to offer its board members insurance, a move met with disapproval from Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler. Prenzler said the MESD has been giving its board of commissioners insurance in violation of state law before having the law changed. He noted that about 10 years ago, Madison County board members also used to get insurance - that practice has since stopped for the County Board, but reportedly not for MESD commissioners. By law, both the salaries of Madison County board members and MESD commissioners are set at $14,500. But Prenzler estimated the value of the insurance in question at up to $20,000 for commissioners and their families. After bringing up the issue, Prenzler said they changed the plans from being offered to families to individuals, at a value of around $10,000. If MESD commissioners are receiving insurance of any value, Prenzler said

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Soon, Captain Kris Tharp of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office will be retiring. He officially retires on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, after a 26-year career in law enforcement. Twenty-four of those years have been of service in the sheriff’s office. Kris has not decided on a next move and said his passion lies in serving others and any future pursuit or endeavor will involve that. “I want to continue to be a big part of the community,” he said. Kristopher “Kris” Tharp has had a remarkable life and career. His story has always served as an inspiration for those who worked with him in the sheriff’s office and everyone around him. Kris was raised by a single mother in Wood River. He graduated from East Alton-Wood River High School in 1994 and is a local product. After high school graduation, he immediately began serving the community as a law enforcement cadet with the Wood River Police Department at age 18. Kris said his wife,

Continue Reading

ALTON - Enjoy the sounds of smooth jazz and the taste of great wine as the successful Alton Jazz & Wine Festival returns to the Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, September 2, 2023 with gates opening at 6 p.m. The Alton Jazz Confluence, featuring up and coming Alton/Godfrey student musicians, will again kick off this year’s festival. Following this exciting group of future jazz stars will be The Jason Swagler Group. The headliners for this year’s Alton Jazz & Wine Festival will be the Trumpet Trio, three top-notch players in the St. Louis area: Danny Campbell, Kasimu Taylor, and Dawn Weber. These three occupy the summit of the region’s jazz trumpet talent and experience. The Amphitheater Commission is privileged to host them in both collective and individual settings, featuring trumpet pieces from Alton-born Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and others. All three have starred at recent Festivals and ceremonies in the Riverbend. Dawn played at the first

Continue Reading

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College empowers students by making a high-quality education more accessible through the offering of various scholarship opportunities. Over 300 students from throughout the college’s district applied for scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. These scholarships provide opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, levels of academic achievement, and career paths. Approximately 160 scholarships were awarded from the college’s Financial Aid department and the L&C Foundation. In total, the scholarship amounts awarded exceeded $520,000. “Scholarships are investments that produce life-long returns,” said Financial Aid Director Angela Weaver. “Scholarships help make getting a college education both accessible and affordable for many, some of whom could not attend school otherwise. An investment in the lives of the students who attend Lewis and Clark Community College is an investment in their future

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones' today issued the statement below regarding the closure of South City Hospital: "I have been briefed regarding the closure of South City Hospital and have been working to minimize its impact on our community. South City Hospital was a healthcare safety net, supporting many uninsured St. Louisans, and our city must grapple with losing this longstanding healthcare anchor. "Yesterday, I convened a meeting with the leadership of our most highly recognized regional hospital systems, our Health Director, Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, and my staff on this issue. Patients hospitalized at South City Hospital have been routed to those hospitals and will continue to receive excellent care. "To the employees affected, my heart goes out to you as this is painful and unexpected news. I also thank you for your tireless efforts to care for the patients of South City Hospital. We are working with our healthcare partners to stand up a job fair so you can continue

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that repairs on eastbound Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4. One lane will remain open at all times. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7. 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.

Continue Reading

HILLSBORO – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Internal Investigation (DII) officials arrested 66-year-old James Dawson of Hillsboro, IL., 66, for Custodial Sexual Misconduct (Class 3 Felony) and Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 4 Felony). On July 13, 2022, ISP DII initiated an investigation on Dawson, an Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) contractual employee. Dawson is a sonographer and was contracted by IDOC to perform sonograms on individuals in custody throughout the state of Illinois. Dawson’s charges involve seven separate victims. After a year-long investigation, ISP DII agents took Dawson into custody on August 1, 2023. Dawson was transported to the Montgomery County Jail where he is being held on a Fulton County warrant with a $50,000.00 bond (10% to apply) and a Johnson County warrant with a $4,000.00 bond (no 10% to apply). This is an active and ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time. Anyone with additional

Continue Reading

ALTON - A Pet Food Drive this Saturday honors the memory of a late Alton teen. A local nonprofit, Trinity’s Way, is hosting a pet food drive from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Aug. 6, at Piasa Park in Alton. The drive will benefit the pet food pantry operated by Metro East Humane Society. This pantry program provides free pet food to eligible applicants who are in need of assistance. Trinity’s Way was formed in 2018 after 17-year-old Trinity Buel was killed in a car accident on Feb. 17, 2018. The nonprofit was started by her mother, April Gray, and her godfather, Chris Unthank, to carry on Buel’s kindness and compassion for animals and the environment. The pet food drive is a fitting way to honor Buel’s memory for her birthday on Aug. 6. “When Trinity was a little girl, instead of presents for herself, she’d ask for pet food and supplies for her birthday so that she could donate those to local animal shelters,” Gray said. “She was always

Continue Reading