Riverbender 🕸

GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man with multiple prior convictions faces new felony charges after police found a firearm in his home. Timothy Johnson Jr., 32, of Granite City, was charged on May 30, 2025 with a Class X felony count of possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender and a Class 2 felony count of felon in possession of a weapon. Johnson allegedly possessed an Anderson Arms Voodoo Witch Doctor 5.56 caliber rifle after previously being convicted of aggravated robbery in a 2011 St. Clair County case, and of domestic battery in three prior Madison County cases from 2018, 2019, and 2022. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Johnson’s pretrial release from custody, stating authorities found the weapon while executing a search warrant at Johnson’s residence. The rifle had been reported as stolen, according to the petition. The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Johnson, who was ordered

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COTTAGE HILLS – A man from Cottage Hills remains in custody after “headbutting” and strangling a domestic battery victim, then smashing their cell phone to stop them from calling 911. Carmen I. Landreth, 50, of Cottage Hills, was charged on June 13, 2025 with one count each of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), domestic battery, and interfering with the reporting of domestic battery (both Class A misdemeanors). On June 12, 2025, Landreth allegedly strangled a family or household member and struck them in the face with his forehead. He was also accused of destroying the victim’s cell phone to prevent the victim from calling 911 and reporting the incident. A petition to deny Landreth’s pretrial release from custody was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to the petition, Landreth became angry with the victim for seeking an Order of Protection against him and “struck her in the eye with his head

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Justin Baker, MD, clutches a tiny koala bear as he talks about his approach to treating children facing a life-limiting or life-ending illness. The oncologist and palliative care specialist was a keynote speaker at a recent OSF Innovation showcase at the Jump Simulation & Education Center in Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Baker has also served as a consultant for palliative care at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. The koala reinforces his message: Quality of Life for All Kids or QoLA which means embedding palliative care early and into every aspect of caring for a very sick child. Dr. Baker is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric palliative care with more than 30 years of experience and helped develop one of the country’s first integrated programs dedicated to this approach. He is now the chief of the Division of Quality of Life and Pediatric Palliative Care at Stanford Medicine. Additionally, he serves as the associate chief quality officer for Patient Experience

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You’ve probably heard the saying, “Treat your body like a temple.” Bob Weaver admits he used to treat his like a tent. The 62-year-old OSF HealthCare Mission Partner (employee) from Danville, Illinois, has had three heart stents to fix blockages. The most recent came in October 2024, something he dubbed a “last chance wake up call.” And wake up he did. During cardiac rehabilitation, Weaver lost 33 pounds, four inches off his waist and got his blood pressure and cholesterol back to a healthy level. Now, he and his care team are using the experience to educate others: how will your body change when recovering from a heart event? What’s normal, and what’s not? Things to track in cardiac rehab Tricia Herman is a registered nurse who was on the team who guided Weaver in cardiac rehab. She emphasizes that cardiac rehab isn’t a weight loss program. But, a slim down like Weaver had isn’t uncommon. “Everybody’s different,”

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department announced in its weekly "Fugitive Friday" social media post that Alec A. Bill has an outstanding felony warrant for Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Possession of a Controlled Substance after missing a scheduled court date. The department is seeking assistance from the public in locating Bill and encourages anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them anonymously at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. In a social media post, the police department said, “Alec! If you see this post, turn yourself in to any police department.” The post also noted that individuals who fail to appear for court may have their photos posted online as part of the department’s effort to encourage compliance. These charges and statements made herein are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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ALTON - The Alton Motor Boat Club is celebrating its 84th anniversary in the Riverbend. Established in 1941, the Alton Motor Boat Club is a community of boaters and river enthusiasts. They currently have around 420 members. Member Scott Mifflin shared that the club has welcomed “generations” of boaters over the years, and he loves watching newcomers interact with longtime members and share their love for the river. “It was the first motor boat club in the area. What we do is just provide a location and a community for boaters,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting for us to have all the traditions and customs and courtesies that we’ve tried to keep alive since back then. The river changes all the time, but the boaters don’t, necessarily, so it’s been an honor for us to be able to maintain those customs and courtesies of the river and to bring in older people and newer people. There’s new people that start boating every day,

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ALTON - The Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championship returns to Alton next month, and organizers couldn’t be more excited. On July 18–20, 2025, community members can enjoy the second annual powerboat races on the Alton riverfront. Tickets are available now and families are encouraged to come by, check out the local vendors, enjoy the racing and have a great weekend on the river. “Riverfront Park is an absolutely beautiful facility coupled with the amphitheater right there,” said Tim, one of the organizers. “We want to be able to get the families out there.” The fun starts on Friday afternoon, July 18, with a test-and-tune session on the river. The racers will begin testing at 2 p.m., and this is completely free to attend and watch from Riverfront Park. The testing will be followed by a meet-and-greet street party with the racers from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on July 18 at Mac’s Downtown. Kids and fans alike can interact with

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MADISON COUNTY — Christina C. Costello of Cedar Lake, Indiana, has been charged with two counts of residential burglary for allegedly impersonating an Ameren employee and stealing valuables from elderly residents in Madison County and surrounding areas. Over the past several months, suspects posing as Ameren employees have burglarized multiple homes in the bi-state region, primarily targeting elderly individuals and taking prized possessions. The incidents occurred in the 700 block of Oakwood Avenue in East Alton and the 100 block of Hilltop Place in Collinsville. Detectives from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with Missouri law enforcement and conducted witness interviews and search warrants to identify those responsible. The cases were presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office on June 11, 2025. Costello faces two counts of residential burglary, classified as a Class 1 felony. She is currently not in custody. Authorities

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GODFREY — Hope Animal Rescues, a nonprofit organization founded in November 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, is seeking donations to recover from financial losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization, which initially cared for 17 dogs rescued from the hurricane, focuses on saving dogs from animal control facilities where they face euthanasia within 7 to 14 days. Operating without breed or age restrictions, Hope Animal Rescues collaborates with animal control centers to pull dogs at risk of being euthanized. The group opens the first kennel holding a dog scheduled for euthanasia each day, rescuing those that are friendly until reaching their daily capacity. According to the organization, it is a difficult reality that not all dogs can be saved. Since the onset of the pandemic, the rescue has experienced a decline in revenue, and with ongoing economic uncertainty, it continues to face financial challenges. The organization reports a current shortfall of $17,000

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BELLEVILLE - One local certified nursing assistant credits Midwest Career Source Professional School for putting her on the path to success. Leonna Dotson decided to enroll at MCS because she wanted to build a career, not just secure a job. She began on-the-job training, received her CNA certification, and has been recognized by Memorial Hospital/BJC for her work. Now, she has ambitions to become a registered nurse, and she believes MCS gave her the boost she needed to succeed. “ This program changed everything for me,” Dotson said. “I now have a career, not just a job. I'm confident, financially stable, and most importantly, I can be the role model my children deserve.” Dr. Sulbrena Day, RN, MSC, PhD, co-founded MCS in 2012 to help people start their careers in the healthcare industry. The school offers wraparound support, apprenticeship model training, and trauma-informed classrooms to support students. “As a vocational school, we provide job

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ALTON - Kids and adults of all ages are invited to The Old Bakery Beer Company for a magic show and balloon animal presentation this weekend. From 7–9 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025, community members can enjoy the Magical Mayhem Show with Professor Longhair and John Johnson. The magicians promise close-up magic, standup comedy, balloon animals and lots of fun. “There’s going to be money pulled out of the air, cards all over the place, just all sorts of craziness,” said John Johnson. Tickets cost $35 and include two free drink vouchers. Johnson and the Professor encourage people to come to The Old Bakery Beer Company early to have dinner, then stop by the event room to enjoy the show. The Magical Mayhem performance is suitable for all ages. The magicians will perform two 20-minute sets each. There will be two giveaways at the end of the night. Audience members have the chance to win a 30-minute balloon art presentation or a 30-minute closeup

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EDWARDSVILLE - The NTT INDYCAR Series returns to the St. Louis region Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in Madison, Ill. Among the many attractions at this major motorsports event, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Formula SAE team will be featured on STEM Lane, showcasing their student-built race car to thousands of race fans. STEM Lane, located in the racetrack’s midway, offers interactive exhibits and hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities for fans of all ages. SIUE’s presence highlights the University’s commitment to experiential learning and its support for aspiring engineers. SIUE’s Formula SAE is a student organization that supplements classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience in automotive engineering. Each year, the team designs and fabricates a Formula-style race car to compete in the Formula Student International

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EAST ST. LOUIS — East St. Louis School District 189 broke ground Tuesday on new infrastructure to support the arrival of 25 electric school buses planned for this academic year. The initiative aims to provide students with a quieter and smoother ride, reflecting the district’s commitment to enhancing student experience. The groundbreaking ceremony included district officials and partners involved in the project. Attendees were Remy Dean, board member; Walter Hood, board treasurer; Latonya Sayles, board member; Sister Julia Huiskamp, Federation of Parochial Members representative; Arthur R. Culver, superintendent of East St. Louis School District 189; Jason Walker, CEO of North America Central Bus; Duncan McIntyre, founder and CEO of Highland Electric Fleets; and Patrick Smith, senior vice president of operations and technical services at Ameren Illinois. All these people are shown in the above photo. “This project marks a significant step forward in providing a clea

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GRANITE CITY – In the wake of the devastating EF-3 tornado that struck the region on May 16, Phillips 66 has donated $50,000 to Granite City Community Unit School District #9 to support recovery efforts and repair storm damage to school facilities. The tornado carved a 22.7-mile path of destruction through central and northern St. Louis before crossing into Illinois. The storm, which remained on the ground for 24 minutes and nearly a mile, caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure—tragically claiming five lives in the St. Louis region. Granite City was among the hardest-hit areas in the Metro East. At Prather Elementary School, the gymnasium roof was torn off just days before the end of the school year. Granite City is located near multiple Phillips 66 assets, including the Wood River Refinery, the Hartford Lubricants Plant, and the Hartford and East St. Louis Midstream Terminals. It is also home to many Phillips 66 employees. The donation

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Did you know that the human body can lose up to 1.5 quarts of sweat per hour during extreme heat? This staggering fact highlights just how much our bodies work to maintain a safe internal temperature when the mercury rises. Yet, staying cool isn’t just about battling sweat; it’s about employing smart, creative strategies that protect your well-being and keep discomfort at bay without relying solely on air conditioning. Here are some inventive approaches to help you stay refreshingly cool during a heatwave. Harnessing the Power of Water Beyond the Shower Water is the most straightforward way to cool down, but its potential extends far beyond a quick rinse. Consider these techniques: DIY Cooling Towels: Soak a lightweight cotton or microfiber towel in cold water, wring it out, and place it around your neck or forehead. As the water evaporates, it pulls heat away from your skin, providing a natural cooling effect. For added longevity, freeze the towel for 15-20 minutes

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June 13 has long been a date marked by significant events that have rippled through the fabric of history. One of the most consequential moments in global history on this day occurred in 323 BC, when the death of Alexander the Great was reported. Though the exact date of his death is sometimes debated, some sources place it around mid-June. Alexander's passing marked the beginning of the Hellenistic era, a period that spread Greek culture across three continents and shaped civilizations for centuries to come. His empire, stretching from Greece to Egypt and into northwest India, was one of the largest in ancient history, and his military strategies are still studied today. In the realm of science and exploration, June 13, 1633, stands out when the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei was forced by the Roman Catholic Inquisition to recant his support for the heliocentric theory—that the Earth revolves around the Sun. This trial underscored the tension between scientific inquiry an

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EDWARDSVILLE – Fun activities for all ages are once again planned for City Park in downtown Edwardsville over the next several months, courtesy of the Edwardsville Parks & Recreation Department’s Arts in the Park program. This free, annual series features concerts, movie nights, children’s art, theater, opera and other family-friendly occasions. “Edwardsville is such a vibrant place to be in the summer, and City Park is central to it all,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “Our Parks & Recreation Department never stops thinking of wonderful free options to entertain and delight people of all ages year after year.” Arts in the Park gets underway in City Park, 101 S. Buchanan Street, with back-to-back activities on June 13 and 14. Friday, June 13, the first of six weeks of Friday night concerts will begin with the Steve Ewing Band performing at 8 p.m. on City Park bandstand. On Saturday, June 14, the Children’s Arts in the Park program led by the

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that a full closure of Interstate 55/70 northbound/eastbound between Illinois 157 and Illinois 159 in Madison County will start, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, June 13, 2025, for bridge repairs. The closure is expected to remain in place for 17 calendar days. During that time, motorists should follow the marked detour as follows: Northbound/eastbound I-55/70: Take I-255 northbound to I-270 eastbound to reconnect with I-55 northbound, I-70 eastbound, or I-55/70 southbound/westbound. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, June 30. Motorists should allow extra travel time for trips, especially during the first few days of the closure, and pay attention to additional signage on the marked detour route. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes, and are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices

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ALTON - Medicare can be complicated. A local broker aims to demystify it and help her clients access all the benefits they’re entitled to. At 6 p.m. on June 25, July 30, and Aug. 27, 2025, community members can come to the RiverBender.com Building at 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton to learn about Medicaid and Medicare. Jamie Goble, who works with Medicare Insurance Techs, will break down the process of working with clients and answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid coverage. “It’s just important to me that get that type of help and they’re not left alone,” Goble said. “There’s somebody fighting for them, too.” Goble has worked with Medicare Insurance Techs since 2018. In her experience, a lot of people don’t know what they’re eligible for and therefore miss out on several benefits. To address this, Goble sits down with her clients one-on-one and goes through their medications, doctors, and health conditions.

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TROY — For Dawn Mushill, the past 25 years as President & CEO of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce have been more than just a career—they’ve been a dream come true. “There are very few jobs where you can ride an elephant, give a high school commencement speech, appear in a rap video, perform a dance routine with the mayor, and drive a ‘Chambermobile,’” said Mushill with a smile. “Everything I love—connecting people, building relationships, providing resources, and planning events—is part of what I get to do every day.” When Mushill took the role in 2000, she had just moved to Troy and didn’t know a single person in the community. With no clear roadmap, she brought her own vision and energy to the job. “In each of my interviews, I brought suggestions and ideas. By the third round, the Board President told me, ‘Now put those ideas to work’—and I did.”

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