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SPRINGFIELD – The 2023 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 1, at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at selected trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open March 18. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release fishing period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular season beginning April 1. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked for the fall trout fishing season, which begins in October. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program receives funding support from those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. For the 2023 spring trout season, no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from March 13 until the season opens at 5 a.m. April 1. Anyone attempting

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SPRINGFIELD - Today Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) announced the release of emergency medical supplies to support long-term disaster relief efforts in Turkey and provide humanitarian medical aid following the February 6 earthquake in the Mediterranean. “The recent earthquakes in the large Kahramanmaras region have had a devastating impact on countless families and communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Here in Illinois, we lend a helping hand whenever we can, and we are proud to have medical supplies that can directly serve those in affected areas with immediate life-saving results.” Working through the non-governmental organization MedGlobal who specializes in international humanitarian crisis and is located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the State of Illinois can now directly support survivors in marginalized communities throughout the disaster-affected areas. The transfer of medical supplies will include

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Dear Community Leaders, Organizations and Businesses, We have some exciting news to share. We are hosting our 2 nd Annual Alton Area Community Easter Egg Hunt. For our inaugural event we had over 400 in attendance. On Saturday, April 8, 2023 from Noon to 4 p.m. at Rock Spring Park . This event is free and open to the public. At this community event there will be food, games, activities and giveaways. We are looking for sponsors to help fund the Alton Area Community Easter Egg Hunt We are accepting monetary and in-kind donations. There are three levels of sponsorship: Gold - $500.00 and UP – supports 50 children or more Silver - $300 and UP – supports 30 children Bronze - $100 and UP – supports 10 Please make checks payable to Mr. Everything, 211 East Elm Street, Alton, IL 2002 To contribute to this community event please contact one of the community members listed below: Leon Smallwood-Bey Rosie Brown President, 100 Men Movement 4 th Ward

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Regional Freightway is inviting students and educators to sign up now to take advantage of curated riverboat cruises in 2023 that will provide tours through a portion of the Ag Coast of America. Offered the first Wednesday of the month beginning in April 2023, the cruises will be open to high school and college student groups, educators and educational administrators, and others interested in learning about the Ag Coast and the many career opportunities available in the region’s transportation, manufacturing and logistics industries. The cost per person varies based on age, group size and whether the group is participating in a regularly scheduled tour or a private, chartered tour. Participants will get an up-close look at critical elements of the region’s multimodal freight network, including roads and bridges, rail and barge facilities and multimodal freight transfer services and ports, all of which have garnered recognition for a 15-mile

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O'FALLON – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is now accepting applications for a four-week paid registered nurse (RN) internship to be held May 22 through June 17, 2023. The RN internship program is designed for nursing students to gain real-life experience in a health care setting during their summer break. Interns will be paired with nurse preceptors full time to work on nursing skills and documentation while learning clinical and professional skills. The program also offers candidates opportunities to be hired in their areas of interest and specialty units upon completion of this internship. This internship opportunity provides practical work experience for clinical students in an environment that emphasizes patient-centered care, while exposing the interns to innovative and emerging concepts in health care practice. “We are excited to once again be able to offer this paid RN internship,” said Julie A. Gordon, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, nurse manager of education, RN Residency

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GREENVILLE - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a Vermilion County man with alleged possession of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s office, with the Bond County State’s Attorney’s office, charged Arturo Rebollo Jr., 20, of Hoopeston, Illinois, in Bond County Circuit Court with 15 counts of possession of child pornography, all Class 2 felonies, which are punishable from probation up to 28 years in prison. Rebollo is being held on a $750,000 bail. “Those who prey upon innocent children must be held accountable. I remain committed to protecting children from exploitation that can potentially leave life-long emotional scars,” Raoul said. “The collaboration of my investigators

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Prostate cancer isn’t a pleasant topic to think about. But at the same time, it’s a cancer that many of us are, unfortunately, familiar with. It’s likely impacted people in our lives, whether it’s family members, friends or those we know through school or work. So, whether it’s for ourselves or those we care about, it is important to better understand the disease and steps that may help protect against it. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the U.S., just behind breast cancer, but it is the most common cancer in men, with close to 290,000 cases diagnosed each year. And like many other health issues, prostate cancer doesn’t impact everyone equally – with African American men much more likely to develop and die from the disease than other groups. So, what is the prostate, exactly? It’s a gland about the size of a ping pong ball that’s part of the male reproductive system. It sits just below the bladder, circling

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Model and media personality Hailey Bieber recently revealed that she has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from a stroke in 2022. “It was so terrifying, so jarring, so discombobulating in every single way that you could imagine,” Bieber told Vogue. PTSD is often associated with veterans, but it can affect anyone, says Ari Lakritz, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois . It describes the development of symptoms following a traumatic event, either through firsthand or secondhand exposure. Secondhand exposure is usually not as simple as, for example, watching news coverage of a violent crime. A more appropriate example, Dr. Lakritz says, is a police officer who routinely investigates those crimes. Dr. Lakritz describes what may trigger the beginning of a PTSD diagnosis: “Memories of the event. Dreams or flashbacks. Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma.” Those symptoms then change the

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JERSEYVILLE - One of Baylee Crawford’s dreams recently came true on March 7 when she officially opened Glam Beauty Bar, a new beauty/hair salon located at 212 1/2 S. State St. in Jerseyville. She said it’s the first salon in town to offer a complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink as you get your hair done, and that they also have a coffee bar, snacks, and plans to offer more services in the future. “Honestly, having my dream come true has been absolutely amazing, I love walking into my own space every morning,” Crawford said. “The support of the community in just a few days of being open has been so amazing, and I can’t put into words just how grateful I am.” Crawford said she “definitely wouldn’t be here” without the support of her family and clients, and that the space on State Street fell into place at the perfect time for her. She’s had years of experience doing hair at a couple of different places and

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DIETERICH – The Illinois House Judiciary Criminal Committee today advanced legislation State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) is sponsoring to make remote testimony for victims under 13 years of age the standard practice in cases where abuse is alleged. House Bill 2607 establishes a presumption that the testimony of a victim who is a child under 13 years of age shall testify outside the courtroom and the child's testimony shall be shown in the courtroom by means of a closed circuit television. The presumption could only be removed if the defendant proves the child will not suffer emotional distress by providing testimony in the courtroom. “I introduced this bill because I find it incredulous that we expect children who are the victims of sexual assault to testify in open court,” Niemerg said. “Sexual predators who sexually abuse children use their roles as adults to intimidate and silence their victims. There is no question testifying in open court about

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As Americans prepare to spring forward on March 12 for Daylight Saving Time, health experts are issuing a wake-up call to Congress to make the change permanent. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says public health and safety would benefit from eliminating Daylight Saving Time in favor of standard time. The AASM says the switch to permanent standard time would more closely align with the body’s internal clock – our circadian sleep-wake cycle – instead of disrupting the body’s natural rhythm. There is also evidence that Daylight Saving Time can take a toll on your heart, specifically increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. The AASM recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep before and after Daylight Saving Time begins while shifting your bedtime 15-20 minutes earlier each night before the change. Dr. Frank Han is a cardiologist with OSF HealthCare who specializes in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease. He says poor sleeping

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EDWARDSVILLE - The League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area and the NAACP Edwardsville Branch are holding Candidate Presentation Events on March 14 and 15. Organizers said announcing participating candidates will provide an introduction, and inform voters know why they are running for office and where they stand on important issues facing the office. On March 16, the League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area is holding a public meeting at which Dr. Patrick Shelton will speak about the District 7 School Bond Issue. EVENT: Candidate Presentation Event Glen Carbon Date and Time: Tuesday, March 14 , 7:00 p.m. Location: Glen Carbon Senior/Community Center, 157 North Main Street, Glen Carbon, IL Participating Candidates: Candidates for Glen Carbon Village Trustee:Mark Foley, Nekisha Omotola, and Victor Smith. Candidates for Glen Carbon Library Trustee: Carla Eliff and Jacqueline Day Candidates for School Board District 7: Robert “Bob” Paty, Jill Bertels,

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URBANA, Ill. – Unmitigated, chronic relationship distress can significantly impair the health and well-being of individuals, their families, and the broader community. A University of Illinois Extension program was recently honored for its innovative approach to offer education and coaching for couples. Extension recognized the program’s groundbreaking approach to relationship mending by awarding the 9-member team with the Extension Team Excellence Award during a ceremony held in November in Urbana. The award recognizes professionals who develop, implement, and evaluate a program that addresses a priority issue. Team members include Extension educators Tessa Hobbs-Curley, Robin Ridgley, Cheri Burcham, Michele Crawford, April Littig, Judy Schmidt, Karla Belzer and Melissa Wilson; and Extension specialist Allen Barton. “About one-third of marriages may be distressed, and given current demographic patterns in Illinois, this equates to more than one million Illinois

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GODFREY – For the first time since its inception, Lewis and Clark Community College’s Paralegal program now offers a second eight-week option for those entering the program, which allows students to earn full credit for a course in half the time, starting at a semester’s mid-point. Even though the Spring 2023 semester is half over, students can still enroll in the Paralegal program and receive full credit for classes by the end of the semester. The demand for paralegals in the St. Louis area is higher than the number of qualified applicants. The second eight-week option will allow students to complete the program faster. “Area law firms are frequently reaching out to me as they try to find candidates to interview,” Program Coordinator Becky Gockel said. “I often partner with local law firms to develop effective recruiting and hiring strategies, depending on the firm’s needs for paralegal staffing.” To meet the demand, all L&C Paralega

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WOOD RIVER - The City of Wood River has witnessed a lot of moving dirt for development in recent months. One of the most recent examples is a project for a new Midwest Petroleum gas/convenience store on Illinois 143, just outside the I-255 entrance and exit into Wood River. A new overhead photo tour by 618 Drone Service highlights work on the project this week. The gasoline storage tanks at the previous gas station have been removed, and now work is moving at a fast pace in clearing the land. Schnucks owns the property where the old gas station used to be, once a Shop 'n Save location, but Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said they did not want to sell the property at this point. The land is near the Roxana property line, so part of the new location will be in Wood River and the other part will be in Roxana. Mayor Stalcup said there have been meetings to figure out the sales tax division and that Wood River has a good, cooperative relationship with Roxana city officials. He said both look

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Missing juvenile, Cloe Schmidt has been located and is safe, St. Louis County Police said Friday afternoon. Schmidt was last seen in the 3100 block of Brunswick Drive in Florissant, MO., in St. Louis County on Monday, March 6.

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ALTON - The Alton YWCA Get Out the Vote Initiative extends an invitation to the Alton School District community of voters to attend its School Board Candidates’ forum at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in the YWCA Gym, 304 E. Third St., Alton, IL. There are six school board candidates running for three 4 year term seats on the Board of Education in the upcoming April 4 election. The six candidates include David M. Fritz, David P. Lauschke, Vivian L. Monckton, Jarvis Swope, Beverly Velloff, and Alfred (Al) J. Womack Jr. In addition, Christina M. Milien is running unopposed for a two-year term and is unopposed. The event will start with a short period of introduction by each candidate, followed by a question and answer session using prepared questions. If time permits, questions from the audience will be allowed. The forum is open to all District 11 voters and is free of charge. All interested community members are encouraged to attend. YWCA encourages community

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ROXANA - Freshman Daisy Daugherty, a Roxana offensive standout in basketball and also a top volleyball player for the Shells, is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. Daisy was one of the Shells’ leading scorers all season and is an outstanding free-throw shooter with a 74-percent success rate. Roxana Coach Brian Diskin said Daisy is an excellent ball defender and is often assigned to the opponent’s point guard. “Daisy is a good student of the game and very coachable coming in as a freshman last year,” the coach added. “She is foregoing a spring sport to concentrate more on basketball, where she will play for MidPro South this spring and summer.” The coach explained that Daisy has targeted a goal to achieve 1,000 points for her high school career and wants to play college basketball after she graduates from Roxana High.

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Dr. Sarah Whelan, medical director for OSF Hospice and Outpatient Palliative Care in Rockford, today provided some keen insight into hospice care. Former President Jimmy Carter made news recently when it was announced that he was going to receive hospice care at home for the remainder of his life, instead of receiving any additional medical intervention. The oldest-living former U.S. president has dealt with several health issues in recent years. By opting for hospice care, the goal now is to make Mr. Carter as comfortable as possible with the time he has left. “Hospice care is specialized medical care in those later stages of life," says Dr. Whelan said. "When you are thought to have a prognosis of six months or less, and it's where the focus of your medical care shifts from disease curing or possibly life-prolonging treatments to comfort-based treatment or quality of life treatment, getting you to enjoy those last days you have at home, doing the things that you enjoy doing.”

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ALTON/GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Heritage Museum Coordinator Samantha Doolin appeared on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to preview her presentation of the Goshen Settlement before presenting it on March 9 at the Glen Carbon Centennial Library. The presentation took a historic look at “Glen Carbon before Glen Carbon” and explained why so many things in and around the village carry the Goshen name. “There were people here as early as 1799,” Doolin said. “There had already been people here - obviously the Native Americans were all through this area and the American Bottom, and St. Clair County before it was founded as St. Clair County had settlers as early as 1699. “There was a gentleman named David Badgley who came from , which is in , and he was a Baptist reverend and he did not really agree with the French lifestyle, so he went further north than the French settlement and saw all this untouched wilderness and deemed

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