Riverbender 🕸

For the last half of the 20th century, no voice captured the essence of the American spirit better than Paul Harvey. It’s been 15 years since his passing, and it’s easy to forget that he reached 24 million Americans each week on the radio and in newspapers. But what drew people to Harvey wasn’t just his humor or wit—it was his love of celebrating everyday heroes. In November 1978, Harvey stood before the Future Farmers of America convention in Kansas City, Missouri, and delivered a speech that has echoed through the generations: “So God Made a Farmer.” In that speech, Harvey did more than recount the creation story. He reminded us all that when God looked down on the world He’d made, He saw the need for a caretaker —someone to tend to the land, someone with patience and strength. And so, God made a farmer. Harvey wasn’t just sharing a perspective on faith; he was capturing the heart of what it means to be a farmer. These men and

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – The Illinois Municipal League (IML) elected officers and members to its Board of Directors at its Annual Business Meeting, held September 21st, as part of the 111th IML Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The IML membership unanimously elected Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, City of Champaign, to serve a one-year term as President. Also elected during the conference were Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin, Village of Matteson, as First Vice President, and Mayor Gary W. Manier, City of Washington, as Second Vice President. In addition to the officers, 36 Vice Presidents were elected to serve a one-year term, and eight IML Past Presidents continue to serve on the statewide organization’s Board of Directors. Village of Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick was re-elected to serve as a Vice President. “Strength lies in unity, and Illinois mayors exemplify this principle as we collaborate to build stronger communities and drive positive transformation

Continue Reading

ALTON - As a religious Sister with a biomedical engineering degree, Sister M. Pieta Keller, F.S.G.M., is no stranger to saving lives. Sister M. Pieta is a Sister of the St. Francis of the Martyr St. George Convent based in Alton. She works with the Jump Simulation and Education Center in Peoria as a biomedical engineer on their innovation team. She has developed many technological advancements that have saved and improved the lives of over 500 patients. “Before I entered , I got a biomedical engineering degree, and in God’s providence, I actually use it,” Sister M. Pieta said. “I truly feel that God has placed me here and led me to choose a field that allows me to pursue my love of engineering, in addition to answering His call to serve Him, combining to positively affect people’s lives every day.” After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in biomedical engineering, Sister M. Pieta joined the Sisterhood in 2013. She has worked

Continue Reading

GODFREY – Community service and leading with positivity are two traits that Crystal Officer will always be known for at Beverly Farm Foundation. Officer is a definite "Difference Maker" for her area with her work at Beverly Farm and beyond. Officer was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer at Beverly Farm in June 2021. She is known as a supervisor who makes everyone around her feel like they can make a difference every day. She has been extremely creative and innovative in her work with the Beverly Farm Foundation and residents. Crystal said at Beverly Farm Foundation the most important part of the operation is they "value people." "Equipping and supporting our team members to grow both professionally and personally is an important part of our daily work," she said. "I would like to thank the team and residents of Beverly Farm for their dedicated efforts and support, and God for His enabling grace, strength, and love.” Officer previously served as Senior Vice President

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE — Several Belleville East High School students spent their Saturday morning volunteering at the St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP) Cathedral, serving breakfast to over 100 homeless individuals in the community. The event took place at the Cathedral School Cafe, where the students dedicated four hours to cooking, serving, cleaning, and greeting guests with smiles. Their efforts were part of a weekly initiative by SVDP Cathedral, which aims to provide food, spiritual and financial aid, and clothing to those in need in the Belleville area. According to school officials, the student’s participation exemplifies the spirit of community service and the positive impact young people can have on their surroundings. The SVDP Cathedral's Saturday breakfast program has become a crucial resource for the local population in need, offering not just nourishment but also a sense of community and support.

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - Ramon A. Chavez Rodriguez, 24, has been charged with a DWI (Death of Law Enforcement or Emergency Personnel, Exceeding the Posted Speed Limit and Operating A Vehicle On A Highway Without a Valid License) in the case where St. Louis Police Officer David Lee was hit on Interstate 70 on Sunday, then later died. The official charges came a day after Lee died after being struck on I-70. The charges said Chavez-Rodriguez was driving at least 71 miles per hour five seconds before the accident. The speed limit in that area was 55 mph. St. Louis Police said Chavez-Rodriguez lost control while driving and pinned Officer Lee between two vehicles. Lee was also tossed several feet in the accident. The suspect is a Honduran national and is an illegal immigrant and was on probation for a domestic incident. Police added that the blood draw for Chavez-Rodriguez occurred about two hours after Officer Lee was struck.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School’s Drama Club welcomed the Jewish Community Relations Council so students could learn more about Jewish culture and religion ahead of their fall play. The EHS Drama Club will produce “Letters to Sala” on Nov. 8 and 9, 2024. This play tells the true story of a young girl who survived seven labor camps in five years during the Holocaust. On Sept. 18, 2024, the club spoke with teenagers from the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). “That element of being able to connect to real people, it’s not just a two-dimensional page in a play. I think it makes it more meaningful, more purposeful,” explained Ashley Melton, theater director. “One of the things with selecting a show that’s this heavy is making sure that there’s some reasoning behind selecting it, not just, ‘Let’s do something dramatic because we want to show our acting chops,’ but, ‘Let’s do something

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Individuals interested in continuing their education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are invited to attend one of its virtual Open House events on Thursdays this October. "Graduate programs at SIUE are designed with the student in mind,” said Jill Smucker, director of graduate education. “Whether a prospective student is considering one of our online or in-person programs, they will discover an exceptional educational experience.” The SIUE Graduate School offers than 150 master’s programs, post-baccalaureate certificates, doctoral degrees and cooperative doctoral programs in areas ranging from business to pharmacy to health and human behavior. The graduate programs offered at SIUE allow for personalized attention from engaging faculty and extensive campus resources that support student success. The one-hour Open House sessions will be hosted via Zoom at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST on the following dates: October 3: School of Busines

Continue Reading

ALTON – The Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) office at Alton Memorial Hospital is again taking appointments for Medicare open enrollment this year. The SHIP office, sponsored by Medicare and the Illinois Department on Aging, is located in Room G-367 on the ground floor of the hospital’s Hatch Wing. Clients who have registered for an in-person meeting should park on the back side of the hospital near the aqua awning that reads “Hatch Building.” Once entering there, the Oasis/SHIP counseling office is the first office on the left. The SHIP office provides free, confidential and unbiased counseling for all Medicare beneficiaries. Counseling is available for all Medicare-related questions, including: Enrolling in Medicare Medicare supplement plans Medicare Advantage plans Medicare drug plans SHIP serves people who are nearing Medicare eligibility and those wanting to review their coverage during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs

Continue Reading

ALTON - On the most recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, guest Stacy Roach talked about trusting God through difficult times. Roach understands the instinct to question God when you’re struggling. But she encourages people to trust in His decisions. It can be difficult to understand the reasons behind a challenging situation, but she believes that God always has a reason. “Sometimes you question God, but there’s not really a reason to question Him. Sometimes you just got to keep thinking and praying and keep focusing on it,” she said. “Don’t ever question Him. Sometimes it’s not what you think it is with Him. Just keep praying, keep focusing, and just keep giving all praise to Him and talking to Him about what’s going on. He’ll make it all work out when it’s supposed to work out.” Roach shared that she lost her grandmother a year ago, and it was a challenge for her family.

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced a change in DMV facility operating hours across the state next week to align with higher customer demand in the morning. Beginning Monday, Sept. 23, Illinois DMV locations will be open to customers Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., a half an hour earlier than the previous hours of 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Facilities that offer services on Saturday will also change hours from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.-Noon on Saturdays. Senior facilities located in Addison, Bridgeview, Calumet Park, Evanston and Westchester will remain the same 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Roscoe Express DMV will stay open 9 a.m-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and the Orland Township DMV hours will remain 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. “Since Day One, our priority has been to provide the best possible DMV experience and service to our customers,” Giannoulias said. “We listened to feedback and analyzed the data to determin

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – An Illinois Lottery player in central Illinois might be feeling like a million bucks after winning the top prize on an Illinois Lottery scratch-off ticket. The $1 million winning scratch-off ticket was purchased at Fas Mart, located at the Marathon gas station at 3801 South 6th Street in Springfield. The lucky player won the top prize on a $10 Gold Multiplier Instant Ticket, which only launched earlier this month. This is also a big win for the retailer that sold the winning ticket, as the store will receive a bonus of one percent of the prize amount. For Fas Mart in Springfield, that means a $10,000 bonus. So far this year, more than 45.8 million winning Illinois Lottery Instant Tickets have been sold, netting players over $1.1 billion in prizes. The Illinois Lottery currently offers a range of Instant Ticket games priced from $1 to $50, available at approximately 7,000 retail locations across Illinois. The Illinois Lottery encourages all winners to write their

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) today introduced the Upending Secret Postal Shutdowns (USPS) Act to prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from shutting down a post office under the guise of an "emergency suspension" without first notifying impacted communities and providing a full justification for the closure. Under current law, postal operations can be suspended due to emergencies ranging from staffing shortages to natural disasters, with a loose expectation that service be restored within 280 days. Bost’s bill would set strict periodic deadlines for public notifications, require community input, and mandate annual reports to Congress on long-term postal shutdowns. “Communities rely on the Postal Service for the timely delivery of letters, prescriptions, bills, and other mail,” said Bost. “When a post office closes, especially in a rural area, it hurts the people who depend on it most. My legislation will help clear up the confusion

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE – Main Street in Collinsville was bustling with excitement this past weekend as the annual Italian Fest drew crowds with its diverse array of activities and vendors. The festival, held on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, featured 42 vendors and a popular parade, which included numerous entries and was highlighted by this year’s parade marshal, Kurt Litteken, Collinsville’s 2023 Firefighter of the Year Award Winner. The Collinsville Chamber of Commerce is the main sponsor of the Italian Fest in Collinsville. The Chamber of Commerce, along with other sponsors, makes the family-friendly event happen each year. The Italian Fest celebrates the city's Italian culture and heritage. The festival also hosted the Italian Fest 5K race, which saw local participants compete for top honors. Justin Wieduwilt, a resident of Collinsville, claimed victory in the race with a time of 18:13. Jazz Cathedral from Springfield, Illinois, finished in second place with a time of

Continue Reading

I grew up listening to the tales of a very tall man named Robert. My maternal Grandfather, Charles William Wadlow , as the story went, was a third cousin to the famed small-town gentle giant, Robert Pershing Wadlow . Grandpa, never one to avoid an opportunity for a captivating story, told of the visits Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man, made to his family’s farm outside of Willard, Missouri. The thing that stood out to my grandfather was that Robert was easily tall enough to peer through the transom windows over the doors prevalent in historic homes. He would peer into the adjoining room to see who, or what, was happening from one room to another. Grandpa told of the times he was a little boy and Robert, his third cousin, would playfully hoist my little boy grandfather up in the air, set him atop his broad shoulders, and allow my grandpa to peer into the transom windows just like Robert could do with no effort. It was these boyhood visits, while few and far between,

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A tragic accident on Schuetz Road at Millstone Campus Drive has left an adult female dead, prompting an investigation by the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons and Accident Reconstruction detectives. The deceased has been identified as Tiffanee Swanson, 50 years of age, of the 2300 block of Buller Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63114. On Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at approximately 9:26 a.m., officers from the Central County Precinct responded to a call reporting a person struck near the intersection of Schuetz Road and Millstone Campus Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered a female pedestrian who had been hit by a vehicle. She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased. Preliminary findings indicate that the victim was crossing Schuetz Road when she was struck. The driver involved remained at the scene and is cooperating with law enforcement officials.

Continue Reading

Welcome to another fascinating journey through time! Today, we’re diving into some of the most significant events that happened on September 23 throughout history. 1846: Discovery of Neptune Our journey begins in the realm of astronomy. On September 23, 1846, German astronomer Johann Galle, along with French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier, discovered Neptune, the eighth planet in our solar system. The discovery was monumental as it was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than empirical observations. Neptune’s existence was confirmed by Galle at the Berlin Observatory, marking a significant achievement in the field of astronomy and expanding our understanding of the cosmos. 1889: The Nintendo Company is Founded Fast forward to 1889 in Kyoto, Japan, where a small business named Nintendo was founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi. Originally a playing card company, Nintendo would go on to become a global giant in the video game industry. The company

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Officer David Lee of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department died after being struck by a car while working a crash on I-70 near Grand on Sunday morning, Sept. 22, 2024, police said. City of St. Louis residents and colleagues are in the state of mourning on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, for the officer. “Today, I ask the entire St. Louis community to join us in mourning the passing of Officer David Lee,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “Through his work and his passing, he has left an indelible mark on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and our City as a whole. I want to thank the SLMPD officers at the scene and the team at SLU hospital for their determination and care in trying to save Officer Lee’s life." Mayor Jones added, "Matthew 5:4 tells us ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ Our proud City must now come together to comfort Officer Lee’s family, friends, colleagues, and our entire

Continue Reading

GOLDEN EAGLE — This is an update on a case that dates back to September 2023 in Calhoun County. At 11:07 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2023, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a residential burglary at a residence on Quarry Court in Golden Eagle. The caller, who had returned home from work, reported that his house and several vehicles had been burglarized, and his black 2013 Cadillac Escalade had been stolen. Chief Deputy Zach Hardin of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to the scene and began processing evidence, leading the investigation to identify the suspect or suspects. During the investigation, deputies discovered that an additional residence on Quarry Rd. had also been burglarized. Following an intensive investigation, a suspect was identified, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office sought warrants. On October 3, 2023, the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office filed an eight-count information charging

Continue Reading

ST LOUIS - An officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 70 Sunday morning while assisting with a previous crash. Police Officer David Lee, an 18-year veteran of the force, succumbed to his injuries Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 past the exit for Adelaide Avenue, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Police received emergency calls reporting an officer in need of aid, prompting the closure of the road near the Grand Boulevard exit. Shortly thereafter, authorities confirmed that an officer had been hit by a car. In a press conference outside Saint Louis University Hospital, where Officer Lee was being treated, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department provided further details. "The officer was staging at a previous accident on the interstate when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle," the spokesman said. T

Continue Reading