Riverbender 🕸

PONTOON BEACH - On Sunday, February 5, Madison County Transit (MCT) is implementing its winter service change. Thanks to aggressive recruitment efforts by Agency for Community Transit (ACT), and changes to the composition of driver rosters, MCT was able to forego the reductions that were previously proposed due to the labor shortage, and even extend select routes with additional evening trips. “We’re incredibly grateful that we have the energetic and dedicated workforce to keep our buses on the road and to continue providing critical transportation services each day,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “The service cuts that were initially proposed due to the driver shortage would have been detrimental to thousands of Madison County residents.” A summary of the changes, effective Sunday, February 5, 2023, is listed below. For detailed schedule information visit www.mct.org , call 618-797-INFO (4636), or e-mail info@mct.org . ROUTE CHANGES:

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ALTON - Centerstone, a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, will host the quarterly Southern Illinois Opioid Response Advisory Council on February 27 from 1-2 p.m. CT on Zoom. The Southern Illinois Opioid Response Advisory Council was created to help establish a collective understanding of the existing efforts and initiatives occurring in the Southern Illinois region to address the opioid crisis, identify gaps, promote evidence-based strategies and policies designed to combat this public health crisis, and to support the development of Centerstone's Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) hub-and-spoke model. All sectors of the community are welcome to participate in the advisory council and its meetings. It is a great way to stay connected with all of the impactful initiatives and life-changing programs taking place across Southern Illinois,? Stearns said. ?If you are passionate about recovery, work in healthcare, have lived experience

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JERSEYVILLE - Do you have an interest in weather and helping your community? Well, we have an excellent opportunity for you! The National Weather Service in St. Louis, in coordination with Jersey County Emergency Management Agency, is offering storm spotter classes at Jersey Community High School on February 6th at 6:30 PM. Classes usually take approximately two hours and cover the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure, the features to look for, and where to find them. They will also cover what, when, and how to report information, as well as basic severe weather safety. If you would like to assist your local community by becoming a volunteer storm spotter and reporting severe weather to the National Weather Service, or if you simply want to learn more about severe weather, consider attending these informative classes! More information can be found at https://arcg.is/1y0G1m .

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SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA) is celebrating a record year in terms of advancing economic development and partnership opportunities across the region. SSGA was formed five years ago with the goal of promoting and pursuing economic development efforts in Springfield and Sangamon County. CEO Ryan McCrady said SSGA has played an instrumental role in pushing forward several significant community projects including the Land of Lincoln Energy Center (LLEC), which has been issued its final construction permit and Double Black Diamond Solar, which will be the largest solar development in Illinois and recently broke ground. In addition, SSGA supported efforts for the SCHEELS Sports Park at Legacy Pointe and the University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center. SSGA also partnered with the City of Springfield to fund the phase 2 environmental study of the Pillsbury Mills Site, an 18-acre development site in Springfield’s north end which has allowed th

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater's Artistic Director, Kevin Frakes, has something special planned in early February that should delight everyone who has ever admired the many, many songs that Frank Sinatra made famous! Yes, Kevin & a talented company of performers will produce SINTRA: LAST CALL on February 10th and 11th at 7:30 pm; Sunday, February 12th at 2 pm. CNB Bank is the Corporate Sponsor for the event and the Theater is going all out to celebrate Kevin's Farewell Concert and tribute to the "crooner" he admires so much. Indeed, Kevin has produced six concerts in the last nine years, honoring the works of Kenny Rogers, Barry Manilow, a Family Christmas Concert, and three tributes to the 400+ songs in Frank Sintra's catalog. Each prior concert focused on a particular era of Frank's life with Big Band sounds, famous duets, and stories --and after digging into research and listening to so many songs, Kevin decided to bring the "love" to the ALT stage. Sinatra was a " Ladies

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s campus and greater communities are invited to join together for a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. next week. The celebration, to be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Trimpe Ahlemeyer Atrium (TR 141), will include a keynote address by Alton's First Lady, Rev. Sheila Goins, live music by Blancas (led by L&C's own Brenda Lancaster), readings by L&C students, and free refreshments at the conclusion of the event. Rev. Goins’ address will focus on financial literacy. A native Altonian, Rev. Goins began her career as a banker in 1986 – first, as a part-time teller, then she worked her way up to management. She was the first African American woman to be hired as the branch manager of a financial institution within the Riverbend community. “I am honored to be the keynote speaker for the annual MLK event for Lewis and Clark Community College,” she said. “My career has awarded me the opportunit

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Successful Communities Collaborative (SCC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is hosting the inaugural Speakers Series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31 in the Meridian Ballroom in the Morris University Center. The Speaker Series will focus on food systems, including production, distribution, access, and consumption. Designed to complement SCC partnerships, the series will elevate expert voices from both local communities and the region to launch dialogue and spark action around our region’s food systems. Yves Doumen, founder of the Motherland Community Project in Springfield, will present, “Strengthening Community Capacity and Increasing Access to Healthy Food Through Sustainable Urban Agricultural Systems.” Doumen recognizes that access to healthy food among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and communities affected by poverty is limited, but urban agriculture has the potential to change this dynamic by boosting access to

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SPRINGFIELD - There will be no PEEPEE, SUKIT, or DUCKYOU for Illinois drivers. Those are just a few of the nearly 400 requests for vanity and personalized license plates that were rejected by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office in 2022, according to Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Last year, 54,236 Illinoisans requested vanity and personalized plate requests and 383 were shot down due to their tawdry, lewd or offensive nature or because they were difficult to read. "We love the creativity and pride Illinoisans take in choosing their personalized license plates,” said Secretary Giannoulias. “Most plate requests are approved, but a small percentage fail to meet the standards of good taste and decency and are rejected because they violate the state’s vehicle code." The Secretary of State’s Office oversees the process by which Illinoisans may request specific vanity or personalized license plates for their vehicles. Many use the office’s

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THE CONVERSATION - Across the U.S., children and adults are increasingly exposed to harmful chemicals from a source few people are even aware of. It begins on a street outside a home or school, where a worker in a manhole is repairing a sewer pipe. The contractor inserts a resin-soaked sleeve into the buried pipe, then heats it, transforming the resin into a hard plastic pipe. This is one of the cheapest , most common pipe repair methods, but it comes with a serious risk: Heating the resin generates harmful fumes that can travel through the sewer lines and into surrounding buildings, sometimes several blocks away. These chemicals have made hundreds of people ill , forced building evacuations, and even led to hospitalizations. Playgrounds , daycare centers, and schools in several states have been affected, including Colorado , Connecticut , Massachusetts , Michigan , Pennsylvania , Washington , and Wisconsin . With the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law now

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COLLINSVILLE - Alton High sophomore bowler Sam Ottwell qualified as an individual for the IHSA state bowling tournament on Jan. 27-28 by throwing a six-game series of 1,255, which tied him with Collinsville's Ben Sloan for the last two individual berths at the sectional tournament at Camelot Bowl in Collinsville Jan. 21. Ottwell had a high game of 257 in the morning session, and in the afternoon half, had three games of 195, 191, and 199 to help him go through to state as the only Redbird bowler to qualify. At the time of a post-tournament interview, the final team and individual standings had yet to be announced, but Ottwell felt that he bowled well enough to qualify. "I did pretty well the first block," Ottwell said. "I think I shot a 670 (series) and then, the last block, I was just kind of trying to hold on. I never really shot a 200, but a lot of high 190s. So I was really happy with my first sectional." At the time, Ottwell was very hopeful that he and the Redbirds would advance

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EAST ST. LOUIS – To express love and lift the spirits of local seniors, State Senator Christopher Belt is collecting store-bought or handmade cards to deliver to long-term care facility residents for Valentine’s Day. “It’s important for us to take time out of our day to show appreciation for people in our community,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “A little act of kindness can go a long way and make someone’s day. Let’s show our seniors that we appreciate them.” Belt is collecting store-bought and handmade cards for local seniors. People are encouraged to write kind notes and drop them off or mail them to his district office, located at Kenneth Hall Regional Office Bldg. #10 Collinsville Ave., Suite 201A, East St. Louis, IL 62201. He is collecting cards until Feb. 10 and then will deliver them to local long-term care facilities. People with questions can reach out to Belt’s office at 618-875-1212.

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ALTON - Today I would like to formally announce my candidacy for the Alton Community Unit School Board - District 11. As a long-standing resident and member of the community, I have a vested interest in our children’s future. Having 2 young girls attending school in the district and as a 2005 graduate of Alton High School, I currently serve our community as the Information Technology Director for the City of Alton and in Law Enforcement as a Part-Time Police Officer in our area. As a member of the Alton Community Unit School Board - District 11, I will promote an agenda to establish a plan with goals centered on preparing our children for a successful future, and bring forth transparency, honesty, respect, and accountability to establish trust with our community. By serving as a member of the School Board, I will demonstrate integrity, and responsibility in the allocation of tax dollars to restore the confidence of our taxpayers while serving as an advocate for the community by

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that the CDC is reporting 28 counties in the state are at an elevated level for COVID-19, compared to 61 in the previous week. Of those, three Illinois counties are at a High Community Level , compared to five the previous week; and 25 counties are at Medium Level, compared to 56 the previous week. IDPH is reporting 10,967 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending January 15, and 78 deaths. “I am encouraged to see COVID-19 community levels continuing to decrease across Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Rates of the XBB ‘Kraken’ variant, spreading throughout the East Coast, are slowly increasing in the Midwest, and we continue to monitor this new variant closely. However, we are fortunate at this time to see no increase in hospitalizations. IDPH is continuing to focus our efforts on preserving hospital capacity and protecting

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent, while nonfarm payrolls were almost unchanged, down by just -800 in December, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The November monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +17,500 to +12,100 jobs. The November unemployment rate was unchanged from the preliminary report, remaining at 4.7 percent. The December payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. In December, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment included: Educational and Health Services (+5,200), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+3,300), and Government (+1,800). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll declines included: Professional and Business Services (-3,000), Leisure and Hospitality (-2,500)

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement on the decision by Effingham County Judge Morrison on the Protect Illinois Communities Act: “This decision is not surprising. Although disappointing, it is the initial result we’ve seen in many cases brought by plaintiffs whose goal is to advance ideology over public safety. We are well aware that this is only the first step in defending this important legislation. I remain confident that the courts will uphold the constitutionality of Illinois’ law, which aligns with the eight other states with similar laws and was written in collaboration with lawmakers, advocates, and legal experts. Illinoisans have a right to feel safe in their front yards, at school, while eating at bars and restaurants or celebrating with their family and friends. The Protect Illinois Communities Act takes weapons of war and mass destruction off the street while allowing law-abiding gun owners to retain their collections. I look

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ALTON - At 4:36 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, the Alton Police Department received a report of gunshots fired in the area of East 20th Street and North Henry Street. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said when officers arrived they determined that an occupied vehicle had been struck by gunfire but no injuries occurred. "Investigation revealed that the gunshots had been fired from a vehicle as it drove through the area," the chief said. "A description of that vehicle was obtained and officers located it a short time later. "Officers were able to stop the suspect vehicle and detained the driver/sole occupant. The suspect was taken into custody and brought to the Alton Jail. A firearm was located inside the suspect vehicle." The investigation is ongoing at this time. Chief Ford said the facts of the case will be presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office this coming week.

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EDWARDSVILLE – The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded Gary Hicks, PhD, professor in the Department of Mass Communications, with the William and Margaret Going Endowed Professorship Award, the most distinguished faculty award of the College. A member of the LGBTQ+ community with more than 25 years of work experience as a media and communications academic, Hicks’ research has focused on the impact of media on society’s marginalized communities. “My research covers what once were considered taboo topics whose study was clearly not valued by many universities,” explained Hicks. “There are a relatively small number of scholars who do this kind of research. I find one reason for that is the historical lack of embrace by academia.” “While I was working on my doctorate many years ago, I was warned by several of my professors that I might have a hard time even being hired due to prejudice

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CARLINVILLE - The marriages and romances of American Presidents will be the topic of a free program at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the one-hour discussion, which will be presented by Tom Emery, a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville. Emery has won fifteen awards from the Illinois State Historical Society in his career. He has been published in over 150 newspapers in his career, and has created thirty-nine book and booklet titles. An experienced speaker and public-address announcer, Emery has lectured on his research across the region, and has been in particular demand in recent years. He is known for his informal presentations, which encourage audience participation. The Presidential Marriages program is one of his most popular discussions, and usually attracts large audiences. The program will offer an entertaining look at the marriages, romances, and love lives of the Presidents. While som

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EDWARDSVILLE - Work on the buildings for Drunken Fish, Kimchi Guys, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Eskimo Hut Frozen Daiquiris To-Go is making great progress, both Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy and Economic and Community Development Director James Arnold said Friday. Drunken Fish is a St. Louis-area staple for sushi and Japanese cuisine, and Kimchi Guys offers fast-casual Korean food. Another Kimchi Guys is located in Laclede’s Landing area of St. Louis. Nothing Bundt Cakes are handcrafted in a variety of flavors and sizes and offer a wide selection. Eskimo Hut Frozen Daiquiris To-Go will specialize in its signature frozen daiquiris and margaritas to go among convenience store options. Mayor Risavy said these additions will be “amazing” for Edwardsville to go with the wide assortment of businesses already available. “They will have a huge impact and are just more additions to our great supplement of things we already have,” he said. “These are all

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ALTON - Eddie Sholar Jr., the owner of Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, one of Alton’s landmark businesses, expressed excitement about the new cannabis dispensary to be located at the former Winnelson Plumbing & Pipe Supply building near his establishment. Sholar, the previous owner of the old Winnelson building, said he sold the building at 1400 Broadway to the new owners of the cannabis dispensary. He said he believes the new dispensary will be huge for Broadway and Alton. On Tuesday, Stutz Excavating razed the former Hawks Vending Building. The space that was torn down will become a new joint parking lot for the dispensary and Fast Eddie’s. Sholar said he will be in partnership with the new dispensary “moving forward.” More about that will be released soon, he added. He said he believes this is all in the best interests of Alton’s future. “This will be huge for Alton and its tax revenue,” he said. “I am all about what is best for Alton."

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