Riverbender 🕸

Authorities are investigating an accident that involved multiple vehicles on Interstate 270 near the Chain of Rocks Bridge on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. Traffic was back up significantly after the accident and a tractor-trailer was reported to have caught fire and multiple individuals were injured. There was several vehicles involved in the accident. Law enforcement reported that area of 270 was closed for multiple hours and the lanes didn't open until early Wednesday. More to come. Video Courtesy of Aubrey Claxton Willis Drone footage provided by Brayden Cook Photo courtesy of Adam Hutton

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SAWYERVILLE, Ill. – The Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death after a body was discovered inside a home on Tuesday evening, Sept. 17, 2024. Authorities responded to a 911 call requesting deputy assistance for an unspecified incident at a residence located at Mine Road and Clark Street. Upon arrival, deputies found a body inside the home. The sheriff’s office has yet to release information about the victim or the circumstances surrounding the incident, pending further investigation. “There’s no danger. We have the scene secured and there’s no danger to any of the public at this point,” Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl said. The sheriff’s office is actively conducting interviews and canvassing the neighborhood for additional information. Sheriff Kahl urged anyone with information to come forward by calling 217-854-3135, extension 1.

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WEST ALTON, MO – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rivers Project and the Audubon Center at Riverlands invite the community to celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD) with an exciting new event focused on the monarch butterfly and native plant conservation. On September 28th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM join monarch and native plant enthusiasts alike for “Monarchs & Milkweed”, a family-friendly volunteering event at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. National Public Lands Day is the largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States. The 2024 theme, “Together for Tomorrow,” emphasizes the importance of collective action in environmental stewardship. “National Public Lands Day fosters a strong connection between people and the environment, educating and cultivating environmental stewards” said Park Ranger, Corrinne O’Brien. “From education stations and service projects, there is something for the entire

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MT. VERNON – A man from southern Illinois recently claimed some serious cash, a cool $1 million, after scratching an Illinois Lottery Instant Ticket. The winning ticket, $10 Million , was purchased at Circle K gas station and convenience store, located at 1710 S. 10th Street in Mount Vernon, IL. “My girlfriend scratched the ticket and kept on staring at it and saying, ‘This can’t be right, this can’t be right’ - so I took a look and then ended up saying the same thing,” laughed the winner, who has requested to remain anonymous. “Once it sank in that we had won $1 million, we were both dumbfounded and happy at the same time – a moment we will never forget.” When asked what he plans to do with the winnings, the newfound millionaire replied, “Fulfill our dream and buy a new house, give a little love to my family and hopefully retire a little earlier.” This is also a win for Circle K for selling the winning ticket,

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ALTON - Lauren Massey has emerged as a pivotal figure for her Alton Redbirds' girls tennis team, providing not only stellar performances on the court but also demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities. Acting as a vocal leader, she stands out during practices and matches, according to her coach, Jesse Macias. This leadership has been described as a significant benefit to the team, emphasizing her commitment to putting the team first. Lauren is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for Alton High. Massey, alongside her doubles partner and sister, Grace, has had an impressive season so far. Despite initial reservations from their coach about the siblings playing together, the duo has proven to be a formidable team. They secured a second-place finish at the Andy Simpson Doubles Invite in the #2 doubles category and achieved fourth place at the Sacred Heart Griffin Invite in the #1 doubles category. "She is playing really well this year," Coach Macias noted, highlighting Massey’s

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and CJD E-Cycling will host a community e-Waste event from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21 in the Tolle Lane parking lot across from the college’s Godfrey Campus. Most items will be accepted for free, providing community members with a secure, Earth-friendly option for discarding used electronics. The following is a sampling of the items that will be accepted: Servers Switches, PC towers Printers Landline phones Cable boxes Cell phones Wireless modems Servers Audio and video equipment Holiday lights Home electronics Lead acid batteries CRT, Console, Projection, Plasma, and Flat Screen TVs and computer monitors. (Please note that CRT, Projection, Plasma, Console, and Flat Screen TV’s will be accepted with a minimal charge between $5 and $35 based on size; computer monitors with no tower will be accepted with a minimal charge of $5-$10.) Dehumidifiers and Refrigerators ($5-$10 each)

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GREENVILLE – Greenville University is excited to announce a new partnership with Jersey Community Unit School District 100 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This collaboration aims to provide mutual benefits to both organizations by offering scholarship opportunities to employees of Jersey CUSD 100 and creating pathways for professional development and employment. Under the terms of the MOU, employees of Jersey CUSD 100 will have access to a tuition scholarship for Greenville University’s online undergraduate and graduate programs. This opportunity is available for employees seeking to advance their careers while working full or part-time in the school district. The scholarship applies to a range of academic programs including Bachelor of Science degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Organizational Leadership, and Psychology, as well as various master’s degree programs such as Management, Business Administration (MBA), and severa

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JERSEYVILLE - St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School will be hosting its 26th annual Harvest Fest coming up this weekend. The fest will be complete with entertainment, prizes, fun, and great food. The event will be held on the grounds of St. Francis at 506 S. State Street in Jerseyville. It kicks off at 5 p.m. this Friday with games to entertain the kiddos including a color wheel and a dime toss. A cornhole tournament will also be held for any competitive folks out there, and of course, those who just want a good time. The fun begins at 11 a.m. the next day with raffle baskets opening right at the start. There will be even more fun for the kids on Saturday with bounce houses, a police radar baseball pitch, and much more. That evening there will be a live auction. Sunday starts at the same time with the raffle baskets opening when the festival begins. Kids get to partake in the Harvest Fest Olympics, as well as a pie-eating contest following the Olympics. Each day will

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Puppy Protection Act , which would create stronger standards for veterinary care, housing, and breeding for dogs. The legislation would ensure that dogs within breeders’ care have suitable and safe enclosures, access to outdoor areas, and regularly interact with other dogs and humans. “As many Americans welcomed a dog into their family during the pandemic, we must ensure that the demand for pets is met with a commitment from breeders to raise dogs in humane conditions before they find their forever home,” said Durbin. “I’m proud to lead this effort in protecting dogs from neglectful breeders who have evaded proper oversight and inspection in the past. The Puppy Protection Act will ensure breeding dogs and puppies will be well-cared for and live a healthy life.” Specifically, the bill would do the following: Caging and space requirements: Expand

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DOW - This October, there’s an unlikely partnership between Got Faith? and R Acres of Terror. R Acres of Terror, a haunted attraction in Dow, prides itself on scaring people for Halloween fun. Got Faith? works throughout the year to help people in the Riverbend. The two organizations are teaming up to collect socks for unhoused community members and raise money for Got Faith? The nonprofit is also sponsoring a Safe Zone at R Acres of Terror. In the Safe Zone, all of the scaring stops. People who need a break from the scares can sit down, have a soda and hear more about the Got Faith? organization by talking with founder Steve Pegram. “We do have people who can’t make it through,” explained Ron Root, owner of R Acres of Terror. “We literally have grown men who will turn around in the second or third scene. People’s scares and their reactions, everybody’s totally different. You could have a 10-year-old go through and give everybody

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JERSEYVILLE — Chris Lorton is revitalizing the WJBM radio network, based in Jerseyville, after purchasing the station in March. Lorton, who sold his previous business, Georgie’s, in July of last year, made the deal for WJBM in October and has been learning the radio business alongside his son Michael, an electrical engineer. “I didn’t necessarily want it like my lifelong dream,” Lorton said in a recent interview with Our Daily Show! host C.J. Nasello at the WJBM studio in Alton. “I have always made a side living working for properties down and out but had a good location. In this case, WJBM had been in bankruptcy for four years. I was asked if I was interested to make an offer and the person took my offer." Lorton’s primary motivation for acquiring WJBM was to keep the local radio station alive. “With radio, it is free. You don’t have to have a subscription with us. It is all local. You can do something, drive a car, play with kids

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ALTON - On the most recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, Duane Lawder spoke about maintaining his faith through hardships. “Personally, faith to me is showing a loving God my obedience to Him, because if you doubt or if you start to worry or if you start to fret, then you’re not showing much faith. And He sees all,” Lawder said. “It’s hard to walk a life of faith. But it’s twice as hard, believe it or not, in the end result, to not.” As a self-described “tough cookie,” Lawder shared that he has gone through many challenges in his life, including battles with substance use and time in prison. He believes that God not only helped him through these struggles, but also blessed him to now give back to other people. After Lawder moved to Alton, he decided to start “Sober For Life Radio,” a nonprofit radio show that raised money to help people start treatment and/or move into sober

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ALTON - Ray Hartmann, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Missouri, appeared recently on "Our Daily Show!" with host C.J. Nasello to discuss his campaign against six-term incumbent Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin. Hartmann, who has a history of advocating for reproductive freedom in Missouri and co-founded the popular PBS talk show "Donnybrook" in 1987, emphasized the significance of the upcoming election. "This is one of the most important elections of my life," Hartmann said. He criticized Donald Trump’s behavior during the recent presidential debate, noting how Vice President Kamala Harris managed to handle him. "Kamala showed us accurately he is extremely vulnerable to flattery and criticism," Hartmann remarked. Hartmann expressed concerns about Wagner's allegiance to Trump, stating, "I believe Ann Wagner will not stand up to Donald Trump. I don’t think he is going to win, but he could win." He highlighted the stakes for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, whic

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ALTON — Carson Jones, a junior at Marquette Catholic High School, is being recognized for his accomplishments in golf, a sport he has dedicated himself to for the past four years. Jones, who has achieved notable successes such as tying for third place at the Hickory Stick tournament, securing a top-10 finish at the Madison County event, and being the medalist in two out of four nine-hole matches, credits his family and coach for his progress. Jones is a Tucker's Automotive Repair and Tire Male Athlete of the Month for the Explorers. "I would like to thank God and my dad for teaching me everything I know and pushing me to be better," Jones said. "I would like to thank my mom for supporting me, and my two brothers who push me to be better every day. I would also like to thank my golf coach, Ryan Geisler, for everything he does for me." Jones appreciates the challenges that golf presents, particularly the constant drive to improve his performance. "I like the fact that it pushes

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BELLEVILLE - Alonzo Nelson, a mathematics teacher and track and field head coach at Belleville West High School, has been named the 2024 Serra Honda O'Fallon Teacher of the Year. Nelson, who teaches 9th-12th grade students, was selected from a pool of 97 nominees. The Teacher of the Year announcement was made following a rigorous selection process that highlighted his exceptional contributions to education and the community. Nelson was nominated by his wife and several colleagues, who shared compelling stories of his dedication and impact. "Mr. Nelson is the teacher students wish to have during their school years," one nominator wrote. "His exceptional passion and dedication to educating young minds are truly remarkable." Nelson's multifaceted role extends beyond the classroom. He is known for his educational videos on mathematics, his commitment to track coaching, and his extensive community involvement. Students from freshmen to seniors benefit from his engaging teaching methods,

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CARROLLTON - Carrollton Fire Protection District Chief Tim Thaxton provided information about a tragic fire that claimed the lives of a male and female in the 600 block of Providence Road on Sunday in Greene County. The fire call came in at 6:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, Chief Thaxton said. He also said the two who died in the fire were husband and wife. “It was fully involved when we got there,” he said. “The roof had already collapsed.” Thaxton said the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Fire Marshal are investigating the fatal fire.

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O'FALLON – Victoria Voumard, Edwardsville High School Fine Arts Department Chair and orchestra director, expressed great pride that the Marching Tigers came away with first-place honors at the recent Metro East Marching Classic held at O'Fallon Township High School. The Edwardsville High School Marching Band premiered their show, "Origins of E’vil," and swept the caption awards, including Best Music, Best Visual Performance, and Best General Effect. The Marching Tigers secured first place in class 4A and were named the 2024 Metro East Marching Classic Grand Champions. The Marching Tigers’ performance of "Origins of E’vil" captivated both the judges and the audience, earning them the top spot among large schools.

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ALTON - At the 18th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival on Saturday, September 21, Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project , Alton Main Street , and the Jacoby Arts Center will award three local activists the 2024 Confluence Conservation Leadership Award at 3 pm. Since 2007, the festival organizers have recognized community members who have significantly contributed to the Riverbend region's environmental conservation. This year’s Confluence Conservation Leadership awardees include Crystal Stevens, Flourish Farmstead; Maggie Mahoney, Alton Yard Farms; and Carol Frerker, Willoughby Farms. “All three award recipients have made significant contributions to sustainable and regenerative agriculture, soil health, and environmental conservation in the Riverbend and are unsung heroes in our region,” said Virginia Woulfe-Beile, Co-Coordinator of the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois. “Join us at 3:00 p.m. on September 21 at the Mississippi

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BELLEVILLE - Belleville West emerged as the Grand Champion of the Sage City Invitational held this past weekend in Monticello, IL., showcasing a stellar performance in music, visual, color guard and percussion presentations. The competition featured a diverse array of high school bands across several classes. In Class 1A, Maroa Forsyth delivered a noteworthy performance. Class 2A saw entries from Newton, Paris Cooperative, Effingham, Mt. Zion, Paxton-Buckley-Load, Richland County, and El Paso-Gridley. The 3A category included Jacksonville, Rantoul Township, Mattoon, and MacArthur. Finally, the 4A class was represented by Champaign Centennial, Urbana, and Danville. The Sage City Invitational is a key event in the high school band circuit, drawing talent from across the state. The event provides a platform for students to showcase their musical and visual skills in a competitive yet collaborative environment. Belleville West's marching band and color guard appear headed toward a

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ALTON - Local organizations came together to commemorate National Recovery Month. On Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, Centerstone hosted a Recovery Month Celebration and Vigil to remember those who have been lost to addiction while honoring people who are on a path to recovery. Representatives from Metro-East Recovery Council, Foster’s Light in the Dark, and Amare also spoke about their organizations’ services. “By being here tonight, we are casting light on the fact that recovery is possible,” said Anne Tyree, Centerstone CEO. “It does happen. Life does get better.” Mark Knott with the Metro-East Recovery Council described the organization as a “bridge-builder between all the different resources in St. Clair County and Madison County.” MERC collaborates with organizations like Centerstone and Chestnut Health Systems to help people embark on their recovery journey. Knott also gave a testimony on his own long-term recovery. He

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