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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 is set to enhance career and technical training opportunities with the planned expansion of the Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC). Superintendent Dr. Brad Skertich and CAVC Director Joe McGinnis presented the final construction plans for the expansion during a site visit on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, where they were joined by State Rep. Katie Stuart and local workforce development representatives. The photos here are from that presentation. The expansion, which is expected to break ground in early 2025, comes with significant financial backing. State Rep. Stuart played a key role in securing $25 million in funding from the State of Illinois for the project. The additional funding will enable the CAVC to offer more programs and accommodate a greater number of students, thereby enhancing the vocational training landscape in the region. "The expansion will allow us to meet the growing demand for skilled worker

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BETHALTO - Farm Meat LLC is a family-owned marketplace dedicated to connecting consumers with local farmers for high-quality, locally sourced meat. You can browse local farms, select meats that meet your dietary (grass fed/finished, grain fed/ finished etc.) and farming practice (organic, pasture-raised, regenerative etc.) preferences. Brian Werts is the owner of this family-owned business. “My family has always bought beef from local farmers, and as I got older, I got out of that,” said Werts explaining how he got into this business. “As I had kids, I started looking for how to buy beef from local farmers. I also wanted to know where I could sell my cows.” A big issue, Werts mentioned, is how marketing is a big barrier for these farms to be able to find people to buy their product, and for consumers to find these farms to buy from. “There are three farms on the website right now,” Werts said. “There is one in Jerseyville, one in Carrollton,

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ALTON – The holiday season is a time for giving, and once again, the K. Miller Christmas Toy Giveaway is set to bring smiles to the faces of children and families in our community. Now in its fifth year, the event has become a beloved tradition, spreading joy and generosity to those in need. This year’s toy giveaway will be held on December 21, 2024, at LaMay’s Catering 909 E Broadway, Alton, IL from Noon until 4PM. The event, which has grown significantly since its inception, starting in Kidada’s mother’s basement serving maybe 20 families to 161 families served in 2023. They will distribute toys, games, and other gifts to hundreds of local children, ensuring that they experience the magic of Christmas. “We’re thrilled to host the 5th Annual K. Miller Christmas Toy Giveaway,” said Kidada Miller , founder of the event. “This is a time of year when community and compassion come together, and it’s our mission

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Thursday, October 10, 2024, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Aarin Stiles, 29 years of age, of the 1100 block of Riaza Square in St. Louis, Missouri 63138, for Parental Kidnapping. Stiles is being held on $250,000 cash only, no 10% bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation, and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: On October 06, 2024, Police learned that defendant without permission from custodial parent nor the court removed 2-year-old child from North County Recreational Center and refused to return child to custodial parent. Child remained missing until October 10, 2024. Father has full custodial rights to child. Law enforcement made multiple attempts to contact defendant and retrieve minor child. Defendant brazenly refused to return child. Defendant currently has a capias warrant for her arrest for failing to comply

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ALTON - Webster Temple Church of God in Christ is inviting families from around the region to their Family Fall Festival, set for this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring a variety of vendors, food options, and opportunities to connect with churchgoers and community members, the festival is just one part of a weekend’s worth of family events. Pastor Sancho Williams from Webster Temple spoke on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com about what attendees can expect this weekend at the church. “Every registrant gets free hot dogs, chips, and water,” Williams said. “There are going to be vendors there, other food trucks … and also we have some different clothing vendors that will be there, and jewelry and stuff like that. So it’ll be a whole lot going on out there, and fun and games for the kids. “We’re especially looking forward to it. Every year at this time, we block off the road there at Webster and Highland

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MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Sheriff's Office announced the addition of Jordyn Besserman to its team, marking a significant step in her law enforcement career. Besserman will commence her Patrol Division Field Training on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, the Sheriff's Office said. The announcement reflects the Sheriff's Office's commitment to enhancing its personnel and services to the community. Sheriff Jeff Connor and the department expressed optimism about Besserman's potential contributions to public safety and community service in Madison County. Sheriff's Office representatives noted their enthusiasm for Besserman joining the team, highlighting the importance of dedicated personnel in maintaining community safety.

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ST. LOUIS, MO – The United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) Charmaine Chapman Society (CCS), one of the largest Black philanthropic groups in the nation, is kicking off its Divine 9 fundraising challenge during what is a milestone year for CCS. This year marks the 30-year anniversary of the group’s inception. The fundraising challenge will run through December 2. Leading this year’s challenge are CCS co-chairs Arica and Steven Harris. The Divine 9 Challenge is designed to increase financial support for UWGSL’s annual community campaign and celebrate Black Sorority and Fraternity’s continued commitment to service that ensures the St. Louis region is a better place to live, work, and thrive. Last year’s Challenge raised a total of $385,000 for the community and the winners were: Sorority = Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - $154,940 Fraternity = Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - $104,610 “We are proud to be leading CCS during

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ALTON - The Alton City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to provide 350 free laptops to “low-income, unconnected” households within the City of Alton. The city will provide $68,250 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to Alton Forward, the nonprofit arm of AltonWorks, to purchase the 350 laptops. While exact details are still unknown, they will reportedly be distributed on a “first-come, first-serve basis,” according to the resolution. Earlier this week , Alton Forward President Mark Carlie asked for the Committee of the Whole’s vote in favor, adding these devices provide opportunities for residents to join the “digital economy.” “ gives us the chance to create a fair and equitable process for distributing 350 laptops to those in need so they can participate in the digital economy,” Carlie said. The resolution does include certain guidelines establishing the criteria for eligibility, as well as certain rules

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CHICAGO – The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced nearly $1.5 million to the University of Illinois-Chicago to identify and implement innovative strategies to address the maternal health crisis. HRSA Deputy Administrator Jordan Grossman, joined by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and Co-chair of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, announced this award in Chicago as part of HRSA’s latest state Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative convening. HRSA announced the availability of this funding in December 2023 at a White House roundtable on innovation in maternal health convened by the Office of the Vice President Kamala Harris and the Domestic Policy Council in support of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. "Our nation's crisis of maternal mortality requires urgent action. Pregnancy

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EDWARDSVILLE — A 17-year-old teen was reported found "safe and sound," by the Madison County Sheriff's Office on Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 2024. The Madison County Sheriff's Office had asked for the public's assistance earlier Thursday in locating a missing 17-year-old boy - Kameron Hildebrand-Johnson from Edwardsville. He was described as a male with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen leaving his home in northern unincorporated Edwardsville on the evening of October 9, 2024. Kameron stands approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 130 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a gray t-shirt and cut-off blue jeans. The sheriff's office did not disclose details regarding the circumstances of his disappearance.

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Welcome to October 10th, a date that has witnessed remarkable events across various segments of human history. Moving back in time, on October 10, 1963, the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty went into effect. This treaty marked a significant step towards nuclear disarmament during the Cold War era. By prohibiting nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in space, the treaty aimed to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons and foster a safer global environment. The signing of this treaty was significant as it laid the groundwork for future arms control agreements and demonstrated a collective international effort to reduce the threat of nuclear war. On October 10, 1973, the United States witnessed a historic political event when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned from his position and subsequently pleaded no contest to charges of tax evasion. Agnew's resignation was a significant moment in American politics, as it marked the first time a sitting vice president had resigned

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ALTON - Award-winning local author Tori Ross stopped by “Our Daily Show!” to talk about her newest book, a “steamy romance” titled “Baked and Burned.” Ross has written several romantic comedies and contemporary books. She said the writing is “totally entertainment,” and she enjoys sharing her work with readers. She hopes this most recent book, which explores a “pregnancy trope” after a one-night stand, will appeal to her audience. “It’s mostly romantic comedy, but very steamy,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I did not pursue traditional publishing. A lot of times, traditional publishers will be like, ‘Eh, we don’t want this scene here. We want you to clean it up.’ I don’t want to clean it up. I want to make it dirty, because that’s what people like.” Ross began writing romance in 2021. She previously worked as a special education paraprofessional

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BETHALTO — Ross Laux is navigating a new chapter of his business career as a part owner of Fast Eddie's Bon-Air. Laux is now one of the owners of the Fast Eddie's operation with Eddie Sholar Jr. Ross shares his part of the ownership with his wife, Dawn. Eddie Sholar Jr. is the long-time owner of the business. Ross is now handling the day-to-day operations of Fast Eddie's. Laux's wife, Dawn, has taken charge of day-to-day operations at the Laux Brickhouse Grille, of which Ross is also an owner, while Ashley Coyle has been promoted to general manager at that location. Coyle has been with the establishment since its expansion. Ross said the shift allows him to focus on the operations at Fast Eddie's Bon-Air, where he aims to retain all the traditions of the legendary restaurant/bar. "We have upgraded the televisions," Laux said. "We have bigger TVs and put in DirecTV. We are not trying to be a sports bar; we are Fast Eddie's, but we think the changes will enable customers to bette

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This weekend, a vibrant array of events awaits in the region, offering something for everyone—from the spooky thrills of haunted trails to delightful community festivals and engaging library crawls. Discover the full lineup of exciting activities by visiting https://www.riverbender.com/events/ for a complete listing. If you want to make sure even more of the region is aware of your event email cj@riverbender.com and explore our range of Event Promotion Services! Featured Join the celebration at the St. Mary’s Church Oktoberfest , taking place from October 11 to 13, 2024, in Alton, Illinois. This year marks the 166th Anniversary of St. Mary’s Parish, and the event is open to the public with free admission. Experience the German heritage with live entertainment, traditional food, and exciting activities, including a 5k race and a special anniversary mass. Don't miss out on the chance to participate in the $10,000 sweepstakes and visit the various entertainment

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PONTOON BEACH – Madison County Transit (MCT) is proposing several adjustments to its service as part of the upcoming January 2025 Service Change. The proposed changes reflect passenger and operator feedback, the success of the MCT Micro pilot program in Collinsville, and the ever-changing demand of Madison County residents and communities. Among the proposed changes is a proposal to allow college and university students (with a valid student ID) to purchase and ride MCT buses with the MCT Student Monthly Pass – a fare product that is available for $15 each month. MCT is also proposing to make the MCT Micro service a permanent offering in Collinsville in light of the pilot’s success in providing a flexible and efficient transportation option. Other proposed MCT service adjustments for January include: MCT Micro in Collinsville : The popular pilot program in Collinsville is proposed to become a permanent service, replacing the #15 East Collinsville Shuttle.

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MADISON - A man from Madison has been granted pretrial release after being charged with his fifth offense of domestic battery. Sanchez Wooten, 39, of Madison, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony, and domestic battery, his fifth or subsequent such offense and another Class 2 felony. On Sept. 12, 2024, Wooten allegedly strangled a household or family member and struck them in the back of the head with his hands, causing bodily harm. Wooten has previously been charged with domestic battery on four occasions, including twice in 2017 and once in 2021 in Madison County, as well as once in 2020 in St. Louis County, Mo. The Madison Police Department presented the latest domestic battery case against Wooten, who was granted pretrial release from custody. The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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GRANITE CITY - A series of burglaries, stolen vehicles, property damage and more have led to nine felony charges being filed against a man from Granite City. Jacob L. Bronaugh, 28, of Granite City, was charged with the following on Sept. 30, 2024: Burglary (Class 2 felony) Unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony) Criminal damage to property (Class 3 felony) Burglary (Class 2 felony) Criminal damage to property (Class 4 felony) Criminal damage to property (Class 4 felony) Unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony) Unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony) Aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (Class 4 felony) These charges stem from a series of offenses carried out throughout the month of August 2024. On Aug. 5, 2024, Bronaugh allegedly entered a building without authority on Horseshoe Lake Road in Pontoon Beach, which was property of Site One Landscaping Services, with th

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ALTON - A man from Alton has been charged with battery against a 12-year-old child and domestic battery against another victim in the same case. DeMario D. Greenlee, 32, of Alton, was charged with aggravated battery (a Class 4 felony) and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). On Sept. 27, 2024, Greenlee allegedly struck a 12-year-old child “in the mouth with a closed fist, causing a laceration” after he threw a household or family member “to the ground, causing pain,” according to court documents. A petition to deny Greenlee’s pretrial release reveals the 12-year-old was struck while attempting to intervene during the domestic battery incident. “Victim reported that her boyfriend, the defendant, became angry during an argument and threw her to the ground,” the petition states. “Victim's 12-year-old son observed this and moved to intervene, and the defendant struck him in the face with a closed fist, causing a laceration.”

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ALTON - Porch Café will host its annual music festival in honor of Bud Summers this weekend. From 1–5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, community members are invited to the Alton Amphitheater for a free concert, complete with food trucks, craft vendors and more. All proceeds will go to the Bud Summers Music Foundation, a new local nonprofit that supports kids who want to play music. “There are so many stories. Everybody had a story about Bud,” said Jamie, one of the event organizers. “We get to hear so many different stories and it’s really cool to see everybody just pay a day of tribute to him. And the family has been very gracious. They’re very thankful. It’s for Bud, but it’s for all the local musicians.” Several bands will play at the festival, as well as solo acts who will perform in between the bands’ 45-minute sets. Jason McAtee, another organizer and member of the band Porch Café, teased that attendee

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TAMPA, FLA. - A man nicknamed "Lieutenant Dan" has captured quite a bit of attention in Tampa as Hurricane Milton heads to the area with a fury. Folks, keep Lieutenant Dan in your thoughts. With a sense of divine purpose, he says, “God told me to come out here and get a boat.” But there’s a catch — he doesn’t have a lifejacket. Dan isn't a strong swimmer — he’s missing a leg, much like the character from Forrest Gump . Despite this, he's convinced he’ll simply rise and fall with the floodwaters, not seeming to worry about the 180-mph winds, intense currents, or dangerous debris around him. Lieutenant Dan knows that people across the nation are concerned for his safety, but he compares himself to Noah. Last night, he was out on the water (spoiler alert: tidal knowledge is not his strong suit). These are the words on the GoFundMe for Lt. Dan: "Ahoy, mateys! We're rallying together to help our dear friend Lieutenant Dan who lives on

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