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EDWARDSVILLE - During their regular meeting on Nov. 20, 2024, the Madison County Board approved the 2025 budget summary. The total budget for Financial Year 2025 is $187,531,116. Chris Guy, the chair of the Finance Committee, provided context about the budget. “This is the eighth year in a row since 2017, when the county chairmanship changed and the majority of the Board flipped, this is the eighth year in a row that a zero tax levy hike has taken place,” Guy said. “I think we should commend this Board, administration and all department heads and county employees who work with everybody on passing another balanced budget without a property tax levy hike.” Guy noted that the flat levy is $30.7 million, which is $3 million lower than ten years ago. He said this was “something to be commended” considering inflation and other rising prices. “When you look at your tax bill and you look at your levy, and your property taxes have gone up

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ST. LOUIS – Boeing has announced it is set to lay off nearly 700 workers across Missouri, with the reductions scheduled to begin on January 7, 2025. The aerospace company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with Missouri’s Office of Workforce Development on Wednesday, outlining the affected locations, which include Berkeley, Hazelwood, Kansas City, Kingsville, Maryland Heights, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Louis City, and St. Ann. The layoffs are part of Boeing's broader strategy to adjust its workforce in response to financial challenges and a shift in business priorities. “As previously announced, we are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities,” a Boeing spokesperson said. The spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to supporting employees during this transition. Most of the 692 employees affected by the layoffs are expected to depart the company in mid-January.

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Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, sharing hearty meals, and expressing gratitude. While the feast often takes center stage, desserts hold a special place in the hearts of many. A well-selected dessert can serve as the perfect ending to a celebratory meal, leaving guests satisfied and happy. With a variety of options, from traditional pies to modern treats, there’s something for everyone. In this guide, we will explore the best Thanksgiving dessert ideas that can elevate your holiday gathering. Classic Thanksgiving Pies Pumpkin Pie No Thanksgiving table is complete without the iconic pumpkin pie. This classic dessert boasts a creamy, spiced filling made from pureed pumpkin, eggs, and a blend of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Traditionally served with a dollop of whipped cream, pumpkin pie is loved for its rich flavor and comforting texture. To elevate the experience, consider using a homemade crust or adding a sprinkle of toasted pecans for

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On November 21st, we pause to reflect on a series of significant events that have shaped our world across various categories. One of the most pivotal events occurred in 1964, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This landmark resolution was a significant step in the global fight against racial injustice, promoting equality and dignity for all people, regardless of their race or ethnicity. The declaration was part of a broader movement during the 1960s aimed at addressing the deep-rooted issues of segregation and discrimination that plagued many societies around the world. The adoption of this declaration was a clear message from the international community that racism would no longer be tolerated. In the realm of technology, November 21, 1996, marked the launch of the first version of the popular web browser, Internet Explorer 3.0, by Microsoft. This release was a game-changer in the world of technology,

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SPRINGFIELD - As technological innovation continues to advance, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources cautions hunters to be mindful of rules and best practices surrounding the use of technology in the field. This includes the use of drones for recovering wildlife, artificial intelligence for reviewing hunting laws, and e-bikes to access hunting sites. Drones The use of unmanned aircraft, or drones, for any aspect of hunting or recovery of wildlife is unlawful in Illinois. “Not only is drone use for hunting unlawful in Illinois, it goes against the spirit of fair chase and widely accepted hunting ethics,” said Jed Whitchurch, director of the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement. “Illinois Conservation Police officers are monitoring for drone use during the fall and winter hunting seasons. We encourage all hunters to familiarize themselves with the Wildlife Code and abide by the law.” The unlawful use of drones for hunting could result in enforcement action,

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EAST ST LOUIS - At approximately 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the East St. Louis Fire Department responded to a reported fire at a vacant commercial building located in the 400 block of North 33rd Street. Firefighters encountered heavy flames emanating from the top floor of the two-story structure. All three fire companies were dispatched to the scene, where they initiated a quick and aggressive interior fire attack. Their efforts were focused on containing the blaze, which was successfully limited to the top floor of the building. However, firefighters faced significant challenges due to numerous walled-over doors and holes in the upper level. The firefighting operation lasted about three hours, during which crews worked diligently to locate and extinguish any remaining hotspots. Firefighters also conducted overhaul procedures to ensure that the fire was fully under control and that no lingering threats remained. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

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ALTON — The Alton High and Marquette Catholic High School boys soccer teams united for a cause greater than competition and on Tuesday night, Nov. 19, 2024, their efforts concluded. The boys sold T-shirts during their annual rivalry match to raise funds for the Alton Police K-9 program. The proceeds from this initiative will honor Officer Odin, a K-9 who was killed in a shooting earlier in the year. The boys donated $1,100 to the Alton Police K-9 unit. Greg Nasello, head boys soccer coach at Alton High, emphasized the importance of community engagement through sports. “Kids need to learn life lessons out of sports," Coach Nasello said. "Giving back to the community is just as important as taking from it. I think our kids do a good job of that.” This year marks another time that the Marquette Catholic and Alton's boys soccer teams have sold T-shirts for their rivalry match and donated to a cause. According to Amy Lombardi of the Alton Athletic Association, last year's

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in honor of Rural Health Month to call out predatory drug middlemen called Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for squeezing out rural community pharmacists through unfair and anticompetitive business practices. WATCH: Budzinski Calls Out Predatory Drug Middlemen on House Floor Earlier this month, Congresswoman Budzinski hosted a roundtable with independent pharmacists, pharmacy students and faculty at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) School of Pharmacy to discuss PBMs. One local pharmacist who spoke at the roundtable was Michelle Dyer, the owner of Michelle’s Pharmacy in Carlinville, IL. In 2009, Michelle expanded her business to Gillespie and in 2016, she opened a pharmacy in Bunker Hill – a community that had been without pharmacy service for over 25 years. However, as PBMs consolidated and poached patients

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HARDIN - The Calhoun Sheriff's Office has issued charges after a long investigation of a sexual assault case. The timeline on the case goes as follows: On October 22nd, 2024, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office was notified of a Sexual Assault which was alleged to have occurred on October 20th, 2024, in the 900 block of Herren St., Hardin, Calhoun County. The victim came into the Sheriff’s Office and was interviewed by Chief Deputy Zach Hardin, and subsequently escorted to Alton Memorial Hospital for a sexual assault examination. Following the initial investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect identified by the victim. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was further notified that the suspect had left the area and returned to his home, located in the area of Pineville, Louisiana. Chief Deputy Hardin contacted the Pineville Police Department, who immediately assisted in the investigation. On October 30th, 2024, Pineville Police Department took

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GRAFTON - After nearly a decade of service and seafood, Grafton Oyster Bar owner Brad Hagen said business is still booming at one of the only floating restaurants in the state of Illinois. “The Oyster Bar’s doing wonderful - it’s busy like the rest of Grafton right now,” he said, noting an uptick in tourism in recent years. “Grafton’s always been a destination place on the weekends, but it seems like over the past few years, we’ve just continued to get more and more tourism coming through our town,” he added. “Our community, the Chamber of Commerce, they all work so hard to promote that tourism, and it’s really paid off for us.” Featuring a wide-ranging menu of seafood specialties, sandwiches, salads, and a drink menu with beer, wine, and cocktails, the Oyster Bar offers something for everyone. “I’m big on the seafood part of it - I really like the char-grilled oysters,” Hagen said.

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Professor of Sociology Paula Kelso is the winner of the 2024 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. Each year, Emerson Electric Company sponsors the Excellence in Teaching Awards program to recognize educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area – from kindergarten teachers to college professors – who are examples of excellence in their field. Kelso was shocked and humbled when her win was announced. “I was so surprised, but thrilled and honored to be acknowledged,” she said. Liberal Arts, Business and Information Technology Dean Randy Gallaher was pleased about Kelso’s win. “I am delighted that Professor Kelso will represent Lewis and Clark Community College as the Emerson Award winner,” he said. “Paula’s sociology courses are very popular, and she has an excellent reputation among students.” Kelso started her undergraduate degree at Millikin University, but ultimately

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GRAFTON - Two local business owners - Paula with Lady Luck Designs & Photography and Jesse with J. Weller Removal & Junk -shared more about their businesses on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Paula said she’s worked in photography and graphic design for several years, and decided one day to take the leap and start working for herself. “Several years ago, I was managing a little bar down the street off the river called the Clifton Terrace Inn,” she said. “I was working myself into the ground making another person rich … I realized then and there, if I can work that hard for somebody, I can work that hard for me. She said she’s always loved Grafton and felt she had something unique to offer her community. During the pandemic, she “dove deep” into building her own business; she emerged as the proud owner of Lady Luck Designs & Photography, which remains in business two and a half years later. Paula can handle everything

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville- Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) proudly supported 84 veterans last week with their annual Veterans Dental Care Day, which offered free services provided to local area veterans on Thursday, Nov. 14. Dental care included cleanings, fillings, extractions and imaging, free of charge. According to Katie Kosten, DMD, director of Community Dentistry in the SIU SDM, the total value of community care was $43,479. As the patients filed in, many began sharing stories with each other. The festively decorated SDM welcomed the veterans with sweet treats, a spray of balloons and warm smiles that greeted them. While they waited for their appointed turn in the dental chair, stories were swapped like baseball cards. Bob Hope performing on a battleship turret, chants from the USMC, taps every night at ten — a few years ago for some, a faraway place for others. “We had the fastest battleship of all

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ALTON - If you would like to have a role model for your student body and your community, look no further than our most recent Remarkable Redbird, senior Wren Crawford. Her fellow students seem to agree as Wren was voted onto the 2024 Alton High Homecoming Court. In addition, Wren has also been a part of many Alton High organizations such as Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and also Upward Bound, a pre-college support group to help students gain information about colleges they may wish to consider attending after graduation. Wren shared that during the course of her years in Upward Bound she has taken field trips to local universities such as Harris-Stowe and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and has also traveled with her fellow Alton High members to Washington D.C., Atlanta, Ga., and also Houston, Tex. She also writes the newsletter and updates important accomplishments for the group as well. Another item that Wren has taken on for her fellow students

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ALTON — The Haskell House in Alton is set to host a series of festive events this December, offering community members a chance to celebrate the holiday season. Margaret Hopkins, a spokesperson for the Haskell House, said from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the playhouse will welcome Santa Claus for a special appearance. Attendees can have their pictures taken with Santa for a fee of $2. In addition, the Haskell House will feature a variety of items for sale, including bracelets, jewelry, and ribbons. The following week, on Friday, Dec. 13, the playhouse will open its doors from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for visitors to view its Christmas decorations and a unique collection of 40s and 50s "bobbleheads or nodders." "These vintage Christmas-themed candy containers, reminiscent of 19th-century German designs, have been loaned to the playhouse by Pam and Gary Voyles of Country Meadows Antiques, located at 401 E. Broadway in Alton," Hopkins said. Hopkins expressed gratitude for

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EDWARDSVILLE — The National Art Honors Society at Edwardsville High School hosted an after-school workshop on candle making this week, inviting all students to participate in the event titled "Teach Your Craft." The workshop, led by N.A.H.S. secretary Charlotte Welch, took place recently and aimed to engage students in a hands-on artistic experience. During the event, students rotated through various stations where they learned about the intricacies of candle making. Participants had the opportunity to customize their creations by adding color, essential oils, and decorative elements. The workshop not only provided a creative outlet for students but also served a philanthropic purpose, as profits from the event will be donated to the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. The initiative reflects the National Art Honors Society's commitment to fostering creativity while supporting the local community.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Special Investigations Unit continues to combat public corruption with a recent case involving charges against a former city official. ISP worked with the Saint Clair County State’s Attorney to bring charges against 60-year-old Carlos Mayfield of East St. Louis. On April 3, 2024, ISP received an allegation of theft and official misconduct against former East St. Louis City Manager Carlos Mayfield. ISP immediately began an investigation into Mayfield’s conduct and special agents found evidence Mayfield knowingly used City of East St. Louis funds for personal gain. On October 1, 2024, an arrest warrant for Mayfield was issued and served to Mayfield’s attorney for one count of Theft $500-$10,000 of Government Property (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Fraudulent Use of a Credit/Debit Card (Class 4 Felony). Despite weekly contact with Mayfield’s attorney, Mayfield still ha

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ALTON – It’s the season when red kettles begin popping up everywhere – on store counters, in restaurants and outside popular Christmas shopping locations, reminding us that the holidays are a time of caring and sharing. The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign kicks off this coming weekend with Chairs John and Cathy Keller at the community tree lighting on Nov. 22 at Lincoln Douglas Square in Alton. The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. Children from The Salvation Army After School Program will perform a hip-hop dance and a special rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” For those unable to attend the Tree Lighting in person, portions of the event will be streaming live on Riverbender.com, hosted by Riverbender’s C.J. Nasello and the Big Z’s Mike Roberts. The Red Kettle Campaign officially began at Walmart stores on Nov. 16 and will launch

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GRAFTON - During the Grafton Country Music Festival, Mary Jo Cote and Dan Ebbing expressed their excitement to share the event with the community. Cote, who owns Grafton Pub, was particularly excited about the music. She said Grafton Pub was “hopping” with musicians like Dakota Danielle, Midwest Avenue and more. Meanwhile, Chamber of Commerce President Ebbing was pleased with the turnout as hundreds of people flocked to Grafton for the weekend. “Grafton is blessed,” Ebbing said. “There’s no doubt about it. The cars are lined up as far as I can see on Main Street coming into town.” This was the second annual Grafton Country Music Festival, complete with live music at almost every bar and contests throughout the weekend. Cote encouraged people to get down to Grafton Pub in time for their Mr. and Mrs. Country Music Festival coronation. “We’ve been preparing all week,” she said. “We’ve been working all

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ALTON - Food is Love , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding and empowering communities, is thrilled to announce its Monthly Block Party for Good this Friday, November 22, 2024 , from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Alton. This heartwarming community event will feature free groceries and free food truck meals , ensuring no one leaves hungry. The Block Party for Good is part of Food is Love’s mission to educate, empower, and restore lives through food. With the support of community partners, local volunteers, and generous donors, this monthly event brings neighbors together to celebrate community and share in the abundance of good food and good company. “Our Block Party for Good is more than just a food distribution event — it’s a gathering of love, support, and connection,” said John Michel, President of Food is Love. “We want to ensure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food while enjoying the warmth and joy

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