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WOOD RIVER – Noah Willeford, a runner for the East Alton-Wood River boys cross country team, faced an unusual challenge during a recent race when one of his shoes became stuck in the mud. Despite the setback, he completed the three-mile course in the muddy Freeburg Invitational with a commendable time of 21:01 for three miles, earning recognition as the Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. The cross-country race took place on a wet course, prompting warnings from coaches about the conditions. Willeford described the moment his shoe became trapped, saying, “They told us to be careful before the race because the course was wet, but when my shoe was stuck in the mud, I knew I would lose my pace if I didn't continue. I didn't stop because I wanted to have a good time. I just kept on going and finished in 21 minutes.” Willeford expressed gratitude towards his head coach, Russ Colona, and the rest of the coaching staff, noting their significant

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ALTON - A bicyclist suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, afternoon after being struck by a vehicle in Alton. The collision took place around 4:26 p.m. on Fosterburg Road at the intersection with Wonderland Drive. Emergency responders from the Alton Fire Department arrived at the scene and found the victim, who was subsequently transported to an area hospital for treatment. As of now, authorities have not disclosed the identities of those involved in the incident or provided details regarding the circumstances of the collision. The Alton Police Department is currently investigating the crash.

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ALHAMBRA — The Father McGivney girls cross country team achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, securing their fourth consecutive championship at the meet held at Alhambra Fireman's Park. McGivney head girls cross country coach Jim Helton has been very pleased with the squad's development this season and is excited with the post-season ahead. The Father McGivney girls cross country team members are Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Females Athletes of the Month for the Griffins. Elena Ryabk led the team with a standout performance, finishing first in the three-mile race with a time of 18 minutes and 34 seconds. Her victory was complemented by strong finishes from her teammates, including McKenzie Jones, who placed third with a time of 21:11, and Isabella Harris, who finished fourth in 21:31. Ainsley Turkington rounded out the top five for McGivney, crossing the finish line in 21:40. The team's overall performance was bolstered by Bella Redenius, who secured ninth

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STAUNTON - The Staunton Chamber of Commerce invites visitors to this year’s “Holidays in Staunton” with events starting on Friday, December 6, and lasting until Sunday, December 8. The annual Holiday Walk will run from 4 to 8 p.m. on December 6 in Downtown Staunton and will feature local businesses and vendors lining main street; food trucks, restaurants and local bars will be hosting special deals. The annual lighting of Duda Park, as well as a live nativity within Duda park; the inaugural lighting of the new Staunton Christmas Tree and the presentation of Staunton’s Citizen of the Year award will take place in the evening. Musical entertainment for the event will be provided by the Whiskey River Band. On December 7 be sure to take part in the Holiday Hustle 5k at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Staunton High School Post Prom followed by Snack With Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa himself will be making an appearance at the Oltmann Center along with the Grinch and

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ALTON - Congratulations to Nick Loepker of Cardiology, who is Alton Memorial Hospital’s October Employee of the Month. Nick received the honor on Oct. 9, 2024, from Cardiology manager Annette Mccauley, left, and AMH president Dave Braasch. Nominations for Nick said he “is that employee of whom you wish you could have 10. He goes the extra mile for his patients and his co-workers. Nick is always willing to stay late, come in on his days off, help anyone he can in whatever way he can, and he always does this with such a positive attitude. Most people are replaceable, however, we would never be able to replicate Nick’s sweet, helpful and knowledgeable nature as well as his work ethic. The thing that stands out most about Nick is the numerous compliments he receives when we call our patients. “Nick helped calm my nerves;” “Nick is so kind;” “Nick explained everything;” “Nick is so pleasant;” “Nick is the nicest

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BETHALTO - The Experimental Aircraft Association will host a pancake breakfast to raise money for young aspiring aviators. Chapter 864 of the EAA is based at the St. Louis Regional Airport in Bethalto. Nicholas Hobbs describes the group as “everything aviation.” The pancake breakfast will run from 7–11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at the airport, and all proceeds will go to Chapter 864’s scholarship fund. “We love to talk airplanes and aviation,” Hobbs said. “We’re not shy when it comes to the airport and opening up our hangars, opening up our aircraft for others to see, because we want, as aviators, to promote aviation and get others involved.” The pancake breakfast invites people to the airport at 16 Terminal Drive to check out the amenities and services. Piston Aviation will be offering discovery flights, and there will be a 50/50 raffle for attendees to enjoy. Tickets to the pancake breakfast cost $10 for adults

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EAST ALTON – St. Louis Regional Airport is the proud recipient of the Reliever Airport of the Year award. Presented by the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics, Airport Director Danny Adams accepted the award during the annual Illinois Public Airport Association fall conference. Dating back to September 2023, St. Louis Regional Airport has completed $8.5 million of improvements to include a Runway 17/35 rehabilitation, South Apron expansion, T-hangar Taxilane reconstruction, and Public Parking Lot rehabilitation. In addition, West Star Aviation completed a $20 million expansion as part of their investment at this location. After a 15-year pause, Piston Aviation Flight School brought professional flight training back to the Airport providing a service in high-demand. As a result of this surge in activity, the Airport is experiencing a 39% increase in aircraft traffic over the previous 12 months. The St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN), classified a

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ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, will host a meeting to provide additional information on the new 1,200-foot lock at Lock and Dam 25. The meeting will be held at Winfield City Hall, 51 Harry's Way, Winfield, Missouri, Oct. 29, from 5-7 p.m. Formal presentations will occur at 5 p.m., after which project team members will be available to provide information, answer questions, and discuss the project with attendees. The St. Louis District, in collaboration with the Inland Navigation Design Center, or INDC, are in the process of completing the design for the new 1,200-foot lock that will expand the existing Lock and Dam 25. The project team will provide additional information on the project development and future construction as the design efforts reach the 65% design point. Feedback, comments and questions from the community members are welcome in this first of many engagements to be held throughout the completion of the project.

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ALTON - On October 5, 1924, at 2:00 p.m., the Piasa Bird painting by Boy Scout and Alton High School Student Herbert Forcade on the bluffs at the end of Prospect Street was dedicated. W.D. Armstrong, president of the Madison County Historical Society, announced the program in the Alton Evening Telegraph several days before the event. The official schedule included the songs “America” and “Illinois,” played by the Franklin Quartette, a reading of “The Legend of the Piasa Bird,” by John D. McAdams, and speeches by Illinois Senator H.G. Giberson, President of the Local Council of Boy Scouts Eben Rodgers, Gilson Brown on behalf of the City of Alton, and others. The attendance “surpassed expectation, and was a most gratifying manifestation of appreciation of Alton people for the efforts…put forth to restore the picture on the bluff which workmen quarried away near three quarters of a century ago.” The original Piasa Bird painting

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency has mobilized resources to support Hurricane Milton response efforts in Florida. This deployment, which involves personnel from MABAS Division 32 (St. Clair and Monroe Counties) and MABAS Division 35 (Madison County), was initiated after a request from the Florida Department of Emergency Management. The team was assembled for a 15-day deployment, responding to the call for assistance within hours of receiving the request earlier today. This rapid mobilization underscores the commitment of first responders to aid those affected by the hurricane, even as they leave their families during a critical time. Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) facilitates such support among states during disasters, allowing for a coordinated response to emergencies. The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency expressed gratitude to the first responders for their dedication and willingness to assist others in their time of

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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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