Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - The second annual Alton Pride festival on Sept. 9 was a busy day of vendors, performances and celebrations for the local LGBTQ+ community. Alton Pride is an organization that provides resources to LGBTQ+ people in the Riverbend area. This year marked the second Pride festival, where people could enjoy food trucks and live music from noon to 9:30 p.m. in downtown Alton. “For me, it’s a way of getting in touch with fellow LGBTQIA people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to the big festivals over in the city,” Alton Pride President Nicci Kincer said. “It’s more grassroots. It’s smaller, it’s more personal. More family-friendly.” In addition to craft vendors and food trucks, attendees could enjoy performances by area bands Porch Cafe , Mz Goldie , Piasa Canyon and Bullseye Womprats. The event was emceed by drag queens Dieta Pepsi and Chasity Valentino, and a drag show from 6–7 p.m. kicked off the evening.

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ALTON - Makaila Irby is a player on Marquette Catholic's girls volleyball team that stands out with her tenacity, and as her coach Sue Heinz describes it, "hustle on the court." The senior is a libero/defensive specialist, and one of the captains of the Explorers volleyball team this year. Makaila is a Tucker's Automotive Repair and Tire Female Athlete Of The Month for The Explorers. "Makaila provides our team with strong leadership skills, communication, and lots of hustle," Coach Heinz said. "Makaila will lead our defenses this year." To date, Irby is averaging 14 serve receives and nine digs a game, Heinz said. Irby is one of the reasons Marquette's girls are competitive in just about every area volleyball match they enter this season.

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GODFREY - Godfrey trustees have tabled an agreement with Survival Flight to lease Godfrey Fire Station #1 as their new “home base of operations” once the Fire Protection District moves into their new fire station in mid-January 2024. Details of the lease agreement are currently being worked out by village trustees. Survival Flight, which currently provides emergency medical services (EMS) by air from their medical helicopter base in Jerseyville, is planning to bring ground ambulances to the region citing requests from multiple local agencies and a need for additional ambulance services. Survival Flight will work with and initially focus on St. Anthony’s Hospital in Alton, and is aiming to have their on-ground ambulance service operational by Nov. 6, 2023. Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said trustees should feel “elated” that Survival Flight wants to move their home base to Godfrey. “As far as the service they’re going to supply to

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that pavement resurfacing on Illinois 140 between Monument Avenue and Terra Drive in Madison County will require intermittent lane closures starting, weather permitting, 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The work is expected to be completed by the end of November. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – DraftKings at Casino Queen , located at 200 Front St. along the Mississippi River, continues to uphold its mission to support the St. Louis community by donating supplies and fundraising for two local charities this month. In August, DraftKings at Casino Queen also hosted its annual back-to-school drive. Guests and team members were encouraged to donate a variety of school supplies to benefit East St. Louis School District 189 , which includes public schools in East St. Louis, Canteen, Centreville and Stites Townships in northwestern St. Clair County. Through the drive, DraftKings at Casino Queen gathered and donated an approximate total of $1,600 worth of supplies. Through an ongoing fundraising campaign, DraftKings at Casino Queen raised $1,000 and donated an additional $1,500 to Gateway Pet Guardians , a local animal shelter. The $2,500 donation will provide resources for pets, including quality veterinary care and pet supplies. Gateway Pet Guardians

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GRANITE CITY - Revity Credit Union employees joined together to raise $1,185.00 in the month of August to benefit Happy Trails Farm through their Smile for Jeans Program. The Smile for Jeans Program is funded by Revity Credit Union employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, Revity employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. Nothing gets better than seeing a smile on an organization’s face when Revity Credit Union presents them with a jeans donation check. Revity Credit Union’s 2023 Smile for Jeans Program focuses on supporting our local communities that we work, play and live in. During the month of August, Revity employees proudly raised $1,185.00 for Happy Trails Farm. Happy Trails Farm has been established for over 16 years and serves as a local horse rescue in Granite City. In addition to rescuing horses, Happy Trails

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EAST ALTON – The next National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) newsletter will be a special edition featuring a collection of personal accounts and photos of the Great Flood of 1993 from community members. Please share stories, memories, or anything related to the flood you would like to share. Entries should be sent to rsender@lc.edu with the subject line “Great Flood ‘23” and will be accepted until October 15. About National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them, facilitating the efficient implementation of science into policy and to practice. Founded in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, the center aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related to the interconnectedness of large rivers,

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JERSEY - The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of two men near a four-wheeler believed to have run out of gas in the area of Central Road north of State Highway 16 on Wednesday morning, Sept. 6, 2023. Deputies arrived to find an abandoned Suzuki four-wheeler in the ditch and in a search of the area, they identified Ashley J. Fulmer, 26, walking down the roadway. At the same time, another deputy located a vehicle in the same area and stopped it, Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said on Friday. “The deputies spoke to Heath E. Blaine, 51, and Hoth were known by the deputies and gave conflicting stories about the four-wheeler and their reasons in the area. Because the four-wheeler was not known to be stolen at this time, Fulmer and Blaine were released pending additional investigation and the four-wheeler was towed. “As part of their follow-up investigation, the deputies and the JCSO detectives conducted numerous interviews of residents i

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ALTON - Stormy weather postponed the Alton Marina’s 27th anniversary party last month, but they’re back with a rescheduled party and several more fun events on the calendar. “I’ve always loved being out on the river,” said Rob Honke, owner of Seahorse Ranch Marine, Inc., which operates Alton Marina. “As hard as we all work and as hard as my team works, it makes it all worth it.” The 27th anniversary party will celebrate that hard work and everything the Marina has to offer boaters and the general public. From 6–10 p.m. on Sept. 23, you can join the Marina for a cash bar, award-winning barbecue by Black Iron and a live performance by looping artist Jason “Gordo” Gordon . The pirate-themed party also encourages attendees to enjoy the loot raffle and pirate costume contest. Honke joked that a lot of people were prepared for the costume contest on the party’s original date, and he hopes to see them return

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STANFORD, CONN. - Zelina Vega is a powerful woman who always makes her presence known when she is in the WWE ring as a superstar professional wrestler. Vega and other big names on the pro circuit are coming to St. Louis for a SmackDown event on Oct. 6, 2023. She has appeared in front of thousands of fans in her long-time pro wrestling career and uses the name Zelina Vega in the SmackDown brand. Thea Megan Trinidad Budgen, her given name, was born in 1990. She was born in the Queens borough of New York City and is of Puerto Rican descent. She is also a well-known actress and portrayed fellow professional wrestler AJ Lee in the 2019 biographical film “Fighting With My Family.” She also has had several other roles as an actress. Vega has had phenomenal success in professional wrestling and is a member of Legada Del Fantasia and the Latino World Order. She is also a former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. Vega always had aspirations of a professional wrestling career.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A woman who was originally from China admitted involvement in a counterfeit gift card scheme directed at Target shoppers across the Midwest, including in Belleville in this region. Hongying Wang pled guilty to the federal crime in a U.S. District courtroom in East St. Louis on Thursday. Wang, 53, originally of Hunan Province, China, admitted guilt to using and trafficking in a counterfeit access device. For the charge, Wang faces a statutory maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Wang’s sentencing is set for 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 22, 2024, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. Wang admitted to possessing 6,100 fake gift cards with the intent to place them on the shelves. According to court documents, the scheme involved individuals placing altered gift cards on the sales racks at Target while retaining the access numbers. Once a gift card was loaded with money by an unsuspecting patron, the fraudsters would have the codes needed

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GRAFTON/WEST ALTON - The Flotsam! River Circus stopped by Alton and Grafton this week to put on a show complete with pirates, music, acrobatics and killer catfish. The Flotsam show has spent the summer “floating down the Mississippi River all the way from Minneapolis to St. Louis,” according to their official website . Earlier this week, they anchored at Grafton to deliver a free performance, then continued down to West Alton for another fun show. “Flotsam! is a troupe of musicians, circus performers and puppeteers traveling on a handmade ramshackle raft, giving free performances in towns along the way,” the website continues. “During the tour, the raft is our mode of transit, our home and our stage.” The Flotsam! crew launched from Minneapolis on Aug. 4 and will wrap up their tour this weekend with three performances in St. Louis. Most of the performers have experience in circuses, cabarets and clowning around, which has helped them

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, today announced a bipartisan national settlement in principle with Kroger that, once final, will require the grocery chain to pay $1.37 billion to participating state and local governments for its role in the opioid crisis. In addition to the financial terms, a final settlement remains contingent on agreement on critical business practice changes. To date, national investigations and litigation against the pharmaceutical industry over the opioid crisis have led to more than $50 billion in settlements, with Illinois’ share at more than $1.3 billion. “I am proud of the bipartisan work that has resulted in this settlement in principle with Kroger. This agreement builds upon the important progress we’ve already achieved through previous settlements, as we continue working to hold companies accountable for contributing to the opioid epidemic,” Raoul said. “I am committed to ensuring that resources Illinois receives

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GREENVILLE - Area singers, high school age and older, at any level of musical experience, are invited to join rehearsals beginning September 18 for the Greenville Choral Union and Orchestra’s 94th annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, a Bond County holiday tradition. Weekly vocal rehearsals begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 18, at Whitlock Music Center, located at the corner of College Avenue and Elm Street on the Greenville University campus. Singers unable to make the first rehearsal are still welcome to join. Don Frazure, GU’s Director of Choral Activities, will direct the performance and provide music and rehearsal tracks to help singers learn their parts at home between rehearsals. In addition to Part 1 of Messiah, the Choral Union will perform the Magnificat. Don Frazure said, “I am very excited to include John Rutter’s Magnificat in this year’s 94th annual presentation. Rutter’s work is an energetic yet contemplative

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) announced flight operations at the airport increased to a total of 104,156 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The data follows a positive trend in recent years of flight operations continuing to rebound from significant air travel impacts felt during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the operations are surpassing levels seen before the global pandemic began in 2020. Flight operations reported in FY2023 represent a 2.4% increase over numbers reported in FY2022, and a 7% increase over pre-pandemic totals reported in FY2019. This marks the second consecutive year of growth at St. Louis Downtown Airport, which is located in St. Clair County on 1,000 acres in Cahokia Heights and Sauget and is the busiest general aviation airport in Illinois, outside of Chicago. “The trend in increased flight operations is a positive sign that air travel is returning to normal for private and business travel customers,” said Mary Lamie,

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Ramsey, Illinois man his office prosecuted was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Waylon Davis, 26, was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison by 4th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Christopher Matoush, after previously pleading guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies. “Survivors of child abuse and exploitation are revictimized every time an individual downloads one of these heinous images or videos,” Raoul said. “I am pleased that the defendant is being held accountable for victimizing innocent children. My office will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to protect children and communities

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WEST ALTON, Mo. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 10 th , at 10 a.m. for an accessible kayak dock and launch at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, Missouri. This dock will connect to the existing accessible trail system at the Sanctuary and will include a transfer bench that enables kayakers to transition both in and out of their kayak from a seated position. Last year, in partnership with the Mississippi River Water Trail Association (MRWTA) and the Audubon Center at Riverlands (ACR), over 1,000 people enjoyed paddling programs at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. “With the addition of this kayak launch, we hope to open up these programs and the entire Mississippi River to all members of the community with a desire to get on the water.” said Katelynn Dearth, Natural Resources Specialist and Park Ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Rivers Project.

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ALTON - Downtown Alton is welcoming a new storefront with the grand opening of Coco+Oak on Sept. 8. When Madeline Eades started the shop online in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw it as a hobby during quarantine. A few years later, it’s now a brick-and-mortar store located at 219 Williams Street in Alton. Eades invites shoppers to come see what they offer, including clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and a “hat bar” that even a few celebrities have enjoyed. “It just seemed natural that the next step would be to open a store,” Eades said. “What it started as has become so much more than what I ever imagined it was going to be.” Coco+Oak currently ships to all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Eades was already involved in the Alton community as a parent with kids in the school district and the president of the Alton Athletic Association. So when she decided to open a storefront, Alton was the obvious choice. “It definitely just

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ALTON – People who have cardiac arrests may benefit from CPR, yet many people who witness cardiac arrest do not perform CPR. That’s why OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton) is hosting an upcoming first aid and CPR training class so Riverbend area residents are prepared to take action if necessary. The first aid and CPR training class will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the hospital’s Perpetual Help Center and led by a certified instructor. Space is limited and the deadline to register is Monday, September 25. The cost is $65.00/person. Registration can be completed by calling (618) 920-6816 or by email at susiesweetman22@gmail.com. “Knowing CPR and first aid can help save lives,” says Dennis E. Sands, MD, Chief Medical Officer, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “If your child or loved one isn't breathing, knowing how to do CPR could mean the difference between life and death.

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SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to build its ranks, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is updating the pre-employment requirements for people applying to become a trooper. Recently signed into law, Public Act 103-0312 makes changes to the Illinois State Police Act, effective January 1, 2024. The new “Option Three” allows for current law enforcement officers with three years of continuous service at the same law enforcement agency to join the ranks of ISP quickly. “ISP wants to recruit those who have shown they are dedicated to protecting the public,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Recruiting an officer who has successfully completed basic law enforcement training and has three years of law enforcement experience, combined with comprehensive training through the ISP Academy, will allow ISP to more quickly assign experienced and highly trained troopers throughout the state.” Changes were also made to “Option Two,” allowing

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