Riverbender 🕸

ST. LOUIS - As daily air quality forecasting makes its return for the 2025 season, the American Lung Association’s latest “State of the Air” report finds that even after decades of successful efforts to reduce sources of air pollution, 46% of Americans – 156.1 million individuals – are living in places that received failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This is nearly 25 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to the years covered in last year’s report (2020-2022), and more than in any other “State of the Air” report in the last 10 years. The data reinforces the need to protect our local communities from the continued risks to public health resulting from a combination of factors, including extreme heat, drought, wildfire smoke and more. Looking back at the “State of the Air” data from almost 30 years ago, when the average number of high ozone days in the St. Louis region approached

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GLEN CARBON - The Village of Glen Carbon is continuing a municipal electricity aggregation program with Homefield Energy. This program was previously approved by referendum by the voters in each of the 27 participating communities. The Village’s primary goal is to protect residents from the continued rise in electric supply rates and spikes in the energy market. Residents and businesses are able to opt-out of the program if desired. The new rate for the Village of Glen Carbon is $0.1207 per kWh and will be a fully fixed rate from June 2025 through May 2026. The current Homefield Energy rate is $.09054. Ameren’s rates are scheduled to change June 1, 2025, so Good Energy is recommending that residents wait until Ameren announces their PTC (price to compare) rate prior to making any decisions on opting out. More information is forthcoming to eligible residents via mail beginning this May. If the account holder desires to continue participating in the program, they

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JERSEYVILLE – The City of Jerseyville shows no signs of slowing down on current and future street projects around the city . The City Council on Tuesday approved up to $535,055.72 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds to cover various road projects over the next fiscal year. Public Works Director Bob Manns said this total includes projected costs for not only road work, but also drainage improvements, signage, lighting, ice and snow removal, tree trimming, and other associated maintenance costs. Jerseyville currently receives about $30,000 each month, or $360,000 annually, in MFT funds. Manns said the city usually spends the same amount of MFT funding it brings in, and expects actual expenditures over the next fiscal year to be closer to $360,000. However, the approved amount of $535,055.72 ensures the city has an over $175,000 safety net for any unexpected costs that may arise. “We always budget high,” Manns explained. “We don’t know how Mother Nature’s

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ALTON - Alton Middle School students have combined STEM with soccer. Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow (SALT), an Alton-based nonprofit, has partnered with SIUE’s STEM Center, SIUE’s men and women’s soccer teams, and the O’Fallon, Edwardsville, Triad and Belleville East High Schools’ robotics teams to provide Cougar KickBots at Alton Middle School. Through this program, SIUE athletes take the kids through soccer drills and games and then the STEM Center and robotics teams teach them basic coding skills. “We’re engaging our children through STEM and also physical literacy. We’re proud of it,” said Damian Jones, founder of SALT, who conceptualized the program. “What we try to do with our programming is create really immersive and unique experiences that are little mountaintop moments for these children to get them out of the valley of sameness, of what they’re accustomed to, what they’ve been exposed to, and

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RIVERBEND REGION – The Riverbend area communities have renewed their municipal electricity aggregation program with Homefield Energy. This program, which was previously approved by referendum by the voters in each community. These communities include the Village of Godfrey, Village of Bethalto, Village of Roxana, Village of South Roxana, Village of East Alton, Village of Hartford, City of Alton, and the City of Wood River. The primary goal of these communities is to protect the residents from the continued volatility in electric supply rates as well as spikes in the energy market. The new rate for the Riverbend communities ranges from $0.1197 to $0.1207 per kWh and will be a fully fixed rate from June 2025 – May 2026. As expected, generation capacity for the region impacted the rate substantially and with capacity being a pass-through component of the supply, the expected capacity cost will have a similar impact on Ameren rates as well. Residents should keep in mind,

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CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health have identified two confirmed cases of measles. These are the first two cases in Cook County this year . One case was identified as an adult who is a suburban Cook County resident, and whose vaccination status is unknown. They presented to a local Hospital for medical care on Monday, April 28 and was quickly isolated. Another case was identified in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally through O’Hare Airport in early April. The individual had 1 prior dose of MMR vaccine. This patient had rash onset on April 25 and has been isolated at home since being diagnosed. All persons 12 months of age or older who plan to travel internationally should ensure that they have received 2 doses of MMR at least 2 weeks prior to travel, or other evidence of immunity. The health departments are working together collaboratively to identify and notify people who may have been exposed

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks honoring Fred Wertheimer, this year’s recipient for the University of Illinois System’s Senator Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government. In his remarks, Durbin praised Mr. Wertheimer’s work as founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to strengthening American democracy, safeguarding election integrity, and promoting government accountability. Named for the late Illinois Senator, the Senator Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government is presented to a person whose public actions and contributions have demonstrated a deep understanding and respect for ethical behavior and standards in government. Past recipients include former President Barack Obama, the late Senator Paul Simon, the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former Representative Liz

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Whether you're looking for family-friendly fun, artistic inspiration, or thrilling entertainment, there's something for everyone to enjoy this weekend! For a complete listing of all events and more details, visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ . 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 Village of St. Jacob - 2025 Spring City/Village Wide Garage Sales invites everyone to explore great bargains throughout the community from May 1 to May 3, between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM. This event offers a unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike to discover wonderful items in garage sales scattered all over the Village of St. Jacob. For those interested in participating, registration details and an interactive map are available on the event's website. For more information, you can also reach out via email or phone. Mississippi Masters Golf Tournament is proudly

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On May 1, 1925, the Cherry Street Baptist Church elected Mrs. Louise Arnold as assistant pastor. She was ordained in the church on Sunday, May 3. Mrs. Arnold did not have the ability to perform marriages but could run the Sunday School, work with church members, and serve as the visiting representative of the church. Reverend S.D. McKenny, pastor of Cherry Street Baptist, said that Mrs. Arnold had been a very active worker in the church for a long time and was a member of a board of twenty deaconesses elected to assist in carrying on church work. "For that reason when the need for an assistant to the pastor arose she was picked by the church to fill the position, her ability in the work being recognized by the church members.” Mrs. Arnold may not have been able to officiate at actual weddings, but she directed at least one Tom Thumb wedding in 1933 that featured the Cherry Street Baptist Church Sunday School playing the bridal party. Louise was incorrectly identified as

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What do a vibrant floral crown, a labor march, and a centuries-old festival have in common? They all converge on May Day, a date that resonates with diverse meanings around the globe. Far from being a simple public holiday, May Day embodies a complex tapestry of cultural traditions, political struggles, and social celebrations that have evolved over time. Understanding its history and significance reveals much about human creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. Origins of May Day: From Ancient Rituals to Festive Traditions The roots of May Day trace back to ancient pagan festivals celebrating fertility, growth, and the renewal of life. In many European cultures, May 1st marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season, a time when communities gathered to honor nature’s bounty. One of the most iconic customs is the Maypole dance, a tradition believed to symbolize the union between earth and sky, fertility, and communal harmony. For example, in England and Germany,

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May 1st holds a special place in history as a date that marks numerous significant events across the globe. International Workers’ Day (May Day) May 1st is globally recognized as International Workers’ Day, a day dedicated to celebrating laborers and the working class. Originating from the labor union movement in the late 19th century, particularly the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886, May Day has become an official holiday in many countries. It symbolizes the struggle for workers’ rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions. Parades, demonstrations, and various festivities take place worldwide, reflecting the ongoing importance of labor movements in shaping social and economic policies. 1707 – Act of Union: England and Scotland Unite On May 1, 1707, the Act of Union came into effect, uniting the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a single sovereign state known as Great Britain. This political union was driven by economic,

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ALTON/GODFREY - A special volunteer was recently recognized for his dedication to keeping the community clean. Robert Lack, age 8, was awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award at the Pride, Inc. Annual Celebration last weekend. Lack has spent the last five years picking up trash every time he takes a walk with his family. “I don’t want the earth to be polluted,” Lack explained. “One day when I was walking with my dad when I was 3 years old, we saw trash and we decided to pick it up. And every time we went for a walk, we would grab our grabbers and a trash bag and start picking up the street.” Pride, Inc. has many beautification initiatives throughout Godfrey and Alton. Pat Stewart, president of Pride, Inc., explained that the organization held their Annual Celebration as a way to recognize community members who go out of their way to improve the Riverbend region. Lack has been on their radar for five years, and Stewart was ecstatic to honor him wit

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Democratic spotlight hearing entitled “Clear and Present Danger: The Trump Administration’s Whitewashing of the January 6th Insurrection.” The witnesses include Harry Dunn, former U.S. Capitol Police Officer, and Daniel Hodges, an 11-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who were both brutally attacked by the insurrectionist mob on January 6, as well as Mike Romano and Sara Levine, two former prosecutors in the now-disbanded Capitol Siege section within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The hearing will focus on honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol; acknowledging the work of the prosecutors who brought the January 6 insurrectionists to justice in the years following the attack; and condemning President Trump’s dangerous

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Committee hearing entitled “Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation.” During the hearing, Durbin emphasized the disastrous consequences of the Trump Administration’s desire to slash federal funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), effectively grinding medical research in the U.S. to a halt. Drawing from his family’s own experience , Durbin began his remarks, “If you’ve ever been a parent sitting in a doctor’s office with a baby on your lap and heard those words that were changing about a diagnosis, you knew your life would never be the same.” “The questions that you would ask, I’ve been there, were pretty obvious. Is there a medicine? Is there a surgery? Is there a procedure? If not, is there a clinical trial? We all ask the same questions

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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, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 2025, 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 TVs 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) The

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ALTON – A man from St. Louis faces a felony charge in the newest case of forgery at Schwegel’s Market in Alton. Antwayne O. Bradley, 29, of St. Louis, was charged on April 25, 2025, with one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony. Charging documents state that Bradley knowingly presented a fraudulent check to Schwegel’s Market on Feb. 21, 2025. The check, purported to have been made out by Chipotle Services LLC, was written out in the amount of $527.71 and dated Feb. 19, 2025. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Bradley, who was granted pretrial release from custody. This marks the fourth such case of forgery at Schwegel’s Market reported so far in 2025, after three other local individuals were charged with similar offenses in March. It also marks the latest in a string of similar forgery cases at the same location filed in recent years, including two individuals charged in December of 2024 , an Edwardsville

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MARYVILLE - The Village of Maryville will host their second annual Maryville MusicFest this weekend. From 1–10 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, community members are invited to Firemen’s Park in Maryville for a day of live music, food trucks and fun. There will be ten bands playing on two stages throughout the day. “It’s a music festival,” explained Dawn Mushill, president of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, who helped promote the event. “These guys have worked so hard, and this bandstand that they’re looking at is going to just add so much to Maryville.” Tickets to the event cost $20. Kids ages 12 and under are free. Proceeds will go to Build Maryville to build a permanent entertainment pavilion and stage at the park. “It’s an all-day event for $20,” Mushill said. “All day. You can come see all the bands.” The event itself is cash only. There will be food trucks onsite,

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WOOD RIVER – A Wood River resident faces his second charge of domestic battery against the same victim while still on probation from the previous incident. Christopher J. Huch, 29, of Wood River, was charged on April 21, 2025 with his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. Huch is accused of striking a household or family member in the face with his fist and knee on April 19, 2025. According to a petition to deny Huch’s pretrial release, Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies observed injuries on the victim including “dried blood near victim's nose and mouth as well as defensive wound marks on her hands.” The petition adds that at the time of this incident, Huch was already on probation for domestic battery against the same victim from a 2024 case in which Huch pled guilty and was sentenced to 24 months of probation. Huch’s latest domestic battery case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and

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TROY - The City of Troy and the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce will host their inaugural First Friday event this weekend. From 5–8 p.m. on the first Friday of the month from May until September, community members are invited to the corner of East Market and South Main Streets for an evening of vendors, live music, food, drinks and more. Dawn Mushill, president of the Chamber of Commerce, looks forward to welcoming people from across the region to Troy on Friday, May 2, 2025. “We decided that we want people in our beautiful downtown Troy,” Mushill said. “How do we get them there? We get them there with food, entertainment and beer.” Mushill encourages people to come downtown to check out the restaurants and shops that are in Troy, many of which will have discounts and deals on the First Fridays. There will also be street vendors and food trucks. On May 2, Mike Sonderegger will provide live music. There will be a few vendors

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School junior Brayden Cook has been honored by St. Louis Public Radio with the Best in Show and Best Sports Feature awards as part of the 2025 Teen Photojournalist Prize, the radio station announced Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Cook received the Best in Show award for his photo titled "Ashes and Rainbows," which captures Granite City firefighter Coady Sutton controlling a hose above an abandoned auto body shop ablaze on East 23rd Street on May 27, 2024. His Best Sports Feature-winning image, "Red in the Rain," shows GCHS boys soccer center back Joey Morales picking up cones after a game against Fort Zumwalt West was canceled due to a lightning threat on Sept. 23, 2024, in Granite City. The recognition includes an $800 Visa gift card for Best in Show and a $200 Visa gift card for the first-place category. In addition, Cook will participate in a master class with STLPR visuals editor Brian Munoz, have his work published on stlpr.org and STLPR social media

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