Riverbender 🕸

SCHAUMBURG – A legislative and congressional candidate from Illinois has withdrawn a candidacy scheduled for a partisan primary in late June. On Wednesday afternoon, roughly a fortnight since candidate petitioning in Illinois began, and after several bitterly cold days typical of January in the state, W. Thomas Olson began experiencing “symptoms consistent with a corona virus,” the candidate admitted, “and presently feel very sick.” The candidate, who has appropriated to himself a moniker of “renegade,” now and then speaks of a sickened body politic, but is affected no more by such corollaries. A quote summarizes the candidate’s views, yet a disinterest in its associations beyond summarily dismissing them is discernible: “Renegade pop stars who spend lifetimes absorbed in themselves, renegade Harvard law grads who stand for the US senate or President, renegade political appointees who anonymously publish essays critical of others.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE The Edwardsville Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Raymond & Lucia Weber Scholarship. This $1,500 award will go to a graduating senior at Edwardsville High School who will continue their education in the field of special education or the field of medicine with the plan of becoming either a special education teacher or a physician, a registered nurse, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. “As graduates of the EHS Class of 1968, thankful for having received an excellent high school education preparing us for eventual careers in Special Education and Medicine, we hope to pay it forward by establishing this Scholarship Fund for future EHS graduates,” Raymond and Lucia Weber, fund sponsors said. “We are pleased to offer this new award for graduating seniors at Edwardsville High School and appreciate all of our scholarship fund sponsors whose generosity allowed for $86,500 in scholarship awards in 2021,” Pam Farrar, ECF Executive Director

Continue Reading

BRIGHTON - Southwestern High School announced their 2022 Illinois State Scholars list today. The students are as follows (left to right): Alexandria Goss, Kayla LeMarr, AmyDee Bachman, Emily Lowis, Ashton Seniker, Whitney Keith, Laina Wilderman, Megan Webb, and Kayla Rudolph.

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON - Jared Brynildsen, co-owner of Germania Brew Haus with his wife Carolyn, recently announced the opening of Germania’s new location in East Alton will be slightly delayed. The East Gate Plaza location - Germania’s third overall - was originally scheduled to open in mid-to-late January. Citing a recent omicron outbreak, Brynildsen said there have been some delays with setting up equipment and getting the electricity connected. Brynildsen said the East Alton location should be ready for a “soft opening” by February 7. As part of the soft opening, this location in East Gate Plaza will start as a drive-thru only, Brynildsen said. However, he said they plan to add an outdoor area similar to a greenhouse by mid-spring. For more updates from Germania Brew Haus, visit their Facebook page or germaniabrewhaus.com .

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD –The Illinois State Police (ISP) has unveiled an interactive Statewide Expressway Shooting (SES) dashboard which contains current and historical data regarding reported expressway shooting incidents on all expressways in Illinois. The ISP created this tool to provide not only data but also as context to expressway shootings reported in Illinois. One of the main goals of the SES dashboard is to be timely and transparent by displaying the latest reported expressway shooting information. The (SES) dashboard will display specific data relating to each reported expressway shooting located throughout the state. The SES dashboard displays the number of reported expressway shootings from 2019 through 2022 (YTD). The Current YTD number of reported expressway shootings are also compared to the previous YTD number of reported expressway shootings. The SES dashboard will also include information concerning the location, date and time, specific Illinois Highway System

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – Young hunters between the ages of 10 and 17 can apply now for the Youth Wingshooting Clinic and Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt scheduled for Saturday, March 19 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Randolph County. Young hunters will participate in a wingshooting clinic during the morning with instruction from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and National Sporting Clays Association certified wingshooting instructors. Young hunters will practice safe shotgun handling and operation while advancing their wingshooting skills during the clinic. Following the morning clinic and lunch, a pheasant hunt will take place during the afternoon. Young hunters must have successfully completed an approved Hunter Safety Course and have a valid hunting license to participate. Co-sponsors assist the IDNR and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex with the clinic and hunt by providing funding for the clay targets, target and field shot shells, and lunch for

Continue Reading

KEWANEE - For many years, it has been known that adults over the age of 65 are most at risk for heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on average, U.S. adults have hearts that perform at a level about seven years older than they should. Because of this, the prevalence of heart issues in young people is increasing. In fact, according to the Cardio Metabolic Institute, one in five heart attacks occur in adults younger than 40 years of age. Dr. Christopher Powers, an OSF HealthCare cardiovascular disease specialist, says that being proactive early in life is crucial to keeping your heart healthy for years to come. One piece of advice includes aiming to eliminate the overconsumption of energy drinks. “Some people feel very attached to these kind of psychological addictions to the sports drinks. And it’s like anything else – if you overdo it, then most definitely we will see primarily the issue of blood pressure elevation. Most

Continue Reading

OTTOWA - For the past two years, people have found a number of ways to cope with the stress that comes with living through a pandemic, and that includes alcohol use. A recent online survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Alkermes, Inc., discovered that 17 % of respondents over the age of 21 revealed drinking patterns that met the criteria for heavy drinking, which was defined as having two heavy drinking days in one week at least twice in the previous 30 days. In another poll conducted by Ria Health, an online alcohol addiction treatment program, found that drinking among women – especially younger women – has drastically increased during the pandemic due to a variety of reasons including isolation, work-related stress and parenting. Loni Nolte is a behavioral health provider for OSF HealthCare. She says these problems are common among some of the clients she works with on a regular basis. “More often than not a woman gets very quiet when she’s

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Springfield Ald. Shawn Gregory will present a series of free “Walk, Hike and Bike History” activities during Black History Month. “Walk, Hike and Bike History” experiences empower participants to connect with must-see museums, landmarks and monuments in the capital city. “The IDNR is pleased to offer this opportunity for people to get outdoors this February and learn more about Black history and achievements in Springfield,” said Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “These unique tours will help us remember the past and strengthen our understanding of the present.” All tours are free. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made through the IDNR website at historicspringfield.dnr.illinois.gov. Call 217-524-3971 to request additional days and times. “As we learn more about the history before our eyes in our ow

Continue Reading

HARDIN/MT. VERNON - Growers from across the region will gather for the 2022 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School on Tuesday, February 8 in Hardin and the 2022 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School on Wednesday, February 9 in Mt. Vernon. These programs, sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hardin and the Double Tree Conference Center in Mt. Vernon, respectively. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m. and the program runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Elizabeth Wahle, U of I Extension horticulture educator, says that the programs include presenters from University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, University of Missouri and Purdue University, and from the tree fruit, small fruit, strawberry and vegetable grower support industry. Topics at the February 8, Hardin School, will include Peach Insect and Disease Management, Mineral Nutrition of Peach Trees, Managing Strategies for Mineral Nutrition of Apples,

Continue Reading

ALTON - Join the Hayner Library this winter for their Adult Winter Reading Program. From February 1 to February 28, 2022, Hayner Library invites patrons age eighteen and older to join in the winter reading fun—and a chance to win a grand prize gift basket designed to help you beat the winter chill. Registration and participation are easy. Simply visit the Downtown Library or Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall and fill out a short registration form. For each book, e-book, or audiobook you read, you get a chance to enter a drawing for the grand prize. The more you read, the more chances you have to win. A winner will be drawn at each location. As an added bonus, each week during the program, they will highlight a different library service, program, or collection in the form of a scavenger hunt “Word of the Week” poster hidden in the library. Visit the library weekly, find the hidden poster, and write down the Word of the Week to earn an additional chance to win the

Continue Reading

ALTON - About one out of every three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. Fortunately, the shingles vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent an outbreak. If you’ve had a shingles attack, then you know how painful it can be. However, a shingles attack can have more consequences than just a painful, blistering rash. One of the main complications that can result from a shingles outbreak is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). “PHN causes continuous, chronic pain that lasts even after the skin sores have healed,” said Jason Scheid, director of ambulatory pharmacy for OSF HealthCare. “It is long-term nerve pain after the rash resolves and can be severe enough to impact your daily life.” Shingles and PHN can be debilitating. Prevention is your best approach. “The older you are when you get shingles, the greater the risk for PHN,” Jason said. “If the rash presents on your face, there is also a risk of impacting

Continue Reading

URBANA – Personal wellness is more than just diet and exercise. Wellness is multi-dimensional, encompassing eight dimensions: physical, financial, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, vocational, and intellectual. "These eight dimensions work in harmony to help you achieve optimal health and wellbeing." says Jenna Smith, Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator. Explore each dimension and develop personal wellness strategies during a free, self-guided University of Illinois Extension interactive program. Dimensions of Wellness begins Feb. 7 and spans eight weeks. Participants will receive information by email each Monday. "We are striving for personal harmony that feels authentic to you," Smith says. "Armed with a new awareness of wellness, you will be able to build your own wellness plan so that you can be the best version of you in 2022." Register before Feb. 6 at go.illinois.edu/8wellness . Participants will receive a self-assessment as part of the program.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Although Edwardsville senior forward Shaun Pacatte didn't score in the Tigers' 51-36 loss to O'Fallon on Jan. 28 in a Southwestern Conference boys basketball game at Lucco-Jackson Gym, he provided help on the boards and with his ballhandling. Pacatte did feel the Tigers kept playing hard and had a good comeback against the athletic and talented Panthers. Edwardsville showed a lot of moxie and fight in the game, diving after loose balls and sticking with their plan during the game, but in the end, O'Fallon was able to take advantage of mistakes to pull away for the win. And the team got a big spark from their bench, mounting a fourth-quarter comeback that made things interesting. "I think the guys off the bench did really well," Pacatte said during a postgame interview, "forced a lot of turnovers, brought a lot of energy we didn't have at the time. We had a good start to the game, second quarter, a little rough stretch. It seemed like every turnover we had was just an

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community High School Principal Cory Breden has announced that 23 students from the JCHS graduating class of 2022 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, presents this important recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 17,340 honorees join the other outstanding students who have been honored since the designation was first introduced in 1958. The following students from Jersey Community High School were named Illinois State Scholars: Mackenzie Bell Connor Berry Belle Blackorby Hope Brandt Mallory Clevenger Cody Croxford Madeline Darr Vivian Gray Austin Hayes Morgan Johnson Charles Kraushaar Josie LaPlant Cole Martinez Liam McGuire Irene Mossman Tyler Noble Sara Poletti Edward Roberts Kaleb Setzer Annie Walker Zachary Wargo Owen Weber Leann Woodring

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 is adjusting its spectator policy for athletic events held at Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High. Effective on Monday, Jan. 31, GCHS and Coolidge have increased their capacity to 40 percent. GCHS will allow 700 spectators per event at Memorial Gymnasium, while Coolidge Main Gymnasium will have a capacity of 200. GCSD9 SPECTATOR GUIDELINES MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES Failure to wear a mask will result in removal from the facility Social distancing is recommended GCSD9 will continue to monitor the information surrounding COVID-19 cases in Madison County and our region on a continual basis. Live Streaming (Home games) will be available on the Granite City Warriors Athletics Facebook page or the NFHS Network . For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

Continue Reading

(The Center Square) – A law Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted to create judicial subcircuits in parts of Illinois has been temporarily blocked as some say the partisan measure was rushed through to the detriment of voters. During their one day in session so far this year, Democrats earlier this month went at it alone, passing new judicial subcircuits. Without fanfare, Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted the maps on Jan. 7. State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, reacted to a Sangamon County judge this week temporarily blocking those new judicial districts from going into effect in Madison County. “It wasn’t just the packing of the courts , it wasn’t trying to set the courts up, it also took away the vote from the vast majority of the people of Madison County to be able to vote for their local judicial elections this cycle,” Plummer told The Center Square. Some of the new districts were to take effect for the 2022 election cycle while others in other parts of the

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON - The son of the woman who was shot in the leg on Saturday, January 22, 2022, in the shooting at the East Alton Ice Rink parking lot, has encountered what he describes as “almost a miraculous” turn. “I visited mom today and to my surprise, they discharged her while I was there,” he said. “I drove her home and she’s doing wonderful! They say her fitness level for a 60-plus-year-old woman was a contributing factor in her survival. She is mad she has to miss her 5K this weekend because she paid for it!” Speaking on behalf of his family, he said he wanted to thank law enforcement and the prosecutors in the Riverbend area for such a strong collaborative effort to get a dangerous person off the streets. He said: “It was tremendous work! I also want people to know that we will be right back at the ice arena playing hockey tonight and we aren’t afraid. This was an entirely random event committed by a lost person. Our family witnesse

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON - An Edwardsville mother of a young hockey player was inside the East Alton Ice Arena at the time of the shooting in the outside parking lot on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Her perspective shows the emotion children and parents felt after the tragic ordeal outside. "There are no words to describe last weekend's events," the woman said. " My son, had a hockey game at 6:45 Saturday night. It was a great match-up. We were ahead by one until the last 2 minutes when the other team scored two goals and won." The hockey game was over at 7:45 p.m. "The kids got changed in the locker rooms and joined the parents in the lobby to head home for the night," she said. "Usually, we would head out fairly quickly, but thankfully one of the dads was chatting with us about something funny my son said in the locker room. The next thing I know a family from the other team came running inside in complete shock and could hardly talk but spit out 'shooting.' You can't imagine the panic

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS – Some are calling the present-day recovery of 27-year-old Bryan Glebavicius nothing short of a "miracle." Glebavicius, of Maryville, IL., spent a record-breaking 78 days on ECMO, at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The ECMO machine is similar to the heart-lung by-pass machine used in open-heart surgery. It pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest. What started as a bad cough in October 2021 turned into life-threatening complications from COVID for Glebavicius, and led to a nearly three-month stay at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Bryan was transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital for a potential lung transplant on January 24, 2021. Just a few days after being admitted to SLU Hospital, Bryan was put on ECMO. “Exceptional care delivery, persistence, and mission-driven advocacy all came together to save this patient's life,”

Continue Reading