Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - There are several opportunities for Mississippi River enthusiasts to learn more about the river and its relationship to Alton. At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, Hayner Public Library District will present “Plotting a Future for Historic River Towns with Dean Klinkenberg—Reimagining Places of the Past: Historic Preservation Lecture Series” at the Genealogy and Local History Library. One week later, community members are invited to join Klinkenberg, Craig Heaton and the rest of the Mississippi River Water Trail Association for their annual “Mississippi Meanderings” event on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at the National Great Rivers Museum. “Alton and other river towns, we have the Mississippi as a natural asset that other communities might not have,” Klinkenberg said. “We’ve always got that in our backyard.” During his talk on Jan. 18, Klinkenberg will discuss how river towns develop and where they struggle.

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SHILOH - In the wake of a devastating house fire that left the Weathers family homeless, community members are rallying to support them through a fundraiser organized by Emily Heightman and Rob Ayres. The fire occurred on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Shiloh, resulting in a total loss of the family’s home, although all family members and their pets were unharmed. The Weathers family, known for their generosity and active involvement in local community initiatives, now faces the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Heightman and Ayres have launched this fundraiser to assist with the long-term recovery process, emphasizing that any contribution, regardless of size, would be greatly appreciated. “Rebuilding will be a long journey, and we’re seeking help to cover long-term recovery,” said Heightman. “Thank you for your kindness and generosity in this difficult time for the Weathers family.” To contribute to the Weathers family's recovery, donations

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EAST ALTON - A Staunton resident has been released from custody after driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident in East Alton with four child passengers in his uninsured vehicle. Joseph S. Smart, 35, of Staunton, was charged with aggravated driving while under the influence (a Class 4 felony), leaving the scene of an accident (a Class A misdemeanor), four counts of endangering the life or health of a child (each Class A misdemeanors) and Improper lane usage (petty offense). On Dec. 7, 2024, Smart allegedly operated a red Dodge Ram 1500 while under the influence of alcohol on West Macarthur Drive in East Alton. Smart reportedly veered into another lane before colliding with a silver 2020 Mercedes SUV and leaving the scene of the accident. The vehicle, which was not covered by an insurance policy, contained four child passengers who were ages 1, 3, 5, and 8 at the time of the incident. Smart is accused of knowingly placing the children in circumstances that

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ALTON - As Alton’s consolidated election approaches, City Clerk Cheryl L. Ingle explains why she decided to run for reelection. The election on April 1, 2025, will ask voters to choose between two candidates for the City Clerk position. Ingle, the incumbent, shared that she has accomplished a lot in the four years since she took office, and she has almost 30 years of experience at City Hall. She hopes voters recognize her commitment to the city and allow her to serve for another four years. “I love my job, and I am pretty darn good at it,” Ingle said. “When the opportunity came up, I decided that I would run for clerk because I love working for the city, obviously; I’ve been here 29 years. I just felt it was a way to connect more with the people and help people, help the citizens of Alton.” Twenty-nine years ago, Ingle left her job at McDonnell Douglas to take a position in the Alton City Clerk’s office as a typist. She then transitioned

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FOSTERBURG — Two crashes involving horses on Interstate 255 southbound near Fosterburg resulted in minor injuries to two individuals on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, according to the Illinois State Police. The horses involved in the crashes were fatally injured. The first incident occurred at approximately 5:41 p.m. and then another shortly after. The first accident occurred when a Chevrolet Malibu swerved to avoid horses standing in the roadway, causing the vehicle to leave the road and travel down a ravine before striking a ditch. The 23-year-old female driver reported no injuries at the scene. Shortly thereafter, a Chevrolet Traverse, driven by a 69-year-old male from Norfolk, Neb., collided with the same horses. This vehicle also left the roadway, traveling down a ravine and hitting a ditch. The driver and a 62-year-old female passenger, also from Norfolk, were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. The southbound lanes of Interstate 255 were reopened at approximately

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is hosting its first-ever comic and pop culture convention, Blazer Con, from 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2025, in the George C. Terry River Bend Arena on the Godfrey Campus. The event is free and open to the public. The Blazer Con team is seeking a diverse group of vendors to showcase their unique products, services, and experiences at Blazer Con 2025. Whether they specialize in merchandise, collectibles, comics, technology, art, food, or beverages, this is a fantastic opportunity for all to connect with hundreds of potential customers and be part of a new and exciting experience. “We are thrilled to open vendor applications for Blazer Con 2025,” said Blazer Con creator and Media Specialist Jared Smilack. “This convention is about bringing together creators, businesses and the community to celebrate everything we love about comics and pop culture. We can’t wait to see what experiences, ideas and products

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $2.4 million in available grant funding for the second round of the Equipment Upgrades Grant Program through the Illinois Grocery Initiative. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. “Local grocery stores allow families to access the fresh, nutrient-dense food they need and deserve,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through the Illinois Grocery Initiative, we’re bringing investments to food insecure communities to ensure existing grocery stores have the equipment they need to provide reliable food access to those that need it most. I strongly encourage all eligible entities to apply for this important funding opportunity.” “This second round of funding for the Equipment Upgrades Program will further enhance grocery stores that support our most vulnerable communities,” said Lt.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. ISP was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, and another $677,000 grant announced in June 2024. From October through December 2024, ISP missions resulted in the following: Vehicles recovered – stolen and/or hijacked 245 Stolen vehicle arrests 24 Hijacked vehicle arrests 1 Firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery 8 Missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime 31 K9 used for stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violence crime 10 Air Operations targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime 31 Forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen/hijacked

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ALTON/GODFREY - Great Rivers Land Trust has secured a Natural Area Stewardship Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to address the growing issue of invasive species in Illinois Nature Preserves along the Great River Road and National Scenic Byway. The project, which will span the next two years, aims to remove non-native plants that threaten the health of local ecosystems. The grant enables Great Rivers Land Trust to collaborate with contractors and various partners, including the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC), the Oblate Missionaries, and the Village of Godfrey. This coalition is focused on restoring the natural balance of these preserves, where invasive species have increasingly outcompeted native flora. Invasive species are known to disrupt local habitats, impeding the growth and survival of indigenous plants essential to the region's biodiversity. The initiative seeks not only to eliminate these non-native plants but also

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today filed a lawsuit against Spark Energy LLC and Spark Energy Gas (Spark) for allegedly using fraudulent, unfair and deceptive business practices to mislead Illinois consumers into paying millions of dollars more for electricity and gas than consumers who stayed with their default public utility. Raoul alleges that Spark, an alternative retail electric supplier (ARES) and alternative gas supplier, violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by enrolling consumers in Spark services without their knowledge or consent, increasing consumers’ electricity rates by more than 20% without providing any advance notice and despite promising lower rates and savings, and taking advantage of older consumers. “Companies like Spark must be held accountable for taking advantage of consumers with misrepresentations and false promises of lower prices,” Raoul said. “My office is committed to protecting Illinois

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SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is warning Illinoisans shopping for a used vehicle to exercise caution and employ best-practices amid a rise in fraudulent vehicle purchases across the state. The Secretary of State’s office has uncovered a growing number of fraudulent sales from out-of-state businesses licensed as wholesale dealers that illegally falsify the mileage shown on a used vehicle’s title and odometer to defraud car buyers. Giannoulias’ warning comes on the heels of an Illinois car buyer, who thought they purchased a used vehicle from a wholesale dealer with 80,000 miles, only to find out the seller rolled back the odometer from over 200,000 miles and deliberately failed to disclose major mechanical problems with the car. “Nightmare stories like this one is one of the worst-case scenarios when purchasing a used car,” Giannoulias said. “In many cases, the purchaser is in a desperate financial situation or needs

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that a project to rehabilitate and resurface 3.5 miles of Interstate 255 from Illinois 157 to Illinois 15 in St. Clair County will require a complete interstate closure for six months, beginning, weather permitting, on Saturday, Feb. 1. By closing I-255, the project will be completed in six months instead of the two years that would be necessary if construction were staged. Additionally, the project will cost $65.4 million, or about $10 million less in taxpayer dollars than completing the work in multiple phases. Closing the interstate also reduces the risk to workers and motorists by eliminating traffic from an active construction site. In addition to rehabilitating and resurfacing the roadway, the project, funded by Rebuild Illinois, will also include bridge repairs, safety improvements, new lighting, signing and drainage improvements. Improvements to I-255 from Illinois 15 to Collinsville

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, together with a bipartisan coalition of nine attorneys general, today announced coordinated actions to hold companies accountable for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, selling and marketing flavored disposable e-cigarette products. The crackdown spans the country and seeks to address the continued distribution and sales of harmful and addictive tobacco products to youth through the enforcement of each state’s tobacco and consumer protection laws. “Flavored, disposable vaping products have flooded the market nationwide, with many of these products coming in sweet, fruity flavors that appeal to teenagers,” Raoul said. “Protecting our youth from the harms of e-cigarette use does not end at Illinois’ borders. That is why I am committed to continuing to collaborate with other state attorneys general on a bipartisan basis. My priority remains holding accountable those who have and continue to fuel the youth vaping

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ALTON - Wilbur Theodore Norton, three-term postmaster of Alton, Alton Board of Education member, historical researcher and author, and previous owner and editor of the Alton Evening Telegraph, died on January 8, 1925. Wil bur T. Norton was born in Alton on September 10, 1844, to Reverend Augustus T. Norton and Eliza Rogers Norton. Augustus T. Norton served as one of the first pastors of the First Presbyterian Church in Alton from 1839 to 1858 and edited the Presbytery, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois. His book “History of the Presbyterian Church, in the State of Illinois,” published in 1879, is considered “an authoritative work that is the only record of the church in the early days in the state and finds a place in most libraries dealing with history of the church.” There is a copy available at the Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library (call number IR 285 NOR) and a digital copy available online: https://archive.org/details/historyofpresb00nort/

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings has announced a new partnership with Recycle Coach to provide all Illinois residents in 6,835 units of local government a holistic, locally-tailored, easy to access recycling education platform. In the coming months, Recycle Coach will be engaging counties and municipalities across the state to ensure all Illinois residents are afforded the opportunity to have their community participate in this opportunity. Use of the program will decrease inbound contamination at material recovery facilities in Illinois, increase the amount of material diverted from Illinois landfills, prevent environmental contamination, and ultimately reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. “The Illinois EPA is excited to offer this innovative technology that will provide all Illinois residents with advanced and easily accessible tools to allow them to increase and improve recycling throughout our communities,”

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SPRINGFIELD – Applications are now being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2025 Conservation Achievement Scholarship program. The ICF annually awards scholarships to outstanding high school seniors in Illinois who demonstrate effective, voluntary, long-term dedication to the preservation, protection or enhancement of Illinois’ natural resources. Four scholarships of $2,000 each are available for the current school year. One of the scholarships is earmarked for a qualified applicant who is a dependent of a current employee of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarship program rewards high school students interested in conservation stewardship and protecting Illinois’ natural resources,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarships have been awarded since 2005. Applicants must be an Illinois resident an

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today reached a $320,000 settlement with Veryable Inc. (Veryable), resolving allegations the company misclassified workers who were placed in temporary labor positions via the company’s online platform. “Day and temporary laborers are especially vulnerable to unlawful labor practices that rob them of crucial protections and pay, including a four-hour minimum if they are placed in a job that is canceled when they are not reassigned,” Raoul said. “My office will continue fighting to protect the rights of all Illinois workers, which also levels the playing field for businesses already in compliance with Illinois employment laws.” Raoul’s office conducted an investigation that revealed workers placed through Veryable’s online platform were misclassified as independent contractors and paid at a regular hourly rate of pay without receiving any premiums for overtime hours worked. Workers were also

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) issued a statement on the Department of Treasury’s notice of intent to propose regulations on the 45Z Clean Fuels Production Credit and USDA's interim rule for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices for crops used as biofuel feedstocks. These rules reflect several of the key requests Budzinski has consistently made to the administration, which are critical for the farmers in her district. "Since coming to Congress, I’ve been proud to fight for local farmers and advance biofuel policy. After consistently working alongside the Biden Administration, growers, and producers throughout this process, those efforts have finally paid off," said Congresswoman Budzinski. "With guidance from the Treasury Department and USDA, we are now on track to ensure that corn and soybean growers in our district can share in the benefits of the 45Z tax credit, alongside our ethanol and biodiesel producers. This means further

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Mental health awareness has gained significant traction in recent years, yet it remains a complex and often misunderstood subject. As society continues to evolve, the need to prioritize mental well-being has become increasingly apparent. This article explores the importance of mental health awareness, the stigma surrounding mental illness, the role of education and advocacy, and practical ways individuals can contribute to a more supportive atmosphere. Understanding Mental Health Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, influencing our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health issues can manifest in various forms, such as anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, among others. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in 4 individuals will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives, underscoring the

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Welcome to January 17, a day that has witnessed remarkable events throughout history, shaping the course of nations and cultures across the globe. One of the most significant events in modern history took place on January 17, 1995, when the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck the city of Kobe, Japan. This devastating earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.2 and resulted in the loss of over 6,000 lives, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in Japan's history. The earthquake caused widespread destruction, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless and prompting a massive emergency response from both the Japanese government and international aid organizations. The event highlighted Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters and led to significant changes in building codes and disaster preparedness protocols, ultimately aiming to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes. In 1945, on this day, the Allied forces launched the Vistula-Oder Offensive during World War II. This major military

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