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MADISON COUNTY - Guidance of Hope is a scholarship program for kids who never thought they could qualify for a scholarship. The vision driving Guidance of Hope is finding a way to stop the cycle of pain that passes from generation to generation. Many children today are growing up in an environment of hate, poverty, crime, and hopelessness. No one is offering them encouragement or a path up and out of that environment. Guidance of Hope offers that encouragement and path forward to kids who don’t meet the traditional definition of a “scholarship student.” Grades are not a factor, the scholarship can be used for any type of educational program, and the program offers mentoring and encouragement to each recipient as they pursue their education and seek employment. The scholarship targets alternative schools, detention facilities, and child welfare programs, where children facing immense challenges will soon be out on their own in the community. The scholarship is

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TROY - The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce Board stays busy all year, and Board President Carol Sparks is proud of the work they do. Sparks explained that the board supports the Chamber of Commerce and its members. At a recent festival celebrating the 40th anniversary of the chamber, Sparks noted that they encourage networking, but they also do so much more to advocate for local businesses. “Our role as the board collaboratively is to make sure that the mission of the chamber is carried out,” Sparks said. “A lot of people think that a chamber is more of a networking organization, and although we do offer those experiences for our members, our goal is more these types of events, making sure that we’re supporting our members, growing our business, growing our community.” Sparks is an attorney in Troy. She represents individuals and families in estate planning and estate administration. She also guides local businesses through

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TROY - The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 40th anniversary with a festival this past weekend, and President Dawn Mushill reflected on the chamber’s history. Mushill has served as the chamber’s president for 24 years. She expressed her excitement for the 40th anniversary event and her goals to see the chamber continue for years to come. “I love my job. I have a passion for my job. You’ve got to love this job,” Mushill said. “I meet with every single chamber member when they join. We learn two or three things about them, so if I run into them, I know they have a son that plays soccer. We know that they’ve been in business for 23 years. We work really hard to ask them, ‘What do you want?’” Despite some construction in downtown Troy during the festival, there were still hundreds of people who came out to enjoy the food trucks, electric car show, vendors and local businesses. Attendees

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GODFREY - The Village of Godfrey will host its annual Fall Festival this weekend. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Glazebrook Park in Godfrey, community members can enjoy food trucks, vendors, live music, inflatables and the Great Godfrey Maze. The Great Godfrey Maze and activities will stay open until 10 p.m. that night. “We just like to do these things for the community,” said Chris Logan, Parks and Recreation Director. “We think this is a nice, low-cost event that families can come out and enjoy themselves at. That’s something we’d like to offer to the community.” Attendees can buy wristbands for the inflatables. The other activities, including the cow train, wagon rides and jumping pillow, cost $2. Kids can also enjoy balloon animals, face painting and other activities throughout the festival. The Great Godfrey Maze is open from 6–10 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission to the maze

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ALTON - Monica Klockenkemper, a senior at Alton High School, is having an exceptional cross-country season. has been a familiar face in running circles in recent years, consistently performing at a high level for Alton High. This past weekend, Klockenkemper competed in the Edwardsville Invite where she recorded a time of 23:26.30 on a tough Mud Mountain Course. She hopes to break Alton's girls' school record of 19:36 for three miles by the end of the year. "I have been running for a very long time and worked hard over the summer to do really well here in the fall," she added. Monica is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for Alton High. Klockenkemper's dedication to the sport has not gone unnoticed. As one of Alton’s top runners this season, her consistent performance continues to inspire her teammates in the school's cross-country program.

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ST. JACOB - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors and Partners for Pets are teaming up for the eighth annual “Howl-O-Ween” open house and pet adoption event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. With dozens of adoptable pets, trick-or-treating, food, kids’ activities, and more, all proceeds will directly support the shelter as it helps pets find new homes. Several dogs and puppies , as well as cats and kittens , will be available to adopt with discounts on adoption fees. Partners for Pets Executive Director Erika Pratte said some can be adopted for $25 each, while others are available for free. “Come out, enjoy our shelter!” Pratte said. “We have dozens if not over 100 adoptable pets on site. Adoption fees are going to be decreased down to $25, some of them are completely waived.” There will also be tours of the facility, trick-or-treating, and much more happening at this year’s “Howl-O-Ween.”

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TROY, IL. - The Troy Police Department had the privilege of connecting with a remarkable young man named Owen and now they have done something he will never forget. At just 9 years old, Owen faced major heart surgery and spent his 10th birthday in the hospital. His mother reached out on social media, hoping to gather words of encouragement and birthday cards to lift his spirits during this tough time. "The story resonated deeply with the Troy community, especially since one of the department’s own officers had undergone a heart transplant this year," the Troy Police Department said in a statement. "Once Owen was on the mend, the Troy Police Department organized a special day to finally meet him. "To honor Owen's incredible bravery and courage, the department presented him with a challenge coin. During his visit, Owen enjoyed a ride-along and received a behind-the-scenes tour of the fire department. He also had the opportunity to fly a drone and shared a meal with the officers."

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ALTON — The Alton Section NCNW and YWCA extend an invitation to the community to attend its Illinois House of Representatives 111th District Candidates’ forum on Thursday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in the YWCA Gym, 304 E. Third St., Alton, IL. There are two candidates running for a two year term in the Illinois House of Representatives. The two candidates include: Representative Amy Elik (incumbent) and Nick Raftopolous (challenger). The 111th district includes all or portions of Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Godfrey, Granite City, Hartford, Mitchell, Roxana, South Roxana, and Wood River. The event will start with a short period of introduction by each candidate, followed by a question and answer session. If time permits, questions from the audience will be allowed. Information will also be provided on the four advisory items on the ballot, including three from the State and one from Madison County. The forum is open to all and is free of charge. All interested community

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ALTON - Hop in the car and take a road trip to southwest Illinois this fall and discover stunning fall color drives, scenic and historic guided tours, adventures in u-pick orchards and spectacularly spooky haunted sites. When it comes to Fall, the Great Rivers & Routes region has more than its share of fun, adventure and relaxing getaways on tap. “Fall is really a great time to visit southwest Illinois and the Great Rivers & Routes region,” says Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “We are the perfect week day escape and weekend getaway destination. There are so many things to do here – from outdoor adventures to haunted tours, scenic color drives and one-of-a-kind guided tours.” The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau offers two unique guided tours this fall. The Freedom to Equality Tours , are held monthly in October and November. These two-hour guided adventures bring Black history to life through storytelling,

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that all lanes of Lincoln Trail from Illinois 161 to Illinois 159 in Madison County will require intermittent daytime lane closures beginning, weather permitting, on Thursday, Sept. 26. The lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinksi (IL-13) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Improving Veterans Experience Act to codify the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VEO, established in 2015, gathers feedback directly from veterans, their families and caregivers on their experience with VA services. The VEO has been crucial to improving veterans’ trust in VA outpatient care, enhancing the VA Health and Benefits Mobile App and expanding outreach to women veterans. “There is no better way to improve VA services than to hear from the veterans, family members and caregivers who are navigating the process firsthand,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Too often, a lack of trust, complicated documents and confusing processes discourage veterans from reaching out for the help they need. By giving veterans a voice and putting their insights into action, the VEO has been

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today released a 2024 Voter Misinformation Guide to help Illinois voters identify and report election misinformation generated by artificial intelligence (AI), which is increasingly being used to create fake but realistic content about the November election and its candidates. Raoul explained the AI-generated content can include misleading videos, images or audio that can impersonate people or candidates, which cause confusion or even dissuade people from voting. “The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans, and voters deserve to have accurate information about the important choices they make on their ballots,” Raoul said. “As the general election draws nearer, I’m reminding Illinoisans to be vigilant about election misinformation and election-related financial fraud. Don’t let scammers steal your vote, your identity or your hard-earned dollars. Use reliable sources to

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BELLEVILLE — Illinois American Water encourages students to showcase their creativity by submitting artwork to the company’s “Water Keeps Life Flowing” art contest. Entries from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will capture what high-quality water service means to them. Artwork will be accepted through Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Up to ten winners will earn their classroom a $100 donation to be used for school supplies or a classroom celebration. “This art contest encourages our young students in the communities we serve to learn and understand and illustrate the importance of water service in a creative way, by bringing together both art and science. We are excited to see the students’ interpretations on how water plays a critical role in their lives,” says Rebecca Losli, president of Illinois American Water. Art entries are due Oct. 24, 2024, just one week after the annual observance of the U.S. Water Alliance's Imagine a Day Without

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School’s marching band will perform in the 40th annual London’s New Year’s Day Parade in 2026. The band will travel to London in December 2025 and spend a week exploring the city. The trip will culminate in the band’s performance in the parade from 12–3:30 p.m. local time on Jan. 1, 2026. “This was a great opportunity that came up. It was just too good to miss,” said Ryan Lipscomb, director of bands at EHS. “It’s always about the kids and about their experience. I want this to be a really special thing.” With over 8,500 participants, the London New Year’s Day Parade is about twice the size of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Over 20 countries are represented each year. The parade has a street audience of 750,000 attendees and millions of people around the world who watch on television. The top high school and college bands in the U.S. are invited to perform at the parade

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SPRINGFIELD - Local Election Officials in Illinois have the responsibility of being defenders of our democracy. We benefit here in Illinois by having local control of our elections, rather than state centralized control as in many parts of the United States. This local control of our elections is done by 108 independent Local Election Officials; overwhelmingly locally elected County Clerks and a few appointed Election Commission Directors. This gives you the citizens the highest level of oversight of your election’s operations. These activities are not being conducted by some faceless bureaucrat in a secret centralized office far from your home but rather by individuals who live within your jurisdiction, shop at your local supermarket, have children in school with your kids, and located in offices that you can easily visit and inspect. As a matter of fact, we want you to visit our offices, ask us questions, tell us your concerns, and see for yourself how we safeguard your

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Hayden Volz with the Student of the Month Award for the month of September. Hayden was nominated by his business teacher Dean Schickedanz of Edwardsville High School. Hayden is the son of Todd and Trina Volz. In addition to achieving the honor roll, Hayden is also a varsity letter recipient in track and football. He was recently recognized as a Spencer Homes Athlete of the Month. In his spare time, Hayden also volunteers with the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. Hayden also enjoys fishing, playing video games, spending time with his family and friends, and helping coach Little Tigers Football. In the future, Hayden would like to either attend Oklahoma State University, Southeast Missouri State University, and Western Kentucky. He plans on getting a degree in Computer Science or Information Technology. The Edwardsville Rotary Club recognizes a student each month September through April. Each May,

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Monday, September 16, 2024, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Eugene Times, 18 years of age, of the 6000 block of Enright Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63112, for two counts of Burglary First Degree, three counts of Stealing – Firearm, three counts of Stealing – Motor Vehicle, three counts of Stealing – Credit Cards, one count of Stealing $750 or More, and one count of Property Damage First Degree. Times is being held on $125,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. The probable cause statement reads: "Victims reported various offenses committed in south St. Louis County over a period of several weeks between mid-July 2024 and early August 2024. Victim #1 (Count 1) reported that a purse containing multiple credit cards had been stolen from her car while it was parked outside her residence. Victim #2 (Count 2) reported the theft of a 9mm handgun from his unlocked truck outside of his residence. Victim #3 (Count

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Discover a diverse array of events that cater to all interests and age groups, from family-friendly festivals and engaging art exhibits to exhilarating live music performances and community gatherings. For a comprehensive list of upcoming events, visit RiverBender 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 9th Annual Holy Family School Golf Classic invites you to join Holy Family Catholic School for their 9th Annual HFS Golf Classic on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Legacy Golf Course in Granite City. The event will feature a 4-Person Scramble Format with a registration fee of $400 per team. Registration starts at 7:00 am followed by an 8:00 am Shotgun Start. Highlights include Senior Tee Boxes, Closest to the Pin Contest, Longest Drive Contest, Refreshments All Day, Lunch after the tournament, Skins included, and 50/50 Tickets for purchase. Flights will

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O’FALLON, Ill. — On Friday, Nov. 1, at the 2024 Elizabethan Gala fundraiser, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation will present Herb Roach, Mayor of the City of O’Fallon, with the 2024 Elizabethan Award. The award recognizes Mayor Roach for his commitment to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and the expansion of health care services in Southwestern Illinois. Mayor Roach is a longtime advocate of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and has championed the expansion of our mission as a community member, business owner, alderman and mayor. He consistently advocates for accessible health care, and his support of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital related projects has led to significant growth in the availability of health care services in the metro east. Since he was elected as mayor in 2017, new care locations were opened, including the HSHS St Elizabeth’s Outpatient Therapy Clinic at the Metro Rec Plex in 2019 and the O’Fallon Cancer Care Center in 2020. “Mayor

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WOOD RIVER - Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2024 Community Impact Challenge Grant from the Edwardsville Community Foundation (ECF). The $4,050 grant will support RFM’s SOAR Program, which empowers adolescents by teaching critical skills for resilience and healthy decision-making. Thanks to this generous grant, students from the Edwardsville School District will be further empowered to access this transformative program, strengthening the reach of SOAR within the Edwardsville community. “ECF is pleased to support Riverbend Family Ministries’ important work of serving vulnerable youth in our communities through their SOAR Program,” said Pamela Farrar, ECF executive director. “The adolescent years are a pivotal developmental stage, and we appreciate RFM’s efforts to positively impact this age group, which in turn helps to strengthen our communities as a whole.” T

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