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WOOD RIVER - Wood River’s East End Park on 14th Street officially unveiled a new set of pickleball courts to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony late last month. Jason Woody, director of the Wood River Parks and Recreation Department, said this and other park upgrades have been in the works for about a year and a half. “For years, the Parks and Rec Board and us, we’ve been trying to figure out how to get some pickleball courts. It’s not really something we have in this immediate area … and I’m glad we were able to come up with this location,” Woody said, noting its proximity to highways 255 and 143. Woody said the project was partially funded by the Parks and Recreation Department, as well as a Madison County Park Enhancement Program (PEP) grant of $28,000. “I think people are pumped - I mean, we’ve already heard from a lot of people, there’s already been people playing on it,” he said. “I think

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ALTON – Alton Physical Therapy, a leading rehabilitation center, is delighted to announce its new location at 3550 College Ave, Alton, marking a significant milestone in the provision of exceptional care for individuals seeking physical therapy services. Alton PT aims to revolutionize the rehabilitation experience by combining cutting-edge techniques, a patient-centered approach, and a team of highly skilled professionals. At Alton PT, our mission is to empower individuals to regain their mobility, recover from injuries, and enhance their overall well-being. "We understand that every patient is unique, and therefore, we provide personalized treatment plans tailored to meet specific needs and goals. Our team of experienced professionals and support staff work collaboratively to ensure that each patient receives the highest standard of care. Key features that set Alton PT apart from other rehabilitation centers include: Comprehensive Evaluation: Our dedicated team conducts thorough

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JERSEY COUNTY - A GoFundMe has been established by a family member for a 29-year-old man, Damon, who was injured in an accident this past Friday. Kaylia Edmiston, the man's sister, organized the fundraiser to assist him and says he is on life support at the present time. “As some of you may know, my brother who is 29 years old got into a very bad motorcycle accident on 4-28-2023. As of right now he is on life support and fighting for his life, we are asking anyone and everyone to please help if you can,” Kaylia said. “We all live an hour away and we are doing our best to stay near him and support one another, we also need help with getting his three beautiful girls back and forth to school and the hospital, we also need help paying for a place to stay two blocks away from him as we don’t want to go home due to living an hour away. “The funds raised would help his wife, kids, mother, sister, and any other family member who is here staying here. Please

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JERSEYVILLE - Two Jerseyville individuals were charged last week with several crimes including burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, and more, according to recent court filings. Cody Wells, 30, of Jerseyville, and Dawn M. Phillips (also known as Dawn Scoggins, Dawn Day, and Dawn Wells), 43, also of Jerseyville, were both charged with the following: Residential Burglary Unlawful Possession of Stolen Vehicle Theft Criminal Damage to Property Cody was also individually charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. On April 23, the two “entered into the dwelling place” of a resident on Bull Hollow Road in Fieldon, according to court documents. Both were charged with Class 1 felonies. Cody and Dawn were also charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, specifically “a red 2012 Hyundai Elantra,” according to court documents. Class 2 felony charges were filed against both for the vehicle offense. The

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Divernon City Hall is being used as a reunification post for families involved in a massive traffic crash that occurred late this morning on Interstate 55. The accident was at 10:55 a.m. on Monday, May 1, on Interstate 55 near Milepost 76, north of Farmersville in Montgomery County. Illinois State Police has issued a traffic advisory and urges motorists to stay away from the area. Many vehicles, including tractor-trailer vehicles, were involved in the crash. UPDATED AT 3:30 P.M. BRIEF SYNOPSIS: "Preliminary information indicates the following occurred: ISP Troops 6 and 8 responded to the above area for multiple crashes with injuries. Interstate 55 is currently shut down in both directions from milepost 63 to milepost 80. Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust. Traffic is urged to seek alternate routes. "At 10:55 a.m. there was a crash on northbound Interstate 55 at Milepost 76. At the same time, there were numerous crashes

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GRANITE CITY - Schnuck Markets, Inc. announced on Monday that it is recalling 12 pounds of 80/20 fresh ground beef purchased between 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, from its Granite City, Illinois store located 3100 Madison Ave. Schnucks said the product may contain pieces of plastic. Customers who purchased the above product with a sell-by date of May 1, 2023, should return the product to the store for a full refund or exchange. Schnucks officials said to date, there have been no reported illnesses or injuries, and this is an isolated incident that does not affect any other stores. Customers with questions may contact the Schnucks Customer Care team at 314-994-4400 or 1-800-264-4400.

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EDWARDSVILLE – A team of psychology majors along with Jason Finley, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, have spent the academic year utilizing wearable cameras to enhance research on human memory. The group presented their project entitled, “Can Wearable Cameras Stimulate Non-Visual Memory?” at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago, Thursday, April 20. “Our SIUE psychology students were instrumental throughout the project, from planning and crafting materials, to troubleshooting the camera, to walking participants around campus and recording data,” said Finley. “They got to experience all the creativity and rigor involved in psychological science.” Sophia Mohsen, Adrien Vozenilek, Patricia Roberts, Rianna Roush, Justin Pfister, and Anna Hendricks were the students leading the charge for the project, testing to see whether or not videos can evoke a sense of reliving and unlock part of memories that the human brain

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WOOD RIVER - Phillips 66 celebrated April as “Good Energy Month.” Employees around the country participated in company-sponsored service projects and were also encouraged to donate their personal time to support local organizations. Wood River Refinery hosted three service projects during the month. On April 4, 17 employees, including members of the Refinery’s Environmental team, donated 68 hours to support the Edwardsville Children’s Museum Micro Forest. “This is our third year supporting the site and it has been great to see the native trees start to grow,” says Melissa Erker, Director of Government and Community Relations. In addition to providing volunteer support, Phillips 66 sponsors the interactive STEM Forest exhibit at the Children’s Museum and provided a $40,000 grant in 2022 to support the Citizen’s Science Program and new pollinator garden project. On April 20, 16 employees donated 108 hours to support HeartLands Conservancy.

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WOOD RIVER - Tonight marks the first night Wood River City Council meetings will be livestreamed on Riverbender.com . You can watch tonight’s meeting and all future meetings on the Riverbender.com Facebook live video page or Riverbender.com/video/live . Tonight's meeting agenda includes the swearing in of new council members Bill Dettmers and David Ayers, both of whom have spoken out against several of the previous council’s decisions and projects. Councilmembers Sonya Hagaman and Leroy Duncan will step down to conclude their term of office. The Wood River City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. More information about the council is available on the city’s website , as is a full list of their meeting agendas . These livestreams are sponsored by Gateway Pension Services Ltd. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, and celebrating 37 years in business. Gateway Pension Services has a highly trained staff of consultants,

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CHICAGO - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin today in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider the recently announced $462 million multistate settlement with Juul Labs Inc. (Juul) as the federal agency sets policies regulating e-cigarettes. In 2019, Illinois was among the first states in the country to sue Juul, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of e-cigarettes, alleging the company marketed its harmful nicotine products to minors. Raoul’s office co-led negotiations, which resulted in the largest settlement any states have reached with Juul to hold the company accountable, as well as the most stringent restrictions under any state settlement on Juul’s marketing, sales and distribution practices. In a letter addressed to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, Durbin and Raoul, both longtime advocates for protecting youth from the dangers of smoking and e-cigarette use, ask the FDA to consider

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GODFREY – With increased local demand for paralegals, Lewis and Clark Community College is doing what it can to fill those positions by offering all Paralegal program courses in an eight-week format over the 2023 Summer semester. This is the first time all the program’s online classes have been offered in an eight-week format during the summer. According to Program Coordinator Becky Gockel, some of the classes don’t require prerequisites, such as Bankruptcy Law, Wills/Trusts, and Estate Law. These courses may be of interest to community members, even if they are not legal professionals. These and other summer courses, such as Family Law and Torts, are potential continuing education opportunities for paralegals who wish to expand their areas of specialization. “Some of these classes are now open to people who aren’t even in the program,” she said. “I have someone taking the Wills class this semester because she works for an attorney who’s

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CHICAGO - As Illinois residents may contemplate recycling electronic items when spring cleaning their homes, Attorney General Raoul is encouraging them to take advantage of environmentally-friendly recycling programs and to be mindful of potential personally identifying information left on their smart devices. “The proliferation of smart devices has transformed our lives in countless ways, including that people upgrade their devices more frequently,” Raoul said. “We must be mindful, however, of the real environmental effects of e-waste and how to safely dispose of older electronic equipment while protecting sensitive personal information.” Raoul reminds Illinoisans that it is illegal to throw many electronic devices in the trash and that older electronics – including televisions, computers, tablets, gaming systems and telephones – may contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and human health if not properly disposed of and specially

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GRANITE CITY - Schnuck Markets, Inc. is recalling 12 pounds of 80/20 fresh ground beef purchased on Sunday, April 30, between 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. from its Granite City, Illinois store located 3100 Madison Ave. (62040). The product may contain pieces of plastic. Customers who purchased the above product with a sell-by date of May 1, 2023 should return the product to the store for a full refund or exchange. To date, there have been no reported illnesses or injuries, and this is an isolated incident that does not affect any other stores. Customers with questions may contact the Schnucks Customer Care team at 314-994-4400 or 1-800-264-4400.

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HARDIN - On April 23, 2023, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a disturbance in progress on Godar Hollow, in Calhoun County, Illinois. A Deputy with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and an Officer with the Illinois Conservation Police responded to the disturbance. Subsequent to an investigation, on April 25, 2023, the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office filed the following Criminal Complaints against Douglas J. Godar, aged 38, of Hardin, for the following offense: Aggravated Assault – Motor Vehicle Godar turned himself in to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Alton Jail. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Illinois Conservation Police and the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this case. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

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HARDIN - On April 22, 2023, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a delayed complaint of a domestic disturbance that had occurred on April 21st at a residence on South Broadway in Kampsville. A Deputy Sheriff with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and began an investigation. A Deputy Sheriff with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the area to assist with the investigation. Subsequent to an investigation, Andrew G. Osborn, age 34, of Kampsville, was arrested on the following charge: Aggravated Domestic Battery – (Second or Subsequent Offense) Osborn was arrested without incident, and transported to the Jersey County Jail. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Pike County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance. We would also like to thank the concerned citizens who assisted in the reporting of this incident. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty. If you or

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ALTON – Just a week prior, in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against cross-town rivals Marquette Catholic, it wasn’t a great night for the Redbirds, especially senior captain Katie Stark. She went down hard in the 34 th minute, initially holding her shoulder, and would not return to the game. A postgame interview with head coach Gwen Sabo declared that Stark had suffered a concussion. She missed the next two games against tough Granite City and Edwardsville sides and was at first unsure if she’d even be cleared for her Senior Night game. Alton athletic trainer Andy Renner did not clear her to play the day before against the Tigers but ruled her able to play last Friday. It came as a relief to her, and a struggling Alton team that missed her presence in the midfield. So, she made the start against Civic Memorial last Friday on Senior Night, a game where Alton celebrated seven seniors and salvaged a 2-1 win. Stark has been a varsity player her entire high school career

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Gori Law Firm recently announced its renewed partnership with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) for 2023. As a gold-level sponsor of the organization, the firm supports the ADAO’s mission of education, advocacy and community initiatives geared toward asbestos awareness and prevention. A nationwide leader in asbestos litigation, the Edwardsville, Illinois-based law firm frequently works with individuals and families affected by asbestos exposure. Its continued partnership with the ADAO is part of its many efforts to invest in prevention and spread awareness of asbestos's critical and dangerous effects. “We are grateful for opportunities to support organizations like the ADAO, who, like us, fight tirelessly for the rights of individuals and families who have been adversely affected by asbestos and its related illnesses,” said Sara Salger, managing partner of The Gori Law Firm. “We hope that more and more people will rall

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ST. LOUIS - Schnuck Markets, Inc. has issued an allergy alert due to a mislabeling on select containers of Culinaria Nut Mixes. The products may have mislabeled packaging, and the Culinaria Cashew & Macadamia mix may contain almonds, which is an allergen for some people. Due to the mislabeling, the Culinaria Cashew & Almond Mix may not contain the correct ingredients listed on the package. Schnucks customers are urged to check for: Culinaria Cashew & Macadamia Mix 9 oz. UPS 4131822428 Best by date: 2/02/25 Lot Code: 3033 A9 Culinaria Cashew & Almond Mix 9 oz. UPS 4131822423 Best by date: 2/02/25 Lot Code: 3033 A9 Affected products may be returned to the nearest Schnucks store for a full refund or exchange. Customers with questions may contact the Schnucks Customer Care team at 314-994-4400 or 1-800-264-4400.

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ST. LOUIS - Old Bones, Inc. will be displaying new paintings along with new collages and paintings by Jennifer Dykeman at a garage in Soulard at Lami and Menard, 36104 on May 6 from 1:00 until 7:00 pm. It’s free. One day only. Refreshments. Old Bones, Inc. is a collaboration between artists Mark Regester and Andy Dykeman. https://www.instagram.com/oldbonesinc/ Mark was born in Scotland, raised in California and is a resident artist at 31art Gallery in St. Louis and his work has shown in numerous galleries throughout the US, Europe and South America. https://www.instagram.com/mark_regester_art/ Andy is from Alton, Illinois and is a local chiropractor and a resident artist at 31art Gallery in St. Louis, currently represented by Mineral Point Gallery in Wisconsin. https://www.instagram.com/andy.dykeman.art/ Jennifer is an art therapist and grief counselor at Evelyn’s House in St. Louis. Her paintings and collages have been extensively exhibited

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) is proud to announce that Adriyanna Gutierrez of Lenzburg, Illinois has been awarded the Girl Scout Medal of Honor – a lifesaving award she received for demonstrating heroism in saving another’s life. October 14, 2022 was supposed to be a typical day. After school, Adriyanna came home to help care for her little brother while her mother was at work. She took him into a bedroom so he could sit on the bed and watch a television program. Noticing the adjacent room appeared foggy, Adriyanna went back into the bedroom to check on her brother. The bedroom had become foggy as well, and Adriyanna knew she needed to determine the cause. She first opened windows and doors to air out the space. As she explored the cause, she discovered smoke behind the bed and noticed a light. At that moment, Adriyanna realized she was battling a fire and sprung into action. Adriyanna called her cousin into the room to help her get

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