Riverbender 🕸

Couples names: Kevin & Kesthien Smith City: Godfrey Date met or started dating: August 24, 2010 Date married: October 26, 2019 What makes your relationship special? What makes our relationship special is not the aesthetic, but it is the history and adventure. It is the inspiration we give to not only pursue what you love, but fight for what may seem unbeatable. In the year 2010, two( once unfortunate) kids met on the first day of highschool, and learning more than what meets the eye fell for one another. In the time period for us where it was most advised to "have fun" and take most romantic experiences as a lesson for the future, we fearlessly deemed ourselves ready to take on the world together. We both had come from imperfect backgrounds which brought us closer. We had ever class together from 1st period to lunch, so it only seemed destined, but it wasn't just a snatch and grab. "Kevin had proposed a relationship multiple times but I had rejected it due to distance

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Couples names: Matt & Mary City: Carrollton Date met or started dating: February 25, 2003 Date married: February 25, 2006 What makes your relationship special? We are Highschool sweethearts. We met our senior year of high school and have been together ever since! When I met Matt, I had a daughter already and even tho we were so young, he took my daughter in as his own and eventually legally adopted her. We have been through the ups and downs, the hard times and the best times. We have 3 beautiful children together, 1 daughter and 2 sons. We were also blessed with a beautiful granddaughter in 2021! Share a memory you have made together: Oh where to start?! We have so many memories together but the ones I love the most are when we are traveling as a family. All the road trips, all the camping trips, all the hiking trips and all the places to see!

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JERSEYVILLE - In conjunction with Jersey State Bank, J.C.H.S. has selected their “Student of the Month”. The recipient for the month of January is Kateryna Savienkova. The selection of a “Student of the Month” is based upon the number of F.O.C.U.S. nominations, which a student receives for a given month. F.O.C.U.S. (Finding One Clearly Unique Student) is a program, which acknowledges a student each week for academic or kindness. Each week teachers may recognize students who have performed well in their classes by selecting them as F.O.C.U.S. students for that particular week. During January, Kateryna received the most F.O.C.U.S. nominations. Because she received the most nominations, he was named “Students of the Month” at JCHS. She is being congratulated by Marci Tonsor of Jersey State Bank. In conjunction with Jerseyville Banking Center, J.C.H.S. has selected their “Students of the Month”. The recipients for the month of January

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Couples names: Don & Heather City: Palmyra Date met or started dating: May 1, 1995 Date married: June 8, 2013 What makes your relationship special? We are a bleneded family with 9 kids. We original met back in 1994, but we grew apart and both went on and started a family. After major life changes and many years later we rekindled the fire and got married. Here we are living our best life, going to car shows, cruises and the beaches in Florida. Can't wait to continue this journey. Share a memory you have made together: One of our best memories is the week we spent on the beach. Such a paeaceful, relaxing, making memories time.

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Couples names: Lexie & EJ City: Wood River Date met or started dating: June 4, 2013 Date married: August 12, 2023 What makes your relationship special? We’ve always knew we could come back to each other. Share a memory you have made together: Finding out we were having a baby together after years of knowing each other.

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Couples names: Chris aka Nipper & Brandie DeSherlia City: Grafton Date met or started dating: September 4, 2000 Date married: September 4, 2003 What makes your relationship special? We knew of each other in high school and ran into each other at a Super Bowl Party the year the St. Louis Rams won. There was not an attraction at that time, at least on my part lol we quickly became friends. Nip dated a few of my friends and I just Could not see why they were attracted to him, he would pick me up for lunch everyday. We talked non stop, hung out all the time then he got a girlfriend outside my group of friends and we didn’t really see each other for a few months, I was actually mad at him for making stupid choices so I wasn’t talking to him. He wrote a note on my front door with a bar of soap asking me to call him, I didn’t I was in the hospital and he just showed up one day, the priest came into my room grabbed my hand & his and blessed us. Prayed with

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Couples names: Sarah & Michaela City: Alton Date met or started dating: February 4, 2013 Date married: December 4, 2020 What makes your relationship special? Against all odds, we started our own family. We got married. We now have a child of our own together. Our 2nd child together will make her arrival next month in March. Love is love. Share a memory you have made together: We love traveling the United States together. All of our adventures have made many good memories. Our most epic adventure, was hiking in the mountains in Arkansas. The mountain we were attempting, was so steep, I didn’t even think it was possible to hike up. Half way up, we got caught in a bad rain storm. Thinking it was crazy we even hiked up, and despite’s all the obstacles, we made it to the top. Our adrenaline was going and we was so excited to have finally made it all the way up. We just sat there for hours staring at the view.

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Couples names: Tim & Courtney City: Godfrey Date met or started dating: February 16, 2022 What makes your relationship special? We are like 2 peas in a pod. We laugh together and work great together. Share a memory you have made together: We had our first helicopter ride together and it was awesome.

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CARROLLTON - Several individuals have been charged with battery, drug offenses, and more in Greene County over the last few weeks, according to the most recent Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Dustin A. Schnelten, 46, of Carrollton, was charged with aggravated battery of a police officer and criminal trespass to land. He was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 27 and remains in custody. Jeffrey T. Taylor, 55, of White Hall, was arrested by the White Hall Police Department for aggravated battery - he also had a warrant out for his arrest in Greene County. He was taken into custody on Jan. 26 and has since been released on bond. Jessica M. Giberson, 38, of Carrollton, was charged with domestic battery and arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 25. She has since been released on her own recognizance. Amy D. Faltin, 38, of Carrollton, was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department

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Couples names: Kathy & Garrett City: Hartford Date met or started dating: February 3, 2014 Date married: November 3, 2019 What makes your relationship special? Finding love later in life can be hard. Especially after hard experiences. Finding someone that loves your children grown and young is very important. I was blessed enough to find that in my 60’s. I found someone that shares the same values I do and appreciates having a family that he never got to have. It worked out for both of us. Share a memory you have made together: We just built a beautiful house together. He loves my kids and grandkids as if they were his own. God has blessed both of us.

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Couples names: Matt & Julie City: East Alton Date met or started dating: August 5, 2019 What makes your relationship special? Two broken people met and brought life and love back in each other's life and mended each other. Share a memory you have made together: We love taking the kids to the river and having a picnic! We are also Engaged!

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Couples names: Robby Chandler and Jamie Miller City: Bethalto Date met or started dating: October 3, 2016 What makes your relationship special? I met Robby online a year after my husband had passed away. Unbeknown to us, we had several mutual friends and at one time, he was our Schwann’s delivery driver. I truly believe my late husband had a hand in us meeting…..Robby is the calm to my storm, he completes me. Combined, we have 4 children, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 son in law, and 1 granddaughter. Our blended family fits together like a puzzle. We wake up each day grateful to have one another. Robby is also a cancer survivor. He has been cancer free for about 8 yrs now. I can’t imagine having to lose another love. We are grateful, thankful, and definitely blessed. Share a memory you have made together: We have been deep sea fishing in Key West, fishing in the mouth of the Russian River in Alaska. We love to travel together….our next adventure will

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ILLINOIS STATE POLICE EXPANDS CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is rolling out 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for all ISP officers beginning in February. CIT programs create connections between law enforcement professionals, mental health providers, families, and consumer advocates. The goal of crisis intervention training is to help officers better understand mental illness, which can help resolve a crisis situation with a lower risk of injury to either party, and to connect individuals with treatment. “Law enforcement officers are often still the first to respond to individuals with mental illness given the limits of crisis mental health services across the country,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP’s formalized 40-hour training includes intervention tactics and mental health education to ensure all our officers have the tools to help safely manage interactions with persons i

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CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker today joined state and local leaders, along with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI), and Intersect Illinois in Pullman to announce $40 million in Rebuild Illinois Capital Funds to supercharge the development of megasites – large, developed sites ready for occupancy for manufacturers, distribution centers, industrial centers, and more. The competitive grant opportunity is open to governments, private businesses, or non-profits to support site development in order to attract large-scale industrial investments in underutilized areas and former industrial sites. “Major job creators are consistently looking for investment-ready sites they can get up-and-running in a short amount of time – and Illinois is home to some of the largest such sites in the country, all ripe for fresh development,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “The new Megasites Investment Program

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ALTON - Work on the sewer separation project continues throughout the Alton area. Here is an update on road closures. Piasa Valley Area: 9 th Street remains closed to thru traffic from Alton Street east to George Street. Pavement restoration is ongoing and should be completed in the coming weeks. Belle Street sewer work has moved north of the intersection of 7 th Street. 7 th Street east of Belle Street is partially restored, with some restoration work to continue in the coming weeks. Additional work will be completed west of Belle Street on 7 th street in the coming weeks. Final pavement restoration in this area will follow. Sewer work is progressing around the intersection of 9 th and Belle Streets. Starting Monday, 2/6/2023, a sewer crew will be moving north up 9 th Street. This will close the intersection of 9 th /Hamilton, meaning any southbound traffic on 9 th Street will need to use Madison (20 th Street) or State Street to navigate around the work area.

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ALTON - At 4:13 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, Alton Police responded to a disturbance in the 900 block of Pearl Street in Alton. The female resident advised that a male, whom she has children with, broke into her residence. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said during the disturbance, a handgun was discharged inside the residence. "The female was able to exit the residence and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the altercation," he said. "Her injuries were not as a result of the firearm being discharged. Officers were initially uncertain as to whether the male subject was still inside the residence. After taking appropriate safety precautions, they were able to determine that the male had left the residence prior to their initial arrival. "Further scene investigation located evidence to substantiate the report of gunshots being fired. Efforts to locate the male subject have been made but he has not been located at this time." The investigation

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School announced its Honor Roll and High Honor Roll lists. To view the full lists click the links below: High Honor Roll Honor Roll

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GODFREY –The Lewis and Clark Community College Veterans Club will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6, in the Leclaire Room on the college’s N.O. Nelson Campus in Edwardsville. “We are proud to be joining forces with the American Red Cross and radio station KLOU Radio 103.3 on this community blood drive,” said L&C Director of Career and Veteran Services Terry Lane. “By taking part in this opportunity to help others, you just might save a life. Please make an effort to attend, and please share this information with your family and friends.” KLOU Radio hosts Billy Greenwood and Judy Diamond are having a friendly competition to see which one of them can collect more blood. Donors get to decide! And – Billy will be doing a live remote from the drive from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: Team Billy or Team Judy or call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

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ALTON - Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, will host the free Substance Use Levels of Care: A Recovery Journey webinar on Tuesday, February 28 from noon to 1 p.m. CT. This training has 1 hour of continuing education (CEUs) approved for IL LCPC / LPC, IL LCSW / LSW, and IL Nursing (LPN, RN, APN) under IDFPR Professional Counselor CE License No. 197.000263 and IDFPR Nurse CE Sponsor License No. 236.000184. This virtual webinar will explore the topic of substance use treatment and its various levels of care. Participants will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the different levels of care and how to apply them in real-world scenarios. Additionally, the webinar will explore the benefits of early intervention and the components of an effective recovery journey. The focus will be on providing a comprehensive and individualized approach to substance use treatment, and attendees will learn how to develop strategies for referring clients to the

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GREENVILLE - Anyone in the Greenville area with a love of acting and community theatre is invited to audition for the Factory Theatre’s spring production of James and the Giant Peach. Auditions will be held from 5-7 pm on Monday, February 6, at GU’s Factory Theatre/Kelsey Building (401 E. Harris Ave, Greenville, IL). Auditions are open to community members in Greenville and the surrounding area and Greenville University students. Must be 16 or older. Community members must provide their own transportation to the theatre. Audition Components: The song of the auditionee’s choice must be no longer than 3 minutes. The song should showcase the singer’s voice and style. 1-minute monologue Cold reading—various parts from the show Simple dance combinations that will be taught at the rehearsal Production: James and the Giant Peach Based on Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, James and the Giant Peach is a whimsical, magical, and slightly offbea

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