Riverbender 🕸

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a second agreed interim order in an ongoing lawsuit against Marathon Pipe Line LLC (Marathon) over the March 2022 release of approximately 147,000 gallons of heavy crude oil from a pipeline near Edwardsville, Illinois. Raoul filed the order in Madison County Circuit Court which requires Marathon to fully investigate the impact of the spill and determine whether further corrective action may be needed. “The order my office filed ensures Marathon takes necessary action to eliminate both environmental and human health risks from the areas impacted by the spill,” Raoul said. “My office is committed to ensuring the remediation of the affected water and soil surrounding Cahokia Creek while our lawsuit continues.” Raoul’s lawsuit alleges that Marathon violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and endangered public health and the environment by causing or allowing a discharge of heavy crude oil

Continue Reading

ALTON - Alton High School's talented Scholar Bowl team has been sensational in the post-season competition this March. Team members shown above, left to right, are John Ramsay, Jacob Larson, Tucker Gehrig, Grant Fournie, and Noah Perkins. The Redbirds Scholar Bowl squad came home recently as IHSA regional champions. The Redbirds defeated O'Fallon 410-330 and then lost to Mascoutah 350 to 270 and Carbondale 370-350 in the Saturday Mt. Vernon Sectional. "Carbondale, Mascoutah, and O'Fallon are all tough high schools in scholar bowl," AHS Scholar Bowl head coach Chris Ford said. "They were extremely tough competition. We also played all three a few times throughout the regular season." Ford said he was "extremely proud" of his student team members for their overall performance this season. "They've worked extremely hard this season to get to this point," he said. "We've been practicing since September, and playing matches since October. They amassed a 61-32 regular season record including

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton Community Service League today announced winners of the recent Aeries Raffle. A total of $1,570 worth of tickets were sold for the raffle. Bernie Wickenhauser received the first prize - a $300 Aeries gift certificate, Georgia Smith received two nights of free lodging at Aeries for second place and the third-place winner was Mike Moylan who received two Aeries Zipline tickets. All the proceeds from the club fundraisers are distributed directly back into the community through grants. Grant winners will be announced next month. Shown in the photo above is Tammy Atchley, Ways, and Means Chair, presenting Bernie Wickenhauser with the first prize of a $300 Aeries gift certificate. "Thanks to the community for your continued," support, Jean Conrady, of ACSL said.

Continue Reading

ALTON - Several improvements are planned for a few Alton parks later this year, including Milton Park, Gordon Moore Park, Olin Park, and more. Alton Parks and Recreation Department Director Michael Haynes said they’re starting to get bids from contractors, and most of these projects should be completed later this spring and summer. Haynes said one such project is the installation of a new playground at Milton Park after one has been missing for years. “We’ve had Milton Park earmarked for several years now as trying to get something in there. There used to be a playground there years ago, it just got old and we had to take it out due to safety concerns,” he said. “We’re going to get one there at Milton for everybody who lives in that area down there.” Haynes said the Milton Park parking area will have an ADA-accessible walkway up to the new playground, which will feature rubber, pour-in-place surfacing, which he described as the “nicest,

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Highway Patrol said Monday morning that a Hermann, Mo. police officer has died after a Sunday night shooting and another was injured after an incident at 9:20 p.m. Sunday at the Casey's on Market Street in Hermann, Mo. The Madison County Sheriff's Office issued this statement this morning about the fatal police shooting: "Today we are thinking of Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith, 34, one of the two officers shot last night in Hermann Missouri. Sergeant Griffith succumbed to his injuries. "Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. The second officer shot is in serious but stable condition. We pray for all involved." The second police officer shot is at a St. Louis hospital, the Missouri Highway Patrol says. Officer Adam Sullentrup, 31, was the other officer shot in the incident. A Blue Alert from Hermann was canceled Monday afternoon after a suspect in the shooting Kenneth Lee Simpson, 35, was taken into custody. Police converged on the hous

Continue Reading

SOUTH ROXANA - The Village of South Roxana is proud to announce the construction of a new Senior Citizen Center for the community. The building will be located next to the Village Hall and will provide a space for residents to use for meetings, clubs, activities, and events such as birthday parties. This Senior Citizen Center has been a long time in the making, taking over 8 years of hard work to get to fruition. The community faced constant setbacks and denials when trying to partner with others to assist with funding for the center. However, former State Representatives Rachelle Crowe and Amy Elik were vital in providing bipartisan support to make this vision a reality. Bob Coles, the Village Administrator, stated that this project has been a challenging one to undertake. "The communities who are in the most need for assistance are rarely the ones who receive support," he said. "A Senior Center was one of the big to-do items on my checklist during my administration." This will be

Continue Reading

Illinois Becomes Third State in the Nation to Guarantee Paid Leave CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker today signed SB208 into law, making Illinois the third state in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason. The historic legislation provides employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period, meaning approximately 1.5 million workers will begin earning paid time off starting in 2024. “Working families face so many challenges, and it’s been my mission to alleviate those burdens in every way I can. Today, we will become the third state in the nation to require paid time off, and the first among the largest states,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Employers benefit from allowing employees to tend to the urgent personal matters of their lives. Workers’ productivity increases, and they often gain greater passion for their job when they can manage the stresses they face outside work.

Continue Reading

VIENNA – A southern Illinois man who operates a “high-fence” shooting facility in Johnson County has pleaded guilty to poaching white-tailed deer following an investigation by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation police and other agencies. Jerry Stafford, 58, of Vienna, who owns Samson’s Whitetail Mountain, entered a negotiated plea on Jan. 6 to one count of unlawful take in connection with the illegal harvest of 8-point and 12-point wild white-tailed deer. He also pleaded guilty to one count of open dumping for improper disposal of animal carcasses. Both are Class A misdemeanors. Stafford operates a “high-fence” shooting facility, where customers pay money to shoot raised or imported game mammals in a fenced area, which runs counter to the principles of fair-chase hunting. Illinois Conservation Police began investigating after learning he was advertising “low-fence hunts” in conjunction with Illinois’ official

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis CrimeStoppers has again posted a request for tips on the fatal shooting of Nicholas Kapusniak, a St. Louis College of Pharmacy student. This is a long-unsolved case. He was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting at about 1 a.m. on the morning of March 1, 2014. The shooting occurred in the rear yard of a home in the 2700 block of Accomac in St. Louis County. The victim was standing with a group of acquaintances when he was struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle. Witnesses say an unknown subject started shooting from inside of a white sedan as it traveled eastbound in the south alley of Accomac. The white vehicle continued east out of sight. If you have any information about this Homicide please call the CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477). If your tip, called into CrimeStoppers, leads to the felony arrest of the subject(s) responsible for this homicide, you can receive a reward of up to $5,000. All tips called into CrimeStoppers are completely

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton High School Robotics Team has had a great season in 2023. Recently, team members competed in the first Robotics Competition at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Members of the highly competitive team are: Clara Velloff Will Dickson Andrew Owen Andy Hatch Jordan Hasty Reyna Loftis Hayden Markert Xavier Carter Kyle Yinger Team mentors are: Brian Bergin Tyrone Stevenson

Continue Reading

ALTON - Nicholas Trefny was the winner of Marquette Catholic's Mr. Irresistible competition on Saturday night. Parker Macias was the runner-up to Trefny and Max Cogan was judged the crowd favorite. The Mr. Irresistible evening attracted a large, interactive audience, normal for each year. Above is a video from the presentation and some photos are below.

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is accepting applications now until April 17, 2023 for Fiscal Year 2024 grants to local law enforcement agencies interested in a collaborative effort to reduce and prevent illegal possession and use of firearms, firearm related homicides, and other violent crimes. Law enforcement agencies that are members of the Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force are eligible to receive grants from the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund . Funding would help agencies conduct enforcement operations for individuals whose Firearm Owner's Identification Cards (FOID) have been revoked or suspended but have failed to comply with the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act. The enforcement details focus on individuals who have become the subject of a Firearm Restraining Order or Clear and Present Danger, or received a criminal conviction, among other reasons. Funding would also help agencies enforce the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and Firearm

Continue Reading

ALTON - Due to overwhelming demand for the first session, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton) Psychological Services Department will be hosting a second Healthy Workplace Lunch & Learn program offering free NARCAN training. This new “lunch & learn” program will be held on Friday, March 31, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the hospital’s Perpetual Help Center and led by Karen Tilashalski, community health specialist, Chestnut Health Systems. The training program is free and lunch will be provided, but registration is required. Registration can be completed by visiting http://HealthyWorkplaceNarcanTraining.eventbrite.com . NARCAN® Nasal Spray is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency. Attendees will also learn about the opioid epidemic in southwestern Illinois including: Local overdose data What happens when a person overdoses How to recognize an overdose How t

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is excited to announce Old Dominion will headline the Illinois Lottery stage on Friday, August 11th. The 5X CMA and 5X ACM Award winning band is coming off a record-breaking fifth consecutive win for “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 2022 CMA Awards, where they were also nominated for “Album of the Year.” Since breaking onto the music scene in 2014, the band has notched eight number one singles including: Break Up with Him, Hotel Key and One Man Band . In 2021, Old Dominion received two GRAMMY nominations for their song “Some People Do,” including “Best Country Song” and “Best Country Duo/Group Performance.” The band wrapped up 2021 by releasing their fourth studio album, Time, Tequila & Therapy , featuring the smash summertime single I Was On a Boat That Day . The song was named one of the “100 Best Songs of 2021” by Billboard and was certified Platinum.

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - James Turman died after he sustained multiple puncture wounds to both legs and his abdomen in an incident where St. Louis County Police officers were called to the scene at 2 p.m. on March 30, 2014. The case remains unsolved and St. Louis Crime Stoppers is seeking information. When officers arrived, Turman was lying in the reclined front passenger's seat of a 1980s Chevy Iroc Camaro parked at 8933 Riverview Boulevard in St. Louis. The victim was unconscious and sustained multiple puncture wounds to both legs and his abdomen. An initial scene investigation indicated that the victim parked at this location when he was approached by the suspect. An argument ensued and the suspect shot the victim with a "dark-colored" handgun. The suspect then fled southwest from the location on foot. If you have any information about this homicide, please call the CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) If your tip, called into CrimeStoppers, leads to the felony arrest of the subject(s)

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The 2023 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 1, at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at selected trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open March 18. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release fishing period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular season beginning April 1. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked for the fall trout fishing season, which begins in October. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program receives funding support from those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. For the 2023 spring trout season, no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from March 13 until the season opens at 5 a.m. April 1. Anyone attempting

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Today Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) announced the release of emergency medical supplies to support long-term disaster relief efforts in Turkey and provide humanitarian medical aid following the February 6 earthquake in the Mediterranean. “The recent earthquakes in the large Kahramanmaras region have had a devastating impact on countless families and communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Here in Illinois, we lend a helping hand whenever we can, and we are proud to have medical supplies that can directly serve those in affected areas with immediate life-saving results.” Working through the non-governmental organization MedGlobal who specializes in international humanitarian crisis and is located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the State of Illinois can now directly support survivors in marginalized communities throughout the disaster-affected areas. The transfer of medical supplies will include

Continue Reading

Dear Community Leaders, Organizations and Businesses, We have some exciting news to share. We are hosting our 2 nd Annual Alton Area Community Easter Egg Hunt. For our inaugural event we had over 400 in attendance. On Saturday, April 8, 2023 from Noon to 4 p.m. at Rock Spring Park . This event is free and open to the public. At this community event there will be food, games, activities and giveaways. We are looking for sponsors to help fund the Alton Area Community Easter Egg Hunt We are accepting monetary and in-kind donations. There are three levels of sponsorship: Gold - $500.00 and UP – supports 50 children or more Silver - $300 and UP – supports 30 children Bronze - $100 and UP – supports 10 Please make checks payable to Mr. Everything, 211 East Elm Street, Alton, IL 2002 To contribute to this community event please contact one of the community members listed below: Leon Smallwood-Bey Rosie Brown President, 100 Men Movement 4 th Ward

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Regional Freightway is inviting students and educators to sign up now to take advantage of curated riverboat cruises in 2023 that will provide tours through a portion of the Ag Coast of America. Offered the first Wednesday of the month beginning in April 2023, the cruises will be open to high school and college student groups, educators and educational administrators, and others interested in learning about the Ag Coast and the many career opportunities available in the region’s transportation, manufacturing and logistics industries. The cost per person varies based on age, group size and whether the group is participating in a regularly scheduled tour or a private, chartered tour. Participants will get an up-close look at critical elements of the region’s multimodal freight network, including roads and bridges, rail and barge facilities and multimodal freight transfer services and ports, all of which have garnered recognition for a 15-mile

Continue Reading

O'FALLON – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is now accepting applications for a four-week paid registered nurse (RN) internship to be held May 22 through June 17, 2023. The RN internship program is designed for nursing students to gain real-life experience in a health care setting during their summer break. Interns will be paired with nurse preceptors full time to work on nursing skills and documentation while learning clinical and professional skills. The program also offers candidates opportunities to be hired in their areas of interest and specialty units upon completion of this internship. This internship opportunity provides practical work experience for clinical students in an environment that emphasizes patient-centered care, while exposing the interns to innovative and emerging concepts in health care practice. “We are excited to once again be able to offer this paid RN internship,” said Julie A. Gordon, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, nurse manager of education, RN Residency

Continue Reading