Riverbender 🕸

ALTON — Two Alton men were charged Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in connection with an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child after Alton police said officers found a registered child sex offender alone with an 11-year-old child in June 2026. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by State’s Attorney Tom Haine, charged Terry W. Davis, a 56-year-old male from Alton, with six counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Also charged is Andrew J.

ALTON - The Marching 100 will give the crowd an early look at its season at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, when Alton High School Band Director Matt Chesner leads a preview show at Piasa Motor Fuels Stadium, weather permitting, or in an Alton High School gym if rainy weather interferes. Chesner said the event will show what the band has been working on, including the Star-Spangled Banner, the fight song, pregame material, and the halftime material learned so far, which he described as about half

WOOD RIVER - Riverbend Family Ministries has officially announced its new executive director, and the team is excited to welcome Christy Schult to their mission. Schult previously worked with Community Hope Center. In the nine days since she has taken on the executive director role at RFM, she has learned a lot about the Riverbend’s unhoused community members and families that need assistance to remain housed. This is one of the biggest goals of RFM — to prevent homelessness and

ALTON — The Alton Police Department issued a warning to the public about automated scam voicemails claiming a $1,299 purchase was made on an account. Alton Police said the calls are intended to create uncertainty and urgency so people respond before verifying whether there is a problem with one of their accounts. The Alton Police Department said the voicemails may begin with a message such as, “There’s been a $1,299 purchase on your account…” and

JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office recognized Greg McDaniel for decades of public service and wished him well in retirement after a law enforcement career that began in 1987 and included service at the courthouse in Jersey County. McDaniel joined the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office as a part-time deputy in 2015, bringing decades of law enforcement experience with him, the office said. In 2020, he moved into a full-time role. During his time with the Jersey

CASEYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced intermittent lane closures on Illinois 157 from Collinsville Road to Millstadt Road in St. Clair County beginning, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, for pavement patching. Flaggers will maintain two-way traffic. The work is expected to be completed by mid-September. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be aler

ALTON – Another Riverbend resident has been charged with child solicitation and more after messaging an adult posing as a minor and arranging to meet at an Alton Walgreens. 39-year-old Aaron G. Settles of Carrollton was charged on Aug. 3, 2026 with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child, grooming (each Class 4 felonies), traveling to meet a minor, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine (both Class 3 felonies). Settles allegedly knowingly discussed

EDWARDSVILLE - A 1972 cross-country motorcycle trip and a rediscovered manuscript inspired an Edwardsville writer to finish his long-awaited debut novel. Stephen L. Miller took an 11,000-mile ride across the country, then wrote a novel about the trip on his red Valentine Olivetti typewriter in his freshman dorm room. Over 50 years later, Miller dusted off the manuscript and used modern technology to self-publish it. He is proud of the story’s timeless themes of youth, recovery and firs

ST. LOUIS - A 34-year-old man was shot and killed late Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in the Walnut Park West neighborhood, where homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances of the shooting. Officers received a call for a shooting just before 11:40 p.m. Aug. 4 in the 5600 block of Hiller Place. When they arrived, they found the man on a porch suffering from gunshot wounds. EMS responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is

GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic sophomore right fielder Paddington Martin drew praise from Griffins head baseball coach Chris Erwin after hitting over .300 in spring 2026, with Erwin citing Martin’s production, defense and role in the team’s culture. “Paddy played really well for us this past season,” Coach Erwin said. Paddy hit .315 and had 28 hits, 20 RBIs and five doubles for the varsity team. He wore No. 2 for the Griffins this past spring. Paddy is a Byron

ELSAH/GRAFTON - Community members have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful tradition that will honor the lives lost on 9/11. At 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, QEM Fire Protection District firefighters and other area first responders will climb the QEM burn tower at 14905 Elsah Road in Grafton to simulate the 110 flights of stairs climbed by first responders in the Twin Towers. Community members are welcome to join the climb. “It’s super important for us to see

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 18 attorneys general today in sending letters to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), urging the agencies to deny Opportunity Financials’ (OppFi) application to acquire and merge with BNC National Bank, which would grant OppFi a national bank charter and enable the company to circumvent longstanding state lending laws. In their letters, Raoul and the coalition

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker sent a letter to the chief executives of the nation’s largest oil companies, demanding answers about why Illinois families are paying exorbitant prices at the pump while the companies report record profits as a result of President Trump’s ongoing, unlawful war with Iran. In the letter, Governor Pritzker questions why oil companies are failing to help ease the burden on Illinois drivers while their businesses hoard additional revenue from

GODFREY - Gary Hart and Steve Fiedler have made a difference in their Blu Fountain Manor Drive neighbors’ lives over the years by shoveling snow when inclement weather occurs in the region. On Sunday, July 26, 2026, both men were recognized at a surprise party for them at the manor in Godfrey. The informal appreciation event was organized by Roosevelt Wilson, of Blu Fountain Drive, to recognize Hart, 69, and Fiedler, 82, for helping neighbors during winter weather. About 10 to 12 neighbors

CHICAGO — Today, Attorney General Kwame Raoul was joined by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago in filing a lawsuit against A-F Acquisition LLC, which operates under the name Pullman Innovations, alleging that the company allowed excessive odors, caused illegal air pollution, constructed a boiler without a permit that could cause or contribute to air pollution, and violated certain conditions of the operating permit at its Chicago facility. Pullman Innovations’ Chicago

WOOD RIVER - The community can celebrate a new Wood River dispensary at their grand opening party. The Cannaisseur will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and party at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. Located at 40 E. Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, the dispensary’s leadership and “budtenders” are excited to serve the community and mark their opening with Friday’s festivities. “The Cannaisseur is a wonderful, friendly neighborhood dispensary,” said Jerry

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - An unidentified person damaged a wooden cross on the front lawn of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in the 700 block of Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, and St. Louis County police are asking for the public’s help identifying the individual as detectives investigate. Police said the person first attempted to cut down the cross with a saw, then returned a few hours later with an axe and split the cross. The axe was left

SPRINGFIELD – Last week, the Governor signed into law three measures sponsored in the House by State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) and in the Senate by State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) after the ideas were brought to them by Metro East residents. House Bill 4867 allows additional work vehicles to use green flashing or rotating lights, along with amber and white lights. The new law will help protect workers and motorists by making active work zones easier to identify and navigate

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is recognizing August as Child Support Awareness Month, marking continued improvement on key performance metrics that correlate to the state’s ongoing efforts to support Illinois families more holistically. The mission of the program is to improve the lives of the many children it serves annually, and create a more stable and successful future for families in the state of Illinois. HFS’ Division of

EFFINGHAM – A new law sponsored by State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) will strengthen government transparency by making local audit and financial reports easier for Illinois residents to access. “The people of Illinois deserve transparency when it comes to how units of government manage their tax dollars,” said Plummer. “Public financial records should not be difficult to find or buried in websites. This law is a simple, commonsense step to make important