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ALTON - St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host a presentation on exorcisms. At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, community members are invited to attend “Deliver Us: What Hollywood Gets Wrong about Exorcism.” Father Andrew Hook, the diocesan exorcist within the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield, will talk about his experience with exorcism and how exorcisms are represented in media. “The reality is that everyone’s heads aren’t spinning around and puking pea soup. It’s a little different from that,” explained Father Garron Daniels, the priest in charge at St. Paul’s. “Father Andy is going to be talking about some misconceptions of exorcisms, what it looks like to a lot of us in movies, and what it really isn’t.” Daniels referenced “The Exorcist” as an example of a movie where exorcism is “very theatrical.” He also noted that an actual rite of exorcism is “very rare.”

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TROY/MARYVILLE/ST. JACOB/MARINE - The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce interns shared a little about their experience with the Chamber. On a recent episode of “Our Daily Show!,” Kyle Mullin, Kyle Hazelwood and Sterling Crutcher took to the airwaves to tell listeners about the Chamber and their internships. Emily Gretak, the office manager, also spoke about how the Chamber has helped her and the interns grow since they started work with the board, the ambassadors, and CEO Dawn Mushill. “I’m enjoying it because I’m learning a lot and I’m getting to connect with these small businesses and learn more about what they do,” Crutcher said. Crutcher serves as a videographer, while Mullin and Hazelwood work in advertising and mass communications, respectively. The interns said they enjoy the networking opportunities they’ve experienced. “We’ve been able to meet so many different people at these different

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Linda J. Johnson, a 58-year-old resident of Waterloo, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to embezzling more than $135,000 from the Dupo Community Unit School District #196. The theft occurred during her employment in an administrative support role in the superintendent’s office from 2020 to 2022. Johnson was responsible for managing deposits into the district's activities account, which funds student athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities. According to court documents, she manipulated the deposit process by preparing two sets of bank deposit slips. The first set accurately reflected the amounts of cash and checks received, while the second set only accounted for checks, allowing her to pocket the cash. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe commented on the impact of Johnson's actions, stating, “Stealing funds from student activities directly deprives children of opportunities within their extracurriculars.” She added that despite

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Nicholas Williams, a 38-year-old resident of Jennings, Missouri, faces multiple charges following an alleged burglary incident at a convenience store on October 25, 2024. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Williams with Burglary Second Degree, Property Damage First Degree, and Stealing. According to a probable cause statement, Williams was recorded on video surveillance throwing a rock-like object through the front window of the convenience store located in the 8800 block of Jennings Station Road, which activated the burglar alarm. When police arrived, they noticed the back door of the store had been opened and then closed again. Upon investigation, officers discovered the door had been barricaded and forced entry into the establishment. Officers found Williams hiding in the bathroom, exhibiting injuries to his head and hand. Blood was also observed on the floor of the business. Further examination of the video footage revealed

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EDWARDSVILLE - The MCT Yellowhammer Connector trail is officially open in Edwardsville. The trail connects the Delyte Morris Trail and MCT Goshen Trail. It also helps connect SIUE’s campus to the Madison County Transit (MCT) trail system. Construction began in November 2023, and the completed 2,400-feet-long trail includes a 200-foot-long bowstring truss concrete deck bridge over the Delaplain Branch creek valley. “This is just the next phase in our multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to expand and enhance the MCT trails and to make Madison County one of the most bikeable, walkable places in the Midwest,” said S.J. Morrison, the managing director of MCT. The trail was built with a $2.9 million “Re-Build Illinois” grant from the State of Illinois. State Representative Katie Stuart noted that the program is a great way for communities to get the funding they need to support their residents and tourists. “This is why I was so proud to vote

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COLLINSVILLE – The Collinsville Police Department has announced that Support Services Supervisor Andrea Lindauer has been honored with the Line Supervisor of the Year award. The recognition took place during the annual Illinois Public Safety Telecommunicators Association Conference, held recently. Lindauer received the award through a nomination process that involved collaboration between the Madison County 911 Office and the Collinsville Police Department. Lindauer's accolade highlights her significant contributions to public safety communications in the region. In a statement from the Collinsville Police Department, officials expressed their appreciation for Lindauer's dedication and hard work, noting that her efforts are recognized by many within the community. The Collinsville Police stressed that the award underscores the importance of leadership in emergency response and communication services, reflecting the commitment to excellence in public safety.

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GRANITE CITY - Three Granite City residents have been charged with mob action and more after committing battery against the same victim in public at a Granite City bar. Timothy J. Hildebrand, 55, Curtis R. Lewis, 34, and Dallas S. Graham, 24, all of Granite City, were charged with mob action (each Class 4 felonies) and aggravated battery (each Class 3 felonies). The charges stem from an Oct. 13, 2024 incident at Paddy McD’s bar in Granite City, according to petitions to deny pretrial release for all three individuals. Lewis allegedly choked a victim “while he was being battered” before the victim lost consciousness and was thrown to the ground. Lewis, Hildebrand, and Graham then reportedly all began kicking the unconscious victim while he remained on the ground before fleeing the scene once law enforcement arrived. The victim was later transported for medical treatment at an area hospital. The Granite City Police Department presented all three cases against

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ALTON/GODFREY - In separate but similar cases, two couples - one from Alton and one from Godfrey - face the same felony charges after allegedly causing the deaths of two infant children. On Oct. 23, 2024, Gabriel L. Catlett, 38, and Paige A. Patterson, 33, both of the same Alton address, were both charged with endangering the life or health of a child, both Class 3 felonies. These charges stem from an incident that occurred on April 6, 2024. Also on Oct. 23, 2024, the same charges were filed against Algie W. Glisson, 29, and Natalie E. Quinonez, 28, both of the same Godfrey address. The charges against them related to an incident from May 5, 2024 - just over one month before Catlett and Patterson’s case. The cases against each individual state they “co-slept” with their infant children “while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and said violation was a proximate cause of the death” of both children. The victim in Quinonez and Glisson’s

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting incident that occurred last month in East St. Louis. Eddie T. Johnson of Cahokia Heights faces multiple charges, including aggravated battery and unlawful possession of a firearm. The shooting took place around 2 a.m. on Sept 22, 2024, when the East St. Louis Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the 1500 block of Gaty Avenue. A male victim was driving in the area when he was struck by bullets fired from outside his vehicle. He was subsequently transported to a regional hospital with serious injuries. Following the incident, the East St. Louis Police Department sought assistance from the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation’s Public Safety Enforcement Group. Through a detailed investigation, Johnson was identified as the alleged shooter. An arrest warrant for Johnson was issued by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office on Oct. 22, 2024.

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ALTON - As the April 1, 2025 consolidated election approaches, Alton’s Ward 2 Alderwoman Carolyn MacAfee shared an inside look at the life and role of an alderperson on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . MacAfee said her public service career began with the Alton Pride board in 1984, where she served on the Pride Awards committee. This committee chooses Alton homes to award for their well-maintained appearance; MacAfee later served as the chairwoman of the Beautification and Clean Cities Committee. Bringing a variety of experience in both the public and private sectors - having worked for major companies, attorneys, and more - MacAfee said she was asked to run for alderwoman by then-retiring Alderman Phil Hanrahan. While she initially declined, the lack of initiative and responsiveness from the alderman that took Hanrahan’s place sprung MacAfee into action, with some encouragement from Alton’s then-mayor Tom Hoechst. She also cited problems with stree

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O'FALLON - O'Fallon Community Consolidated School District #90 marked a significant milestone on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, with the dedication of a new outdoor classroom at Laverna Evans Elementary, celebrating the school's 50-year history. The event brought together community members, educators, and past contributors to honor the legacy of the institution. The dedication ceremony highlighted the contributions of many individuals who have played pivotal roles in the success of Laverna Evans Elementary. "You are forever a part of the Evans and D90 family," the school district expressed in a statement, acknowledging the collective efforts that have shaped the school over the decades. This new outdoor classroom aims to enhance the educational experience for students, providing a space for hands-on learning and connection with nature. The celebration not only commemorated the past, but also looked forward to the future of educational opportunities at the school.

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SPRINGFIELD - Halloween is a fun, spooky and exciting time for kids and adults as they scour for that perfect costume and people add spooky decorations to their homes. If you don’t keep fire safety in mind, Halloween and fall decoration can add an increased fire danger to your home that could create a real scary situation. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), each year from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 9,200 fires were reported to fire departments in the United States over a 3-day period around Halloween. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports from 2018–2022 there was an average of 835 home structure fires that began with decorations per year. These fires caused an annual average of 3 civilian fire deaths, 30 civilian fire injuries, and $14 million in direct property damage. Nearly half (47%) of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment and approximately one-third

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GODFREY – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) welcomed 44 high school students to the Lewis and Clark Community College Campus Thursday for her annual Fall Youth Advisory Council (YAC) meeting. The event allows students to get a firsthand experience in the process of state government. “It’s great to see new and returning students at my Youth Advisory Council each year,” said Senator Harriss. “This council gives our high school students a glimpse into the state government process, while also allowing them the opportunity to meet and network with other high school students from schools across the district.” Students at this year’s council started their day by meeting with Senator Harriss, followed by presentations from Megan Tyler, Executive Director of Sacred Spaces of CARE, and Elizabeth Grant, Professor at LCCC and Edwardsville Alderwoman. “I am inspired by leadership, and I want to lead in my study of engineering

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Sami McKenny with the Student of the Month Award for September. Sami McKenny was nominated by Edwardsville High School journalism teacher, Mrs. Amanda Thrum. Sami is the daughter of Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Mark McKenny. She is 17 years old and a senior at EHS. Sami is currently president of the National Art Honors Society and is the Vice Team Captain for the Ethics Bowl. She is a member of the National French Honor Society and the National Honor Society as well as an officer of the National English Honor Society. She is a yearbook photographer and is the Editor-in-Chief of the school papers The Claw and The Tiger Times Online. Additionally, she is a member of the Creative Writing Club and has a freelance contract with the Intelligencer to write occasional stories. Outside of school, Sami takes weekly dance classes in the studies of ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and modern. She has been a member

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GODFREY - The Godfrey Fire District and Madison County Sheriff's Office responded to a three-car accident at the intersection of West Delmar Avenue and Valley Drive. Engines 1412 and 1422 worked the scene. The crash did require some traffic disruption and the public was asked to avoid the scene for 30 minutes. The Godfrey Fire District expressed gratitude to Alton Memorial Ambulance, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and Bowers Towing for their assistance in managing the incident. There were individuals treated at the scene for injuries, but none of the injuries appeared to be serious in nature, according to early reports. No further details regarding injuries or the cause of the accident have been released at this time.

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GODFREY – Beverly Farm Foundation is excited to announce its upcoming #Racing4BeverlyFarm Golf Scramble Fundraiser, to be held at Grip & Sip in Cottage Hills, Illinois, on Saturday, November 16, 2024. This unique and fun event will support Beverly Farm's mission to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Golfers of all skill levels are invited to participate in this indoor, 9-hole scramble using Grip & Sip’s state-of-the-art golf simulators. The event will provide a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere where participants can compete for prizes, connect with other golf enthusiasts, and support a great cause. “We’re thrilled to partner with Grip & Sip for this exciting event,” said Crystal Officer, CEO of Beverly Farm Foundation. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, have fun, and make a real difference in the lives of the individuals we serve.” “Participants can registe

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ALTON — Alton Pride is launching its third annual Thanksgiving Food Drive Competition, inviting local establishments to compete for the title of “Top Turkey.” The initiative, which runs until November 10, encourages businesses and the community to collect non-perishable food items to support families in need during the holiday season. Participating locations include 16 establishments, with reigning champion Pete’s Lounge among them. Other competitors include Norb’s Tavern, Bubby & Sissy’s, Morrisons Irish Pub, Old Bakery Beer Company, and several others. Each business aims to gather the most donations to win a trophy and bragging rights. Community members are encouraged to contribute various non-perishable items, including boxed stuffing mix, instant potatoes, gravy mixes, canned vegetables, cornbread mix, and more. Donations will be used to assemble Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes for families in need. Any surplus items not included in the boxes will b

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Green Bay Packer fans held their collective breath during the opening week of the NFL season when their star quarterback, Jordan Love, went down with what initially looked like a serious knee injury. Fortunately for the Packers, Love’s injury was not season ending. It was a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain. The MCL is one of the four ligaments that stabilize the knee, along with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The MCL is located on the inner side of the knee, and it prevents the knee from collapsing inward. Any athlete can injure the MCL, says Faheem Ahmad, MD, a family practice physician with OSF HealthCare, who completed a fellowship in sports medicine. But certain sports create a higher risk of injury, including football, soccer, hockey or figure skating, because of the twisting of the knee that is involved. Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze and San Diego Chargers lineman Joe Alt have

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BELLEVILLE — Three individuals died in a house fire early Monday morning, October 28, 2024, in Belleville, according to the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office. The victims have been identified as George Pappas, 79, Christopher Ellis, 20, and Pioquinto Pappas, 39. The fire erupted at approximately 5:20 a.m. at a residence at the intersection of West Lincoln and South 13th Street. First responders were on the scene by 5:24 a.m. and relayed a report of heavy smoke on the residence's first floor. Belleville firefighters responded to the scene, managing to rescue one person from the flames. Three other family members escaped the burning home on their own. A cadaver dog was deployed to assist in locating the victims who were trapped inside the house. The cause of the fire remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

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GRANITE CITY - Two St. Louis residents face felony charges after stealing thousands in sports store merchandise, hijacking a police car, and more. Theodore Barnett, 44, and Crisshay A. Shell, 27, both of St. Louis, were both charged with the following: Armed violence (Class X felony) Vehicular hijacking (Class 1 felony) Retail theft over $300 (Class 3 felony) Resisting a peace officer (Class A misdemeanor) Barnett was additionally charged with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony, and unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. Both individuals were involved in a theft from Hibbett Sports in Granite City. The situation escalated after the would-be getaway car got stuck, leading to a police vehicle hijacking and battery of an officer. Petitions were filed to deny pretrial release for both Barnett and Shell, which describe the incident as follows: “Officers responded to a report of a male and female suspect stealing from Hibbett Sports,”

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