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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole is set to consider allocating $661,174 in grant funds to help cover various services and projects throughout the city. A resolution to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 budget allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding appears on the agenda for the committee’s next meeting, which has been rescheduled due to hazardous weather conditions expected on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Instead, the committee will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at 6 p.m. Avoid a treacherous drive to City Hall by catching the meeting live on Riverbender.com/video or the Riverbender.com Facebook page . The resolution sets seven different areas to allocate the funding, ranging from public facilities to residential rehab and more. The largest amount would be allocated towards “Public Facilities,” which would see $330,000 set aside for “Section 108 Project” funds. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmen

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EAST ST. LOUIS - The identities of two men fatally shot at the John DeShields Housing Projects have been released by authorities. Deron E. Baker, 57, and Kaven R. Gathing, 59, both residents of the complex, were pronounced dead from gunshot wounds at 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. East St. Louis police, along with the Illinois State Police, responded to a report of the shooting in the 1200 block of McCasland Avenue at approximately 11:41 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victims inside a residence. St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye, Sr. confirmed that both men were pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, as police have not disclosed any information regarding a potential motive. The investigation is still in its preliminary stages, according to a statement from the Illinois State Police. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

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In our fast-paced world filled with constant distractions and overwhelming demands, the concept of mindfulness has emerged as a beacon of hope for many seeking mental clarity and emotional stability. Mindfulness, the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment without judgment, can significantly enhance our well-being, productivity, and interpersonal relationships. This article delves into the fundamentals of mindfulness, its benefits, practical techniques, and how it can be integrated into daily life. Understanding Mindfulness Mindfulness has its roots in ancient Buddhist meditation practices but has gained widespread acceptance in the West over the past few decades. At its core, mindfulness encourages individuals to observe their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without rushing to judge or react. This simple yet profound practice allows individuals to foster a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences. Key Principles of Mindfulness

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On January 3rd, a multitude of significant events have shaped our world across various domains such as politics, science, and culture. Starting with a major global milestone, on January 3, 1959, Alaska was officially admitted as the 49th state of the United States. This moment marked a significant expansion of the U.S. territory and was a crucial step in the nation’s ongoing evolution. The admission of Alaska not only enriched the country’s natural resources — known for its vast oil reserves and stunning natural beauty — but also reflected the growing importance of the Arctic region in global geopolitics. The state has since played a pivotal role in energy production, environmental discussions, and Indigenous rights, making this day a cornerstone in American history. Moving back to 1938, January 3rd also witnessed a remarkable scientific achievement. On this day, the first synthetic rubber was produced in the United States. Developed during World War II,

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—will join the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the 119th Congress. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and is an Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient. She was among the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. “After years of working hard to support our Veterans who sacrifice so much to defend our national security and keep Americans safe, it is an honor to join the U.S. Senate Veteran Affairs’ Committee to continue my work—and my life’s mission—to ensure these heroes are provided with the care and support they have earned,” said Senator Duckworth. “As

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MARYVILLE - Anderson Hospital welcomed its first baby of the year 2025 early on Jan. 1, 2025, with the birth of a boy named Kimani at 1:06 a.m. Kimani weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19 inches in length. The proud parents, Briana and Mark, expressed their joy at the arrival of their son. The hospital extended its congratulations to the family and wished them a year filled with love, health, and happiness. The birth of Kimani marks a celebratory moment for the hospital, which has a tradition of recognizing the first newborn of the year.

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School senior Davin Thomas has been named a Tucker’s Automotive Repair & Tire Male Athlete of the Month for Marquette Catholic. He was recognized for his outstanding performance as a bowler for the Explorers. Thomas expressed gratitude towards his parents and coach Mark Jones for their unwavering support in his athletic journey. “I’ve been the most consistent bowler on the team and also have a perfect 300 game this year,” Thomas said, highlighting his achievements on the lanes. As he looks ahead to his future, Thomas is considering pursuing bowling at the collegiate level, although he has not yet determined which school he will attend. In addition to his bowling aspirations, he is also interested in majoring in mechanical engineering. Beyond bowling, Thomas has participated as a junior varsity golfer for the Explorers, showcasing his versatility as an athlete.

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EDWARDSVILLE - EXO Lounge isn’t just a nail bar, med spa and cocktail lounge; it’s an experience. Gianni Colucci, EXO’s Michelin-star Director of Culinary, invites the community to come out and try the new menu at EXO, which opened at 2 157 Center in Edwardsville in 2024. Colucci explained that he was working in Switzerland when he received a call from EXO owner Gina Gamblin with an offer he couldn’t pass up. “With this kind of energy, this kind of power, she went through the dream she had. She was really impressive about the dream and made me believe in the dream,” Colucci remembered. “I joined her and we started to go through the blueprint. So of course it is a beautiful experience, because we built everything from scratch.” As Gamblin built up EXO’s brand, Colucci knew he was in the right place. He had worked with similar companies that shared EXO’s “luxury flair,” and he loves creating menus around

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Fire Chief Jason Whitaker confirmed that a residential fire on Butternut Lane resulted in a total loss of the home early Thursday morning, Jan. 2, 2025. The fire departments from Glen Carbon, Maryville, and Edwardsville responded to the scene shortly after 7 a.m., with Troy Fire Department covering Glen Carbon's station during the incident. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy flames coming from the garage, prompting an aggressive attack on the fire. "We attacked the fire hard and had it under control in the first 30 minutes," Whitaker said. Fortunately, the occupant of the home was able to escape unharmed before emergency services arrived. No injuries were reported, which Whitaker noted is "the most important part." The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The state fire marshal's office will provide the next step during the analysis, the chief said. Whitaker praised the collaborative efforts of the responding departments, saying,

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GRANITE CITY - A Springfield man faces multiple felonies in Madison County after a high-speed police chase ended with a stolen vehicle being remotely disabled. Stephen C. Stone, 35, of Springfield, Ill., was charged with offenses related to motor vehicles (a Class 2 felony), aggravated fleeing or attempted to elude a peace officer (a Class 4 felony), and resisting a peace officer (a Class A misdemeanor). On Dec. 29, 2024, Stone allegedly fled from Granite City Police officers who were investigating a stolen vehicle report and attempting a traffic stop, according to a petition to deny his pretrial release. “Officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle,” the petition states. “The vehicle fled from officers going at speeds in excess of 100 mph.” The petition adds Stone “swerved his vehicle in the direction of officers” as police attempted to get closer

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ALTON — Eric Sykes officially began his role as the new theater director for the Alton Little Theater on January 1, 2025. His appointment comes with significant support, as local entrepreneur Eddie Sholar and the Village Dispensary announced on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, that they have made a substantial donation to the theater . The unexpected donation from Sholar and the Village Dispensary company has provided a crucial lifeline for the theater during a major plumbing issue . Village Dispensary and Sholar have donated the full amount needed to repair the sewer problems. “We are just beyond blessed by our community which is helping us through this tough time,” Sykes said. He described Sholar and his staff as a “godsend” and commended the Village Dispensary for their commitment to supporting the local arts. “Eddie walked in and saved us,” Sykes added, highlighting the positive impact of the donation on the theater’s future. Sykes has bee

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ALTON — Eddie Sholar, an owner of the Village Dispensary in Godfrey, emphasizes the importance of community engagement and support as the cannabis industry continues to evolve in Alton. On Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, Sholar announced the Village Dispensary's biggest community service project since it opened for business at 110 Northport Drive in Godfrey, and this time, it involves the Alton Little Theater. Alton Little Theater at 2450 Henry Street in Alton announced recently it needed $50,000 to repair a major plumbing issue . When Sholar and his staff spotted the news about the theater's sewer issues, they knew it was an opportunity for them to step in and make a difference. Village Dispensary and Sholar have donated the full amount needed to repair the sewer problems. Sholar said the sewer issue was a tremendous catastrophe for ALT, but now the organization can look for bright things ahead. He said the Village Dispensary staff was looking for a big way to give back to the region

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COLLINSVILLE — The Madison County Coroner Nick Novacich identified a 26-year-old man from St. Louis, who died early Thursday after being struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 55 in Collinsville. The Madison County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Devin C. Smart. The coroner said the incident occurred shortly before midnight on Jan. 1, 2025, when Smart exited his vehicle and entered the southbound lanes of the interstate. He was hit by an oncoming tractor-trailer. Madison County Coroner’s Office Investigator Kelsey Jones pronounced Smart dead at the scene at 12:14 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Emergency services received a report of the crash at 11:11 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. The accident took place near the 8.2-mile marker of Interstate 55. Coroner Novacich said preliminary findings indicate that Smart died from blunt neck trauma, though a final cause of death will be determined following routine toxicology tests. The Illinois State Police and

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ALTON - President Leon Smallwood-Bey, the 2025 Dr. King Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Alton Branch National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announce their 46th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration will be Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. The event will be held at Alton’s Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2621 Amelia St., and is set to begin at 3 p.m. The 2025 theme is “Don’t Give Up on the Dream!” People will gather to honor Dr. King’s faith, love, and courage through song, community recognition, and the keynote address. The Riverbend Choir will offer musical selections. Alton’s NAACP Youth Council will attend, and the NAACP will present the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award to a Pastor of one of the oldest churches in Alton. Leah Becoat and members of Three Purple Coats Theater Company will do an “I Have Dream” Presentation. East St. Louis Monitor Newspaper Journalist Reginald

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COLLINSVILLE — A fatal crash involving a pedestrian and a truck-tractor semi-trailer occurred late Wednesday night, Jan. 1, 2024, on Interstate 55 southbound near milepost 8, just outside Collinsville in Madison County. According to preliminary information from Illinois State Police Troop 8, the incident took place at approximately 11:11 p.m. on Wednesday. For reasons that remain unclear, the 26-year-old male pedestrian from St. Louis entered the roadway from the shoulder and was subsequently struck by the semi-trailer. Emergency responders pronounced the pedestrian deceased at the scene. The Madison County Coroner's office has been notified, and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing. As of now, authorities have not released further details regarding the incident.

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GODFREY/COLLINSVILLE - Hope Animal Rescues will host their 19th annual trivia event to raise money for their dog rescue mission. On Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, community members are invited to Madison County Fireman’s Hall at 9510 Collinsville Road in Collinsville for a retro 50s-themed trivia night. The evening will include a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, grab bags, prizes and more, and all proceeds will go to Hope Animal Rescues. “We have a blast,” said Jackie Spiker, director of Hope. “It’s one of our biggest fundraisers of the whole year, so it really helps us with our mission each year to be able to pay for the vetting of the rescue dogs that we take in. It’s a great event. Every year we have a lot of fun.” Hope rescues dogs from animal control facilities on the day they are scheduled to be euthanized. The organization pays to get the dogs spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. They also handle any additional veterinarian

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GODFREY/JERSEYVILLE - Riverbend Dental has opened a new office in Jerseyville, and they welcome Dr. Ryan Schmidlkofer to their team. The dental business previously had offices in Alton and Godfrey. They welcome new and returning patients to their Godfrey office at 5209 Mae Drive and their new Jerseyville office at 105 South State Street. Amy Sikes, Director of Lab Operations, noted the business’s eagerness to expand and introduce additional doctors to the community. “Honestly, the timing just all fell into place,” Sikes said. “We’re very excited that this move worked out. I know both of our dental office teams are super excited.” Riverbend Dental decided to close their Alton office and open in Jerseyville when Dr. Randall Toppmeyer, a dentist based in Jerseyville, reached out wanting to sell his practice and retire soon after. Riverbend Dental realized that many of their patients were traveling from Jerseyville (and surrounding towns) to

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy new year ahead. Mary Cordes, Hayner’s executive director, outlined some of the upcoming programs and events that the library will offer in the next few months. She encourages people to come by the library and enjoy all of the activities they have planned. “It has been a very good year,” Cordes said. “We’ve got a lot coming up in January, and we hope to see everybody there.” Starting in January, community members are invited to a three-part series on dementia that the library is sponsoring in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. Caregivers can attend “Building Foundations of Caregiving and Supporting Independence” from 6–7:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025. This will be followed by “Communicating Effectively and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors” on Feb. 20 and “Exploring Care and Support Services” on March 13. “There

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GRANITE CITY - A local sex offender remains in custody after failing to register and repeatedly failing to comply with court orders. Bryon G. Rodgers, 58, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was charged with failure to register with local authorities on a weekly basis, as is legally required for sex offenders with no fixed address. A petition to deny his pretrial release states Rodgers was seen by officers in a CVS shortly before he was arrested for failing to register. The petition notes Rodgers has not registered since September of 2024 and has since “picked up two prior charges for failure to register, for which he is on conditions of release.” He also reportedly failed to appear in court for two other criminal cases against him, both of which were filed in Madison County within the past year. At the time of the petition’s writing, Rodgers had still not registered as a sex offender. Rodgers faces a Class 3 felony in his latest case, which was presented

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Driving in winter conditions can be challenging and dangerous if you’re not properly prepared. Snow, ice, and reduced visibility require extra caution and preparation. Use this checklist to ensure you and your vehicle are ready for winter roads. 1. Prepare Your Vehicle Ensuring your car is ready for winter conditions can make all the difference in staying safe. Inspect Tires : Check the tread depth on your tires or consider switching to snow tires for better traction. Properly inflated tires also improve handling in icy conditions. Check Battery Health : Cold weather can weaken your car battery. Ensure it’s fully charged and in good condition. Top Off Fluids : Keep windshield washer fluid full with a winter-grade solution to prevent freezing. Check your oil and antifreeze levels as well. Replace Wiper Blades : Worn-out wipers can’t handle heavy snow or ice. Install winter-grade blades for optimal performance. Carry Chains or Traction Aids : For areas wit

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