Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Thomas Nealeigh has a unique vision for Alton. Nealeigh wants to open Alton’s Haunted Dinner Theater, a restaurant, bar and dinner theater rolled into one that will bring in tourists and performers from all over the world. He compared the idea to The Magic Castle in Hollywood, a club where magicians perform every night. “Our idea is to become The Magic Castle of the Midwest. Several stages, several bars, the dinner theater,” he explained. “The idea is that the most haunted small town in America needs to have this most haunted dinner theater, and you’re going to love it. I would love to do nothing more than meet with you and tell you all about it in person and answer any question that you might have." Nealeigh explained that the Haunted Dinner Theater would welcome sideshow performances, magicians, comedians and other performers from around the world. As the man behind FreakShow Deluxe — a production company whose circus performers

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – The theatre department from Metro-East Lutheran High School presented an evening of family friendly comedy with its production of “Cheaper by the Dozen" this past Friday and Saturday at MELHS. Based on a true story, “Cheaper by the Dozen” follows the Gilbreth clan, a family of 12 children living in New Jersey in the 1920s. The family is run by a father who is an efficiency expert and seeks to run his household with the same systems and competence he uses in work, often with entertaining results. “It was a quirky comedy about a father who is obsessed with organization and the most efficient way to get things done – not only in work but also in his household,” said Ben Ettling, who is student director of the production. “It creates an awkward tension as his daughters prepare to start their dating lives.” Ettling, who is a senior at MELHS, co-directed the show along with Judy Brown, director of the MELHS theatre

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – Named by People Magazine as "Country's New Darling," Megan Moroney is set to bring her emo cowgirl charm to the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, August 10. With nearly 2 billion total global streams to date, the Georgia-bred singer/songwriter kicked off the latest era of her formidable career with her critically acclaimed sophomore album Am I Okay? , a July 2024 release that debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, emerged as the year’s third-biggest debut from a female country artist, and won rave reviews from many of the music world’s leading publications (including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Variety, Billboard, American Songwriter, and more). “The Illinois State Fair has a long tradition of showcasing artists early in their careers,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. “We’re looking forward to Megan Moroney’s Grandstand appearance in August. She has a brigh

Continue Reading

Death, taxes and body odor. They’re things we can all expect in life, no matter how clean you are. But health care providers want you to know when body odor is a sign of a more serious health problem. B.O. basics Luis Garcia, MD , an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, says sweat and bacteria are the main culprits behind body odor. Warmth and moisture in parts of the body (like your armpits and feet), plus going through puberty and general poor hygiene, can make the smell worse. “Specifically in the armpits and genital area, there are glands called apocrine glands. They are high in protein and fat,” Dr. Garcia explains. “Bacteria that live with us will break those substances, and that’s what could cause odors.” Your urine can even smell foul, Dr. Garcia adds. Warning signs Dr. Garcia says if you notice a change in your body odor, especially if a smell comes on suddenly or if the stench gets worse, it’s worth investigating. He says it may

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE − Trinity Lutheran Ministries in Edwardsville will be hosting its seventh annual CHRISTmas Ugly Sweater 5K on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, with proceeds continuing to benefit local charities. Join the Edwardsville community for this family-friendly race! The race will continue to feature a wonderland race course filled with Christmas music and decorations, an ugly Christmas sweater competition, hot chocolate and cookies at the finish line, and a photo booth before and after the race. All race participants will be chip-timed by Final Lap Race Management. Medals are provided to all runners who participate in the race. A portion of the race registration fees will benefit the Glen-Ed Food Pantry and Edwardsville Neighbors. There will also be a canned goods collection at the race. In past years, more than 450 pounds of canned goods were collected at the event. Plaques will be given to the top male and female finishers and medals to the top three finishers in each of th

Continue Reading

GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College celebrated the college’s and nation’s veterans during a speaker event, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Laurel “Buff” Burkel gave an inspirational speech about the story of her survival from a deadly helicopter crash and her continuing journey of healing, hope and perseverance. Burkel spoke about the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of having a strong support group. She emphasized enjoying life’s positive and joyful moments to the fullest because there will always be obstacles and struggles to overcome. For information on services for veterans at Lewis and Clark, visit https://www.lc.edu/student-services/veteran-services.html .

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the establishment of the first-ever Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) within the Attorney General’s office, launching Illinois’ first targeted effort to evaluate the integrity of convictions throughout the state. The CIU will investigate claims of actual innocence to determine whether new, credible evidence substantially proves the innocence of individuals serving time for crimes they did not commit. “Over the past five years, we have worked with state’s attorneys, appellate justices, the Department of Justice and others to establish a unit within my office that would solely focus on reviewing wrongful convictions, seeking relief when warranted and preventing the devastation caused when someone is wrongfully convicted,” Raoul said. “Wrongful convictions destroy lives, diminish faith in our criminal justice system, and put victims and the general public at risk, as true perpetrators of crimes

Continue Reading

ALTON - An Alton resident has been charged with the sexual abuse and assault of a 10-year-old victim. Bryden A. Barnes, 20, of the 1700 block of Belle Street in Alton, was charged on Nov. 7, 2024 with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (a Class X felony) and aggravated criminal sexual abuse (a Class 2 felony). From Jan. 1 to July 31, 2023, Barnes allegedly sexually assaulted and abused a victim who was 10 years old at the time of the incident. According to a petition to deny Barnes’ pretrial release, In July of 2024, the victim in this case disclosed to a medical provider that she had been sexually abused by Barnes when she was 10 years old. She detailed the incident in an interview with the Madison County Child Advocacy Center on July 30, 2024. Barnes was interviewed by Alton Police Department on Nov. 6, 2024. During his interview, he “stated that he was wrestling” with the victim and admitted to committing the acts of sexual abuse and assault.

Continue Reading

BRUSSELS — Brussels CUSD #42 today celebrates our staff and students as the Illinois State Board of Education releases the 2024 Illinois Report Card, a detailed look at student performance data from the 2023-24 school year. Our students achieved above the state average in all areas. These gains reflect the district’s investments in staff professional development, college and career readiness and student achievement. “Our staff’s dedication to meeting the needs of each student in and out of the classroom has led to our high school being one of the top 10% in the state,” said Superintendent Dr. Nancy Bitner. “Our elementary school is building strong foundations that contributed to both the high school’s exemplary designation and their own commendable designation. At Brussels we have placed a high value on meeting every student where they are and providing support to ensure they are meeting their full potential.” Brussels also saw no

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS — The Illinois State Board of Education recently revealed the spring 2024 Illinois Report Card to update the public on how each school and district are progressing on a wide range of educational goals. IllinoisReportCard.com is the state’s official source for information about public schools across Illinois. One primary element of the School Report Card is the annual summative designation, which indicates how effectively schools are meeting the diverse needs of all students. Summative designations are calculated by assigning each school points across a range of academic and student success indicators, such as graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and academic growth. Schools can receive one of five designations: Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted Support, Comprehensive Support, or Intensive Support. Of the East St. Louis School District’s 9 eligible schools*, 7 were awarded a COMMENDABLE designation by the State of Illinois in 2024. “We

Continue Reading

Letter to Editor: Community Members, My name is Craig Lombardi, and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the position of Mayor of Godfrey. Having spent my entire life in Godfrey, I am proud to call this community my home. I am a dedicated husband to my lovely wife, Amy, and a proud father of three boys. Additionally, my brother, Mike Lombardi, and my mother, Ramona Brown, both reside in Godfrey. I actively participate in several local organizations, including the board of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary, the North Alton Business Council, and the Alton Athletic Association, where Amy serves as president. Over the years, I have contributed significantly to the Alton Irish and Bluff City Baseball organizations. Additionally, Amy and I have successfully organized music trivia events that have raised substantial funds for St. Mary’s, Alton High School, and Evangelical. I also play a vital role in an annual initiative called Freezin For Funds, which supports local charities. With

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Architect Alex Metzger explained the timeline of the secure double entry construction project at the recent Board of Education work session. Over the past year, the district has been in the process of installing secure double entries at each school. Last summer, they installed entries at Cassens Elementary School, Goshen Elementary School, Liberty Middle School, Midway Elementary School and Worden Elementary School. During the summer of 2025, secure double entries will be installed at Edwardsville High School, Glen Carbon Elementary School, Leclaire Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, Hamel Elementary School, Columbus Elementary School and Nelson Elementary School. “This upcoming summer, we are looking at doing the rest of the district, so that includes a light renovation at the high school, Glen , Leclaire,” Metzger said. “Woodland will have a light renovation. In Hamel, we’re

Continue Reading

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights police arrested a wanted fugitive from Missouri on Wednesday morning after receiving information that he was staying at the Super 8 Hotel. Jared H. Combs, a 39-year-old white male, was wanted on multiple felony warrants from Franklin County, Mo., including charges of sexual assault, kidnapping, domestic violence, and possession of a controlled substance. The arrest attempt occurred around 10 a.m. as officers observed Combs in the hotel parking lot walking his pit bull. According to police, Combs resisted arrest and fell into a deep ravine during the encounter. Officers deployed a Taser as he attempted to flee but he managed to escape into a wooded area on the north side of the ravine. In response to the situation, law enforcement set up a perimeter and called for assistance from additional agencies, including police K9 units, drones, and air support. After approximately one hour of searching, a drone located Combs, who was subsequently taken int

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - During their work session on Nov. 12, 2024, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education reviewed recent scores on the Illinois School Report Card. The Illinois School Report Card considers a district’s test scores, attendance record, culture and more. Edwardsville’s 13 schools all received “commendable” designations. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton explained how to access and navigate the report card’s data online . “You can spend days in the site, looking at different levels of data,” Shelton said. “The more you click, the more information you can get to.” The Board noted that Edwardsville High School scored less than a point away from the “exemplary” designation, which would put the school in the top 5% of high schools in Illinois. “You can see where the line is for ‘exemplary’ and you can see where Edwardsville scored as a result,” Shelton

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today that lane closures will take effect on eastbound Interstate 64 starting Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 7 a.m., and will continue through Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 6 p.m., weather permitting. The closures will affect the right lane between 15th Street and Illinois Route 111. The right lane will remain closed for the duration of the project, while the adjacent right two lanes will also be closed daily from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All entrance and exit ramps will remain open during this time. These lane restrictions are necessary for pavement maintenance in the area, with IDOT District 8 crews performing the required improvements. Full access to the roadway will be restored as soon as possible. Motorists are advised to expect delays and to allow extra time for travel through this area. To minimize inconvenience, drivers are encouraged to consider alternate routes when feasible. IDOT

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE – Two men have been charged following a shooting incident that occurred on the evening of Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in the first block of East “D” Street in Belleville. The Belleville Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at approximately 7:49 p.m. and discovered two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers on the scene provided immediate treatment for the victims' non-life-threatening injuries before they were transported to a local hospital for further medical attention. According to police, a disturbance had erupted between two groups, leading to the exchange of gunfire. Following the incident, one suspect was apprehended at the scene, while a second suspect was taken into custody during a traffic stop nearby. On Nov. 10, 2024, Belleville Police Detectives presented the investigation's findings to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office. After reviewing the case, the State’s Attorney's office filed

Continue Reading

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family and friends, celebrating gratitude, and, of course, indulging in an array of delicious foods. Organizing your Thanksgiving menu can be a daunting task, especially when trying to accommodate diverse tastes and dietary restrictions. However, with a little planning and creativity, you can create a memorable meal that delights your guests. Here are some tips to help you organize your Thanksgiving menu effectively. Understand Your Guests’ Preferences Before diving into the specifics of your menu, it's essential to understand who will be attending your Thanksgiving gathering. Consider the following: Dietary Restrictions Ask your guests about any dietary restrictions or preferences they may have. Common restrictions include vegetarianism, veganism, gluten intolerance, and allergies (e.g., nuts, dairy). Knowing this information upfront will help you make informed decisions when planning your menu. Favorite Dishes Inquire about any

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Steve Litman Presents Black Violin, Full Circle Tour, with special guest Abraham Alexander to The Sheldon Concert Hall on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $80.50, $68 and $55.50, and go on sale November 15 at 10 a.m. online at MetroTix.com or by calling MetroTix at 314-534-1111. Tickets are also available one hour before show time at The Sheldon box office. Step into Black Violin’s Full Circle Tour, where GRAMMY-nominated duo Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus redefine the possibilities of music by merging classical depth with hip-hop’s pulse. This tour captures the essence of returning to where it all began—transformed and reimagined. Each powerful performance invites audiences to reflect on their own journeys, discovering that even as we evolve, we’re often drawn back to our roots with renewed purpose. From high school orchestra classmates to groundbreaking artists, Black Violin’s path reflects resilience,

Continue Reading

November 13th has seen a myriad of significant events throughout history, impacting various spheres such as politics, science, culture, and social movements. One of the most notable events on November 13th occurred in 1942, during World War II. The Battle of Guadalcanal was reaching a critical point. This battle was the first major offensive by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan. The campaign aimed to secure the island of Guadalcanal, which housed a vital airfield. The intense fighting marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater, as Allied forces began to gain the upper hand. The battle lasted several months and ultimately contributed significantly to the weakening of Japanese forces in the region, setting the stage for future Allied offensives. Fast forward to 1969, where a significant milestone in space exploration took place. NASA launched the Apollo 12 mission, which aimed to land on the Moon. This mission was particularly notable as it followed the historic Apollo

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - Lions Club Park in Jerseyville is one step closer to getting nearly $1.5 million in upgrades, including a splash pad, bathhouse with open air pavilion, sand volleyball courts, and more. City Council members on Tuesday unanimously awarded Stutz Excavating, LLC of Alton the bid for Phase 2 improvements to the park. The total estimated cost of the project is $1,496,950. The project’s second phase will bring “a splash pad, bathhouse with open air pavilion, sand volleyball courts, outdoor ping-pong and cornhole, lighting and fencing, and related site improvements” to the park, according to a city press release . These Phase 2 upgrades have been years in the making as the city’s Parks and Recreation Department sought funding for the project. Councilman Zach Crawford, who is also the city’s Commissioner of Public Property, said two grants have since been secured: a $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR

Continue Reading