Riverbender 🕸

Standing on the side of the road, cars speeding by with drivers craning their necks to get a good look at the writing on the back of my jacket — “Chain Gang” — I pick up another liquor bottle and drop it into the day’s third bag of trash. Rusty Wheat is beside me, telling me about letters to the Madison County Board that he wrote most recently. Rusty is a one-man “chain gang” who picks up trash along Illinois Route 143 and Kendall Hill every week. When he emailed me asking if I wanted to join him one day, I was game. You can only complain so much before you decide to do something about the issues that upset you. How many times had I tutted at the amount of trash along the side of the road? Rusty knows firsthand how good it feels to actually act, and he was offering me a chance to join him. Of course, I said yes. We start at the top of Kendall Hill. A sign that Rusty had hand-painted was already placed on the side of the road, warning

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GODFREY - Ah…great food and warm, friendly atmosphere. That’s the Round Table Restaurant, where they make you feel like family. Feeling hungry? Then you need to head to the Round Table Restaurant. The Veseli family will welcome you, your family and your friends with open arms. The Round Table serves up American fare in a family-oriented setting. Be it a fish dinner, a plate of fried chicken, or a big platter of bacon and eggs with pancakes on the side, the hungry person will not be disappointed. Plus, all is served up by members of a friendly staff. Mr. and Mrs. Ali Veseli started the Round Table Restaurant in 2003 in Cottage Hills. In 2010, they opened in Godfrey, where they enjoy success today. The Veseli family takes pride in the fact that, each day, they serve up daily specials that provide a delicious dining experience. The home-cooked meals are a departure from so many fast food options that are so common. Take the home-cooked entrée and couple

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GRANITE CITY - The United Steel Workers Local 1899 has issued an update about the union’s dispute against U.S. Steel about inadequate notice being given for layoffs at the Granite City Works steel plant. Local 1899 leader Dan Simmons issued a notice on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, to union members and said the issue about the WARN Act notice would be settled by U.S. Steel. Simmons says U.S. Steel will not admit wrongdoing but will make all employees covered under the definition of the WARN Act “whole," which is great for those affected by the situation He also thanked government leaders on all levels - local, state, and national for drawing the public’s attention to their situation. Simmons appeared hopeful someone else may eventually own and operate the Granite City part of U.S. Steel, which could be a large positive for the area.

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SOUTH ROXANA - Over two years in the making, CS Outdoor Storage is officially open for business. Located at 206 Washington Street in South Roxana just a few blocks away from I-255, CS Outdoor Storage welcomes community members from all over the Riverbend region. With 24/7 access, secured gates and a convenient, centralized location, owner Pete Lanto believes CS Outdoor Storage is the best spot for anyone who needs space. “It’s an RV storage for campers, boats, RVs, any kind of recreational vehicle,” Lanto explained. “I have room for about 140 spaces. The area is all rock and it’s fenced with barbed wire across the top of the fencing. It’s got an automated gate for PIN verification. You put your PIN in and it opens up for you, so I can see who’s coming and who’s going.” To promote his new business, Lanto is currently offering one month of free storage with a three-month purchase . The month-to-month agreements are convenient

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WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River's Tim Melton is not only a bowling star for the Oilers but has earned the prestigious Eagle Scout rank, which is very difficult to achieve. He is also the top-ranked student in his graduating class and will likely be co-valedictorian. Melton is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. Melton thanked Paul Nichols for always being there for him and coach Garry Herron. "I have worked hard in the off-season to achieve an average above 200 pins," he said. "I have been a bowler for five years and I enjoy the fact that anyone can play." The Oilers' student-athlete said the perseverance that he has learned to be successful in sports has spread into every part of my life, including work and school. He plans to attend the University of Illinois after high school and study electrical engineering. Melton said he also plays golf for the Oilers, where he advanced to sectionals two years in a row, and baseball, where he is a first

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WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River High School junior Lily Tretter is everything a coach or classroom instructor could want as an athlete on their squad and is also a straight-A student. During winter months, Lily is a star for the East Alton-Wood River girls basketball team. In the spring she plays third base and center field for the Oilers girls softball squad. Lily is coached by Lyndsey Perez. One of Lily's biggest accomplishments this season she says was "a double-double against Granite City." Lily added, "Also, my first game back after I sprained my ankle this season was against Southwestern and I had a perfect game." "I’ve been playing basketball since third grade," she added. "What I love most about basketball is the adrenaline rush I get every game. No matter if I have a bad game or a good game I always love the sport." The EA-WR junior is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete Of The Month for the Oilers. Lily also plays year-round softball for Illinois Esprit

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The name of a driver involved in a crash on Highway 67 approaching Jamestown Bay Drive has been identified. The driver of the Honda CRV, who was later pronounced deceased at an area hospital, is identified as Marian Harris-Dukes, 63, of the 11300 block of Fox Hall Lane in St. Louis. A 7-year-old male was a passenger in the Honda CRV and was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. St. Louis County Police said preliminary investigation has revealed a Ford Taurus was traveling westbound on Highway 67 approaching Jamestown Bay Drive. A Honda CRV was turning eastbound onto Highway 67 from Jamestown Bay Drive. A Chevrolet Malibu was traveling eastbound on Highway 67 at Jamestown Bay Drive. The Ford Taurus struck the Honda CRV in the intersection. The Chevrolet Malibu also struck the Honda CRV. The driver of the Ford Taurus, an adult female, was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet

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ALTON – The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center Laboratory, based on results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs. Recognized for rigorous and robust standards, CAP accreditation elevates quality and mitigates risk, an important way that laboratories can contribute to improved patient outcomes. The facility’s director, Huazhang Guo, MD, PhD, was advised of this global recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. OSF Saint Anthony's Laboratory is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide. “The CAP's Laboratory Accreditation Program is unlike any other. It’s an engaging, dynamic, collaborative experience that fosters continuous improvement,” says Sarah Braundmeier MT(ASCP), MHA, Manager Laboratory Services, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “Top-ranked hospitals prefe

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and BJC HealthCare are stepping up mitigation efforts to minimize the spread of respiratory viruses. IDPH reports 51 counties, or half the counties in Illinois, are now at a medium or high level for COVID-19 hospitalizations. IDPH has also issued a health alert today to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and local health departments outlining various mitigation measures such as the use of masking and screening, especially in areas where more vulnerable patients are treated. BJC HealthCare announced it will reinstate its mask mandate for staff starting Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The mandate going into effect includes about 30,000 employees across its facilities on both sides of the Mississippi River, including Alton Memorial Hospital. Hillary Babcock, Infectious Disease Physician and Chief Quality Officer with BJC HealthCare, said the action is in response to an uptick in the number of new COVID cases in the St. Louis Metr

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ALTON - The new Alton Community Boxing Club is off to a mighty start with their first win last month. Three boxers participated in the club’s first competition on Nov. 17, 2023, and Josha Perkins, age 12, brought home a trophy. Perkins is the first of several Alton fighters who will be competing in USA Boxing-certified competitions over the next few months through the local club. “I was proud of myself,” Perkins said. “I was nervous before the fight, but when I got in the room, it just all went away.” Joshua Young, the club’s coach, noted his pride in Perkins. Young and his fellow volunteer coaches started the boxing club a few months ago, and they have quickly become mentors to boxers like Perkins and his friends. They’ve enjoyed growing the boxers’ skills and friendships inside and outside of the ring. Young hopes to help the sport grow in the Riverbend area so they can reach more kids. “Boxing is huge as a sport already

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City senior guard Alvin Valentine has been a leader for the Warriors in both scoring and rebounds per game. He also contributes in the assists and steals areas. Alvin Valentine is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of Month for Warriors. Granite did work hard during the summer off-season and in preseason practice to get ready for the new campaign, and Valentine thought things went well. "It was pretty tough," Valentine said of the off-season workouts. "Everybody came out, we worked hard. Credit to the guys, and the coaching staff; they helped us out a lot. They pushed us to the limit that we need to be pushed, and we pushed beyond those limits, also." Valentine sees his role on the team as a leader, who's willing to step up and make the plays where needed, and also show the other players how things should be done. "I feel like a leader," Valentine said. "But I feel more of a brotherhood-type leader. I feel like I need to push everyone a little bit harder

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ALTON - Alton High School principal Michael Bellm is pleased to announce that 28 students from the Alton High School graduating class of 2024 that have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. Nearly every high school in Illinois competes in the Illinois State Scholars program, identifying and honoring the highest academically performing seniors in high schools around the state. 28 students from Alton High School made the list this year; their names are listed below. Kailyn Alexander Yahira Delgado Camden Elrod Lucas Frye Tucker Gehrig Alyssa Herbst Mia Lavite Spencer Leonard Marissa Lewis Augustus Livingstone Jacob Lowe Isaiah Ouechani Morgan Plummer Owen Robien Sophie Rose Emily Schrumpf Hilary Schrumpf Alexander Siatos Jillian Smith Khalilia Spitz Bel Springman Madison Stephens Juliana Stevenson Kian Summers Rachel Ware William Weirich Colton Wendle Christine Zheng "Alton High School is very proud of our students that were named Illinois State

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act . The legislation would extend funding for five additional years for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide. The funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which was created through Durbin’s Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act , supports EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to address the opioid overdose epidemic. “In Illinois, rural EMS agencies are a lifeline for their communities. These first responders are on the front lines, and we must ensure that they have the proper staffing, training, and equipment to address the emergency in front

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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today introduced legislation to block the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from using its resources to provide healthcare or engage in claims processing for illegal migrants. The “No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act” comes after reports indicated the Department of Homeland Security is leveraging the VA’s established claims processing system, through its Financial Services Center, to pay for illegal migrants in ICE detention. “Joe Biden’s failed border policies have created a humanitarian and national security crisis. Now it appears he’s taking resources away from our veterans to facilitate healthcare for illegal migrants," said Chairman Bost. "As a Marine, I believe any dollar taken away from a veteran is a promise broken to those who served. I’ve demanded answers from the Biden administration and been stonewalled every step of the

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes an authorization of nearly $886 billion for national security, including authorizations for military construction projects in Illinois and a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members and the Department of Defense (DoD) civilian workforce, which is the largest increase in two decades: “I’m pleased to see the Senate finally pass the NDAA today with a bipartisan vote, demonstrating that members on both sides of the aisle remain committed to a strong national defense and to the protection of our women and men in uniform. Illinois, in particular, will see significant investment as a result of this legislation, and I’m eager to see this federal spending make a positive impact on our state. “I am frustrated

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CHAMPAIGN-URBANA – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joined by local officials and community leaders to celebrate the latest milestones on the $251.8 million replacement of the Interstate 57/74 interchange, a signature project of the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. As it moves into its next phase, the overall project will positively impact safety and mobility while positioning the region for long-term economic growth. “This $251.8 million, multi-year project to redesign the I-57/74 Interchange is a cornerstone of our road modernization program, and today, I couldn’t be prouder to announce that we’ve completed the first phase of its construction,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “When we make smart investments in the roadways that working families and businesses rely on, we’re constructing a better future for the entire region—one where parents and their children can commute

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Nicole G. Berner, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Adeel Abdullah Mangi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit; Amy M. Baggio, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; Cristal C. Brisco, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana; and Gretchen S. Lund, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana. Key Quotes: “Today is the 14th nominations hearing of this year. Including nominations hearings, we have held 35 full committee hearings and 22 markups. I want to thank Ranking Member Graham for his partnership, as well as all Members of this Committee. We’ve been busy this year—one of the busiest Committees in the Senate.” “I would

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ALTON - Kiyoko Proctor, a junior point guard and a key player for the girls basketball team at Alton High, had a big game on Dec. 7, 2023, scoring 19 points and hitting a pair of clutch threes in the final quarter to help the Redbirds take a 55-50 win over O'Fallon at the OTHS Panther Dome. Her performance helped Alton stay undefeated on the season, with the Redbirds now 8-0. More importantly, it's a win in the very tough Southwestern Conference in a key early-season matchup against the defending IHSA Class 4A state champions. Kiyoko is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. For the season so far, Proctor is averaging 14.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, along with having 14 assists and 12 steals. She had enjoyed success since seventh grade, playing on back-to-back Alton Middle School teams that won the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 4A championship. She's been a main catalyst for the Redbirds since her freshman year and is also a very hard worker

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ALTON - The Alton City Council officially gave their final approval Wednesday night for a $7.5 million agreement with developer WIC Landlord LLC for the Wedge Redevelopment Project, set to transform the former Wedge Bank building into a workforce training center, digital hub, startup business space, and more known as the “Wedge Innovation Center.” The agreement passed 6-0 with Alderwoman Stephanie Elliott abstaining. While there was no further discussion from any of the council members or members of the public at Wednesday’s meeting, John Simmons with AltonWorks thanked city officials for their support of the project at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday. “Thank you to the city for believing in us with the TIF request that moved out of this committee tonight,” Simmons said. “It’s going to go a long way to revitalize Alton and help dreams become a reality and bring things to fruition faster than they already would, so

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed Congress today to support our servicemembers, enhance strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, improve logistics to bolster readiness and energy resiliency as well as continue to restore American competitiveness. The legislation, which now heads to the House of Representatives, also includes a 5.2% pay raise for our troops. “The brave men and women in uniform who serve our nation at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country and our Constitution,” said Duckworth. “While I do not support every provision in this bipartisan compromise, I’m proud the bill we passed

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