Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Community members gathered at Freer Auto Body to enjoy Cookies and Cocoa for Community Christmas, a United Way initiative that provides toys and essentials for families during the holiday season. Freer Auto Body is a major contributor to the United Way mission with its annual Christmas in July fundraiser. The Cookies and Cocoa event celebrates the success of the summer fundraiser and raises more money to go toward Community Christmas. “It’s our mission to make sure that kids have a nice Christmas and families that are experiencing rough times,” explained Margaret Freer, owner of Freer Auto Body. “It’s just very heartwarming to know that we are able to help. God has blessed us very much, so we try to pay it forward.” Karen Lintz, Director of the Illinois Region for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, explained that there are 116 boxes in businesses throughout the Riverbend area. Community members have been donating toys, clothing,

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GODFREY - Short-term rental properties within the Village of Godfrey are now subject to new rules and regulations following the Village Board's approval of amendments to the Godfrey zoning code. An ordinance passed on Tuesday by the Village Board of Trustees amends zoning definitions relating to residential districts for short-term rentals. The Village Code already contained language pertaining to short-term rental units, but this ordinance makes certain changes and additions. One of the most notable differences concerns permits. The village code already requires short term rental owners to obtain a permit each year from the Building and Zoning department and pay a yearly fee of $250. The new ordinance adds language requiring additional permits for any applicable special uses and mandates permit numbers issued by the village to be featured in any advertisement for the short-term rental, online or otherwise. Short term rental occupants were originally never allowed to occupy

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ALTON – One year ago today, Dec. 7, 2022, AltonWorks began construction on the Wedge Innovation Center, AltonWorks’ signature catalytic project. The project brings together two historic buildings and revitalizing them into one modern collaborative space designed to serve as a social impact incubator, accelerator, and coworking space. The Wedge will also serve as a workforce training center, digital hub for the $20 million fiber network and will help move Alton into the digital economy. The Wedge is scheduled to open in the fall of 2024 and will support early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship, and financing. It will house startups, space for individuals or teams, and more established companies that want to accelerate their businesses or develop new technologies, products, or systems. Approximately 170,000 hours of labor will be spent on the renovation of the Wedge over about 18 months of construction. Labor will account for about 65% of the

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JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community High School announced on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, that it is excited to announce this year's Illinois State Scholars. The students are Elena Benner, Ryan Bolds, Ella Bradshaw, Connor Chin, Anna Dial, Kathleen Dougherty, Reese Eschbach, Maddilyn Harp, Sofia Hernandez-Lamer, Evan Lacy, Zoey Little, Lauren Lyons, Merris McDuffie, Elise Noble, Cora Schroeder, Grace Shalley, Jonathan Wells, and Aiden Talley (not pictured). "We are very proud of the hard work and dedication of these students and are excited to see their future success," the Jersey Community School District said in a statement. "This honor is very special and on behalf of our entire staff, we want to congratulate our students for this well-deserved award."

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You’ve likely heard of bronchitis, an illness that impacts the larger lung airways and leaves you feeling short of breath and just generally yucky. This winter, here’s another respiratory illness with “bronch” in the name to be aware of, especially if you have young kids: bronchiolitis. It’s an ailment that Awad Alyami, MD , an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, sees often this time of year. The basics Dr. Alyami says bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, or the small airways that branch out in the lungs. “When they become infected, there is a lot of mucus. It makes it harder to breathe,” Dr. Alyami explains. Other symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and dehydration. Bronchiolitis is “easily spread,” Dr. Alyami says, through respiratory droplets, like when you cough. The illness is most common in children, especially kids under two. Other high-risk groups include babies born prematurely, with chronic lung disease,

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that a jury has convicted a 27-year-old Collinsville man of home invasion for twice breaking into the home of a military veteran and robbing him. The jury returned the verdict on Wednesday afternoon against Jaleen Gladney, finding him guilty of one count of home invasion causing injury, one count of home invasion while armed with a firearm, one count of attempted residential burglary and one count of possession of weapon by a felon. Haine said: “I thank the jury for seeing this case for what it was: brazen crimes committed by a violent criminal against a member of our community who deserves to be honored, not victimized.” According to testimony and evidence presented by Assistant State’s Attorney Katie Warren and Assistant State’s Attorney Morgan Hudson, Gladney twice forced his way into a home on 24th Street in Granite City, on July 8 and July 9 of 2023. Gladney attacked

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Police provided a statement and information on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, after two recent homicides on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in the city. The two homicides are being investigated by ISP Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG). The report came in of a shooting at 2:04 p.m. on Dec. 5, in the 500 block of South 14th Street and 600 block of South 15 Street in East St. Louis in St. Clair County. Preliminary information indicates the following occurred: ISP DCI PSEG agents responded to the 500 block of South 14th Street to assist the East St. Louis Police Department with a shooting investigation. A female victim was shot numerous times and was declared deceased. A short time later, PSEG agents were notified of a deceased male with a fatal gunshot wound in the 600 block of South 15th Street. Preliminary information indicates these two shootings to possibly be related. "ISP is aware of video footage and still images recently released by a citizen to media

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ALTON - Alton Police Department's Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions and Alton Fire Department have been investigating several arsons in the City of Alton over the last few months. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, ultimately, the investigations revealed that Kaiharie S. Arnold was responsible for an arson at the Polo Laundromat at 2426 E. Broadway on 11/18/23, an arson at a residence located at 216 Main Street on 10/18/23, an arson at a garage located at 915 Willard Street on 12/04/23, and a burglary from 1206 Rixon Street on 10/31/23. In addition, during recent police contacts with Arnold, his actions resulted in charges against him for Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer. Ford said that on 12/06/23 the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the facts of these cases and charged Arnold with the following: Count 1: Aggravated Arson Count II: Residential Burglary Count III:

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JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville Fire Chief Keith Norman recently shared more details about an apartment fire which devastated one of the Jersey Manor Apartments on South Liberty Street in Jerseyville earlier this week. While no injuries were reported, Norman said the damages were extensive. “The extent of the damage was very severe on the apartment … the room is going to have to be completely gutted down to the studs and rebuilt,” Norman said. “The apartment below has significant water damage and there’s some additional water damage on a few others. “The smoke and heat damage in the hallways is fairly extensive, however the residents’ doors were closed on the other apartments and damage was minimal to additional apartments.” Norman said the fire’s point of origin was near a cooking surface in the apartment most severely damaged, though the exact cause of the fire is still pending an insurance investigation. Due to smoke conditions

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young urging the agency leader to increase funding for a variety of programs that have been shown to prevent gun violence, including housing and economic development, job opportunities, education, public health, and community policing. In their letter, the Senators underscored the unacceptable level of gun violence in the U.S., noting that curbing gun violence requires a holistic approach. “As you prepare the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Request, we urge you to use this budget to accelerate efforts to prevent gun violence and help save lives in Chicago and across the country,” the Senators wrote in the letter. “For too long, shootings and homicides have plagued Chicago and communities throughout the nation.” “We applaud the White House

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EDWARDSVILLE - Community members are invited to join downtown Edwardsville businesses for their annual Downtown Cookie Walk. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, local businesses will welcome customers into their stores to enjoy special deals and signature Christmas cookies. Tickets cost $5 and all proceeds benefit local nonprofit Restore Decor . “The idea is something fun and festive to get everybody out and about, something that can bring the small businesses together again,” said Cara Miller, owner of Seams For The Soul Boutique and organizer of the Cookie Walk. “Really, it’s just about the Christmas spirit. I’m a huge, huge Christmas fanatic, so I love anything that resembles a Hallmark movie and this definitely does for me.” This is the third year for the Cookie Walk, and nearly 500 people have already expressed interest. Afterwords Books , Charlie Rae , My Treasure House , Seams For The Soul , Vintage 71 , 222 Artisan Baker

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reminding the public to stay vigilant during the holiday season as the Israel-Hamas war continues. With rising tensions in the Middle East and the escalating Israel-Hamas war, there is the potential for violence to be carried out by terrorist groups and supporters pushing their agendas. Historically, foreign terrorist media has called for violence during the winter holiday season, but this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigations expect the call for violence to be heightened. Terrorists may look to holiday events, particularly those of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths, as potential targets to instigate violence. “We all must remain on guard against both terrorism and hate crimes during this holiday season,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “While the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center reviews intelligence for potential threats around the clock,

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that Illinois has received $95.1 million from the Federal Railroad Administration to invest in passenger rail, highlighted by almost $94 million to improve and modernize Chicago’s Union Station. “At the heart of the Midwest, Illinois sits in the center of our nation – serving as a major transportation hub for passengers and businesses alike,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “Thanks to my administration’s landmark Rebuild Illinois capital plan, we’ve been hard at work to modernize our state’s railways and train stations – and now, with a federal investment of nearly $94 million, Illinois is well on its way to creating the most robust, accessible, and connected railroad system in the country. I’m grateful to IDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Biden Administration for coming together to help us realize our vision of a brighter future.”

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SPRINGFIELD – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has created a new honor for Lincoln admirers who link their personal legacy to the legacy of America’s greatest president. From now on, people who decide to include the presidential library and museum in their estate planning will be enrolled in the “8 th & Jackson Society.” They will receive special benefits, have their names recorded in a place of honor at the museum and get a replica of the “A. Lincoln” name plate that once adorned the Lincolns’ front door. At the time of his death, Lincoln’s only major financial asset was his Springfield home at the intersection of 8 th and Jackson streets. Over the decades, the home has been a key part of sharing Lincoln’s memory with the public. In the same spirit, people who include the ALPLM in their wills and estate planning can help preserve Lincoln’s memory for future generations. “People who arrange t

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STAUNTON - Madison Communications sponsored the Community Hope Center’s Christmas Toy Drive once again this year! The new and unwrapped toys for girls and boys ages 0-12 were collected from the middle of October through the first week of December. Madison was overjoyed with the outcome of the Toy Drive and wants to thank anyone who took the time to donate! The holiday season is a perfect time to give back to the local communities! About Madison Communications Madison Communications is a fully integrated service provider of high-speed Internet access, digital phone, HD entertainment programing, and other IP solutions to residential and business customers in Southwestern Illinois. For questions regarding this pledge, or Madison’s services, please dial 1-800-422-4848 Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit gomadison.com.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) announced today four U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grants totaling $83,600 for new equipment or infrastructure in Alexander, Crawford, Effingham, and Pulaski counties. "Small investments in rural communities can often go a long way," said Bost. "I'm pleased that these resources will help keep our cities beautiful and safe, even if they're for equipment and infrastructure that larger jurisdictions might take for granted." The Rural Development grants include: East Cape Girardeau (Alexander Co.) - $8,400 for new tractor equipment Hutsonville (Crawford Co.) - $30,000 for new law enforcement utility vehicle Montrose (Effingham Co.) - $23,900 for new early storm warning system Mound City (Pulaski Co.) - $21,300 for new street maintenance equipment

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against President Biden’s national security supplemental funding request, which includes emergency funds for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian crises: “The scale and viciousness of the Hamas terrorist attack against the Israeli people are reprehensible, and today, along with my Democratic colleagues, I voted to support President Biden’s emergency aid request to help Israel defend itself and free any hostages. Violence against the innocent—both Israelis and Palestinians—is never the answer and we must remain steadfast in our pursuit of peace. “Likewise, more than 20 months after Putin began his brutal criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy. It is imperative for the United States and the nations of the free world to provide the resources

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is now open to all income-eligible households, and State Senator Christopher Belt is urging eligible families to apply to receive assistance with natural gas, propane and electricity bills. “Winter weather is now in full force, and all households deserve to stay warm and safe this year,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Assistance is now available for all income-eligible families across the state – so be sure to apply if your household qualifies.” LIHEAP provides one-time payments directly to energy service providers on behalf of recipients. While the amount of support varies based on the needs of individual families, last year over 311,000 households received LIHEAP, with an average of over $1,000 per household. All income-eligible households can now apply for assistance, and applications will be accepted through Aug. 15, 2024, or until funds are exhausted. The energy bill assistance program

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, met with Steve Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), to discuss Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations and their impact on ATF’s overall mission and priorities, including implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) . “Director Dettelbach and the public servants at ATF are working tirelessly to help keep Americans safe, particularly by implementing our Bipartisan Safer Communities Act . We’ve already seen tremendous impact from implementation of this legislation, which has helped crack down on illegal firearms traffickers, catch violent criminals, recover untraceable ‘ghost guns,’ and enforce compliance with existing gun safety laws,” said Durbin. “My meeting with Director Dettelbach made it even more clear: Congress

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to block President Biden’s request to Congress for additional resources that would strengthen U.S. national security by investing in our domestic defense industry, countering China in the Indo-Pacific region, supporting Ukraine, helping innocent civilians in Gaza and countering Hamas, as well as bolstering security on our nation’s southern border: “Today, Senate Republicans once again showed the American people that they are more focused on politics than on strengthening our national security and supporting our allies and partners. I’m deeply disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle refused to join us in passing President Biden’s national security and aid package to provide support to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific while helping

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