Riverbender 🕸

PONTOON BEACH - After three years of struggling with a driver workforce shortage, the Madison County Transit (MCT) Board of Trustees approved service reductions which will take effect on December 3, 2023. Despite ongoing efforts to recruit and retain drivers, a double-digit workforce shortfall remains, necessitating mandatory overtime and posing a risk of driver fatigue and compromised service reliability. An initial service reduction plan was presented at eight public meetings throughout Madison County over the course of the last month. Following a review of the public comments received, MCT modified the original proposal accordingly. The following changes will take effect on December 3, 2023: #7 Alton-Edwardsville : Reduce frequency from 30 to 60-minute service. Serve Alton Regional Multimodal Transportation Center (ARMTC) but not Alton Square Mall on weekdays to allow for better transfer opportunities to the #8 and #10. Remove the SIUE trip from the schedule. #8 Central Shuttle

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs on westbound Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. One lane will remain open at all times. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EAST ALTON - The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs East Alton office hosted an open house to inform veterans about the services available to them in Madison County. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO) Douglas Figge and Southern Region Supervisor Jeff Lewis welcomed veterans at the new East Alton office, located at 606 W. St. Louis Avenue. The office opened in April after moving from its previous location at Lewis and Clark Community College. “This is a great idea. The county that we’re covering is Madison, and so we wanted to make sure this area was covered, and this East Alton office is perfect for that,” Lewis said. “That’s a very important thing, that veterans are informed. To make sure they’re aware, that they know who their local VSO is and then make sure they make at least one contact with them. More if possible, but at least one so that can tell them, ‘Hey, this is

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ALTON - People who have cardiac arrests may benefit from CPR, yet many people who witness cardiac arrest do not perform CPR. That’s why OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton) is hosting an upcoming first aid and CPR training class so Riverbend area residents are prepared to take action if necessary. The first aid and CPR training class will be held on Monday, November 13, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the hospital’s Perpetual Help Center and led by a certified instructor. Space is limited and the deadline to register is Friday, November 10. The cost is $65.00/person. Registration can be completed by calling (618) 920-6816 or by email at susiesweetman22@gmail.com. “Knowing CPR and first aid can help save lives,” says Dennis E. Sands, MD, Chief Medical Officer, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “If your child or loved one isn't breathing, knowing how to do CPR could mean the difference between life and death. Emergencies ca

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ST. LOUIS, MO. – The season of giving is here and the United Way of Greater St. Louis is releasing the free Holiday Volunteer Guide, an online tool featuring local volunteer opportunities during the holiday season. The Guide can be found at STLVolunteer/hvg.org. "Volunteering during the holiday season is the perfect way for people throughout the region to lend their time and talent to lift our communities and celebrate United Way's Volunteer Center's 90th anniversary," said Rick Skinner, Vice President of United Way's Volunteer Center. All of?the opportunities listed are through?reputable?nonprofit agencies throughout the St. Louis region in Missouri and Illinois. There?is?a wide array of volunteer?opportunities?that people?can explore?by?location,?age, skillset,?passion and keyword.?Additionally, there are in-person, virtual and do-it-yourself at-home opportunities available through the Guide.?? ? Current examples include creating holiday goodie bags for local children, deliverin

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ST. LOUIS - Schnuck Markets, Inc. today announced that, in total, Schnucks customers donated $110,131 to support United Way of Greater St. Louis as part of the company’s Sept. 20 - Oct. 3 Round Up at the Register campaign at all Schnucks store locations in the St. Louis metropolitan area. One hundred percent of customer round-ups will benefit United Way of Greater St. Louis and will contribute to the organization’s campaign to build a strong foundation for our region now and in the future as they help 1 million people in the St. Louis community each year throughout their 16-county region in Missouri and Illinois. Proceeds will also support United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline, a free and confidential resource available 24/7 for up to 250 different languages. “We thank our customers for joining us on our mission to nourish people’s lives and for uniting with us as we lift and strengthen people, families, and neighborhoods across the St. Louis area,” said

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College celebrated the annual Art Faculty Exhibition with an opening reception, Friday, Oct. 20, in the Hatheway Gallery on the Godfrey Campus. The exhibition runs until Nov. 18, with gallery hours from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday. This ongoing event showcases the artwork of the art faculty at L&C, who are unique because they not only teach – they are also working artists who actively create and show their work in galleries across the country. This year’s exhibition features eight faculty members and their work. “Art exhibitions are a wonderful community outreach event,” said Fine Arts Program Coordinator and Gallery Director Angela Hung. “We welcome the entire community to join us in celebrating the talents and mission of the Art Department.” This year’s artists include Hung, Graphic Design and Web Development Coordinator Louise Jett and Jordan

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging Illinoisans to take advantage of events taking place on Saturday, October 28th, as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. IDPH is joined in the awareness effort by Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), and the Overdose Response Strategy program, led by the CDC Foundation and the national HIDTA program. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and various local organizations are hosting events around the state to collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription medication that may be outdated or are no longer needed. Such medications should not be disposed of in the trash, so the collection events offer a free, safe, and convenient means of disposing of such drugs. “Prescription drugs that are still in the house after they are no longer needed pose a clear and preventable safety risk,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Those medications

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ALTON - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office, will be celebrating 20 years since the opening of its National Great Rivers Museum. The celebration will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 4 and will include informational tables and children’s activities at more than 20 stations, as well as several food trucks. The commemoration of the National Great Rivers Museum will occur at 12 p.m. on a stage behind the museum, overlooking the Mississippi River and the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. Alton Mayor David Goins and St. Louis District Commander Colonel Andy Pannier, along with others, will be speaking at the commemoration about the importance of on-going cooperation along our Nation’s rivers. “This is truly a great day where we get to highlight the importance of the river and its many stakeholders, from the barge and agricultural industries, to recreation and tourism enthusiasts, to those interested in history and culture,” said St. Louis

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined local and state leaders today to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Brown Sugar Bakery’s manufacturing facility. The 10,000 square-foot facility will enable large scale production on Chicago’s South Side while creating jobs for the local community. “One of the most important things I get to do as governor is help entrepreneurs start new businesses, and help small businesses become big ones. That’s the best way to create jobs and grow the economy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I couldn’t be prouder of the Brown Sugar Bakery team as they continue to uplift the community, making a difference in so many people’s lives while bringing smiles to the faces of people everywhere.” Brown Sugar Bakery received $500,000 in grant funding from the state’s Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Program in 2020 to support the expansion,

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GILLESPIE - Community members are invited to visit with residents and get their sugar fix at the annual trunk-or-treat at Gillespie Health & Rehab Center. From 5–8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, kids can stop by the facility’s parking lot at 7588 Staunton Road in Gillespie. Staff members will be parked and waiting with candy, popcorn, cotton candy and “little trinkets,” said Activity Director Jolynn Hemken. The community is then invited to walk through the halls of the facility and trick-or-treat with residents. “The residents just love the kids,” Hemken said. Gillespie Health & Rehab Center is a long-term care facility with several rehabilitation programs . Director of Nursing Sara Tex explained that they have many residents who live at the facility full-time and others who live there for a few months as they recover from surgeries and similar health issues. While treatments like physical therapy are important, activity and socialization

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GODFREY - Godfrey Fire Protection District personnel responded to a report of a vehicle overturned off Clifton Terrace Road in Godfrey at 6:36 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Thankfully, the person involved in the crash was not seriously injured, Godfrey Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Thomas Wills said. The road was closed down for a brief period until a tow truck came and recovered the vehicle, the assistant chief said. He said there have been multiple crashes in the area and he advised that anyone driving in the area slow down to the speed limit of 35 mph to be safe.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Many parents spoke about bullying at the recent Edwardsville Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education meeting. On Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, a total of ten parents addressed the Board during the public comments portion of their regular meeting. Several of these parents shared accounts of bullying and discrimination in the school district, while one parent spoke about the district’s response to her son’s passing, which she said was mishandled. Jamie Miller was the first speaker of the evening. She shared that her son, Gavin Miller, passed away on Oct. 6, 2023. ECUSD11 sent a letter to district parents in which they did not identify Gavin, citing the family’s privacy. The district offered support to grieving students and expressed “great sadness” for Gavin’s passing. “The problem was, nobody from the district leadership or anything decided to contact our family and what we wanted,” Miller said. “My

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ALTON - The Owl’s Club Fall Festival is sure to be a hoot with raffle prizes, food, live music and a full-service bar. The public is invited to party until midnight on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at the Owl’s Club, located at 227 Blair Avenue in Alton. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Local rock band HOOKiE will play from 8 p.m. to midnight, and dancing is encouraged. “We’ll get people in, get people fed. Everybody’s happy,” said Chairman of the Board Tim Borman. “We’ll start drawing prizes, and once that band starts, it’s kind of like, okay, now everybody’s got something to focus on and can dance and have a good time.” Borman has been a member of the Alton Owl’s Club for 32 years. The men’s community social club also serves as an event center, which they regularly rent out. But the Fall Festival is a longtime tradition and “party for the Owl’s Club” that encourages people to stop by and see

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EDWARDSVILLE - After being arrested and charged with prostitution, a former employee of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) University Housing recently resigned. Cory L. Harlan, 43, of Edwardsville, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at 3 p.m. and charged with prostitution by the SIUE Police Department. According to the SIUE Police Activity Blotter for October 2023, Harlan “was fingerprinted, photographed, processed and released with a Notice to Appear.” Harlan formerly worked as the Community Director for the 400 side of Cougar Village, one of the student housing facilities on the SIUE campus. Harlan’s name and photo are now absent from the Cougar Village staff webpage . According to The Alestle , SIUE’s student news organization, Housing Director Mallory Sidarous announced Harlan’s resignation in an email to students and named Brandon Perjak as the 400 side’s “immediate supervisor” while a “plan

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Gaming Board (the "IGB" or "Board") licensed new casinos in Danville, Carterville and Chicago and renewed the existing license for the Argosy Casino Alton during today's October meeting. At the meeting, the IGB issued new casino owners’ licenses to Danville Development, LLC d/b/a Golden Nugget Danville, Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort, LLC d/b/a Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort and Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Chicago. The Board also renewed a four-year license for Alton Casino LLC d/b/a Argosy Casino Alton following a license renewal hearing. Before the Board voted on licensure, representatives from each of the casinos addressed the Board about their suitability for licensure, providing highlights of their respective operations since opening and sharing their future plans. In addition to licensing Bally’s Chicago, the Board also approved a request from Bally’s Chicago under Rule 3000.540(d)

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SPRINGFIELD - Madison County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0889, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland and farm buildings assessed according to standard

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TROY - Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn is identifying a woman who died after being involved in a two-car traffic crash on Wednesday morning, Oct. 25, 2023. The victim is identified as Catherine L. Leathers, 81, of Troy, IL. Leathers was a front-seat passenger of a 2006 Suzuki Vitara being driven by her husband. The crash occurred at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at the intersection of US Highway 40 and Bauer Road/Glen Rea Road when the victim’s vehicle was struck on the passenger side after driving into the path of a westbound 2021 Mazda CX-7. The driver of this vehicle refused medical treatment at the scene. Coroner Nonn said the decedent’s husband was taken to a St. Louis Hospital for treatment. Nonn added that the extent and severity of his injuries were unknown at the time of this release. "Leathers was pronounced deceased at Anderson Hospital emergency department after being transported from the scene by Troy Fire Department EMS," he said. "Her cause

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WASHINGTON COUNTY – On October 25, 2023, a Washington County Judge convicted 44-year-old Kevin Loucks, of Belleville, with First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony). The charge comes after an exhaustive investigation by the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 into the murder of 44-year-old Montez Pearson. On July 19, 2023, Pearson was located deceased near Lunte Creek Road in Washington County. Loucks was taken into custody on July 23, 2023, after a search warrant was executed at his residence in Belleville. The ISP was assisted during the investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Belleville Police Department.

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MARYVILLE - Two were transported to trauma facilities in the St. Louis area after a pair of vehicles collided Thursday morning, Oct. 26, 2023, on Illinois Route 162 and Amberleigh Drive. With the two vehicles involved, five were injured in the accident. Three were transported to Anderson Hospital for evaluation and one was immediately transported to a trauma facility in St. Louis and another was transported to Anderson, then flown to a trauma facility in St. Louis. Maryville Fire Chief Doug Dankenberg said the vehicles ended up on Anderson Hospital property by the west entrance to the hospital at the end of the crash. He said there was a light pole struck and the west entrance to the hospital was closed for a small period of time while the area was cleared. The crash was dispatched as a head-on collision, but was actually a T-bone incident, the chief said. The Maryville Fire and Police crew were dispatched at 10:23 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, Fire Chief Dankenberg said. He als

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