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WOOD RIVER - It's been said that of all the sports that anyone could take up, wrestling is perhaps the one sport that requires the most discipline and sacrifice of all. It's constant weight-watching, requires very hard work and a lot of sacrifices, both of self and for the team. It's not an easy sport to master. In the case of eight-year-old Karson Stoeckel of Wood River, he may very well be on his way to becoming a top high school and college wrestler in the future. Stoeckel recently won the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation bantam state championship at 46 pounds in a tournament held at Bolingbrook High School in suburban Chicago. And to say that both his teams and his family are proud of him is just scratching the surface. Stoeckel is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month For Roxana. "I'm very, very, very proud of him," said Lindsey Quigley, Karson's mother, in a recent interview. "He has been working his tail off to prepare for this, and this was his third

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SWANSEA - Holland Construction Services President Mike Marchal is pleased to announce the promotion of Rob Ruehl to Project Executive. Ruehl has been with Holland since 2017 and has showcased his determination and work ethic on a multitude of projects. “Rob has been a tremendous asset to us and our clients over the past five years,” said Marchal. “I am very proud of the work he has done and the professional growth I’ve seen in him. We’re looking forward to seeing his continued success leading teams as a Project Executive.” With more than two decades of experience in the industry, Ruehl has been a part of major projects at Holland including Keystone Place Senior Living, The Villages of Twin Oaks, The Flats at Dorsett Ridge, and Heartland View Apartments. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to assist in guiding and growing our multi-family market and continue where we are strong and continue to grow our team,” Ruehl said. In the

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has received $1.5 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of a novel model for graduate education that removes financial barriers and increases diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The project, “At the Confluence: Supporting Critical Transitions for Graduate Students in Sustainable Watersheds Research,” is led by principal investigator (PI) Adriana E. Martinez, PhD, associate professor in the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The program is now enrolling its first cohort, and will contribute to the national need for educated STEM professionals by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need. Participating graduate students will receive a tuition waiver and a $10,000 scholarship for each of the two years of their

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SPRINGFIELD – With more than 150 wineries statewide, Illinois is a leader in wine operations. To offer financial relief to struggling makers, State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) advanced legislation to lower licensing fees for first-class manufacturers. “Wineries are unique small businesses servicing communities throughout the entire state,” Crowe said. “By re-implementing the previous licensing fees, we can offer financial support to wine operators as they work to bounce back following pandemic-related burdens.” In partnership with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Crowe’s measure lowers the licensing fees for first-class wine manufacturers to $750 if renewed online and $900 for initial or non-online certification. Under a law passed in 2021, the fees were raised to $1,200 if renewed online and $1,500 for initial licenses and non-online. “Wineries in Illinois offer diverse experiences, but the industry endured

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Randy Goodwin, 56, of Belleville, Illinois, pled guilty today to a two count information charging him with making false statements to obtain federal disability compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. According to court documents, Goodwin began receiving federal disability payments after he was injured working for the United States Postal Service in 2013. After his injury, Goodwin began working at his family’s restaurant, Good Heavens BBQ, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Annual disability forms require recipients to disclose additional earned income and employment. However, to avoid a reduction of his benefits, Goodwin falsely reported that he had not worked for any employers or had any involvement in any businesses for several years. This caused the United States Postal Service to pay him more in disability than he truly deserved. As a result of his plea, Goodwin will lose all disability benefits going forward. He also paid over $20,000

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BENTON – Bryan Flanagan, 35, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Thursday, March 3, 2022, on two counts of distribution of child pornography and five counts of interstate communication with intent to extort. Flanagan pleaded guilty to charges in federal court on September 16, 2021. Flanagan extorted multiple minor girls online to send him sexual videos and images. Beginning in February 2020, Flanagan used fake profiles pretending to be a teenage boy on Facebook to contact multiple underage girls across the United States. Flanagan pressured and threatened his victims into sending him sexually explicit videos and images. When some victims refused to do so, Flanagan lied and told them that he was babysitting a young child and would rape or molest the child unless his online victims sent him the requested images. Flanagan distributed images of child pornography to at least two of his victims. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Emily Rayburn is Lincoln Principal Jen Morgan’s secretary. But she’s also a former dancer, a dance company board president, and a sign language student. Rayburn has only been with Edwardsville School District #7 a short time, starting at Liberty in August 2020 as the attendance secretary before moving to Lincoln in late May 2021, but she’s made an impact on those who have worked with her and vice versa. “Lincoln is a wonderful school with amazing staff members. There is a lot of kindness, humor, sass and hard work ethic in our building.” The Edwardsville native began dancing when she was six years old at a local studio in town. Rayburn earned a B.F.A. in dance performance and choreography from Western Michigan and then moved to Chicago to begin her dance career. “I did freelance work for a while and then started my own 501(c)3 non-profit dance company called Hot Crowd in November 2017, which is a modern/contemporary dance company tha

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EDWARDSVILLE - Jaycie Rodgers is no stranger to Edwardsville School District #7. Her time with the District dates back to her college education when she completed her field experience at Hamel and her student teaching at Nelson. Upon graduation, she was hired as a long-term substitute teacher at Nelson. Rodgers then taught 13 years at Woodland, two years at Goshen, and one year at Cassens – all in cross-cat – before returning to Woodland, where she has been the last three years teaching SEL. “I have always known I wanted to be a teacher. I was blessed by some amazing teachers in my life that inspired me to want to teach.” As a high school student, she volunteered in a program called Peer Partners in an FLS classroom. It was that experience that led her to choose the field of special education. Originally, she had planned to teach FLS, but was hired as a cross-cat teacher. “I love the challenge of differentiating lessons to meet the needs of every student.

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JERSEYVILLE - The opening of Germania Brew Haus’s upcoming Jerseyville location, originally planned for mid-March, has been delayed. Owner Jared Brynildsen said cold temperatures have delayed the construction of the site’s parking lot. He also said the Illinois Department of Transportation took 60 days longer than expected to send back their approval for the drive-thru. Brynildsen said he expects the drive-thru construction to be completed by the end of the month, with official soft and grand opening dates for this location still pending. So far, he said the attached children’s play area is still on track to be completed along with the rest of the renovation. This delay comes just under three weeks after the opening of Germania’s Eastgate Plaza location in East Alton. Brynildsen has previously emphasized the company’s need to space out openings as a small business with limited training staff. For more information and updates on Germania

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ALTON - The Mississippi Earthtones Festival, co-organized by Alton Main Street and the Sierra Club, is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation that is held every 3rd Saturday in September. The 16th annual event falls on September 17th, 2022, and promises to attract thousands of people to Downtown Alton from Noon to 10:00 p.m. The “Halfway to Earthtones Artist Gathering” will take place on Saturday, March 12th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway in Alton. Join us at this casual brainstorming session to get our creative juices flowing on the theme for 2022, and learn about resources that are available to help bring your vision to life. Artists of all mediums are being recruited to fill the grounds with beauty and creativity, while enhancing the festival for visitors through interactive art experiences. Organizers are seeking street artists, photographers, sculptors, textile & fiber artists, fashion designers, cosplayers,

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is proud to announce Grammy-nominated and award-winning singer, actor, producer, and New York Times best-selling author Demi Lovato has been added to the Illinois Lottery Grandstand concert series at the 2022 Illinois State Fair. Demi Lovato will take the stage on Saturday, August 13 performing many of their unmistakable hits, among which include “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Sober,” “Skyscraper,” and “OK Not to Be Ok.” Lovato recently released their seventh album, Dancing with the Devil , which reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Lovato is well known as an advocate for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ community, vulnerable populations and an outspoken ambassador for improving mental health awareness. Lovato has been honored over the years with more than a dozen Teen Choice Awards, five People’s Choice Awards, an American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Award, a Latin American Music Award

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CHICAGO — Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) is partnering with City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to better support students and increase access to higher learning. Saluki Step Ahead gives City Colleges of Chicago graduates who earn an associate degree automatic admission to SIU’s online accounting, business and administration, criminology and criminal justice, psychology, health care management, and radiologic sciences programs. Students in the program pay the community college rate for their first two years. In the third and fourth years, they receive an annual $4,000 scholarship. The goal is to allow students to earn their degrees for $25,000 or less. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to enter the program and remain eligible. City Colleges is the 11th participating institution in Saluki Step Ahead. “We are excited to have City Colleges of Chicago join Saluki Step Ahead and bring the SIU Carbondale experience to place-bound students,” Chancellor Austin

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SEE VIDEO : ALTON - The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Chili Chowdown is one of the group’s biggest fundraisers each year and this year’s event on Monday was very well-attended, Alton-Godfrey Rotary President Steve Schwartz said. Last year's event was not scheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The chili was served at lunchtime and then for a long dinner period from 4-7 p.m. on Monday. The event helps the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club fund student scholarships and many other projects throughout the year. “We had a really good turnout and it seemed a fun experience for everybody,” Schwartz said. “The chili this year was great.” Schwartz said at around 1 p.m. Monday, the event organizers had distributed at least 40 gallons of chili with much more ahead later in the day. Many even placed take-out orders for chili, Schwartz added. See Riverbender.com video above for more on the Chili Chowdown.

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BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Department announced that at 2:32 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2022, Bethalto Officers stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic offense on Irwin Plegge Expressway. The driver, Monty C. Basden, M/W Age 50, of Bethalto, Illinois, was wanted on a Failure to Appear warrant for Driving While License Suspended and had a Suspended Illinois Driver’s License. During the encounter, officers determined that Basden had a loaded pistol in his pants pocket. Basden was taken into custody without incident and was charged today with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Basden is being held in the Madison County Jail in lieu of a $15,000 bond. It is important to remember that the issuance of charges is based only upon Probable Cause and is not an indication of Guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses to include those in this post are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. - Chief Mike Dixon

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BETHALTO - At 9:04 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2022, Bethalto Officers took a report of a stolen vehicle in the 100 block of Ashbrook. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said officers handling the investigation identified a possible suspect who they later located and took into custody. The vehicle, a gold in color, 2003 Chevrolet, Cavalier, bearing Illinois Registration 3792344 is still missing and likely in the Wood River / Rosewood Heights / Godfrey area. The suspect, John L. Hampton, M/W Age 45 of the Bethalto/Godfrey, has been charged by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office with Offenses Related to Motor Vehicles and is in the custody of the Madison County Jail in lieu of $50,000 Bond. It is important to remember that the issuance of charges is based only upon Probable Cause and is not an indication of Guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses to include those in this post are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. - Chief Mike Dixon

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CARROLLTON - The Carrollton Fire Protection District firefighters and neighbors - Jerseyville, Greenfield, White Hall, and Roodhouse - had their hands full on Tuesday with a multi-alarm blaze at Oasis bar and grill. The firefighters stayed with the fire from 11:30 p.m. Monday to the afternoon on Tuesday. Carrollton, Jerseyville, Greenfield, and White Hall firefighters attacked the Oasis fire, while Roodhouse Fire Department manned Carrollton's station during the blaze. It took about five hours to get the terrible fire under control, Carrollton Fire Protection District Chief Tim Thaxton said. He added that it took an additional 3 hours to put out the hot spots from the fire. Nearby, the Oasis Bar and Grill are motel units and those were protected by the valiant efforts of the firefighters. Chief Thaxton said he is always proud of his firefighters and his neighbors in mutual-aid situations, but he was even more proud of their efforts in this destructive fire. “We are all volunteer

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WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at EAWR High School. A senior student is selected each month by members of EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000.00 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. February’s winner is Addison Denton. Addison is a Senior at EAWR and is involved with Varsity Tennis, Choir, Band, JV, and Varsity Basketball, Big Sisters, and Student Council. Addison has received honors for High Honor Roll, Renaissance, International Thespian Society Troupe 733, and is a member of the National Honors Society. After graduation Addison plans to attend Illinois State University and look to obtain a degree in Biology. Congratulations Addison and we all wish you good luck in your future! Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community

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JERSEYVILLE - Way before streaming services and sagging award show ratings, movies were a lot more magical and celebrated. And no show put them in the cultural spotlight like the Oscars. No performer made the show more entertaining than comic/actor Billy Crystal. Viewers were glued to the tube wondering what the funny man would do next. It was always a wonderful night for the Oscars, and unpredictable, as his show openings were legendary and hilarious. From big laughs like superimposing himself into the nominated movies like a nude Rose getting painted in Titanic or the strange-looking Gollum from Lord of the Rings Return of the King, you could always expect a song and dance routine about the best picture lineup. Throughout much of the 90s through early 2000s and the 2012 Academy Awards, Crystal hosted nine times with each show more memorable than the last. He comes in second to hosting to the master, Bob Hope, who hosted 18 times. Whether roasting his City Slickers co-star, the lat

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LITCHFIELD - If you are a first-time gardener, or maybe you are building a new bed to add to your gardening collection, this article is for you. When preparing for your new garden bed there are a few things that are crucial to setting your garden up for success. Decide what you want from your garden, design your garden layout, and then prepare your garden for planting. Knowing what you want from your garden in the forefront is really important but it's not always something people spend much time thinking about. People grow gardens for lots of reasons. Most commonly, gardens grow from a place of necessity. Kitchen gardens were just part of life for everyone not that long ago. Now gardening is a totally foreign concept to most people. I garden because I have a strong desire to grow my own food. Do you want a garden for food? Perhaps for beauty or enjoyment? Some people grow a garden simply to create a food source for our pollinators. Whatever your reason is, it's important for you to kno

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GREENVILLE – The College Band Directors National Association selection committee named two Greenville University band students to the North Central Intercollegiate Band. The committee chose Meghan Garmon of Hillsboro, Illinois, and Kennedy Gerton of Springfield, Illinois, both freshmen at GU. The two clarinet players, along with more than 70 other collegiate band members from the north central part of the United States, will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, in April, to rehearse and prepare a concert for the College Band Directors National Association Conference. Greenville University Band Director Alex Kirby says band directors across the country nominate students based on sight reading, tone, and overall musicianship. The selection committee then chooses a balanced ensemble and students audition at the conference for their chair placement within the section. “Membership into the intercollegiate band is hard to come by, especially for schools like GU which may not have

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