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PONTOON BEACH - Three individuals from three different cities face the same set of criminal charges after allegedly damaging gaming machines and stealing money from them. The following individuals were each charged with theft and criminal damage to property: Courtney T. Jones, 33, of East St. Louis Melvannli G. Dean, 28, of Collinsville Brandon B. McCullar, 36, of Glen Carbon According to Madison County court documents, all three individuals allegedly damaged and stole over $500 from gaming machines owned by J&J Gambling, which were located at the Flying J Travel Center at 1310 E. Chain of Rocks Road in Pontoon Beach. While all three individuals face Class 3 felonies for theft, Jones and Dean additionally face Class 4 felonies, as the damage they caused to the gaming machines reportedly exceeded $500. McCullar’s property damage charge was classified as a Class A misdemeanor, as the damage he caused to the machines totaled less than $500. The Pontoon Beach Police

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EDWARDSVILLE — A large contingent of law enforcement officers gathered at Hawthorne Animal Hospital on Thursday morning to honor Odin, a beloved Alton Police K-9 who died after being shot at a scene at Seventh and Liberty in Alton. Representatives from the Alton Police, the DEA, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, Edwardsville Police, Granite City Police, Glen Carbon Police, and Columbia Police, along with numerous unmarked law enforcement vehicles, participated in the tribute. Odin's casket, draped with an American flag, was brought out as the Edwardsville Fire Department displayed an American flag from its ladder truck at Plum Street. Taps were played as the canine was moved into a van, and officers saluted the fallen canine during the transfer. The procession escorted Odin to an undisclosed location, marking a solemn farewell to the canine who served the community.

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ALTON - Bernice and Clarence Geisler of the Nutwood Drainage District in Jersey County had been married for about a year when a horse trade gone bad tore them apart. Their fathers, Henry Geisler and Charles Ontis, decided to swap horses. For a time, everything was fine, but then Henry Geisler decided that his new horse was balky. Ontis refused to trade back, and responded that Geisler had waited nearly three months to complain, and that while Geisler had the horse it was maimed by barbed wire and injured. Geisler employed attorney R.C. Chappel of Jerseyville to bring suit to retrieve his horse and Ontis retained Attorney Martin J. Dolan to defend his side. Jersey County Sheriff Frank Sowell spent an entire week interviewing witnesses, and subpoenaed 20 of them. Bernice and Clarence Geisler had been living with his parents, but when the dispute over the horse trade became heated, Bernice packed her clothes, left her husband, and went home to her parents’ house where she could

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College Financial Aid is offering FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Completion and Corrections Assistance during an upcoming workshop, Aug. 27, 2024. Assistance will be available from 3-6 p.m. in Baldwin Hall, on the college’s Godfrey Campus. Students should start in the Financial Aid office, BA 2450, on the college's Godfrey Campus to check in when they arrive. Free snacks and drinks will be available during this event. Anyone with questions can contact Director of Financial Aid Angela Weaver at aweaver@lc.edu .

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SPRINGFIELD - This year has been a whirlwind of activity, and it’s hard to believe it’s already back-to-school time. Since the spring legislative session ended in late May, I’ve been busy working on constituent requests and cases, visiting local organizations and businesses, and meeting with people on local projects and issues. The work in Springfield is just one aspect of being a State Representative. The local district office work continues year-round, and my dedicated staff is here in the office while I attend events and meetings. Throughout the spring and summer, my staff and I held traveling office hours across the district. I also held a tele-town hall in July to provide updates on the legislative session and to hear from constituents. We are continuously planning outreach events around the district. On September 3rd at 1:30 p.m., I am hosting a Senior Fraud Seminar at Meridian Village in Glen Carbon, where the Attorney General’s office will present on

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that rehabilitation of a crossing by Bi-State Development Agency on Illinois 15 between East Broadway and South Fourth Street in St. Clair County will require a full closure beginning, weather permitting, Friday, Aug. 23. A posted detour will be in place to safely guide motorists around the closure, which is expected to conclude Tuesday, Aug. 27. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to detour signs in work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ALTON - After a sinkhole at Gordon Moore Park closed the park for several weeks this summer, the park and Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course are once again open . Vern Van Hoy, owner of the golf course, and general manager Mary Campbell spoke about their excitement about reopening and the struggles they went through while the golf course was closed. They noted that they did not know the park was going to reopen until two days before it did, and they had a successful first weekend back on the green. “We attended one meeting, and then after that, all the rest of the meetings were closed to everybody, so we did not know what was going on. We didn’t know if we were going to be opening up in eight weeks, ten weeks or ten years,” Van Hoy said. “The anxiety of not knowing, not having control, it’s the worst feeling in the world. So to find out that we were going to open as early as we did is exciting.” The golf course opened this weekend

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ALTON - During their regular meeting on Aug. 20, 2024, the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the District Improvement Plan. This plan prioritizes a culture of belonging, grade-appropriate instruction and assignments, and professional learning communities. Elaine Kane, ACUSD11 superintendent, spent a few minutes discussing the culture of belonging in the district’s schools. “We believe the students and staff in the Alton school district deserve excellent conditions for teaching and learning,” Kane said. “Everyone in this district talks about creating a culture of belonging. We talk about it for our students, we talk about it for our staff, but we want to make sure that our actions and our decisions and our allocation of resources creates a culture of belonging for everyone in the Alton School District…That is the most important thing for learning to occur.” The principals from each school

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KAMPSVILLE - The Calhoun Sheriff's Office on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, released the name of the drowning victim at the Kampsville Boat Launch. At 7:11 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2024, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was notified by West Central 911 Dispatch that a man had entered the Illinois River at the Kampsville boat launch to retrieve his boat and had gone under the water and had not resurfaced. Subsequent to an investigation and search efforts; Roger M. Hatcher, 89, of Pearl, was located and found to be deceased. First Responders from the following agencies responded to the emergency or were present to assist during the incident: Calhoun Volunteer EMS North Calhoun Fire Department Morgan County Dive Team Illinois Conservation Police Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Greene County Sheriff’s Office Pike County Sheriff’s Department Calhoun County Emergency Services Disaster Agency A Deputy Sheriff from Greene County Sheriff’s Office arrived

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that a jury has found a Granite City man guilty of aggravated assault of a peace officer for making threats, while armed, against members of a U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Charles A. Payne, 60, was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer (class 4 felony). Payne, while displaying a firearm, made threats against officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force on May 24, 2023, when the officers went to Payne’s residence on Myrtle Avenue to serve a felony arrest warrant on a relative of Payne. Payne refused orders to drop his weapon but was taken into custody after officers fired non-lethal projectiles. Members of the Task Force included officers from Granite City Police Department and Belleville Police Department. Additional officers from Granite City Police Department responded to the scene for assistance. Haine commended Assistant

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On August 22, 2024, as we go about our daily lives, it's fascinating to pause and reflect on the significant events that have shaped our world on this very date. 1910: Japan Annexes Korea Arguably one of the most impactful global events to occur on August 22 is the formal annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910. This event marked the beginning of a period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, which lasted until the end of World War II in 1945. The annexation had profound implications for the Korean Peninsula, affecting its political, economic, and social landscape. The legacy of this period continues to influence Korean-Japanese relations to this day, making it a crucial moment in East Asian history. 1485: The Battle of Bosworth Field Moving back a few centuries, on August 22, 1485, the Battle of Bosworth Field took place in England. This decisive battle marked the end of the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the throne of England. The battle saw the defeat

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ALTON – The Alton Police Department responded to an apparent attack in the 2300 block of East Broadway Wednesday night. First responders arrived at the scene and located the victim, whose injuries necessitated urgent medical attention. An Arch Medical Helicopter was requested and subsequently landed in the Fast Eddies Bon Air parking lot. The victim was then flown to a hospital in St. Louis for further treatment. Additionally, Fred's Towing was observed removing a vehicle from the scene, though further details about its involvement were not immediately available. The investigation is ongoing, and no further information was released by the Alton Police Department at this time.

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College’s Pharmacy Technician program is teaming up with Wood River Medicine Shoppe to hold a flu shot clinic on Sept. 10, 2024 in Godfrey. The flu shot clinic will be part of L&C’s annual Resource and Wellness Fair, which will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in The Commons. “The Pharmacy Technician program allows L&C and its students to serve the community,” Pharmacy Technician Program Coordinator Kaycilee Sackmann said. “With the help of Wood River Medicine Shoppe, we have the resources to offer the public something as important and vital as flu vaccines.” According to Sackmann, it’s possible new COVID-19 boosters could be administered if they are available at that time. The flu shot clinic is for anyone who has not received this year’s flu vaccination, including children as young as 4. Parents do not need to be present. Shots are free through most standard health insurance plans. The cost for

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band invites the community to join them for a special evening of music as they present their final concert of the season at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. The performance, titled Audience Favorites, will begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. This concert is particularly special as it features pieces chosen by the audience as their favorites from each week of the season. The program will include a variety of beloved selections, such as An Irish Rhapsody, Baby Elephant Walk, Earthdawn, Colonel Bogey, Glenn Miller in Concert, Olympic Spirit, Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights, Chicago, Kinetic Dances, Selections from The Greatest Showman, and the march classic Stars and Stripes Forever. The evening promises to be a celebration of community and shared musical experiences, offering something for everyone. Concessions will be available, with proceeds benefiting the Edwardsville High School Band Boosters. As the summer concert

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From live music and art festivals to unique flea markets and enriching educational workshops, the variety and appeal of events in the area are truly remarkable. Whether you're a fan of vintage shopping, looking to enjoy a family-friendly festival, or hoping to expand your knowledge with a class, there's something for everyone to enjoy. For a full listing of events, visit Our Community Calendar ! If you want to make sure even more of the region is aware of your event email cj@riverbender.com and explore our range of Event Promotion Services! 33rd Annual "Olden Days" is set to take place on August 24 & 25, 2024, at the Tri-County Antique Club Grounds in Dow, IL. This family-friendly event offers a variety of activities including apple pie judging, garden tractor pulls, a car show, and a parade of power. Kids can enjoy the barrel train ride, Agri-Land play area, grain play box, covered wagon ride, and various games and contests. With lots of food available and museums to explore,

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CARROLLTON — The frequency of and damages caused by severe storms and other natural hazards in Greene County will be discussed when the Greene County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meets at the Greene County Health Department, 310 5th Street in Carrollton, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28. This Committee, comprised of County, township, municipal, healthcare, education, fire protection district, and drainage and levee district representatives, as well as technical partners and stakeholders, will meet over the next several months to update the Greene County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. All Committee meetings are open to the public. “The goal of this Committee meeting is to identify how often severe weather events occur within the County and what kinds of damages have resulted. Based on this information we will compile lists of activities and projects to reduce damages caused by these events,” said Cale Hoesman, Greene County Emergency Services and Disaste

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), AARP in St. Louis, St. Clair County Transit District and Metro Transit – in partnership with the City of Fairview Heights and other partners – today unveiled the Transit Stop Transformation Project at the Fairview Heights Center, located at 9720 W Route 161 in Fairview Heights. Key representatives of the project and elected officials made formal remarks, cut the ribbon and invited those in attendance to explore the new, revitalized space. The opening comes after a months-long process of getting input from transit riders, area residents, elected officials and stakeholders through a series of design workshops, surveys and community events – and starting and completing construction. “This is our sixth project to date – and the fourth one completed in St. Clair County,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit, who helped spearhead the transformation. “Each ha

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that pavement resurfacing of U.S. 67 (Martin Luther King Drive) between 10th Street in Alton and Illinois 111 in Godfrey will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 26. 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. The project is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com. Lane closures on I-70 in Madison County HIGHLAND – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that pavement repairs on Interstate 70 between Prairie Road and the Bond County line in Madison County will require intermittent daytime

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HARDIN – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss the study to replace the bridge that carries Illinois 16/100 over the Illinois River (Joe Page Bridge). The meeting will be held: Thursday, March 21 5-8 p.m. Calhoun High School 102 Calhoun Ave., Hardin IDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has initiated the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study of the Joe Page Bridge, which carries Illinois 16/100 over the Illinois River to connect Calhoun and Greene counties. The Phase I study will look at options for the rehabilitation or replacement of the existing bridge. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the project, including conceptual corridors for viewing and comment, and obtain public input. Handouts and display boards will be available for public review, as well as information regarding engineering, land acquisition and environmental issues. Representatives from IDOT and

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JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville Nursing and Rehab Center was cited with the "most severe" violation of the Nursing Home Care Act, which occurs when a condition or occurrence at the facility proximately causes a resident’s death. Located at 1001 S. State Street in Jerseyville, Jerseyville Nursing and Rehab Center was one of five Illinois facilities to be cited with AA violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the second quarter of 2024. They will be fined $77,200. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) report on Jerseyville Nursing and Rehab Center addressed several incidents at the facility, including one resident who repeatedly fell and another who developed pressure ulcers. Both residents also had issues with foot care. The report also documented the facility’s “failures” in their management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which IDPH said resulted in the death of five residents. “Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed

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