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COLLINSVILLE – Just days ahead of Veterans Day, when we honor all those who served in the military, Ameren Illinois employees were recognized by the Department of Defense for providing outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve. On November 6, four Ameren Illinois employees were honorably awarded the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award for the extraordinary support they provide to fellow employee Darrel Eickoff, who also serves as a CW-5 (warrant officer) in the United States Army Reserve. The four supervisors – Kelly Slaughter, Paul Hardiek, Lacey Thomas and Joe West – are based in the company's Collinsville office. “The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Illinois ESGR State Chair Laurie

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ALTON - A resolution to add more stop signs on Alby Street in Alton is moving forward after receiving unanimous approval at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday. Over $86,000 in ARPA funds were also approved for various traffic safety improvements; all of these items go to the City Council for final approval on Wednesday. New stop signs would be placed on northbound and southbound Alby Street at East 4th Street, establishing the intersection as a four-way stop. Alderwoman Betsy Allen said these new signs are necessary to slow the heavy traffic in the area, and said other improvements may be made in the future, including crosswalks and handicap service ramps. The committee also gave their tentative approval for $86,483 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for more traffic signage and safety improvements around the city. This includes $29,381.20 for 20th and Alby Street traffic safety improvements and $57,102 for two solar speed signs in each Ward, a total of 14

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford announced on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, that the department has once again received notice that they are the recipients of a federal grant. This time, Chief Ford said they will receive $400,000 in grant funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) as part of the Community Policing Development-Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams program. The Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams-Community Policing Development grant is designed to expand the Alton Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team response by diverting those in need of mental health services away from jail, tracking relevant CIT data, and building a foundation for community partnerships and collaboration. “This CIT grant is going to facilitate our community outreach efforts greatly," Chief Ford said. "In partnership with Megan Tyler and her nonprofit organization, Sacred Spaces of CARE, we will engage in collaborative, trauma-informed practices

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ALTON/GODFREY - The Boys and Girls Club of Alton will sponsor their annual Tennies & Ties fundraiser as a fun way to raise money for the Club’s programs and celebrate 26 years of service. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. Speakers will talk about youth advocacy in the Metro East area, and many Riverbend community members will be recognized for their work to help local kids. “As the name implies, attendees are encouraged to put on their favorite sneakers and ties and come ready to play games,” the Club said in a statement. “The Boys and Girls Club of Alton, Inc. serves more than 100 local youth each day…It’s our mission to inspire all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” The Club sponsors an afterschool program and many groups to promote leadership, self-esteem, STEM

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PIASA - Southwestern High sophomore middle hitter Vivian Zurheide was recently honored with an All-Conference selection for her efforts in the 2023 season for the Piasa Birds. She is also an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for Southwestern. Zurheide's head Southwestern High girls' volleyball coach Derek Dempsey said she was a front-row player who started as a middle hitter and moved outside to strong-side hitter about three weeks in the season. "Vivian was by far our best offensive threat in terms of hitting," the coach said. "She should show a lot of growth as a player between now and next year. She is also a solid defensive player. She is very hard to cover on the hitting side." Dempsey said Vivian simply loves spiking the volleyball and constantly hustles on the court. Zurheide is a multi-rounded athlete and last year was one of the leading scorers on the Piasa Birds girls basketball team. The future looks very bright for Zurheide in all he

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Senate Republicans’ proposal to address border security: “For 30 years, Congress has failed to fix America’s broken immigration system, and today, our communities, businesses, and frontline law-enforcement officials are bearing the brunt of that failure. I have long urged my Republican colleagues to come to the table and negotiate on a bipartisan basis to pass immigration reform. Today’s proposal from my Republican colleagues is not a good starting point – it is not consistent with American values and it would not secure our border. It includes many of the worst proposals from H.R. 2, including a proposal to end relief for Ukrainians, Afghans, and others who have found refuge in the United States, who we should be aiding, not deporting. “I am willing to talk to anyone on either side of th

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor Pritzker joined international dignitaries and ambassadors, leaders at the Department of Energy and local universities, and other elected officials to celebrate the opening of Fermilab’s new Superconducting Quantum Materials and System Centers (SQMSC) Garage. The SQMSC Garage is one of the five Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, and one of the largest quantum research labs in the world. “The SQMS Quantum Garage signals a new era in this field, and represents the best of our National Quantum Initiative,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “SQMS will accomplish what few other can—building on Fermilab’s unique strengths in related accelerator technology and particle physics, and creating a global partnership which spans across academia, national labs and industry, and federal agencies to reach a new quantum frontier. I’m thrilled to see our state attract the best in quantum science,

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging him to recoup funds from for-profit colleges University of Phoenix (Phoenix) and Ashford University (Ashford) after the agency cancelled student debts for borrowers that were defrauded by those institutions. “For far too long, predatory for-profit colleges like Ashford and Phoenix have preyed on students, especially veterans, students of color, and low-income students,” the lawmakers wrote. “We therefore urge the Department to aggressively recoup funds from these institutions. This would send a strong warning signal to other predatory for-profit colleges that there are substantial financial consequences for defrauding students.” In their letter, Durbin and DeLauro advocated for stronger enforcement measures to protect student borrowers, including streamlining borrower defense

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GODFREY - COUNTRY Financial Representative Jeff Lauritzen is pleased to support schools in the Godfrey community with a donation of $2000. $1,000 is going to the Gilson Brown Elementary School in the Alton School District. Funds will be used for the purchase of inside recess resources and for the school’s “Reach Out and Read” program. This program focuses on providing additional attention and encouragement to promote greater literacy among students at the school. $1,000 is going to the St. Ambrose Catholic School to purchase additional content for their book vending machines. As part of this program, students can earn tokens through outstanding school efforts to purchase books from the vending machine. “As members of the Godfrey community, we’re all fortunate to have so many talented and dedicated people supporting area youth,” said Lauritzen. “Teachers and staff do so much with so little. I’m gratified to be able to provide funds

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Name: Tony Reese Hometown: Jerseyville Years of Service: 2007-2023 KIA: No Branch: Marines Rank: Gunnery Sgt. Submitter's Name: Phil Reese

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Name: Joshua Roe Hometown: East Alton Years of Service: 1998-2006 KIA: No Branch: US Air Force Rank: Senior Airman Wars: Kuwait, Served in Korea Message: US Air Force Firefighter Submitter's Name: William L. Roe

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Name: George Lewis Hometown: Alton Years of Service: 1940-1944 KIA: No DOD: February 5, 2005 Branch: Army Rank: Private Wars: WWII Submitter's Name: Rosetta Brown

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Name: Delbert R. Burch Hometown: Jerseyville Years of Service: 1951-1955 KIA: No DOD: October 24, 1995 Branch: Navy Rank: 3rd Class Petty Officer Wars: Korean War Medals Earned: Good Conduct medal, United Nations service Medal, Korean service Medal, National Defense Service medal Message: Served on the USS Valley Forge Submitter's Name: Michelle Franklin

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ELSAH - The Principia College Theatre Department will present a new play conceived and created by the students for their Fall 2023 production. “Stories From Home: A Devised Play” will premiere at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2023. The students and directors combined folklore from around the world to build their own stories and write a completely new script that directors have considered submitting for publication. “It is absolutely generated and rooted in what the students created,” director John O’Hagan said. “And it has been, for me, one of the most gratifying artistic processes that I have been engaged in, watching the students understand that not only do they have the capability to create at this level, but that what they offer matters and has an impact.” O’Hagan explained that over 43% of Principia’s current student body is international students. Along with fellow directors Rebecca Bailey and

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JERSEY COUNTY - The Jersey County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a head-on collision at 4:58 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, that occurred during heavy fog conditions on U.S. Route 67 just north of the Ringhausen Orchard. Lt. Matt Stidd of the Jersey County Sheriff's Office said two vehicles were involved in the crash and it was related to the fog at that time. He said thankfully there were only minor injuries in the crash. The road was blocked for a small time frame while the vehicles were removed from the scene. The sheriff's office encouraged motorists to use extreme caution during fog conditions that resemble what occurred on Tuesday morning.

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Statement from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois on IDOI finding, Nov. 3, 2023 The following statement is attributable to John Simley, Director of Communications at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois... "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois strives to provide its members with an accurate and usable provider directory. We recently completed a series of updates to our online directories to make them easier to use for our members and prospective members. "When we learn information is inaccurate or incomplete, we fix it. Information related to the four providers noted in the Department’s order was corrected in May. "BCBSIL cooperates with the Department and our active engagement with the Department is one of the ways we help ensure we are best serving the needs of our members. "Any member with questions about their network or plan benefits, should contact us using the number on the back of their member ID card." Note: Health Care Service Corporation received a $231,900

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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole voted once again to table an ordinance that would ban camping in public in Alton. Some of those involved in group discussions held since the item was last tabled say progress is being made towards a solution. The original ordinance would ban all camping on public property within the city, as well as the storage of personal property on or in public property. Those found in violation would be subject to fines of $75 to $750 and/or confiscation of their personal property, subject to certain terms. The ordinance included in Monday’s meeting documents features identical language to previously tabled versions of the ordinance. The Committee will likely consider an ordinance with different language and/or terms at their next meeting, though any such changes are still unclear. Prior coverage featuring more details about the ordinance and several public comments are available on Riverbender.com from when the item was first tabled

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GLEN CARBON - Spencer Homes is celebrating its 18th year in business with the opening of a new design center in Glen Carbon. Spencer Homes completes both new construction and remodeling projects with a specialization in accessible designs. The design center will serve as an office space and a gallery of products, with several samples of countertops, cabinetry and more for customers to see firsthand as they design their homes. “It’s the culmination of 18 years of a lot of hard work on behalf of our staff, our trade partners and our suppliers,” said Mike Rathgeb, the founder and president of Spencer Homes. “We’re able to offer customers not just the services but the product, and also we can offer them a 3D rendering so they can see their project before it’s done. And a real specialty that we started ten years ago was accessibility, so we design and build with longterm accessibility and mobility in mind for our clients.” The company

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MEXICO, MO. - Alden Grossardt, child of Jason and Morgan Grossardt, was inducted into the 135th Missouri Military Academy (MMA) Corps of Cadets at the MMA Passing Through Ceremony. The Passing Through Ceremony is an MMA tradition that officially welcomes new cadets into the corps after they have completed the Maroon Phase training, passed the cadet handbook test, and completed the Crucible. The handbook test consists of questions concerning MMA rules and regulations, the Honor Code, and Academy history and traditions; and the Crucible is a series of mental and physical challenges cadets must navigate as individuals and as a team. Crucible challenges included a physical fitness test, a 5-mile hike, a 16-obstacle trail run, a team paintball challenge, a team relay shuttle run, a team boat run, and a river crossing exercise conducted in MMA's Olympic-sized pool. "Our new cadets reached this significant milestone through goal setting, teamwork, and perseverance. I am proud of how

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GRANITE CITY - Sophomore right-side hitter Alexis Ruiz has a bright future for Granite City volleyball with head coach Grace Hurst. Hurst said this was Alexis' second season on varsity and she was willing to do whatever was asked of her in the season. Alexis is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. "She switched positions from middle to right side and even hit some outside," Coach Hurst said. "She continues to grow and is very eager to learn. She is finding her rhythm and has started to come alive as a right side." Ruiz did suffer a concussion this season and was eager to get back on the court and came back from that injury even stronger, Coach Hurst said. "Alexis can pass and swing, she is considered one of our best passers," Coach Hurst said. "She is someone who always wants to get better. I am excited to see how much more she will grow in the next two years." Again a salute to Alexis Ruiz for her recognition as a Stillwater Senior Living Female

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