Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - “If I’m walking, I’m golfing.” So is the motto of Rose Bensman, an Alton native who is celebrating her 100th birthday on Friday, June 23. Bensman started playing golf when she was 17. Her father bought her first set of golf clubs for $15 and arranged for her to take golfing lessons from Lou Miller at Rock Springs Golf Course; this was in the early 1940s. Eighty-three years later, Bensman has had two holes-in-one and is the only woman to be inducted into the Alton Golf Hall of Fame. “I love to golf. I will always love to golf. That’s been my game,” Bensman said. “It’s been the biggest part of my life.” Bensman plays golf at least three times a week. When she renewed her license this month, one of her first trips was to the Rock Springs course, where she also used to work. She would play golf whenever she had time, including before and after work. “You don’t bet against her,” said Fran

Continue Reading

GLEN CARBON - The Orchard Town Center (OTC) development in Glen Carbon will soon be getting a major retailer. Dicks Sporting Goods, a prominent sporting goods store, will be located in Outparcel 13, adjacent to the upcoming Meijer lot. Orchard Town Center is a commercial development located on the southwest corner of Governors’ Parkway and Troy Road. Dicks Sporting Goods secures its spot among several other new businesses announced as future tenants including Olive Garden, Plaza Tire and Meijer. As the largest U.S.-based, full-line omni-channel sporting goods retailer, the Glen Carbon store is the second in the Metro-East area. Mayor Bob Marcus is thrilled that Dicks Sporting Goods is coming to Glen Carbon, offering the community a greater range of choices in their sports and recreational shopping needs. “The families and residents in the Glen/Ed area love team sports; from our little league teams to high school and the SIUE athletic programs, we are an active community,”

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE – On June 20, 2023, the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was requested by the Collinsville Police Department to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred in the 1100 block of St. Clair Avenue, Collinsville. The preliminary investigation indicates the Collinsville Police Department was dispatched to a subject with a gun at the above location. ISP said when officers arrived and the subject, a 30-year-old male, pointed a weapon at the officers. "The officers discharged their weapons striking the subject," ISP said. "The subject was transported to an area hospital with injuries. No officers were injured during this incident." ISP said this investigation is active and ongoing, and no additional information can be released.

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Sunday, June 18, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Francesca Jones, 32 years of age, of the 8400 block of Lucas and Hunt Road in St. Louis, Missouri 63136, for three counts of Assault First Degree, three counts of Armed Criminal Action and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. A booking photo of Jones is attached. Jones is being held on a $750,000 cash only, no 10% bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: Defendant's sister's 2020 Dodge Challenger had reportedly been stolen. The following day, Defendant was driving with three minor boys in the car and noticed her sister's vehicle driving on West Florissant near the intersection of Goodfellow. Defendant chased the Dodge Challenger on West Florissant, turning onto Jennings Station, and at the intersection of Fairhaven

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) and the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Center are hitting the road again this summer to visit libraries throughout the Metro East as part of the Summer STEAM Library Tour. Now in its second year, the Summer STEAM Tour is an educational outreach initiative on behalf of the SIUE Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach as a means of connecting with area youth and their caregivers while offering activities that support area libraries’ summer reading programs. The reading themes this year include “Find Your Voice” and “Oceans of Possibilities”. “This initiative is a great way to build partnerships with area libraries and engage with community members with whom we may not otherwise be able to connect,” said Alicia Taylor, LLI coordinator. Last summer the initiative served more than 400 people in surrounding communities.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Public health is a broad field that has many different sectors. For Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus, Edgar Huichapa, he enjoys the ability to be creative by taking the different aspects of public health and intertwining them to address various health issues. This inspiration in the public health field has led him to travel around the world addressing health issues. Since graduating from SIUE in 2017 with a bachelor’s in public health from the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB), Huichapa has worked with the World Health Organization on malaria research in Ghana, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, contributed to development projects around west Africa and Europe, and is now in Guinea teaching gardening for sustenance, soil improvement, and poultry production. “My final internship in Ghana while at SIUE was a huge stepping stone and opened the door for my return back to the country and the rest of my adventures

Continue Reading

CHICAGO, June 22, 2023 – The Lotto jackpot has rolled again and is now worth a mouth-watering $17.9 million for the next draw on Thursday, June 21. This is the largest Lotto jackpot on offer since December 2018, when a single ticket bought at a gas station in Prospect Heights snatched the top prize worth a whopping $22.5 million. While a couple of $1 million Lotto prizes have been won by lucky winners in Romeoville and Oak Forest in April, the jackpot is still up for grabs. In total this year, more than four million winning Lotto tickets have been sold, netting players over $16.2 million in total prizes. Anyone could be next - all you need is a Lotto ticket to dream! There are over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State and the Lottery also offers a convenient online channel at IllinoisLottery.com or via its app. Lotto is an Illinois-only game that is played three times a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and the current jackpot is at $17.9 million for the

Continue Reading

ALTON - June is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, intended to raise public awareness about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated with PTSD, and help ensure that veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging veterans to take part in Screening Day on June 27 to determine if their behaviors are related to PTSD so they can proactively seek effective treatment. More information on Screening Day and other PTSD resources are available at www.ptsd.va.gov. Individuals who are experiencing suicidal feelings or self-destructive urges should seek help immediately. The National Suicide Crisis Hotline is 9-8-8. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Continue Reading

CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today voiced support for the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed Gainful Employment Rule. The rule aims to protect students by, among other things, establishing expectations that graduates of for-profit colleges and of career-training programs at nonprofit colleges earn enough money to meaningfully pay back their federal student loans. Under the Higher Education Act, post-secondary institutions are required to “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” If an institution does not, it risks losing access to federal financial aid. The rule was originally issued in 2012, but, in 2019, the prior administration repealed it. The Biden administration is now proposing a new Gainful Employment Rule that strengthens federal efforts to hold predatory colleges accountable. Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, submitted a comment letter to the department applauding this strongest-ever propose

Continue Reading

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – State Senator Christopher Belt joined Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Tuesday in announcing the expansion of Gulfstream’s operations St. Louis Downtown Airport, enabling the company to increase completions and outfitting operations while investing in modernization at its Cahokia Heights location. “This expansion of Gulfstream adds to the growth the Metro East area is continuing to see,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We are staying on top of the game by meeting the demands of the growing region, while leaving a positive impact for the aviation and aerospace industry and workforce.” Through a $28.5 million investment, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. – which designs, develops and services the world’s leading business aircraft – will be expanding its Cahokia Heights facility, which will enable the company to increase capacity for exterior aircraft

Continue Reading

ALTON - “It’s causing a bloodbath.” Those are the words of Susan Elmendorf, a woman who found herself on the side of the road Tuesday morning carrying turtles across Highway 367. She stopped because a large turtle had been hit earlier that morning, almost causing a car accident. For the next several minutes, she and another motorist shepherded more turtles from one side of highway to the other, dodging speeding cars and construction signs. “The turtles will keep going on that path because that’s their migratory path. They cross the road that they’ve taken for decades,” Elmendorf said. “And now all of a sudden, these turtles can’t get across, but they keep trying and they get halfway across the route and they’re just getting killed.” The highway cuts through the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers; it’s the road that many people take to cross the Illinois and Missouri border. Elmendorf said that most of the turtle

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville Motor Co. officially marked 100 years in business on June 21, 2023 with a celebration at the dealership from 4 to 6 p.m. The Ford dealership and service center has been family owned and operated across three generations since it was founded a century ago. The company’s 100th birthday drew a large crowd of support from the local community during the celebration on Wednesday. The event featured an ice cream truck, live musical entertainment, food, drinks, and lots of memorabilia from the dealership’s 100-year history. John Dwyer with the dealership’s Sales Department said he’s been looking forward to this day for several years. “It’s hard for me to fathom,” Dwyer said of reaching the milestone. “I started here 18 years ago and this is a date that I’ve looked forward to since the day that I started, and I can’t believe it’s here. It’s been a lot of hard work from a lot of generations,

Continue Reading

ALTON - John “Jack” Quigley passed away recently at age 83 but he left a huge legacy as a 25-year Alton firefighter, his work with Madison County Emergency Management, but most importantly, his role as a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many in this region. East Alton Fire Chief Tim Quigley, also a retired Alton firefighter, said his father was definitely a leader in emergency management throughout his career. “My dad did things that were not thought of at that time,” he said. “He was an innovator in the process of getting things before they were really used. My father and I had a firefighter relationship in addition to him being my dad. “We became really close the last years of his life. Dad loved the family aspect and lived close in his final time in the area to water so the grandkids could enjoy themselves. My dad helped me a lot in my firefighter and first responder career. I didn’t expect to go beyond captain but watchin

Continue Reading

(Note: This is the second in a three-part series about the upcoming Illinois State Police Team Illinois Youth Camp. Part three will publish on Thursday. Information is below on how to register for the camp with a deadline set for this weekend). COLLINSVILLE - Calvin Dye Jr. is a one-of-a-kind type of state trooper. He has handled many positions with the Illinois State Police over the years, but one of his favorite duties is to organize and lead the week-long Illinois State Police Team Illinois Youth Camp. He has worked for several years with Sandy Vohtas to make the camp successful and function each year. Calvin learned the art of public service from his legendary father, Calvin Dye Sr., now the St. Clair County Coroner, who also had a career in law enforcement. Calvin Jr. has always praised his father for his help in developing his character and career. The Illinois State Police Team Illinois Youth Camp begins on Sunday, July 16, check-in at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that bids on 236 contracts for highway and bridge projects were accepted in its June letting, including a total of $15.2 million to resurface 10 miles of Illinois 255 from Illinois 143 and Seminary Road in the Metro East. This month’s bid letting is the largest in the department’s history, fueled by Gov. Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois, which is putting people to work and enhancing the quality of life while improving safety and mobility in every part of the state. “This bid letting is a historic achievement for Illinois and further illustrates the kind of transformational investments being made in the state’s infrastructure due to Rebuild Illinois,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman . “Up and down Illinois, communities are experiencing the benefits of an improved, modernized transportation system that gets you and your family where

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Museum (ISM) will host community discussions about the 1908 exhibition proposed for the Springfield Sangamon County Transportation Hub. The first two meetings will occur Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Illinois State Museum and at 3 p.m. at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum. To preserve the history and culture of the Springfield community, the ISM has partnered with Sangamon County to create a community-focused exhibit highlighting artifacts and materials discovered during the archeological excavations for the rail relocation project. The objects found were remnants of homes built in the 1840s that were burned to the ground by a White mob action in 1908, commonly referred to as the 1908 Race Riot. The ISM is currently in the second phase of planning the upcoming exhibition and actively seeking community input and ideas. To achieve this, the Museum has hired consultants Dina Bailey , Richard Josey

Continue Reading

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Glen Carbon's Ryan Hicks is listed on the President's Honor Roll at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Those on the 2023 Spring President's List are undergraduates who have achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in all work attempted while enrolled in not less than 12 semester hours.

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton Municipal Band continues its 133rd concert season this week with hometown jazz trumpeter Will Schmalbeck. Schmalbeck’s return to Alton will be the cornerstone of the concert. This concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, at Riverview Park. The concert will be repeated at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, at Haskell Park in Alton. The Alton Municipal Band Conductor Dave Drillinger said Schmalbeck will feature songs from musical icons like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Harry James. In addition, the band, conducted by Drillinger, will showcase its powerful brass section with a wide variety of “Brassy and Sassy” tunes. Alton Municipal Band concerts provide free, live music in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Continue Reading

(Photos by Chris Mills and All About Alton). ALTON - Alton Police and Fire responded to a single-vehicle crash where the driver struck and knocked down an Ameren Illinois pole and live power lines Wednesday afternoon close to the Best Western on College Avenue in Alton. "Ameren Illinois had to respond because the pole was knocked down and also due to the live power lines being down," Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. "Traffic was backed up, but the scene has since been cleared with normal traffic resuming." Eastbound lanes in the area were closed for a time period while law enforcement and first responders worked the scene. Chief Ford also mentioned that the driver suffered "non-life threatening injuries." "The cause of the accident is still under investigation at this time," Chief Ford said.

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Today is the summer solstice, but for people in the Alzheimer’s community, it’s known simply as the Longest Day. Every year on the summer solstice, the Alzheimer’s Association sponsors its Longest Day fundraiser to encourage donations toward fighting Alzheimer’s disease. People across the country organize their own Longest Day fundraisers and events. Home Instead Senior Care in Edwardsville invited healthcare agencies to join them in providing information on dementia care and caregiver support. “I think the one thing that we all are hoping for is a cure,” Nikki Bishop, the owner of Edwardsville’s Home Instead branch, said. “But in the meantime, it’s being able to support each other with patience and compassion.” This was Home Instead’s second year sponsoring the event, which has grown since last summer. The Main Street Community Center hosted Home Instead and other agencies from

Continue Reading