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COLLINSVILLE - Junior forward/guard Mario Brown is emerging as one of the key players for the boys' basketball team at Granite City High School and on Dec. 13, he hit for 11 points in a 50-35 loss to Collinsville at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Brown is currently the Warriors' leading scorer, averaging 18 points-per-game, also leading the team in rebounding with 11,3 boards-per-game, also adding 13 assists and 17 steals. He's emerging as one of the key players for the Warriors in their 5-4 start to the 2022-23 season. For his efforts both on and off the court, Brown has been named a Stillwater Senior Living male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. Brown, who plays for head coach Gerard Moore, agreed that the Warriors played well in the first half, especially in the second end of back-to-back games, having won over McCluer High of Ferguson, Mo., the night before. The Kahoks slowly took control in the second half, going on to an 11-2 run in the third quarter to help clinch the win. "I'm

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Gori Law firm is proud to welcome attorney Thomas Sandifer to the Edwardsville location. Sandifer’s primary area of practice is asbestos litigation, and he looks forward to practicing alongside The Gori Law team. Sandifer received his education from Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois, and Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Upon graduation, Sandifer received licenses to practice in both the Illinois and Missouri Bar. A former municipal judge, Thomas Sandifer is an active member of his community. He previously served on the Board of the Chesterfield Community Development Corporation and as the Vice-Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission. “Gori continues to grow, and we are elated to add Tom to the team,” said Sara Salger, managing partner at The Gori Law Firm. “Tom is an active community member who has decades of experience working in personal injury and workers’ compensation litigation. We know his knowledge will

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ST. LOUIS - Cinema St. Louis (CSL) is thrilled to announce plans to acquire the Hi-Pointe Theatre as their new base of operations and programming beginning in January 2023. Opening in 1922, the Hi-Pointe Theatre has been a cherished landmark for multiple generations of film lovers, and CSL plans to continue that tradition for years to come. The Hi-Pointe Theatre is the oldest locally owned and continuously-operating arthouse theater in St. Louis. In 1977 the James family acquired the theater, and under their stewardship, the theater has become an iconic St. Louis landmark. The James family shared: “After 45 years of owning the beloved Hi-Pointe Theatre, we have decided that it is time to end our run. We have been blessed to share this theater with 3 generations of our family and have had the privilege of helping it reach the magical age of 100 years. We know that Cinema St Louis is the perfect sequel to our story. They share the same passion and vision, and we are confident tha

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff's Office announced this week that on Friday, December 9, 2022, the department had three deputies graduate from the SWIC Police Academy, Session 148. The three are shown above - Deputy Nicholas J. Strode, Deputy Emma N. Kindernay, and Deputy Ian W. Sikes. The trio spent the last 14 weeks studying and training at the SWIC Police Academy. "They will now train with a Field Training Officer (FTO) for an additional 14 weeks while patrolling the streets of Madison County," the Madison County Sheriff's Office said. "We congratulate these three deputies on their academy graduation and wish them a successful and safe career in law enforcement."

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) launched “Are You Really Winning?” - a campaign to build awareness of problem gambling and to promote helpline services for people experiencing gambling problems. According to research by Health Resources in Action (HRiA), four percent, or nearly 400,000, of Illinois residents have a gambling disorder, and another seven percent, or 700,000, are at risk of developing a gambling disorder. The “Are You Really Winning?” campaign will reach across the state through TV, radio, social media, and sponsorships to educate the general public on the signs and symptoms of gambling disorder and on the resources available to those in need of support. The campaign highlights the signs of problem gambling by asking these questions: Have you ever felt restless, on edge, or irritable when trying to stop or cut down on gambling? Have you ever tried to ask people for money to help with financial problems caused by gambling

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EDWARDSVILLE - It’s official: The City of Edwardsville is a “Bicycle Friendly Community.” The League of American Bicyclists announced Wednesday, December 14, that Edwardsville has earned a bicycle Friendly Community award at the bronze level. The City moved up from last year’s honorable mention ranking and is among 32 U.S. cities to earn the designation this year. The Bicycle Friendly Community awards reflect local leaders’ ongoing work to build better places to bike and to evaluate those efforts with equity and accessibility in mind, the League of American Bicyclists said. “We are grateful for the hard work and commitment of City staff, residents, and others to help us earn this award,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “This is only the beginning, though. We are committed to continuing down this path to ensure everyone can safely and easily get where they want to go whether on foot, bike, or other means.” To earn an award, applicants

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville is once again offering a Special Events Grant Program to encourage and assist organizations looking to host free events for the benefit of the community. The program was established to help offset the costs and boost the economic impact of community events that take place in Edwardsville. This round of Special Events Grants can be used to cover marketing costs and municipal fees incurred in hosting events held between May 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024. “We are proud that Edwardsville has become a destination for some of the most amazing, fun and creative events for residents and visitors to enjoy throughout the year,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “This grant program helps support those events, which in turn benefit our businesses and our community as a whole.” Any nonprofit organization marketing an event to attract visitors to Edwardsville may apply for a Special Events Grant. The maximum grant allowed is $8,000. The deadline

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ALTON - Junior Khalilia (Khas) Spitz is the Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Remarkable Redbird of the Month. Khas carries a full load of honors classes and participates in the music program while maintaining a 4.4 GPA and still finds time to be a leader of GSA at Alton High School. She was also selected to be one of this year's representatives to the Riverbend Growth Association Young Adults Committee. In a recent conversation, Khas mentioned that being a part of the Riverbend Growth Association is "super cool." Khas added, "I get to speak with a lot of business owners, and I get to see people who are passionate about giving back." Khas said that some of the local organizations they are working with are the Madison County Family Ministries, Tree House Center, Alton Little Theater, and also Kreative Kids. Khas mentioned that the RBGA Young Adults Committee consists of about 30 members, and they meet about once a month. Other members come from other Riverbend schools including Marquette Catholic

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ALTON - Robert Ryan of Alton is not an everyday 99-year-old. Ryan, truly a River Bend treasure, recently appeared on C.J. Nasello’s Our Daily Show on Riverbender.com. Nasello has guests every day Monday through Friday on Riverbender.com . During the program, Ryan was asked about his capture as a POW in May 1944 when his B17 4-Engine Bomber was hit head-on by an enemy air attack, damaging engine No. 2 of four engines. Ryan said he was a navigator on the plane, and he said they discovered they were 200 miles from Switzerland and Sweden, but also 200 miles from France, which was still occupied. “I knew we were in trouble,” Ryan said. “Because I was the navigator, I parachuted out of the plane first. It took a while to land. I thought to myself, ‘how am I going to get back to Illinois.'" As soon as Ryan hit the ground, he said: “A guy was aiming a rifle at me. He had been firing at me from about 1,000 feet down. Thank God he did not pull the trigger

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a terrible crime that occurred at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in the 5000 block of Delmar Blvd. in the Central West End area of St. Louis at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The KFC apparently ran out of corn, and when a 25-year-old employee went out to talk with the driver who was upset, they returned back inside with a gunshot wound. St. Louis Police say the victim is in critical but stable condition after the wound injury and is hospitalized. The suspect supposedly took off after firing the weapon. St. Louis Metropolitan Police said the suspect was a “black man, 40-50 years of age with a thin build and a scruffy beard and last seen wearing a gray hood with sleeves and a blue jean jacket.” Police investigators said the suspect was in the drive-thru of the restaurant, tried to place an order, and an employee informed him the business was out of corn. The suspect reportedly made threats toward the

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ALTON - The Alton High School AFJRTOC performed a Change of Command Ceremony on Tuesday night with Cadet Colonel James Paris relinquishing his command and Cadet Colonel James Mason now in command of the Illinois-981. Cadet Colonel Malson ended the evening with a rousing speech. Malson is also a Cadet 2nd Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol’s 286th Composite Squadron and a private first class in the Illinois Army National Guard. James Green, the grandfather of James Paris, said he was quite proud of the group for what they had done to return to action. The group was deactivated on April 1, 2022, but after the assistance of master sergeant Katie Rosenbeck and the cadets themselves, the program came back alive this fall and now is going strong. AHS Principal Mike Bellm said the new commander Malson is very deserving and will do a great job. He also praised master sergeant Rosenbeck for her leadership and the cadets themselves for what they have done this semester. “The Junior

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ST. LOUIS - Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced the appointment of former Wilmington, Delaware Chief of Police Robert Tracy to head the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. With a detail-oriented, data-driven approach to policing and a focus on building community trust, Tracy will be the SLMPD’s first chief of police from outside the department. His first day will be January 9, 2023. “After a competitive national search, multiple listening sessions, a public survey, and a successful town hall, I am proud to announce that St. Louis has selected Chief Robert Tracy as our next Chief of Police,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “Chief Tracy has a demonstrable record of reducing violent crime while building deep ties to community and faith leaders. He will be a trusted partner in our work to reimagine public safety in our city as we strengthen alternative response programs like Cops & Clinicians and 911 Call Diversion. Bringing in fresh perspectives makes our

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JERSEYVILLE - A mini-competition between St. Francis and Holy Ghost school members collected an enormous about of bubble gum for the three Children's Hospitals in St. Louis recently. St. Francis collected 209 packs and Holy Ghost 521 packs. The entire school community donated 730 packs and four giant tubs of bubble gum. "We collected so much bubblegum that we are able to deliver to all three children’s hospitals in the St. Louis area!" St. Francis-Holy Ghost officials said. "We are truly blessed to have such an amazingly supportive family."

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ALTON - Sparks Junk Removal & Hauling offer many services and this holiday season they are adding one more. The company is having its First Annual Free Christmas Tree Pick Up on January 3-4. Owner Denise Sparks said it's her way of giving back to the Alton and Godfrey community and thanking them for their loyalty to their business with Sparks Junk Removal & Hauling. She said that all you have to do is put the tree down by the curb and they will come to pick it up on either one of the two days. Customers are advised to schedule their pick-up on the company's website at Sparks Junk Removal & Hauling . While on Riverbender.com's 'Our Daily Show' Denise told host CJ Nasello that she'll have been in business for 30 years this upcoming May. The company offers services such as cleanouts, furniture and appliance removal, and light demolition work. They are now also in the dumpster rental service. Their flagship service is their all-inclusive junk removal. All you have to do is point

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EDWARDSVILLE - Nearly 700 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students enjoyed a hearty breakfast Sunday night, served by SIUE administrators, faculty and staff. SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeffrey Waple, PhD, and other campus leaders, faculty and staff, gathered to dish out a delicious late-night breakfast spread to students as they fuel up and prepare for finals week. The SIUE community wished students well as they finish the fall 2022 semester. The menu included French toast sticks, scrambled eggs, hash browns, turkey sausage, bacon, fresh fruit, pastries and juice. The Morris University Center, University Housing, Dining Services and Kimmel Student Involvement Center co-sponsored the event. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and

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COTTAGE HILLS – Community Hope Center announced today it received a grant for $25,000 from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., which will be used to purchase fresh produce, lean meats, low-sodium vegetables, soups, and whole grain pastas as well as maintain our fleet of trucks used to pick up food. Paul Militzer, Executive Director said, “This grant from Bayer Fund will be used to increase the choices of healthy food in our guest-choice food pantry. Community Hope Center is committed to providing healthier food options for our guests. CHC’s food pantry features SWAP (Supporting Wellness at Area Pantries), which helps guests find the healthiest foods that are available and provides nutrition information. Because of this Bayer Fund grant, CHC will be able to increase the amount of healthy food including fresh produce, low-sodium soups/mixes, whole grain pastas, lean meats, and dairy. It will also help CHC with the increasing costs of maintaining the

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 4600 block of Whisper Lake Drive which resulted in the death of an adult male. The deceased has been identified as Hershel Perkins, 60 years of age, of the 1200 block of Scott Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63138. On December 13, 2022, at 9:36 PM, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for an assault in the 4600 block of Whisper Lake Drive. Responding officers located an adult male in a parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. St. Louis County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons detectives are conducting the investigation. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators

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ALTON - Paige Bradley of Marquette Catholic High School and Isabella Hall of Alton High School were honored as Students of the Month of December at a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey held at Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Isabella Hall is an Alton High School senior and daughter of Joel and Amy Hall. Isabella has been able to achieve the accomplishments of keeping 4.5 GPA, being in the top 2% of her class, and receiving the honor of Illinois State Scholars. She has taken multiple honor and AP courses, such as Pre-Calc, AP BIO 2, AP Statistics, and AP Psychology. She has also had the privilege to join honors programs such as National Honors Society and Mu Alpha Theta. Isabella also participates in activities such as photography, which led to her being Editor for the Alton High School's yearbook three years in a row and winning many photography competitions throughout the state. She also works after school at 1st MidAmerica Credit Union as a teller. Isabella

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THE CONVERSATION - American scientists have announced what they have called a major breakthrough in a long-elusive goal of creating energy from nuclear fusion. The U.S. Department of Energy said on Dec. 13, 2022, that for the first time – and after several decades of trying – scientists have managed to get more energy out of the process than they had to put in. But just how significant is the development? And how far off is the long-sought dream of fusion providing abundant, clean energy? Carolyn Kuranz , an associate professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Michigan who has worked at the facility that just broke the fusion record, helps explain this new result. What happened in the fusion chamber? Fusion is a nuclear reaction that combines two atoms to create one or more new atoms with slightly less total mass. The difference in mass is released as energy, as described by Einstein’s famous equation, E = mc 2 , where energy equals mass times the

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ALTON - It won’t be long before the iconic American Bald Eagles return to their winter homes in southwest Illinois so make plans now to take your winter eagle-watching adventure to the next level with a guided eagle-watching shuttle tour available in Alton and Grafton beginning Jan. 7, 2023. All eyes are on the sky as the Great Rivers & Routes region prepares for the annual winter migration of the American Bald Eagles. Every January, experts anticipate as many as 1,000 bald eagles will migrate to the area reclaiming their winter roosts along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway just outside St. Louis in Illinois. To celebrate the return of this majestic bird, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau has slated two months of guided shuttle tours to help eagle watchers discover the best places to view the wintering birds. Starting Saturday, Jan. 7., tours will be available in Alton and Grafton. Tours will take place each Saturday through Feb. 25. Tickets for

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