Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Stacey Threadgill and her husband, Ron, have a heartfelt story to tell about the not-for-profit organization Songs4Soldiers, which funded almost $18,000 for them to fix a serious septic issue with the help of Bart Schultz of Schultz Septic Services. Without Songs4Soldiers and Schultz Septic Services, they say they would not have a home. “They have a huge story, with huge hearts, and are still small and do not get the recognition they deserve,” Stacey said. “In March of 2022, less than 30 days after moving into our four-year-old home, we found that our entire septic system failed. I received the estimate from Bart Schultz Septic Services out of St. Clair County. He was gracious enough to listen to our story, waived his service call fees, and waived our soil scientist report and findings, as he stated he would pay for them himself, and he did! “I am a caregiver to my 100 percent disabled husband (retired military and 100-percent service-connected).

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The Center Square – Called an election-year gimmick by some, tax rebate checks start going out to Illinois taxpayers Monday. Critics say permanent tax relief is needed in one of the highest taxes states in the country. The money is being given back as part of the Illinois Relief Plan, a $1.8 billion aid package Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law in the spring. To qualify, a person must have been an Illinois resident in 2021 with an adjusted gross income under $200,000 for individual tax filers and under $400,000 for those who filed as couples. Taxpayers who filed as a single person on their returns will be eligible to receive $50, and those who filed joint returns will receive $100. If you claimed dependents, you will receive an additional $100 per dependent with a maximum of $300. “Whether you had to pay or you got money back, it doesn’t matter,” Illinois Comptroller Susanna Mendoza said. “Everyone who filed will be getting a tax rebate.” Illinois

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA-30) in reintroducing the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act , which would support the right to unionize by prohibiting states from banning union security agreements through “right-to-work” laws. “Every American deserves to work in a safe, good-paying job that allows them to support their families and save for a secure retirement, and it is unacceptable that in some states with anti-union laws—or so-called ‘right to work’ laws—some workers aren’t given that same chance,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to join Senator Warren and my colleagues in reintroducing legislation that would support workers by finally enshrining into law the right to unionize, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support hardworking Illinoisans and all Americans against corporate greed.”

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, today filed a comment letter in support of the federal government’s proposed rule aimed at strengthening protections against sex discrimination — including sexual violence and harassment — under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX). Title IX requires schools to provide educational programs and activities free from sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. In the comment letter, Raoul and the coalition applaud the federal government’s efforts to reverse many of the critical missteps of the 2020 rulemaking that imposed a harmful new process for Title IX sexual violence school proceedings. The comment letter also highlights additional areas for regulatory action under Title IX to help combat sex discrimination in all its forms. “I am committed to protecting students in the classroom and empowering our educators to create

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EAST ALTON – Environmental Educator Erica Doerr has joined the education team at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) and will be responsible for developing earth science curricula for teachers throughout Illinois, as well as leading community outreach events. She started her new role in early September. “I love working with the public and school groups and want to get them excited about science and the river,” Doerr said. “I got into this field to show others that anyone is a scientist and create opportunities for communities to be immersed in their unique local ecosystems.” Prior to joining NGRREC, Doerr led the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville’s Upward Bound program. During this time, she worked with high school students from East St. Louis and engaged them in science to highlight the different career paths available. She also led outreach programs as a geologist for the state of Arkansas, focusing on the New

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Photos may be purchased for personal use at: https://www.randymanning.com/Alton-Expo ALTON - The Alton Expo continued the recent success of Alton Amphitheater Commission events Thursday through Sunday at the riverfront. The Expo concluded Sunday night. "It was an awesome year," Alton Amphitheater Commission Board Chair Dan Herkert said about the Expo. "A bad storm blew threw at about 8 p.m. Saturday and it hurt that night some, but other than that it was really smooth." Herkert said the Alton Expo is simply "a great event." "We started it again in 2017 and it has been very successful every year," he said. Herkert praised all the various entertainment acts for great performances and said Platinum Rock, Saturday night's band, even stuck around through the storm and resumed play when the storm ended and played until about 11 p.m. He said he couldn't say enough about the Alton Amphitheater Commission Board members, the City of Alton, Luehrs Entertainment for the rides, and all

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ALTON - The Alton Pride Festival showed strong unity and drew large crowds with entertainment from noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Belle Street in Alton. Bubby’s and Sissy’s on Belle was a catalyst for the event. Michael Paynic, the owner of Bubby’s and Sissy’s, said this was the first Pride event and the turnout was “amazing.” “It is very overwhelming,” he said while the band Porch Cafe was performing. “We had a wide variety of vendors and great food. “We even have an amazing Kid Zone. We have a great board on Alton Pride and we have worked very hard the past nine months to pull this off. We started in 2019 and were going to have a festival in 2020, but the COVID Pandemic occurred. We started again about nine months ago and had to cram to get it all together. "Ultimately we would like to provide a safe haven for youth or anyone not accepted by family and friends as a place to go. The City of Alton, the mayor, the police

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BLOOMINGTON - Now that Labor Day has come and gone, so have the days of summer sun into the evening hours. While this is a typical sign of changing seasons, it can also come with a change in mood for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It’s estimated that SAD affects 5-million to 8-million people a year in the United States, particularly in late fall and colder, winter months when days are shorter and nights are longer. It is thought to be related to the lack of available sunlight, leading to a deficiency of Vitamin D. This can disrupt a person’s natural sleep cycle, and the effect on the brain can cause a person to function differently. “People in the winter time, particularly in northern, far northern latitudes or far southern latitudes, farther away from the equator will tend to get kind of sluggish and maybe depressed, they start to have carbohydrate cravings, and it may be enough that it’s really a significant problem for them,”

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MASCOUTAH - Work to add nearly 3,100 linear feet of new Taxiway Lima pavement and a new Taxiway Bridge over Crooked Creek is underway at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV). The $37.7 million project will provide airfield access to a future aviation business park on the south side of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, where the new Boeing Production Facility already under construction will be the first tenant. The project will also include drainage improvements, a new perimeter security fence, the extension of the existing perimeter road and improvements to the electrical and access control. Begun in April 2022, the project is funded through grants issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The work is set to finish by mid-2023 and will ultimately serve to connect the airport to the Boeing Production Facility and other new developments surrounding it. The new Boeing facility is set to be completed in

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Almost everyone suffers from bouts of insomnia from time to time. In fact, nearly 60 million Americans a year experience insomnia and wake up feeling unrefreshed. The common sleep disorder can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause someone to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. “It needs to have some daytime consequence to be considered insomnia,” explained Dr. Sarah Zallek, medical director of OSF Sleep in Peoria, Illinois. “You can’t just have a little trouble sleeping and feel great in the day and we would call it insomnia; we would say that’s a little trouble falling asleep. Insomnia is really trouble sleeping that is associated with daytime dysfunction, like tiredness or inattention or mood problems and so on.”For most people, insomnia goes away after lifestyle factors like family or work stresses resolve. However, for those who suffer from ongoing untreated insomnia, the National Institutes of Health

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) is ramping up efforts to educate the public on ovarian cancer’s impact this September, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Now in its 20th year of service, the organization will be hosting community events throughout September and October that serve as an invitation to community members, and women, in particular, to attend and learn about the four most common symptoms (“Watch 4 the Signs”), support those battling ovarian cancer and remember loved ones, and help fund ovarian cancer research. Overall signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include: Abdominal bloating or swelling. Quickly feeling full when eating. Weight loss. Discomfort in the pelvic area. Fatigue. Back pain. Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation. A frequent need to urinate. SLOCA is the only nonprofit in Missouri devoted solely to ovarian cancer awareness and survivor support. The organization was founded in 2002 by

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department has released information about a fatal traffic crash at 3:43 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in the 3200 block of Belle Street in Alton. The driver in the crash has been identified as a 15-year-old juvenile. Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said: "With him being a juvenile, his name is not being released. His family has been notified and his family was with him at the hospital." Officers and members of the Alton Fire Department arrived and located the vehicle in the wood line in the 3200 block of Belle Street. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was transported via ambulance to a local hospital. He was later pronounced deceased by the Madison County Coroner’s Office as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Deputy Police Chief Ford said the investigation revealed that the Kia vehicle was traveling northbound on Belle Street when it left the roadway, entered the wood line, and struck a tree. "Further investigation has determine

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EVERGREEN PARK - For years, colon cancer was believed by many to be an “old person’s disease.” However, a study revealed that young patients ages 20 to 29 have recently seen the highest spike in rates of diagnosed colon cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 18,000 people under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year in the United States. Many of these cases are being diagnosed at late stages, which is believed to be happening in large part because many young people brush off symptoms as being nothing out of the norm. “I think there is a misconception that when you are young, your risk of colon cancer is smaller. What ends up happening is a lot of people just discredit it as something they ate, or needing to be on a better diet or other issues that have been going on. But when you talk to these people who have had colon cancer who are younger, they typically have been having these symptoms for some time,”

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SHEFFIELD - People across the United States have been turning to essential oils more and more frequently in recent years. Their growing popularity has made them easy to access, and there seems to be an essential oil for everything. But are they really good for your health? Rachel Gustafson, an OSF HealthCare family medicine advanced practice nurse, breaks it down for us. “They can be used topically, aromatically, or some people take them as capsules. They can help with reductions in stress, nausea, anxiety, depression, headaches – there is a wide range of reasons people use them,” says Gustafon. There are a number of scents that have different benefits to them, but some scents in particular are more widely used than others. Lavender is commonly used for decreasing stress, anxiety, and aiding in sleep; lemon is recommended for a fresh, clean feeling; peppermint helps with headaches and nausea; and tea tree is widely used in skin care. There are also products available

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announces intermittent lane closures on I-270 between IL 3 and Riverview Dr. in Missouri, beginning on Monday, September 12, 2022, weather permitting. Lane restrictions for Eastbound I-270 will be between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm while the lane restrictions for Westbound I-270 will be between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times. This work is needed to inspect the bridge deck and will be completed by Friday, September 23. Motorists should expect delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Motorist should consider alternate routes to avoid the work area if feasible. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the 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 Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view are

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EAST ST. LOUIS – At 1:15 a.m. on August 24, 2022, a 59-year-old male of East St. Louis was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in the 1800 block of State Street in East St. Louis. The Illinois State Police and East St. Louis Police Department are requesting assistance in identifying a person of interest. Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866-371-8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org . Witnesses can remain anonymous. A video of the person of interest can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/dhe2MGnrZis

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School Homecoming activities kick off on Monday, September 12, with Spirit Week which is organized by Student Council. The students spend time decorating and having fun activities planned for each day of Homecoming Week which includes Themed Dress up days which also bring awareness to local charities and cancer organizations. This year's Homecoming Court will be introduced at Johnson's Corner at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, which will include a caravan led by the MCHS Drumline to the Public School Stadium field. The game begins at 7 p.m. The Homecoming Dance at Marquette is the following Saturday, Sept. 17, and Homecoming Week at MCHS will end with a Homecoming Mass beginning at noon on Sunday, September 18, at Alumni Plaza. "The students and faculty are looking forward to a fun, eventful week celebrating all things Marquette!" - Nichole Stevenson, Student Council Moderator, said.

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ALTON - Alton Main Street and Jacoby Arts Center are excited to present a new Downtown Alton Mural Grant Program. This program is designed to assist property and business owners in the funding and implementation of murals and artwork for the purpose of creating a positive visual impact, stimulating private investment, and complementing other community development efforts, while tapping into community talent and investing in local artists. In order to be eligible, the building must be located within the Alton Main Street district boundary. A business or property owner may apply for a proposed project with a budget of $1,250. The grant is designed to cover estimated material costs of $250 and an estimated artist stipend of $1,000. Interested property owners and tenants with owners’ permission may submit an application along with a photo of the intended location to be painted. Full details as well as a form for artists to express interest in painting a mural can be found at:

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EDWARDSVILLE - The colorful Artbus from the Macoupin Art Collective (“the Mac”) was in Edwardsville Wednesday afternoon at the Gugger house to get additional storage space and shelving installed by Amy and Chuck Gugger with the assistance of Brandace Cloud, Director of the Mac. Chuck and Amy are experienced handypersons and helped plan the design of this bus to be used for an outreach program taking art to locations where children have limited opportunities to develop art skills and self-expression. Joe Gugger, brother of Chuck, stopped by to check in on the progress and remarked on the eye-catching bus that was decorated by community volunteers. Amy said, “We feel fortunate to be able to help such a unique program as this Artbus. It was a challenge to figure out how to change a school bus into a mobile art studio but an interesting process to design and build it. When I first heard of the Artreach idea, I was hooked and offered to help.” Chuck

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JERSEYVILLE - The JCHS theater department starts the school year with The Plot Like Gravy Thickens. The play is a murder mystery and comedy with audience interaction that is enjoyable for any age. The show will take place on September 22 through 25 and tickets are $10 per person; audience members can purchase them in the office or at the door. As the play begins, Walter, a playwright’s alter-ego, paints the perfect crime on Edward’s 50th Birthday. The only leads in the murder are 13 prime suspects, all with different motives. Audience members will help the detective solve the case and arrest the guilty party. During the second act, improvisation is a primary aspect for the actors on stage, presenting a few challenges for them. “Honestly, I just try to be my character. Like truly be Tony, and not just memorize lines,” said Camden Schroeder, the actor who plays Tony Blackwell. All the actors are finding means to overcome these challenges; by

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