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MADISON COUNTY - Football season is upon us, and not just for our local high schools and colleges. This season, Madison County Judge Sarah Smith was selected to serve as a Deep Wing Official in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. She is also officiating at the high school level, freshman on up to Varsity Friday Night Lights games throughout Southern Illinois. “I have three sons who all play football and a husband who coaches at the middle school. Football just runs in our blood, and since I plan on retiring from the military next year, I figured it was the perfect time to get into the officiating profession,” said Smith. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), which is comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin, began in 1972 as the Twin Rivers Conference and was renamed to its current title in 1983. In 2008-09 academic year, the UMAC became a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The UMAC includes

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COLLINSVILLE — Firefighters and paramedics from the Collinsville and Edwardsville Fire Departments participated in Swiftwater Rescue Training at the Collinsville Aqua Park on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. The training, which included both indoor and outdoor sessions, aimed to equip emergency responders with essential skills for water rescues. During the comprehensive training, participants learned various swiftwater rescue techniques, including self-rescue and victim-rescue strategies. Additionally, they were trained in the proper use and maintenance of specialized swiftwater rescue equipment and practiced rope systems and knot-tying skills crucial for water rescues. "While we certainly hope that the participants never have to use the training that they received today, we're glad that our City's emergency responders are prepared should an emergency arise," said the City of Collinsville. The collaboration between the Collinsville and Edwardsville Fire Departments highlights a commitment

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BELLEVILLE - The City of Belleville and the September 11 Memorial Walkway of Southern Illinois Committee will host a ceremony commemorating those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, community members will gather at the September 11 Memorial Walkway of Southern Illinois in Belleville. The Belleville Chief of Police and Fire Chief will speak, as will guest speaker Colonel Steven Puthoff, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, G3, Scott Air Force Base. “It’s a ceremony that lasts about a half hour, just paying tribute to those who lost their lives,” explained Karen Dauphin with the Belleville Fire Department. “We want to remember those and remember where you were.” In addition to the speakers, attendees will listen to a bagpipes performance and “Taps” performed on trumpet. They will also hold a moment of silence to remember the 2,977 people who were killed that day. Dauphin said the City of Bellevill

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ALTON - Dip a paddle in the Mighty Mississippi River Saturday, Sept. 21 during the Great Rivers Rendezvous organized by the Mississippi River Water Trail Association. Register now for this fun and recreational paddle that provides three different launch points for paddlers including a three mile jaunt; a seven mile paddle and a 12 mile excursion. All participants will be accompanied by trained safety boaters. All participants will finish at Alton Riverfront Park in time to enjoy the 18th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival. Kayak and canoe boat rentals are available through Alpine Shop in St. Louis and Mississippi River Water Trail by emailing grr@MississippiRiverWaterTrail.org or by contacting the Paddle Stop at info@paddlestop.com “We started this event last year as a way to introduce paddlers to boating on the Mississippi River and to showcase the paddling fun the great river provides,” noted Melissa Sauter, head of the Mississippi Water Trail Association.

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ALTON — Brian Dawson, a drywall finisher from Newton, Iowa, recently made a stop in Alton as part of his ambitious 2,450-mile canoe trip down the Mississippi River to the Gulf Coast. Dawson embarked on his journey in June and is traveling with his loyal German shepherd, Jade. Dawson decided to undertake this river expedition and seize the moment to explore the river. "I chose to spend money while I can," Dawson said. "It means the world to me; I've been waiting a long time." Jade, who has been with Dawson for eight years, provides companionship and security during the trip. "She has guard duty during the night and sleeps in the canoe during the day," Dawson noted. The journey, which includes breaks such as a five-day hiatus for the Iowa State Fair, has been both challenging and rewarding. Dawson has been documenting his travels every three to four days in the Mississippi River Paddlers journal and keeps in touch with his family and followers via Facebook. "The most interesting

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education spoke about family and community engagement at their work session on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Family and community engagement has been identified as Goal 4 in the district’s strategic plan. Mary Ann Mitchell, the district’s Public Relations and Communications Director, explained how District #7 has garnered engagement in the past year. “The goal of Goal 4 is that we will develop and strengthen genuine connections and partnerships that will produce positive outcomes with students, families, educators and the community,” Mitchell said. The district launched its new website in December 2023. In the nine months since the website has been operating, it has averaged 18,777 users a month. Mitchell pointed out some of the website’s functions, including a translation tool that will translate the website into different languages for non-English speaking families. “We

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GRANITE CITY - At approximately 6:08 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2024, the Granite City Police Department responded to a report of a single-vehicle traffic crash on southbound Nameoki Road at the Pontoon Road overpass. The victim sustained serious injuries and was later pronounced deceased on the scene by the Madison County Coroner’s Office. "This case is still under investigation and no further information will be released at this time," Major Gary Brooks of the Granite City Police Department said. Further details about the incident, including the identity of the victim and the circumstances leading to the crash, have not been disclosed. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the accident to come forward as they continue to investigate the cause of the crash. The Granite City Police phone number is (618) 877-6111.

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is now investigating a Monday night, Sept. 9, 2024, fatal Cahokia Heights shooting. Lt. Shane Brown of the Belleville Police Department will serve as deputy commander in the investigation. Authorities said the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office was called for a shooting in the 2400 block of Renois Lane in Cahokia Heights about 7:20 p.m. on Monday. When the sheriff’s office arrived, they discovered a man who had been shot in his vehicle. He was transported to an area hospital where he died, authorities said. The Major Case Squad has identified the man as Damonta T. Mosley, 18. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Major Case Squad at (618) 825-5200. Anonymous tips can be done through contacting CrimeStoppers at (866) 371-TIPS (8477).

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ALTON - On the most recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust , Brian and MJ spoke about building a relationship with God and embracing feelings of discomfort. The two co-hosts discussed the importance of letting Christ into your life. Brian shared that since he was saved, he has become a better person, husband, father and employer. He believes that allowing God into his heart has helped him to grow, and he encouraged listeners to do the same. “If you haven’t made a change yet, I’m failing, because my show is to hopefully give you hope, inspire you and encourage you to have that relationship with Jesus,” Brian said. “Have you heard something on the show that made you uncomfortable to make a positive change? I’m not saying uncomfortable to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m talking about, have you made that change in your life to get comfortable?” Brian noted that all of the show’s guests

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EAST ALTON - In a ceremony held recently, the Riverbend East Rotary Club presented its Business of the Year award to the Werts family, owners of the Wood River-based Werts Welding and Tank Service Company. The family, consisting of Nick, Cheryl, and Dwight Werts, received the award in recognition of their business achievements and contributions to the local community. The Werts family has shown a remarkable commitment to their business and the community, the organizers of the event said that day. Werts Welding and Tank Service Company has been a staple in the Wood River area, providing specialized welding and tank services. The family-owned business has built a reputation for quality, reliability and community service over the years.

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) awarded more than $6 million in grant funding to four recipients through the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program. This program is a partnership between DCEO, the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) and the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and is funded through the Illinois Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED). “We’re fighting homelessness in Illinois with compassion, innovation, and ongoing coordination,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to this award, my administration is one step closer to reaching our goal of functional zero homelessness by providing vulnerable residents the resources they need to find financial and housing stability.” "Too often, systemic inequities compound and force hardworking people into homelessness. Our communities have been asking for ways to uplift and protect eac

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ST. LOUIS - The City of St. Louis is asking residents to provide input and feedback on the future of City streets, sidewalks, and surrounding infrastructure through a new survey and upcoming open houses. Since the spring of 2024, the City has been developing its first citywide Transportation & Mobility Plan in decades. Once completed in 2025, the plan will establish clear, citywide priorities and policy recommendations for a safer and better-maintained transportation network, utilizing national best practices in ways that fit St. Louis. “We’re lucky to have forward-thinking planners and engineers in the City of St. Louis who are committed to making our streets people-friendly,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “While we create the plan that will shape how people get around in St. Louis for decades, we need input from residents from every neighborhood and people who travel on our City streets, whether by car, bus, bike, foot, or with any type of assistance. We

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Welcome to this day in history, September 10th! 2008 - The Large Hadron Collider Starts Up On September 10, 2008, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) successfully powered up the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for the first time. Located near Geneva, the LHC is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. This monumental event marked a significant leap in our understanding of particle physics, aiming to answer fundamental questions about the universe, such as the nature of dark matter and the existence of parallel universes. 1977 - Last Execution by Guillotine in France In a macabre chapter of history, France conducted its last execution by guillotine on September 10, 1977. Hamida Djandoubi, a Tunisian immigrant convicted of murder, was the final person to meet this fate. This event symbolized the end of an era, as France abolished the death penalty in 1981, becoming one of the last Western European countries to do so. 1945 - Mike the Headless

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ALTON - Improvements to a building on Henry Street are one step closer to getting a funding boost from the City of Alton following unanimous approval from the Committee of the Whole on Monday . According to a redevelopment agreement between the City of Alton and Honke Properties LLC, the city has agreed to reimburse the developer for up to $18,636 of the project cost upon its completion. These funds would be generated through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and would cover about 25% of the project’s estimated total of $74,545. As previously reported on Riverbender.com , the improvements consist of “interior accessibility improvements, including elevator modernization and hydraulic jack replacement.” These upgrades will be made to a brick building on the corner of Henry and East 3rd Street, which is currently home to multiple businesses, including Honke Properties. A resolution authorizing city officials to execute the redevelopment agreement was unanimously

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FARMERSVILLE - When folks see Natalie Wellborn’s jewelry or portraits, they move in for a closer look, then realize that all of the intricate negative spaces in her works are not drawn, they are cut out! Natalie is a paper-cutting artist. Paper cutting is an old art form that dates back to the fourth century, and it is not commonly seen in today’s art scene. Natalie discovered the art of paper cutting in 2008. She started as a hobby and got good at it. Friends told her that she should do something with the new skill she honed. She toyed with the idea, but she was busy with so many other things, including trying to stay in a corporate job that wasn’t a good fit for her. Natalie then learned that she had ADD, and that she was on the spectrum for autism as well. This explained, in part, why she found corporate demands so arduous. She left her job and started an exhaustive job search that forced her to re-evaluate her life. Husband, Zachary, told her she should step

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MADISON COUNTY - On Saturday, September 14, the Madison County Historical Society Family History Walk will take place in the Leclaire National Historic District in Edwardsville. This is a free event offered by the Madison County Historical Society to build interest in the community around us. Participants will meet at the Nickel Plate Station at 10 a.m., then follow a trail that leads them to various locations where actors portraying former Leclaire residents will greet them. Visitors will, of course, meet Leclaire founder, N.O. Nelson, as well as his daughter, Julia Lawnin, bathtub maker Fred Merkle, school teacher Mildred Shaw, housewife Emma Sehnert, cabinetmaker Charles Vollentine, and junk dealer Frank Mack. All will tell stories of their lives in Leclaire a century ago. In past years, the Annual Family History Walk focused on downtown Edwardsville. This is the first time the event has been held in Leclaire. Allow approximately two hours to complete the walk. The 2024 Living

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ALTON – In the early hours of Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, the Alton Police Department responded to a hit-and-run incident on the 1200 block of Milton Road. At approximately 1:03 a.m., officers were notified of the crash, which involved a vehicle striking a utility pole. Upon arrival, officers determined that the driver had fled the scene on foot. Witnesses reported seeing a male subject running away from the crash site. Following a search, the driver was located at a nearby residence. The individual was issued citations for improper lane usage and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. The vehicle involved was subsequently towed from the scene. Ameren Illinois, the utility company, was called to replace the damaged utility pole. The incident is under investigation by the Alton Police Department.

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SPRINGFIELD - On World EV Day, Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation announced $25.3 million in grants to build charging stations along interstate corridors through the initial round of funding made available from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. In addition to making travel by electric vehicle more reliable and accessible, the funding advances Gov. Pritzker’s continuing commitment to make the state an industry leader and fight climate change by putting a million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. “Today, I am proud to take another step toward making Illinois a national leader in clean energy,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Thanks to the NEVI program, we’re able to build an integrated network of charging stations that will help ensure we meet our goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. As Illinois leads the electric vehicle revolution, we’re fulfilling our commitment to cleaner, greener energy

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ST. LOUIS, MO. - The St. Louis Regional Freightway has added three additional properties to its growing pipeline of rail-accessible industrial real estate sites: Admiral Parkway, Forest Boulevard, and Granite City Buildings and Land. They bring the total number of rail-served sites in the pipeline to 20, spread across 16 locations. These sites all feature heavy industrial user zoning ready for developers to take advantage of the region’s global connectivity with access to all six Class I railroads and rail infrastructure that is constantly being improved. The new site locations offer more than 1,150 acres combined. Admiral Parkway in Dupo, Illinois, is the largest of the three, encompassing 1,000 acres with rail service potential through Union Pacific Railroad. It lies within an Enterprise Zone and a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and is located adjacent to Interstate 255 (I-255). The Illinois Department of Transportation’s FY 2024-2029 Proposed Highway Improvemen

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office charged a Montgomery County man with the alleged dissemination of child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse images online. The Attorney General’s office charged Troy A. Shull, 46, of Raymond, Illinois, in Montgomery County Circuit Court with six counts of dissemination of child pornography, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Shull is detained at the Montgomery County jail and his next court appearance is Oct. 17. “Child exploitation can cause trauma to survivors and their families that can lead to a lifetime of physical and emotional recovery,” Raoul said. “I will continue to collaborate with local, state and

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