Riverbender 🕸

ALTON — The annual Alton Halloween Parade, sponsored by the East End Improvement Association, drew large crowds and showcased impressive floats on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Steve Schwartz, a spokesperson for the event, noted the favorable weather conditions and the turnout, saying, "No. 1, the weather was fantastic. The crowd was as big as I have ever seen. It was a great crowd all the way through. There were some really good floats; I think it went really well." The parade featured various categories for participants, with winners recognized for their creativity and community spirit. In the Commercial category, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic took first place, followed by Mighty River Recycling and Tarrant Harman. Fred’s Towing was awarded the top spot in the Organization category, with Alton Pride and Alton Moose 951 following closely behind. The Family category was won by the Quick Family, with the Geisen Family and Trailer Park Troubadours Band securing second

Continue Reading

ALTON - This year’s Alton Halloween Parade recognized local first responders. The Alton Fire Department and the Alton Police Department were honored this year. Their chiefs, Fire Chief Jesse Jemison and Police Chief Jarrett Ford, served as the grand marshals of the parade. “It's awesome to have this honor,” Ford said, who rode through the parade with his son Brady. “I grew up here, came to this parade as a kid, and to now be doing this with my son is like the ultimate honor. But honestly, I know it's not about me. It's about all the men and women that are working tonight. So as I'm going down Broadway, I'm going to be keeping them in my mind, just how thankful I am for them. But it's awesome.” Jemison echoed Ford. He noted that he was “very hesitant" about accepting the grand marshal position at first because he doesn’t like a lot of attention, but ultimately, he was eager to take on the role and share the honor with his department.

Continue Reading

ALTON - Hundreds of community members turned out to the 107th Alton Halloween Parade. On Oct. 31, 2024, the Riverbend community flooded the streets of downtown Alton to celebrate Halloween. With 85 participants in the parade and several hundred spectators, the event was one for the books. “It warms my heart,” said Alton Mayor David Goins. “All the stuff that you deal with on a daily basis, sometimes the negativity that you’ve got to deal with, you can just kind of push that all aside and just have a moment to just enjoy and have fun. For Goins, the parade is “a big family affair.” His family and grandchildren joined him on the parade route, as did the National Council of Negro Women and Fourth Ward Alderwoman Rosie Brown. Dr. Bruce Vest is an orthopedic surgeon in Alton who has become known for his Halloween Parade participation in recent years. Vest’s float has won “Best in Show” multiple years in a row. This year, they

Continue Reading

ROXANA - As part of her annual Mayors’ Roundtable series, State Senator Erica Harriss brought together more than a dozen mayors from across the 56th District Tuesday. “Each year, prior to the fall veto session, my office hosts a mayors' roundtable event that allows mayors from across the district to meet under one roof and engage in collaborative discussions on important issues in their communities,” said Senator Harriss. “It allows me the chance to update our officials on state issues, but also to gather feedback on issues important to them to take back to Springfield.” Last year, the Mayors’ Roundtable was held in Edwardsville. This year’s event was held at the Roxana Village Hall. “We are proud to partner with Senator Harriss in cohosting this year’s mayors’ roundtable event,” said Roxana Mayor Marty Reynolds. “Bringing community leaders together and hearing about issues that are impacting or benefiting thei

Continue Reading

ALTON - OSF Medical Group – Primary Care (Alton) is pleased to announce a new board-certified family medicine nurse practitioner has been added to its staff to better serve the primary care needs of Riverbend region residents. April Oehl, FNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN, is accepting new patients at OSF Medical Group – Primary Care, located at #2 Saint Anthony’s Way, Suite 205, in Alton. Ms. Oehl will see patients Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oehl’s medical interests include (but not limited to): Family medicine As a current board-certified family nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Oehl has accumulated more than 19 years of experience in: Case management RN role and as an emergency department RN at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (Alton) Home health RN position with VNA-TIP in Alton RN/LPN medical/surgical and transitional care positions at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton An LPN role with Rosewood Care

Continue Reading

CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced open applications for State-Designated Cultural Districts in Illinois. State-Designated Cultural Districts are communities, towns, or specific geographic areas that have a distinct shared historical and cultural identity that binds the community together. Once selected, the State plans to make $3 million available to State-Designated Cultural Districts, and through the designations, aims to uplift the unique contributions of historic cultural districts with the goal of increasing economic development opportunities. “Here in Illinois, we are incredibly proud of our diverse communities — their vibrant and historic cultural identities enrich our state, bringing us together,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m excited to announce the second round of applications for State-Designated Cultural Districts to help support areas across the state preserve

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS – Richard L. Russell, a 58-year-old inmate serving time in the Bureau of Prisons, was sentenced to an additional 10 years in prison in federal court on Thursday for making violent threats against federal officials and for attempting to blow up the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis. Russell pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including retaliating against a federal official and mailing threatening communications. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe emphasized the seriousness of Russell's actions, stating, “Judges and probation officers serve the public by upholding the rule of law and supervising offenders in the court system. To threaten their lives for doing their jobs is abhorrent.” The ten-year sentence represents the statutory maximum for the offenses. Court documents reveal that Russell has been incarcerated since January 2013, when he was sentenced to 112 months for similar threats against a U.S. magistrate judge. On June 1, 2022,

Continue Reading

O'FALLON — As October is winding down, the caring clinicians at Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) Women and Infants Centers remind the community, especially new parents, that it is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month and want to stress the practice of safe sleep habits to reduce the risk of SIDS. Unsafe sleep is a leading cause of death for children one year old and younger. In 2022, there were about 3,700 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) in the United States, and 1,529 of those deaths were from SIDS. In 2021, non-Hispanic black infants were more than four times as likely to die of SUID then non-Hispanic white or Hispanic infants. Safe sleep practices are ways to make sure babies are as safe as they can be while sleeping to prevent SUID and SIDS. Medical experts recommend following the ABCs of safe sleep practices until babies turn one: A lone – Babies are safest when they sleep alone, with no blanket, bumpers or anything

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Jade Williams is one of a handful of graduating seniors on the girls volleyball team at Granite City High School who helped the Warriors make tremendous progress in her four years on the varsity. Jade played her final high school match on Oct. 29, 2024, as the Warriors lost to host Edwardsville 25-17, 25-10 in the semifinals of the IHSA Class 4A regionals at Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville to finish at 6-21 this season, but in her four years, helped Granite take great strides in their program. Jade is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. In her post-match interview, Williams sad about the season being over, and also took much pride in the team's progress and development. "I feel pretty good,' Williams said, "a little sad, because the season's over, and I've been with these girls since my freshman year. But overall, it was good. We put up a hard fight, and I can't wait to hang out with them outside of volleyball." Although

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Thursday, October 31, 2024, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Je’von Henderson, 30 years of age, of the 9900 block of Sloane Square in St. Louis, Missouri 63134, for Assault First Degree Special Victim, Armed Criminal Action, and Resisting Arrest. A booking photo of Henderson is not available as he is currently hospitalized. Henderson is being held on $500,000, cash only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation, and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: Police conducted a traffic stop on a 2014 Lexus being operated by the defendant for a license plate violation and excessively tinted windows. During the traffic stop, the officer observed what he believed to be clues of possible intoxication and asked the defendant to exit the vehicle. The officer also placed a tire-deflation device in front of one of the vehicle’

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER – LoveJoy United Presbyterian Church proudly announces the installation of new solar panels, a major step forward in its commitment to ecological stewardship as an Earth Care Congregation. The panels are projected to produce 68,874 KWh of electricity annually, powering the church and reducing its carbon footprint. As an Earth Care Congregation, LoveJoy United actively engages in practices that honor God's creation. We are committed to recycling, using reusable dishes, cultivating a community garden, and nurturing native prairie and butterfly habitats on our grounds. These actions reflect our dedication to sustainable living and decreasing the harm we inflict on the world around us. This commitment is deeply rooted in our faith. Scripture calls us to care for creation: Psalm 19 reminds us that "the heavens declare the glory of God," and Psalm 104 celebrates God's wisdom in creating the earth and its creatures. Our faith leads us to live out our baptismal calling

Continue Reading

ALTON - Alton Little Theater’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show” continues with a midnight showing on Halloween night. At 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2024, community members are invited to ALT for the show, complete with prop bags, treats, coffee and lots of fun. There will be three more shows this weekend. “It’s a lot of singing and dancing,” said Lee Cox, ALT executive director. “Everybody’s so into it. It’s a young-ish and energetic cast, and they love it and they’re all bonded together, as you can tell. They're very cohesive. They work well with each other.” Cox said the show is “just so hokey” and very fun for the performers and audience members alike. Directed by Becca Peach, “The Rocky Horror Show” tells the story of Brad and Janet, an innocent couple who find themselves at the mansion of a mad scientist. The cult classic movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is based

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s surveying and geomatics program has raised $520,000 to market their program to high school students. The four-year bachelor’s program is new to SIUE and is a collaboration between the School of Engineering (SOE) and the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Sciences. This program has a strong advisory board comprised of corporate and professional leaders in the field. The degree program is the only one of its kind within 300 miles of the St. Louis area. The need for an excellent talent pipeline is a pressing concern for SOE stakeholders, and with this professional program employers are ready to hire SIUE graduates. John Cabage, PhD, associate professor and Chair of the Department of Construction, said the funds for marketing the program came from surveying companies in Illinois and Missouri. “In six short months, we were able to get investments from 22 different companies,” said

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON-Wood River High School will host its third College and Career Night on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Missy Stuif, a coordinator said: "We will have over 45 representatives from college and tech schools, the military, and from the workforce." The event will be held in East Alton-Wood River's Memorial Gymnasium. "Please join us for a chance to talk to several college representatives, plus the workforce, military, and tech school reps," Stuif said. "There will also be some attendance drawings for students."

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE — Students at St. Francis Holy Ghost Catholic School were introduced to the intersection of faith and science on Wednesday when Sister Pieta Keller, a biomedical engineer and member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, visited the school to share her unique vocation with fifth through eighth graders. Sister Pieta, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, serves as an innovation engineer with OSF HealthCare, primarily working at the OSF Innovation Jump Simulation and Education Center in Peoria, Illinois. During her visit, she explained to the students how she integrates her religious calling with her engineering career to benefit others. “I truly feel that God has placed me here. He led me to choose a field that allows me to pursue my love of engineering, in addition to answering His call to serve Him. This work combines to positively affect people’s lives every day,” Sister Pieta said. Her work involves creating

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Metro East residents were grateful for the free health screenings, clothing, haircuts and more provided at the first Fall Community Health Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Alpha Complex in East St. Louis. Approximately 200 people participated. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing (SON), along with its WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis, collaborated with the Metro East St. Louis Community Initiative and the Delta Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. , to make the festival possible. “Hosting a health fair in East St. Louis, or any underserved area, is essential because it provides critical health screenings and resources that help identify and address health issues,” said Myjal Garner, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, assistant professor and WE CARE Clinic interim director. “It also addresses basic needs like clothing and food, improving physical well-being while fostering community trust and empowerment,

Continue Reading

BETHALTO - Zion Lutheran School in Bethalto, Ill. is proud to announce and celebrate the exceptional achievements of our Honor Roll students for their hard work and dedication to their studies during the first quarter. High Honor Roll: (pictured below) Avery Boots, Leticia Lorenz, Hunter Turner, Maelene Wright, Paolo Scheffel, Annabelle Bean, Claire Epps, Amelia Johnson, Grace Koch, Kylie Pfeiffer, Aidan Wheeler. Honor Roll: (pictured below) Jeremy Jones, Carter Whipple, Raine Sahuri, Isaiah Hanson. These students have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a passion for learning that truly exemplifies the spirit of Zion Saints. We commend their efforts and look forward to their continued success. Congratulations to all of our Honor Roll students! Keep striving for greatness. If you would like more information about Zion Lutheran School Bethalto Middle School, join us for an Open House on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Meet the Teachers, Classroom Tours, Q&A Session,

Continue Reading

ALTON - “The witches, the spooks, the jesters, the clowns and their like will be in their glory tonight,” proclaimed the Alton Evening Telegraph on Oct. 31, 1924. The East End Improvement Association hosted the parade and a grand masquerade dance at Turner Hall, as they had done every year since 1916. The first Alton Halloween parade and dance in 1916 was held to celebrate the completion of the long-drawn-out East Broadway street paving project, which went from Henry to Cherry streets and was open for the first time on Oct. 31, 1916. The 1924 parade and dance were the biggest and best yet. The parade began at Front and Market Streets, went up Market to Broadway, and wound down Broadway to Turner Hall. The White Hussar band performed in costume and there were over 30 floats. An out-of-town woman who spent her first Halloween in Alton was overheard saying that she “had never had seen such a celebration.” Alton has always thrown a good party on Halloween, and

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Public Library will be hosting NASA Solar System Ambassador Jeff Bernth at Wock Lake on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 as they party with the stars at the Star Party. All are invited to view through telescopes provided by the library, with binoculars you bring yourself or with your naked eye, the beauty of the night sky featuring a crescent moon, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and more! Bundle up and head out to Wock Lake at 205 June Street from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm and remember, there is no school the next day! No registration necessary. Thanksgiving is the theme for LEGO Club (ages K-7th grade) on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at 10 a.m. The Library provides the LEGOs for participants to make the theme or their own masterpieces and the Library will display the creations in the Children’s Area all month long. Preschool Storytime for children ages 2-6 will be hosted by children’s librarian, Miss Laurie. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the Library

Continue Reading

ALTON - A semi-truck delivering products to Dollar General became stuck in the grass in front of the store at 2901 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. The incident occurred when the driver inadvertently pulled the vehicle too far forward during the delivery process. The truck and trailer blocked Bloomer Drive, prompting a response from Alton Police to manage traffic and document the situation. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Continue Reading