Riverbender 🕸

GODFREY - The Community Christmas Committee for United Way came together at Freer Auto Body recently for their first meeting to plan out this year's campaign. Liz Campbell will be the chair of the 2023 Community Christmas campaign. Community Christmas is a program during the holiday season that collects money and items for families and children including personal care goods, blankets, new coats, gloves, hats, scarves, toys, baby formula, diapers, and non-perishable food for area agencies. Right now, the campaign organizers want to know who wants to have a Community Christmas box stationed at their business. Campbell said she is thrilled to be a part of Community Christmas this year. "It is a great cause and a heartwarming experience," she said. "I’m hoping we can come together and spread holiday cheer to families in our area.” For those who want a Community Christmas collection box, contact the United Way at (618) 258-9800. Freer Auto Body has been the catalyst of thi

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EDWARDSVILLE - SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has opened registration for its annual Veteran’s Day event known as Veteran’s Care Day offering free exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings and extractions to those who have military service. If this past Give Kids A Smile Day (GKAS) event, held annually during the October school holiday, is any indication, dental students and alumni will have a busy day in the clinic. “They’ve been all smiles when they come in here,” said Emily Bone, a first-year student dressed as a tooth fairy for this past October 9 day at the clinic for elementary school-aged children. “Coming here and seeing everybody in scrubs or scrub caps can be intimidating.” The tooth fairy and other welcoming faces, sans costume, are set up to greet students after their appointments in the nearby gym with games and patient education. Bone said, “We get to walk around help make the kids feel comfortable after

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O’FALLON — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is hosting an Electronics Recycling event on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to noon. The collection vehicle will be located in the parking lot in front of the Health Center at 3 St. Elizabeth’s Blvd., O’Fallon, Illinois. The hospital’s Reverence for the Earth Committee invites the public to do their part to support environmental recycling efforts. “As a Franciscan ministry, we strive to be good stewards of the Earth and proudly offer collection events such as this to the community,” states Chance Beeler, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s manager of mission integration, spiritual care and volunteer services. “It is an opportunity to reduce waste and treat the planet with respect.” J&C E-Recycling will be managing the electronics recycling collection and will accept such items as computer towers, computer components, laptops and wire. Other items accepted include: Printers Cell Phones Electr

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JERSEYVILLE - Three individuals have been charged separately with offenses ranging from aggravated battery to driving under the influence and more, according to recent Jersey County court filings. Michael B. Wilson, 62, of Jerseyville, was charged with one count of aggravated battery on or about Oct. 14, 2023. Court documents allege Wilson “knowingly caused great bodily harm” to the victim in this case, specifically in that he “fractured and broke arm in three different places.” Wilson was charged with a Class 3 felony. Court documents indicate he is being held in the custody of the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department until his initial court appearance. Tyler P. Reynolds, 25, of Grafton, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence of alcohol. According to court documents, Reynolds was allegedly in possession of “15 grams of a substance containing cocaine” and drove a red Ford truck on Powerline

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Over 115 years after his death, Richard Edwards remains among the titans of nineteenth-century education in Illinois. A devoted champion of racial equality, he was never afraid to take a strong stand. Edwards is best known as the second President of Illinois State University in Normal, where he was at the forefront of racial progression during his time at the school from 1862-76. Born on Dec. 23, 1822 in Wales, Edwards emigrated to America with his family in 1833, eventually landing in Ohio. There, he attended a school taught by a farmer. Young Edwards was apprenticed as a carpenter at age sixteen and taught school near Ravenna Ohio for one term. Choosing to further his education, he left for Massachusetts in October 1844 before enrolling in July 1845 at what is today Bridgewater State in Massachusetts. He graduated in 1847 and became part of a long line of educational leaders that hailed from Bridgewater State, teaching there from 1848-53. Edwards also studied at Rensselaer

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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, today announced two Illinois programs were selected by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs, selections in regions across the country primed for grown in innovation and job creation. The Chicago Quantum Exchange’s The Bloch: End-to-end Quantum Solutions at Scale and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Central Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Hub were selected and are now eligible to apply for the next phase of the Tech Hubs Program, which will invest between $50-$75 million in each of 5-10 Designated Hubs. Duckworth, Durbin and Pritzker championed these applications, advocating fiercely for their selection. “Illinois is already a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned for these Tech Hub

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Name: Darrin Stamm Hometown: Dickinson, Texas Years of Service: 1986-1993 Branch: Army Rank: E-9 Wars: Afghanistan Submitter's Name: Karen Bock

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Name: Clarence (Bud) L. Gissler Hometown: Alton Years of Service: 1942 - 1945 Branch: Army Wars: WWII Submitter's Name: Marilyn J Stewart

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Name: David C. Miller Hometown: Salina, Kansas Years of Service: 1966-1987 Branch: United States Air Force Rank: 05/ Major Wars: Vietnam War / Conflict Medals Earned: Distinguish Service Medal; Air Medal with Four Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Small Arms Expert Pistol; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Combat Readiness Medal; National Defense Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver and Three Bronze Service Stars.; Air Force Outstanding Award with Combat V Device with Four Oakleaf Clusters; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Air War, Air Command and Staff College, Squadron Officers SCH, Survival Training; many other recognitions by ribbons and certifications. Message: We proudly and honorably present our military hero, Veteran Major David C. Miller. During his active duty service to the country, he flew as a Command Pilot in both the KC 135 Tanker and B52 Bomber aircraft during the Vietnam era war, earning

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Name: Paul "Buck" Rintoul Hometown: Godfrey Submitter's Name: John Hill

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Name: Jim Wasser Hometown: Collinsville Years of Service: 1955 Submitter's Name: Anna Kallal

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EAST ALTON - Photographers young and old are invited to join the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center’s (NGRREC sm ) World Water Day Photo Contest. Submissions should relate to celebrating the Mississippi River, which can be thought of as a tapestry of nature, heritage and beauty. “This is an incredible opportunity for the community to share their connection and love for the river,” Environmental Educator Jolena Pang said. Categories include connections to wildlife, the watershed, and the culture around the river. There will also be a youth category. “We hope to see photos that range from capturing the natural beauty of the river to how people use the river for transportation and industry and also how the river is enjoyed recreationally,” Pang said. The deadline for submission is Feb. 1 - the link to submit is here: https://forms.office.com/r/EPsn09XBvS . Don't miss your chance to share your unique perspective! About National

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EAST ALTON – Winter is quickly approaching, and Illinois RiverWatch is preparing to train community members to monitor chloride levels in local rivers, ponds, streams and wetlands. Identifying areas where salt use impacts water quality is essential for protecting habitats and keeping people and animals safe. “Much of this salt ends up in local waterways where it harms aquatic life,” said Danelle Haake, RiverWatch director and stream ecologist. “We are seeking volunteers who are willing to check on their local streams several times between November and April. Each monitoring trip could take as little as 15 minutes!” During the 2021 winter season, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported using more than 522,000 tons of salt on roadways throughout Illinois. The trainings will be held virtually on: Nov. 6, 6-7 p.m. Nov. 14, 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 29, 6-7 p.m. Dec. 6, 7-8:30 p.m. Those interested can sign up for a virtual training on RiverWatch’s

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SPRINGFIELD - Halloween is a fun, spooky and exciting time for kids and adults as they scour for that perfect costume and people add spooky decorations to their homes. If you don’t keep fire safety in mind, Halloween and fall decoration can add an increased fire danger to your home that could create a real scary situation. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), each year from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 9,200 fires were reported to fire departments in the United States over a 3-day period around Halloween. These fires caused an estimated annual average of 25 deaths, 100 injuries, and $117 million in property loss. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that decorations were the first thing to ignite in roughly 800 reported home fires each year. More than two of every five of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment. “Halloween is an exciting time for kids and talkin

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ALTON - Melvin Osburn, one of the most active advocates supporting the federally-legislated Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA), is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the November Lymphedema Education Meeting in Alton – sponsored by OSF Rehabilitation Services. Riverbend region residents are invited to join the OSF Lymphedema Therapy team for this free educational session about Lymphedema and meet other people with Lymphedema. The November Lymphedema education meeting will be held: Thursday, November 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services 228 Alton Square Mall, Alton, IL (Enter the Rehab office from the upper Mall parking lot, facing Alby Street, under the"OSF HEALTHCARE" sign.) Interested individuals should direct questions or requests for additional information to OSF Rehabilitation Services at (618) 463-5171. During the past 10 years, Mr. Osburn, a native and current resident of Jerseyville, IL, has shared his story with literally anyone

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CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today visited with leaders of Illinois’s grieving Muslim and Jewish communities to reinforce her support in light of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Duckworth reiterated the importance of denouncing hateful Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic rhetoric and violence that has already led to multiple hate crimes in Illinois and around the country. Duckworth today visited the Mosque where 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume was laid to rest this week to express her support for the grieving community and discuss the spike in Anti-Muslim hate. She later met with several leaders from American Jewish Committee Chicago, Jewish United Fund, Metropolitan Chicago Hillel and the Anti-Defamation League to reinforce her support for the Jewish community in Illinois, who are reeling after witnessing the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. “Whether in Plainfield, Lombard, Israel or Gaza,

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bicameral legislation with Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM-03), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-03) to make two-year technical and community college accessible to more Americans by waiving tuition for eligible students. “Community colleges provide a springboard for students who wish to continue their education and a foundation for students to find good paying jobs through quality job training programs. I am proud to say that Illinois has prioritized higher education funding so that free community college, which gives motivated students a path to receiving a solid education without debt, is attainable. It’s time we also prioritize this funding at the federal level to start growing a stronger workforce,” said Durbin. “Those of us who weren’t always sur

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JERSEYVILLE - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a Jerseyville business duo has decided it’s their mission to educate people about risk factors and resources at their first Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar. On Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, two breast cancer survivors will speak at 5:30 p.m. at Brossio Tavern in Jerseyville. The hour-long seminar, hosted by Maven Makeup + Skincare Co. , will empower people to take control of their health. Maven owners Hannah Hutchinson and Kendelle Stahlschmidt decided to organize the seminar in honor of their many clients and friends who have been impacted by breast cancer. “We want to give them some information,” Stahlschmidt said. “I feel like people sometimes don’t have the information and don’t have the resources to maybe know what they’re looking for or why they would be looking for that, or a ‘it won’t happen to me’ mentality.” The two women knew about the importance

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CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a member of both the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement today announcing her support for President Biden’s request to Congress for additional resources to strengthen U.S. national security by investing in our domestic defense industry, countering China in the Indo-Pacific region, supporting Ukraine, helping innocent civilians in Gaza and Israel as well as bolstering security on our nation’s southern border: “This national security funding request includes much-needed investments for our national security. It underscores the President’s—and our entire nation’s—unwavering commitment to the people of Israel and their unequivocal right to defend themselves, while providing critically-needed humanitarian assistance for the innocent civilians suffering in Gaza in the wake of last weekend’s Hamas terrorist attacks as well as aid to our partners i

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SPRINGFIELD – Numerous Illinois state parks and wildlife areas will be open to youth waterfowl hunting during the 2023 zoned youth waterfowl hunting seasons, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today. Federal sites that fall under IDNR waterfowl administrative rules that are open for the youth hunts are also listed below. At most sites, regulations that apply during the regular waterfowl hunting season apply during the youth hunt. Hunters should check for changes to site-specific regulations and procedures. During the youth hunt, the bag limits are the same as during regular seasons. Per federal regulations, youth waterfowl hunters aged 17 or younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots, and mergansers as long as they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old. The accompanying adult cannot hunt these species but may participate in other open seasons if allowed at the site. Youth hunters must have a valid hunting license, youth hunting license, or

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