Riverbender 🕸

Our Love Story: The Couple: Melissa and Scott from Brighton Date Met/Started Dating: June 22, 2008 Briefly Describe First Date: Went to Fazoli's, then to Riverbend Billards Date Married: June 19, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Being with family and friends, throwing BBQ Parties, going out on the motorcycle down the Great River Road. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Love, trust, and communication are key.

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GLEN CARBON - Brooke L. Tyler, 40, and Brian S. Sykes, 39, both of Collinsville, were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. They allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of fentanyl on Oct. 4; the charge was filed on Feb. 10. Bail was set at $15,000. GLEN CARBON - Jason R. Rock, 39, of St. Louis, was charged with forgery. He allegedly presented a fraudulent check to CNB Bank in Glen Carbon for $1,062 on Aug. 12. Bail was set at $15,000. The charge was filed on Feb. 10. GLEN CARBON - Donnie W. Cathey, 56, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He allegedly possessed between five and 15 grams of the drug on March 21. He was also accused of possessing a handgun in a motor vehicle without the required identification card. Bail was set on Feb. 10 at $75,000. GLEN CARBON - Michelle D. Hoffman, 41, of Caseyville, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Courtney & Josh Chapman from Delhi Date Met/Started Dating: September 6, 2008 Briefly Describe First Date: Game night with my friends followed by a bomb fire with his friends. Date Married: August 29, 2009 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Bingo, bowling, game night, and bomb fires. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Honesty, always make sure your partner knows their worth.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Matthew (Hunny and Love) and Julie (Babe) from East Alton Date Met/Started Dating: August 5, 2019 Briefly Describe First Date: Dinner. It was great, but not as good as the hug at the end of the night! Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Movies, cooking, games, hanging with friends, playing darts... everything. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication and honesty!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: David and Susan from Grafton Date Met/Started Dating: October 10, 1997 Briefly Describe First Date: We met at church through a Single Parent Lifegroup. I was a host for the Lifegroup and during sign-up Sunday I approached David and tapped him on the shoulder to personally invite him to join our Lifegroup. He came to his first Lifegroup on Friday, October 10th, and after the group was over...I didn't want the night to end! I invited him over to my house to watch a movie since my little girl had to get to bed. We ended up staying up all night talking and getting to know each other and finished the "date" watching the sunrise together! We spent every day together after that and married less than 3 months later!! We are getting ready to celebrate our 25th Anniversary!! Date Married: January 2, 1998 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Everything!! As long as we are together......we enjoy everything! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship:

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EDWARDSVILLE - Last Tuesday, Madison County filed a Motion to Consolidate the Preliminary Hearing with the trial on the merits. In that motion, Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine argued that “consolidation of the preliminary injunction hearing with a trial on the merits would afford this Court an opportunity to resolve, at once, the pure questions of law raised by the fundamental constitutional claims herein.” At a hearing on Thursday in Springfield, the Court granted Madison County’s motion, and set the trial on the merits for February 24, 2022. At that same hearing on Thursday, multiple petitions to intervene on both sides of this question were granted: as Intervenor-Plaintiffs are now Judge Amy Sholar, Judge Chris Threlkeld, and Senator Dan McConchie. Intervenor-Defendants are now Speaker Welch and President Harmon. “We are glad that the Court agreed that rather than spend precious time considering additional preliminary injunctive relief, these legal

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ALTON - Joe Rister performs what most consider heroic acts nearly every day he is on the job in his role as Ameren Illinois lineman. On January 13, 2022, Joe was driving down College Avenue in Alton finishing his day when a woman pulled abruptly into Rock Spring Park. Joe has been a lineman for Ameren Illinois for 35 years and is well-known around the Alton-Godfrey area. Joe immediately saw the woman had a problem and stopped and tried to help her and a passenger in her car. “I saw her jump out of the driver’s side door of her car and as soon as she opened the passenger door, I saw someone hunched over on the dash,” she said. “I asked her if I could help and she said, ‘please, my daughter is having an epileptic seizure.’” “The woman’s name was Lara Walker and her daughter’s name was Taylor. The woman couldn’t find Taylor’s epileptic medicine as it had dropped in between the seats. I found it quickly and handed

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Will & Katie from Jerseyville Date Met/Started Dating: October 27, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: Dinner at a Mexican restaurant in our hometown. Date Married: October 9, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love going out to dinner, hanging out with friends, watching movies, and cuddling up together with a good book. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: No matter how long you have been together or how many kids you have, always make time for each other.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Pauletta Kendig & John Betz from East Alton Date Met/Started Dating: February 8, 2016 Briefly Describe First Date: Had a small bonfire at my house with the kids. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We enjoy hanging out with friends and family. We enjoy spending time together when we can. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication is the key to a happy relationship.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Anthony and Shadia Vaughn from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: April 21, 2014 Briefly Describe First Date: Motorcycle ride down Great River rd. Date Married: October 19, 2019 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Watching Anime Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always choose your partner

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Starla Norman & Basa Brown from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: September 13, 2002 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to a comedy show in Fairview heights and had dinner at Lotawata Creek. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Relaxing, watching Law & Order, CSI, and Madea movies. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Try not to believe everything you hear and be there for one another and have trust in each other. Talk things out.

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ALTON - The organizers of Freezin' For The Funds recently presented a $3,520.42 check to the Alton Athletic Association. The Alton High School Class Of 1986 wanted to find a way to give back to the community, so they formulated the plan for the Freezin' For The Funds Day at Glazebrook Park Lake on January 8, 2022. It was quite a feat for those who participated to jump into the lake on that cold winter day. "The check was for $3,520.42 for the Alton Athletic Association, which we thought was great," Craig Lombardi, one of the event organizers, said. The people shown above are from left to right: Trisha Perks, Madeline Eades (AAA President), Cami Jo Giertz, Craig Lombardi, and Tawyna Hooper. "I just wanted to let everyone know that even though the four of us are from the Alton High Class of 1986 and that Alton Athletic Association won, this was not an Alton High event and we had over 50 charities and organizations that were registered which was great. It just so happened that the

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday night. The call to Wood River Police came in at 11:35 p.m. on Sunday, February 13, 2022. Wood River Police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Bonita Street in Wood River for a report of a man being shot. "Upon arrival officers located a male victim in his own front yard," the Wood River Police Department said in a news release. "The victim was alert and talked with officers. Medical attention was given to the victim. He was treated at the scene and transported to a St. Louis area hospital. The shooting was not random. "The suspect came to the home to make contact with a visitor at the victim’s address. The victim was interceding for the visitor when he was shot, one time, on the road in front of his residence. "The suspect drove away from the scene and remains at large." Wood River Police detectives are investigating the incident. Wood River Police Department

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Jeremy & Tonia Chapman from Bethalto Date Met/Started Dating: March 2, 2015 Briefly Describe First Date: Dinner at LongHorn and Miniature Golf. Date Married: March 14, 2017 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Going to the gun range. Going to the movies. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Marc and Crystal from Jerseyville Date Met/Started Dating: May 25, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to Applebee’s and to buy my cat some expensive cat food when I accidentally left my debit card at home. Date Married: August 7, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love to run together. We ran our first marathon together as a married couple in October. We plan to run all the miles! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: In order to keep a happy relationship, learn to keep keep your mouth shut… Just kidding … I think a happy relationship is a lot of listening and relating to your partner. Always looking at them in a new light because no one stays the same forever. Be willing to change and learn new tricks as they say! Never assume your partner feels secure and loved. Always remind them that they are loved. There is never a wrong time to send flowers! Chocolate fixes many problems, too!

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ALTON - Mackenzie Leonard is exceptional in both the classroom and as a competitive cheerleader for Alton High School. She is the winter captain for the Redbirds’ cheer team and is a scholar-athlete with a 4.1 GPA. Mackenzie is one of the Auto Butler Female Athletes of the Month for Alton High School. She has been a cheerleader for four years and competed in varsity team competitions for three years. She is a team captain this year. Mackenzie plans to attend the University of Missouri after graduation from AHS and major in education. The Alton senior’s tip to other cheerleaders is as follows: “Teamwork in cheerleading is so important. I wouldn’t have the same confidence in my skills if we weren’t constantly supporting and hyping up each other.” Mackenzie had some beautiful things to say about her parents; “I thank my mom and dad who have given me endless amounts of love and support during my cheer career. My parents have always motivated

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Taylor and Colin Ahlvers from Bethalto Date Met/Started Dating: June 8, 2017 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to mission taco. Date Married: October 8, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love going to eat Chinese, watching movies, and golfing. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Make God the center of your relationship. Also always bring your wife food home if you work late!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Damone {Big Daddy) & Michelle (Bubbie) Wittman from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: August 8, 1987 Briefly Describe First Date: Does high school Band trip count? Date Married: May 30, 1992 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Live music scene. Damone has been playing drums since age 13. Michelle has been watching him out in the music scene since he was 15 and still today and will be celebrating 30 years together on May 30. They also enjoy gardening together and time with their dog Lucy on Saturday’s getting pup cones and caramel Lattes at Shivers. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Do what you enjoy and don’t let others stand in your way. Forgive each other, support each other, and plan to grow old together!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Joey and Kaitlyn from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: May 29, 2016 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to a park to hang out when we were 15. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love sitting on our couch watching TV, going out to dinner way too often, and walking at the park when it's nice. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Never let a fight get in the way of your relationship. It doesn't matter how young you are when you start dating. They really could be the one. Don't listen to the people that say you're too young to be in love. If we did, we would've missed out on 6 amazing years as we grew into adults together.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Kelsey and Jake from Bunker Hill Date Met/Started Dating: May 4, 2019 Briefly Describe First Date: Lake and Texas Roadhouse Date Married: February 11, 2022 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Hunting, spending time together Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always make sure you communicate, communication is the key. Always tell the truth to each other.

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