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SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced his Administration’s plan to eliminate $10,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 a year and to extend the student loan payment freeze until December 31: “Tens of millions of Americans are plagued by student loan debt in pursuit of a quality education. Today’s announcement by President Biden is a crucial step to enable low- and middle-income borrowers—especially communities of color—to eliminate their debt so they can buy a home, start a business, save for emergencies, and fully participate in our economy. President Biden and Congressional Democrats are delivering on our promises and focused on lifting up working families and the economy.” Today’s announcement also allocates up to $20,000 of debt cancellation for Pell Grant recipients. On average, Illinois students

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a firearms enforcement blitz with details in all 102 counties across the state from June 16 through July 31, 2022. The enforcement details are designed to ensure those who have had their firearm rights revoked are in compliance with the Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) Act . “ISP is continuously and aggressively looking for ways to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those posing a significant threat to themselves or others,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Through these enforcement details, we are strengthening our impact in reducing gun violence and protecting our communities.” During the enforcement blitz, ISP completed 201 details statewide consisting of 1,742 compliance checks. As a result of these efforts, 1,027 individuals were placed into compliance by surrendering their FOID Cards, transferring all firearms out of their possession, and completing a Firearm Disposition

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WOOD RIVER - When motorists drive on Illinois 143 to Wood River or out of the city, they automatically observe the busy East End Retention Project. Workers have been out there for the entire summer grading and installing pipes. The project is adjacent to the Kia dealership. The goal of the project is to create a way to drain excess water from the 15 acres of land, so it can be developed. Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said there has already been interest in the land from area developers, so the project has aroused attention. Stalcup said the good news is the irrigation project will hopefully be done within the month, depending on the weather. Mayor Stalcup said he is very excited to get the East End Retention Project completed to begin development. He said the area has great business potential for the City of Wood River. "It will take out the long-time flooding of that area, so we can do some development," he said. "We had a business developer in last week to look at the area,

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WOOD RIVER - Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc., marks its 65th year in business this year. The company headquarters are located in Wood River. Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc., is the leading supplier of tank trailer parts and equipment, trailers, and straight trucks, and has two fully accredited "R" stamp shops. Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc. was founded in 1957 in Wood River, by Robert and Verna Werts. They were joined in 1977 by their son, Dwight Werts, who is now the company’s President/CEO. In the years past, the Werts family found it necessary to expand, to better serve their customers, so in 1991 they opened a branch in San Antonio, Texas. Seeing a need for further expansion, in December of 1997, they opened new branches in Birmingham, Ala., Atlanta, Ga., and Tampa, Fla. In 2003, they opened their sixth branch, this one in Des Moines, Iowa, then in December 2011, a seventh branch addition, this one in Billings, Montana. In February 2013, Werts expanded again by openin

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ALTON - This Saturday, August 27th, join author Troy Taylor for the official release of the new, updated, and revised version of his classic book 'HAUNTED ALTON.' The original book came out on December 1st, 1999. Mineral Springs Haunted Tours located at 301 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002 will host Taylor's book release and signing from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. According to his bio found on Audible, he is a supernatural historian, murder buff, and the author of almost 90 books on ghosts, hauntings, history, crime, and the unexplained in America. Troy is also the founder of the American Hauntings Ghost Tour Company. Some of those tours are located in Chicago, Springfield, and right here in Alton. To find out more information or to book a tour visit the website here . You can also check out his Facebook page with more than 30,000 followers here . Troy describes Alton as “such a great town.” “Alton is a fun place to go back and dig up stories that people have never hear

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EAST ALTON – Illinois RiverWatch staff are looking for volunteers to help monitor local streams throughout the Metro East region at three events this September. “The events taking place this fall will serve three purposes,” Hannah Griffis, RiverWatch technician, and volunteer coordinator said. “New volunteers will be introduced to the program, current volunteers will become more comfortable with monitoring, and RiverWatch staff will be able to collect more data in the Metro East area.” The dates and locations include: September 17: Centennial Park, Swansea IL September 22: Piasa Creek, Godfrey IL September 24: The Nature Institute, Godfrey IL More details will be provided to volunteers who register. Each event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers will be getting in the streams and participating in all of the monitoring steps. It is best to wear rain boots or other closed-toed shoes that can get wet. To register visit https://conta.cc/3c2HXZe

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Township’s 8 th Annual Touch-A-Truck event is a month on Saturday, September 24 th at Edwardsville Township Community Park, 6368 Center Grove Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Planning around 25vehicles will be on site for children to explore throughout the day. The free, family-oriented event, which has happened every year since 2014 (except in 2020 due to the pandemic), is open to the public. Each year, Touch-A-Truck brings thousands of people to the Park throughout the day. Families and kids are encouraged to check out many vehicles they see every day and others that are not often accessible. Emergency vehicles, farm equipment, antique tractors, boom trucks, line trucks, and more are open to young explorers all day. Local companies will be handing out free merchandise to attendees while supplies last. During the event, children are able to explore a wide range of their favorite vehicles. Previous years have included vehicles like, the SSM Health Cardinal

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ALTON - 'Our Daily Show!' is Riverbender.com's newest daily morning news talk show, and began last Monday, August 15th. It's hosted, produced, and edited by AHS graduate CJ Nasello and has already had multiple guests appear on the show. Tuesday morning's first guest was none other than Dallas Martz, general manager for the Alton River Dragons. The two talked about everything from the postseason to the origin of their mascot, signing players at a concession stand, and more. To watch the entire Martz interview click on the video found above. The first question Nasello asked was about the Boyz II Men concert on Sunday, August 21. Martz walked out on stage to get the crowd hyped up at the Alton Amphitheater. "It was exciting, it was a lot of fun," Martz said. The two also talked about the River Dragons' four all-stars including league MVP Eddie King Jr. out of Louisville University. "When you have the MVP on your team, obviously that's pretty special." "He's an incredible person,"

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ST. LOUIS - People everywhere are feeling the impacts of climate change with more frequent and intense weather events threatening our communities. September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross of Central and Northern Missouri urges everyone to get ready for these emergencies now. Just last year, more than 40% of Americans — some 130 million people — were living in a county struck by a climate-related disaster, according to an analysis from the Washington Post. Disasters can happen anywhere, anytime. You can be ready by visiting redcross.org/prepare . “More powerful climate-driven occurrences are happening across the U.S. than ever before,” said Beth Elders, executive director, Red Cross of Greater St. Louis. “In fact, there have been more climate-related disasters in the nation over the past two decades than in any other country. It’s vital that everyone take steps to be prepared.” THREE EASY STEP S Three simple

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LITCHFIELD - A new lakeside living community with 41 custom homesites spread over 70 acres has opened on the shores of Lake Lou Yaeger, located one hour north of St. Louis in Litchfield, Illinois. Eagle Ridge offers potential residents a variety of waterfront and wooded homesites to design and build their own new custom homes for weekend or year-round living using their own architect and builder. Residents of Eagle Ridge can enjoy an active lifestyle available at popular Lake Lou Yaeger, including boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, beach activities, picnicking, and playgrounds, as well as hiking, biking, birdwatching, and relaxing at the 266-acre Shoal Creek Nature Conservation Area located on the lake. Several golf courses and wineries are located nearby, and all the retail and hospitality conveniences of Litchfield (pop. 7,000) are just four miles away. Eagle Ridge is being developed by the City of Litchfield, which also owns the 1,400-acre Lake Lou Yaeger and leases all

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ALTON - Alton Band and Orchestra Builders – ABOB is pleased to announce that the 33 rd Annual Olde Alton Arts and Craft Fair will be held during the weekend of December 3 & 4, 2022 at Alton High School. The Fair will be open on Saturday, December 3 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Sunday, December 4 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Breakfast and Lunch will be available. Currently, we have Crafters from not just Illinois and Missouri, but also from as far away as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas! Crafters must offer products that are at least 51% handmade and include a wide variety of items, many of which are Christmas-themed. ABOB is still taking applications for crafters for the Fair. Crafters can find the application/contract at www.abob.net , under the Craft and Vendor Fair drop-down tab. ABOB, originally organized in 1948, has supported the instrumental music program of the Alton Community Unit School District for 74 years, providing music, equipment, and instruments for our elementary,

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SPRINGFIELD – An older person who resides in a rural area of Jackson County recently tested positive for Heartland Virus, the third reported case in Illinois since 2018, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced today. The first two Heartland virus cases in Illinois were reported in 2018 in Kankakee County and Williamson County. Likely spread by the Lone Star tick, more than 50 cases of Heartland virus disease have been reported in the Midwest and southern United States since 2009. “As people continue to enjoy summer activities like hiking and camping, it is important to take precautions against ticks,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Remember to wear insect repellent when in tick habitats and check for ticks immediately afterwards.” Heartland virus was first identified in 2009 when two Missouri farmers who had been bitten by ticks were admitted to a hospital. Almost all individuals with Heartland virus have been hospitalized. Although

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EDWARDSVILLE – Consistency, determination and striving to achieve are some of the attributes that make one a serial winner. Such is the story of Cristian Rodrigo Tolava Torrico, a second-year graduate student in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) Department of Civil Engineering. Tolava has been awarded the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation Scholarship’s W. Gene Corley Memorial Scholarship. Named after a recognized industry leader, the scholarship is awarded to graduate students with an interest in forensic engineering and the behavior and design of concrete structures. “This recognition became an extraordinary component of my life and keeps me moving forward,” said Torrico. “I certainly have more to accomplish and more to learn.” For someone whose long-term aspiration is to set up a structural consulting company and tutor rising engineers, Tolava believes the scholarship, with other internship and

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MORRIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan F. Kelly, joined by Illinois Statewide 911 Administrator Cindy Barbera-Brelle, Grundy County Sheriff/Emergency Telephone System Board Director of Electronic Operations Chris Kindelspire, and KenCom Public Safety Dispatch Director Lynette Bergeron, today announced the first counties to go live with Next Generation 911. Next Generation 911 moves emergency response communications to a more integrated information technology network. “The safety and wellbeing of Illinoisans has always been — and will always be — my top priority,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why we are transforming our emergency response system with modern tools like Next Generation. When there’s an emergency, there’s no time to waste — and Next Generation 911 will ensure that first responders like paramedics, firefighters, and police officers have the information they need to respond quickly and efficiently.”

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For the last 28 years of my life, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of being involved, in one way or another, in the annual rite of passage that comes with becoming a sixth grader. For most of us, this momentous occasion is simply a memory that we have stored away in our minds with all the other good and bad we experienced in our middle school years. But for me, being privy to the annual event of sixth graders learning how to use a combination lock has become a pleasant highlight in my career as an educator. Now, don’t get me wrong: as a sixth-grade homeroom teacher, the actual responsibility of making certain that these students learned how to manipulate a lock was not fun. The constant forgetting of the locker combination, the failing to remember if it was left first or right first, and the ever-present question of why it was necessary to pass that second number once was sometimes daunting. As a young teacher in my twenties, I would sometimes become easily frustrated.

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ALTON - With the first day of fall less than a month away, some area residents may be wondering why construction work has not yet begun where the old Shop 'n Save Gas Station was once located. For those with high anticipation of a Starbucks coming to Alton, the word as of now is that the popular coffee house business will still locate a new store on Homer Adams Parkway, but it will not be here by fall. Alton Mayor David Goins said Monday some environmental work is being done with the soil in the area, and the new Starbucks should still locate here in 2023. "There is a lot of excitement about Starbucks coming," the mayor said. “It is still in the works. Remediation is being done and has pushed construction back. This is something that started before I was elected. I know when it finally does come, residents will be very excited, and it will be a huge hit.” Starbucks started in 1971 in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. It was here where Starbucks opened its first

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PORTAGE DES SIOUX, MO. - Last Sunday, and for the past 50 years, The Blessing of the Fleet has been held in Portage Des Sioux, Mo., in front of the Shrine Of Our Lady of the Rivers. Alton Marina General Manager Karen Baker-Brncic, her staff, and other area boaters, always participate in the event. She said the Blessing of the Fleet each year keeps all 14 Marinas in Pool 26 connected. “We are one big family!” she said. “We raised a lot of money on the river Sunday to take care of our lady on the river. It was a great day as usual.” Baker-Brncic is retiring soon as GM of the Alton Marina. A large-scale party in her honor is set for Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Marina. The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition that began centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing communities. The practice began predominantly Catholic but is now practiced by all Christians as a blessing from the local priest and pastors that are meant to ensure a safe and bountiful season. In most ports,

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ALTON - Illinois American Water broke an abandoned water service line around 10:30 a.m Tuesday on Belle Street at 8th Street and it caused a geyser for a period of time. The Illinois American workers on site went into the deluge of water and using a hammer, drove a "cut-off" shovel handle into the pipe to stop the water flow. Water service for customers was not impacted around the area. The water line leak was fixed and the workers resumed their tasks at hand, Illinois American Water spokesperson Karen Cotton said. Illinois American Water is currently working on separating storm runoff lines from the sewage system (per their agreement when purchasing the business) on Belle Street in Alton, and other areas in Alton. One continuous problem they have is running across old abandoned water service lines, but each time, the workers find a way to alleviate the problem.

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EDWARDSVILLE - During Monday’s monthly Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education meeting, the Edwardsville NAACP awarded each District #7 elementary and middle school a grant for purchasing books for their media centers that illustrate and educate the beauty of diversity. The year’s grant totals $3,000. “The history of the NAACP embodies the spirit of collaboration and partnership while encouraging the celebration of diversity and unity,” said Edwardsville NAACP President Walt Williams. “It is with that same spirit that we work with District #7.” Williams, along with NAACP former president John Cunningham and NAACP branch member Debra Pitts presented the check to District #7 Superintendent Patrick Shelton and Board President John McDole. “Representation matters. It is important for all our students to not only see themselves in our staff but in the library when they pick up a book,” said Cornelia Smith, Director

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn today provided further information in reference to the two males who tragically lost their lives at a construction site located in the 100 Block East Union Street, Edwardsville. The first victim was identified as one: Cody W. Toenyes White/Male – DOB: 05/17/2000 Bethalto, Illinois The coroner said Toenyes was pronounced deceased at the scene by Madison County Coroner’s Office Investigator Kyle Burgess at 7:24 p.m., August 19, 2022. An autopsy examination was conducted and the preliminary findings for Toenyes determined his death occurred because of possible asphyxia due to low environmental oxygen and drowning. A final cause of death will be issued upon completion of routine toxicological testing. Funeral arrangements for Toenyes are under the direction of Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home, Bethalto. The second victim was identified as one: Jack M. Pfund Male/White – DOB: 01/10/2003 Edwardsvill

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