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ALTON - The City of Alton unveiled its plans to become a child-friendly city through the UNICEF U.S.A Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI). Alton will be one of eight cities in the country to achieve this designation. “Sometimes you look in eyes and you see hope. Other times, you see despair. Other times, you see trauma. Through this Child Friendly City Initiative, what we want to do is be able to see the hope in their eyes and not despair,” Mayor David Goins said. “What I’d like to do is continue to work with the City Council and my administration as we strive to seek legislation, decisions that will positively impact children’s lives and health and wellbeing.” The City Council has allocated $1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to “invest in our youth,” Goins said. The Council specifically approved $50,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to go toward CFCI in Alton. CFCI focuses on promoting child rights, fighting

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ALTON - If anyone ever epitomized a life of service of Alton it would be retired Alderman Charlie Brake. Brake was a Ward 5 in Alton Alderman for 26 years and was first elected in 1997. He retired a few months before his 92nd birthday in June 2023. On Tuesday night, Oct. 31, 2023, Charlie Brake will have one of the most special moments of his life when he rides through the Alton Halloween Parade as Parade Marshal. Steve Schwartz, a spokesperson for the Alton Halloween Parade, said he thought the East End Improvement Association, the sponsors for the parade, made a great choice in Brake’s selection. Brake always stood up for what he believed in during his time as Ward 5 alderman. He said when he retired he was going to relieve some stress and relax more. “I worked all those years, too, and then had that alderman seat for 26 years,” he said. “I was involved a lot in the construction projects. We did new fire houses and a new police station and I managed to be

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JERSEYVILLE - One individual is facing charges of domestic battery and criminal damage to property while another has been charged with possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to recent Jersey County court filings. Ashley D. Combs, 36, of Jerseyville, was charged with one count of domestic battery and one count of criminal damage to property following an alleged incident on or about Oct. 24, 2023. Court documents indicate Combs shoved the victim “against a wall and grabbed her arm while at their shared residence.” Combs had previously been convicted of domestic battery on Jan. 29, 2018, also in Jersey County. Combs is facing a Class 4 felony charge for the domestic battery offense. Court documents indicate she is being held in the custody of the Jersey County Sheriff until her initial court appearance. Ashley N. Hillman, 35, of Jerseyville, was charged with unlawful possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine, possession of a hypodermic

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ALTON - The 106th edition of the Alton Halloween Parade is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. East End Improvement Association is the parade sponsor. Alton Halloween Parade spokesperson Steve Schwartz said he once again has high expectations of another memorable parade. Former long-time Alton Alderman Charles Brake will be the grand marshal of the parade. The Alton Halloween Parade will be staged in the Alton Police Department parking lot. Schwartz said Brake was a natural choice to be the parade marshal with his 26 years of service to the City of Alton. If you are unable to get out to view the Alton Halloween Parade in person, watch the live stream on Riverbender.com. Schwartz said last week he speculated about 60-70 entries in the parade from everything from floats to bands, etc. The competition for the float winners is always stringent. Alton’s 106th annual celebration will run from 7–10 p.m. The Alton Halloween Parade begins downtown at the intersection of

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ST. LOUIS - As temperatures cool, it can be easy to slip into "zombie mode" when it comes to staying on top of home energy usage. Instead of taking a lifeless approach this spooky season, here are four simple modifications you can make without much effort that can decrease your energy drain – and won't require big sacrifices: Let the sunshine in. As we head into daylight saving time, take advantage of the last few longer days by opening curtains and letting the natural sunlight warm your space. In the evening, keep them closed to prevent the heat from escaping. Lower the heat to 68 degrees. Consider slipping on a hoodie or a sweater to stay comfortable, as lower temperature settings will use less energy with little effort. You can save 5% for every degree you drop your thermostat between 60 to 70 degrees. Clear your air vents. Make sure there are no furniture items or appliances obstructing any vents to maximize heating efficiency. Removing blockages and replacing

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Jersey Community Middle School 1st Quarter Honor Roll 5th grade: Jacob M. Dixon, Myles P. Dougherty, Aria J. Forrester, Olivia D. Funk, Braden J. Hall, Tod M. Herndon, Aiden D. Johnisee, Connor J. Kirkendoll, Kagen A. McClintock, Colton T. Mueller, Cailynn R. Newby, Sophia L. Penelton, Jada D. Price, Andrew R. Ray, Emmy L. Rothe, Bristen A. Schlottner, Ian C. Schulz, Ginny K. Shaffer, Kenna R. Sievers, McKenzie A. Towell, Brianna M. Waters, and Lana M. West. 6th grade: Eryn D. Benner, Samantha G. Beumer, Nylah R. Box-Michaels, Jordan R. Cato, Derrick L. Dublo Jr, Erin J. Federle, Carter M. Fitzgerald, Allison R. Haarmann, Landon J. Hazelwonder, Rylie G. Hedger, Gracie L. Herrmann, Skylee H. Howell, Carson J. Johnson, Alaya R. LeMasters, Christopher R. Meares, Austin C. Mintert, Ella R. Newell, Aydan J. Rader, Gabriel P. Rawe, Alexis M. Roberts, Sophia L. Schroeder, Aiden J. Smith, Cole J. Stierley, Wyatt A. Taylor, Keegan D. Varble, Aubrey J. Vetter, and Lucas T. Wallace

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ROXANA - Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Shell of the Month” program at Roxana High School. Students from each grade level are selected each month by members of the RHS faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a “Shell of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. September Shell of the Month winners are: Seniors - Raelee Kimbro, Zach Huff Juniors - Elise Berry, Caleb Wonders Sophomores - Natasha Little, Noah Smith Freshmen - Emma Martin, Zander Losch October Shell of the Month winners are: Seniors - Jessica Patton, Michael Roe Juniors - Jaxxon Hall, Cali Liljenberg Sophomores - Sidney Ufert, Gavin Springer Freshmen - Easton Johnston, Amelia Primas Congratulations to all the recipients Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community for over 88 years. To find out more information about Midwest Member

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement expressing his support for the tentative deal reached between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Stellantis, which includes restarting the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, as well as adding a battery plant to the facility: “From my very first meeting, and every one since, the President of UAW, Shawn Fain, made it clear that the future of Belvidere was a critical bargaining issue. He kept his word. Today’s announcement creates a path for every Belvidere worker to return and be part of a new EV launch. “I spoke to Governor Pritzker this afternoon. There is a need for federal infrastructure investment on the site and I pledged our delegation’s total cooperation in that effort.” In February, Stellantis laid off 1,350 workers at the idled Belvidere Plant. Durbin has continuously shown his support for the laid off or striking autoworkers,

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CHICAGO - Governor Pritzker issued the following statement regarding the tentative contract deal reached by UAW and Stellantis: “With the announcement that United Auto Workers and Stellantis have reached a tentative agreement that’s good for workers and good for the state of Illinois, auto workers can get back on the job with higher wages, expanded benefits, and new and valuable opportunities in a growing industry. For over two years, I have been laser-focused on working toward a permanent solution in Belvidere that retains and grows good-paying jobs, while supporting economic development in the surrounding region. Since the plant was idled in February, we’ve provided support to furloughed auto workers, while concurrently leading a collaborative effort with local officials and legislators to craft aggressive incentives that position Illinois at the forefront of the EV manufacturing industry. Thanks to that collaboration and the passage of the Climate and Equitable

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department received a report of a traffic crash on Landmarks Boulevard at the intersection with Henry Street at 5:54 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said a preliminary investigation revealed that an 18-wheeler truck was traveling westbound on Landmarks Boulevard approaching Henry Street. "As the truck entered the intersection, a passenger vehicle entered northbound on Henry Street," Chief Ford said. "In doing so, the front of the truck struck the passenger side of the passenger vehicle. "The driver of the passenger vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased." Ford said the incident is still under investigation at this time. The traffic accident is being investigated by the Alton Police Department Traffic Division and Illinois State Police in conjunction with the Madison County Coroner’s Office. The victim has since been identified. You can read more at this article on RiverBender.com

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EDWARDSVILLE - The city is happy to once again welcome crowds of people in and around downtown for some of the sweetest fun all year: the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade. This monster-size annual celebration dates back more than a century and for 2023 will get underway at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 31. More than 100 floats and other participants are expected for this family-friendly event, which will follow its traditional route. It’s scheduled to turn north from the Lincoln Middle School parking lot at the intersection of Schwarz and West Streets and head east on St. Louis Street to Vandalia Street. The parade then will veer to the north on Main Street, and disband past the Wildey Theatre at High Street. The affected roads will close to traffic at about 6 p.m. on the day of the parade, according to the Edwardsville Police Department. There will be no parking along the route beginning at 4:30 p.m., and any remaining vehicles will be subject t

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Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, defended the District of Columbia’s (D.C.) efforts to restrict the capacity of firearms magazines within its borders in an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The coalition argues that D.C.’s law prohibiting the possession and sale of large-capacity magazines does not violate the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “Like Illinois, D.C. is actively protecting its citizens and communities from deadly firearms, and I support this law to prohibit possession and sale of large-capacity magazines.,” Raoul said. “I will continue to collaborate with fellow attorneys general who prioritize public safety by restricting access to large-capacity magazines.” The District of Columbia law at issue in the case, Hanson v. District of Columbia, permits D.C. residents to possess and sell firearms magazines that accept up to 10 rounds of ammunition,

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GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic High School, a coed Catholic college preparatory high school, announces the expansion of its campus with the addition of a 3,550 sq. ft. facility, located in Glen Carbon, Illinois. The new addition, once complete, is slated to provide an indoor gathering space to support the school’s growing student body. The new Commons building will be used for daily lunches, drama & music performances, and other events. The funds necessary to build the new Commons are already pledged. The new Commons space is part of a four-phase expansion. The addition of the Commons will be the first phase of the McGivney 'Master Plan', the remaining plans will include a larger gym with locker rooms and offices, a beautiful chapel, dedicated space for fine arts performances, a band and chorus room, and completion of the athletic complex with an all-weather track and tennis courts. Development Director Suzanne Halbrook explains, “We believe the addition of the

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Name: Kris Duhachek Hometown: Highland Years of Service: 2008-2013 KIA: No Branch: U.S. Army Rank: 1st Lieutenant Wars: Afghanistan Message: Kris Duhachek has been my store manager since I opened Big Frog in Edwardsville in 2014, and I could not have a better partner. He came with all this training from the military and I get to benefit from that 100 percent. He’s not only reliable and extremely capable, his heart for giving is large. Kris takes the lead partnering with a local veteran’s charity called Support Up Veteran Ventures, which helps veterans decompress and destress with outdoor activities from hiking to going on hunting or fishing trips. Our t-shirts help raise funds for Support Up along with the Kaufman Fund in St. Louis, which provides food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and other basic needs to veterans and children to thank and support veterans. I am pleased to honor Kris’ service in the military and thankful for how he's givin

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker has issued a Disaster Proclamation based on the severe weather and flooding that affected Cook County on September 17. This declaration follows extensive work by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) with local governments to assess the impacts of the storms on the communities in Cook County. While state officials have already been working closely and providing resources to impacted communities from the June/July storms, this proclamation allows local entities increased access to more state resources and emergency personnel who can assist in response and recovery efforts from the September storm. "Many areas in Cook County suffered extensive damages due to last month’s torrential rain and flooding," said Governor JB Pritzker. "To support those impacted across the state, I have signed a disaster proclamation to mobilize every available resource, accelerating the recovery process and providing

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ALTON - Principia College’s dance program will continue its flash mob tradition at the 106th Alton Halloween Parade on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the flash mob. Principia students choreograph and perform the dance in front of Frew’s Bridal, right before the parade hits the intersection of Piasa and 3rd Street in downtown Alton. Erin Lane, the Principia dance professor who organizes the flash mob, explained the tradition is a fun and meaningful way for students to connect with the Alton community. “Alton is really special,” she said. “It’s wonderful, and I’m really happy that Prin Dance can be a part of it as much as we are, and I hope that we can grow and do more.” To get the best view of the flash mob, Lane suggests gathering near the end of the parade route at Frew’s Bridal — located at 305 Piasa Street in Alton — by 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. They hope to perform around 7:45 p.m.

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EDWARDSVILLE – COUNTRY Financial Representative Duane Jones is pleased to support the Edwardsville Police Department with a donation of $1,500. The funds will be used for the purchase of tourniquets and first aid kits for squad cars, LED lasers for traffic stops as well as cables and braces for body cameras. Jones recently shared the support in a check presentation. “The Edwardsville Police Department does an excellent job providing safety and assistance for our community,” said Jones. “We are honored to be able to support them by providing funds for the lifesaving supplies and equipment they need.” “The mission of the Edwardsville Police Department is, in cooperation with our community, to protect life, property, and the rights of those we serve, and to enhance the quality of life for all our citizens,” said Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback. “We recognize that is important for our staff to be prepared for just about anything

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ROXANA - Postseason football returned to Charles Raich Field on the campus of Roxana High School on Saturday as the Shells hosted the Tigers from Paris, Illinois. The visitors took a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride across the state but ran into a brick wall in Roxana as the Shells dominated their way to a 50-22 victory. Roxana won the coin toss and deferred to Paris who chose to receive the kick. The Tigers had a solid first drive, marching down inside the red zone, but settled for a field goal attempt that was missed. If there's a positive to that Paris drive, it kept the high-powered and high-speed Shells offense off the field, albeit briefly. The Shells needed less than two minutes to score their first touchdown. A long jump ball from senior quarterback Chris Walleck found junior receiver Andruw Ellis, which set up an Ellis run to open the scoring. Roxana tacked on two for good measure to take an 8-0 lead early. Paris answered back by digging into their playbook, a double

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ALTON - What does the future of tourism look like in southwest Illinois? That’s a question the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau plans to answer with a new Tourism Master Plan. The Tourism Bureau has partnered with Whereabout, a destination futures studio based in Portland, OR, to create a Tourism Master Plan which will set a long-term vision for the future of the region and the organization. The planning process is already underway and includes surveys designed to gather input from visitors, local residents, small business owners and tourism partners within the bureau’s six county scope. It is part of the community-driven process to create the plan. The surveys are available on the Bureau’s website https://www.riversandroutes.com/destination-development/tourism-master-plan/ . The surveys opened October 5 and will close November 5. “Our six county region includes 39 diverse communities and we want to ensure we are meeting the needs of our partners as wel

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ALTON - If you’ve seen the posters advertising the 106th Alton Halloween Parade around town, then you already know the work of Alton High School sophomore Audrey Hunter. Every year, Alton High School (AHS) students can compete in a contest to design the parade poster. The East End Improvement Association , an Alton nonprofit that sponsors the parade, chooses the winner and plasters posters all over town. AHS career and technical education teacher Lexa Browning coordinates the contest and said Alton students have been designing the posters for at least 25 years. “ get to use their creativity and produce all these lovely posters, and it’s exciting every year to see the different concepts the kids come up with,” she added. “We’ve gone from doing them almost completely by hand to now doing them on the computer, or a combination thereof. It’s a fun project.” Browning teaches graphic communications classes, which is how she knows Hunter’s

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