Riverbender 🕸

GRANITE CITY – Wilson first-grade teacher Kayla Bridick was selected as a recipient for the Subway and ezCater Catering for Educators contest, Subway announced on Tuesday. Subway and its franchisees across the country, in partnership with ezCater, are stepping up to honor and appreciate educators and school faculty for their efforts to educate our youth – especially after the back-to-school buzz fades. On Thursday, Oct. 27, Subway and ezCater will team up to deliver Subway-catered lunches to the 2,022 schools, including Wilson 1-2 Education Center. "I want to thank Subway and exCater for taking this opportunity to recognize the great work our teachers do every day," said Wilson Principal Jayson Baker. "Ms. Bridick is one of the newest members of the Granite City School District family, and we are fortunate to benefit from the gifts and talents she brings to Wilson School as a 1st-grade teacher." Bridick is in her first year at Wilson 1-2 Education Center and is a 2022

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE - A day after the Central Visual and Performing Arts tragedy in St. Louis where two were killed and a gunman was shot and killed, students are in custody after they brought guns and ammunition to Belleville East High School and Hazelwood West High School on Tuesday. Belleville School officials were told about social media reports that showed a 15-year-old student handling a gun before school Tuesday. The Belleville East resource center and campus patrol found the 15-year-old and a 14-year-old at school and discovered guns and ammunition. The two students were then isolated from those in the school and searched. The two have been arrested and law enforcement didn't believe any guns were displayed at school in this case. A student also brought a gun to Hazelwood West High School Tuesday. Police said the student was apprehended and the gun was seized. The incident at Belleville East High School and the other at Hazelwood West occurred one day after Alexandria Bell, 15, and

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Marching Warriors finished first place in Class 5A and Best General Effect in their last competition at the University of Illinois. Stephanie Cann, the Granite City Schools superintendent, said: "Congratulations to our GCHS Marching Warriors for their performance in their last competition of the season at U of I. We are very proud of their hard work and dedication!"

Continue Reading

ALTON - In June 2022, there was little time to waste for Michael Davidson of Alton, Illinois. One Sunday, he complained of chest pain and feeling tired. Hours later from the Emergency Department at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, he learned what needed to be done: surgery for a “massive heart attack,” as his wife Kathleen recalls the medical team’s diagnosis. The bypass surgery ended up taking seven hours at a hospital across the river in St. Louis. Davidson’s cardiologist, Sridhar Sampath Kumar, MD , was able to be with him every step of the way , something the man and his wife are grateful for. “ Heart attacks happen in an unpredictable fashion,” Dr. Kumar says. “Just because somebody has blockages doesn’t mean they will have a heart attack.” Heart attack symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea are easier to catch in patients with an active lifestyle. “Sedentary

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Nursing students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcomed the Air Evac Lifeteam from Maryville to campus on Thursday, Oct. 13, getting a firsthand look into the career of flight nursing. The Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter performed a landing for the students in a parking lot on the Edwardsville campus and shared insights on their path to their unique and specialized career. “It is important in community health to know that there are several nursing opportunities available,” said Myjal Garner, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, instructor in the SIUE School of Nursing. “We strive to introduce students to not only classroom experiences, but also real-life experiences in the community to be sure that they realize there are a wide variety of opportunities in nursing.” “Flight nursing is something I have never considered,” said Katie Schuecking, a senior nursing major from Quincy. “Getting to talk to people who are working in our community,

Continue Reading

Name: Jordan Ing Hometown: Godfrey Years of Service: 2016-2022 KIA: No Branch: Army Rank: Specialist Wars: Afghanistan Operation Freedoms Sentinel Medals/Honors Earned: Army Commendation medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Services Medal, Illinois Lincoln Medal of Freedom & Non-Article 5 NATO Medal Message: Jordan was in the Illinois National Guard and Active Duty for 6 years. Jordan was Honorably Discharged 2022 and works at Anser Analytical Services. Submitted By: Laurie Ing

Continue Reading

Name: Richard Brown Hometown: Alton Years of Service: 1985-1989 KIA: No Branch: Army Rank: Spec 4 Medals/Honors Earned: Advanced achievement, driving, marksmanship, Nijmegen March, Presidential Fitness Message: Loving Husband and Father. Submitted By: April Brown

Continue Reading

Name: Raymond Corlew Hometown: Godfrey Years of Service: 1963-1966 DOD: September 15, 1963 KIA: No Branch: Army Rank: SP 4 Wars: Vietnam Era Message: Wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend Submitted By: April Brown

Continue Reading

Name: Vernon Harold Baze Hometown: Forest Homes IL DOD: January 23, 1998 KIA: No Branch: Navy Rank: E-6 Message: Just wanna say thank you for your service daddy. And I miss you so much.

Continue Reading

GLEN CARBON - Kristen M. Jacobs, MD, aesthetic physician, best-selling author, and owner of Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging & Wellness wants to remind people that as the weather changes, your skincare routine should change too. “It’s important to remember that your skin is always exposed to the environment, which means it's much more sensitive to changes in weather compared to the rest of our body,” said Dr. Jacobs. “Moisture in the air helps hydrate our skin, which is why our skin typically feels great in the summer. As the air becomes dryer, that can dehydrate your skin, making it more likely to show fine lines and wrinkles if we don’t add moisture to it.” Dr. Jacobs said if your skin suddenly starts feeling tight and dry, that generally means it's time to adjust your skincare routine. She recommends adding a thicker moisturizer in the fall and winter months and try switching to a moisturizing cleanser. She also added that she recommends treatments such

Continue Reading

Name: Bradley McGhee Hometown: Edwardsville Years of Service: 1999-2003 DOD: October 15, 2012 KIA: No Branch: Marine Corps Rank: Sergeant Wars: Operation Iraqi Freedom Medals/Honors Earned: Too many to mention Message: Brad was a victim of combat related PTSD. He could no longer outrun his demons. Submitted By: Rebecca Holmes

Continue Reading

HARDIN - On Monday, October 24th 2022, the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a 32 count Criminal Information, of which 26 of those charges are felonies, against David P. Robertson, aged 32, of Granite City, Illinois, in reference to an incident which occurred on Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 in Calhoun County, Illinois. In the Criminal Information, Robertson has been charged with the following: Armed Violence (Class X Felony) Residential Burglary Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Vehicle Possession of a Stolen Vehicle 5-18. Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon (14 Counts) Possession of a Stolen Firearm Theft ($10,000.00-$100,000.00) Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Involving Injury Criminal Damage to Property Aggravated Driving Under the Influence Aggravated Fleeing / Attempt to Elude a Peace Officer (21 MPH Over Limit) Aggravated Fleeing / Attempt to Elude a Peace Officer (Causing Bodily Injury) Aggravated Reckless Driving Fleeing

Continue Reading

GLEN CARBON - For 10 years, the Garde family in Glen Carbon has had fantastic Halloween displays. Jeff Garde said the family has another remarkable showcase this October. He invites people in the area to view the house at 54 Oakshire Drive in the Fairfield Subdivision. The Garde home is located near Father McGivney High School for those who want a landmark. "Each year, we invite all families as we give out candy the night of the 30th," Garde said. "We have the candy giveaway the night before Halloween and it drew more than 300 visitors last year." Last year, Garde said they had a very popular Creepy Clown display, but this year he said: "We are doing a Spider Infestation with spiders that are over 7 feet long." He joked that their basement is getting full with the headless horses, witches, and the Creepy Clown displays. "We basically ask people what their biggest fears are and what they are scared of and the majority this year said spiders," he said. "So we found two 7-foot spiders

Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Friday that 7,560 pounds of Italian pork sausage products from Bob Evans Farms Foods, Inc. were being recalled over potential contamination with extraneous materials, specifically thin blue rubber. The raw Italian pork sausage impacted by the recall was produced on Sept. 8, 2022, with a use-by or freeze-by date of Nov. 26, 2022. The affected Bob Evans Italian Sausage is labeled with lot code XEN3663466 and has a time stamp between 14:43 and 15:25, the FSIS stated. The products also bear the establishment number “EST. 6785” inside the USDA mark of inspection. "The problem was discovered after the firm notified FSIS it had received consumer complaints reporting thin blue pieces of rubber in the product," the recall notice stated. "There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare

Continue Reading

ALTON - Approximately 500 attended the 2nd Annual Bud Summers Tribute Concert this year. The concert was held at the Libery Bank Amphitheater and honored local musician Bud Summers. Summers passed away before COVID and this concert is a tribute to a wonderful musician. It was also the weekend for the 1977 class of Alton High which was when Summers graduated. "We celebrated a man that made a difference in so many lives," Tracy Summers said, Buds wife. She was presented a brick that was engraved with, "Bud Summers-his music lives on." Several bands played in honor of Bud, many that had performed with him in the past. Jason McAttee, guitarist and singer, said this whole event was very special for him. "When I was 17 my dad passed away, and fortunately I've had some men in my life who were like father figures, and Bud was definitely one of them," he said. "I just loved being around him." "I was approached last year letting us (the Upper Alton Association) know that their reunion would

Continue Reading

ALTON – The new Mini-Pitch Soccer facility in Alton at 2116 College Avenue had a well-attended celebration and ribbon cutting on Saturday afternoon. The new mini-pitch was led by Damian Jones and Student-Athletes Leading Tomorrow or SALT, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. The Alton-Godfrey Rotary, the Simmons Hanly Conroy Firm, and many others contributed to the new mini-pitch close to Alton Middle School in Rock Springs Park. This mini-pitch court is one of more than 500 mini-pitches nationwide fostered by the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s It’s Everyone’s Game movement to ensure children in underserved communities can enjoy the health and youth development benefits of the game. Mini-pitch court is made possible thanks to the support from U.S. Soccer Foundation, Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow, The Alton Rotary Club, the Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, and the City of Alton. Jones said this is a grand vision he had about four years and at that time he thought

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – Students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Lewis and Clark Community College teamed up Friday, October 21, with Mayor Art Risavy, other City officials, and staff from the two campuses in what’s become a community-building tradition: the Hashbrown Huddle. More than 40 people took part in the breakfast gathering at the Wildey Theatre. The Huddle is hosted by the City’s Campus to Community Committee, made up of Edwardsville residents, students and staff from SIUE and Lewis and Clark who strive to highlight events of interest, to strengthen communication and build relationships. Mayor Art Risavy welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of strong ties between the City and the two campuses. SIUE Student Body President Rahmat Salau, who is a member of the Campus to Community Committee, also helped kick off the event. Participants split up into groups to brainstorm ideas on events and opportunities that could involve the City

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County to start $3.1 million in renovation work at the Administration and annex buildings so it can relocate the Community Development and Probation and Court Services offices. Probation relocated its offices from the Administration Building to a space at 200 Clay Street on Monday, where it will remain until renovation work is complete at 130 Hillsboro Ave., also known as the “Annex” building. “We moved the probation offices to our Clay Street building so renovations could be done in the space before moving Community Development out of the annex building and into that space,” County Board member Mick Madison and chair of the facilities committee said. Madison said that once work is complete Community Development would relocate its offices into the Administration Building and renovation work would start on the annex property to make way for the Probation Department. He said that by moving probation offices out of the Administration

Continue Reading

ILLINOIS – Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery released the following statement on the St. Louis school shooting. “We send our deepest condolences to the students, teachers, staff, parents, and entire St. Louis community who are suffering in the aftermath of today’s tragic school shooting. “Just last weekend, our members gathered in St. Louis for the IFT convention only a few miles away from the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Our deep sadness over this news strengthens our resolve to fight to end senseless gun violence in this country. Quite simply, it is a public health crisis of the highest degree. “On Saturday, about 500 IFT delegates heard from March for Our Lives founder and Parkland School shooting survivor David Hogg and fellow activist Trevon Bosley about the lasting trauma that students are facing due to gun violence, including school shootings like the one in St. Louis today. These shootings have

Continue Reading

BUFFALO GROVE - The Father McGivney Catholic High girls' tennis doubles team of Kennedi Taylor and Natalie Beck made school history by winning the first match in the IHSA Class 1A girls tennis state tournament in the program’s inaugural year at Buffalo Grove High in northwest suburban Chicago. Taylor and Beck won their first-round match – the school’s first-ever state tournament match of any kind – in a 6-3, 7-5 decision over Karli Mann and Jersey Summers of Herrin. Taylor-Beck are Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb Female Athletes of the Month for Father McGivney Catholic. The duo then lost their second-round match to Sanskriti Sanav and Paula Almeda of Chicago University 6-1, 6-1, then were defeated in a hard-fought match in the second round of the consolation bracket to Ava Cammon and Kathryn Jennings of Flora 7-5,6-7 (4-7 in the tiebreak), 10-2 and were eliminated from the tournament. In the Triad Sectional semifinals, Evans and Beck captured the third-place

Continue Reading