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ELSAH - The Village of Elsah Festival returns for 2023 on the first day of fall, September 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. With over 35 vendors, live music at three venues, and plenty of opportunities to explore the village’s shops, attractions, and history, this year’s festival is shaping up to be even bigger than last year. Visitors can explore the #1 Top Scenic Spot in Illinois on self-guided tours around town, including Wetland Trail and Pollinator Garden Tours. Free pamphlets for those tours are available at all Elsah businesses, and those who submit their completed plant identification brochures have a chance to win a $25 gift card from the Elsah General Store. This year’s festival will feature live music at the Gazebo behind the Green Tree Inn, the Riverview House, and Elsah United Methodist Church. At the Gazebo, the Bluesette Duo will perform jazzy “French café music” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the acoustic classic rock and country

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ALTON - Two NFL stars will return to their hometown of Alton for the Mayor’s Charity and Fundraiser Ball next month. Michael Ford and Ezekiel “Zeke” Elliott both spent their childhoods in Alton before going on to play football in college and, eventually, the NFL. They will be recognized with a Hometown Royalty Award at the Mayor’s Ball on Oct. 7. “This year, we decided to feature our Hometown Royalty professional football athletes,” Sheila Goins, First Lady of Alton, said. The Mayor’s Ball will raise funds for the Friends for David Goins organization and the Overnight Warming Center . This year’s theme is “A Night in Disguise,” a masquerade ball with a Mardi Gras twist. Music will be provided by Red and Black Brass Band and Premier Protainment Band featuring Danita Mumphard . In addition to dinner and dancing, the program includes a Hometown Royalty Award. This tribute recognizes the success of people

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) will no longer accept applications beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. ILHAF supports qualified homeowners with grants of up to $60,000 for past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance and homeowner and/or condo association fees. Any application submitted prior to closing will be reviewed to determine eligibility and a submitted application is not a guarantee of approval. Eligible Illinois homeowners can apply online at www.illinoishousinghelp.org . “Any homeowner struggling to make their monthly payments due to lingering fallout from the pandemic should not hesitate and reach out today to see if you are eligible for this free assistance,” said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust . “There is no guarantee of additional funding from Congress, so do not miss out on this opportunity and visit www.illinoishousinghelp.org

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It was a little more than a year ago when country music star Toby Keith shocked fans with the news that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. The 62-year-old Keith revealed that he spent six months undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments and had to cancel all of his concert dates. But now, he’s feeling better. According to Keith, he’s continuing chemo, but his tumor has shrunk and his blood work has improved. So much that the singer is hoping to return to the road this fall if he continues to feel good. Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the growth of cancer cells in the lining and wall of the stomach. While breast, colon and prostate cancers tend to get more media attention, stomach cancer is nothing to ignore. Stomach cancer symptoms aren’t always easily identified. Feeling bloated after eating, heartburn, upper abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss are just some signs of a potential problem. “Unfortunately,

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GODFREY — On September 9 and 10, 2023, 1,100 cyclists will hit the road for Bike MS: Gateway Getaway to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. Hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Bike MS: Gateway Getaway invites companies, co-workers, neighbors, friends and family to team up for an extraordinary ride to make a difference in the lives of nearly 1 million people living with MS in the U.S. Cyclists will ride up to 100 miles over 2 days, departing from Lewis and Clark Community College on September 9, 2023 and crossing the finish line at Lewis and Clark Community College on September 10, 2023. This fully supported ride will feature traveling along the limestone bluffs on the Great River Road and winding through Lewis and Clark district communities, including Godfrey, Alton, Fosterburg, Bethalto, Elsah, Otterville, Jerseyville, Brighton, Dorsey, Worden, Holiday Shores, Moro, Woodburn, Bunker Hill, Shipman, Staunton, Benld, Wilsonville

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GLEN CARBON - Over 650 cars from the past and present will be on display and on the road in Glen Carbon in just a couple weeks on Sept. 16. The Randy Gori Memorial Kicks On 66 Ultra Car Show will be held at Schon Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., immediately followed by a car cruise into downtown Glen Carbon. The car show and cruise are 100% free to register and attend. Ryan O’Day, founder of the car show, said attendees should expect over 650 cars this year, as well as food vendors, a fun “kid zone” of bounce houses, and a live band playing during the show. O’Day said cars typically start showing up at 8 a.m. before the show opens to the public at 11 a.m., and he expects some rare vehicles at this year’s show. “We expect a few new clubs participating this year to bring some rare exotic Ferrari and Lamborghini brands to the show field,” O’Day said. “It is always exciting to see vehicles spanning the decades.” The car sho

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madelyn Ohlau, a freshman outside hitter on the Edwardsville High girls volleyball team, has seen her high school career get off to a great start with two wins in as many Southwestern Conference matches, the latest being a 26-24, 25-8 win over Collinsville on Aug. 31 at Lucco-Jackson Gym. Madelyn is a Johnston Law Firm Female Athlete of the Month. In a post-match interview that followed the win over the Kahoks, Ohlau felt good about how things went and felt that she played better than in the Tigers' opening win over O'Fallon. "I felt I definitely played better than the one I played in the O'Fallon game," Ohlau said after Thursday night's match against Collinsville. The two wins are definitely a great way to start a season, especially the wins being in the always difficult Southwestern Conference, where matches usually come down to the wire and anything can happen. "It's good whenever we win," Ohlau said, "because it just brings confidence up in the team." And as

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ALTON – Students got the chance this summer to spend a week working in the shop at Lewis and Clark Community College’s Scott Bibb Center during Construction Camp. During the camp, the participants, age 12-15, learned about shop safety and built games made out of wood, including washers and ladder golf sets, as well as ring toss and peg games. Some of the games were raffled off as prizes and others were donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Alton. For more information on Adult Education and YouthBuild AmeriCorps at L&C’s Scott Bibb Center, contact Director of Pathway Resource Development Sabrina Davis at (618) 468-4150 or sdavis@lc.edu .

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), lead sponsors of the Credit Card Competition Act , today released the following statement regarding reports that Visa and Mastercard plan to raise their interchange fee rates in October and April: “We strongly urge Visa and Mastercard to withdraw their plan to raise credit card fees on small business owners and hard-working American families. “According to the Nilson Report, U.S. merchants paid an estimated $93 billion in Visa and Mastercard credit card fees last year—a huge jump from the $33 billion paid in 2012. Merchants pass these costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices. With small businesses and families already dealing with high prices on groceries and gasoline, this hidden credit card fee increase couldn’t come at a worse time. “Today’s news solidifies that it is time to pas

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is expanding its annual wellness fair to include resources available to the campus and community at large, both health related and non-health related. “We’re looking for organizations and community resources to host informational tables and interactive exhibits that highlight the various resources available to our district residents, from food pantries to mental health resources and beyond,” said L&C Counselor Terri Austin. This year’s Rock n’ Roll-themed Resource and Wellness Fair is set to take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4, in The Commons. L&C Counseling and the campus Wellness Committee are already planning free food and activities, as well as mental health screenings, therapy dogs, suicide awareness information, and will also highlight student services at Lewis and Clark, from tutoring to career services. This event will be free and open to the public. For more

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ALTON - The Alton Amphitheater once again invites community members to come down to the river for a fun weekend. The Alton Expo will run from Sept. 7–10. The Expo features fair food, carnival rides and live entertainment all weekend. Admission is free, and they’ll top off the event with the beloved mud volleyball tournament and Alton Catfish Classic on Saturday. “There’s nothing like coming across the bridge after dark and seeing the riverfront lit up with the carnival and the stage. It really piques people’s interest,” Dan Herkert, chair of the Alton Amphitheater Commission, said. “The idea is to be a catalyst to introduce people to our city, and what better way to introduce people to our city than our beautiful riverfront?” The Alton Expo will kick off at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 and run until 10 p.m. The band Just in Time will perform at 7 p.m. You can also stop by from 5–11 p.m. on Friday and check out Powerplay

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Treasurer, Chris Slusser, is reminding taxpayers that the second installment of their real-estate tax bill is coming due. “With the holiday weekend approaching, I want to remind everyone that the second of four tax installments will be due Wed, Sept 6,” Slusser said. “The Treasurer’s office is open for business Mon-Fri from 8:30am-430pm, but will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Mon Sept 4. Slusser reminds taxpayers of all payment options: at one of the participating collector banks or credit unions throughout the county, by mail, through your financial institution’s online bill pay service, the Treasurer’s website at www.madcotreasurer.org , by phone at 1-844-919-4300, or in person at the Treasurer’s Office in Edwardsville. If paid by mail, letters must be postmarked on or before Sept 6. “No penalty will be applied for payments mailed and postmarked by the due date,” he said. “I

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BENTON – A former U.S. Postal Service carrier technician admitted in a U.S. District Courtroom in Benton to federal charges of making false statements to continue receiving worker’s compensation benefits while he was also working to service electric scooters in downtown St. Louis. Torre C. Dilworth, 52, of Belleville, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to obtain federal employees’ compensation. For the charges, the maximum penalties are up to five years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine per count. “The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act helps families keep up with their financial obligations when an employee is injured beyond their ability to stay on the job at full capacity,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Individuals who choose to make false statements in order to continue to receive benefits will be held in full account of the law.” “The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.31 billion in workers’

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EDWARDSVILLE — A registered nurse - Amy L. Melchert - was sentenced to a five-year prison sentence for recklessly causing the overdose death of her mother-in-law who was in hospice care. Madison County State's Attorney Thomas A. Haine made the announcement on Friday. Melchert, 51, of Wood River, entered a guilty plea in April to involuntary manslaughter, which has a range of punishment from five years in prison. At a sentencing hearing Thursday, she received the maximum five-year prison term for recklessly and without lawful justification administering a non-prescribed dose of morphine that caused the overdose and death of her mother-in-law, 85-year-old Wilma Melchert. Wilma was under home-based hospice care at the time. “This was a truly tragic case all around, and our heart goes out to the family and friends of Wilma,” Haine said. “All those who are especially vulnerable due to health problems need to be reassured that those trusted to care for them have

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater is preparing for the next production of their 90th season, “Beer For Breakfast,” with evening and matinee shows coming up in just a couple of weeks. Lee Cox, executive director of Alton Little Theater, discussed the story behind the show, more upcoming shows and auditions, and much more on a recent Theater Tuesday segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . “One of the reasons I love this play: everybody’s probably had one of those, ‘What if?’ fantasies like, ‘Why didn’t I tell that guy or girl how I really felt? What if I could go back and relive that wonderful moment and then choose differently?’” Cox said. “This looks at, well, what happens if you’re forced to be in a small cabin - in a snowstorm, of course - and you have to confront your past, all of it, good or bad the person you loved more than anyone else? “Suddenly, the cabin seems very small because you’re

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JERSEYVILLE - West Nile Virus has been found in Jerseyville, according to a recent announcement from the Jersey County Health Department. The department announced Friday morning that a dead bird collected in Jerseyville tested positive for West Nile Virus, and noted many cases typically occur in late-summer months. Residents are advised to wear insect repellent and long-sleeve shirts and pants while outdoors. The Health Department recommends using window screens and repairing any holes in them to keep mosquitoes outdoors, as well as draining any standing water in flower pots, buckets, tires, and more. Symptoms of West Nile Virus include: Fever Headache Body Aches Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Rash Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile Virus after feeding on infected birds, and can then spread the virus to humans and other animals through mosquito bites, according to the Jersey County Health Department. So far, there have been 455 West Nile Virus cases

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ALTON - Mayor David Goins and the organization Friends for David Goins invites the community to join them for the second annual Mayor’s Charity and Fundraiser Ball on Saturday, Oct. 7. This year’s theme is “A Night in Disguise,” a masquerade ball with a Mardi Gras twist. The event will raise money for both David Goins’s campaign and the Overnight Warming Center, while also honoring community members and two NFL football players from Alton. Anyone who wants to attend must RSVP by Sept. 16 at the event’s webpage . “This is a charity/campaign fundraiser for Friends for David Goins,” Sheila Goins, First Lady of Alton, explained. “We wanted to raise money for the campaign, but we also wanted to raise money and give back to a charity that’s doing what we see to be a great thing…And we’re just going to have a good time.” The night will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark Community College Commons.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Monday, August 28, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Zechariah West, 17 years of age, of the 1100 block of Lester Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63138, for Murder Second Degree, Attempted Robbery, and Armed Criminal Action. West has been Certified as an adult. A booking photo of West is attached. West is being held on $500,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: Upon investigation, it was determined that Zechariah West arranged to purchase marijuana from T. W. the juvenile victim in this matter. T. W. occupied the front passenger seat and was driven to the pre-arranged location; 1202 Eldor Drive, St. Louis MO 63138. Upon T.W.'s arrival at the location, Zechariah West approached the passenger window brandished a firearm and demanded T.W.'s property. Immediately

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GODFREY - On Friday morning, students and staff gathered at the St. Ambrose Catholic School library for the unveiling of their new book vending machine and a surprise ceremony to honor longtime library director Maralee Juravich. Juravich, 92, has worked in libraries for most of her life. She has been with the St. Ambrose Catholic School for over 30 years. At the ceremony on Sept. 1, the school renamed its library to the Maralee Juravich Student Library to honor her. “One librarian, in particular, has been the backbone and the source of inspiration and the go-getter that makes this library happen year in and year out,” Principal Bob Baird said to the students, staff members and parents who were present. “Miss Maralee has been our head librarian for some 30 years, organizing this library and ensuring that students year in and year out can check out the books and can be passionate and excited.” The crowd cheered her on as staff members unveiled the new sign.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - As Labor Day approaches, State Senator Christopher Belt highlights the importance of the hardworking people in the 57 th District whose dedication and efforts continue to drive our communities and economy forward. Labor Day is observed every year on the first Monday in September. This is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity and well-being. Illinois has consistently demonstrated its dedication to the well-being of its workforce. From enacting labor protections to advocating for equal pay, the state has been at the forefront of championing workers’ rights. “I have been a longtime advocate for workers in every sector,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “I will continue to work tirelessly to create an environment

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