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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that a grand jury has issued an indictment for first-degree murder and reckless homicide against a driver accused of fleeing from police and causing a crash that, months later, resulted in the death of another motorist. In the indictment issued Thursday, Ronnell L. Welch, 39, of St. Louis is charged with two new counts: first-degree murder and reckless homicide. Welch had previously been charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, aggravated reckless driving, possession of stolen vehicle and residential burglary. Those initial charges were filed prior to the death of the victim. On Nov. 14, 2022, Welch allegedly entered the residence of a Granite City woman with intent to commit a theft and stole her pickup. The charges allege that he then attempted to flee in the stolen pickup from Granite City Police officers. At the intersection of Illinois 3 and Rock Road, the pickup

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ALTON – The Alton Dispensary has requested the City of Alton's help in its search for a new home. At a Wednesday night meeting of the Alton City Council, President and CEO of IllinoisCannabis49, Inc., d/b/a The Alton Dispensary, Jeremy Wysocki, asked the council for its assistance in changing an ordinance to allow an adult-use cannabis dispensary to be allowed in an E-5 zone/district. Currently, the City of Alton only allows such facilities to be positioned in E-2 zones/districts. However, ownership of The Alton Dispensary has found a suitable building in an E-5 zone/district. The need to move locations comes after a Monday, Dec. 18 ruling to evict The Alton Dispensary from its current location at 1400 E. Broadway in Alton. The eviction is the latest in a line of what the dispensary considers “retaliatory efforts” from its former management company, Subsero Alton Ops, LLC and its affiliates. The building itself is owned by Subsero Alton RE, LLC. However, the cannabis

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This weekend is brimming with exciting events for people of all ages and interests! From festive celebrations to educational experiences, there's something to cater to every taste. Check out the variety of activities that you can enjoy with your friends and family, and make the most out of your weekend. For a full event listing, be sure to visit riverbender.com/events . Step into a winter wonderland at the 3rd Annual Boonies Farm Christmas event. This cherished event promises to light up your holiday season with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights, a tractor-drawn wagon ride with Santa, and an array of activities for the entire family. It's a celebration that will leave you with memories to cherish for years to come. The Holiday Cheers Market is the perfect spot for last-minute holiday shopping. Every Saturday from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the Old Bakery Beer Company transforms into a bustling marketplace featuring local artisans and growers. Whether you're on the hunt

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ALTON - Tom and Vickie Maxwell, the current owners of The Max Sports, have decided to donate generously to Amare, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Wood River, Illinois. With a rich history in the Riverbend area, Max Sports, located at 2300 N. Henry St., Alton, Illinois, has been a hub for sports and fitness enthusiasts for nearly 40 years, dating back to its original operation under Wendell and Barbara McAfoos as Metro Sports. The facility, spread across six acres, features four sand volleyball courts, a full-court basketball gymnasium, a swimming pool, dance and aerobic studios, and extensive exercise and weightlifting equipment. Since acquiring Metro Sports in 2017, the Maxwells have significantly invested in infrastructure improvements, leading to increased revenue and memberships. The property donation, valued at over $1 million by a St. Louis-based valuation firm, is a major contribution to Amare, with the transfer concluding on Dec. 29. Tom Maxwell expressed confidence

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EDWARDSVILLE - Chief Deputy Coroner Kelly Rogers added another key recognition to his wide background this week when he was elected Chairman of the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS). Rogers will serve alongside Co-Chairman Kathleen Diebold Hargrave, Director of Operations for the Office of the Regional Medical Examiner serving the counties of Franklin, Jefferson and St. Charles in Missouri. Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn was appreciative of Rogers' selection. "Kelly and Kathleen bring a phenomenal wealth of knowledge, experience, leadership, communication, and organizational skills to this very important entity that supports emergency management in our region," the coroner said. "I am sure he and Kathleen will be a dynamic force to guide STARRS to the next level of management and support of critical security needs for our region."

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EDWARDSVILLE - Miccah Butler, a sophomore forward who transferred to Edwardsville from Chaminade College Prep Catholic in Creve Coeur, Mo., has added much to the Tigers' boys basketball program, making many positive contributions this far, and on Dec. 18, he and Herbert Martin shared the lead in scoring with 1 2 points each as Edwardsville defeated Riverview Gardens of north St. Louis County 72-24. The Tiger go 7-3 overall into the Don Mauer Invitational Holiday Tournament at Mary Institute-Country Day School in Ladue, Mo., starting on Dec. 23. Before the Don Mauer tournament, Butler is currently the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 10.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, also contributing with seven assists and three steals. He's currently an outside shooter, hitting key threes when the Tigers need it. Butler is a Johnston's Law Firm Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. In the win over the Rams, Butler hit many a key shot as the Tigers bounced back very nicely from

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WEST ALTON - The Audubon Center at Riverlands celebrated the winter solstice with a silent sunrise meditation on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. About a dozen people came to the center, located at 301 Riverlands Way in West Alton, Missouri, to mark the first day of winter and enjoy the sunrise at 7:16 a.m. on Thursday. Ashley Lockwood is an educator at the center, which specializes in birds through the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. She noted that the winter solstice is significant to people for various reasons, but it also marks the return of many birds to the Riverbend area. “The winter solstice is especially important for us because it has a lot to do also with when the birds are returning to us,” Lockwood explained. “As a sanctuary, we see a lot of change in migration throughout the year, and so the winter solstice, not only is it signaling that the days are lengthening, but it’s also telling us that we’re actually officially entering the winter

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TROY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that U.S. 40 between Triad Lane and the Illinois 162/U.S. 40 intersection in Madison County is scheduled to reopen, weather permitting, by tomorrow evening, Thursday, Dec. 21. The $1 million project consists of bridge deck joint repairs and replacement on the Silver Creek Bridge. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment. Over the next six years , IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Four of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges and 762 additional safety improvements. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow

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SPRINGFIELD – Two laws taking effect January 1st, 2024, will expand leave rights for workers whose lives were impacted by violence. “In the wake of tragic loss, the last thing on an Illinoisan’s mind should be whether or not their job will still be there when they’re ready to return to work,” said Governor JB Pritzker.“Thanks to the amendments to the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act and the establishment of the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act, Illinoisans can take the time and space they need to grieve and gather with loved ones without worrying that their workplace will leave them behind in the process. This is a prime example of people affecting policy – and I couldn’t be more grateful to Laura Kane for her advocacy in our Statehouse.” “The loss of a loved one due to violence is a life-changing trauma. We have a responsibility to lead with empathy and compassion in the wake of such heartache,”

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office obtained a guilty plea from a former assistant Coles County state’s attorney for misconduct involving interactions he had in his official capacity with Coles County women who were prosecuted by the state’s attorney’s office. Brady Allen, 34, of the Metro East area, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted official misconduct based on bribery, both Class A misdemeanors. Coles County Circuit Court Judge Mitchell Shick sentenced Allen to 120 days in the Coles County Jail and two years of probation. Allen is also required to pay $5,000 in fines in addition to court costs. As part of his plea, Coles agreed to give up his law license and not contact his victims. The plea also gave the victims a chance to read impact statements, one of whom did so in court today at his sentencing. Formerly from Charleston, Illinois, Allen is required to turn himself in at the Coles County jail by Jan. 5. His next court appearance is

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GODFREY - Patty's Petals is a family-owned and operated business located in Godfrey since 2010. They are a full-service florist specializing in fresh and silk arrangements for any occasion. As of Nov. 3, 2023, you can find them at their new location at 3104 Godfrey Road. Patty Seymour was raised in Godfrey. Out of high school, Patty started working with flowers in 1971 under the guidance of designers John Lock and Toi Warner at Lock's Floral in Alton. Upon marriage to Terry, she lived in other parts of the country as he served in the military. After raising three children, Patty worked for Landmark Realty. After leaving Landmark, she wanted something to do, so she returned to her passion of floral design and started Patty’s Petals as a home-based business. Starting with a focus on silk arrangements for weddings, the business continued to grow through word-of-mouth referrals. Continued growth for eight years led to customers calling for fresh floral arrangements for a variety

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater (ALT) in Alton, Illinois, is excited to announce an innovative showcase of three riveting plays for presentation in January 2024, offering a unique blend of drama and storytelling that is sure to captivate audiences. First in the lineup is " Two Rooms " by Lee Blessing, directed by Kristy Doering. Scheduled for three evening performances from January 11th to 13th, the play focuses on the complexity of relationships, timely mirroring the profound events in Israel and Palestine. ALT's Executive Director, Lee Cox, who has a history of engaging with Blessing's work, eagerly embraced this script for its intense focus on human connections. Audiences will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session after each performance, making for a truly interactive theater experience. Following "Two Rooms" is " Red Jasper " by Michael Madden, directed by Brant McCance, from January 18th through 21st. This play, a tribute to living life fully in the face of a cancer

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ALTON - Alton Dispensary President and CEO Jeremy Wysocki announced the dispensary is looking to relocate at the Alton City Council meeting on Wednesday. He also shared new details about the nearly $2 million theft of funds and product by their former management company which resulted in contract termination, retaliation, a lawsuit, and a 10-day shutdown of the dispensary . After suing former management group Subsero Alton Ops LLC for misappropriating $1.8 million in company funds and more, the dispensary was forced to shut down for 10 days while they restructured and eventually reopened. While it would seem the business had finally found its footing again, Wysocki said they’ve “grown tired of the constant barrage and attack we’ve been under.” “Unfortunately, our company was required to file a lawsuit against for fraud and other misconduct in connection with their misappropriation of approximately $140,000 in marijuana product that they moved

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ALTON - Every year, The Annual Alton Branch NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration event always has a remarkable guest speaker with a strong message. In January, with the theme, "Moving On Towards Freedom, Justice and Equality," Theme, Wesley Bell, Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County, Mo, will provide the event's keynote address. Bell was elected in 2018 and is the first African American to hold this office. President Leon Smallwood-Bey, the 2024 Dr. King Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Alton Branch National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced the event date as 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Alton's Greater St. James Baptist Church, 2016 Belle Street in Alton. Smallwood-Bey said: "We will gather to honor Dr. King’s faith, love, and courage through song, community recognition, and a keynote address. The Riverbend Choir and vocalist Myles Jonathan Lacey will uplift us with musical selections. Alton’s NAACP Youth Council

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ALTON - The City of Alton will host DMV services at Alton City Hall, located at 101 E. 3rd Street, once a quarter starting on Jan. 18, 2024. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, Alton residents can get or renew identification cards, renew driver’s licenses, purchase registration stickers or complete the process to get a REAL ID. “On these designated mobile days, the community will have access to a wide array of DMV services, excluding the driving test,” the city said in a press release. “From license renewals to registration updates, the Alton City Hall will serve as a hub for residents to address their motor vehicle-related needs efficiently.” The quarterly mobile days will largely negate the need for Alton residents to travel to Bethalto or Edwardsville for DMV services. The City noted that this new program is a result of a “groundbreaking collaboration” between the City of Alton and the Illinois Secretary of State Office.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) are urging the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn an appellate court’s opinion barring employees of a Chicago manufacturing company from recovering overtime wages and penalty fees they argue should have been paid. Raoul, along with the IDOL, filed an amicus brief in Mercado v. S&C Electric Company (S&C) to ensure that the Illinois Minimum Wage Law protects employees’ right to earn fair compensation for overtime hours worked, as well as their right to recover lost wages and penalties in court. “Employees deserve to receive fair wages they have earned from all their hours of work. They also have the right to recover penalties if their employer violates Illinois’ Minimum Wage Law,” Raoul said. “If the appellate court’s opinion is allowed to stand, employers could withhold overtime wages, provide them only on demand, and avoid paying any penalties. I urge the Suprem

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has advanced the city of Decatur as a finalist for a grant to advance employment revitalization. The EDA also announced that the city of Springfield will receive planning dollars to develop a proposal for a similar award. The Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal to close this gap through flexible, locally driven investments. “The CHIPS Act and the Biden-Harris Administration continue to open doors for Illinois working families,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The Recompete Plan will help ensure economic development impacts every community, including those who have historically faced barriers to employment. The Springfield Economic Empowerment Project exemplifies that spirit,

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging him to strongly consider the Springfield Rail Improvements Project (SRIP) for federal rail grants in 2024, as the project was not awarded any federal support in 2023. SRIP, a joint effort between the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, and the Illinois Department of Transportation, aims to relocate all passenger and freight traffic from the Third Street Corridor to Tenth Street in Springfield. Durbin began his letter by recognizing the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) previous support for the project, including its most recent RAISE grant allocation in 2022. However, the final portion of the project, including building a new transportation center with train, bus, and parking access, cannot be completed without additional federal funding. Because SRIP was not a recipient of any 2023 DOT grants, the project will not be finalized in 202

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias rejected more than 304 vanity and personalized license plates this year that were deemed too obscene or defamatory. The Secretary of State’s office received 54,768 requests for vanity and personalized plates this year, including the 304 that were denied because of their inflammatory or offensive nature or because they were difficult to read. The rejected plate requests this year include: EATBUTT, BONER, MILFS, WOOPASS, POOPSY, DZNUTZ and IOWASUX. “I appreciate the creativity and pride Illinoisans take in choosing their own customized license plates, but they must meet the standards of good taste and decency,” Giannoulias said. “We keep an eye out for anything tawdry, lewd or offensive, all of which are rejected and placed on our permanent rejection list.” The Secretary of State’s Office oversees the process by which Illinoisans may request specific vanity or personalized license plates

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SPRINGFIELD – A new law going into effect on Jan. 1 is expected to eliminate the number of food deserts in Illinois’ communities, thanks to State Senator Christopher Belt. “There is no reason why individuals should struggle to find access to fresh food,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We have communities all over the state that have this issue, and it’s time that is addressed.” In 2021, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a study that found 807 census tracts are considered food deserts, meaning urban residents have to travel more than a half-mile and rural residents must travel more than 10 miles to get to the nearest grocery store. Under the new law, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is required to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to grocery stores located in or to be located in a food desert. This aims to help mitigate the issue of food deserts across the state. “The Grocery Initiative

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