Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Former Alton Chapter Of AFSCME 124 Labor Union President Byron Clemons, 36, entered a guilty plea to one count of interstate transportation of stolen money and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution after he embezzled $202,100 in union funds. Clemons will be on supervised-release for two years after he serves his prison time as part of the sentence and is ordered to pay back the $202,100. He was the president of the Alton Chapter of AFSCME Local 124 from June 2017 through January 2022. Clemons withdrew the funds from the labor union's account from February 2021 to January 2022. The prosecutors in the case said Clemons used the embezzled money to gamble at casinos and pay personal expenses. In rejecting the defendant’s request for probation, the sentencing judge in the case stated that she hopes a message is sent that individuals who steal from non-profits will be held accountable. “Clemons abused his position as the labor union’s

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ALTON - A local nonprofit hosted a pet food drive and cave clean-up this weekend in memory of Trinity Buel. Trinity’s Way was founded after 17-year-old Buel’s passing in 2018. To celebrate her birthday on Aug. 6, the organization cleaned up litter at Piasa Park and collected pet food to donate to a local animal shelter. “We wouldn’t be here five years later if Trinity wasn’t such an awesome special person,” said Raina Schlueter, the organization’s vice president and Buel’s friend. “There’s a reason we’re all still here doing this. And we’re still going strong.” Buel was passionate about helping animals and the environment, a legacy that Trinity’s Way carries on. The nonprofit organizes a clean-up every month. They hold the pet food drive twice a year, on Buel’s birthday and the anniversary of her passing in February. Chris Unthank, the organization’s president and Buel’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. has acquired the Sparta, IL location of Wright Building Center, a long-time industry presence in Southwestern Illinois. “For 39 years, Wright Building Center has served the citizens of the Randolph County area, and we are thrilled to have their team join the R.P. Lumber family,” said Robert Plummer, President & CEO of R.P. Lumber. “We have been industry friends and competitors for many years, so it is exciting to add this great location to our footprint in Illinois,” Plummer continued. “Since 1964, my family has been in the hardware, lumber, and construction business,“ said Jami Lee Wright, owner of Wright Building Center and member of the recent inaugural class of LBM Journal’s “40 under 40” strong leaders in the LBM community. “We’ve had a great run. We're thankful for our awesome team and the strong customer base that has kept us going since 1984. R.P. Lumber runs an impressive

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker signed three bills today offering increased protections for Native and Indigenous Illinoisans. HB3413, the Human Remains Protection Act, establishes procedures for encountering human remains or gravesites and returning remains to Native American Nations. SB1446 prohibits schools from banning students from wearing cultural regalia as graduation attire. HB1633 mandates instruction on Native American history in Illinois public schools. “Today, we take another step forward in repairing generations of harm and building a brighter future for our state’s Native American and Indigenous Peoples,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “At its core, this legislation is about respect. Respect for those who came before us and those who will come after—and that is why we want to teach our children this history, to avoid the mistakes of the past and to instill that respect from an early age.” “As we are seeking new ways to continue

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SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Illinoisans in need of insulin have affordable access to the life-saving medicine, State Senator Christopher Belt supported a new law to cap its price at $35. “Insulin is essential for individuals with diabetes to properly manage their condition,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Capping the price of insulin ensures that people can afford it without facing financial hardships.” Under this new law, the price of a 30-day supply of insulin will be capped at $35 for all private individual and group insurance policies. More than 10% of the U.S. population has diabetes according to the diabetes research institute. One in 12 Illinoisans have insulin-dependent diabetes. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the cost of insulin has risen 600% in the last 20 years. Americans pay 10 times than that of citizens of 32 other nations—$98.70 on average compared to $8.81. “Insulin costs have increased significantly

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker today signed House Bill 3768, expanding racial classification categories when reporting statistical data within state agencies. The legislation amends the Uniform Racial Classification Act to create a “Middle Eastern or North African” (MENA) category. “Here in Illinois, we are committed to instilling the values of inclusion and equity in every department of state government,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why this legislation is an important step in ensuring proper representation for every individual in our great state. When it comes to distributing resources and providing support from our state’s agencies, we need to be sure every single Illinoisan is accounted for—leaving no one behind.” "When we tell the story of Illinois, it must reflect the diversity of our state and do so accurately and with intention," said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. "This expansion is critical in ensuring every

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SPRINGFIELD – Epinephrine auto-injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPens, will now cost a maximum of $60 per twin-pack thanks to a law backed by State Senator Christopher Belt. “EpiPens are crucial. Every person who relies on EpiPens should have affordable, reliable access,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The high cost of this life-saving medication has been a significant barrier for many individuals and families, putting their health and well-being at major risk.” EpiPens are the only medication that works on the entire body to combat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. However, since 2017, a global shortage has made the medication increasingly difficult to obtain. The cost of EpiPens has skyrocketed in recent years, with a twin pack costing anywhere from $500-700 on average, and a single injector costing anywhere from $300-400. The new Belt-backed law will limit the cost of EpiPens to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack. “No one

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COLLINSVILLE - Revity Credit Union employees joined together to raise $1,030.00 in the month of July to benefit Collinsville Charities for Children through their Smile for Jeans Program. The Smile for Jeans Program is funded by Revity Credit Union employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, Revity employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. Nothing gets better than seeing a smile on an organization’s face when Revity Credit Union presents them with a jeans donation check. Revity Credit Union’s 2023 Smile for Jeans Program focuses on supporting our local communities that we work, play and live in. During the month of July, Revity employees proudly raised $1,030 for Collinsville Charities for Children. Collinsville Charities for Children’s mission is to ensure that the children of our community have the necessities

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Alton native Donald D. McDonough has announced an upcoming campaign for state representative. He has been involved in political campaigns on behalf of candidates, organizations and issues at every level of government from local, state, national, and international. He has worked for progressive organizations and causes including environmental issues, taxes, land use, healthcare, labor, trial lawyers, medical and dental associations; education, transportation and transit; law enforcement, police and firefighters; the arts; aviation and public ports. After volunteering for a presidential campaign while in high school, he went on to work on three presidential campaigns as national staff. He also managed three congressional campaigns and worked as chief pollster and strategy consultant for scores of other campaigns, Initiatives, and referenda. His areas of experience and expertise include campaign planning, budgeting and fundraising, targeting and field organizing, media and advertising

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EDWARDSVILLE - The partnership between the Edwardsville YMCA and Mitch-N-Friends, who puts on the annual clinic for special needs players held during the Edwardsville Futures tennis tournament, presented by the EGHM Foundation, was solidified on Thursday when Mitch-N-Friends presented a check for $1,230 to the Edwardsville YMCA during a ceremony held at the end of the annual clinic. The money, which was raised by donations to Mitch-N-Friends, will help with costs of the program, in which the Meyer Center began hosting monthly clinics last year, on the second Thursday of each month from September through May. How the organization and the partnership between the Edwardsville Y and Mitch-N-Friends started was in a very simple and heartfelt way. "So, 10 years ago, when my father died, Mitch-N-Friends was about two or three years into our organization," said Kevin McGinnis, the main force behind the organization named for his son Mitch, a longtime staple of the Edwardsville High School

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GODFREY - As we near the start of the fall semester, Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) is happy to highlight the College for Life program, which provides non-credit classes to students with disabilities. Students over age 18 who have a documented intellectual or developmental disability or similar learning challenges are eligible for the program. Program Coordinator Roselyn “Rosie” Ellington explained that it’s a great chance for students to engage with campus life and continue their education past high school. “It’s a really fun program, and it’s also amazing because it’s so inclusive,” Ellington said. “There’s no program like ours in the area. And it’s called College for Life because students can come for as long as they want, and it’s a very good way for the students to also be involved in a college setting.” More than 130 students are enrolled in the College for Life (CFL) program at LCCC’s

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office returned more than $11.5 million in unclaimed property during July, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. The total includes nearly $11.5 million in cash and interest and almost $45,000 in stock value. All told, 12,554 claims were paid. “My office helps the Illinois economy by putting money back in people’s pockets,” Frerichs said. “I have taken numerous steps to make the system of reuniting people with their unclaimed property more efficient.” Illinois’ unclaimed property program — also known as I-CASH — is one of the state’s oldest consumer protection initiatives. The State Treasurer is tasked with safeguarding unclaimed property, such as the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. Illinois holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property. The Treasurer’s

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GODFREY - The Evangelical United Church of Christ School in Godfrey will welcome Amanda Macias as their new principal this year. Macias previously taught at Alton High School before serving as the principal at North Greene Junior and Senior High School for five years. She doesn’t have as much experience working with elementary school students, but she’s excited for the chance to learn and get involved with the Evangelical community. “I’m really excited about this new adventure in my life,” Macias said. She joked that her time at North Greene has prepared her for almost anything. “Your feet hit the ground running, and that first year, I just probably couldn’t even tell you my name…The learning that I did there was amazing. I’m not near as nervous for my first year at this job.” This summer, Macias has been adjusting to her new role and noting the differences between public and private schools. She has done a lot of

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EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville is applying for a grant which, if approved, would fund up to 40 percent of the cost of a new proposed bike/pedestrian trail along Schwarz Street. The new trail would allow greater connectivity between Brent Leh Dog Park, the sidewalk along Schwarz Street, and the Route 66 trail. 4th Ward Alderman SJ Morrison said this project has been on the “priority list” of projects yet to be completed under the city’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan . He added the project has been highly requested by residents. “It’s a good project, I think it’ll score well,” Morrison said. “It’ll connect to the dog park and to the sidewalk along Schwarz. It’ll also connect by a crosswalk to the Route 66 bikeway along 157 … we’ve heard this request for a while.” Specifically, the new trail segment will connect the Route 66 trail at the intersection of Highway 157 and West Schwarz

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EAST ALTON - Early Monday morning, July 31, NGRREC researchers took to the Mississippi River to deploy one of their GREON stations. GREON stations are designed to capture real-time water quality data, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, blue-green algae, and nitrate, to name a few. These data are important for informing watershed health and understanding the ecology of large-floodplains. “We are excited to redeploy our GREON buoy back in Ellis Bay,” Research Specialist Jen Hemphill said. “Data has been collected here since 2014 and has allowed us to study seasonal, annual, and climatic changes on the water quality. One of our goals with GREON is to deploy water quality platforms throughout Illinois rivers gathering data in areas not currently monitored. This will help fill in data gaps of a river system’s overall water quality.” National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems

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ALTON - Marilyn Minor has officially opened her business at 235 East Delmar Road in Alton, Illinois 62002. The RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) team facilitated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for family, friends, and community members on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Team members include Marilyn Minor, Owner/Stylist; Chynethia Hewlett, stylist specializing in skin care; and stylist Carmen Samuels. Marilyn’s upscale salon services include the art of hairstyling, trendy haircuts, express hair weaving (bonding and sew-ins), finger waves for days, natural hairstyling, updos, silk press, hair braiding, eyebrow waxing/razor, hair coloring, and more." "We are a hair replacement center, for men and women," she added. "Our motto is 'We Care About Your Hair," she said. "In Marilyn’s Care is a distributor of age-defying skincare products." Marily said her goal is that every person she comes in contact with is made to look and feel beautiful. Call for a free personal consultation and/or

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ST. LOUIS - It’s that time of year when it can be pretty easy to lose a couple hours of good sleep. Even if we’re usually pretty good about keeping up with our regular bedtime routines, there can be a lot going on that can get in the way. Evening trips to the park or a late summer concert can keep us up later than usual. Uncomfortably warm bedrooms can make it harder to get to sleep and stay asleep. And the kids in our lives may feel summer coming to a close, bringing some extra energy and disrupted sleep in anticipation of a new school year. Occasionally missing out on a healthy night’s sleep is fine. But, when it happens regularly, it can be more of a concern and have a real impact on our health. “Sleep is essential in maintaining good physical and mental health, as well as well-being,” said Yikyung Park, professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Getting too little sleep

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EDWARDSVILLE - Construction on “The Station on Main” complex in Edwardsville is expected to be completed in Spring 2024. The site, located at 400 North Main Street, previously housed Edwardsville’s first City Hall and various other public safety services. The new development will include 38 single-bedroom apartments and townhomes, four restaurants, five boutique retail sites and up to five businesses, according to a press release from the City of Edwardsville dated October 2022. “We’re really excited to be making a pretty big impact on downtown Edwardsville,” said Kevin Neffelhauf, the project manager with Pfund Construction . Construction by Pfund Construction started earlier this year. Neffelhauf said there are three phases of construction and it has been going well. They plan to be finished sometime between late March and mid-April. “We’ve been there on site for about nine months now, kind of clearing what was there

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A 15-year-old East St. Louis male has been charged with First-Degree Murder (a Class M Felony) and Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (a Class X Felony). The Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) and St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office made the announcement about the charges Friday afternoon after what they described as a "thorough investigation." The 15-year-old is currently detained at the St. Clair Juvenile Detention Center. On Aug. 27, 2022, the East St. Louis Police Department requested ISP PSEG to conduct a death investigation. A female, later identified as 49-year-old Harriett Childers of St. Louis, was located in the 1800 block of Gaty Avenue with a gunshot wound. Childers was a full-time nurse and had been driving for a ride share when the shooting occurred. Childers was pronounced deceased on scene. ISP DCI was assisted by the East St. Louis Police Department, St. Clair County Coroner’s Office, ISP Crime Scene Services,

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CHICAGO – An Illinois Lottery retailer in the Chicagoland area strikes again. A $700,000 winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket was sold at Kostner Korner, located at 4356 W. Howard St. in Skokie. The Lucky Day Lotto ticket matched all five numbers for the Wednesday, August 2 midday drawing to take home the jackpot prize. The winning numbers were: 8-19-26-32-37. “Due to the big Mega Millions Jackpot, we’ve had a lot of new customers coming into the store to buy tickets so I’m not sure who might have bought the winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket,” said Bhupendra Patel, owner of Kostner Korner. “Whomever it is, I’m just very happy that one of our customers is a winner.” This is the second time the store has sold a winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket within the last five weeks. On June 30, a lucky player took home the jackpot prize - a cool $450,000. Kostner Korner is also one of the top 10 Illinois Lottery retailers in the state that have sold the most

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