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ALTON - Patients of OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in the greater Riverbend community will soon have access to a comprehensive network of pediatric providers through a recently-announced strategic affiliation with SSM Health, a Catholic health care system based in the St. Louis area. This collaboration will better serve patients in the community by bringing exceptional medical and surgical specialties closer to home. The affiliation combines a commitment to exceptional care and an expanded, comprehensive network of expert specialty and subspecialty physicians for patients in the area. The latest collaboration will see Ameera Nauman, MD , a pediatrician at OSF Saint Anthony’s, move into the SSM Health network while continuing to see patients at the OSF Medical Group office in Godfrey. The Godfrey office offers primary care for adults as well as pediatric care. Dr. Nauman will have access to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital , a world-class

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GODFREY - Riverbender.com will broadcast the Village of Godfrey's board meetings on the first and third Tuesday of every month beginning tonight. The Public Safety Meeting will start the night off at 6 p.m., followed by the Finance Meeting, then the Village Board Meeting. Riverbender.com Owner/CEO John Hentrich said the meetings normally last an hour to an hour and a half for the three together. Live coverage will begin tonight at 6 p.m.: http://www.riverbender.com/video/live/details.cfm?id=1309 Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said he was appreciative of John Hentrich and Riverbender.com for the opportunity to live-stream the twice-a-month meetings. "I am very much looking forward to it," Mayor McCormick said. "I think it will open up doors to more people in our community. I am looking forward to tonight's test run. I see a good future in this program." Hentrich thanked Matt Darr of Williams Office Supply, Jarvis Swope of the City of Alton, and Rich Beran, the Godfrey Village Engineer

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GODFREY - Taylor and Lily Freer's Christmas In July event raised more than $51,000 in 2021 and the girls are now out and about working on this year's fundraiser. "They need the community's help again to make it a success," their grandmother Margaret Freer of Freer Auto Body, said recently. "The prizes this year are once again over the top. We need everyone’s help in selling tickets. "Tickets are ready for pick-up or delivery. The person selling the most tickets will receive two round-trip Southwest air tickets (blackout dates apply). There are great prizes for a great cause. "All prizes are donated so 100 percent of these sales goes to helping needy families in our area at Christmas. The Freer girls will once again be serving their famous sloppy joes for dining in or carrying out on July 29, 2022, at Freer Auto Body in Godfrey. Please call 618-466-6151 if you can help sell tickets. The community always comes together and ensures the success of this event, but the Freer girls

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GRAFTON - Jersey State Bank employees showed their sincere community generosity with donations of food items this week to the Grafton Food Pantry. “We want to support our community by helping families in need,” Grafton Branch Manager Jeremy Heneghan said. “We collected food items from our Jerseyville and Grafton locations during the first week in June and we will be delivering them at the end of this week.” He said he was so pleased to see donations coming in during non-holiday periods. "This really helps us to fill a real need,” Grafton Food Pantry Coordinator Mychele Hutchinson said. She explained that most of their donations come from local churches as well as walk-ins from individuals. “These donations from businesses are greatly appreciated, we are very grateful to Jersey State Bank employees for their support of our community," she concluded. Donations to the Grafton Food Pantry may be dropped off at City Hall Monday through Thursday,

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FOSTERBURG – A loud boom around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday has been the talk of the region today. However, after checking with several sources, there is nothing to explain the deep boom that rattled windows. Mark Bacus, an area man, asked this morning on Riverbender.com: “Did anyone feel and hear a loud, deep boom at 2:15 a.m.? It awakened and startled several of us in the Rosewood Heights area. There is a lot of social media buzz about it in this neck of the woods. Several of us thought our houses had been hit by something.” J. Hess provided this comment to Riverbender.com about the boom: "I’m off Humbert Road near Ted’s. At 2:15 this morning, there was a tremendous blast out here. It shook the house and rattled the windows. Any idea what happened?" Several looked at their doorbell cameras and discovered something had happened overnight. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said it received reports about the boom and it did investigate the situation in th

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Intelligence Operations Bureau detectives have located and taken into custody two juveniles who escaped from detention on May 29, 2022. The two juveniles are 17 years of age. A spokesman for the Clayton Police Department previously said one of the escaped teens lives in the St. Louis region, while the other lives in Illinois. Officers notified their parents and local police departments in both of their hometowns after their escapes.

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INGREDIENTS 2 shallots minced 2 tablespoons chopped garlic 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano 2 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons Olive Oil Marketplace Basil EVOO 2 tablespoons Olive Oil Marketplace White Tropical Passion Balsamic 2 tablespoons tequila 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 tilapia fillets INSTRUCTIONS Combine the shallots, garlic, oregano, sugar, olive oil, balsamic, lime juice, tequila, salt, and pepper in a gallon-sized sealable bag; shake to combine. Add the tilapia to the mixture and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours, turning every 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper Arrange the fish on the prepared baking sheet. Discard the remaining marinade. Bake in the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes. For more great recipes, visit OliveOilMarketplace.com. About Olive Oil Marketplace If you’re a Foodie

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ALTON - Donald Holliday has been busy setting high marks in the fine arts, music, and graphic design at Alton High over the past three years. Donald is the Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Remarkable Redbird Of The Month. Donald was part of and also designed the Marching 100 show shirts this past school year and also did the same for the Alton indoor drum line. The Alton indoor drum line recently came back to performing and Donald performed in Below Zero, a show with 9 drummers and 10 other percussion-playing students. Donald's hope for his senior year is to continue to grow this group with the hope of donations and other funding being able to cover the costs of student uniforms. Donald has also been an integral member of the graphic design club and joined Calliope, a literary and visual arts magazine where he was the secretary of the publication. He was responsible for finding artists to show their talents in the magazine and also got sponsorships from two local businesses and also the Alton

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JERSEYVILLE - The always popular Jerseyville Fourth of July Fireworks display is scheduled on Monday, July 4, starting at dusk at the Jerseyville American Legion property. Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department said it is honored to be the organization facilitating the fireworks for another summer in Jerseyville. This event is free to the public and parking is available at the Fairgrounds (101 West Fairgrounds Avenue, Jerseyville). “We are happy to play the role of organizer for the annual fireworks in Jerseyville, it is something that residents and visitors alike enjoy over the fourth of July weekend each year," Tyler Hermens, Director of Parks and Recreation, said. "This event really brings together multiple departments and organizations. The city could not do it without everyone’s cooperation. "We want to thank Jerseyville Police and Jerseyville Fire for their efforts in safety for the event and the Jerseyville American Legion for the use of the property each summer.

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BENTON - A Fairview Heights man is heading to federal prison for possession of child pornography. Michael M. Rapa, 68 of Fairview Heights, was sentenced on Thursday, June 2, 2022, to 6 years in prison for two counts of possession of prepubescent child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Rapa pleaded guilty to the charges in February. Following his prison sentence, Rapa will be on federal supervised release for 5 years and will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. According to court documents, Rapa first came to the attention of law enforcement in Vancouver, Canada, in 2015. As the result of a subsequent investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Fairview Heights Police Department, in 2017 Rapa was determined to be in possession of hundreds of image and video files containing prepubescent child pornography on various items of electronic media which lead to charges in the Southern District o

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JERSEY/MACOUPIN COUNTIES - Illinois State Police (ISP) District 18 Commander, Mark Gillock, announces the ISP will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Jersey County and Macoupin County during June. OREPs allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers (front and back) to be buckled up. Safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, estimated to save nearly 14,000 lives each year. Half of the vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not properly buckled up. The objective of this program is to increase occupant restraint compliance through education, child seat inspections, and enforcement.

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has supported JewelRide, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) business, by assisting with the company’s marketing, social media management, and financing. This summer, as a community outreach initiative, JewelRide is collaborating with the Edwardsville Public Library to host a Books for Bikes Reading Challenge. The Books for Bikes Reading Challenge is open to children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The challenge runs now through Sunday, July 31. Children are encouraged to read books, log their progress, and enter to win the grand prize of a bike. On Saturday, Aug. 6, 14 bikes will be awarded to the winning children. JewelRide owner, Tapiwa Mupereki, believes in the power of reading and how it can positively influence an individual’s life. “My mother really believed in reading,” he said. “If you can read,

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NASHVILLE, TN – Outback Presents is pleased to announce that comedian Taylor Tomlinson’s brand-new national headlining tour will begin across the United States in October 2022, playing St. Louis’ Stifel Theatre Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Today, Tomlinson revealed The Have It All Tour will bring her hit stand-up comedy routine to the masses. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. local time and can be found at the link here . The show in St. Louis is currently scheduled to be the final one on the tour. TAYLOR TOMLINSON: THE HAVE IT ALL TOUR 2022 DATES Friday, October 7, 2022 Portland, ME State Theatre Saturday, October 8, 2022 Providence, RI The VETS Sunday, October 9, 2022 Albany, NY Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Friday, October 14, 2022 New Orleans, LA Saenger Theatre Saturday, October 15, 2022 Mobile, AL Saenger Theatre Friday, October 21, 2022 Buffalo, NY UB Center For The Arts Saturday, October 22, 2022 Toronto, ON Meridian Hall Thursda

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ALTON - Sarah Schirz (holding plaque in picture above) of Alton Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department has been named the AMH June Employee of the Month. Sarah received the award June 6 from, left to right, Kristen Jones, manager of the ED; AMH President Dave Braasch; and Cindy Bray, director of Patient Care. The nomination for Sarah said that she “is a valuable asset to the organization and the community. Sarah is intelligent and puts her heart and soul into her job. She is able to function at every level in every area within the Emergency Department. Not only is she able to do all these things, but Sarah does all of them with excellence. In her job as educator, she is thorough and effectively communicates with staff of all levels.”

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AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University honored more than 4,700 students who received degrees during spring commencement ceremonies May 12-14. Alumna Beth Ford, president and chief executive officer of Land O'Lakes, received a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree for her contributions as a leader in business and agriculture and advocate for farmers and rural communities. Alumnus Subra Suresh, president and Distinguished University Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, received a Doctor of Science honorary degree for contributions as a distinguished engineer, scientist, entrepreneur and leader in higher education. Following are graduates from your area: Ryan Shustrin, Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering - Edwardsville, IL

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GRANITE CITY - It's been many years since Granite City High's wrestling program has produced an IHSA state champion, and it has been since 1965 when the Warriors were team co-champions. In 2022, Granite's wrestling program had an individual champion in Caleb Scott, who won the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state title in the organization's freshman-sophomore state tournament, held at Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield on March 12-13. Scott had a record of 18-1 before suffering an upper-body injury just before Christmas, which kept him out of the lineup the rest of the year, coming back at the start of the IHSA tournament series, but was unable to compete. It makes the IWCOA title even more sweeter. For his efforts on the mat this season, Scott has been named the Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for Granite City High School. Scott, who wrestled for head coach John Venne, was very excited to have won the IWCOA championship for the Warriors.

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O'FALLON - The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that US 50 from Anne Avenue to Il Rt 158 in O’Fallon will be intermittently restricted to one lane in each direction beginning Monday, June 13, 2022, weather permitting. This work will take place daily between the hours of 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Traffic in each direction will be maintained using flaggers and arrow boards. This work is necessary to complete pavement repairs. This work is expected to be completed by late Summer 2022. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. The contractor on this project is Christ Bros. of Lebanon, Illinois. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE - June is National Perennial Month and Joe’s Market Basket is helping people prepare their own yards to become a perennial oasis. Each year, a perennial’s foliage dies and then re-blooms the following season for up to several years to come. “Perennials are so fun to plant because they will often surprise you year after year,” said Joe’s Market Basket General Manager Andy Klos. “These plants are also so low maintenance, so they are perfect for amateur and experienced gardeners. Our customers look forward to having a bright beautiful array of flowers throughout the spring and summer months.” Depending on the species, perennials' lifespan can stretch anywhere from three years to a lifetime and will bloom each year. Klos said the more you plant, the more surprising your garden can be. Joe’s Market Basket has dozens of perennials but offers favorites like salvia, coneflower, lavender, asters and peonies. There are also a variety

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ST. LOUIS - Each year on June 14, the American Red Cross joins blood collection organizations around the world to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, which recognizes the importance of a safe and stable blood supply and the donors who make it possible. Nearly 2.5 million people volunteer to give lifesaving blood and platelets every year with the Red Cross. Eligible donors are encouraged to be part of something big by making an appointment to give blood or platelets this month. Blood donations decline in late spring and early summer – especially during holiday weeks, like Memorial Day and Independence Day – but the need for blood and platelet transfusions doesn’t take a summer break. Generous blood and platelet donors are critically important in ensuring lifesaving care is available the moment patients need it. To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you

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ST. LOUIS - A dozen students from the Metro East area convened at the Southern Illinois District Federal Courthouse in East St. Louis on April 24 to participate in a mock trial. Students were given a fictional case and worked individually and in groups to compile evidence and exhibits, develop eyewitness questions and answers, and formulate both direct and cross-examination questions. The trial was divided into two rounds in which each team of six had the opportunity to participate in one round as defense and in the other round as prosecution. They presented their case for a team of volunteer jurors and the Honorable Judge David Dugan presided over the case, guiding the students through the trial process. Program director, Sarah Jane Drury, guided the students for months in preparation for the mock trial. After the mock trial, a group of U.S. Marshals graciously gave a presentation to the students detailing their role in federal law enforcement, allowing students to tour through

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