Riverbender 🕸

EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County State's Attorney's Office announced today a Granite City High School teacher - John S. Manoogian - has entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor charges of criminal sexual abuse and battery and has been sentenced. Manoogian, 61, was indicted in March 2021 on counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and battery. Manoogian was a long-time director of a Granite City performing arts program. Granite City Police started the probe of the teacher. The State's Attorney's Office said the incidents occurred between August 2019 and February 2020 and involved seven students between ages of 14 and 16. As part of the plea agreement, Manoogian was sentenced to 18 months probation and was forced to surrender his teaching license. He entered a guilty plea to two counts of criminal sexual abuse and five counts of battery. Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Robert Werden has already begun the process of notifying the Illinois State Board of Education’s

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch to discuss Illinois’ humanitarian response to the arrival of more than 15,000 migrants. During their meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Speaker Welch spoke about the need for the Biden Administration to offer critical support to Illinois as it responds to migrants arriving in the state. Durbin and Duckworth reaffirmed their commitment to working with their state partners, including Speaker Welch, to ensure that the federal government offers adequate funding and resources to the state. “Our government is at its best when every level of government works together. I’m grateful to have a hardworking partner like Speaker Welch in the state government who is similarly dedicated to delivering for the people of Illinois,” said Durbin. “We had a productive discussion about how we ca

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CHICAGO – A Macoupin County man - Robert L. Jones - faces charges of possessing and disseminating child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender. Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office charged Jones, 45, in Macoupin County Circuit Court with five counts of dissemination of child pornography of a child under 13 years old, each Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison; 10 counts of possession of child pornography of a child under 13 years old, each Class 1 felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison; and three counts of failure to register under the Sex Offender Act, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Gillespie Police Department and Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, searched Jones’ home on the 700 block of South Street in Gillespie on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, and arrested him due to evidence of child pornography on his electronic

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ALTON/GODFREY - The North Alton-Godfrey Business Council (NAGBC) invites you to join them for their monthly meeting to learn more about the businesses and volunteerism in the community. NAGBC’s next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2023 at OSF St. Anthony's Medical Center in the Perpetual Care Center. The organization has approximately 150 members, and the group meets once a month to network and share information about volunteer opportunities, upcoming events and ways to boost each other’s businesses. “We have fun but yet we do good,” said Margaret Freer, owner of Freer Auto Body in Godfrey. “It’s truly a great organization. The members are giving, they’re caring, they’re supportive…That’s what it’s all about, helping one another.” Freer has been NAGBC’s secretary for 31 years and jokes that President Zeke Jabusch has held his role “since he was born.” Throughout

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ALTON - Alton Fire Department responded in a quick fashion to a serious fire in the 2300 block of Sunset on Wednesday night. Alton Fire Chief Jesse Jemison said the fire appears to be “suspicious” in nature. He said the fire is being investigated by the fire department and the state fire marshal’s office was called in. Alton Police Department is also part of the investigation. Jemison said the house was occupied and the blaze appeared to start on the front porch. “The fire was knocked down within about 20 minutes,” he said. “The firefighters put a good hit on it and kept it confined to the house's front porch.” The chief said he could not release any more about the fire because of the ongoing investigation and that family members are being consulted, but more will come out later today.

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ALTON - The Riverbend Rotary Club recently awarded $3,000 scholarships each to two 2023 graduates of Alton High School: Madison Ingram and Rebekah Blackmon. Madison is the daughter of Jennifer and Chad Ingram of Godfrey. She is pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas. Madison is also participating in the STEMTeach KU program, a program where students can pursue a teaching license alongside earning a degree in one of several STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields. A member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta while at Alton High, Madison was involved in extracurricular activities in music and theater, as well as many service projects and academic excellence. Rebekah is the daughter of Yeberzaf Yigzaw and the late Barnard Blackmon. She is attending the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), majoring in Physics, with a minor in Neurobiology. While attending Alton High School, she was involved in many organizations

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ALTON - The Gus Kodros Tribute Rock Show coming up in Alton on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at 5 p.m. will see the reunion of several Alton and St. Louis area bands team up for a night of music at The Lodge at The Lovejoy , located at 401 Piasa St. in Alton. The show is held in memory of Gus Kodros, former drummer for the band The Bishops, and benefits the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline . Fritz Beer, vocalist and guitarist for The Bishops, said the band played for about 10 years. Kodros played drums for five of those years, followed by Eric Harnetiaux. Years ago, the band started doing “reunion shows” with both drummers, who would play the songs from their respective era in the band. These shows became an annual occurrence until Gus took his own life before the pandemic. “They’re fun reunions, it’s like a party reunion show for friends and everything too,” Beer said. “We were like, ‘Let's just do one of these a year,’

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Letter To The Editor: We fell in love with Alton. Its warm community, hospitality, and acceptance stood out among many wonderful qualities for us as we made the big decision to move and raise our family here. It's disheartening to witness what appears to be a pre-emptive attack on a group of people, without a clear understanding of who they are or the positive impact they could bring to our town, before they’ve been given an opportunity to be good neighbors. The concerns raised by fellow residents about the recovery house are completely appreciated and understandable. However, let’s please first approach this issue with an open mind and a willingness to learn about what an Oxford House truly represents, and who it serves. With over a decade of experience in the recovery community in St Louis, I’ve seen firsthand lives turn around at Oxford Houses, producing men and women with a zeal to give back to life. So I reached out to Oxford Inc with my own concerns, and relayed

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PONTOON BEACH - Following three years of an ongoing driver workforce shortage, Madison County Transit (MCT) is proposing to make limited service reductions on five fixed-routes, effective December 3, 2023. Despite several years of aggressive efforts to recruit and retain drivers, a workforce shortfall in the double digits persists, which has necessitated mandatory overtime and could lead to driver frustration and fatigue, as well as the compromising of service reliability. In response, staff has recommended making short term frequency reductions on three routes and discontinuing two under-utilized express routes that operate only in the peaks. In addition, staff recommended to the Board that the usual January service change be implemented five weeks earlier than normal to make the adjustments as soon as possible. Reduction of Running Times and Service Hours: MCT is proposing to reduce the frequency on three bus routes from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes. Those routes are the:

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SPRINGFIELD – Director Theresa Eagleson, who has led the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for the past five years, announced today that she will be leaving the Department at the end of 2023. The Governor has appointed Lizzy Whitehorn, who currently serves as First Assistant Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services, to serve as Director beginning January 1, 2024. Under Eagleson’s leadership, HFS has implemented multiple nation-leading initiatives aimed at reducing disparities and creating more equitable healthcare and child support systems in Illinois. Eagleson championed the expansion of healthcare access, including behavioral healthcare and reproductive healthcare, and brought a new vision to the Department of improving lives and creating a more customer-centered way of providing healthcare and child support services to HFS customers. “Theresa has dedicated countless hours of work and a lifetime of Medicaid and health care expertise t

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O’FALLON — This fall, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Cancer Care Center is hosting its second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Fun Walk in coordination with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At the event, walkers of all ages, volunteers and families will come together to honor and celebrate the brave patients of the oncology center, as well as the supporters who have provided invaluable aid and assistance during these difficult times. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Cancer Care Center Breast Cancer Awareness Fun Walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Moody (Longacre) Park in Fairview Heights, and registration is now open. This event is FREE for everyone. It is a 1.5-mile walk through the park (rain or shine). Participants will receive an event bag and other health information. This year, a special event t-shirt is available for purchase for $25 as a donation to the patient transportation fund. T-shirts will be available

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ALTON - After years of hoping, the Riverbend Pickleball Group, Alton Parks and Recreation Department and Alton Township have collaborated to install pickleball courts at Gordon Moore Park. On Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, community leaders met at the park to break ground for eight new pickleball courts. Construction will likely be completed by the end of the year with painting scheduled for the warmer spring months, so the courts will be ready to go by Spring 2024. “For several years, the city has been recognizing the growing need for pickleball in the area,” Michael Haynes, Alton Parks and Recreation Director, said. “We’re just looking forward to the use out there. That’s what we’re all about: providing recreation to as many people in the community as we possibly can. And I feel like we’re going to reach a heck of a lot of people.” The Riverbend Pickleball Group, which regularly organizes play for over 100 local pickleball players, approache

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GODFREY – The start of a new school year means another new year for the RiverBend Growth Association’s Young Adults Committee. The Young Adults Committee (YAC) consists of student representatives participating from Alton, Civic Memorial, East Alton-Wood River, Fortitude School, Marquette Catholic, and Roxana High Schools. Senior student representatives are Emily Schrumpf and Khas Spitz from Alton High School, Alyssa Abernathy and Lucas Naugle from Civic Memorial High School, Kylen Johnson and Mia Plumb from East Alton-Wood River High School, Blake Schaper and Jacob Schaper from Fortitude School, Morgan Hornsey and Jacob Rose from Marquette Catholic High School, and Joshua Gilbert and Calista Stahlhut from Roxana High School. YAC junior student representatives are Adie Bemis and Seana Grey from Alton High School, Bella Murray and Marissa Perez from Civic Memorial High School, Mayonna Jaggie and Isaac Thornton from East Alton-Wood River High School, Tyra Wells

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LITCHFIELD - The public is invited to join the Golden Eagle Intertribal Gathering to honor veterans and first responders on Saturday, October 7, at Picnic Area 4 of Lake Lou Yaeger. Craft and merchandise vendors will be onsite and the event will also include raffles and games. The Ladies Auxiliary of AMVETS Post 16 will serve Indian tacos and hot dogs, along with other food items and drinks. Members of several tribal nations will be in attendance and will help visitors learn about Native American culture with singing, dancing, storytelling and drumming. Some tribal affiliations include Cherokee, Choctaw, Blackfoot and Oneida, and others. Vendor hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Grand Entry, during which dancers follow a color guard into the event area, is scheduled for 12 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets as seating is not available. For more information, call Tina Simpson at 217-851-2206.

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ST. LOUIS - The following statement is on behalf of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. Please see more information regarding the status of the decommissioning as well as before-and-after pictures of the location: “The City took action to save lives and protect people. Full stop. My administration navigated this complex situation to connect dozens of unhoused residents to shelter and resources while addressing a growing public safety hazard. This is a testament to the collective work of City employees as well as the major investments the City has made to improve access to shelter and double our number of tiny homes. “Homelessness and housing instability cannot be fixed overnight, but St. Louis is breaking from past practices by ensuring we have places for people to go where they can get support and on a path to permanent housing. While this process is never perfect, and the work is never finished, those housed today will sleep more safely tonight. “I am especially grateful

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – During today’s U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) nominations hearing for Michael Whitaker to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—pushed for Whitaker to uphold the highest standards for airline transport pilot certification, including the 1,500-hour rule, if he is confirmed. In her remarks, Duckworth underscored the importance of not only defending the minimum real world flight hours requirement, but also working to increase the rigor of what type of flying counts towards meeting the 1,500-hour rule given this year’s alarming aviation safety crisis. In the past year, our nation has seen a chilling surge in near-deadly misses involving commercial airlines that likely stems from plummeting aviation workforce experience levels after airlines paid tens of thousands

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-02) and U.S. Representative Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03) to reintroduce the Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act (or FEMA Equity Act) to address systemic inequities in the federal government’s response to disasters and how it distributes assistance. The legislation follows a growing body of evidence and reporting that low-income disaster survivors and disaster-impacted communities of color are less likely to receive crucial federal emergency assistance compared to higher-income counterparts. “As Americans, it’s our responsibility to support one another in times of need—including when our most disadvantaged communities are devastated by disasters and severe weather,” said Senator Duckworth. “Disasters don’t discriminate against

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BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL – In a huge win for public higher education and the labor movement in Illinois, 650 tenured and tenure-track faculty at Illinois State University (ISU) filed authorization/membership cards today with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board expressing their intent to unionize. “It’s a really exciting moment for us,” said Xiaoying Zhao, ISU assistant professor of teaching and learning. “Today we have taken the necessary steps to formalize our union and send a clear message that the faculty at ISU want a strong voice to advocate for the needs of our students, this institution, and our colleagues who are dedicated to them both.” United Faculty of ISU (UFISU) officially launched a unionization effort in August. In just weeks, an overwhelming majority of faculty signed cards to say, “Union YES!” Dave Kopsell, ISU professor of agriculture, noted, “Right away, my colleagues and I recognized that joining a union

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CHICAGO - Today Governor JB Pritzker announced several upcoming transitions in state agency leadership. Theresa Eagleson, Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), will step down at the end of 2023. The Governor has appointed Lizzy Whitehorn, who currently serves as First Assistant Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services, to serve as Director of HFS beginning January 1, 2024, pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate. The Governor also announced the upcoming transitions, also at the end of the calendar year, of Paula Basta, Director of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), and Marc D. Smith, Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Finally, the Governor announced the appointment of Camile Lindsay as Acting Director of Professional Regulation at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), pending confirmation. Lindsay is currently serving as First Assistant Deputy Governor for Public

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CHICAGO – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the work of community leaders. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the great achievements of Hispanics and present awards to eight Latino leaders, including a retired White Sox executive, a TV news anchor, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools and the director of a Puerto Rican arts organization. “Today, let us take a moment to recognize the contributions of our Hispanic and Latino neighbors,” Frerichs said at the event held at the state government building at 555 W. Monroe St. in Chicago. “Let’s celebrate their dedication to making our communities a better place to live, work, and raise a family.” Hispanic Heritage Month is a national observance. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson established a Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to a month. This year’s

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