Riverbender 🕸

Couples names: Jacob & Edith Miller City: Wood River Date met pr started dating: April 1, 1945 Date married: July 1, 1945 What makes your relationship special? Faith and love of each other and their family Share a memory you have made together: Being married 78 years in July. Having our three children, 7 grandkids, 18 great-grandkids (not including spouses), and 4 great great grandkids.

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Couples names: Josh, Kara City: East Alton Date met pr started dating: June 24, 2017 What makes your relationship special? This year we will have been together 6 years and I still miss Josh the minute he leaves. Watching him be a dad to Cam is my favorite thing in life! Share a memory you have made together: Last year we brought our son, Cam, into the world! The best thing we’ve ever done.

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Couples names: Kim & Kraig Daniels City: Hartford Date met pr started dating: August 30, 2014 Date married: October 14, 2017 What makes your relationship special? We’re best friends?? Life can be rough and stressful at times but at the end of the day, we always know who to turn to, to make each other smile and feel secure. Share a memory you have made together: One of our best memories outside of having kids was experiencing our first vacation together. I planned a surprise trip to Eugene Oregon, that will be a forever memory we look back on and smile.

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GODFREY – The RiverBend Growth Association added four more members to its organization to kick off its new year. New members included Zonta Club of Alton-Wood River, Final Touch Salon and Boutique, CJ’s Juicery, and Just Right Organizing. Founded in 1949, the Zonta Club of Alton-Wood River is one of about 1,200 clubs in 63 countries. The original Zonta Club was formed in 1919. The organization was begun to advocate for and assist aspiring female business professionals. The Zonta Club also works to increase awareness about the negative impact of child marriage and advocates for legislation throughout the United States to prevent the marriage of anyone under 18 years of age. The local group supports the Oasis Women’s Center and also awards scholarships to women pursuing advanced education at Lewis and Clark Community College. To become a member of the Zonta Club, one must be a female employed as a professional or a businesswoman. For more information about Zonta

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EDWARDSVILLE – The intersection of North Buchanan Street and Hillsboro Avenue will be closed on Friday, February 3, for ongoing work as part of a water main replacement project. Only the intersection will be closed on Friday. Motorists will have access to the rest of North Buchanan Street and Hillsboro Avenue. North Fillmore Street, North Kansas Street, and other nearby roads can be used to bypass the intersection. It will reopen as soon as the work can be completed. The closure is needed to continue upgrading businesses and residents along North Buchanan to a new, larger water main. It is part of a project to move all of the businesses and homes on North Buchanan between Union Street and East Vandalia Street from a century-old 4-inch cast iron main to a new 12-inch water main. The City of Edwardsville appreciates the cooperation and patience of all residents and businesses during this closure. Please contact Public Works at (618) 692-7535 with any questions.

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ALTON - The Overnight Warming Center in Alton will be activating Wednesday evening, Feb. 1, 2023. The center opens at 5 p.m. at Deliverance Temple 1125 E. 6th St. in Alton.

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GODFREY - Godfrey’s Bethany Bohn has spent her adult life serving and assisting others. She began her tenure as the Village of Godfrey deputy clerk in 2012 and in 2020 she was elected to the village’s clerk position. Bethany has battled cancer since January 2019 and has accumulated a staggering amount of medical bills during that time. Her family is now in need of help because of the financial strain of treatment for her condition. A GoFundMe has been established for her to help lessen her medical debt to eliminate stress in the future for her three children Jake, Madison, and Piper, and husband, John. Some will remember Bethany as a Realtor for Landmark Realty in Godfrey before her work with the village. “Please consider donating to this fund so that Bethany can achieve peace of mind for the future of her family,” organizers of the GoFundMe said. Over the years, Bethany has served her community in many ways in numerous charities. She volunteers and has donate

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ST. LOUIS - The legendary “Beatle Bob” Robert Matonis recently ended his concert streak around the St. Louis area that started on Christmas Day, 1996. Matonis has always been visible at the side of the stage dancing at concert venues across the St. Louis region. If “Beatle Bob” attended a concert, a band knew they were on the right track and in some ways, had made it. Beatle Bob’s streak continued for 9,439 days, which does not include 85 days during the COVID-19 Pandemic when concerts were not happening in town. The feat, when one thinks about it, is beyond remarkable. Matonis is a huge part of the St. Louis entertainment culture and folklore. Bob is now 70 years old and announced recently he had to spend a few days at Barnes-Jewish Hospital for treatment, which sidelined his concert streak. He also said he has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in February 2021 and has not been able to dance at some of the recent concerts he attended. A

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JERSEYVILLE/CARLINVILLE - Melissa Dandino, fundraising coordinator at the Unified Child Advocacy Network, recently appeared on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the work the organization does for local child victims of abuse, as well as their upcoming fundraiser at Reno's Pizza in Carlinville. “We’re a nonprofit organization representing Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties," Dandino said. "We help children tell their stories in a child-friendly environment - from there, we help them to seek out medical doctors and counseling, and we also help the families receive and find services that will help them all move on with their healing.” She said the organization has a Child Advocate who works with families and children to get them medical attention and counseling and make sure the counselors are “doing what they should do to help the child.” They also have a forensic interviewer named Holly who conducts

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GODFREY - Tami Berkel, a local dog rescuer, has a favorite phrase about the process involved in saving the lives of dogs who need immediate compassion and assistance for survival: "it takes a village," she says. Tami's latest rescue dog is Gretchen, who appears to be a lab-hound and blue healer breed. An area rescue group - Lost Paws Trapping - found Gretchen after she was hit by a truck in Belleville, and thanks to some kind area individuals and contributors, is on her way to living a happy life. Despite her serious injury, she still has a long journey to go. Recently, Gretchen had a successful Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) surgery. Lisa Lewis and Found A Hound Rescue took interest in Gretchen and one of their volunteers - Tami Berkel - decided to foster Gretchen. Gretchen was struck by the truck nearly two weeks ago and left for dead with severe breaks and a shifted pelvis. Local animal hospitals felt the surgery was too complicated and encouraged the rescuers to contact

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ALTON/GLEN CARBON - Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will pay a visit to both Marquette Catholic High School and Father McGivney Catholic High School on Thursday. Bishop Paprocki will visit with both students and staff as part of the weeklong celebration of National Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4). The bishop will visit Father McGivney first at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7190 Bouse Road in Glen Carbon, then celebrate with a Mass at Marquette Catholic at 1:30 p.m. at 219 E. Fourth St. in Alton. The Diocese of Springfield serves 124,000 Catholics in 28 counties in Central Illinois. There are 43 Catholic schools in the diocese (36 elementary, and 7 high schools).

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WATERLOO - Sam Houston walked away a millionaire after finding the Queen of Hearts card during the final drawing of the long-running Waterloo Queen of Hearts drawing on Tuesday night, Jan. 31, 2023. The total jackpot amount was $1,886,536. With just three cards left - #28, #49, or #53 - Houston picked card #28, which was revealed to be the Queen of Hearts. The crowd surrounding Outsider Pub in Waterloo erupted in cheers and applause. A total of 20% of the funds raised from this drawing will benefit the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School in Waterloo . Music and Band Teacher Chad Minier revealed the winning card and made the announcement. “Number 28 is … Queen of Hearts! Queen of Hearts, congratulations,” Minier said. “We have a winner!” He went on to say that due to safety concerns, a cash prize would not be given out to the winners of the Queen of Hearts and 50/50 drawings that night, but a check would be written to the winners on Feb.

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Couples names: Jeff and Jody City: Bethalto Date met pr started dating: August 25, 1983 Date married: June 25, 1988 What makes your relationship special? We met in high school and immediately fell in love. We have been through so much together and have made many wonderful memories. We still face challenges- I am battling cancer and he is recovering from a stroke- but we are facing it together and growing closer in our relationship every day. Share a memory you have made together: Our favorite memory is the birth of our beautiful daughter 26 years ago. After several unsuccessful attempts, she is our miracle.

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Couples names: Jeremy and Tonia Chapman City: Bethalto Date met pr started dating: March 2, 2015 Date married: March 14, 2017 What makes your relationship special? We have the utmost respect for each other. Share a memory you have made together: Took our first cruise together in 2016.

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Couples names: Travis and Rachel, babe, baby, hun, City: Bethalto Date met pr started dating: January 24, 2011 Date married: October 7, 2017 What makes your relationship special? Our connection. We may bicker and argue a lot but we really know each other. We know what the other is usually thinking or about to do, we've finished each other sentences and said the exact same thing at the same time more times than we can count. She has always supported and encouraged me through all of my adventures and ideas regardless if we agreed on it or not she still supported them from briefly joining a motorcycle group in my early 20s to recently quitting my job and opening a store of our own in Bethalto it didn't matter she has supported me. Share a memory you have made together: The first time we went camping together was right after we got our dog Rebel. We loaded up ourselves, 2 dogs and 2 of my brothers to go to Bennett Springs for a few days. It was opening week but colder

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CHICAGO - Someone could jump-start February 2023 as a multi-millionaire. The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing has swelled to a staggering $653 million. If won, it would be the eighth-largest Powerball jackpot and the 13th-largest lottery jackpot won in U.S. history. The Powerball jackpot was last struck on November 19, 2022, when a lucky lottery player in Kansas won $92.9 million. If you’re feeling lucky, today might be a good day to snatch up a ticket. That’s because Wednesday was the ‘luckiest’ Powerball draw day for Illinois Lottery players last year. More Illinois Lottery players won prizes of $1 million or more on Wednesday draws than on Monday or Saturday draws in 2022. DRAW DAY POWERBALL PRIZE OF $1M+ WON IN ILLINOIS, 2022 Monday 2 Wednesday 4 Saturday 1 Every Powerball ticket is a chance to win - and a chance to dream. With over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State, lottery players

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CARROLLTON - The case against Austin L. Bishop on an “Unlawful Grooming” charge was continued last Friday to 1:30 p.m. on March 17, 2023, the Greene County State's Attorney's Office said. Bishop has entered a not-guilty plea in the case. He appeared at a pre-trial status hearing in Greene County Court this past Friday. Bishop is a former assistant baseball coach at Greenfield-Northwestern High School and also was a sports official by the Illinois High School Association. In the charge filed by Greene County State’s Attorney Caleb L. Biscoe on September 2, 2021, he alleges that Austin L. Bishop on or about September 2, 2021, committed the offense of “Unlawful Grooming,” in violation of 720 ILCS 5.11-25, in that "said defendant knowingly used a cell phone to solicit a child under the age of 17, requested via text message nude photos and videos of a minor." Greene County Sheriff's deputies and the Greenfield Police arrested Bishop in September 2021.

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WOOD RIVER - Today, former Wood River Mayor Dr. David Ayres announced his campaign for city council, citing a renewed call to public service and enthusiasm to increase transparency and promote local business investment in the city he led from 2001-2005. “Wood River’s economic development continues to be my priority,” said David Ayres. “Three of the current city council members are roadblocks to expansion and job creation, and I am compelled to re-engage in city government to ensure the growth and prosperity in our community.” As Mayor, Ayres worked to expand businesses and restaurants in the city. In addition, he worked with area leaders to preserve Olin Rimfire and Alton Steel. “Like many of you, I am concerned about the reckless decisions of the recent past, including the destruction of the Wood River Aquatic Center based on cost concerns. Then, turn around and spend MILLIONS on a recreation center that was overwhelmingly rejected by the voters,”

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ALTON - Since 1964, February has been recognized as American Heart Month thanks in part to the first official proclamation from President Lyndon B. Johnson. Therefore, during the past 59 years, the month of February has been a time when the nation spotlights heart disease. It’s estimated that more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year. Recognized as the number one cause of deaths for most groups, heart disease affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use. The human heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients and removing toxins and waste. Weighing between 8 and 12 ounces, the heart is a powerful organ comprised of four chambers that work together to pump blood in and out. The heart gets oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it throughout the rest of the body. It does this by contracting at a rhythmic pace,

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker announced the state’s public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, aligning the state with the federal government’s decision to end the national public health emergency. Ensuring Illinois’ and the federal government’s health emergencies were linked brought in additional federal funding and expanded healthcare access for residents across the state. “Since COVID-19 first emerged nearly three years ago, my administration has worked diligently alongside the federal government to battle this once-in-a-generation pandemic by following scientific and medical guidance to support frontline workers and save lives. Our state’s disaster proclamation and executive orders enabled us to use every resource at our disposal from building up testing capacity and expanding our healthcare workforce to supporting our vaccine rollout and mutual aid efforts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Let me be clear: COVID-19 has

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