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DECATUR — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) at the 2023 Farm Progress Show to announce funding for a grant program aimed at breaking down the stigma of accessing mental health services in agricultural communities. The announcement was made in partnership with the Illinois FFA Foundation and the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine. “As Governor, as a father, and as someone who has personally witnessed the mental health epidemic among family and friends, there is nothing more important than making sure every Illinoisan has access to the mental health services they need to lead happier and healthier lives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our greatest problems require our most creative solutions — and I am confident that this grant program will simultaneously break down barriers and open up doors for our state’s number one providers.” "As Chair of the Governor's Rural Affairs

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RIVERBEND - Substance use disorders affect more than 20 million people in the U.S., not including the loved ones who are impacted as well. Today, Aug. 31, is International Overdose Awareness Day. It’s a difficult and often taboo experience, but addiction is more common than you might think. And with several support groups, treatment options and harm reduction tools in the Riverbend area, it’s not something that you or your loved ones have to go through alone. LOCAL TREATMENT OPTIONS The decision to recover isn’t an easy one to make, but it’s a liberating first step for a lot of people. Ty Bechel, the executive director of Amare, emphasized that each person has unique needs that guide their recovery, and services like Amare aim to meet those needs on an individual basis. “When we’re stuck in addiction, we have to recover really for us. It’s when we desire a better life,” Bechel said. “They can make better decisions, and

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ALTON - Triplets Ari, Armani and Alyson Loyd-Lockhart made headlines when they were born two months ago to surprised and ecstatic parents. Now the triplets are 2 months old, out of the neonatal intensive care unit, and ready to take on the world. To celebrate, the Alton community is rallying around the family with a diaper drive. “The community truly welcomes our newest triplets in our city,” said Rosetta Brown, Alderwoman of the 4th Ward, who organized the drive. “People are pretty gracious, and they know the need is there. So I’m expecting an overwhelming response.” People can drop off diapers and wipes at Today’s Beauty Supply, located at 1415 Central Avenue in Alton. The triplets are currently wearing preemie and newborn-size diapers, though bigger sizes would also be a helpful donation as they grow. Brown explained that her daughter attended school with the triplets’ mother, Alexus Loyd-Lockhart, so she watched Alexus grow up. Alexus

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LITCHFIELD - The Litchfield Pickers Market returns Sunday, September, 3, 2023, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 400 N. State St. in downtown Litchfield. This vintage and antique market is a fun, family-friendly event and we are excited to welcome back visitors and vendors for the third market of the season. It is the largest open-air pickers market in the region and specializes in antiques, collectibles, vintage items and refurbished items. Each month the market welcomes musicians to perform at the Carnegie Park stage. On August 13, two favorite picket market bands will return to the stage – Mattison Avenue will start the music at 9 a.m., followed by Michael Burnett, who will take the stage at noon. A limited number of picnic tables are provided in the park area, so bring a lawn chair or blanket so you can sit and enjoy the music. To make the most of your pickers market experience, it is recommended that you bring totes, wagons, carts, pick-up trucks, and anything that will help haul

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CHICAGO – Dierbergs in Shiloh is celebrating after one of their local lottery players racked up a large win - a $277,728 jackpot prize - playing Fast Play Twenty 20s. Twenty 20s is a $20 progressive Fast Play game. The jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide until the jackpot is won. The lucky Fast Play winner purchased the winning ticket on August 29 at Dierbergs, located at 4000 Green Mount Crossing Dr. in Shiloh, a Southern Illinois town located near St. Louis, with a population of just over 12,000. “I was working when a regular customer who usually stops in a few times a week, bought a Fast Play lottery ticket and ended up winning over $270,000 – how incredibly lucky!” exclaimed Tamara Krueger, Supervisor at Dierbergs Green Mount Crossing. “I told him, he needs to share his luck with me.” This isn’t the first time the small-town retailer has sold a big winning lottery ticket. “In September 2016,

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EDWARDSVILLE — An Alton Man has been sentenced to 135 years in prison in connection with the shootings of three people, including a woman whose leg was nearly severed. Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine announced on Wednesday that Steven Foster, 37, received the sentence in the Madison County Circuit Court. Following a week-long jury trial in March, Foster was found guilty of three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm. “This is a repeat criminal. This isn’t the first time he has terrorized our community, but it’s definitely the last,” Haine said. According to evidence and testimony presented by Assistant State’s Attorney Morgan Hudson and Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager, the shootings happened Sept. 8, 2021, in the 700 block of Oakwood Estates in Alton. The shootings were the result of a dispute between Foster and one of

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ALTON - We’re Outside owner Troy Hughes had an experience he will never forget earlier this week. While serving lunch at his new popular restaurant, he had a visit from the Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at his business. Alton Mayor David Goins said Pritzker was passing through on his way back to Springfield and he wanted to stop in at an Alton restaurant. We’re Outside, a business at 1692 Oakwood Avenue, was the business he chose to visit. Gov. Pritzker expressed to Hughes how proud he was for what he did, building the business essentially with his own hands over the past year and a half. Alton Mayor Goins said he thought that Pritzker's choice to visit the establishment was very appropriate considering it is Black Business Awareness Month. “The way filled the restaurant with people so far and how he built the business with his own hands was a great story to share with the governor,” Goins said. Hughes said he was surprised when Gov. Pritzker and his staff

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JERSEYVILLE - Acclaimed Christian artist Hope Darst is about to bring her talents to 1AG Church on 500 Cross Avenue in Jerseyville. Darst has Jersey County and the surrounding area very excited about her appearance. She will appear on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, and tickets are still available. Darst is featured regularly on Joy FM and has 18,000-plus Instagram followers. Some of her hit songs include "Peace Be Still" and "Promise Keeper." The evening with Darst will begin around 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, with food trucks in the parking lot. The show will start at 7 p.m. Local band, Uproar, will be the opening act prior to Darst’s set. Organizers say their captivating performances will touch your heart, ignite your spirit, and remind us all of the love and compassion that God has for every individual. Prior to the concert, the church will take a moment to discuss the needs of local children. Between the counties of Jersey, Calhoun, Greene, Macoupin, and Madison, there are 975 children

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the Chicago Federation of Labor’s Labor Day reception to recognize the important role of workers and organized labor in Illinois and America as the nation prepares to celebrate Labor Day. “I am proud to join First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and the Chicago Federation of Labor today to honor workers in Illinois and across the country for their continuous efforts and integral roles in building and supporting our communities,” Raoul said. “My office’s Workplace Rights Bureau advances the employment rights of all Illinois residents by taking actions, such as investigating labor law violations, collecting owed wages and civil penalties, and filing lawsuits, to protect Illinois workers.” Attorney General Raoul also highlighted a new report, available in English and Spanish , detailing actions his office has taken during the past year to advocate for and protect Illinois

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SPRINGFIELD – Greene, Calhoun, Macoupin, and St. Clair Counties were included in a letter of support by Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth supporting Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration for Illinois to assist with the severe storms from late June to early July. The senators said in their remarks the storms passed through Central Illinois producing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes, and straight-line winds and tornadoes with winds exceeding 100 miles per hour. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging the White House to grant Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Illinois, to help

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Police Department has identified a victim in an accidental lawn mower death that occurred in the area of Halls Ferry Road and St. Cyr Road. The man has been identified as Chadd Hackl, 44, of the 1900 block of Redman Road in St. Louis, Mo., 63138. At 9:10 a.m. on August 29, 2023, St. Louis County police officers from the City of Jennings Precinct responded to a call for service for an injury in the area of Halls Ferry Road and St. Cyr Road. Arriving officers located an adult male pinned beneath a large lawnmower in a body of water. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene. "Preliminary investigation has revealed it appears the operator, a St. Louis County employee, was operating the mower when it rolled down an embankment, pinning the employee underneath the mower," the St. Louis County Police Department said in a statement. "The investigation is ongoing. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available." Please contact

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Letter To The Editor: The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice opposes the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services’ launch of an Electronic Monitoring program that will cover 70 counties , many of which have never used electronic monitoring for people awaiting trial. The announcement of this program in conjunction with the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act is of particular concern. There is no reason for Illinois to expand its use of electronic monitoring in response to ending money bond. The law simply ensures that people who would have been required to purchase their freedom in the past are allowed to return to their homes, families, and jobs while awaiting trial without having to empty their bank account or otherwise languish in jail if they could not afford their money bond. Requiring anyone to wear an ankle shackle and be monitored in lieu of having to pay bond is an injustice that is in direct conflict with the spirit of the law and its intended impact.

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JERSEYVILLE - A man from Wood River was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle while another from Cottage Hills was arrested on DUI charges in Jersey County last week, according to recent court filings. Annielo D. Valentin, 23, of Wood River, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle after reportedly exerting “unauthorized control” over a 2005 Chevrolet Impala belonging to someone else on or about Aug. 23, 2023. Valentin was charged with a Class 2 felony and his bail was set at $25,000. James C. Cox, 51, of Cottage Hills, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving on a revoked license. According to the State’s Attorney’s description of the charges, Cox drove a white 1986 Suzuki motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol on West County Road in Jersey County. Cox had previously been charged with driving under the influence on the following dates and in the following counties: Feb. 4, 1999 in Macoupin County Jan.

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SPRINGFIELD – Heading into the final big weekend of the summer, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and local police are stepping up enforcement efforts and reminding motorists that driving under the influence is a serious crime, with real-life, sobering consequences. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day campaign runs through Labor Day weekend. “Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other impairing substances is a serious crime, because it creates an extremely dangerous situation for the driver and everyone on our roads,” said IDOT Director of Highways Project Implementation Steve Travia . “It also comes with severe consequences for the offender.” Remember these important safety tips: If you’re planning to use drugs or alcohol, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home or call a taxi, rideshare service or community sober ride program. If you see an

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ALTON - Alton High junior Lilly Schuler is off to a great start in play for the Redbirds in the 2023 girls' tennis season. Alton High head girls tennis coach Jesse Macias said Lilly is a junior captain and leader on the court for the Redbirds' team. Lilly is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Lilly was fourth at No. 1 singles in the Springfield Invite this past Saturday. "Lilly played number one singles last year, and it was a rough season at times," Macias said. "But, she battled every day and she had a great off-season. She is playing with a lot of confidence and I like everything I have seen about her game so far. "She plays number one singles and doubles, which means that she has to play the best from every team in every match. She shows up and battles and I am really impressed with her competitiveness. "I think she is a great role model for the other players and we are looking for a great season from her. She was all-conference last season and won th

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MARYVILLE - When Amy Fisher’s daughter came home with lice twice in eight months, she knew there had to be a better solution than the treatment options she found. The experience inspired Fisher to open Lice Clinic of Metro East so other parents don’t have to panic. Located at 7710 Stonebridge Golf Drive in Maryville, the clinic offers several lice treatments that can remove all lice and nits within hours, without the stress. “Each time, it was found late at night, and she just has super long hair. I stressed the whole time,” Fisher said of her family’s experience. “And when I went to the store to get the over-the-counter stuff, I read the ingredients, and a lot of what’s in there is also in pesticides. And I was not okay with that.” The situation felt overwhelming, and the treatments were time-consuming and chemical-heavy, with no guarantee that they would work. Fisher wanted a solution that could help their family move on as quickly

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ALTON - Alton High School went on what Principal Mike Bellm described as "a soft lockdown" on Wednesday with limited passes within the school. "We just decided to go on soft lockdown following a couple of incidents we had to address," the principal said. A Riverbender.com reporter on the scene after school Wednesday observed the school buses loaded and departing with some Madison County Sheriff's Office deputies present. Administrators and teachers were outside the building observing the students as they loaded the buses. The Madison County Sheriff's Office also had deputies at the scene in the morning after the incidents occurred. Bellm did not want to elaborate any more about the incidents at this time but said the soft lockdown would continue until the end of the day. However, he explained everything was under control quickly this morning after the incidents.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Tandra Taylor, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of History, has been announced as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s interim director of the Institute for Community Justice and Racial Equity (ICJRE) at the Southwestern Illinois Justice and Workforce Development Center in Belleville. SIUE's ICJRE strives to achieve equity, racial justice and positive transformational change for southwestern Illinois’ historically marginalized, disenfranchised and oppressed people."SIUE is highly engaged in the educational and communal work of equity, racial and social justice, as demonstrated in our curriculum, co-curricular programming, and civic and community partnerships with the greater Metro-east community,” said Jessica Harris, PhD, vice chancellor for anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Through the ICJRE and with Dr. Taylor’s leadership, I have no doubt that the University will continue to advance its academic mission

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ALTON - That Good’s ice cream isn’t just good — it’s that good. That’s the promise of business partners Alvin Elliott and Wendy Adams, who opened That Good last month at 1300 Central Avenue in Alton. The walk-up shop sells hand-scooped ice cream and shaved ice, plus a special European treat called “bubble wraps” on Sundays. Their customers agree: The shop really is that good. “We just wanted to give back to the community, wanted to provide a service to the community,” Adams said at the “What’s Up Downtown” information exchange on Aug. 29. Elliott echoed this. That Good was his dream for a long time, and it’s been exciting to watch other people come to love it as much as he does. After all, he opened That Good with community members in mind. Elliott lives on Central Avenue and has a deep connection to Alton, and he always intended for his shop to give back. “I just wanted to have something for the kid

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JERSEYVILLE - Senior Libby McCormick expects another great season with the Panthers' girls tennis team. Last season, she qualified for state as an individual to go along with her doubles team Tessa Crawford and Elise Noble. "I have pretty high expectations for this season because we've been working so hard since freshman year," McCormick said Tuesday afternoon following an exhibition match against Alton High School. After heat and rain delayed the start of the season, she kicked things off by winning her singles match at AHS. For her dedication to the sport, Libby McCormick is a Sparklight Internet Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. McCormick began playing tennis in the fourth grade. According to her, she attended private school growing up and wanted to experience sports, so she began taking private lessons at Principia. Now she can't get enough of the sport. "I love playing tennis in high school, it's what I look forward to," she said. Her goals for this season are to basicall

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