Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Sparks Junk Removal & Hauling has been a Riverbend staple since 1993, but their newer trash pick-up services have been a huge hit with residents over the past five years. The company offers clean-outs, furniture removal, trash hauling and light demolition services. They also strive to be eco-friendly, so they recycle and repurpose items when possible. Owner Denise Sparks noted that people seem to love her company as an alternative to bigger trash removal organizations that have spread throughout the region. “For me, number one is customer satisfaction. That’s it,” Sparks said. “My goal is to pull myself off of the trucks so I can be out in the community more and continue to make that customer service excellent and continue to build.” As part of that goal, they have expanded their warehouse and will soon open the front half as a shop, where they will sell some of the furniture and other big items they pick up that can be reused. Sparks

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Greasy pizza, cookies, sugary drinks – you name it – junk food has a grip on many Americans including people between 50 and 80 years old. About 13% of adults in that age group are addicted to highly processed foods (1 in every 8), according to a study by the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging. “It doesn't surprise me: these are the ages where people are looking to retire," says Jason Crum, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare. "And they're looking at what they're going to eat. How quickly will it take to eat these things, cooking, and processing. People don't want to do that anymore. They're tired, they're fatigued, so they look for quick, easy things.” More than 2,100 adults between 50-80 were polled so researchers could learn more about the unhealthy relationship with processed foods including sweets, snacks, and fast food. The most common symptoms were intense cravings, the inability to cut down on intake and signs of withdrawal that

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WOOD RIVER - Calling all pinball wizards! With over 100 pinball machines, Atomic Pinball Arcade will host its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 5 in Wood River. Previously CP Pinball in South Roxana, Atomic Pinball Arcade will have more games and a “BYOB” policy that appeals to league players and casual pinballers alike. Owner Chuck Sanderson, an avid pinball player himself, explained that it’s all about the games. “It’s a great place to play some pinball and have a couple of drinks. It’s not a place to drink and play a couple of games of pinball,” he said. In addition to the pinball machines, Atomic Pinball Arcade will offer several other favorites like Skee-Ball, shuffleboard and some video games. They plan to sponsor a pinball league where players can compete against each other starting on Sept. 6. Sanderson made the decision to move to a bigger facility and rebrand the business as Atomic Pinball Arcade about two years ago. The popular

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ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, closed the 1200-foot main chamber at Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Illinois yesterday to all commercial and recreational traffic after a crack was discovered on one of the lock chamber's lift gates during an inspection after an allision. At this time personnel are working on the repair, which is currently estimated to be complete on Saturday, August 5. All interested parties will be notified if this estimated date changes based on conditions encountered that would affect the closure period. The Melvin Price Locks and Dam 600-foot auxiliary chamber is currently open and available for lockages as needed. Mariners may contact the lock on VHF Channel 12 or by calling 618.462.1713. All navigation interest should be alert for, and abide by, any special instructions issued by the lockmaster.

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ALTON - Riverbend region residents are invited to join the OSF Lymphedema Therapy team for a free educational session about Lymphedema and meet other people with Lymphedema. The next Lymphedema education meeting will be held: Thursday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services 228 Alton Square Mall, Alton, IL Enter the Rehab office from the upper Mall parking lot, facing Alby Street, under the "OSF HEALTHCARE" sign Interested individuals should direct questions or requests for additional information to OSF Saint Anthony’s Rehabilitation Services at (618) 463-5171. About OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center A 49-bed Rural Health designated acute care hospital in Alton, Illinois, OSF Saint Anthony’s serves the residents of Madison, Jersey and Macoupin counties. It is home to OSF Moeller Cancer Center, which provides the latest diagnostic tools and treatment for patients in a relaxing environment. OSF Saint

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SPRINGFIELD – The 2023-2024 Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations is now available online, and printed copies will be available in Conservation World during the 2023 Illinois State Fair Aug. 10-20. To access the electronic version, visit https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/hunttrapdigest.html . The digest will also be available in Spanish and Polish online in the coming weeks. Printed copies will arrive at vendor locations statewide soon after the fair. “IDNR is pleased to make this informative digest available to hunters and trappers, who are essential partners in conservation and management of Illinois’ wildlife,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “This annual guide provides a detailed review of hunting and trapping season dates, possession limits, hunting zone boundaries, statewide hunting regulations, license and permit details, and other useful information. IDNR wishes hunters a safe and successful season.” Hunting licenses

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with 19 attorneys general, filed legal arguments in a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s restrictive law making it a crime for adults to help minors travel outside of Idaho, where abortion is banned, for abortion care. In the amicus brief , Raoul and the coalition argue that Idaho’s law not only endangers minors from Idaho, it also seeks to punish other states’ medical providers and residents for helping them access lawful abortion care outside of Idaho’s borders. In Illinois, the right to choose an abortion is a fundamental right , including for individuals who are under 18 years of age. “We, unfortunately, continue to see increased efforts in other states to restrict access to or criminalize abortion. It’s not enough for these anti-abortion states to ban access within their own borders. Idaho’s law is an unconstitutional attempt to chill access to abortion in safe haven states, like Illinois,” Raoul

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EDWARDSVILLE - Cory Huechert with the Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) was recognized at the Edwardsville City Council meeting on Tuesday for his courageous actions during a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in May which left eight dead and several more injured. Madison County EMA Director Fred Patterson submitted Huechert’s name for recognition and spoke highly of his actions at the meeting. He recalled the “unique” dusty conditions of the crash site. “Unless you there, it was remarkable. The dust at the scene, I’m sure he’ll have memories of that just like I do. I’ve seen a lot, and it was unique, no question. His skillset was amazing, his demeanor on scene was amazing,” Patterson said of Huechert. He then read the official letter of recognition from Madison County EMA, which read as follows: “Madison County appreciates your efforts on May 1, 2023 as part of the Emergency Management

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn has identified an area man that died as a result of being struck by a passenger vehicle early this morning as 36-year-old George L. Laughlin of Granite City. Nonn said 911 was notified at 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. "For reasons unknown, the victim was confirmed crossing Illinois Route 140 east of North Stanley Road in East Alton when his body was struck by an eastbound pickup truck," Nonn said. "He was pronounced deceased at the scene by Madison County Coroner’s Office Investigator Christopher Hartman at 1:50 a.m., today’s date. "Preliminary evidence at the scene suggests the decedent died as a result chest, abdomen, and pelvic blunt trauma. Routine toxicology testing remains pending at this time. The driver of the vehicle striking the decedent was not issued a citation and is cooperating with the investigation." Nonn added that the case remains under investigation by the East Alton Police Department, Illinois

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GODFREY - Area resident Meghan Cunningham recently competed in the Ms. Health and Fitness nationwide competition. She excelled in the competition and said she may also enter again next year. Cunningham is a graphic artist and a Webster University at St. Louis graduate. She also attended Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville for a year, and also works as a bartender at Bakers and Hale in Godfrey. She said she had to send in eight photos and some questions as part of the entry. The female bodybuilder consistently works out at Pride Fitness in Wood River by the Pump House. She said she always enjoys her workouts. "I try to go three times a week," she said. "I run a circuit at least two times a week and sometimes three times." Cunningham once completed a half marathon and overall is very athletic. She was also once a soccer player and a volleyball player. She plans to continue with her fitness approach moving forward and works hard on her diet. She has been an inspiration for others

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EDWARDSVILLE - Drunken Fish and Kimchi Guys are two new restaurants in the Edwardsville configuration that are attracting enormous attention. Drunken Fish is a sushi restaurant and bar that is expanding beyond the St. Louis market to Edwardsville. Drunken Fish will be opening Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, at 6151 Trace Parkway Drive, Suite B, Edwardsville. Munsok So, the owner of Drunken Fish, feels the Edwardsville location is perfect for the latest venture. Doors open at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday. Drunken Fish was established in 2003 and has what is described as "an unwavering dedication to Japanese cuisine." "Whether you are a resident or a visitor, plan to raise your chopsticks and celebrate the arrival of Drunken Fish in Edwardsville," Munsok So said. "Whether you are a resident or visitor, be prepared to be captivated by the extraordinary dining and entering

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GLEN CARBON - On Thursday, July 13, Glen Carbon Fire Department conducted a primary and secondary search training at a home on State Route 159. Local plastic surgeon, Dr. Ryan Diederich, and Diederich Investments LLC recently purchased property on State Route 159. After taking possession, Dr. Diederich offered the houses on the property to local fire stations for training and simulations. The primary and secondary search training began around 7 p.m. CST. Prior to the crew’s arrival, Deputy Chief Hood prepared the home for the search training. This included filling the home with smoke and hiding a human decoy made of hoses. The smoke used was safe for anyone to breathe and served as a visual obstacle in this training. The smoke started in the back right corner of the house and made quick progress moving throughout the home. Glen Carbon firefighters arrived at the home and began developing an entry plan in the home for searching purposes. Prior to arrival, the firefighters did

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EDWARDSVILLE - Three Southern Illinois University Edwardsville professors will undergo First Amendment rights training following a former student’s lawsuit that argued SIUE violated her right to free speech. Last week, SIUE settled a lawsuit with Maggie DeJong, a former arts therapy graduate student at the university. In “DeJong v. Pembrook,” DeJong argued that SIUE violated her right to free speech in February 2022 by issuing no-contact orders on behalf of three students who said DeJong’s comments and social media posts constituted “harassment” and “discrimination.” The settlement stipulates that three SIUE professors must participate in First Amendment rights training. SIUE also paid $80,000 to DeJong and must revise its policies and student handbook to address how they will handle differing viewpoints in the art therapy program going forward. “SIUE is unequivocally committed to protecting First Amendment rights and does

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EAST ALTON – Join the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center and Girl Scout Troop 325 at the Jerry F. Costello Confluence Field Station in East Alton for an evening highlighting female leadership in science and policy. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 . The evening will start with a “Science and Scout” expo in the Field Station lobby, where participants will learn about the projects Troop 325 is working on and research happening at NGRREC. There will also be a local seed ball swap and free pizza and s'mores. Following the expo, attendees will join Troop 325 in the Riverview Room for a discussion panel featuring Representative Amy Elik, Representative Katie Stuart, and NGRREC Scientist Paige Mettler-Cherry, PhD, to learn about career paths and their experiences in policy and science. “We at NGRREC are looking forward to an evening highlighting the work of women in science and policy,” said Environmental Educator Erica Doerr.

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ALTON - This school year, Marquette Catholic High School (MCHS) will implement a new program to build community and encourage friendship among students. This program, called the “house system” or “community system,” creates groups of students from different grade levels and puts them in conversation with each other. The school hopes this will facilitate conversations about faith and improve students’ relationships and interpersonal skills. “We’re trying to implement a little bit more relationship building between the students,” Tim Harmon, MCHS principal, explained. “All of it is centered around the idea that we’re trying to build a better community and build a better faith.” Harmon worked with Father Paul Kallal, MCHS campus minister, to develop the program. There will be 16 houses with approximately 20 students in each house, ranging in age from freshmen to seniors. Every day, the students will meet for a “house

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GRANITE CITY - On Tuesday evening, Granite City’s Nick Raftopoulos officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Representative in Illinois’ 111th House District. “I am running because I think the 111th needs a representative that will fight for hard-working families, stand up for unions, and bring new solutions to the State House,” Raftopoulos says. Born and raised in Granite City, Raftopoulos has lived his entire life in the 111th State House District. He was educated in the public school system, earned an associates at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) and a bachelor’s at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), and has reinvested in the district through the purchasing of a home for his family. Raftopoulos knows what struggles residents of the district face on a daily basis, and how hard-pressed everyone is to find relief during these uncertain and difficult economic times. From an early age, Raftopoulos has ha

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is launching a Civilian Crash Reporting System (CCRS) that allows the public to create a crash report online without having to wait roadside for a Trooper to respond. The CCRS will increase public safety as individuals can report their crash from a safe location. The CCRS also allows Troopers to serve the public more efficiently by freeing them to respond to higher priority calls for service. “For simple crashes where only one car is involved and no one is injured, the ability to file a report online instead of along the road will make it safer for drivers and our Troopers, and eliminate the need to wait for a Trooper to make the report,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. Individuals can complete their own crash report online when the crash meets specific criteria. The crash must be a single vehicle, property-damage-only crash where there were no injuries to anyone involved, and it occurred on either an Interstate or

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is launching a Civilian Crash Reporting System (CCRS) that allows the public to create a crash report online without having to wait roadside for a Trooper to respond. The CCRS will increase public safety as individuals can report their crash from a safe location. The CCRS also allows Troopers to serve the public more efficiently by freeing them to respond to higher priority calls for service. “For simple crashes where only one car is involved and no one is injured, the ability to file a report online instead of along the road will make it safer for drivers and our Troopers, and eliminate the need to wait for a Trooper to make the report,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. Individuals can complete their own crash report online when the crash meets specific criteria. The crash must be a single vehicle, property-damage-only crash where there were no injuries to anyone involved, and it occurred on either an Interstate

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with 20 attorneys general, today opposed a decision from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana prohibiting dozens of federal officials and agencies from communicating with social media companies about harmful online content, including financial scams, misinformation meant to undermine elections and harassment. Raoul and the coalition filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit urging the court to reverse the lower court decision. The coalition noted that the district court’s order sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the ability of federal, state and local governments to keep Americans safe and secure online. “Federal officials and agencies should be allowed to communicate with social media companies, especially during emergencies, to protect our public health and safety,” Raoul said. “I remain committed to protecting all users of social media by teaching healthy

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SPRINGFIELD – Harm reduction drug education will now be available to public K-12 students in Illinois thanks to a new law supported by State Senator Christopher Belt. “It is important to acknowledge that current substance abuse education isn’t reflective of Black and Brown communities,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This law will place emphasis on cultural competency and harm reduction, making substance abuse prevention achievable for all populations — regardless of students’ races or backgrounds.” The new law will introduce research-informed, culturally and age appropriate, prevention-centric guidelines for drug education programs in Illinois public K-12 education. Current drug education recommendations and programs, like "D.A.R.E", focus on refusal skills rather than harm reduction. Refusal skills are still necessary; however, students, parents and staff are not equipped with the full continuum of primary prevention and intervention strategies.

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