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ALTON - Three Alton High School students were recognized for their contributions to the community through Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) . Throughout the last year, the students completed community projects as a part of FCCLA’s STAR Events program, which encourages leadership and problem-solving skills. Michael Collman and Olesha Holmes received silver medals for their projects, and sophomore Adelia Sandifer won first place in the nation. They were recognized by the Alton School Board during their meeting on July 18. “You have to earn this. It takes a lot of practice, a lot of work, a lot of corrections, a lot of editing to get to this level,” said Regina Birch, who oversees the Alton FCCLA chapter with Jennifer Austin. “It’s very tough.” The STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) Events program asks students to conceptualize and complete community-based projects over the course of the school year. The students

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SOUTH ROXANA - T.J. Callahan has been named mayor pro tempore for South Roxana. He shares his plans as he prepares to finish out the current mayoral term. This decision comes after Mayor Barbara Overton announced her resignation due to health concerns on Tuesday, July 18. “First and foremost, we want to keep Barb in our prayers as well as her family,” Callahan said. “I am very blessed to be able to work with some of the most awesome people in the Village, and they all have the same vision. It’s not about politics, it’s about how to make our community better.” Callahan said has received a lot of support from surrounding communities. He thanked the Village Board and recognized his fellow board members for their individual accomplishments. “We’ve got such a great board now to be able to drive that vision, and that’s all I’ve done, is put the best people in those best spots to make the most outstanding benefits for

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act , which would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic into waterways from facilities and sources that make, use, package, or transport pellets. The pellets are being consumed by fish and marine life—and in turn, humans—and create additional damage to ecosystems. “Only nine percent of all plastics end up being recycled, with some of the waste ending up in landfills or incinerated—and far too much of it finding its way into our rivers, lakes, and oceans,” Durbin said. “The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act is an important step in addressing the plastic problem that is plaguing our nation’s waterways and wildlife.” “Plastic pellets have been found to be one

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ALTON - As July rolls on, the Alton Municipal Band continues its 133rd concert season, featuring the talents of a remarkable young clarinet player. Conductor Jennifer Shenberger will lead the band in “Milestones,” a concert celebrating significant anniversaries through music. Clarinetist Bek Handzic-Smith will dazzle audiences with the jazzy Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto. Handzic-Smith, a recent graduate of Clayton High School in St. Louis County, is a multi-talented musician, playing the saxophone and flamenco guitar in addition to the clarinet. The concert will take place at the Alton Amphitheater on Thursday, July 20th, at 7:30 p.m. It will repeat at Haskell Park on Sunday, July 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. Alton Municipal Band concerts are free, family-friendly musical entertainment. Established in 1891, the band is comprised of local musicians from across the region. The band’s two-month summer concert series welcomes thousands of listeners each year.

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WOOD RIVER - The City of Wood River plans a ribbon-cutting for a new All-Inclusive Playground and Challenge Course at Central Park. Please join the City of Wood River for a ribbon cutting for the new all-inclusive playground and challenge course on Tuesday July 25, 2023, at 11 a.m. in Central Park. Central Park is located at 633 North Wood River Avenue in Wood River, next to the Wood River Roundhouse. The Wood River Parks and Recreation Department, with funding from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, installed a new one-of-a-kind all-inclusive playground with poured-in-place rubber surfacing, a fitness challenge course that includes artificial turf and a timing feature, as well as concrete sidewalks and borders. We are excited to have this new amenity, and residents are invited to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. For more information about upgrades to our parks and programs, please visit www.wrparks.org or www.woodriver.org and follow Wood River Parks an

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College has received a gift of 40 acres of farmland located east of the College’s campus in Carlinville, IL. The property, known to locals as “Rock’s Patch,” was initially owned by John D. “Rock” Rossetti. The College plans to utilize the undeveloped property to enhance classroom studies for Biology students with fieldwork opportunities. The gift may also support Blackburn’s ongoing sustainability efforts, including Bee Program, Bat Program, and walnut tree projects. “Planned gifts and gifts of land are tremendously beneficial to institutions like Blackburn,” said Sarah Koplinski, Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the College. "They allow us to take students to unique environments, further building their skills and experience and setting them apart from other candidates in the job market. They can also provide the means to help make the dream of a transformational college degree

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville City Council voted unanimously to deny a Special Use Permit sought by a Catholic student organization at SIUE for a “religious institution” at 1631 Yellowhammer Crossing. SIUE Chancellor Dr. James Minor, Cougar Catholic representatives, area neighbors, and more offered mixed public comments both opposed and in favor. Council members said both sides presented good cases, but they ultimately couldn’t justify approving the Special Use, citing disapproval from the majority of the neighborhood residents and other factors. The council ultimately denied the Special Use request 7-0. The property in question is a house currently sitting vacant in a residential neighborhood between the SIUE campus and State Route 157. The proposed use was for the campus organization “Cougar Catholic,” or the SIUE Newman Catholic Community , to turn the home into an “office space for the staff and a meeting and worshipping space for

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O'FALLON - Water does your body good. In fact, it is the best choice for your body. As we head into the middle of summer, medical providers at Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) locations in the region want to remind everyone of the importance of staying well-hydrated. Kayla Barnes, RD, LD, registered licensed dietitian, said, “Water is a vital nutrient that all people need to survive. It helps maintain physical health and mental acuity, as well as overall appearance. Drinking enough water daily can have a positive effect on your life.” Benefits of drinking water About 60% of the body is made up of water. It regulates body temperature, lubricates and cushions joints and protects organs. Cells need water to transport nutrients. Wastes and toxins are flushed out through sweat, urine and bowel movements—all of which require water. Drinking enough water can also affect mental health. Being well-hydrated provides what a person needs to stay alert, focused and

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EDWARDSVILLE — The following statement regarding the Illinois Supreme Court’s opinion on the SAFE-T Act is attributable to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Sheriff Jeff Connor: “We are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision, and respectfully disagree with it. But our constitutional structure gives our Illinois Supreme Court the final say in interpreting our State Constitution, and we will continue to uphold and follow its decisions. Thankfully, due to diligent work over the past months and years, Madison County will be prepared for the Sept. 18, 2023 implementation ordered by the court, and will be coordinating the local law enforcement community toward that task in the weeks ahead. While rules may change, the commitment of our offices will not: We will always fight for victims of crime and strive to protect our community from lawbreakers.” “We are proud at least that the bipartisan litigation against the SAFE-T Act has given

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) is saddened by the passing of former ISP Director and federal judge, James Zagel, at the age of 82. A former prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney and Illinois Attorney General, Judge Zagel served as Director of the Illinois State Police from 1980 to 1987, one of the longest tenures of any Director in ISP history. Judge Zagel’s impressive career spanned nearly 60 years, ending with his appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. Zagel led the ISP through a period of modernization, rebranding the agency from the Department of Law Enforcement to the Department of State Police and is credited with establishing an enduring culture of ethical and professional law enforcement that continues today. A brilliant lawyer, jurist and visionary, under Zagel’s watch, ISP was the first state police agency in the country to be accredited

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KAMPSVILLE - On Friday, July 14, 2023, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office received information on the whereabouts of a known fugitive, reported to be staying at a residence on North St. Louis Avenue, Kampsville in Calhoun County. On Saturday, July 15, 2023, Calhoun County Sheriff's Office deputies conducted a "knock and talk" at the aforementioned residence and subsequent to an investigation, Joseph C. Bailey, 40, of Kampsville, Illinois, was arrested on the following outstanding warrants: St. Clair County Felony Warrant - Criminal Sexual Abuse/Force, Greene County Warrant - Contempt of Court. Bailey was arrested without incident and transported to the Greene County Jail. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office said it would like to thank the concerned citizens who came forward with information that assisted in the apprehension of this suspect. All suspect(s) are innocent until proven guilty.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - A large group of 158 individuals conducted a Tuesday morning search for missing person Joshua Amos of Granite City near where he was last spotted on July 18, 2022. Josh was last seen on March 23, 2023, in the East St. Louis area. He was viewed in a surveillance video at Metro Link in East St. Louis and last at EJ Trucking in the 1500 block of Lincoln Avenue in the city. Josh was 32 years of age when he went missing and was 5-foot-11, 190 pounds in size. Josh's photograph and information and where to call if you have any information about him are below. Searchers covered heavily wooded areas and some drainage locations in East St. Louis and also were in the 24th Street and Lincoln vicinity along with other locations. Granite City First Student donated buses to transport volunteers from World Wide Technology Raceway parking lot, the staging area for the search. Illinois State Police, St. Clair County Strike Force 4, Hollywood Heights Fire Department, and MABAS-Illinois

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GODFREY - If Beth Smilack’s American Sign Language class isn’t using their hands to sign, they’re probably playing air guitar. Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) sponsors a College for Kids program every summer, which offers a series of weeklong classes in a variety of subjects to different age groups. When they contacted Smilack and asked her to teach a course on American Sign Language (ASL), she immediately said yes. “It’s important because children who are going to school with others, maybe Deaf children, they could possibly rely on an interpreter. But it would just be so much better if they were able to actually communicate with their friends in their same language,” Smilack said. “It just gives them another option to be able to connect with somebody.” This week’s class is for kids aged 7–10, and it’s off to a great start. Next week, ages 11–15 will be able to try their hand (literally) at sign language.

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ALTON/GODFREY - The North Alton-Godfrey Business Council has exciting plans for business owners and community members. The Council is a nonprofit volunteer organization made up of business owners, education and healthcare entities, individual members and more throughout the Riverbend region. They meet every month to discuss community development initiatives, and there are several in the works. “It’s community, and that’s what we try to promote,” Zeke Jabusch, the council’s president, said. “We try to feature good speakers, and we try to feature all the members in terms of allowing them to present to our membership who they are and what they do and how they got involved and what they’re doing in terms of perpetuating their own business. That’s what it’s all about.” The organization started in 1945 as a collaboration between North Alton business owners. Jabusch, who became involved in the 1990s, helped expand the

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is targeting vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violence crimes using a $10 million Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council grant from the Illinois Secretary of State. “The Illinois State Police is focusing on solving and stopping vehicular theft and hijacking crimes using an increased patrol presence, air operations support, automated license plate readers, investigations, and forensic services,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. From April through June 2023, ISP missions resulted in the following: Vehicles recovered – stolen and/or hijacked 204 Stolen vehicle arrests 32 Hijacked vehicle arrests 3 Firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery 12 Missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent

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WOOD RIVER - Several public commenters at the July 17 Wood River City Council meeting used their five minutes to respond to recent Letters to the Editor on Riverbender.com that were written by Councilmen Bill Dettmers and Jeremy Plank . Members of the public also echoed previously voiced sentiments of dissatisfaction with the council and again called for the resignations of Bill Dettmers, David Ayres, and Jeremy Plank. “I want to start out about the statement Jeremy Plank made on the Riverbender. You said, ‘There is a handful of disgruntled people who are being led and organized by four failed candidates for city council,’” Pastor Dave Landry said. “I’d like to clarify - it’s not a ‘handful,’ it’s at least 1,000 and it’s rapidly growing.” Landry added that Councilman Dettmers told him before Dettmers was elected that he would not support a cannabis dispensary in Wood River, and said “wanting

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BENTON – A U.S. District judge sentenced the final defendant of five total co-conspirators for his involvement in a large-scale methamphetamine operation in southern Illinois. Robert Smith, 42, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison. Smith pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to launder money. The case involved more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine distributed in the Southern District of Illinois. Co-conspirator William Moore, 39, of East St. Louis, pled guilty to five counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to launder money. He received a 30-year federal prison sentence on April 20, 2022, and he will serve five years of supervised release. Michael Huffman, 37, of Salem, Illinois, pled guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine,

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ALTON - Alton’s newest Alderman, John Meehan, discussed his recent appointment to the City Council, his love for the city and its history, and more on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Meehan was appointed as 5th Ward Alderman to serve the remainder of former Alderman Charles Brake’s term after Brake resigned last week. Meehan said that Brake, who he’s known for decades, personally requested his appointment to Mayor David Goins. “I’ve known Charlie for 30 years, and Charlie was having more and more health troubles,” Meehan said. “He was asking if I would be interested in possibly being an alderman if he had to step down, so that’s the way it kind of came along. He and I talked, and he wrote a letter to the mayor and asked that in the event that he was forced to retire because of health reasons, if the mayor would appoint me, and the mayor said yes. “Since I’ve known Charles for such a long time

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GLEN CARBON – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting to discuss traffic management for the proposed intersection reconstruction of Illinois 162 at Illinois 157 in Glen Carbon. The meeting will be held: Tuesday, July 25 4-7 p.m. Glen Carbon Senior Center 157 N. Main St., Glen Carbon The project involves the realignment of the west leg of Illinois 162 to tie in with the east leg of Illinois 162 at a proposed traffic signal, thus eliminating the offset intersections of Illinois 162 with stop control. The project also involves reconstruction of the bridge that carries Illinois 157 over Judy’s Branch, construction of a new bridge to carry Illinois 162 over Judy’s Branch and construction of a pedestrian bridge parallel to Illinois 157 over Judy’s Branch. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss traffic management for the project during construction. Handouts and display boards will be available for public

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EDWARDSVILLE - The baseball team of American Legion Post #199 wrapped up their first season back on the field after a hiatus following their coach’s death. Nick Steele, who restarted the team this year under the name “Blacksox,” is looking forward to rebuilding the program in coming years while honoring the man who started it. He hopes the kids who played this season have enjoyed Legion Baseball as an alternative to high school or travel ball, all while giving back to local veterans. “As a Legion, we represent veterans,” Coach Steele said. “And to have the boys come out and show the gentlemen respect, be a part of the Legion, it breathes life back into the local Legion…Those kids are going to be a part of the Legion growing up.” American Legion Baseball is a major tradition in the organization. Steele said he was excited to restart the program at Post #199 because it’s affordable and fun for kids who “have the passion

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