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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Kaylee Finazzo with the Student of the Month Award for the month of September. Kaylee Finazzo was nominated by Family and Consumers Education teachers Nicole Heap and Amelia Mierzwa of Edwardsville High School. Kaylee is the daughter of Gina Miller and Joshua Holtmann. She is very involved in the theater program, where she has achieved thespian status and has become a member of Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State. Additionally, Kaylee is a member of Drama Club, Tech, and is a National Art Honor Society initiate. In her free time, Kaylee enjoys painting, building sculptures, reading, constructing, and doing graphic design. In the future, Kaylee would like to either attend University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Southern Illinois University Carbondale. From there, she plans on getting a degree in Art Education and hopes to pursue a career as a middle school art teacher at

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ALTON - Women from across the Riverbend have collaborated to write the upcoming anthology “Perfectly I’Mperfect: Remarkable Stories of Ordinary Women Overcoming Extraordinary Circumstances.” The book has 41 chapters, several written by local authors. Forty-two women collaborated to tell their stories of grief, trauma and healing. The book will be available on Amazon on Thursday, Oct. 5. “Sharing your story is so beneficial for you in your healing and so beneficial for other people in their healing,” said Teresa Reiniger, one of the book's authors. “If you just touch one person’s life, it’s well worth it.” Like most of the authors, Reiniger was excited but hesitant when Tara Hurst approached her about writing a chapter for the anthology. Hurst decided to compile the book in March, and she worked with collaborator Nina DeAngelo to rally writers from around the world, including many local women they met through the Riverbend

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JERSEY - Logan Wade recently completed one of the biggest races of his young career with a fourth-place overall finish in the Alton Invitational in a time of 17:37.23. "Logan was our No. 2 last year as a freshman and he ran 17:12 at the Granite City Invitational and we are hoping he might break 17 minutes this season," Landon said. "He has the love of running like Ben Flowers, one of our top runners ever, had. If our freshman and sophomore kids stay together, we could have a really good team." Wade is also a stellar 1,600 and 3,200-meter runner for the Panthers. Logan is a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. Logan was 19th in the Carlinville Invite for Jersey's first meet and 20th in the Granite City Invite in the freshman/sophomore race. Jersey head boys cross country coach Harold Landon said Wade has an exceptionally bright future ahead and he sees great things ahead for him as the season progresses. Congrats to Logan for his recognition as a Sparklight Male

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ALTON - Alton Police confirmed a fatal motorcycle-vehicle accident at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2023, on Homer Adams Parkway at the intersection with Morning Star Drive. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford provided the following information: "The Alton Police Department was notified of a traffic crash involving a motorcycle and vehicle on Homer Adams Parkway at the intersection with Morning Star Drive and responded. "Alton Police Officers and members of the Alton Fire Department immediately responded. Officers discovered that the motorcycle had caught fire and attempted to extinguish it with fire extinguishers but the fire was too intense. Ultimately, Alton Firefighters arrived and were able to extinguish the blaze. "Preliminary investigation revealed the motorcycle was traveling west on Homer Adams Parkway at Morning Star Drive. The passenger vehicle was traveling east on Homer Adams Parkway and turned to go north onto Morning Star Drive. The motorcycle then struck the vehicle. Witnesses attempte

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EDWARDSVILLE – More than 300 third and fourth graders from nine area elementary schools gathered on the campus of Metro-East Lutheran High School recently for the annual MELHS Field Day. Metro-East Lutheran High School (MELHS) has hosted the annual Field Day event for third and fourth grade students for many years. “This event is just one more way we strive to be partners in education with the many high-quality elementary schools in the surrounding area,” said Dr. Jay Krause, principal of MELHS. During this year’s event, students competed in activities ranging from races and basketball shootouts to jump rope contests and tug of war. The event was organized by MELHS PE teacher Ruth Thompson, and MELHS students and parents volunteered their time to help make the day a success. Elementary schools from Edwardsville, Collinsville, Hamel, Prairietown, Bethalto, Belleville, Litchfield and Staunton all participated in this year’s event. “It’s a grea

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EDWARDSVILLE - If you’ve ever considered going solar for your home or business, or just want to learn more about it, Grow Solar Metro East is hosting a series of both virtual and in-person “Solar Power Hours” to teach the basics of solar, answer questions about installation, and spread awareness of the many discounts and incentives available. Chris Krusa and Kevin McKee discussed the basics of solar and everything attendees can expect at these Solar Power Hours on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Krusa described Grow Solar as a two-pronged program that offers better discounts the more people get involved. He said they’ve already crossed their first discount threshold to get 0.5% off and hope to hit the second discount threshold soon. “The first prong is about education - we want to help people understand how to make smarter decisions about going solar,” Krusa said. “The second part of that program is, we have

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ILLINOIS– An Illinois iLottery player got lucky this weekend after winning a $900,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot in the Sept. 22 drawing. The winning online player matched all five numbers in Friday’s midday drawing to score the $900,000 jackpot prize. The winning numbers were: 18-22-24-33-36. So far this month, over 765,000 winning Lucky Day Lotto tickets have been sold, with total prizes amounting to more than $4.5 million. Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize. The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they’re ready to claim their prize. Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois-only game with twice daily drawings at 12:40 p.m. and 9:22 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased in-store, online, or on the Illinois Lottery app. For more information or to buy tickets online, please visit IllinoisLottery.com . About the Illinois Lottery:

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WASHINGTON DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will receive an additional $139,698,000 in grant funding to help get lead and other contaminants out of our state’s drinking water and to substantially boost the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), thanks to her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which she authored and was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Illinois leads the nation in known lead service lines and today’s federal support will help Illinois EPA remove and replace dangerous lead pipes. The investment will also help remove and prevent contaminants, including harmful forever chemicals known as PFAS, in Illinoisans’ drinking water, resulting in safer water for Illinois’s families as well as job creation and improved public health. “This SRF funding, which was made possible by my Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to announce the successful accreditation of its graduate Nutrition and Dietetics Program. The program received accreditation by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). This achievement reinforces SIUE's dedication to providing exceptional nutrition education and professional training to its students. "Without this accreditation, we wouldn't have a program,” said Jen Zuercher, PhD, RD, LD, associate professor and program director. “The accreditation means that our program provides all of the necessary coursework and experiences that students need to prepare them for their future careers as dietitians. We are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the high standards that have earned us this accreditation." SIUE's program stands out as one of the few coordinated graduate programs that specialize in sports nutrition. While concentrations are no longer mandatory according to

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GODFREY - Good news for all the Bunkhouse Joe Coffee lovers: There’s another spot in the community where you can get your caffeine fix and support a great cause. The College for Life students sell coffee every morning to fund their program at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC). The College for Life program offers noncredit classes to students with disabilities, providing a chance to engage in campus life and continue their education past high school. Their “Coffee for Life” coffee cart is open from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Reid Memorial Library on the Godfrey LCCC campus. “You just can’t help but see the joy on all the students’ faces, being part of a college community here,” said Program Coordinator Roselyn “Rosie” Ellington. “It’s such a good opportunity for our students to have some kind of work experience and an opportunity

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met with recent migrant arrivals in Chicago—many of whom fled the Maduro regime in Venezuela. After visiting with migrants to hear their stories and ask questions about their experience, Durbin met with City of Chicago leadership, including Project Manager for the Department of Family and Support Services Natalia Santillan; Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de Leon; and Chicago Park District Commissioner Rosa Escareño. Approximately 14,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago since August 2022, when the Texas Governor first began busing asylum seekers to the city. Durbin also discussed the recent decision by the Biden Administration to redesignate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), as he had requested. The Administration’s original designation covered Venezuelans who had arrived in the United States b

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration. Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees Bernie Ranchero will serve as a Trustee on the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Dr. Ranchero is a passionate community healthcare activist and advocate for public higher education. He is committed to identifying and addressing healthcare disparities and inequalities through innovation and the promotion of greater access to healthcare for all. Dr. Ranchero currently serves as the public health department medical director in Coles County and is a medical advisor to numerous community organizations. His commitment to higher education is evidenced by his academic-faculty appointments and affiliations including tenure as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Southern Illinois School of Medicine, Indiana State University, and Eastern Illinois

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department received a report of a Missing Person identified as Vernon C. Randle, a black male, 26 years old. Vernon C. Randle was last seen around 11 a.m. on September 14, 2023, leaving his residence in the 1000 block of Wallace Street in Alton. Alton Police said Vernon is approximately 6-foot-tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has black and blonde dreadlock-style hair. Vernon was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black jogging pants. Vernon often rides a black electric bicycle around town. Anyone with information about Vernon is encouraged to call the Alton Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division at 618-463-3505.

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FLORISSANT - Just across the river, the Jamestown Mall holds fond memories for many Riverbend residents despite its closure in 2014. On Tuesday, Sept. 26, the mall will be demolished. Jamestown Mall was a staple in Florissant since its opening in 1973. At its peak, it was home to over one hundred stores and services, including a movie theater and four anchor stores. The mall became increasingly vacant throughout the early 2000s until it ultimately closed on July 1, 2014. In April 2022, the St. Louis County Council voted to demolish the mall using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. They approved $6 million for the mall’s demolition, which will be completed by Target Contractors, LLC. On the official St. Louis County Facebook page , people shared their memories of Jamestown Mall. St. Louis County acknowledged that the demolition will be a step forward for the community, but bittersweet for those who enjoyed the mall in its prime. “This is exciting news fo

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GODFREY – Learn to be someone’s “rock” or “roll” with life’s ups and downs by knowing what resources are available to community residents right here in the Riverbend. This year’s Rock n’ Roll-themed Resource and Wellness Fair is set to take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4, in The Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College. It is free and open to the public. “This year’s fair is an expansion of the college’s annual Wellness Fair,” said L&C Counselor Terri Austin, who is helping to spearhead the event. “Two of the key directions of the college’s strategic plan focus on building a transparent and inclusive campus culture and building on community collaborations. We saw this event as an opportunity to work toward both, while promoting physical and mental wellness.” Flu shots will be available at the event, in partnership with CVS Pharmacy. They can be billed to most

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Alton has been awarded $400,000 to address rundown and burned-out homes. DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Alton has over 200 vacant lots that they cannot maintain! While we are tearing down houses and creating more vacant lots, what is Greg Caffey, director of community development/building and zoning, and the HIGHEST paid city employee, doing to help people seeking home ownership? Safe and decent housing is a basic human need, yet many of our citizens have no place to call home or simply cannot afford safe and decent housing! Alton public workers cannot keep up with the 200+ lots that need to be maintained, so let's add 40 more empty lots to the list. Solutions include establishing community development corporations, funding sources for housing, financing programs for new homeowners, and considering a tax credit program to help middle-class citizens afford housing. No business as usual in the political process, will be the rallying cry of Alton 2025 mayor election. I will focus on mobilizing the

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EDWARDSVILLE - A full day of family-friendly activities is planned for this year’s Unity Fest to bring together different communities and identities in the Metro East area. On Saturday, Sept. 30, community members are invited to Leclaire Park in Edwardsville from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for live music, dance performances, speakers, food and informational booths. This is the second annual Unity Fest sponsored by Edwardsville Unity, an organization that encourages community-building, diversity and acceptance. “We are inviting fellow well-wishers of humanity to attend this free festival, showcasing inspiring speakers and culturally diverse performers with this year’s theme, ‘Unity Begins With U,’” Edwardsville Unity said in a press release. All of the food, entertainment and activities are free to attendees. In addition to several performances and art pieces, informational booths will be set up around the park so local organizations can connect with

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ALTON - A ban on camping in public places in Alton has been put on hold after aldermen voted to lay the item over at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday. After much discussion about the proposed ordinance’s impact on Alton’s unhoused population, the committee is expected to consider the item again at their next meeting on Oct. 9. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said nobody will be arrested for camping in public, but they will be given a warning, alternative options, or - in the case of repeated noncompliance - a summons to appear in court. “What we would do at that point, it’s not an arrest situation,” Ford said, adding they would instead receive a summons. “In that court system, it’s not designed to punish. It’s designed also to be a level where there’s options available to assist and any resources at that point in time that can be given certainly would. I’m confident in our courts as well as our Police Department

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GODFREY - The Lewis and Clark volleyball team took service to a whole new level over the weekend. The Trailblazers swept a pair of Region 24 matches with 3-0 wins over Southeastern Illinois College (25-23, 25-15, 25-18) and Shawnee Community College (25-12, 25-15, 25-8), Saturday, Sept. 23. And they did it on the strength of their serving. “I’ve seen individual servers get hot and help carry a team before,” Head Coach Jim Hunstein said. “But I’ve not seen anything like what we did on Saturday.” The remarkable achievement against SIC came when two players had double-digit serving runs. The two teams played a tight first set with LC taking set point on a kill from freshman middle hitter Maddy Mancuso (Barnhart, MO) for a 25-23 win. In the second set, Mancuso took the team to a 13-2 lead with an 11-point service run. Then in the third set, freshman outside hitter Haris Legendre (Staunton, IL) took the team from a 5-point deficit to an 8-point lead

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JERSEYVILLE - Chris and Brenda Lorton are celebrating their last day as operators of George’s Local Brew in Jerseyville with a “George’s Palooza” sendoff party at the bar and restaurant this Saturday, Sept. 30 from noon to midnight, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. The event will see a full lineup of live music, chances to win prizes, and many memories shared before George’s welcomes its new owners on Oct. 1. Chris said he wanted to “go out swinging” with a big party for the community members that have supported them over the years - and especially over the last few weeks, he said. “On our last day, we just wanted to have a really big party, just to kind of celebrate - if I’m going to go out, I’m going to go out swinging,” Lorton said. “We’ve had a roaring last six weeks, it’s been really busy, it’s been a lot of fun.” The event on Saturday will feature live music, karaoke, great food,

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