Riverbender 🕸

CHICAGO - Today Governor JB Pritzker announced opportunities for organizations to apply for an additional $100 million in grants to fund gun violence prevention programs in municipalities across Illinois. This funding, part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), will support nonprofit community-based organizations and local governments in 16 municipal areas outside of the City of Chicago as they work to prevent and interrupt gun violence in their communities. This $100 million builds on $113 million in funding made available in May as well as $10 million in funding surged to Chicago and other areas of the state in advance of the summer. “This administration is delivering historic levels of violence prevention funding to interrupt violence and keep our communities safe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I am grateful for the thoughtful work of our Local Advisory Councils in recommending community-specific solutions that can get at the root-causes of firearm violence.

Continue Reading

GREENVILLE, IL. - Greenville University’s new Robert “Ish” Smith Champion Scholarship awards students who have shown the ability to overcome adversity in their lives. GU recognizes there are students deserving of recognition based on what they have been able to accomplish in spite of the circumstances they have encountered. Robert “Ish” Smith (GU class of 1957), former GU baseball coach and president of GU, challenged students to be their best, often seeing their potential to be great before they saw it themselves. GU established the Champion Scholarship to continue recognizing champions, just like “Ish” did. Champion Scholars: Display determination in their pursuit of education Show they can overcome hardship, whether physical, mental, emotional or other Do not let their circumstances defeat or define them Inspire others because of their grit and perseverance Prove they can excel because they do not quit “At

Continue Reading

CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that it will discharge all remaining federal student loan debt owed by borrowers who attended any Westwood College location or enrolled in its online program prior to its closure in 2016. Borrowers who attended Westwood before it stopped enrolling new students in November 2015 are entitled to full loan forgiveness, including more than 12,000 Illinois borrowers who owe over $228 million. Westwood borrowers will not have to take any steps to apply for forgiveness – the department will discharge affected borrowers’ loans automatically. “Westwood tricked students into enrolling, falsely promising that its criminal justice degree would help students find jobs as police officers after graduation. After graduation, students were instead left with a useless degree and a lifetime of student loan debt,” Raoul said. “Today’s announcement goes a long

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Metro East Humane Society’s (MEHS) 2022 Woofstock presented by Carol House Furniture is back in action after having to be canceled for the past two years due to the pandemic. The fundraising event is set to take place on Sat., Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Triangle H Farm in Edwardsville, Ill. This year’s theme is “Stick It to The Man for Man’s Best Friend”. The proceeds from this family-friendly event will benefit the homeless animals that MEHS serves. "The return of Woofstock to Triangle H farms has been highly anticipated since we last hosted it in person in 2019. For starters, we have an incredible lineup of events for this year's festival-goers that really hone in on the Woodstock '69 vibe, and there's really nothing like the event space, a 300-acre farm on the outside of Edwardsville,” said Mady O’Reilly, Development Manager of MEHS. “All of us at MEHS are so excited to get back to celebrating peace, love

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide in the 9700 block of Portage Drive in Moline Acres which resulted in the death of an adult male and gunshot injuries to a second adult male. On August 30, 2022, at 8:01 PM, Moline Acres police officers responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 9700 block of Portage Drive. Responding officers located two adult males suffering from apparent gunshot injuries. Both males were transported to area hospitals for treatment. One male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The deceased has been identified as Jerusal Cooper, 46 years of age, of the 9700 block of Portage Drive in Moline Acres, Missouri 63136. The second male is expected to survive. Preliminary investigation has revealed the shooting to be the result of an altercation between the two males who were shot. Detectives are not seeking additional suspects. St. Louis County Police Department’s Crimes

Continue Reading

ALTON - A semi-truck trailer struck a pole/power lines on Seminary Road at Edwards Street in Alton around 3:52 p.m. on Tuesday. Alton Police Department and Alton Fire Department responded to the scene. No injuries occurred, Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. Ameren Illinois has been contacted to address the power lines that were knocked down. Ford recommended motorists and residents avoid the area until the power lines can be addressed and lanes cleared for traffic. He said Alton Police continue to investigate the crash.

Continue Reading

ALTON - Scarlett Eades and Lauren Massey are sophomores on the Alton High girls’ tennis team and head coach Jesse Macias has strong expectations for both of them. This past summer, the girls placed second in a double category in the Andy Simpson Tournament. The girls teamed up to win the Riverbend Open by defeating teammates Finley Haynes and Ellie Enos in the finals. "Both girls are multi-sport athletes at Alton High," Coach Macias said. "Both girls came out as freshmen and had not really played tennis at all. They were just two athletic girls looking for something to do in the fall. I could see that they had some potential but we had a really big team last year and I did not expect their season to go so well. But they both have great attitudes and work ethics and they just kept getting better as the season went on. "Scarlett and Lauren just kept winning wherever we put them. It was a lot of fun to watch.” Scarlett plays tennis, basketball, and soccer for Alton. Lauren

Continue Reading

GODFREY – Three full-time faculty members have joined Lewis and Clark Community College for the 2022-2023 academic year. “We’re excited to welcome three new professionals to our faculty,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Sue Czerwinski. “Each will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the classroom and will be a great asset to our students.” Alicia Bolin, Dental Programs Instructor Bolin worked at Lewis and Clark as an adjunct before becoming a full-time Dental Assisting and Hygiene instructor in January 2022. She is a graduate of Lewis and Clark’s 1+1 dental program, earning her dental assisting certificate in 2007 and Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene in 2008. Bolin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Healthcare Management and is pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She is dedicated to connecting oral health and overall health, as well as advocating for access

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY - Emily Sykes is a powerhouse, multi-purpose student-athlete for Granite City High School. She was a top state finisher in the discus this past spring, a strong volleyball team member this fall for the Warriors and a basketball player in the winter. She is also an outstanding student - the future for Sykes could not be more bright. Sykes won seventh place in the IHSA Class 3A Girls State Track and Field Meet with a toss of 12.35 meters in the shot put. Her final toss also made her all-state in track and field. Sykes is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for Granite City. Her coach, Aaron Werths, said after the season this past year, she will be one of the top throwers in the state and has incredible potential. For now, Sykes is busy on the volleyball court and is one of the mainstays for the Warriors. Werths said Sykes is just “an all-around talented athlete.” “She backs everything up with her hard work,” he said.

Continue Reading

ROXANA - Roxana senior cross-country runner Riley Doyle has been a sensation for several years. She is also a track and field standout and was an IHSA Class 2A State Track and Field participant last year in the 1,600 meters. Doyle was the top Roxana finisher in the Civic Memorial Twilight Meet for the Shells with a time of 20:49.64 for fourth place as an individual. Doyle thanked her coaches and parents for their support and said her teammates are also always there for her. Julie Akal, one of Doyle's Roxana coaches, said Doyle trains hard and works on her running year-round between cross country and track and field. Doyle has said that cross country is a sport that helps her build strength both in a physical and mental sense and that she loves the sport. Doyle recorded a 1,600-meter time of 5:52.57 at state and is expected to have a strong girls' cross country season in 2022.

Continue Reading

BETHALTO - Alyssa Mann appears primed to have a break-out girls cross country season with the Civic Memorial High School Eagles. Mann placed sixth in the first meet of the season with a time of 21:18.75 for the Eagles. She is coming off a strong girls' track season. In the off-season, Mann cross-trains as a swim participant. She absolutely loves running and training, the Eagles' heralded coach Jake Peel said. Peel was a top participant last year in the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon and has been an inspiration to all his athletes, male and female on the cross country and track teams. “Alyssa is very dedicated,” he said. “She swims in the off-season and has a smaller base of mileage than some of the other runners heading into cross country, but she gets in shape quickly. I think she will have a really good season. Her dad is a triathlete, so I think she gets some of her dedication and commitment to training from him.”

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Foundation is pleased to announce two new funds, the Global Brew Community Development Fund (Donor Advised) and the ‘Que & Brew Festival Fund. Both funds are sponsored by Ryan and Laura High, co-owners of Global Brew Tap House. “The Global Brew Community Development Fund will support recreation, education, and service-focused initiatives throughout the area,” said Ryan High, Global Brew co-owner. The ‘Que & Brew Festival Fund supports the ‘Que & Brew Festival, a new annual BBQ competition that will take place Oct. 22, 2022, at Edwardsville City Park. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to reinvest in the community that has treated our family and businesses well for more than 10 years,” High said. “It is our hope that these funds will help shape and develop the future of this region where our family lives, works, and plays.” “On behalf of our Board of Directors, the Edwardsville

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - This is another in a series of articles with photos and descriptions of entries in the Edwardsville Art Fair at City Park on September 23-25. Featured today are artists Niko Culevski, Reinhard Herzog and Susan Kunz. Artist Name: Niko Culevski Location: Mukilteo, WA. Artist Statement: "Chule wool blankets are all hand-woven by Niko Culevski, a sixth-generation weaver from Macedonia. The wool blankets are woven on floor looms built by Niko's dad Chule with 100% very soft Merino wool at Chule, a weaving studio in Torrance, CA." Artist Name: Reinhard Herzog Location: Ballwin, MO. Artist Statement: "I began my profession as a boy apprenticed to a laboratory glass factory in Germany. Being drawn to its creative possibilities, I have spent over 55 years mastering the flame, which has allowed for both power and precision in creating pieces that have fine detail and clean lines." Artist Name: Susan Kunz Location: Trenton Artist Statement: "

Continue Reading

ALTON - The City of Alton has experienced a “handful of thefts of Kia/Hyundai vehicles over a summer,” Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford said, commenting on a recent trend in St. Louis and across the country. The chief reported that Alton had “several unsuccessful attempted car thefts throughout the summer.” “Several of the vehicles that were stolen have since been recovered,” he said. “Various leads on the cases are still being pursued at this time.” Adam, an Alton man, who didn’t want to use his last name, said he lives in the Fifth and Sixth Street areas in Alton. He said over the past few weeks he knew of a person who had a Kia stolen and it was found, but very damaged, and he stopped the theft of a Hyundai vehicle when he confronted four individuals attempting to steal the vehicle. Adam had only one reason to contact the media, to raise awareness in Alton that they need to do something to protect those vehicles. He suggested

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - The $222 million project to replace the Merchants Bridge that links Missouri and Illinois near downtown St. Louis is nearing completion, and the St. Louis Regional Freightway gave invited guests and the public the opportunity to see one of the last significant milestones in the project firsthand from the special vantage point of a riverboat cruise on August 26. Passengers on board witnessed history in the making as preparations continued for the third and final bridge truss to be floated into place. The installation is a crucial phase of the project underway to replace the vital rail artery across the Mississippi River, which is one of the nation’s primary east-west rail corridors serving one of America’s largest rail hubs by car interchange volume and gross tonnage. Dating back to the 1890s, the Merchants Bridge serves six Class I railroads and Amtrak as a bridge crossing across the Mississippi River at St. Louis, and replacement of the structure has been

Continue Reading

JERSEY - Senior Chase Withrow is set to have a massive season for the Panthers football team. After finishing last year with a combined 672 yards, a statistic that led his team, he's already on his way again this season. In Jersey's home-opener against the Granite City Warriors, Withrow had an excellent game. He ran for 246 yards on 29 carries. He also had a reception good for another 20 yards. Withrow is a Quality Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Jerseyville Male Athlete of the Month. Where he's most dangerous is on kick returns. 490 yards were from kickoff and punt returns last season. He notched 40 yards from returns against the Warriors. The Panthers have had great success against Granite City in the season-opener. Last year the Panthers won 49-0, 16-0 the year before that, and 23-14 before that. "The scoreboard speaks for itself," Chase said postgame. "I think that's a pretty big surprise." Chase has been playing for Jersey all four years now and is extremely excited for his senior

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD — Governor Pritzker announced today that his administration has taken steps to proactively address a shutdown at a BP facility in Whiting, Indiana caused by an electrical fire. Illinois, along with Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, requested and were granted an emergency waiver of federal fuel regulations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “After learning of the electrical fire at the BP facility in Whiting, our administration has taken proactive steps to increase gas supply and reduce barriers so all Illinoisans have access to the fuel they need,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This coordinated effort with our neighboring states will reduce the chance of disruptions and keep the people and businesses of Illinois moving.” The temporary waiver, which was granted through September 15, 2022, allows for high volatility gasoline to be sold during the summer months, reducing fuel disruptions following the fire which broke

Continue Reading

ALTON - Alton Deputy Police Chief Jarrett Ford has provided additional details for a serious crash in the 2400 block of State Street in Alton on Monday morning. Ford made this statement: “Investigation revealed that the driver of a Jeep was attempting to turn left out of an area business in order to go northbound on State Street. In doing so, the Jeep pulled in front of an SUV that was southbound on State Street at which point the vehicles collided . “The driver of the SUV suffered non-life threatening injuries, was transported to a local hospital, and is in stable condition. The driver of the Jeep had a minor injury and declined further medical treatment at the scene.” The cause of the accident is still under investigation at this time, Ford said.

Continue Reading

CARBONDALE, IL – A formal hooding ceremony celebrated the inaugural class of graduates of the Doctor of Medical Science Program, a 1-year extension of physician assistant education and training launched in 2021. The event was held at the SIU Student Center in Carbondale on July 30. The 46 men and women were the first to attain the doctorate level of education for physician assistants at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Its Physician Assistant Program has graduated 660 clinicians and is ranked third nationally for the percentage of graduates serving in rural and underserved areas. The DMSc degree program is designed to advance physician assistants’ clinical and educational skills and prepare them for more prominent roles in leadership, management, and service to their organizations, patients, and to students. It is 1 of 6 DMSc programs in the United States, and the only one at a public institution. Jacob Ribbing, DMSc, PA-C, director of the doctoral program,

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - One Night of Queen will make a triumphant return to River City Casino & Hotel after two stellar sell-out performances. The show returns Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, 2023. The show time is 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Tickets are $69.50, $49.50, $39.50 and $29.50. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 2 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or the River City Casino & Hotel box office. You must be 21 and older to attend. Gary Mullen & The Works is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their world-renowned One Night of Queen live concert performance. Featuring Gary Mullen on vocals, David Brockett on guitar, Billy Moffat on bass, Malcolm Gentles on keyboards, and Jon Halliwell on drums, the multi-talented band pays tribute to the stage theatrics, showmanship, and music of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Queen. Audiences can expect to hear all of the classic hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You”

Continue Reading