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BENTON - The former president of the Alton chapter of the AFSCME labor union admitted involvement in the transportation of stolen money after he was caught embezzling more than $200,000 from the organization. Byron Clemons, Sr., 35, of Alton, pled guilty Tuesday in a U.S. District courtroom to one count of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money. “Labor unions exist to promote the interests of the working men and women who make up their ranks. But instead of promoting the interests of his members, Clemons used his position to enrich himself and get cash to gamble at casinos,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Cutchin. “I commend the efforts of our partners at the U.S. Department of Labor for their diligent work in investigating this case and ensuring that Clemons is brought to justice.” “Byron Clemons, Sr. personally enriched himself at the expense of dues-paying AFSCME members. Tuesday’s conviction affirms the U.S. Department of Labor Office

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ALTON — What better way to celebrate Earth Day than with live music, eco-friendly artisans, and great food and drink? Riverbend Earth Day returns on Saturday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The family-friendly event is produced by Old Bakery Beer Company and takes place at their location in historic Downtown Alton, IL at 300 Landmarks Blvd. The event is free to attend and drinks, food and goods will be available for purchase. This is the 12th annual Riverbend Earth Day, and organizers expect it to be one of the most well-attended. Herbarium and Old Bakery Beer Company COO Lauren Pattan shared, “This family friendly event is highly anticipated by our staff, customers, and friends across the region who care about the environment as much as we do. As the St. Louis Metro Area’s only organic craft brewery, Riverbend Earth Day is an extra special day for us.” More than 30 local earth-friendly vendors will showcase pottery, jewelry, native plants, baked

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GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney High School sophomore Julia Behrmann shines in every aspect of her life from the classroom, to the softball field as a key player for the Griffins, to a shooting guard in basketball. Julia carries an impressive 3.9 unweighted GPA at Father McGivney and has continued to make high honor roll through her two years at the high school. She is a Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb, LLC, Female Athlete of the Month for Father McGivney. She said she wanted to thank her mom Alicia, step dad Chris, dad Bryan, and step mom Deme for all their support and love throughout her athletic career. "My mom has been the biggest supporter and was always willing to bring me to practices and games no matter where it was or even if it was mandatory or not," Julia said. "She deserves the biggest thank you of all!" Julia's stepdad, Chris, is the head coach of the undefeated Father McGivney baseball team. She is the lead-off batter in the lineup for the Father McGivney

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ALTON - The Alton City Council approved and discussed several items at their April 12 meeting, including new ARPA spending projects, an operation agreement for the Alton Marina, the temporary closure of a portion of Belle Street, property demolitions, and more. The most contentious resolution of the night was one authorizing the closure of State Street between 3rd and 4th streets for the grand opening of a new business, “Mr. Everything,” on April 20 from 4 to 11 p.m. Alderwoman Betsy Allen raised concerns that James Hickman with Mr. Everything did not have the support of the local business community for a street closure during their normal business hours. Alderman Raymond Strebel raised concerns that Hickman was advertising that alcohol and food vendors would be present at the event, despite not notifying the Madison County Health Department about the food vendors and not having his liquor license approved by the City Council prior to the event. Confusion ensued

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ALTON - Alton is a special place where others make sure special holidays are celebrated by everyone. It is visible at Thanksgiving, Christmas and, this Easter, it happened again. Alton Area Community Organizations and Leaders hosted their Second Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at Rock Springs Park. The Easter event was free and open to the public because of some generous sponsors, Alderwoman Rosie Brown, one of the sponsors, said. “We had free food, games for all ages, free haircuts, prizes, and giveaways," she said. The inaugural event last year was something very special, but the 2023 one was equally powerful. The event was a coming together for a significant purpose, Brown said. “There are a lot of under-served children in the community and we were able to have fun with them and they were able to leave all the stress behind,” she said. “Children are No. 1 in our community. Everyone there felt as though they belonged and it was a very diverse group in attendance

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Letter To The Editor: The community of Edwardsville values the arts. Can you imagine living in Edwardsville without the Edwardsville Symphony performing concerts in the park, or the three-day Arts Fair? I was shocked when I recently learned that our local university planned drastic cuts to its arts programs for the upcoming year. The Department of Arts and Sciences will end many tenure-track positions and only hire adjunct faculty to fill those positions in the future – a move that will enable leadership to avoid providing benefits or paying an adequate salary to highly-trained instructors. The Department also intends to reduice the number of graduate assistantships offered. These strategies may save the Department money in the short term, but will result in dire long-term consequences. SIUE will attract fewer highly-qualified students and faculty members to the school, diminishing the quality of the arts programs overall. This will be a tragedy for the Edwardsville community.

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ALTON - Vivian Monckton, who was recently elected to the Alton School District 11 board, continues her passion for community service. "I was first elected to the Board in '99, after serving as both President of ABOB and the Alton Athletic Association," she said. "Service to the Alton School District has always been a passion for me. I have been recognized twice by the Illinois State Board of Education for service to the community of Alton. "During my tenure on the board we have opened the new high school; greatly improved the facilities across the district; strengthened our curriculum; and enhanced staff benefits. The challenge of board service is never complete." Monckton said her goals moving forward with the school board include increased rigor for students, especially in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs. "The teacher shortage is an ongoing problem for everyone," she said. "We just gave our staff a very good contract, but we need to continue to work

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EDWARDSVILLE – Computer science is a growing career path that is fun, challenging and important. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering Department of Computer Science (CS) wants to ensure females are a part of the field’s surging growth and success by offering a one-day introduction to programming event. The department will host SheCode from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in the Engineering Building. The free event sparks interest and inspires more females to pursue computer science through an interactive programming project and mentorship from an SIUE CS alumna and professional in the technology field. “This event is designed to give young women a chance to try programming and learn about computing,” said Dennis Bouvier, PhD, professor in the CS department. “The event is designed for those who have no programming experience, but those with some experience are welcome to attend." For more information, including

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EDWARDSVILLE – Newly elected Edwardsville Alderwomen Elizabeth Grant and Andrea Miracle are both ecstatic over their recent victories in the April election and look forward to serving in the coming years. Grant has been a council member since she was appointed in 2021 and now will again serve another term. Grant is a representative for Ward 7 and Miracle for Ward 3. Miracle recorded 398 votes, while her opponent Clemmescia Jackson had 171 votes in their race. Grant won her race over candidate Shelly Keeven with 492 votes to her opponent’s 142 votes. Grant said she really appreciates everyone’s vote and how seriously Edwardsville takes local politics. “Local politics affect your life daily,” she said. “Campaigning was hard for me this time because I have had some personal loss, but I appreciate how the voters responded. I will try to do an excellent job.” Grant and Miracle said they both understand the growth of Edwardsville but want to mak

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater will be holding auditions for one of their upcoming musicals, Monty Python’s Spamalot , on April 22 at 10 a.m. and April 23 at 1 p.m. Executive Director Lee Cox appeared on the most recent Theater Thursday segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the auditions, Alton Little Theater's summer youth acting program, and more. “We’re really hoping to have a big turnout, and I think we will from the entire region,” Cox said of the auditions. “We love to get new talents from the whole region and this will be a fun show.” Spamalot will run from July 21-30 with eight or more performances, and Cox said the show requires at least 25 players including both men and women. She said those interested in auditioning should bring some recorded music to sing along to, unless they’re vocally well-trained enough to sing acapella - and she recommended not singing “Happy Birthday.” Alton Little

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department was alerted to a possible threat at Granite City High School on Wednesday and the GCPD took quick action and was on site almost immediately. "It has been determined that all students and staff at Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High are safe and the GCPD will be handling reunification with the district," Granite City Superintendent Stephanie Cann said. "Reunification will take place at Granite City High School. All pertinent information will be shared as soon as it's available. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is the priority at this time." This was also just released to GCSD9 families: Dismissal information for students at Granite City High School for Wednesday, April 12, 2023, is as follows. The procedures are as follows: Make a single line at Exit One (1) - Access will be at the entrance off of State St. only, and the exit will be off of Fehling Road. Remain in your car. A staff person will

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Treasurer’s Ag Invest Program has achieved a new milestone by loaning more than $1 billion to farmers and agriculture professionals across the state, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. The milestone represents the cumulative amount of Ag Invest loans since Frerichs became state treasurer in 2015. “Agriculture is a valued and crucial industry in Illinois,” Frerichs said. “I’m proud that my office can help provide affordable financing for farmers and agricultural professionals as they pursue their vital work and contribute to the well-being of our state.” Since 2015, the program has supported more than 5,000 agriculture borrowers and partnered with more than 35 financial institutions. Ag Invest is an agriculture-focused impact investment program providing loan opportunities for Illinois farmers and agri-businesses to start, expand or add value to their farm operations. Ag Invest offers affordable

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ALTON - The Alton Tractor Supply store is inviting young gardeners to its Plant-A-Seed event for a free opportunity to learn the basics of gardening with a hands-on activity. On Apr. 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., young customers can visit the store to plant a Perennial Butterfly Garden, while supplies last. A team member will be available to guide the children in the activity and explain the best ways to nurture and care for their future garden. Once complete, participants can take their seeds home to monitor their growth and watch them attract butterflies as they flourish. Team members will be available to answer future questions and provide advice to these young gardeners. In addition to the gardening activity, attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy games. "At Tractor Supply, our mission is to educate and inspire our younger customers through interactive learning experiences," said Alton store manager, Michael Webb. "We recognize the time and energy that

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College’s 18 th Annual Student Art Exhibition is underway, and awards were announced during the show’s opening, Thursday, April 6. Daniel McDonald took first place with his drawing, “Still Life with Bowling Pin.” “Lewis and Clark Community College has been a great learning opportunity for me,” McDaniel said. “I have never submitted my artwork in an exhibition before and was genuinely surprised to win. There are so many talented artists that submitted equally great work! I am just thankful to get to participate.” Other awards included: 2nd place - Laura Shansey – "Sunrise Crane", Digital photography 3rd place - Grace Becker – "Lamb Still Life", Drawing Honorable Mention - Ryan Kuhn – "Electric Eye", 3D Design Honorable Mention - Jeannette Carrington – "Solitude in the Desert", Photo composites Honorable Mention - Madison Baca – "Passion Fruit", Digital Illustration

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Village Board of Trustees held a brief meeting on April 11 and passed several items, including the purchase of a new lawn mower for the Parks and Recreation Department, the addition of a new retirement plan for village employees, and more. Mayor Bob Marcus began the meeting with a few announcements about village events. The first Mayor’s Announcement was that the Glen Carbon Police Association is holding a meat raffle on May 19. Tickets are limited and can be purchased for $20 each at the Glen Carbon Police Department. Mayor Marcus said one winner will receive a $400 value meat bundle from Bagley Farms Meat Market. Glen Carbon is also hosting a Tree Giveaway for village residents at the Public Works Department this Saturday, April 15. Free trees are available for pickup from 9 a.m. to noon, and Mayor Marcus said to call (618) 288-1200 with any questions. This Saturday is also the “Leaf and Limb” drop-off event at the Public Works

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ALTON – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a Madison County man with alleged dissemination of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s office charged Christopher L. Page, 36, of Alton, in Madison County Circuit Court with seven counts of dissemination of child pornography, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Page’s bond was set at $250,000. “Child pornography is a reprehensible crime. The individuals who disseminate these horrific images must be held accountable to ensure innocent children are protected from exploitation that can potentially leave life-long emotional scars,” Raoul said. “These charges highlight the vital efforts of my office’s

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced lane restrictions will be encountered on U.S. 67/Clark Bridge over the Mississippi River in Alton for emergency bridge deck patching. The patching will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. IDOT said all lanes will re-open by 3 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2023. IDOT District 8 Operations forces will make the needed improvements. " Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area," IDOT said in a statement. "To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.” For IDOT District 8 updates, follow them on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com

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ALTON – Alton Pride is excited to announce the winner of its first scholarship – Maddox Karnes of Edwardsville High School. The 2023 Alton Pride Scholarship packet was released on social media and sent to 12 regional school districts to be dispersed to their high school students in September 2022. Students applying needed to be a senior in high school, have a minimum GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, and a member of or an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community. Each applicant had to submit a 300-word essay describing how they contribute to the benefit of the LGBTQIA+ community and had to complete a minimum of 4 hours of volunteer work with Alton Pride or a non-profit community organization. Applications were due, post marked, by January 31, 2023. Each application was reviewed to ensure they met the requirements for the scholarship and then the essays were issued to a committee for anonymous review. The committee then chose the winning essay without knowing any other information about

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EDWARDSVILLE – A weekend house fire in which two people and three pets escaped without serious injuries is being hailed as evidence of the importance of adequate exits and window egress. A two-story home that had been converted into two apartments at 1318 Eberhart Avenue caught fire late afternoon on Saturday, April 8. The Edwardsville Fire Department was notified of the blaze just before 5 p.m., Fire Chief James Whiteford said. When firefighters arrived, a fire that is believed to have started on the back porch had made its way to the second floor. The occupants of both the first- and second-floor apartments were in the building at the time of the fire. The fire had blocked the stairway exit for the second-floor resident, who fled with her three dogs through a window and onto the roof, Whiteford said. Prior to the Fire Department’s arrival, a neighbor used a ladder to begin taking the dogs to safety; their owner refused to leave the roof until the dogs were safe. Firefighters

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ALTON - The law firm of MillerKing LLC is proud to announce that Bryan A. Dooling has been named a Partner. Along with Bryan A. Dooling, the firm’s attorneys are Stephanie A. King, Patrick G. King, William R. Miller, Anthony E. Dos Santos, and Andrea N. Schrader. Bryan represents clients in transactional matters, such as Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Small Business, Real Estate and Municipal, and litigation cases, such as business disputes, contracts, insurance claims, Trust Administration and Probate Administration. Bryan is a member of the Alton-Wood River Bar Association, Madison County Bar Association, and Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). Bryan was born and raised in the greater Alton-Godfrey area. He is a graduate of St. Ambrose Grade School and Marquette Catholic High School. Bryan attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he graduated with a Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. Bryan earned his law degree from Appalachian

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