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ALTON - Pride Month is over, but resources for LGBTQ+ youth are available year-round in the Riverbend community. Alton Pride, a local LGBTQ+ organization, is preparing for their second annual Alton Pride Festival in September. In the meantime, they offer a support group with plans of eventually opening a youth center. “It is not just about a one-day party. It is about giving back to the community,” Michael Paynic, a member of the Alton Pride organization and owner of Bubby and Sissy’s , said. “It’s more about support for kids these days that really feel like they’re not accepted in their families or in the community… support for people trying to just be themselves.” Alton’s first Pride celebration was last year. There were bands, drag performances, vendors, food trucks and a “youth zone” for younger kids with bounce houses and crafts. Paynic said that an estimated 1,500–2,000 people attended the event,

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ROXANA - The Roxana School District has a major fundraiser ongoing to purchase a 12-foot by 18-foot flag that will electronically roll down in the middle of Larry Milazzo Gymnasium when the National Anthem is played. Bob Coles, the South Roxana Chief of Police and a current board member of the Roxana, said: "We at Roxana Community Unit School District #1 want to emphasize and promote patriotism and respect for our nation’s flag. Our flag represents the sacrifices made by many men and women and is a unifying symbol of our freedom and liberty. "Donations of any amount will help make this flag a reality. Please make your check payable to Roxana Schools Foundation or pay here electronically." Coles continued and said, speaking as a chief of police and former military service member, his personal viewpoint about the flag is it is a testament to "our shared values and the unwavering dedication to our nation." "The sight of our nation's flag waving high in the sky represents the principles

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SPRINGFIELD - Today, the pressroom of the Illinois State Capitol is a barren place, with few reporters and minimal coverage of the important workings of state government. A half-century ago, it was a far different story. The Statehouse pressroom of the 1960s and 1970s was a hive of activity, a smoke-filled room full of scribes clicking away on ink-ribbon typewriters, while nursing cups of lukewarm coffee. With little money and even less sleep, everyone was stretched to their limits, going to any length to scoop the competition. News was breaking all the time, and there were always stories to be found – many that shaped the course of Illinois politics. It was the wild and wacky world of the Statehouse pressroom in the era, which produced some of the best journalism and investigative reporting in Illinois history. For Taylor Pensoneau, it is a time of pride and wonder. “Those years were just remarkable,” said Pensoneau, a political writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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ALTON - The Collinsville Police Department responded to the 500 block of Belt Lane in reference to a report of an armed robbery on Thursday, July 6. Collinsville Police provided this report: "Responding officers met with the victim who had been battered and his cell phone taken. The male victim reported that while preparing to enter his own vehicle parked near Club Fitness, he was struck in the head with a blunt object. The suspect made no specific demands to the victim, but took and the victim's cell phone after it fell to the ground. The victim was not seriously injured." The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5'8'' and possibly in his 30s. The suspect was last seen entering a white panel type van. Anyone with any information related to the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Brad Akers at (618) 344-2131, extension 143.

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CARROLLTON - A few individuals are facing a range of charges out of Greene County from the past couple of weeks, including one individual who attempted to flee police with six other charges from Scott County prior to his arrest. Isiah M.E. Barham, 24, of Springfield, was charged with aggravated fleeing/eluding an officer and manufacturing/delivering 30-500 grams of cannabis. He was arrested by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office after being previously charged in Scott County with six total counts, including: Aggravated fleeing/eluding an officer at 21+ mph over the limit Reckless driving Possession of 100-500 grams of cannabis Driving on a suspended license Speeding 35+ mph over the limit Operating an uninsured motor vehicle Barham was charged on June 29. Court filings indicate that he remains in custody. Dusty L. Crannell, 42, of Ankeny, Iowa, was charged with violating an order of protection and driving on a revoked/suspended license. He was arrested

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EAST ALTON – Last week, the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) of Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed non-profit representatives from around the nation to a two-day Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) workshop focused on the benefits of natural infrastructure. “The recent science workshop, hosted by NGRREC, served as a reminder of the complexity and urgency to address flooding, drought, water pollution and other basin-wide issues,” EDF Senior Director of Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds Will McDow said. “Through improved data, monitoring and modeling at the local, watershed and basin level, we can better quantify the benefits of projects that have been initiated by stakeholders and accelerate the implementation of additional investments across the Mississippi River Basin.” Natural infrastructure protects the landscape from processes like erosion and flooding. They can be natural or engineered and offer additional benefit

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) headquarters today to announce the largest multi-year program to fix and repair infrastructure in state history: $40.99 billion over six years, showcasing the reach and impact of the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The new multi-year program is the first time in more than a decade that IDOT is releasing a comprehensive approach to invest in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. “Over the next six years, we’re investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state. That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Rebuild Illinois has increased safety,

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ROXANA - Evan Wells, a senior-to-be running back for Roxana High's Football Team, will be a key contributor this coming season as the Shells look to go farther in the IHSA playoffs. Wells is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Shells. The Shells went 7-4 this past season and qualified for the Class 3A playoffs, defeating Hillsboro in the first round before falling in the second round to Fairbury Prairie Central. Wells ran for 874 yards and 10 touchdowns, breaking into triple figures four times in the season, and also caught 10 passes for 115 yards and another touchdown in helping the Shells to their successful season. At a seven-on-seven passing competition recently at Charlie Raich Field in Roxana, Wells felt that things were going well on that night and both he and his teammates were having fun. "They're going pretty good," Wells said in an interview during the competition. "We're able to expand our offense, keep it outside of tackles, just having

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater is preparing to kick off its 90th season later this month with its production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” They promise a killer bunny, Excalibur and a lot of fun. “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” a musical based on the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” is directed by Kevin Frakes. With 12 dances and 25 songs, the show has been a chance for local actors to come together and do what they love most: perform. “In the community theater realm, most people are pretty welcoming and pretty friendly,” If you got skills, people are happy to have you,” said Therese Melnykov, who has been involved in community theater for over 20 years and will play the Lady of the Lake. In a lot of ways, the power of community theater connects to the main themes of the show itself. “Monty Python’s Spamalot” encourages audiences to find their dream and follow it. Alton Little Theater has

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SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Everybody has a favorite Girl Scouts cookie flavor, but most people don’t know the scope of what the Girl Scouts organization does or how it can affect the lives of local young women. Loretta Graham, the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, is hoping to change that. “We are investing in our future and in our world by investing in our girls,” Graham said. “When people think about Girl Scouts, they say, ‘Cookies, camping, crafts! That’s Girl Scouting.’ Well, there’s more. Building girls of courage, confidence, and character, that’s going to make our world a better place. And these girls, some of the projects that they have done in these communities, they’re not only going to lead our world. They’re going to change it.” Graham has spent much of her professional life with the Girl Scouts organization, working with scouts in North Dakota and South Carolina before coming to Illinois.

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JERSEYVILLE - Nathan Bishop, co-founder and EMS coordinator with the JCH Ambulance Association, recently announced an upcoming lecture series from Bob Page, who he said makes typically mundane medical topics fun, entertaining, and educational. Those classes will be held later this month and are a great way for healthcare professionals to earn several Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in just two days. Bishop appeared on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the upcoming lecture series, as well as the JCH Ambulance Association and the work they do. “Bob Page is a phenomenal educator and lecturer, he’s been doing this for four decades around the world, he’s internationally renowned,” Bishop said. “He takes two of what we might call the most ‘boring’ subjects or ‘tedious’ subjects in healthcare and makes them fun, and makes them entertaining, and makes them educational. Those two subjects are

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It seems almost everyone has a story about how long they had to wait to receive care in an emergency department due to overcrowding. In fact, research shows patient congestion is one of the main factors threatening efficiency, safety and quality of care. The pressure is even greater following the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people feel comfortable returning to hospital emergency departments at the same time many health systems are dealing with a nursing shortage. William Bond, MD, is an emergency department (ED) physician at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. He also directs simulation research at Jump Simulation , a collaborative effort between OSF and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP). Dr. Bond and fellow researchers, including co-lead Hyojung Kang, PhD, a visiting assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), will use a nearly $100,000 Jump ARCHES grant to develop innovative models aimed

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced he has charged a 32-year-old man with felony sexual exploitation of a child and disorderly conduct in connection with the man’s actions at a water park. The charges filed Friday by Haine’s office allege that, on Thursday, July 6, 2023, Chad A. Green engaged in an act of masturbation while in the presence of children at Collinsville Aqua Park. Bail for Green, a resident of Madison, was set at $50,000 by Associate Judge Ryan Jumper. Green remained in custody as of Friday afternoon. The judge also granted a prosecution request that, in the event, Green is released on bond, Green is prohibited from having contact with anyone younger than 18. Collinsville Police Department is conducting the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant State’s Attorney Ali Foley, head of the Children’s Justice Division. Haine asked that anyone with information about this defendant or this case contact Collinsville

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WEST ALTON - Bald Eagle 23-126 had over 100 people cheering him on as he was released into the wild at the Audubon Center at Riverlands on Friday, July 7. The World Bird Sanctuary (WBS) rehabilitated 126 over the past few months, with thousands of people following his story online. WBS worked with the Audubon Center to release him in an area where he will have access to plenty of food and perches as he acclimates to his new life. “There is never a day that we do this that it’s not just amazing,” Ryan Vinyard, who works with WBS, said. “The work that led up to this, every part of it, has been great.” Bald Eagle 23-126 was blown out of his nest during a storm earlier this spring. WBS has been caring for the orphaned bird since then. In the past several weeks, 126 has practiced scavenging, hunting and flying at the WBS facility in Valley Park, MO. All of this has prepared him to survive in the wild. He is roughly 15–16 weeks old now, which is about

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MEDORA - When Gabrielle McQuay decided to complete a Gold Project to round out her years as a Girl Scout, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She decided to create the reading garden that late Southwestern teacher Lori Schultz had always wanted to see. “It was in my mind ever since she died,” Gabrielle said. “She always talked about it. She was really excited to get one and kept trying to convince them.” Gabrielle has fond memories of Schultz and Medora Elementary School (now Medora Intermediate School). Schultz, a Jerseyville native, spent 14 years as a teacher in the Southwestern School District. She passed away in 2015 at age 37 after battling brain cancer for nine months. Gabrielle was a student in the last third-grade class she ever taught. Now as a 2023 Southwestern High School graduate, Gabrielle is paying back some of the love that Schultz showed her students. She devoted her Gold Project — the highest honor in Girl Scouts —

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ALTON - A GoFundMe has been organized for an area family who lost their home and all furnishings. On July 4, 2023, Jimmy, Cristina and their two young boys, Niko and Gus, lost their home and all of their belongings when a fire raged through their house. They were celebrating the holiday when they got the call to immediately return home. Upon arrival, they found it was too late to salvage anything as first responders battled to put the fire out and get it contained. It was a complete loss. The GoFundMe organizers for the family made these statements: "The family had the roots of their family swept out from under them. They are now without a home and all of the things they have worked so hard to build. Jimmy and Cristina are the unsung heroes of our community. They give selflessly to people every single day in their careers and never ask for anything in return. They are who we trust to keep us safe and mend us when we’re injured. Now it is our time to give back to them. "Let u

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ALTON - Alton Main Street , the Sierra Club Illinois ’ Three Rivers Project and Jacoby Arts Center are announcing the return of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival to the Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, September 16th from noon until 10:00pm. The organizations are seeking exhibitors, vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers for their 17th annual event. The festival attracts thousands of community members and tourists to Downtown Alton every year to celebrate our river through art, music, and conservation. Wind-powered live music will fill the air throughout the day. The entertainment line-up on the main stage will feature: Mattie Schell & Friends (Americana) from 12:00-2:00, Loftys Comet (Alternative Indie Jazz) from 3:00-6:00, Jake’s Leg (Grateful Dead Tribute) from 7:00-10:00, and between each act will be a performance by Jason “Gordo” Gordon (1-Man, 10-Piece Band) from 2:00-3:00 and 6:00-7:00. New this year, ARTICA STL will team up with the Joia World

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ALTON - At 2:49 p.m. on July 7, 2023, the Alton Police Department was contacted by a local business that has recently been the victim of several felony thefts. The business employee requested officer assistance in retrieving the stolen property. Alton Police Chief Ford said Alton Police Officers and detectives agreed to assist in the recovery of the stolen property. In doing so, they observed the theft suspect with stolen property in the 2300 block of State Street, Alton. As officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, the suspect was able to flee the area in a vehicle. The suspect then refused to pull over and instead fled in an attempt to elude officers. "A pursuit ensued with officers successfully deploying stop sticks to disable the vehicle," Chief Ford said. "The vehicle came to a stop just across the Clark Bridge in Missouri. The suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot and then subsequently continued his efforts to flee by swimming in a nearby body of

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s WSIE 88.7 The Sound FM , St. Louis’ home for jazz, smooth jazz, blues and easy R&B, has been chosen as one of the top three radio stations in St. Louis according to St. Louis Magazine’s A-List poll, now for three years in a row. “It is an honor and a thrill to know that we have so many fans and supporters out there who love WSIE,” said Jason Church, general manager of WSIE. “To come in as a finalist three years in a row drives home the fact that WSIE is a staple when it comes to radio in the St. Louis region. People love this station, and it shows. We are so grateful for their support.” WSIE was also a finalist in the radio personality (Jason Church) and radio show (The Jazz Collective with Jason Church) categories. “One of our station slogans is ‘your break from the noise,’” Church added. “Our music is comprised of mostly instrumentals; it take

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EDWARDSVILLE – State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) is pleased to announce more than $1.3 billion in highway improvement projects could soon make their way to the 56 th District as a part of a newly announced transportation improvement plan by the state on Friday. “Infrastructure is the backbone of our communities and it’s important we continue investing in critical resources like our roads and bridges but also looking at ways to improve the overall safety and scope of our roadways,” said Senator Harriss. The new $41 billion, multi-year statewide effort spans over the course of six years and is the largest in state history. The plan invests in various modes of transportation including highway, rail, transit, aeronautics, and marine. Notable projects included in the proposed plans include: I-270: $101.9 million for interchange reconstruction, 1.2 miles of pavement replacement and additional lanes, bridge replacement and bridge superstructure

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