Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Officials with Challenge Unlimited (CU), a national nonprofit headquartered in Alton, IL, are pleased to announce that James Porter has been appointed Executive Vice President of Operations. In his new role, Porter will manage all aspects of services CU offers to area businesses and government entities, including groundskeeping, facilities management, and custodial services, among others. Porter’s responsibilities include fiscal oversight, organizational development, and implementing professional certifications and apprenticeship programs. “We are thrilled to welcome James to our team,” says Charlotte Hammond, president and CEO of Challenge Unlimited. “His exceptional managerial experience and proven history of delivering results will be a valuable asset as we continue our mission of providing meaningful employment opportunities for people with all disabilities.” Porter joins CU from his most recent position as a district manager with Starbucks

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) hosted its 20th annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, April 1 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. The ceremony celebrated the first-year cohort of 50 dental students representing the Class of 2025 and six International Advanced Placement Program (IAPP) students comprising the Class of 2023. SIUE Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, delivered the welcome address, acknowledging the presence of SDM faculty and staff and extolling the brilliance of this year’s cohort. “This cohort represents exceptional individuals who have excelled in their efforts to become a part of this honorable profession,” Cobb said. “The 50 first-year dental students were selected from an incredibly competitive pool of 511 qualified applicants. The six IAPP students were selected from among 226 highly qualified dentists who have earned international dental degrees.

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 mourns the loss of Wilson 1st grade teacher Jamie Kindle, who passed away on Sunday, April 17 at her home. She was 51. Mrs. Kindle taught 1st grade in GCSD9 for 27 years at Niedringhaus, Frohardt, and Wilson Schools. Kindle's husband, John, recently retired from the GCSD9 Maintenance Department. She was well known for her love of Christmas and her artistic talents. Kindle loved animals, especially her dogs Peanut and Buttercup, but most of all she loved her family and will be remembered for all the special times they shared together. Kindle is survived by her husband; John Kindle, whom she married on December 6, 1997; parents, James “Jim” and Judy (Prewett) Bucatch of Granite City; brother, Jason and Melissa Bucatch of Alexandria, VA; life-long Bestie, Jenna Epperson; sisters-in-law, Colleen and Jeffrey Tretter of Granite City, Tina Scaturro Kindle of Glen Carbon, niece, Natalie, and Chris Kayich; nephews,

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ALTON - Miller's Insurance Solutions has developed itself into a landmark business in Alton after 22 years in existence. Owners Jean and Terry Miller say the key to the success of the business is simple: "It is just having good customer service." Miller's Insurance Solutions is located at 2520 State St. in Alton. "Understanding insurance can be very stressful and we help you with any insurance needs you may have, and we make it easy, understandable, and hassle-free," the owners said. Jean's grandfather was an insurance agent and she believes she learned a lot from his mannerisms and ways of conducting business. She said she has employed some of his philosophies about insurance and business in her current operation. Jean says the operation is definitely a family business and she loves being able to work with her husband, Terry. "It means a lot to work with my husband," she said. "He once had another career with the Army Corps of Engineers. When I started the insurance business

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ALTON – Construction crews, working on behalf of Ameren Illinois, are currently removing the concrete insulation cap used during the thermal remediation at the site of the former Alton Manufactured Gas Plant built in 1885, and later home of the former Alton Post Office. Ameren Illinois has spent the last 3.5 years using technology called In-situ Thermal Remediation to remove coal tar from impacted soil at 727 Belle Street. This was a voluntary remediation in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The thermal remediation phase of the project is complete and construction crews will be on-site over the next couple of months removing the remaining portion of the old post office and parking lot. The final step will be to restore the site for future use by the end of 2022. The company will soon be working with the Illinois EPA to obtain a "no further remediation" letter to close out the project with the state. Over the next several months, Ameren Illinois

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IRVINE, CALIF. - Taco Bell announced in a press release yesterday that a long-missed fan-favorite menu item will be making its return in exactly one month on May 19: the Mexican Pizza. “Our menu is full of fan-favorites, but the Mexican Pizza is at the top of that list,” Taco Bell CEO Mark King said. “From its flashy introduction to menus in 1985 as ‘Pizzazz Pizza’ to its inspiration behind the creation of infamous jingles, Mexican Pizza has a long history with the brand and I’m glad we could give fans what they crave and bring our classic Mexican Pizza back home where it belongs.” A change.org petition titled “Save the Mexican Pizza” reached nearly 200,000 signatures online and was acknowledged by Taco Bell in the press release announcing the menu item’s return. The author and organizer of the petition, Krish Jagirdar, said they were invited on a conference call with the Taco Bell team earlier this year and fel

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ALTON - In the words of Audrey Hepburn, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands – one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.” That is exactly what Alison Azarak, a professional tennis player from Venezuela loves doing. Azarak is studying at Lewis and Clark Community College on an athletic scholarship for the 2021-2022 school year. “I started volunteering in Venezuela when I was about 12 years old in an orphanage. There I created a very strong relationship with the children and have loved volunteering ever since,” she said. Azarak is currently pursuing an Associate of Science at the Lewis and Clark and is finishing up her second semester. She is also a member of the L&C Video Game Club and more importantly a Player on The LC Women’s Tennis Team which just came away from a 5-2 win against Principia College, which is ranked first in the region. Azarak along with many others has been volunteering since the Riverbender

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EDWARDSVILLE - Renowned civil rights attorneys Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law, Bob Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, and attorneys Patrick King and William Miller of MillerKing Law Firm announced today that they have filed two lawsuits on behalf of victims of the deadly Amazon warehouse collapse that occurred on Dec. 10, 2021, when tornadoes touched down in Edwardsville. Plaintiffs include Deon January, mother and the administrator for the estate of DeAndre Morrow, who was killed in the collapse, and Amazon drivers Jamarco Hickman, Evan Jensen, Jada Williams, and Deontae Yancey who survived the collapse but suffered physical or mental harm as a result of Amazon’s negligence. On Dec. 10, 2021, Mr. Morrow and the other plaintiffs were delivering packages for Amazon out of the company’s Edwardsville, Illinois, fulfillment center. Amazon was warned by the National Weather Service of possible tornadoes in the area of the warehouse as far as 36 hours ahead of the tragic warehouse

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CHICAGO - To align with the ending of the enforcement of the federal mask mandate on public transportation following a federal court ruling, Governor Pritzker today announced he will revise Illinois’ executive order lifting those requirements for the State of Illinois. As a result, masks will no longer be required on public transit, in public transit hubs, or in airports. Executive Order 2022-06 will be amended to reflect these changes. Local municipalities retain the right to establish their own mitigations, including masking requirements on public transportation. “I’m proud of the work our state has done to fight COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I continue to urge Illinoisans to follow CDC guidelines and, most importantly, get vaccinated to protect yourself and others.” “IDPH is closely monitoring the status of COVID-19 throughout Illinois and working with our local public health partners to keep the

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GRAFTON - Mayor Mike Morrow recently showed special recognition with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Grafton City Council to Scoutmaster Ray Hasty and Boy Scout Troop 59 for excellent work to support the Annual Grafton Easter Egg Hunt. Mayor Morrow said the Easter Egg Hunt is a family activity that takes place at Red Hawk Park each year on Easter weekend. The event is sponsored and organized by Alderman Donna Smith and Christina Petrea; Children’s Activity Coordinator under the Grafton Community Outreach Program headed by Alderman Smith. “The Annual Easter Egg Hunt is always a big draw for our families," Smith said. "There is a lot of preparation needed to ensure a successful hunt. Troop 59 volunteered to help Chris and my staff and hide eggs. "We were able to cut our work time in half! They helped make this Easter Egg Hunt a huge success." Mayor Morrow said that the Scouts of Troop 59 were a credit to the City of Grafton and thanked Scoutmaster Hasty for

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EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Police Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) and East St. Police Department are investigating a female fatality after a report of a shooting on Wednesday at a residence at 27th Street and Louisiana Boulevard in East St. Louis. The shooting report came in at 6:50 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. This was ISP's preliminary synopsis of what they know at the present time occurred: The Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) responded to a reported shooting at the above time and location. A 37-year-old female of East St. Louis was found deceased. No further information will be disseminated at this time. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 314-725-8477 (TIPS). Witnesses can remain anonymous.

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COLLINSVILLE - St. John’s Community Care announced today that Christine Stewart has been appointed new Executive Director of the St. John’s Community Care. An experienced leader, Christine will succeed Nancy Berry and assume responsibilities on May 2, 2022. After 34 years as Executive Director, Nancy will begin her retirement on May 31. Christine is coming to St. John’s from Canada, where she led the Canadian Mental Health Association, Central Alberta since 2017. Prior to that, she served as Manager of Agency Programs for McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association. After living and working in Canada for more than 20 years, Christine is eager to return to the St. Louis area where she grew up. “After interviewing finalists for Executive Director, it was clear to the Search Committee that Christine will be a great fit to succeed Nancy in continuing to care for and empower elders and those who care for them,” said Carla Gain, who chaired the Search

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ALTON - Earth Day 2022 marks the perfect time to pledge to improve yourself and the world around you. A low-impact workout through gardening accomplishes both. Kelly Bogowith, a physical therapist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois , says planting roots – literally – is the jump start many need after being cooped up all winter. And she has no problem rattling off examples. "Using a wheelbarrow, kneeling down to garden, getting back up, carrying bags of soil, shoveling – all of those things are actually great forms of exercise and very enjoyable for many people," she says. There are many benefits, too. Reaching for flowers promotes flexibility. Hauling that wheelbarrow or lifting a dirt-filled shovel builds muscles and endurance. And being on your hands and knees promotes balance. "It can be good just getting up and down," Bogowith says. "It’s good for our muscles, and improving our leg strength can help with balance, actually. And that transfers to

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GLEN CARBON - Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging and Wellness is encouraging people to kick off spring with some tips and tricks to get your body healthy and ready for summer. As the medical spa’s Director of Wellness and Nutrition, Robert Wise, D.C. has more than two decades of experience with nutritional counseling. Dr. Wise said around this time of year, he sees an increase in patients interested in new ways to lose weight before summer. “There are so many different plans and ways people can approach weight loss and all of the options can be overwhelming,” said Dr. Wise. “Getting expert help can help people find a plan that works for them quicker. We often see people struggling with weight loss because the diets and exercise that used to work for them at age 25, are no longer working for them at 35.” Dr. Wise said their weight loss plans center around an option called Ideal Protein. It is a low-fat, low-carb, ketogenic diet that helps people get to their goal

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COLLINSVILLE - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will host a public meeting May 4th to discuss the construction for the proposed replacement of the Interstate 270 Bridge over the Mississippi River and the associated Riverview Drive interchange modification. The public meeting will be held in an open-house format at the following time and location: Wednesday, May 4 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Southwestern Illinois College – Granite City Campus 4950 Maryville Road Granite City, IL The open forum meeting format provides interested individuals the opportunity to attend the meeting and obtain information regarding the maintenance of traffic during construction and the construction schedule. You may come and go at any time during the scheduled meeting hours, examine the exhibits and speak with IDOT and MoDOT representatives. Written comments will be accepted at the meeting. They also can be mailed within 10 days following the public meeting. In addition, comments ca

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) is hosting a three-day Freshwater Symposium for Earth Science Educators, July 18-20, 2022. “A major component of NGRREC’s mission is watershed science and education and we are excited to get back to supporting in-person learning,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “We have held several virtual trainings, but providing educators with hands-on experiences allows us to dive deeper into the realm of freshwater education.” Over the course of three days, the participants will be trained in the following programs: Project Water Education Today (WET) : Learn how to use water education activities in your classroom to help students understand global challenges and inspire local solutions. Educators will receive a Project WET teacher certification in both Climate, Water & Resilience and Wonders of Wetlands curricula. Swarovski Waterschool : The Swarovski

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EDWARDSVILLE – Jennifer Korte, candidate for State Representative in the 112 th District, says her opponent is misrepresenting her voting record and is calling on him to correct the record. In a recent social media post, Joe Hackler, who is also running for State Representative in the 112 th District, claimed Korte did not vote in the 2020 election. “The truth is I did vote in the 2020 Election, and I have consistently participated in the electoral process,” Korte said. “I have always taken elections seriously long before I ever decided to run for public office.” Korte said she had to track down her voting record with the Madison County Clerk’s office as some of her voter history was misplaced, but the records have been found and have been updated. “Mistakes happen,” Korte said. “What happened to me is one reason why I am so committed to election reforms to ensure the integrity of our elections. My opponent has been

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ST. LOUIS - Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones delivered her first State of the City address, just ahead of the first anniversary of her historic inauguration on April 20, from the Givens Auditorium at Harris Stowe State University, St. Louis’ historically Black university. Mayor Jones emphasized that despite the challenges our city faces, St. Louis is on the precipice of transformative change, and that our best days as a city still lie ahead. Highlighting her family’s roots in North St. Louis, Mayor Jones discussed the ways she has seen St. Louis change throughout her lifetime, and emphasized the incredible opportunity offered by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to reverse decades of disinvestment in our neighborhoods. Mayor Jones committed a $150 million investment in North St. Louis because St. Louis cannot succeed - together - if one half is allowed to fail. Mayor Jones emphasized that economic empowerment, neighborhood transformation, and equitable development are critica

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ALTON - Alton Main Street’s quarterly information exchange, called “What’s Up Downtown”, will be held on Thursday, April 21st at 5:30 p.m. at Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway in Alton, IL. The public is invited to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton’s historic downtown district, including updates from new & existing businesses, news on real estate transactions, and details of upcoming events and projects. The evening’s featured speakers will be: Dennis Hyland , giving a progress update on AltonWorks projects Laura Windisch , announcing the launch of FLOCK food truck park Dave Nunnally , reporting details of Soul Asylum, a new museum attraction that has recently opened at 301 E. Broadway Vicky Delaney , sharing details of the move and expansion of River Bend Yoga to 100 W. 3rd Street Mike Weller , announcing a new location of AP Cigar Co. at 202 State Street Mayor David Goins , sharing updates on behalf of the

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EAST ST. LOUIS - DraftKings at Casino Queen is a vibrant casino and hotel nestled along the Mississippi River at 200 S. S. Front St., located just minutes from Downtown St. Louis with stunning views of The Gateway Arch and St. Louis Skyline. The 38,000-square-foot casino features 980 gaming machines and 27 table games. Accommodations include comfortable guest rooms and a picturesque RV park, plus amenities include event and meeting spaces, a pool and free parking. DraftKings at Casino Queen offers a premier sports betting and viewing experience at its DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook featuring a 60-foot video wall, dozens of high-definition televisions, a VIP area and more than 30 betting kiosks. A new dining promenade will soon be introduced featuring a food court with three exciting casual dining outlets and a full-service restaurant. Formerly known as Casino Queen and welcoming visitors since 1993, the property partnered with DraftKings to provide a premier sports betting experience

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