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ALTON - Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, received a $5,000 grant from Ameren Illinois recently to help provide services to those in need. Several programs at Centerstone benefitted from the grant, including Early Head Start. The generous donation helped us host a special event for our Early Head Start families and also deliver a new board book to every child enrolled in our program, said Sally Mondino, Centerstone Early Connections Manager. The grant also benefitted Centerstone's Connections program, which helps individuals experiencing homelessness by providing a variety of services. With the grant, Connections purchased cell phones for individuals in the program to help keep them active in treatment, as well as sleeping bags and bicycle locks. We are extremely grateful for this partnership we have with Ameren Illinois, said Erin Camfield, Centerstone Director of Advancement. Ameren Illinois not only provides a commitment to help non-profits in their

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BELLEVILLE, Ill. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today welcomed 60 residents from 34 different countries for the first time as United States citizens in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois Naturalization Ceremony. In her remarks to the new Americans, Duckworth highlighted the importance of diversity in strengthening our nation and her love for our country. “For everyone here today, whether your journey started in Afghanistan or Algeria, Cambodia or Costa Rica, Venezuela or Vietnam, your hard work and dedication make your stories the American Dream,” Duckworth said. I want to thank you for making this nation better, for making America more American. I couldn’t be prouder to now call you my fellow citizens.” Duckworth was joined at today’s ceremony by U.S. District of Southern Illinois Judge Nancy Rosenstengel and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Rachelle Aud Crowe.

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), leaders in Illinois’ film industry, and state leaders today announced Illinois’ soaring film production expenditures with a record-breaking $691 million for 2022 - a $131 million increase from the pre-pandemic record in 2019. This record-breaking achievement comes on the heels of the expansion of the Film Production Tax Credit in 2022, extending the credit through 2033, and launching the Film & TV Workforce Training Program. As filmmakers continue to bring their crews and talent to the state, Illinois’ economy reaps the benefits of production companies supporting local catering companies and restaurants, hotels, drivers, a diverse union workforce, and more. “Our success in the film and TV production industry is more than just a set of revenue numbers — it means thousands of good-paying jobs,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I was proud to extend

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EDWARDSVILLE - Andrew Hendrickson, a senior pitcher/outfielder with the Edwardsville baseball team, is off to a good start as the Tigers opened the 2023 season this past week, getting the only two hits in the team's 10-0 loss to Lockport Township Mar. 16, driving in a run in a 12-2 win over St. Joseph-Ogden in the season opener on Mar. 15, and going three innings on the mound in a 14-4 win over Washington on Mar. 17, allowing two runs without a hit and walking one in gaining his first win of the season. Last season, Hendrickson had no record in six appearances on the mound, having a 1.83 ERA in recording two saves, walking eight while fanning seven. He also hit .190 on the year with one home run and nine RBIs as he helped the Tigers win the Class 4A state championship. It's a new year, of course, and against the Porters, Edwardsville gave up four run in both the fifth and seventh innings in their loss, but Hendrickson isn't about to let a bad game get in the way of working hard and

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EDWARDSVILLE - Olivia Baca, a senior striker for the Edwardsville High School girls' soccer team who scored 25 goals in 2022, is off to a blazing start in 2023, scoring a hat trick in the Tigers' 6-0 season-opening win over Rochester in the Metro Cup showcase event on a chilly and windy Mar. 13 evening at Tiger Stadium. Baca scored her first two goals within the first five minutes of the match, then climaxed her hat trick with a 52nd-minute golazo, hitting a spectacular, curling shot from distance that found the upper right corner of the net that gave Edwardsville a 5-0 lead at the time. In her postgame interview, Baca felt very happy for her team and for the prospects ahead for the Tigers. "I'm feeling really excited for the season," Baca said, "and I feel like we're really playing together as a team and it's really going to be exciting this year." The preseason practices went well for the Tigers and it helped the optimism that surrounds the team as the regular season starts. "They

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BUNKER HILL/FOSTERBURG/GILLESPIE - Seven decades later, Herman Landreth still remembered how his ears popped when the worst of the storm passed nearby. He also remembers the massive damage and pain left behind. “Our house was the only one on our street that wasn’t destroyed,” said Landreth, a Bunker Hill resident who died at age 95 in 2019. “Two of my sisters-in-law died in that storm. My brother, Albert, and all three of his sons had broken legs, and they had to amputate my brother’s leg.” His brother’s home and grocery store were also lost. Sunday marks the 75th anniversary of the deadly Bunker Hill tornado, which ripped through the heart of town around breakfast time on March 19, 1948, killing nineteen. Minutes before, the tornado leveled most of Fosterburg, north of Alton, where nine died. Another five were killed in Gillespie, bringing the death toll to 33, though some sources report even more. In between, the tornado inflicted serious

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GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic’s Adelyn Speight recently signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at the University of North Alabama. Speight describes herself as “a versatile player.” Adelyn is a Bryon, Carlson, Petri and Kalb Female Athlete of the Month. “I enjoyed playing outside back, holding and attacking mid,” she said. “I believe my work ethic always exceeds expectations.” Speight is an honors student with a 3.93 unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. She has played soccer since she was 7 years old. “Father McGivney has a very competitive girls' soccer team,” she said. “I take the leadership role seriously on the team and try to guide athletes on and off the field. We have big expectations for this season and a lot of new talent coming in. Father McGivney provides a very family feel." Father McGivney Athletic Director Jeff Oller said he was proud of Speight and it is always a tremendous accomplishment

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide in the 1100 block of Soria Street that resulted in the death of an adult female. On March 18, 2023, at 2:03 AM, St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service to check the welfare in the 1100 block of Soria Street. Responding officers located an adult female inside a residence. The female was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Preliminary investigation has revealed the suspect is known to the victim. This is an active investigation. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information regarding this incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

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GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic basketball player Mary Harkins has signed a letter of intent to play for Central College in Pella, Iowa. Harkins has been a varsity player all four years for the Griffins and was part of a highly successful team in 2022-2023, one of the area's best. Harkins had eight three-pointers to break a school record in a game this season for the Griffins. Mary said she has loved playing for McGivney throughout her high school career. "It has been a great experience playing on varsity all four years," she said. "It is something I will never forget and such a key experience for me. I wouldn't be where I am without the influence of my coaches and teammates. They are the ones who made me better and without them, this wouldn't be possible." She said she plans to study psychology at Central College. "I am excited about going there," she said of the school. "I have met some of the girls on the team in overnight experiences. My roommate also will play basketball."

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville's 2023 hydrant flushing program will begin on Monday, March 20. As part of the program, the City of Edwardsville’s Water Division will flush water mains and hydrants. This annual maintenance work is important because it ensures the continued delivery of high-quality water to homes and businesses. City workers also inspect all fire hydrants to maintain firefighting capabilities and public safety. Crews will be going hydrant to hydrant within the City’s 24 water routes as part of the process, so please be alert for workers in the affected areas. The program will kick off in Routes 18, 19 and 20. The streets in each affected route will be listed on the City’s website, at cityofedwardsville.com/737/Hydrant-Flushing-Program . Hydrant flushing periodically may lead to instances of cloudy or discolored water, water pressure that is lower than usual, and the possibility of air in water lines. If you experience cloudy or discolored

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GODFREY - Bethany Bohn, 53, the Godfrey Village Clerk, died on Thursday after a cancer battle. She is survived by her husband, John, and two daughters, Madison and Piper Bohn, and her son, John. Village of Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said the village officials and residents were very sad at Bethany's death. "She did a wonderful job as village clerk," he said. "Her heart was in being the village clerk all the way to the end. She was very dedicated to her job. She put up a great fight with her illness to the very end. It is a terrible disease, but she didn't let it get the best of her. She will be very missed." A memorial visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. A GoFundMe for Amy's family can be found by clicking here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/medical-bills-for-bethany-bohn

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine on Friday filed charges of first-degree murder against a Highland man accused of causing injuries that resulted in the death of his infant son. Dustin B. Shires, 38, is charged with causing injuries to the chest and head of 3-month-old Jameson Shires, resulting in the death of the child on Tuesday, March 14. Emergency crews responded to the Shires' residence on Tuesday afternoon for a report of an unresponsive infant. The child was transported by medical helicopter to a St. Louis hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An investigation conducted by Highland Police, the Madison County Child Advocacy Center, the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Assistant State’s Attorney Ali Foley and Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager resulted in the charges filed against Shires. “The death of any child is heartbreaking. Child deaths that

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police arrested 67-year-old Debra Hamilton-Tidwell of East St. Louis for Election Interference (Class B Misdemeanor). On February 6, 2023, the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Special Investigations Unit, initiated an investigation into an allegation of Election Fraud committed by the East St. Louis City Clerk, Debra Hamilton-Tidwell. After a thorough investigation, the ISP SIU determined Hamilton-Tidwell used her East St. Louis Official Title and signature along with the East St. Louis letterhead during an ad campaign to promote her re-election as the East St. Louis City Clerk. On March 15, 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office approved one count of Election Interference. On March 16, 2023, Hamilton-Tidwell surrendered herself to St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and was released after posting bond. This is an open and ongoing investigation. No further information will be disseminated

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EDWARDSVILLE - A few Madison County residents demanded the Madison County Board take action on roadside litter from Roxana landfill trucks during the Public Comment portion of the latest County Board meeting on March 15. “This is actually historic, because the trash has never been this bad in the history of Madison County - and this board, it sits firmly on your shoulders, so I want to see about getting something done about it,” Russ Wheat said. “And it insults me that I have to come and talk to you people about this, because you drive down the same road, you see everything that I see, yet nothing gets done. “These trucks, if they are not going to adhere to our wishes and they’re going to violate and pollute our neighborhoods, we need to restrict their permits. Pull those permits, revoke them. You start putting the squeeze on those permits, and they can’t drive the trucks out here - believe me, that’ll stop a lot of the trash and stuff

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ALTON - Deb Farris is known around the Alton area as an excellent chef, but what she may be most known for is her corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day at Johnson’s Corner. Deb has had a busy past few weeks and has worked on corned beef and cabbage preparation each day during that period. “I have been cooking for about 52 years,” she said. “I started at a nursing home at age 16. I started at Johnson’s Coroner in August 1999.” Deb remembers in her first year, Johnson’s Corner had a flood of people on St. Pat’s Day wanting some of her corned beef and cabbage. She said she was well-known at the nursing home she worked at and several turned out, and the crowd kept coming. In her second year, she remembers coming into Johnson’s Corner and seeing a line formed outside for corned beef and cabbage, a tradition that continues to this day. “Cooking is my passion,” she said. “I love cooking, period, but we

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Raoul today announced criminal charges against a St. Clair County man over the alleged possession, purchase and sale of purported stolen retail merchandise including tools, electronics and lawn equipment in the estimated amount of $243,000.00. The charges are the result of a multi-jurisdictional investigation facilitated by Raoul’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force. Raoul’s office charged Garrett R. Bass, 22, of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, with Class 2 felony organized retail crime, punishable by up to 7 years in prison, two counts of Class 1 felony theft, each punishable by up to 15 years in prions, three counts of Class 2 felony theft, each punishable by up to 7 years in prison, and Class 1 felony money laundering, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. “The effects of organized retail crime are not limited to any one region of Illinois, particularly when the sales of stolen merchandise often fund additional criminal activity.

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ALTON - Several descendants of historic Alton architect Lucas Pfieffenberger will travel from all over the country to Alton for a family reunion and a private, custom tour of 20 homes throughout the city that were designed by him. The tour will be led by Alton Odyssey Tours on March 18, and Managing Partner Caleb Lewis said there are plans to bring some elements of it to the public during their future Alton Architecture Tours. “We’re visiting 22 locations throughout downtown Alton … it is a private, custom tour; we actually custom-wrote this script with communication with the family,” Lewis said. “The script is going to highlight Pfieffenberger’s architecture, but we’re going to put these ideas into a broader portfolio for when we build out an Alton-focused Architecture Tour, which will include other architects that were significant to the City of Alton.” Pfeiffenberger practiced architecture from 1857 until his passing in 1918, an

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EDWARDSVILLE – The first steps in the creation of a shared-use path along Illinois Route 159 south of downtown got underway Friday, March 17. When it’s finished this summer, the 10-foot-wide off-road path will connect Magnolia Street to Madison County Transit’s Goshen Trail. The City has brought on Stutz Excavating, which has begun clearing the area where the 2,700-foot path will be constructed. Efforts will be made to preserve and later replace trees and plantings between the path and Route 159, also known as Plum Street in that area. While some sections of the completed path will run close to the street, other portions will meander up to 30 feet west of the road to ensure a natural growth buffer. The shared use path is expected to open by the end of July. The City was awarded $150,000 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $240,000 from the Metro East Park and Recreation District, and $100,000 from the Agency for Community Transit, which in total, will

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School added to its impressive list of college signings the past couple of weeks. Four more athletes committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers at the next level. All are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Athletes of the Month for Marquette. The four student-athletes are: Dre Davis - Lewis and Clark Community College - Soccer Dre, a three-sport athlete for the Explorers plays soccer, basketball, and tennis. Dre has been a Riverbender.com Athlete of the Month three times already, twice for soccer and once for basketball. He was a captain on the soccer team in his junior and senior years and also voted all-conference both those seasons. He was voted all-sectional his junior year and was an honorable mention his senior year. Dre said that Marquette is a really great place and that he's loved his time there. He wanted to thank all his teachers and coaches that invested in him. He chose LCCC because he wanted to stay local and

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SPRINGFIELD – An Alton pre-k teacher Amber Sims is a 2023 Illinois Education Association (IEA) RA winner. The state’s largest union, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), today honored those with an outstanding commitment to their schools, their students, their communities, and to public education. The awards were presented during the IEA Representative Assembly (RA). The RA is the legislative body of the IEA and helps the union set its agenda for the year. There are 1,200 IEA delegates, guests, and state dignitaries who attend the RA. The IEA award recipients were nominated and chosen for their awards by their peers. This was the nomination for Sims: Bob Haisman Teacher of the Year Award – Amber Sims (Alton) "Prior to becoming a pre-k teacher, Amber Sims was a paraprofessional in a classroom for students with autism. Amber enhances the image of a 'new teacher' by showing us that the title is not solely reserved for 22-year-olds. Anyone can become a new educator

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