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EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Police and East St. Louis Police Department are requesting assistance in identifying the vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in late November. At 3:48 a.m. on November 27, 2022, a 42-year-old male from Arnold, Mo., was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred on Illinois Route 157 at Church Lane in East St. Louis, Illinois. The vehicle is described as a silver sedan, possibly a 2011–2016 Chevrolet Cruze. ISP said the vehicle would have front end and driver’s side damage including damage to the driver’s side mirror. Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866- 371- 8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org/ . Witnesses can remain anonymous.

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CARLINVILLE – The legacy of a late Carlinville man is now felt all the way to eastern Africa. The Jacob Library in Katovu, Uganda honors the memory of Jacob Glenn, a Carlinville resident who died at age 22 in October 2013. Construction of the library was spearheaded by Jacob’s mother, Becky Miller Root. Root provided a program at the Jacob Library at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 8. The free, half-hour program was open to the public and featured a brief slide/Power Point presentation on both the Jacob Library and the culture of Uganda. Root’s visit to the site in October was emphasized. Cultural items and refreshments were featured during the program. The idea for the Jacob Library originated during the 2012-13 school year, when Root served in Uganda as an English Language Teaching Fellow, coordinated by the U.S. State Department’s exchange program. She saw that the area needed a library, and provided the seed money for the building in

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Walmart Supercenter Store at 610 Wesley Drive in Wood River celebrated its 35th anniversary in style this year with a process to remodel the store. On Friday morning, the City of Wood River and Walmart celebrated their grand reopening. On Friday, Walmart also donated several thousand dollars to a local charity, Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said. Store Manager Glenn Masterson and Mayor Stalcup delivered remarks during the event. Masterson spoke of a meeting with Walmart founder Sam Walton and how Walton inspired him to want to be a manager for the company. Apparently, Sam Walton picked Masterson up one time for about an hour’s long airport ride and he said after he left the car with the Walmart legend, he was sold on a future with the company. Masterson has been the general manager of the Wood River Walmart Super-Center for 25 years. Mayor Stalcup said Walmart has been their largest retail partner for 35 years and thanked them for their contributions

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CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced an Edwardsville woman - 47-year-old Silk Lumpins - prosecuted by his office was sentenced to three years in prison after violating her probation by committing forgery. Lumpkins pleaded guilty in July to Class 3 felony state benefits fraud for allegedly omitting income and asset information on her application for the Chicago Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program. Attorney General Raoul alleges that Lumpkins, formerly of Chicago, fraudulently obtained more than $100,000 in benefits from the CHA. She was placed on probation and ordered to pay $105,762 in restitution to the CHA, with $20,000 of that due the day she entered her plea. Raoul said in Cook County Circuit Court this week, Lumpkins admitted to violating her probation by forging the cashier’s check she used to pay the $20,000 in restitution. “The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides important housing benefits to residents in need,

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ST. LOUIS - The deceased in a St. Louis County Police case on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Riverport Drive has been identified as Mark Davenport, 48 years of age, of the 400 block of Lanning Lane in Rolla, Missouri 65401. St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons Detectives are currently investigating an officer-involved shooting at 13857 Riverport Drive in the City of Maryland Heights which resulted in the death of an adult male. On December 7, 2022, at 4:19 PM, Detectives from the City of Maryland Heights Police Department were searching for a suspect in the area of 13857 Riverport Drive. The suspect was wanted in relation to several criminal incidents in various area jurisdictions. Detectives had information the suspect was in the area. Detectives observed the suspect, a 48-year-old male, exit an area business. The suspect walked to the parking lot on the west side of the building. Detectives approached the suspect, giving commands in an attempt to take the suspect

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URBANA, IL. - Holiday baking brings family and friends together and creates lasting memories as friends share recipes, stories, and meaningful time together. Amid the flurry of flour-covered countertops and mountains of messy mixing bowls, keep food safety in mind. “Baking and food safety go hand-in-hand,” says Susan Glassman, nutrition and wellness educator with University of Illinois Extension. “Make sure that your holiday baked goods bring you nothing but deliciousness by taking precautionary measures to prevent foodborne illness.” Raw dough and batters contain raw eggs and flour, two ingredients that can lead to food poisoning if eaten raw. Raw eggs can carry Salmonella bacteria. The harmful bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) can contaminate flour – from its original grain form in the field through the processed stage sold to consumers. Both bacteria can cause mild to severe symptoms of food poisoning. Cooking or baking recipes that contain raw eggs

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ALTON - More than 150 kids from Granite City Community School District #9 were able to pick out their own pair of shoes Friday morning at the Famous Footwear inside Alton Square Mall. This was made possible by All God's Children Shall Have Shoes, a non-profit that provides socks and shoes to children in need. This has become an annual event for many schools in and around the Riverbend area including Granite City, Wood River, and Alton. The event dates back to 2013, but the AGCSHS program was started in the 1960s by a few Illinois Bell workers who saw some kids walking to school without shoes on. Students were bussed in from their schools, thanks to buses provided by First Student Inc., and then received help from multiple volunteers to size them and pick out a pair of shoes of their liking. Volunteers were from surrounding police and fire departments. An estimated 30-plus volunteers attended the non-profit event. According to Sue Wooden, one of the event's key organizers, thes

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CHICAGO – Today Governor JB Pritzker signed the historic Unemployment Insurance (UI) Agreement, finalizing a bipartisan plan to pay down $1.36 billion in UI loan debt remaining from the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement will save taxpayers an estimated $20 million in interest costs that would be due next September and preserves hundreds of millions of dollars in future federal tax credits for Illinois employers, without decreasing benefits for employees. “Today, I signed historic, bipartisan legislation to eliminate pandemic-induced UI Trust Fund debt, replenish the fund for the future, protect benefits for working families, and further fuel Illinois’ strong economic trajectory,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We are delivering an investment of $1.8 billion—$1.36 billion of which will pay off the remaining balance of federal advances and $450 million of which will serve as an interest-free loan to the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bipartisan agreement

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that, as a result of his intervention, Illinois consumers and third-party reimbursers, such as insurance companies and self-insured businesses, who purchased Remicade from April 5, 2016, to Feb. 28, 2022, have until Dec. 27, 2022 to submit claims to be included in a $25 million settlement for overcharges due to antitrust violations. Recovery payments will be based on 100% of the price of Remicade purchases made, however, the exact amount of reimbursements will be determined after a final approval hearing. Remicade is a drug used to treat Crohn’s disease and other autoimmune disorders. Under the original proposed allocation plan of a settlement that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Biotech, Inc. (J&J) entered to resolve antitrust allegations related to the drug, Illinois residents and businesses could claim only 1% of the price of their Remicade purchases. Meanwhile, consumers and businesses in other states with similar law

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Township officially kicked off the construction of Township Hall with a commemorative groundbreaking on December 8 th at noon. The Township Hall is located at 300 Park Street in Edwardsville. The current Township Supervisor, Kevin Hall said, “As many of you know, this groundbreaking is a long time coming at over 8 years from the first facilities meeting back in 2014. Thank you to former Supervisors Frank Miles & Fred Schulte, Facilities Committee Chair Matt Chapman, Jamie Henderson & Joel Hall from Henderson Associates, and Mark Kabureck of Millennium Construction for all of your hard work getting us to this day.” The renovation contract was awarded to Millennium Construction for $1,385,000 with architectural work handled by Henderson Associates. The project will bring many improvements and upgrades to a building that date from the late 1980s. It will include an increase in space, updating to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements,

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GODFREY – Mr. Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant and Grill has been selected as the December 2022 RiverBend Growth Association Small Business of the Month award recipient. At 119 Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, one of several establishments comprising the city’s Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center, Mr. Pancho’s is owned by David and Luz Sanchez. The Sanchezes have been in the service industry and restaurant ownership for over 20 years. They have spent the last three of those years at Eastgate Plaza, offering a full dining menu full of traditional Mexican dishes made from authentic recipes along with a wide variety of beverage options. Thousands of diners have come to love as much as the Sanchezes love the people who have dined with them. “We all agree that our goal is to provide a safe, accepting, and an all-around good place to eat and drink,” said restaurant spokesperson Taylor Whitehead. “We also jump at the opportunity to help and give back at any

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ROXANA - Jennifer Jenkins has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser for Alex Maguire, 22, who was in a car accident and died late Tuesday night, Dec. 6, 2022. Jenkins had this to say about Alex: "If you were lucky enough to have known Alex, you knew his big heart, big dreams, and an even bigger smile. He loved fishing, time with friends, and most of all, his wrestling and sports. "He leaves behind his father (Adam), mother (Alison), and brother (Jacob). Funeral arrangements are pending, and more information will be posted soon. Alex had no insurance, so any donations will be used for the family for funeral and medical expenses." On Thursday, Jenkins thanked those who made donations to the family. There is still hope to get to the $10,000 goal for the family for any others who wish to contribute to the GoFundMe page. She said funeral services for Alex Maguire will be at Paynic Funeral Home on December 11. Visitation starts at 1 p.m., and the funeral service starts at 4 p.m. In

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ALTON - The Subway located at 712 East Broadway in Alton has two signs on its door that say “Permanently Closed Thank You For Your Patronage” posted as of Thursday, December 8. Alton Mayor David Goins said if the Subway on Broadway is permanently closed, it is “a great loss for our community.” “A lot of city workers and the police and fire departments eat there,” he said. “I hope if someone has an opportunity to open it up again it would be great for the community. The owners have made it a very nice space to come and eat.” Riverbender.com will continue to attempt to contact the owners for more information but wanted the public to know the restaurant is not open at this point in time.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) and its community partners are recognizing December 8th as Latina Equal Pay Day, a day acknowledging the pay disparity between Latinx American women and white men. On average, Latina workers in the United States are paid 49 cents for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic man. Latina Equal Pay Day is the final equal pay day of the year as Latinas face the largest wage gaps among women workers and all major race, ethnicity, and gender groups. The day marks how far into the next year Latinas must work to earn what white men earned in 2021; said another way, it takes Latinas nearly 24 months to earn what a white man earns in 12 months. “Women continue to comprise a large percentage of the American workforce, and yet make less than their male counterparts,” said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. “This day should be marked to honor the contributions of Latina women to Illinois’

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CHICAGO - As the colder months approach, the demand for shelter is growing and many shelter providers are already approaching maximum capacity. The increased demand could create difficulties for shelters, putting some of the most vulnerable Illinois residents at risk. To address this concern, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced today an additional $5 million is being invested to support the expansion of access to emergency shelters during the winter months. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: shelter is not a privilege—it’s a right,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With the winter season well underway and snowy days on our horizon, we are investing $5 million to ensure that no Illinoisan goes without the shelter they need to stay warm, safe, and healthy. This additional funding will help emergency shelters expand their operations—keeping a roof over the head of every Illinoisan who needs it.” “The

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CHICAGO — The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced a $2.8 million Transitional Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) today. This federally funded Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) NOFO secures transitional housing services for individuals whose housing needs arise from or are a cause of their victimization. The statewide NOFO offers grants to public agencies and non-profit organizations that support programs that provide survivors safety, independence, and stable housing. “Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected. But, unfortunately, for many survivors of victimization, basic housing resources are threatened, reduced, or eliminated,” said ICJIA Executive Director Delrice Adams. “Secure housing is critical for survivors as they begin their paths to healing in both urban and rural areas. This funding opportunity will provide much-needed housing resources for survivors and their families.” Survivors of violence face significant

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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 is inviting all community members to complete a brief survey. One of the key priorities of District 7 is ongoing community engagement. It is important to find ways to share ideas and listen to our community’s hopes, priorities, and goals for our schools. During the past few months, the Engage District 7 community engagement program has worked towards developing a facility improvement plan for the school district. The opinions of the community are important as the District continues to move forward, and input from the survey will assist in finding ways to work together to continue to improve our schools. The survey may be accessed at www.ecusd7.org/survey . Those wishing to have a copy of the survey mailed to them, may call the District 7 offices at 618-656-1182. Surveys should be completed by Dec. 15, 2022.

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CHICAGO – In response to the hospitalization of state Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign), Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement: “Scott Bennett is genuine, kind, and dedicated to serving his constituents. MK and I are keeping Scott, Stacy, and his entire family and community in our prayers.” A spokesperson with his office confirmed the Champaign senator is at Carle Hospital Thursday. There were not any details provided on why he is in the hospital or his condition. Bennett is a former Assistant State’s Attorney for Champaign County. He has represented Champaign and Vermillion counties in the General Assembly since January 2015. Bennett made headlines for filing an amendment on behalf of several state attorneys on the SAFE-T Act.

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JERSEYVILLE - Students in the Jersey Community High School Advanced Design class have been busy this holiday season making their own crafts and merchandise to sell for a good cause. Advanced Design teacher Erica Heitzig challenged her students to raise $100 each to donate to kids at JCHS who otherwise wouldn’t have Christmas gifts, and she said they have all reached that goal. Students worked individually or in groups and have been hard at work crafting handmade ornaments, designing sweatshirts, and promoting their products on social media. Heitzig said one team of four girls advertised their embroidered sweatshirts on social media and got 65 orders overnight. “It’s been neat to see what the students have done - some are doing machine embroidery, some are doing handmade crotchet ornaments, others are using the sewing machine or our Glowforge laser cutter, and there’s been some vinyl projects too,” she said. “I’m just the facilitator over

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GODFREY - The Annual Cookies and Cocoa For Community Christmas event carries on the legacy of David Freer's commitment to this particular charity year after year. David, who was a Freer Auto Body founder in Godfrey, died in September 2008, but his family has continued collecting and raising funds for the charity ever since his death in memory of him. Community Christmas is a United Way program that provides support to dozens of local non-profits in Southwest Illinois. Community Christmas donations assist the less fortunate during the holiday season to make sure who otherwise wouldn't have it, have toys, clothing, etc. Freer Auto Body's Christmas In July this year collected an astounding $52,000 for the charity. Margaret Freer, a current owner of Freer Auto Body and David's mother, said indeed they as a family have always tried to remember David year after year in this special way - supporting his favorite charity, Community Christmas. Lily and Taylor Freer have been catalysts

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