Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Xavier Carter of Alton High School was honored as one of the Students of the Month for September at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant. Kennedy Stephens of Alton High School was the other Student of the Month. Xavier Carter, the son of Daniel and Jennifer Carter, is currently ranked #1 in his senior class at Alton High School with a GPA of 4.782. He has received numerous awards throughout his high school career, including being consistently named to the High Honor Roll as well as being selected for National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society. Because of his high academic achievement, Xavier was also selected as a Junior Marshall at the 2022 Alton High Graduation Ceremony. Xavier is a member of a number of other student organizations including: Physics Club, Redbird Nest, Math Team, Drafting Club, and he is the current president of Alton High's FIRST Robotics Team. He enjoys tutoring current math students

Continue Reading

ALTON - Kennedy Stephens of Alton High School was honored as one of the Students of the Month for September at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant. Xavier Cartier of Alton High School was the other Student of the Month. Stephens is the daughter of Kristine and Tony Stephens of Alton. She is a senior at Alton High School with a 4.558 GPA. She is in the top 3% of her graduating class. She has received multiple awards throughout her years at Alton High, such as High Honor Roll, National Honors Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. She is also a part of multiple extracurricular activities, such as Minority Excellence as the secretary, Varsity Cross Country, Physics Club, Empowered To Be Me, Pathways to Womanhood, and Drafting Club. While juggling extracurricular activities and academics, Kennedy has been a member of the AHS Varsity Soccer team. Kennedy was selected as a freshman to be a part of the team and has been a key member of the defensive

Continue Reading

CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the award of more than $9 million in grants to agencies across Illinois that provide services to survivors of violent crime. Raoul’s office awarded 252 Violent Crime Victim Assistance (VCVA) grants, with the average grant being about $36,000. The funding goes to programs that offer support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, gun violence, human trafficking, elder abuse, and other crimes. These programs offer a range of resources, including crisis intervention, courtroom assistance, legal services, counseling and other activities geared at addressing trauma, and violence prevention. “It is incumbent on all of us to wrap our arms around survivors of violent crime in our communities,” Raoul said. “My office remains committed to supporting survivors and doing all we can to prevent violent crime in Illinois. These programs help survivors access the tools they need to overcome the trauma they’ve

Continue Reading

ALTON - State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) earned the ‘Freshman of the Year’ award for her positive voting record in support of economic opportunity and free enterprise in Illinois. Elik was the only freshman member of the Illinois House of Representatives to receive the highest honor during the 102 nd General Assembly. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce presented the 2022 Champion of Free Enterprise and Freshman of the Year Award to Rep. Amy Elik in correspondence with the release of their 102nd General Assembly Legislative Ratings. This award is given by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to legislators who work toward the advancement of economic opportunity for all Illinoisans and to those who have made special contributions to the defense and furtherance of free enterprise in our state. “As a lawmaker and CPA, supporting policy that helps grow our economy, cut red tape, and improve our job climate is a good recipe to make Illinois more prosperous,”

Continue Reading

MADISON AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES – The Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) is delighted to announce that its Board of Directors has approved $3 million in grant awards for 20 local park and trail projects located in Madison and St. Clair Counties, Ill. The grants, which were awarded under the MEPRD Park and Trail Grant Program, will assist local and county agencies, municipalities, park districts, and transit districts in the Metro East with developing or improving public parks, regional trails, and recreation facilities. MEPRD announced the FY 2023 Park and Trail Grant Program in June 2022 with a total program budget of $3 million—the largest program budget approved by MEPRD to date—and began accepting applications on July 13th. Under the program, eligible applicants with a qualifying project type could apply for a reimbursement grant of up to 40% of their estimated project cost; up to $100k for park and recreation facility improvements and up to $300k fo

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Chief Deputy and candidate for Sheriff Jeff Connor is endorsing Jennifer Korte for State Representative in the 112th District based on her strong support for law enforcement. “It is imperative we have people serving in Springfield who are willing to take a stand in support of law enforcement,” Connor said. “I am supporting Jennifer Korte for State Representative because I know she will defend the police not defund them, and she will fight to end the current soft on crime policies that are making our communities less safe. She is the right choice for voters in the 112 th District.” Jeff Connor began his law enforcement career 36 years ago after becoming a police officer with the Granite City Police Department. In addition to being the current Chief Deputy of Madison County, Jeff is the Commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. He is a lifelong resident of Madison County, and he is running for Sheriff in Madison County as a Republican.

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Ninety-four Central Illinois Veterans are ready to experience a day of appreciation for their service on Land of Lincoln Honor Flight’s Mission #63; Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Two Korean-era Veterans and ninety-two Vietnam-era veterans will be on board this free flight from Springfield Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport to Washington, DC - - all ready to experience their national memorials with their comrades. These Veterans and their eighty-four (84) Guardians (who cover the cost of their own expenses) will arrive at the airport Tuesday morning at 4:15 AM, having traveled from the 55 Illinois cities and communities of Bethany, Bloomington, Blue Mound, Brighton, Carlinville, Champaign, Charleston, Chatham, Cowden, Danville, Decatur, Delavan, Donnellson, Effingham, Farmer City, Farmersville, Findlay, Franklin, Grafton, Granite City, Highland, Jacksonville, Lebanon, Lincoln, Litchfield, Lovington, Mahomet, Manito, Mansfield, Mascoutah, Mason City, Mattoon, Moweaqua,

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - The Wildey Theater will celebrate “The Art of Fashion” on Saturday, September 24th. This will be the 9th annual Art of Fashion runway show and it will showcase the fashions of 12+ Metro-East retailers, entrepreneurs, and curators. Two Edwardsville moms, Brandy Smith, and Kelly Schlechte, are especially excited to participate. Smith and Schlechte own Local 618, a clothing company that creates unique and locally-inspired designs. The Art of Fashion event will be on Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 PM. VIP seating is $50 (includes a gift bag and 6:00 reception in the Chandelier Room) and reserved seating is $25. Local 618 will participate in the fashion show by showcasing its unique designs along with many other local fashion businesses. The other businesses that are participating include: Minerva Boutique, The Charlie Bell Shop, Gabi and Grace Clothing Co, Cassandra's Closet Boutique, One Closet to the Next, Rushmore Boutique, Josephine's Tea Room and Gifts,

Continue Reading

ALTON - For those who love bluegrass music, they are in for a special treat all day and night on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at the Lodge at Lovejoy. Several professional bluegrass acts will be on stage starting at noon Saturday at the Lovejoy location at 401 Piasa Street in Alton. Russ Smith, the owner of the Lodge at Lovejoy and the highly successful Weddings and Event Center within the large Alton business, said it should be "great weather with a great lineup of bluegrass music people who play throughout the region." "Tait Kelly will kick it off with Rick Wagner," Smith said. "Tait Kelly is organizing the event and does such a good job. He is also a great person to work with. He organizes and does a lot of shows throughout the area. "It is a bluegrass event with a lot of singing, picking, and a lot of traditional down-home bluegrass. We did it last year and it turned out great, so it was an event we wanted to continue. I think we will do it annually and grow it and keep bringing i

Continue Reading

JERSEY COUNTY - The Jersey County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, and Jerseyville Police were called to a domestic incident in a rural area on Thursday night. Jersey County Sheriff Mike Ringhausen said a man is in custody after the incident and he said a weapon was involved and shots were fired, but thankfully, no one was injured. He said the situation occurred on Costello Road near Illinois Route 16. The sheriff and other authorities were waiting on a search warrant and then they were going to look for shell casings, the sheriff said at the scene late Thursday. The man left the scene on a four-wheeler, but eventually was apprehended, the sheriff said. ISP had drones that were used in the search, the sheriff said. The sheriff said he greatly appreciated the teamwork to apprehend the person and that ISP, the sheriff's office, and the Jerseyville officer worked together in good fashion. The man was taken without incident once the four-wheeler was stopped, he said.

Continue Reading

ALTON - Hiram’s Bar on Third Street in Alton is making a valiant attempt to support local artists with an art show on Saturday. He said he will allow artists to display up to three pieces of artwork (paintings and sculptures). The artist chosen will have their best work and a profile about them featured the week after the show on Riverbender.com. Hiram’s owner Hiram Lewis said artists can sell their work for free that day in his 2,000-square-foot gallery and he encourages people to bring their friends and family. “We have a huge art culture around the Alton area and I just wanted to have a free place for them to display and sell their work,” Lewis said. “This is a way of giving back. Some people were talking to me about doing some things for the artists, so I thought this would be a good way to start. I already have some artists lined up, but I hope for some more to come and display their work.” Submit photos of your work to: artshow@hiramsbar.com

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemned the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) failure to meet e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine deadlines, unwillingness to take action against companies that defy the agency’s orders, and general lack of urgency when it comes to protecting children from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use. The court-ordered deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was more than one year ago, September 9, 2021, and yet the agency has only completed reviews of about half of those e-cigarettes with submitted applications that represent a large share of the market—leaving dangerous, kid-friendly e-cigarettes available on store shelves to hook children. Durbin said, “As a result of FDA’s inaction, dangerous, kid-friendly e-cigarettes remain available on store shelves without FDA review or authorization. The Truth Initiative estimates that in

Continue Reading

GODFREY - The Resurrection Lutheran Church Men’s Club will host a series of Chili Drive Thru events on Oct. 20, Oct. 27, and Nov. 3, each from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the church, located at 1211 W. Homer M. Adams Parkway in Godfrey. Proceeds from each event will support relief for Illinois and Missouri flood victims. Two microwave-safe bowls of chili with crackers will be available for $6. Tickets will be sold for $6 a piece at the drive-thru and can also be purchased in advance by calling the church at (618) 466-2788 or contacting any Men’s Club member. Men’s Club President Dan Garner said these events started during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the chili is easy to store/prepare at home. “This is our third year - we started during the COVID period and thought it was a good idea, that people can just drive up, pick up some chili and go home,” Garner said. “The containers are microwaveable or freezable, so they can just put them in the microwave, war

Continue Reading

JERSEY COUNTY - The annual Lucky Duck Derby for the ambulance association and QEM Fish Fry was once again highly successful. The QEM Fish Fry is one of the largest fundraisers each year for that group. The Jersey County Against Drugs Coalition, Safety Pup, Jersey County Sheriff Mike Ringhausen, Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow, and Fire Pup were huge participants in the festivities. Sheriff Ringhausen said supporting causes like this one is truly something he finds close to his heart. "We had the pleasure to attend," he said. "Safety Pup even got to play with Fire Pup at the fish fry," Sheriff Ringhausen. "It's great to see all the first responders come together to support each other. "Also a big thanks to everyone in our community on Saturday. We had a large bicycle event that crossed major highways in several locations. This event went off flawlessly with everyone's help." Sheriff Ringhausen praised Rita Robertson with the Jersey County Against Drugs Coalition for her participation

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Health and fitness are a top priority in most people's lives, and The Exercise Coach in Edwardsville aims to make a difference that way for each of their clients. The Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the new business, located at 1181 S. State Route 157 in Edwardsville. Wendy Grich, the owner of The Exercise Coach, said her group is very excited to make a home in Edwardsville. "We have had a fabulous response," she said. "We use strength training and a whole plan for people to get healthy. My husband and I bought this franchise because we live in the area. We always try to support local businesses. The Edwardsville area is growing so fast. We moved here in 2000 from St. Louis. "Back then, we thought, 'We wish there were more restaurants and grocery stores,' and now we have them and so much more. We love it here. We have certified exercise coach trainers and we are looking at hiring some more. This is a family business

Continue Reading

ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton has a vision of strengthening the Riverbend community by providing accessible, affordable high-quality health care to all. In line with that vision and a recently-announced strategic affiliation with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, OSF Saint Anthony’s and OSF Medical Group - Pediatrics will be holding a free open house to highlight pediatric services. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 17th, at the OSF Medical Group – Primary Care office in Godfrey (6702 Godfrey Road). Parents can learn about resources and best practices related to safe sleep, injury prevention, healthy eating, sports care, psychology and other outpatient services for children. Parents can also learn about how to safely put a car seat in a vehicle. The Alton Police Department will be giving away gun locks to help keep kids safe at home. Free food will be available. First Mid Bank

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS, MO – Today marks the official kick-off of United Way of Greater St. Louis’ 2022 Community Campaign, celebrating the organization’s 100-year anniversary of helping the St. Louis region. The annual campaign supports programs and organizations across the region that help local people live their best possible lives. Campaign co-chairs Penny Pennington, managing partner of Edward Jones, and Rusty Keeley, CEO of Keeley Companies, and vice chair Arica Harris, director of banking and payment operation at Edward Jones, announced the kickoff. “United Way’s centennial is indicative of its enduring dedication to ensuring that neighbors throughout the St. Louis region have access to the resources they need to succeed and thrive,” said Pennington. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet with some of the organizations and people helped through United Way. The breadth of support they provide to this region is critical, both every day and during

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Moran Economic Development announced today the addition of Emily Calderon as Senior Planner. Calderon is certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and specializes in leading complex development projects and creating partnerships that serve the greater community. “We are thrilled to have Emily join our growing team. Her strong leadership skills and track record for cultivating business growth is exactly what we are looking for. We are confident she will serve as an asset to both our agency and the clients we serve,” said Keith Moran, president of Moran Economic Development. With over 15 years of experience in the public sector, Calderon brings to the table a diverse skill set in comprehensive planning, community engagement, economic development, public policy and zoning. In her previous role, she served as City Planner where she led both long-range and current planning with a pragmatic approach. In 2014, Calderon received The Illinois

Continue Reading

ALTON - This week, Illinois American Water is moving down Third Street near Mac’s and the Riverbender Building at a quick pace with its new sewer system and sanitary sewers and soon will soon be at the end of the street. Rob Lenhardt of Mac’s said he is thankful for what will be ahead once Illinois American Water is finished with the project. Illinois American Water is installing a new sewer system and new sanitary sewers in various areas of Downtown Alton. It has been years since some of the pipes and sewer areas have been replaced and once completed, Lenhardt said it should make a big difference when Alton encounters flooding or heavy rains. Lenhardt said Kamadulski Excavating and Grading has been great to work with during these times. "I am amazed at how much they have been able to get done in such a short amount of time," he said. Lenhardt added that the last four years have been tough for Mac's and other Downtown Alton establishments, with a flood, two years of

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER - In October, Pro Automotive Services will join hundreds of Independent Auto Repair Shops across the U.S. and Canada to raise funds for breast cancer vaccine research as part of the Brakes for Breasts fundraiser. As part of the fundraiser, participating auto repair facilities will give away FREE (quality) brake pads or shoes. The customer simply pays for the labor and any other ancillary parts necessary to complete the brake job, and the shops then donate 10 percent of the brake job directly to Dr. Vincent Tuohy & the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund. Brakes for Breasts started in 2011 with five automotive repair shops in the Cleveland, Ohio, area that raised $10,000 and has now evolved to incorporate hundreds of shops in the United States and Canada. Since then, these shops have collectively raised over $1 million, making Brakes for Breasts the largest third-party fundraising entity at the Cleveland Clinic. More importantly, Brakes for Breasts has become

Continue Reading