Riverbender 🕸

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis Story Stitchers youth artists will perform at 4 local Juneteenth events with messages about public health and safety— boosting vaccine confidence and encouraging their peers to take the lead on gun violence prevention. JUNETEENTH EVENTS: June 11, 2022 Juneteenth Celebration East Delmar Loop Delmar at Hamilton 1:00-1:30 Performance 12:00-5:00 Booth June 18, 2022 Juneteenth Celebration Maker District Craft Alliance 5080 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108 12:30-1:00 Performance June 18, 2022 Juneteenth Celebration Old North St. Louis 1307 Montgomery, 63106 2:30-3:00 Performance June 26, 2022 Juneteenth Celebration Ferguson True Vine Missionary Baptist Church 8420 Hill Ave, 63121 1:00-1:30 Performance 11:00-2:00 Booth Acknowledgments Saint Louis Story Stitchers is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web at arts dot gov. Additional support for Story Stitchers youth

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Burning toxic synthetic chemicals will be banned thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt that was signed into law Wednesday. “PFAS can harm people and the environment,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This initiative stems from concerns that our neighbors have surrounding the waste incinerator in Sauget, which puts Metro East residents at risk of exposure to these harmful substances.” The new law bans incinerating materials covered under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. Thermal oxidation for the purposes of pollution control, combustion of gases at landfills, medical waste incinerators and byproducts generated by municipal wastewater treatment facilities are exempted. The Veolia Environmental Services waste incinerator in Sauget will now be prohibited from incinerating firefighting foams, a product

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College has announced its Dean's List for the spring 2022 semester. Students named to the Dean's list must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester. Area students include: Alton, IL Vashea Stanford Brighton, IL Jayden Sansone Carrollton, IL Christian Curtner East Alton, IL Dylan Klunk Jerseyville, IL Evan Hopper About Blackburn College: Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, Presbyterian-related, co-educational liberal arts college located in Carlinville, IL. One of only nine federally-recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn has the only program in the nation fully managed by students. Balancing academic rigor and experiential learning, each student at Blackburn gains tangible experience and develops critical skills by contributing to their community, all while building a resume and earning their degree. In their 2020 Best Colleges Rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Blackburn College

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced new federal support that will help five Illinois airports improve transit, continue to keep travelers and employees safe and create jobs in their respective regions. These resources from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program will help each hub conduct needed infrastructure projects. “Illinois’s airports are important economic engines for our state and the source of jobs for so many working families,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this infusion of federal funding that will help ensure these airports can improve their infrastructure, create good-paying local jobs and make our aviation system safer and more reliable.” “The FAA’s investment in our state’s regional airports will ensure that travelers arrive safely, securely, and efficiently in addition to supporting

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CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker today signed HB 4818, an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act prohibiting the disposal by incineration of any perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). PFAS are a group of approximately 5,000 human-made chemicals that are manufactured for their oil and water-resistant properties. Since the 1940’s, PFAS have been used in a wide range of consumer products, industrial processes, and in AFFF. This has resulted in PFAS being released into the air, water, and soil. While research on the effects of PFAS exposure to human health is ongoing, current scientific studies have identified possible adverse health effects including low infant birth weights, harmful effects on the immune system, cancer, thyroid hormone disruption, liver and kidney toxicity, decreased immune function, developmental disorders, and reproductive harm. “The health and safety of Illinoisans have always been my

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ALTON, IL –After taking a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alton Memorial Hospital School of Nursing alumni are busy planning a much-anticipated return of their reunion. The reunion will be held Saturday, July 16, at Alton’s Best Western Premiere Hotel, with registration starting at 11 a.m. The AMH School of Nursing opened on March 1, 1938. A graduate nursing staff provided instruction across a range of subjects. Students were rated and needed to meet the maximum requirements of the Illinois State Department of Education and Registration. Tuition at the time for three years (RN degree) totaled $150. A total of 626 nurses, including nine men, graduated from the school in its 35-year history. The school’s last graduating class was in 1973. "This event is so important to our classmates," said Carol Noble, a 1964 graduate who then worked more than 40 years at AMH and now serves on the reunion committee. “Some of us have stayed connected over the years,

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AMES, IOWA - Approximately 9,500 Iowa State University students have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the spring semester 2022 Dean's List. Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work. These six students earned Dean's List and are from the Riverbend area. Alton, IL Jason Taylor Godi, 4, Mechanical Engineering Edwardsville, IL Kurt Jacob Brase, 4, Agricultural Engineering Jacob Daniel Davis, 4, Chemical Engineering Mitchell H. Steinkuehler, 2, Mechanical Engineering Adam Donald Walters, 4, Software Engineering Glen Carbon, IL Jack Francis Raffaelle, 4, Chemical Engineering

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BELLEVILLE - The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), in partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit, Metro Transit and AARP in St. Louis, will be hosting Passport to Music on Metro on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 1 to 5 p.m. at both the Belleville and Emerson Park Transit Centers. This music festival will feature four musical acts, two at each venue, and is designed to promote community, encourage ridership and showcase the new amenities offered as part of “Transit Stop Transformation” efforts. The music event is free and open to the public. Food trucks will be onsite for food and drink purchases. MetroLink serves both transit centers and a $5 Metro Day Pass can be purchased for those interested in traveling back-and-forth between the stations. SCCTD bus riders can get to the Emerson Park Transit Center via the 6 Rosemont, 8 Alta Sita and 9 Washington Park routes. The Belleville Transit Center is served by the 1 Main Street-State Street and the 16 St. Clair Square

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CARBONDALE - Haneme Idrizi, MD , has been named associate dean of student affairs and admissions at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She will assume her new role on July 1. The Office of Student Affairs provides a variety of services for SIU learners: career education, mentoring, debt counseling, and more, as its staff seeks opportunities to improve the learning environment for students. Idrizi brings experience as an SIU School of Medicine alumna, practicing physician and award-winning educator. She has served the school in a variety of roles since 2018. Idrizi is a pediatric hospitalist in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine and is the Year 4 curriculum director, chair of the Year 4 Curriculum Advisory Committee, and director of the Pediatric Personalized Educational Plan. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the Latino Medical Student Association. Idrizi succeeds Erik Constance, MD, who served as associate dean for 27 years. Idrizi will work closely

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Above are pictures in order that they appear: Caleb Strange, Michael Weight, Adilene Weight, Jane Wisnasky, Claire Spencer, and Maggie Wisnasky. MARYVILLE – Six students from the homeschool community, Classical Conversations Maryville, recently finished months of study by correctly reciting over 400 facts from a variety of subjects as part of the Classical Conversations Memory Master program. The students, ranging in age from 9 to 12 years old, earned the Memory Master award in April when each child spent approximately five hours recalling facts from six subjects, as well as a history timeline. Classical Conversations is an academic homeschool community that follows a classical, Christian model. Memory Master is a program that is available to all elementary-aged Classical Conversations participants nationwide. Currently, there are 3 local campuses in this area: Greenville, Maryville, and Belleville. Besides a chronological timeline of 160 events and people, the students

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SPRINGFIELD - The state executive committee of the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (IPACE) has recommended five candidates for the Illinois General Assembly. IPACE is recommending Rep. Thaddeus Jones in the Democrat primary for House District 29, Rep. Sam Yingling in the Democrat primary for Senate District 31, Michael Rabbitt in the Democrat primary for House District 15, Laura Faver Dias in the Democrat primary for House District 62 and Sharon Chung in the Democrat primary for House District 91. The following quote can be attributed to Kathi Griffin, IEA president: “We are excited to recommend Rep. Thaddeus Jones, Rep. Sam Yingling, Michael Rabbitt, Laura Faver Dias and Sharon Chung for the Illinois General Assembly. These candidates show a strong understanding of public education issues, and we believe they will support legislation that promotes strong public schools." Griffin said it is important that IEA members have a chance to weigh in on candidates

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GRANITE CITY - Mitchell 4th grade teacher Kim Antonovich-Merz has been named the 2022 Madison County Green Schools Coordinator of the Year for her leadership and creativity in organizing and managing the Green Schools Program at Mitchell 3-4 Education Center. Bailey Lutz from Madison County Building and Zoning presented Antonovich-Merz with a $500 check and a trophy in a small ceremony last week. In addition, Mitchell School received $500 to recognize Antonovich-Merz's recycling efforts. Currently serving as the Green School coordinator at Mitchell, Antonovich-Merz shows her passion for environmental education and her dedication to the efforts of the Green Schools Program. Since starting in the role as Green School Coordinator in 2004, she has worked effortlessly to start a sustainable recycling program. Antonovich-Merz works to hold public recycling days for electronics, shoes and tabs. She is currently overseeing a district-wide summer recycling program for students to help purchase

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker today signed legislation designed to increase access to Illinois’ higher education system, close equity gaps, and improve student protections and operational effectiveness. The bills expand resources available to students and build on the administration’s efforts to expand equitable access to public universities and community colleges. House Bill 4201 helps students at state universities and community colleges access benefits through “benefits navigators.” Each institution is tasked with assigning a benefits navigator for the purpose of guiding students to seek and apply for any federal, state, or local program that provides assistance or benefits for which they are eligible. HB 4201 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023. Senate Bill 3991 amends the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, also known as the Children’s Savings Program, which was established to start each baby born or adopted in Illinois with a $50 college

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JERSEYVILLE - Downtown Jerseyville will host 2nd evening for this new concert series. This concept, developed by Explore Jerseyville Tourism, brings together a public-private partnership. Each event happening over the remainder of 2022 will bring together different Jerseyville businesses to cover aspects of the evening, showcasing what they provide. The City Council approved the closure of the 100 block of West Pearl Street for Friday, July 2nd at a regular meeting on May 17th. The street is directly in front of JEM Bar, in the Heart of the City Center. Representation from local businesses and community organizations will be present on the grounds with numerous Restaurants, Bars, and Retail Shops Just steps away. Kick off the weekend with drinks on the concert grounds by JEM Bar, Los Tres Amigos moves downtown for an evening with a full nacho/taco bar, Pig on a Wing will also be there with some great options from their food truck, and the U.S Veterans Foundation will be there providin

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SANGAMON COUNTY - Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon announced on Tuesday he has ruled that 2-year-old Jordan Whitaker of Virden died on December 7, 2021, from "abdominal sepsis" at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. The coroner also said he is ruling the Macoupin County toddler’s death in December as a homicide. The coroner said the boy suffered a traumatic rupture of his intestine due to child abuse. The Illinois State Police continue to investigate the 2-year-old's death.

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ST. LOUIS - Alaina Macia, President and CEO of Medical Transportation Management, Inc. (MTM), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, has announced the acquisition of Veyo, a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) company based out of San Diego, California. For more than 25 years, MTM has secured its place as an industry leader, working to develop innovative solutions that help people easily and reliably access NEMT options within their communities. MTM is one of the largest NEMT brokers in the nation, scheduling more than 13 million trips for Medicaid and Medicare members nationwide. As a result of the acquisition, MTM’s total annual revenue will be approximately $1 billion. The organization will now provide 20 million trips each year to 16 million people in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Macia said the partnership will transform the medical transport industry by bringing together two talented organizations that share the goal of making it easier for people to

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GRAFTON – For a day filled with fun and educational activities for the entire family, check out the Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair on Saturday, June 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton on Illinois Route 100. The annual Fishing Fair will include a wide variety of outdoor activities. Participating children will find a catch-and-release bluegill pond where young anglers can have their photograph taken with their catch; the popular One-Cast station, where everyone wins a prize; and, bow fishing stations where children can shoot at moving targets in a pool or at a 3D target. Every child who completes at least seven stations will receive a prize and have the chance to catch a trout in the trout pond. Fetch-N-Fish is making a return to the fair after a few years away. Jason Reynolds will be bringing his 4,000-gallon mobile aquarium that will be stocked with many of the fish species found in the Illinois River. He will conduct fishing seminars

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JERSEYVILLE - Sara Poletti, of Jerseyville, was recognized as one of 30 members of the class of 2022 Farm Credit agriculture scholars during a luncheon at Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham Thursday. Each scholar receives $2,000 from FCI to pursue a degree within the field of agriculture. Recipients were selected from 117 applicants throughout central and southern Illinois by a panel of judges in the agriculture industry. This fall, Poletti will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study agricultural and consumer economics with a concentration in marketing and management and hopes to pursue a career in agricultural marketing. She is the daughter of Ben and Melissa Poletti of Jerseyville. “Farm Credit Illinois is proud to invest in tomorrow’s agricultural leaders,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “These scholars will support our mission of Helping Farm Families Succeed by applying their passion

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ST. LOUIS - Urology of St. Louis (USL) is shining a light on the importance of men’s health during National Men’s Health Month in June. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies show that men are less likely to visit a doctor. USL wants to remind men that staying on top of their health and wellness is key to living a long healthy life. “Eating right and regular exercising habits are the recipe to having a healthy lifestyle,” said Urologist Dr. Christopher Jaeger. “But one other healthy habit that is often forgotten is the importance of seeing a primary care physician to receive annual wellness checks. When patients stay up to date on their care, they are more likely to catch any illnesses or cancers sooner than they would have without seeing a doctor. Various health conditions that men are at risk for can often be detected early, and when they’re detected early, it can sometimes lead to more successful outcomes.”

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Letter To The Editor: I am honored to express my support for Jeff Larner, Candidate for Madison County Sheriff. Jeff has over Three decades of Law Enforcement service in both the public and private sectors that encompass real-world entry-level to executive level experiences. Jeff will utilize his vast knowledge and experience to tackle the continuous and constantly changing demands of modern-day Law Enforcement to include recruiting, deputy retention, training mandates, legislative directives, justice reform and community policing all the while remaining focused and achieving the goal of public safety. He will be a selfless, dedicated, and transparent community partner who can bring together a vast network of Federal, State, and other Local resources to assist the needs of the Sheriff’s office if necessary, and will be proactive and aggressive in implementing new public safety initiatives to address criminal activity whether within or headed to the boundaries of the County.

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