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Godfrey Board Discusses Potential UTV Regulations

11 months ago
GODFREY - Utility Task Vehicles, or UTVs, were once again a subject of discussion for the Godfrey Village Board on Tuesday , with possible regulations talked about but not yet acted on. Trustee Sarah Woodman began the discussion stating she didn’t see a need for UTVs within the Village of Godfrey. Trustees Rick Lauschke and Jeff Weber agreed. The discussion stemmed from an earlier Village Board meeting in July, during which a public commenter noted the increased prominence of UTVs being used throughout the village over the past decade. Lieutenant Mike Weller with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said then that the State of Illinois leaves the power to regulate UTVs and similar vehicles to local municipalities, though it was noted Godfrey doesn’t have any such regulations in its Village Code. It was noted at the time that some other municipalities charge UTV owners money in exchange for a permit to drive them on roads maintained by the municipality.

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Wesley Bell sets off political earthquake with win over Cori Bush

11 months ago
On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum talks with UMSL's Anita Manion and STLPR's Sarah Kellogg about Tuesday's primary results. Rosenbaum also spoke with Wesley Bell, Mike Kehoe, Crystal Quade and Bob Onder about their big wins — and what they could mean for Missouri politics.

Godfrey Business Spotlight: The Plant Stand is True Family Business

11 months ago
GODFREY - If you are looking for flowers to smell, or just view, what better place to consider than the beautiful Plant Stand on Godfrey Road? Whether searching for plants to place in a garden or attractive potted arrangements, the Plant Stand is sure to please. Their seasonal inventory of potted live plants include many varieties and species. Annuals, perennials, hardy shrubs and trees are all a part of the offerings. As both a wholesale grower and marketing distributor, they are adept in industry knowledge, making retail customers the beneficiaries of excellent products. The company is owned and operated by David and Sheila Galbreath. While both David and Sheila get involved in buying and selling of product, David handles marketing, research and development, and Sheila takes care of office administration. From humble origins to what it is today, the Plant Stand is truly a family business. It was started in 1979 by David’s parents, Marc and Vicki Galbreath. It was originally

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Black Bear Roams Into Caseyville: Authorities Issue Safety Advisory

11 months ago
CASEYVILLE – A black bear was spotted by several residents today from East O’Fallon Drive to Tanglewood Estates in Caseyville, prompting local authorities to issue a public advisory. The Caseyville Police Department alerted the community about the sighting through a statement, advising residents not to approach or disturb the bear. "If you come in contact with the bear, please do not approach or disturb. It will hopefully move along," the statement read. The bear sighting has caused a stir among residents, with multiple reports coming in from the specified areas. The primary concern of the authorities is to ensure the safety of both the residents and the bear. No incidents have been reported so far, and the police are hopeful that the bear will move away from the residential areas on its own. The sighting has raised awareness about wildlife in the community, and residents are urged to stay vigilant and report any further sightings to the Caseyville Police Department

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A Personal Perspective: Reader Details Sights Seen, Lessons Learned From 1993 Flood

11 months ago
HARDIN - A reader of ours at Riverbender.com recently shared a fascinating firsthand account of the Great Flood of 1993. The story, written on Aug. 8, 1993, details the sights seen and emotions felt during a boat trip through treacherous waters to drop off a donation to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. This firsthand account was submitted by Joyce Banovz. Banovz said at the time this story takes place, she was with her now late husband, Roger, “Ava,” a volunteer from the Fieldon school, as well as the late Karen Banovz-Laramore and her husband, Mike. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammatical accuracy: Sunday, Aug. 8, 1993: The Flood Drive held this weekend was a success. We took a truck load of cleaning supplies, food, and some clothing to the school in the town of Fieldon. Ava (whose house is underwater) greeted us and said to pull around back. The National Guard unloaded the truck and said the goods would be airlifted by helicopter

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Duckworth Statement on Tim Walz Selection for Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee

11 months ago
– U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Harris for President Campaign Co-Chair and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair, released the following statement today in response to Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate: “I’m so pleased to see Tim Walz joining the ticket as Kamala Harris’ Vice Presidential pick. As a Veteran, Governor Walz knows the importance of service to our nation and as a Minnesotan, he speaks to and understands the issues happening at the heart of our country for our working families. "When in Congress, he championed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act , the now law we coauthored to help improve mental healthcare services for Veterans and reduce Veteran suicide. As Governor of Minnesota, he's led sweeping reforms for working families in his state, signing the largest tax cut in state history. He lowered the cost of insulin to $35 per month and signed paid

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Riverbend's Bestselling "Perfectly I'Mperfect" Authors to Host Meet-and-Greet

11 months ago
WOOD RIVER - Local authors of “Perfectly I’Mperfect” and “Still Perfectly I’Mperfect” will be available for an author meet-and-greet. From 6–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, community members are invited to Rustic Roots in Wood River for the event. Authors featured in both books will be present to speak with attendees and network with each other. Tara Hurst, one of the writers who compiled the books, noted that each book is filled with empowering stories by local women. “We had amazing authors that really jumped in and worked together, and it’s really a grassroots effort that we all just shared,” Hurst said. “I also know that it has something to do with the first one. We created a movement, and the women just really felt the power of it and the encouragement and motivation, and they saw another one coming out and they jumped in.” “Perfectly I’Mperfect” was published last year, and

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2024 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow Unveiled

11 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the Butter Cow today in the Dairy Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Inspired by “It’s Showtime!” the 2024 fair theme, sculptor Sarah Pratt’s creation captures the magic of the fair through the eyes of a child. While the Butter Cow is the undisputed star of the show, this year, the cow has a delightful companion – a little girl pulling a seven-scoop ice cream cone out of her magician’s hat. Pratt was joined this year by her husband and twin daughters, Hannah and Grace, 20. “As we worked together on the sculptures, our family fondly recalled a song we used to sing, ‘How many scoops do you want on your cone?’ when the girls were young,” said Sarah Pratt, 2024 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow Sculptor. “We enjoyed incorporating our family memories into new ones for this year’s fair visitors.” “The

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Godfrey Approves Pierce Lane Improvement Project

11 months ago
GODFREY - A street improvement project for a portion of Pierce Lane in Godfrey is moving forward following unanimous approval from the Village Board on Tuesday. The project area will span 1.534 miles of Pierce Lane from Stamper Lane to Airport Road. Improvements to be made include “roadway construction including new concrete pavement, storm sewers, inlets, curb and gutter, and shared-use path on one side,” according to the Resolution for Improvements Under the Illinois Highway Code. The village has agreed as part of the resolution to contribute $50,000 of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds toward the project’s completion. While it was noted the work would be completed by “contract,” a timeline for bids has not yet been determined. With no further discussion, trustees voted unanimously to approve the Resolution for Improvements Under the Illinois Highway Code. This won’t be the only improvement project to Pierce Lane, following Finance Committee

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Collinsville Man Convicted of Child Sexual Assault

11 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE — A Collinsville man has been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault involving a child, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Wednesday. Markki L. Edmonson, 48, was convicted on four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, an enhanced class X felony, and one count of criminal sexual assault, a class 1 felony. The verdict came after a bench trial in Circuit Court of Madison County. Edmonson was found guilty of committing sexual acts with a victim who was between the ages of 9 and 13 from Jan. 1, 2016, to Feb. 14, 2018. The assaults were reported after the child disclosed the incidents to a school social worker. Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Buettner, in her closing argument, asserted that the victim’s statements were credible, while the defendant’s were not. The investigation was conducted by the Collinsville Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. "We commen

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IDFPR Announces Plans for New Digital Licensure Process for Working Professionals in Illinois

11 months ago
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced today, in addition to modernizing outdated processes, it has reached an agreement to secure a new professional licensing system for individuals whose careers require a license to work in Illinois. Through an approximately $9 million investment over the next three years by the Pritzker Administration and the General Assembly, IDFPR will partner with NIC Licensing Solutions, LLC, an industry leading digital government service provider, to implement the new online system. “This new system will elevate the State of Illinois as a national leader in professional licensing by providing state of the art technology for professionals looking to make a career in the Land of Lincoln,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “Governor Pritzker and lawmakers provided invaluable support in ensuring we can move forward with this upgrade, and I thank them for their

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