ALTON - The National Great Rivers Museum (NGRM) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a commemoration ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Attendees could enjoy activity booths, a panel discussion and tours of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. Throughout the commemoration, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reflected on the museum’s history as a visitor center and its role in connecting people to the river. “My team and our project oversees community outreach for 300 miles of the Mississippi River and the lower 80 of the Illinois,” said Allison Rhanor, Natural Resources Specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NGRM director. “This facility represents a multifaceted approach to river education. So whether your interest is in culture and history, or if you love art, or you’re into STEM, science and math — my job here and this facility’s job is to take whatever you’re interested in and make that connection to
This story was produced in partnership with the River City Journalism Fund. St. Louis City SC turned heads after a record-breaking five consecutive wins began its inaugural Major League Soccer season.
In the latest chapter of my laziness writing on the crazy escapades of anti-porn Republicans for Techdirt, I wish to introduce you to Ohio state Rep. Steve Demetriou, who represents Bainbridge Township. Rep. Demetriou introduced the Innocence Act, or House Bill (HB) 295, on October 11, 2023. I wrote about the bill over at AVN.com and […]
JERSEYVILLE - Father Marty Smith, the pastor of the Catholic Churches in Jersey County, is set to bring out his Vietnam War Era Mass Kit once again for a special Mass set for 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at St. Francis Xavier Parish Church in Jerseyville. The Veteran's Day Mass is to honor local veterans. All veterans and families will be recognized with special patriotic music provided by the St. Francis Xavier Chancel Choir and St. Francis/Holy Ghost School Youth Chorus. On Saturday, Veterans Day, Father Marty will use a Vietnam Era Mass Kit used during the Vietnam War to Celebrate Holy Mass, Alex Foster, one of the coordinators, said. Foster said Father Marty always does a wonderful job during this service and it is especially gripping because he uses the Vietnam Era Mass Kit. He also said this particular Mass is something attendees look forward to each year and it is now an engrained tradition in the historic Catholic Church in Jerseyville. "The Veterans Day Mass has been
2023 Veteran of the Year Ron Flick was active with Post 41o5 and Old Town Florissant The 2023 Florissant Veteran of the Year Ron Finck was honored posthumously in ceremonies Sunday and the conclusion of the Veteran’s Day parade in Florissant. Ron was career Navy serving the United States for 27 years and retired as […]
EAST ALTON — When members of the local community lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need during the holiday season, they are bringing hope, joy and inspiration to the community. That is what Community Christmas is all about! United Way’s annual Community Christmas program collects money, necessary household items, and gifts for children through early December for local people in need during the holiday season. It kicked off this month with more than 100 boxes at participating businesses, churches, schools and organizations throughout the Greater Alton area. A list of participating locations hosting a box is available at HelpingPeople.org/CommunityChristmas. “Community Christmas is one of the pillars of our community outreach efforts during the holidays and the support we’ve been able to garner from our local neighbors over the course of the past 15 years has been fantastic,” said Karen Lintz, Director, Illinois Region of United Way of Greater St.
C HICAGO – In advance of Veterans Day, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is encouraging veterans, service members and their families to participate in a free military rights webinar to learn how to avoid scams directed at veterans and what to do if they have been a victim of a scam. Raoul’s Military and Veterans Rights Bureau will host the free What to Know About Veterans Consumer Scams webinar Nov. 8 at 11:30 a.m. “This Veterans Day, and every day, my office is dedicated to protecting the benefits our veterans have earned through their selfless service and dedication to this country,” Raoul said. “I encourage current service members, veterans and their families to join this webinar to ensure they have the knowledge to recognize and defend themselves from the bad actors who target them and their benefits.” Raoul said veterans are often victims of other frauds, scams or identity theft. A recent report by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disclosed
ALTON – OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center continues its focused efforts expanding resources in addressing the mental health and well-being of residents in the Riverbend region. Beginning the week of November 27, OSF Saint Anthony’s Psychological Services department will launch two new education groups within its Connections Adult Group Series. On Tuesday, November 28, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., the Women’s Family Violence Group will begin its weekly meeting schedule providing a supportive and safe environment for women who are experiencing verbal or physical abuse from a significant other or family member or are recovering from the trauma of past domestic violence. The Women’s Family Violence Group covers safety planning and resources, family dynamics, and healthy coping skills. Preferred age range for female participants is 18 years old and above. That same week on Thursday, November 30, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., the Anger Management Group will
Ousley once partnered with former NFL player Demetrious Johnson to house her clothing for less-fortunate teens but that partnership ended after he died.
JERSEYVILLE - The Marine Corps League Robert Windle Detachment #1031 will again host a Veterans Day ceremony in Jerseyville on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. The ceremony will be held under the big pavilion at the American Legion Post 492. Gregory Breden, associate member of the Marine Corps League, said the parade will line up on West Prairie Street beside Wells-Norris around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and it will proceed north on State Street. When it gets to Exchange Street, it will turn West. Then, when it arrives at Washington Street, it will turn South until it arrives at West Pearl Street, where the parade route ends. "The ceremony will begin after everyone is settled in place on the Jersey County Courthouse lawn at the Jersey County War Memorial," Breden said. "You may want to bring lawn chairs for the ceremony. In case of bad weather, rain or snow, you never know around here what the weather will be like." The Veterans Day ceremony will begin at noon
SPRINGFIELD - During his days as an Illinois Statehouse reporter, Taylor Pensoneau covered some of the state’s most sordid political scandals. Now, he is doing the same as a writer of fiction. Pensoneau has just released Corruption Incorporated (Downstate Publications: $18.95), an intricately-written mystery novel with a fast-moving pace and page-turning suspense. The detailed narrative is based on the wildly corrupt political atmosphere in Illinois in the late 1960s. “Almost all the scandals and incidents portrayed in the book did occur in real life,” remarked Pensoneau. “Virtually everything in the book really happened.” Pensoneau, who lives in New Berlin, Ill., was a top political writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from 1965-78. He was based at the Illinois Statehouse for much of that time with the Post-Dispatch , but also covered some of the seminal moments in national political history, including the Watergate hearings. His prowess as a
ALTON - The Principia College dance program once again turned heads during their annual Alton Halloween Parade flash mob. Students from across campus have spent weeks practicing the dance so they could perform at the intersection of Piasa and 3rd Street in downtown Alton. It’s a fun tradition, but it’s also a great way for students to connect to the larger Riverbend community, dance professor Erin Lane explained. “Another great flash mob year in the books,” Lane said. “Alton is really special. I’m really happy that Prin Dance can be a part of it as much as we are, and I hope that we can grow and do more.” This year’s flash mob was choreographed by students Hanna Dow and Emily Kraack, who chose a “Wednesday” theme after the popular Netflix show of the same name. “Wednesday” is based on characters from “The Addams Family.” The student dancers dressed in clothes and makeup that resemble Wednesday
Leaves are drooping, temps are dropping and last year’s thermalware is looking pretty fetching. It’s time to head … inside, with strangers in the dark, before a sublime stage that blinks with light. No, I’m not talking about midnight mass, but the annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, better known as SLIFF.