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Mike and Karen Roberts To Serve As Chairs: Tree Of Lights Campaign Kicks Off Nov. 17

2 years 10 months ago
ALTON – The Salvation Army Tree of Lights campaign will kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, during the Alton Main Street Tree Lighting ceremony. The event takes place at Lincoln Douglas Square and includes free trolley rides, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, caroling, hot cocoa and cookies. A new addition to the festivities will be the Red Kettle bounce house. For those unable to attend the Tree Lighting in person, portions of the event will be streaming live in a cooperative effort between Riverbender.com and WBGZ Radio. Mike Roberts and C.J. Nasello of Our Daily Show! will host the broadcast. Salvation Army Madison County Corps Advisory Council Chairman Kevin Botterbush announced earlier this year that local Meteorologist Mike Roberts and his wife Karen will chair this year’s campaign. “Our goal is to raise $217,000 through the red kettle campaign,” the Roberts said. “We are humbly asking for gifts - the gift of time and the gift of financial

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Gardner Quit to Avoid ‘Day of Reckoning’ on Nursing Program, AG Says

2 years 10 months ago
Late last night, Attorney General Andrew Bailey released his 62-page report into former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, detailing the months-long quo warranto led by his office that resulted in Gardner abruptly resigning in May. Among the details in the report is new information about the extent to which Gardner was spending her time pursuing a Master's degree in nursing and the importance that the revelations of her student life played in her resignation.
Ryan Krull

Brew Tulum Landlord Disputes Lead Contamination Claims

2 years 10 months ago
The owners of the building that houses Brew Tulum, a Yucatan roastery and restaurant that has been temporarily closed since September, are disputing the eatery’s claims of lead on the site. Their rebuttal comes after co-owner Laura McNamara told the RFT last week that closure was due to lead contamination.
Jessica Rogen

"Heat The Feet:" Rosetta Brown Starts Her Annual Socks For Tots Campaign

2 years 10 months ago
ALTON - Rosetta "Rosie" Brown is back at it again with her annual Socks For Tots Community Socks Drive. The campaign has made such a difference in children's lives to keep children's feet warm as winter moves forward in the region. Brown is the alderman for the Fourth Ward of Alton. The Socks for Tots Drive will begin in November and last through December 2023. "It’s time to replenish the socks inventory for our youth," Brown said. "My mission is to 'Heat the Feet' of our school-age children. Last year with the help of our community I was able to provide over 6,000 pairs of socks to schools, daycares, the Oasis Women's Center, Boys and Girls Club and Catholic Children’s Home. Let’s really make an impact on the lives of our children by collectively donating toward this initiative. My goal this year is 10,000 pairs of socks." How and Where to Support The Campaign Boxes will be placed in several venues in our community including the Alton-Godfrey and Wood River

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Cinema St. Louis' International Film Festival to offer more Black American stories

2 years 10 months ago
In marathon running, the hat trick entails three accomplishments: doing at least 100 races… running in each of the U.S.’s 50 states… and completing a marathon on all 7 continents — which means marathoning in Antarctica. Among the fewer-than-60 runners worldwide who’ve achieved that feat, only 3 are Black. And two of those three are St. Louis natives. They’re also alumni of the same grade school – a decade apart, but the very same building! Lisa Davis and Tony Reed are the focus of the documentary, “We Are Distance Runners: The Marathon Hat Trick,” which screens at the Alamo Drafthouse as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival

IDNR Announces Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities Grant Award

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is announcing the latest recipient of a grant for projects funded through the Wildlife Preservation Fund grant program. The Wildlife Preservation Fund provides grants under the Illinois Non-Game Wildlife Protection Act. Five percent of non-federal dollars deposited into the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund are committed to grants through this program. The Act provides for a voluntary check-off designation on state income tax return forms, allowing individual taxpayers to make charitable donations to the fund. These contributions provide grants to help with maintenance of existing Illinois wildlife rehabilitation facilities that care for threatened and endangered species. Eligible uses of grant funds are limited to structural repair and maintenance of existing buildings, pens, cages, and appurtenant facilities used to take care of threatened or endangered wildlife species. IDNR has awarded the following

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IDNR Awards $392,150 In Snowmobile Trail Grants

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Seven snowmobile trail projects in Illinois have been awarded $392,150 for the development, rehabilitation, and maintenance the trails. The grants come from the Illinois Snowmobile Grant program (SNOW) and the Snowmobile Trail Establishment Fund Grant program (STEF). SNOW grant recipients are: Freeport Park District – $39,150 for rehabilitation and maintenance of the trail for snowmobile use. Freeport Park District – $120,000 for purchase of a tractor to groom snowmobile trails. Lake County Forest Preserve District – $29,000 for replacement of snowmobiles and trailer for park rangers so they can perform routine patrols. McHenry County Conservation District – $30,000 for rental of a tractor for maintenance, operation expenses, and trail signage. Rockford Park District – $40,000 for operational and maintenance expenses, rental tractors, and snowmobile trail equipment STEF grant recipients are: Illinois Association of Snowmobile

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Illinois State Police Hosts Clandestine Lab Safety Trainings To Combat Illegal Drugs

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Clandestine Lab Team (CLT) recently hosted a Basic 40-hour Clandestine Lab Safety School and two 16-hour Clandestine Micro-Lab recertification courses to combat the increase in unknown drugs found on the street and the rise of labs used to make illicit drugs. “ISP is committed to combating illegal drugs across the state, including the labs where they are made,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “We want to ensure our people have the necessary training to safely handle clandestine labs as we continue providing these services to law enforcement agencies across the state.” The Basic 40-hour Clandestine Lab Safety School was provided by the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center and was conducted to increase the number of certified clandestine lab team operators. A total of 19 ISP Division of Criminal Investigation agents from across the state attended the school and were certified as CLT members. CLT is based

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