Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - The Racial Justice Committee of YWCA Southwestern Illinois recently gifted over 150 books to West Elementary School in Alton, thanks to a $1,700 grant awarded to the Rotary Club of the Riverbend Alton-Godfrey. Rotarians from the Club, also known as Riverbend Rotary, and representatives from the YWCA recently delivered the books to TaRael Kee, the new principal of West Elementary. TaRael, along with School Librarian Steve Doering and students in the library were on hand to receive the books. “Many thanks to the Riverbend Rotary and YWCA for taking time to think about us and our children. These books will go a long way,” says TaRael, noting that he and the teachers have ambitious goals for students at West Elementary and they believe the students have potential to reach those goals. “These kids lit up when they saw the books - they noticed that the books’ characters are like them and look like them.” “We are excited to partner with the YWC

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ALTON - Community members gathered at the YWCA in Alton to hear from incumbent Amy Elik and challenger Nick Raftopoulos at a candidates’ forum for the Illinois House of Representatives 111th District. On Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, Elik and Raftopoulos spoke about their priorities and answered questions from the audience. The forum began by allowing both candidates to introduce themselves. Elik, a Republican, explained that she is running for a third two-year term. She said she voted against giving money to “illegal immigrants” and for ending the sales tax on groceries. She added that a main priority of hers is “keeping children in schools safe from predators.” “During my last four years, I have been laser-focused on really just trying to make Illinois safer and more affordable, a great place to raise a family, to start a business or maintain a business and a great place to retire,” Elik said. “I’ve done that by holding

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s WSIE 88.7 will wrap up its 2nd Annual WSIE Music Series with Deacon Dan: A Tribute to Steely Dan from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at the Old Herald Brewery and Distillery in Collinsville. The 2024 WSIE series closeout was rescheduled from Sept. 28 due to weather conditions. The series has provided great entertainment for the community since April 2023, featuring live, local talent with great blends of blues, easy R&B and a little rock and roll. There is a suggested donation of $10 at the gate and 100 percent of the proceeds collected benefit WSIE. Housed at SIUE in Dunham Hall, WSIE is a community-supported, non-profit, NPR (National Public Radio) music station that gives listeners in the St. Louis region a break from the “noise,” with an eclectic blend of jazz, smooth jazz, blues, easy R&B and more. Listeners can tune in at 88.7 on their FM dial, online at siue.edu/wsie/, on smart devices

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s WSIE 88.7 will wrap up its 2nd Annual WSIE Music Series with Deacon Dan: A Tribute to Steely Dan from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at the Old Herald Brewery and Distillery in Collinsville. The 2024 WSIE series closeout was rescheduled from Sept. 28 due to weather conditions. The series has provided great entertainment for the community since April 2023, featuring live, local talent with great blends of blues, easy R&B and a little rock and roll. There is a suggested donation of $10 at the gate and 100 percent of the proceeds collected benefit WSIE. Housed at SIUE in Dunham Hall, WSIE is a community-supported, non-profit, NPR (National Public Radio) music station that gives listeners in the St. Louis region a break from the “noise,” with an eclectic blend of jazz, smooth jazz, blues, easy R&B and more. Listeners can tune in at 88.7 on their FM dial, online at siue.edu/wsie/, on smart devices

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ALTON - The 7th Annual Alton Cigar Event created by Derrick Richardson will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Bluff City Grill, 424 East Broadway in Alton. This is a rain-or-shine event under the covered outdoor patio. Admission is free to the public. Scott Biancardi, owner of STL Cigars, is amazingly skilled in the art of cigar-rolling, and will roll the cigar of your choice right in front of you. Brandon Shaw aka DJ Brando will be playing a mix of the oldies and the newest hits. According to Richardson, he said this is the only annual cigar event in Alton right now. The Alton Cigar Event is seven years strong. "Since I started the Alton Cigar Event it has been held at Bluff City Grill and Scott Biancardi has been the cigar roller," Richardson said. DJ Brando has been the DJ since 2021." "This event is about fellowship and cigars," Richardson continued."Bluff City has wonderful food and drink selections for purchase. "Every year the attendance gets bigger, and

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October 4th is a day that has repeatedly marked significant turning points in history, spanning a variety of fields. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit. This groundbreaking event marked the dawn of the space age and was a pivotal moment in the Cold War era's space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Sputnik 1's success had a profound impact on scientific research and technology development worldwide, as it demonstrated the possibility of space exploration and inspired future missions, from lunar landings to Mars rover expeditions. The launch sparked a surge of interest in science and technology education, leading to significant investments in these fields and ultimately laying the groundwork for the technological advances that we benefit from today. Beyond the realm of space, October 4th has seen numerous other significant events. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution reached a decisive moment when a provisional

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October 4th is a day that has repeatedly marked significant turning points in history, spanning a variety of fields. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit. This groundbreaking event marked the dawn of the space age and was a pivotal moment in the Cold War era's space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Sputnik 1's success had a profound impact on scientific research and technology development worldwide, as it demonstrated the possibility of space exploration and inspired future missions, from lunar landings to Mars rover expeditions. The launch sparked a surge of interest in science and technology education, leading to significant investments in these fields and ultimately laying the groundwork for the technological advances that we benefit from today. Beyond the realm of space, October 4th has seen numerous other significant events. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution reached a decisive moment when a provisional

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TROY - At the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce 40th anniversary celebration, State Representative Charlie Meier told the fascinating story behind the “cupcake bill,” the first one he introduced as a representative. 12 years ago in Troy, he said the Madison County Health Department stopped a then-12-year-old Chloe Stirling from giving homemade cupcakes to nursing home residents because they weren’t made “in an inspected kitchen, and people could die.” “This is just crazy,” Meier said of the Health Department response. He then got to work crafting the “cupcake bill” in an effort to prevent such a shutdown from happening again. “We got the bill written … we’re set to go in front of committee, and of course Chloe’s got her box of cupcakes there,” Meier said. The bill faced an uphill battle as it went through a series of hurdles in the House, with Meier adding that 95 healt

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - It was a round metal object the size of a beach ball, and only weighed 183.9 pounds. Yet it managed to throw a nervous world into a panic. Friday marks the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, which was thrust into space by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957. The launch marked the beginning of the space race and was a landmark in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviets. The launch, just months after Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev’s declaration that “we will bury you,” threw the United States into “near hysteria” in the words of one writer and “political pandemonium” in the words of another. Sputnik was designed to correspond with the International Geophysical Year, set by the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1952 to last from July 1, 1957 to Dec. 31, 1958. In 1955, the U.S. had announced plans for its own satellite. The Soviets, however, beat th

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - October is the month for haunted houses and other historic buildings. And for this year's October issue, I present six outstanding attractions – two historic homes, a prison, two theaters, and a hotel – that are said to have had unearthly happenings. The 300+ miles of Illinois Route 66 offer a treasure trove of historic buildings to visit, and more than a few are said to be haunted. But don't let a rumored ghost or two stop you from visiting these amazing attractions! And, you don't have to visit just at Halloween. When you plan to visit any of these attractions, please check their websites for more information and then observe open hours, fees, and visitor rules Old Joliet Prison - 1125 Collins Street, Joliet Notorious killers Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, and “crime of the century” murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were all housed at the old Joliet Prison, and, of course, it was the fictional home of the Blues Brothers, Jake

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - It was a round metal object the size of a beach ball, and only weighed 183.9 pounds. Yet it managed to throw a nervous world into a panic. Friday marks the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, which was thrust into space by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957. The launch marked the beginning of the space race and was a landmark in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviets. The launch, just months after Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev’s declaration that “we will bury you,” threw the United States into “near hysteria” in the words of one writer and “political pandemonium” in the words of another. Sputnik was designed to correspond with the International Geophysical Year, set by the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1952 to last from July 1, 1957 to Dec. 31, 1958. In 1955, the U.S. had announced plans for its own satellite. The Soviets, however, beat th

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - October is the month for haunted houses and other historic buildings. And for this year's October issue, I present six outstanding attractions – two historic homes, a prison, two theaters, and a hotel – that are said to have had unearthly happenings. The 300+ miles of Illinois Route 66 offer a treasure trove of historic buildings to visit, and more than a few are said to be haunted. But don't let a rumored ghost or two stop you from visiting these amazing attractions! And, you don't have to visit just at Halloween. When you plan to visit any of these attractions, please check their websites for more information and then observe open hours, fees, and visitor rules Old Joliet Prison - 1125 Collins Street, Joliet Notorious killers Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, and “crime of the century” murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were all housed at the old Joliet Prison, and, of course, it was the fictional home of the Blues Brothers, Jake

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GODFREY - Get ready to unleash your inner goblin at The Nature Institute's spooktacular evening of Halloween magic! Mark your calendars for Oct. 18, 2024 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the Enchanted Forest - where the only thing scary is how much fun you'll have! This fall festivity is a non-frightening adventure perfect for families with little monsters who want to enjoy some ghostly giggles at their own pace. Dust off those costumes and strut your Halloween spirit because this family-friendly bash features a self-guided hike, yard games, a crackling fire, and some brainy activities! Kids will snag a passport to get stamped by all the adorable nocturnal critters they encounter on the trail, and guess what? Complete that passport, and trick-or-treat your way to a bag of goodies! It's just $5 for everyone over 2 to join in the fun! So, grab your little ghouls and enjoy a magical night of forest frolicking while learning about our furry friends. Costumes are highly encouraged for both kiddos an

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GODFREY - Get ready to unleash your inner goblin at The Nature Institute's spooktacular evening of Halloween magic! Mark your calendars for Oct. 18, 2024 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the Enchanted Forest - where the only thing scary is how much fun you'll have! This fall festivity is a non-frightening adventure perfect for families with little monsters who want to enjoy some ghostly giggles at their own pace. Dust off those costumes and strut your Halloween spirit because this family-friendly bash features a self-guided hike, yard games, a crackling fire, and some brainy activities! Kids will snag a passport to get stamped by all the adorable nocturnal critters they encounter on the trail, and guess what? Complete that passport, and trick-or-treat your way to a bag of goodies! It's just $5 for everyone over 2 to join in the fun! So, grab your little ghouls and enjoy a magical night of forest frolicking while learning about our furry friends. Costumes are highly encouraged for both kiddos an

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ALTON - Cheri Becker, Missouri Department of Conservation, will be discussing the history of the Missouri Stream Team Program, partners in the program, how the program works, and the successes they are seeing across the state and how they may be applied for Illinois. Cheri will talk about each of the three focus areas of the program and how they work with and relate to members of the public, organizations, schools, clubs, and corporations to protect and preserve Missouri’s waterways. The Stream Team Program provides an opportunity for all citizens to get involved in river conservation. Come learn about Missouri Stream Team Program Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:30 PM, at the Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Boulevard, Alton, Illinois. For more information, contact Chris Krusa, Speakers Series Program Chair at 410-490-5024.

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ALTON - Cheri Becker, Missouri Department of Conservation, will be discussing the history of the Missouri Stream Team Program, partners in the program, how the program works, and the successes they are seeing across the state and how they may be applied for Illinois. Cheri will talk about each of the three focus areas of the program and how they work with and relate to members of the public, organizations, schools, clubs, and corporations to protect and preserve Missouri’s waterways. The Stream Team Program provides an opportunity for all citizens to get involved in river conservation. Come learn about Missouri Stream Team Program Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:30 PM, at the Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Boulevard, Alton, Illinois. For more information, contact Chris Krusa, Speakers Series Program Chair at 410-490-5024.

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TROY - At the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce 40th anniversary celebration, State Representative Charlie Meier told the fascinating story behind the “cupcake bill,” the first one he introduced as a representative. 12 years ago in Troy, he said the Madison County Health Department stopped a then-12-year-old Chloe Stirling from giving homemade cupcakes to nursing home residents because they weren’t made “in an inspected kitchen, and people could die.” “This is just crazy,” Meier said of the Health Department response. He then got to work crafting the “cupcake bill” in an effort to prevent such a shutdown from happening again. “We got the bill written … we’re set to go in front of committee, and of course Chloe’s got her box of cupcakes there,” Meier said. The bill faced an uphill battle as it went through a series of hurdles in the House, with Meier adding that 95 healt

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FAIRMONT CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane and ramp closures will be encountered on NB/EB I-55/70 beginning Tuesday, October 08, 2024, at 6 a.m. through Friday, October 11, 2024, at 3 p.m., weather permitting. The right two lanes will be closed between the I-55/70/64 interchange and IL 203. In addition, the ramp from I-64 WB to I-55/70 NB/EB and the entrance ramp to I-55/70 from 9th St will be closed. All other entrance and exit ramps in the area will remain open. These restrictions are needed to perform bridge deck repairs in the area. IDOT district 8 forces will make the needed improvements. Advance signage and electronic pre-messaging will be deployed to alert motorists to this effort. Full access will be restored as soon as possible. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay

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FAIRMONT CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane and ramp closures will be encountered on NB/EB I-55/70 beginning Tuesday, October 08, 2024, at 6 a.m. through Friday, October 11, 2024, at 3 p.m., weather permitting. The right two lanes will be closed between the I-55/70/64 interchange and IL 203. In addition, the ramp from I-64 WB to I-55/70 NB/EB and the entrance ramp to I-55/70 from 9th St will be closed. All other entrance and exit ramps in the area will remain open. These restrictions are needed to perform bridge deck repairs in the area. IDOT district 8 forces will make the needed improvements. Advance signage and electronic pre-messaging will be deployed to alert motorists to this effort. Full access will be restored as soon as possible. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay

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ALTON - On October 2, 1924, Missouri Gov. Arthur M. Hyde received a letter. The letter’s author, Noble Shepard, had killed a man and woman thirty years before, was sentenced to hang, and then escaped from the Four Courts jail building in St. Louis two days before his death sentence could be carried out. He cut a plate at the back of a cell with a saw, crawled through the hole, and then wiggled through an old sewer and out to freedom. The letter stated: “St. Louis, Oct. 1. I escaped from the St. Louis Jail in 1896 while under sentence of death for murder. I am now old and feeble and will give myself up if you promise not to hang me. I’m willing to go to the penitentiary. Put a notice in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, giving your promise, and I’ll give myself up to anybody you mention in the notice. Yours truly, NOBLE SHEPARD.” Shepard murdered Thomas George Gilroy Morton and Thomas’s fiancé Lizzie Pack Leahy on Christmas Eve, 1894,

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