Riverbender 🕸

EAST ST. LOUIS – In a U.S. District courtroom Thursday, a federal judge sentenced a 27-year-old Belleville man - Brandon Lepper - to 262 months imprisonment after he admitted to producing and distributing sexually explicit images of minors. Lepper aded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distribution of child pornography. The judge sentenced him to 262 months imprisonment for count one and 240 months for count two to run concurrently. In addition to the prison sentence, Lepper will serve 15 years of supervised release and is ordered to pay $27,500 in restitution. “The defendant hid his cell phone and set it up to record in a bathroom he knew a minor would be using to undress in for his own sick pleasure, but then also proceeded to violate and humiliate his victim further by sending their images out into the hands of other pedophiles,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Thankfully, Lepper’s prison sentence reflects

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ALTON – The Salvation Army celebrated Salvation Army Week by hosting its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on May 17. Volunteer bell ringers were thanked for their support in helping the Salvation Army raise more than $364,000 during the 2022 campaign. “In 2022, we provided 2747 individuals with shelter lodging and 11,137 shelter meals. More than 250 Thanksgiving meals were served and we were able to provide Christmas assistance to 1010 households,” said Captain Cassy Grey. “On behalf of The Salvation Army and many families with grateful hearts, we thank the community for these amazing blessings!” During the luncheon program, 2022 Campaign Chairs Dr. John and Barb Hoelscher passed the red kettle to 2023 Chairs Mike and Karen Roberts. Mike Roberts is a well know area meteorologist and his wife Karen works in the non-profit sector. “We’re honored and excited to take on this role,” Karen Roberts said, while accepting the red kettle.

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ALTON - Riviera Maya plans to open their patio in the next week or so. The patio will serve as an outdoor seating area for customers to enjoy the restaurant’s authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant, located at 2704 Corner Court in Alton, is a favorite local spot. The owners also manage Taquiera Maya at 2621 College Avenue in Alton and another Riviera Maya in Brighton . All three restaurants are family-owned. They provide dine-in and carryout, but the owners hope the new patio will encourage more guests to come to Riviera Maya and spend some time outside with a cold drink and a good meal. “Everybody is family here, everybody working together,” Riviera Maya Manager Manuel said. He added that the patio might take another week, but he hopes it will be finished by the weekend. For more information about the restaurant, including updates on the patio, visit their Facebook page .

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ALTON - The wait is over for Movie Nights at James Killion Park, with the weekly series returning at 8 p.m. Saturday with "Sonic The Hedgehog 2." Week two on Aug. 12 will be "Space Jame - A New Legacy." Aug. 19 is "Puss In Boots" and Aug. 26 is "Black Panther - Wakanda Forever." The James Killion Beautification and Enhancement Committee presents various Movie Nights. Movie sponsors include AARP, Carrollton Bank, FirstNet with AT&T, and Milton Foods & Liquor. "Last year, we had at least 200 people on most of the nights," Sheila Goins, wife of Alton Mayor David Goins and one of the Movie Nights organizers, said. "Killion Park is such a beautiful park beautiful landmark right in the heart of Alton, and it is beautiful to see families come out with lawn chairs and some bring little tents and sit inside those to avoid mosquitoes," she added. "It is definitely family-oriented and we appreciate the sponsors who step up. Everything is complimentary, so come out and enjoy popcorn, refreshments,

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CARROLLTON - After a three-year hiatus, reunion bells will be ringing in Carrollton on Saturday, September 9, 2023, when once again there will be a Gathering of Hawks . Carrollton High School Alumni and Faculty members from near and far will be on hand to attend a much anticipated Alumni Banquet reunion, last held in June 2019. This year will mark the 147 th time CHS alumni have reunited. The event will be held at the KC Hall, Carrollton, where the doors will open at 5:30 PM and the banquet will begin at 6:30. Brass Door Restaurant and Catering will prepare and serve the food, ice cream will be donated by the Carrollton Dairy Queen and assorted cakes will be provided by The Sugar Shack. A cash bar will be open during the evening, served by KC Club members. Stephen “Beaver” Martin, CHS ‘60, will be host and emcee, and all attendees will have the opportunity to introduce self and guest. Classmates representing various years may display items from their days at CHS

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ALTON - Alton Marina is hosting live music, tacos and a cash bar on Saturday, Aug. 5 to cool down the summer. The event will run from 6–9 p.m. and will be open to the public. The acoustic duo Jay and Waylon are scheduled to rock the marina. Olé Morales Tacos , a favorite Alton food truck, will be on the premises, and the marina is offering a cash bar. “We want everybody to enjoy the riverfront,” Rob Honke said. Honke is the owner of Seahorse Ranch Marine, Inc., which operates the marina. Located on the Mississippi River, Alton Marina has slips and fueling stations for local boaters. Other amenities include a pool, parking, and shower and laundry facilities. Honke explained that while some of these services are limited to slip holders, the marina hosts monthly events to bring more people down to the river. Additionally, the marina’s store and daily breakfast are always open to the public. “We try to have fun stuff for our slip

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CARROLLTON - The owners of Alfonso’s Pizza in Carrollton recently announced the restaurant will be changing hands in the near future. An Open House will be held at the pizzeria on August 13 - its 32nd anniversary - from about 1 to 5 p.m., and the community is invited to reflect “on what Alfonso’s Pizza has meant to this community and to you.” “After 32 years, Alfonso and I (Elena) have sold Alfonso's Pizza,” Elena wrote on Facebook . “This is certainly a bittersweet moment for us as we transition out of our home of the past few decades, but, fear ye not! We are leaving our baby in good, capable and experienced hands.” Those “capable and experienced hands” are new owners Jake King and Hannah King Milligan, two Alfonso’s employees of many years. Hannah began working there in high school in 2008, while Jake has worked there since 2017. Their brother, Isaac, has also worked there since 2008, and Hannah even met her

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SPRINGFIELD – With extreme heat dominating the forecast, the Illinois Department of Transportation is cautioning motorists to be on the lookout for pavement buckling on roads throughout the state. “The extremely high temperatures bring the possibility of pavement failures,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “While it’s impossible to predict where or when failures may occur, we do have the necessary staffing and materials in place to make repairs as quickly as possible. We ask the public to stay alert and avoid driving over buckled roads, if possible, while giving our crews plenty of room to work.” Pavement failures or blowouts can occur when prolonged high temperatures cause the road to expand and buckle up or blow out, resulting in uneven driving surfaces. Precipitation and humidity increase the potential for buckling. Personnel with IDOT are monitoring the situation and stand ready to respond. Motorists are advised to remain

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased in a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian has been identified as Susan Becker, 56 years of age, of the 5200 block of Pitcher Drive in House Springs, Missouri, 63051. St. Louis County Police Department West County Precinct detectives are investigating the accident involving a pedestrian struck in the 100 block of Gravois Bluffs Circle that resulted in the death of an adult female. At approximately 1:36 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2023, officers from the Fenton Precinct responded to a call for a person struck in the 100 block of Gravois Bluffs Circle in the City of Fenton. Officers arrived on scene to find a female victim who had been struck by a vehicle. She was transported to an area hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The driver remained on scene and is cooperating with investigators. Preliminary investigation indicates the female was crossing the parking lot when she was struck. This is an active

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1540, a bill banning the usage of e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces. The bill adds electronic smoking devices to the 2008 Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which banned smoking in most public spaces in the state. The amended act would now ban electronic smoking devices in any place where combustible smoking is already prohibited. “Illinoisans deserve to enjoy public spaces without being exposed unwillingly to secondhand vapor and other electronic cigarettes byproducts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Now, e-cigarettes and vapes will qualify under existing anti-smoking laws, reducing air pollution and making a more accessible, healthy Illinois.” Electronic cigarettes, like their combustible counterparts, contain nicotine in addition to flavorants and other aerosolized components that can lead to lung damage over time. Electronic cigarettes are popular among young people, and nicotine use during adolescence can cause long-term

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Drainage and Levee District (WRDLD) is nearing completion of a major levee project along Illinois Route 143 that aims to protect Riverbend communities from the 500-year flood. The Wood River Levee System Reconstruction Project is a collaboration between WRDLD, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council (FPD Council) . The project aims to repair and reinforce flooding infrastructure throughout the area. “There actually is a completion date, finally,” Kevin Williams, WRDLD executive director, said. “This project on 143 should be complete by the end of the calendar year, 2023. So, just in a few months. It’s right around the corner.” The most recent construction started in 2021, but conversations about the Wood River Levee System Reconstruction Program really began in 2007 when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced they would withdraw accreditation

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MADISON COUNTY - July has been a rough and tough month for Ameren Illinois workers and customers because of the storm-and wind-related power outages. The latest storm on Saturday which had 60-mph winds in some areas knocked out power to more than 13,000 customers in Madison County. As of 8 p.m., Sunday, July 30, there are roughly 170 customers still without power in Madison County. As of 10:27 a.m. Monday, Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois, said Madison County had only seven customers reported out of service. Most of Ameren's work is now concentrated in St. Clair and Marion County area. At peak, 50,708 customers were without power. As of 8 p.m., July 30, approximately 6,500 customers are without power in the Ameren Illinois service territory. "Our line workers and support staff are doing an outstanding job with their latest restoration efforts," Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois said. "We ask those remaining customers without power to have patience as our

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HIGHLAND - The new Miss Madison County and Junior Miss Pageant winners were crowned this weekend in Highland. The Miss Madison County is Laini Bock and the Junior Miss is Landry Shine. "In true fair queen fashion, they were crowned this afternoon," Pageant officials said in a statement. "A little rain didn't stop these girls from enjoying their first official appearance." The 2022 Fair Queen Johna Murphy crowned Laini the new pageant queen on Saturday, July 29, in Highland. She is shown crowning the new queen below.

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CARLINVILLE – Thousands of resources are found within the walls of the Carlinville Public Library. Now, users have the opportunity to access even more materials. In January, the library obtained Libby, a free app that allows users to borrow e-books, e-audiobooks, and magazines, including adult and children’s titles from all genres. The Libby app is free to all Carlinville library cardholders, and may be downloaded through a phone, tablet, or laptop. "Libby gives cardholders access to 89,000 choices of materials, including books, magazines, e-books, and e-audiobooks,” said Hannah Miller, the director of the Carlinville library. “We have 30,000 books on site here, but Libby offers even more choices. “It gives us the latest titles and a wider selection of materials than we could offer in print,” continued Miller, “and it’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, whenever the user wants.” Everything from classic

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School bells will be ringing soon. Along with the return to school comes a shift in daily routines, including mealtimes and mealtime options. Whether children and adolescents enjoy school-prepared breakfast and lunch, or eat breakfast at home and bring a lunch, well-balanced meals will set them up for success in school. Parents may find themselves overwhelmed by planning meals for the busy school year, but by simply adding a dairy food to each meal, parents can easily increase a meal’s nutrition. “Parents may find themselves scrambling for meal ideas as the new school-year routine gets under way,” said Maggie Cimarolli, a registered dietitian and nutrition educator with the St. Louis District Dairy Council. “Dairy foods are an excellent choice to incorporate into meals as they provide protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats, plus provide vitamins and minerals. In addition, many dairy foods are extremely portable, such as yogurt and string cheese, making them

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A contributor sent this in recently about an experience by the National Great Rivers Museum: "I took these photos as I was walking by the National Great Rivers Museum. I've personally never seen a turtle that big attempting to cross a busy road. "It was huge! Surprisingly none of the drivers hit it, they just changed lanes as they closer. Not to mention, the turtle seemed to know when to lay low and stay out of the way."

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Recent reports from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are again raising awareness of hepatitis C. A 2022 report found “too few people diagnosed with hepatitis C are being treated, despite availability of medications capable of curing this viral infection.” Specifically, the agency estimates fewer than one in three people with health insurance are getting direct-acting antiviral treatment for the infection within a year of diagnosis. A June 2023 study published by the CDC also examined gaps in access to treatment, building on the 2022 findings. The statistics resonate with Marcie Lindstrom , a gastroenterology advanced practice provider at OSF HealthCare. “If we go back 10 or 15 years, hepatitis C treatment was really difficult,” Lindstrom notes as a possible reason for the hesitancy. “Treatment lasted a year or a year and a half. It required an injection. People really felt bad during treatment.” Conversely:

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ALTON - For people who are looking for a faith-based, confidential support system, Celebrate Recovery might be for you. This nationwide program is modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous but targets a wide variety of “hurts, hang-ups and habits.” Not only do participants address the behavior — the habit — but they also look at why they’re drawn to the behavior and what purpose it serves in their lives, all through a Christian lens. “There’s a difference between sobriety and recovery. Sobriety is to stop that habit, externally at least. Recovery is when you no longer do it inside you,” Chaplain Marc Lane, who leads the group, said “Sobriety is stopping drinking, but recovery is when you no longer have that desire or need to do that. You’re free from that. And so we’re really after recovery.” Lane explained that Celebrate Recovery has chapters throughout the U.S. and serves as an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous

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PONTOON BEACH - Always seeking new ways to make its bus service more accessible and efficient to better serve passengers, Madison County Transit (MCT) implements regular service adjustments three times each year. MCT’s Fall 2023 service change takes effect Sunday, August 13. “The service we provide is evaluated by staff on a regular basis and adjustments are made based on demand and based on feedback from the people and the communities we serve,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “In making these minor changes, we’re hoping to fine tune the routes and schedules to best meet the needs of our riders.” A summary of the Fall 2023 service changes can be found below: AUGUST SERVICE CHANGES: Downtown St. Louis Service: Improve routing between Market St. & N. Ewing Ave. to improve service while preserving timepoints. Trips at Market & N. Ewing Ave will start four minutes later, all other timepoints in St. Louis remain the same. #1 Riverbend

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ALTON - The holiday transformation of Rock Springs Park in Alton will begin in early September, and new Christmas Wonderland volunteers are always needed to help put together displays to ensure the holidays sparkle in 2023. An informational meeting for volunteers is planned for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8 at Meunstermann Pavilion in Gordon Moore Park, Alton. The Grandpa Gang, which coordinates the annual Christmas event, is looking for volunteers to help with tasks like setting up wooden displays and hanging lights throughout the park. Volunteers are able to work any time between 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday and work continues through the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Volunteers are not required to work each day of set up. Set up in the park is expected to begin Monday, Sept. 11 at 8 a.m. If interested in volunteering but unable to attend the Aug. 8 meeting, volunteers should contact Dick Alford at 618-781-2482 or Dave Davis at 618-419-1969. “We always look forward to

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