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EDWARDSVILLE - On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host its first in a series of high-profile speakers on the Edwardsville campus. The inaugural keynote features author Amanda Ripley. Ripley will present her topic, “Breaking the Spell of High Conflict” on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Meridian Ballroom at the Morris University Center (MUC). Ripley is the author of the titles “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out,” “The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why” and the New York Times bestseller “The Smartest Kids in the World.” Her book “High Conflict” chronicles the journey of people who were trapped in very different kinds of conflict, from the personal to the political, and then found their way out. "High Conflict” won the 2022 Christopher Award for “lighting a candle instead of cursing the darkness.” The distinguished speaker,

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College has announced its Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester. Students named to the Dean’s List must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester. Area students include: Alton Justin Atkinson Brighton Cassidy Gaither Erika Pfitzner Carrollton Diana Varble Godfrey Megan Van Deusen Granite City Bryan Chrisos Ashley Schardan Jerseyville Clayton Brunaugh Abigail Droege Caroline Gibson Shelby Koenig Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, Presbyterian-related, co-educational liberal arts college located in Carlinville, IL. One of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn is the only Work Program in the nation managed by students. Balancing academic rigor and experiential learning, each student at Blackburn gains tangible experience and develops critical skills by contributing to their community, all while building a resume and earning their degree. U.S. News & World Report

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EDWARDSVILLE - Blakely Hockett is a senior striker, and one of the three captains for the Edwardsville girls soccer team this season, who scored her first goal of the season from the penalty spot in a 2-1 loss to O'Fallon on March 27 at Tiger Stadium. Hockett scored the goal off a rebound after the Panther goalie saved the original penalty, where she had an easy tap-in for the goal. Last season, Hockett scored twice, and also had four assists for eight points on the season, and is always around the goal, either setting up teammates or putting the ball in the back of the net herself. After the loss to the Panthers, she expressed confidence that the Tigers will bounce back from the loss. Blakely is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. The match was a typical Southwestern Conference match, where there were plenty of ups-and-downs for both sides, and tough play from both teams. "It's always a really rough game with them," Hockett said. "It's super competitive.

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department is inviting local youth to participate in its annual Youth Academy, designed to give children a firsthand look at various aspects of law enforcement. The Youth Academy dates are July 14-18 and July 21-25, 2025. The program will include activities such as K-9 demonstrations, tours of the police department and jail, and a demonstration from the Illinois State Police Crime Scene/Lab. Scheduled for this summer, the Youth Academy aims to engage children in community safety and police work while fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and youth. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour a SWAT vehicle, experience a medical helicopter and fire department demonstration, and undergo physical training, among other activities. Registration for the Youth Academy is now open and can be completed through the Collinsville city website. Parents interested in enrolling their children are encouraged to sign up early

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PONTOON BEACH - After more than 20 years of Friday night service, Madison County Transit (MCT) is moving the MCT Muny Express to Saturday nights for the 2025 season! This exciting change means theatergoers can say goodbye to Friday night traffic jams and hello to stress-free Saturday nights at the Muny. For just $5, passengers can sit back, relax, and enjoy a round-trip journey to the Muny in Forest Park from 13 locations in Madison County. Children 5 and under ride free, and Madison County students in grades K-12 can hop aboard for free with an MCT Summer Youth Pass. MCT Muny Express riders avoid the hassles of finding a parking spot and get dropped off and picked up directly in front of the Muny. This season’s lineup promises to be nothing short of spectacular, featuring a mix of beloved classics and modern hits. This year’s Muny season includes: the high energy of Bring It On: The Musical, the heartwarming story of Come From Away, D isney’s enchanting

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Students at Bush Alternative School in the East St. Louis School District 189 are taking action to support their community through a monthly mobile food pantry. The students recently assisted 71 needy families by partnering with the St. Louis Area Foodbank. The initiative aims to address food insecurity in the local area, demonstrating the commitment of students to help their neighbors. "When we come together, we make a stronger community," a representative from the alternative school said in a statement. The food pantry has become a vital resource for families facing challenges in accessing nutritious meals. This effort highlights the role of educational institutions in fostering community engagement and support. The next pantry date for the students is April 23, 2025.

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ST. LOUIS — A section of the westbound exit ramp from Interstate 64 to Forest Park Avenue and Grand Boulevard was closed around noon today for emergency repairs to a retaining wall. The closure, which affects both the ramp and the westbound lanes of Forest Park Avenue between Compton Avenue and Grand Boulevard, is expected to last three to four months. The decision to close the ramp was made after inspections revealed excessive horizontal movement of the retaining wall toward the Forest Park Avenue traffic lanes. In response, the City of St. Louis has completed the design for the necessary repairs and contracted a firm to carry out the work. To assist motorists during the closure, detour signs will be installed as soon as they are ready. Drivers on Market Street or Compton Avenue can access Forest Park Avenue via several routes, including north on Jefferson Avenue or Compton Avenue, west on Olive Street/Lindell Boulevard, south on Grand Avenue, or directly on Forest Park Avenue.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Authorities are investigating a triple shooting that occurred on Duenke Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors, resulting in life-threatening injuries to two men and a woman. The incident took place at approximately 1:39 p.m. on Friday when officers from the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department responded to a call regarding the shooting. Upon arrival at the residence in the 9400 block of Duenke Drive, officers discovered two adult males and an adult female suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. All three individuals were subsequently transported to nearby hospitals for life-saving treatment. The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons has taken over the investigation. Detectives are currently working to gather information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. For

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BELLEVILLE - The St. Clair Sheriff's Department and the Belleville, Illinois, Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, this week reflected on the anniversary of the death of Lamont C. Reid, one of their officers who died on active duty 15 years ago. On March 26, 2010, St. Clair County Deputy Sheriff Lamont Reid suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after assisting with the search for a suicidal man. At approximately 2:45 p.m. on March 26, 2010, Reid collapsed during a shift meeting and was transported to Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Deputy Sheriff Reid left behind a wife and three children at the time of his death. He was 55 years old.

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COLLINSVILLE – Collinsville CUSD 10 Special Education Coordinator Karen Truran was recognized by Saint Louis University at the School of Education's 100th anniversary Celebration of Women Educators" reception on March 26, 2025. She was honored for her efforts in special education. The honorees were nominated and recognized for the positive impact they have had on other educators. Truran was nominated by Caseyville Elementary School Principal Chelsea Clark, a graduate of SLU's School of Education. The call for nominations specifically asked for women who have played a "pivotal role in the educational journey of others." Clark immediately knew who she thought was deserving of recognition. In her nomination of Truran, Clark wrote: "As a special education coordinator, Mrs. Truran works with multiple schools, administrators and families. Although her role could easily lend itself to being behind the scenes in these schools, she strives to be visible, communicative with each team,

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department announced it is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to step up April enforcement efforts across the state in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. “Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 58 lives in Illinois in 2023. We need everyone’s support in making our roads safer, which includes staying focused behind the wheel,” said Lt. Brandn Whittaker. “We’re excited to support IDOT’s efforts in educating all road users about the importance of putting your phone away, setting your navigation before your trip begins and driving distraction-free.” “It has become all too common to see people driving down the road while looking at their phones,” said Lt. Whittaker. “People know texting and driving is both dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway, putting themselves

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Letter To The Editor: My name is John Barry Julian. I have known Mayor Mike McCormick since 1976 when I moved into the house next door to his. Mayor McCormick was a good neighbor so I was not surprised to see what an excellent Mayor he is. Mayor McCormick was a local business owner/operator for many years by owning an IMO’S pizza franchise. He ran his business well, managed his money and ultimately sold the franchise and retired. After retiring Mayor McCormick entered the world of politics. If my memory is correct he served as a Godfrey Trustee for several terms then decided to run for Mayor. He was elected Mayor. During the time he has been Mayor Mike McCormick has done an admirable job of managing the city of Godfrey. He has shown fiscal responsibility and good business sense and Godfrey has flourished. Mayor McCormick is getting things done for Godfrey. He is constantly looking out for taxpayer’s best interests and is doing the job for love not just to get a

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ALTON - John Meehan loves his neighborhood. In a recent conversation on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Meehan, current 5th Ward alderman, explained his vision for the 5th Ward and the City of Alton. He emphasized the importance of knowing and taking care of his neighbors, which he has tried to do as an alderman. “You do stuff like that and you get to know people, and there are so many good people in Alton,” he said. Meehan was appointed to the 5th Ward alderman seat after long-time Alderman Charles Brake retired in 2023. He shared that he had a close relationship with Brake, and he decided to run “this one time, out of respect for him.” Since taking the position on the City Council, Meehan has made it a priority to get to know his constituents. He keeps a log of each person he talks to and their issues, so he can follow-up and make sure these problems are resolved. Meehan often drives through his ward and takes note of house

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ST. JACOB – A man from St. Jacob faces major felony charges after sending multiple videos of child pornography through an online messaging platform. Andrew S. Bailey, 45, of St. Jacob, Ill. was charged on March 25, 2025 with five counts of child pornography, each Class X felonies. From May 30 to Nov. 25, 2024, Bailey allegedly sent five different videos depicting prepubescent and juvenile children involved in various sex acts via the Kik messaging application. A petition to deny Bailey’s pretrial release contains more details on the investigation that lead to his arrest. After the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), authorities sent search warrants to Home Telephone Co., Snapchat Inc., Yahoo, Kik, and Verizon Wireless. The IP addresses associated with the CyberTips were linked to Bailey, resulting in a search a warrant being executed at his residence. “The defendant

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ALTON - Rodney Smith wants Alton’s 4th Ward to grow. In a recent conversation on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Smith, a candidate for Alton’s 4th Ward alderman seat, shared his vision for the ward and the City of Alton. He said he is most concerned about safety, the roads and continued growth. “I think about the kids and my dream for the kids and the City of Alton,” Smith said. “I go to these other communities and I see how they grow, like Edwardsville. I just want that for the City of Alton. That keeps me going. We have to do something for our kids to save our kids and our community as well.” After graduating from Alton High School in 1999, Smith joined the military and then the Department of Corrections. He was upset with how many children came through the prison system, and this led him to quit his job and take on a new position with Alton’s Catholic Children’s Home. He currently works as a residential

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Letter to the Editor I am voting for Ray Strebel because he is the best candidate to help improve and grow Alton. In 1990, I began building Hopp Hollow Estates in North Alton, and today, we have 45 homes built and occupied. At the start of the development, the city offered an incentive, contributing over $1 million toward streets and sewers, and I spent similar or even more towards the same. The city got their investment for streets and sewers back in just 15 years through its share of property taxes. The homes should last another 100 years, so the city will make money for a long time. And these homes have not just been financially helping Alton; these developments created jobs and have kept people living in Alton. So why have none of the recent mayors done anything similar with any other builders in our area? Why are we not developing homes in large groupings or on single lots? Older towns that have been struggling for a variety of reasons need incentives to attract builders

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O’FALLON - Community members are invited to the 25th anniversary celebration for United Congregations of Metro-East. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM) will host a celebration at The Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III will provide the keynote address, and other community leaders will share more about UCM’s mission and impact on local communities. “Join us as we celebrate 25 years of faith, unity, and action with United Congregations of Metro-East!” the organization said in a statement. “For a quarter of a century, UCM has been at the forefront of empowering communities, driving social change, and fostering collaboration across the Metro-East region. As an organization, UCM unites people of faith across Southwestern Illinois to protest systemic injustices. They advocate for environmental justice, transformative justice and more voter engagement, among other issues. U

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SAINT JACOB - On March 17, 2025, Jason Tomlin and his family of Saint Jacob had to face an unimaginable tragedy when his 10-year-old son, Jacob, and the child's mother, Ashley, were killed in a head-on collision caused by a reckless driver. The incident left Tomlin not only grieving the loss of his child but also facing the challenge of finding a stable home for his surviving children, who are currently without a permanent residence. The accident occurred when a driver collided with Ashley's vehicle. Both Jacob and Ashley lost their lives that night, leaving behind three children, who had been living with their mother. Jason is struggling to secure housing quickly enough to accommodate the three surviving children, who live at their mother's home. In light of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist Jason and his children during this difficult time. The campaign seeks donations, resources for housing, and community support to help the family rebuild their lives.

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ALTON – Tiana Gipson, candidate for Ward 2 Alderwoman and the Alton School Board , stopped by Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to share more about her experience and priorities ahead of the April 1, 2025 elections. Gipson was appointed to the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education in 2023. In the race for Ward 2 Alderwoman, Gipson is challenging longtime incumbent Carolyn MacAfee and competing against another challenger, Martha Pfister. Asked why she decided to run in both the school board and aldermanic races, Gipson expressed a passion for giving back to her community in every capacity possible. She added that her conversations with city officials like 4th Ward Alderwoman Rosetta Brown, Mayor David Goins, and others also inspired her to run. “Acts of service always been a great passion of mine … I said, ‘You know what? Let me give it a shot, and see how I can better equip the community that I love,’” Gipson said.

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - LovelyLoons Luxury Event Rental and Balloon Decor has a new space in Fairview Heights, and owner Nancy Quiroz couldn’t be more excited. Quiroz founded LovelyLoons three years ago, and it has taken off as the top spot to rent chairs, backdrops, tables, tents or “anything you might need,” she said. They also help plan parties, weddings, quinceañeras and more. Their new store, located at 111 Union Hill Road in Fairview Heights, will open on April 2, 2025, and offer party supplies and rental items for all events. “I started with my daughter. She had a birthday party and we hired someone, and I was like, ‘Maybe I could do that too. I could probably start doing it and making other little kids happy,’” Quiroz remembered. “It just took off. We started with one party and it just took off.” Over the past three years, the family-owned business has expanded to offer a variety of services. They specialize

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