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JERSEYVILLE - The opening of Germania Brew Haus’s upcoming Jerseyville location, originally planned for mid-March, has been delayed. Owner Jared Brynildsen said cold temperatures have delayed the construction of the site’s parking lot. He also said the Illinois Department of Transportation took 60 days longer than expected to send back their approval for the drive-thru. Brynildsen said he expects the drive-thru construction to be completed by the end of the month, with official soft and grand opening dates for this location still pending. So far, he said the attached children’s play area is still on track to be completed along with the rest of the renovation. This delay comes just under three weeks after the opening of Germania’s Eastgate Plaza location in East Alton. Brynildsen has previously emphasized the company’s need to space out openings as a small business with limited training staff. For more information and updates on Germania

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ALTON - The Mississippi Earthtones Festival, co-organized by Alton Main Street and the Sierra Club, is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation that is held every 3rd Saturday in September. The 16th annual event falls on September 17th, 2022, and promises to attract thousands of people to Downtown Alton from Noon to 10:00 p.m. The “Halfway to Earthtones Artist Gathering” will take place on Saturday, March 12th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway in Alton. Join us at this casual brainstorming session to get our creative juices flowing on the theme for 2022, and learn about resources that are available to help bring your vision to life. Artists of all mediums are being recruited to fill the grounds with beauty and creativity, while enhancing the festival for visitors through interactive art experiences. Organizers are seeking street artists, photographers, sculptors, textile & fiber artists, fashion designers, cosplayers,

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is proud to announce Grammy-nominated and award-winning singer, actor, producer, and New York Times best-selling author Demi Lovato has been added to the Illinois Lottery Grandstand concert series at the 2022 Illinois State Fair. Demi Lovato will take the stage on Saturday, August 13 performing many of their unmistakable hits, among which include “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Sober,” “Skyscraper,” and “OK Not to Be Ok.” Lovato recently released their seventh album, Dancing with the Devil , which reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Lovato is well known as an advocate for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ community, vulnerable populations and an outspoken ambassador for improving mental health awareness. Lovato has been honored over the years with more than a dozen Teen Choice Awards, five People’s Choice Awards, an American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Award, a Latin American Music Award

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CHICAGO — Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) is partnering with City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to better support students and increase access to higher learning. Saluki Step Ahead gives City Colleges of Chicago graduates who earn an associate degree automatic admission to SIU’s online accounting, business and administration, criminology and criminal justice, psychology, health care management, and radiologic sciences programs. Students in the program pay the community college rate for their first two years. In the third and fourth years, they receive an annual $4,000 scholarship. The goal is to allow students to earn their degrees for $25,000 or less. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to enter the program and remain eligible. City Colleges is the 11th participating institution in Saluki Step Ahead. “We are excited to have City Colleges of Chicago join Saluki Step Ahead and bring the SIU Carbondale experience to place-bound students,” Chancellor Austin

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SEE VIDEO : ALTON - The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Chili Chowdown is one of the group’s biggest fundraisers each year and this year’s event on Monday was very well-attended, Alton-Godfrey Rotary President Steve Schwartz said. Last year's event was not scheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The chili was served at lunchtime and then for a long dinner period from 4-7 p.m. on Monday. The event helps the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club fund student scholarships and many other projects throughout the year. “We had a really good turnout and it seemed a fun experience for everybody,” Schwartz said. “The chili this year was great.” Schwartz said at around 1 p.m. Monday, the event organizers had distributed at least 40 gallons of chili with much more ahead later in the day. Many even placed take-out orders for chili, Schwartz added. See Riverbender.com video above for more on the Chili Chowdown.

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BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Department announced that at 2:32 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2022, Bethalto Officers stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic offense on Irwin Plegge Expressway. The driver, Monty C. Basden, M/W Age 50, of Bethalto, Illinois, was wanted on a Failure to Appear warrant for Driving While License Suspended and had a Suspended Illinois Driver’s License. During the encounter, officers determined that Basden had a loaded pistol in his pants pocket. Basden was taken into custody without incident and was charged today with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Basden is being held in the Madison County Jail in lieu of a $15,000 bond. It is important to remember that the issuance of charges is based only upon Probable Cause and is not an indication of Guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses to include those in this post are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. - Chief Mike Dixon

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BETHALTO - At 9:04 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2022, Bethalto Officers took a report of a stolen vehicle in the 100 block of Ashbrook. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said officers handling the investigation identified a possible suspect who they later located and took into custody. The vehicle, a gold in color, 2003 Chevrolet, Cavalier, bearing Illinois Registration 3792344 is still missing and likely in the Wood River / Rosewood Heights / Godfrey area. The suspect, John L. Hampton, M/W Age 45 of the Bethalto/Godfrey, has been charged by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office with Offenses Related to Motor Vehicles and is in the custody of the Madison County Jail in lieu of $50,000 Bond. It is important to remember that the issuance of charges is based only upon Probable Cause and is not an indication of Guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses to include those in this post are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. - Chief Mike Dixon

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CARROLLTON - The Carrollton Fire Protection District firefighters and neighbors - Jerseyville, Greenfield, White Hall, and Roodhouse - had their hands full on Tuesday with a multi-alarm blaze at Oasis bar and grill. The firefighters stayed with the fire from 11:30 p.m. Monday to the afternoon on Tuesday. Carrollton, Jerseyville, Greenfield, and White Hall firefighters attacked the Oasis fire, while Roodhouse Fire Department manned Carrollton's station during the blaze. It took about five hours to get the terrible fire under control, Carrollton Fire Protection District Chief Tim Thaxton said. He added that it took an additional 3 hours to put out the hot spots from the fire. Nearby, the Oasis Bar and Grill are motel units and those were protected by the valiant efforts of the firefighters. Chief Thaxton said he is always proud of his firefighters and his neighbors in mutual-aid situations, but he was even more proud of their efforts in this destructive fire. “We are all volunteer

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WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at EAWR High School. A senior student is selected each month by members of EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000.00 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. February’s winner is Addison Denton. Addison is a Senior at EAWR and is involved with Varsity Tennis, Choir, Band, JV, and Varsity Basketball, Big Sisters, and Student Council. Addison has received honors for High Honor Roll, Renaissance, International Thespian Society Troupe 733, and is a member of the National Honors Society. After graduation Addison plans to attend Illinois State University and look to obtain a degree in Biology. Congratulations Addison and we all wish you good luck in your future! Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community

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JERSEYVILLE - Way before streaming services and sagging award show ratings, movies were a lot more magical and celebrated. And no show put them in the cultural spotlight like the Oscars. No performer made the show more entertaining than comic/actor Billy Crystal. Viewers were glued to the tube wondering what the funny man would do next. It was always a wonderful night for the Oscars, and unpredictable, as his show openings were legendary and hilarious. From big laughs like superimposing himself into the nominated movies like a nude Rose getting painted in Titanic or the strange-looking Gollum from Lord of the Rings Return of the King, you could always expect a song and dance routine about the best picture lineup. Throughout much of the 90s through early 2000s and the 2012 Academy Awards, Crystal hosted nine times with each show more memorable than the last. He comes in second to hosting to the master, Bob Hope, who hosted 18 times. Whether roasting his City Slickers co-star, the lat

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LITCHFIELD - If you are a first-time gardener, or maybe you are building a new bed to add to your gardening collection, this article is for you. When preparing for your new garden bed there are a few things that are crucial to setting your garden up for success. Decide what you want from your garden, design your garden layout, and then prepare your garden for planting. Knowing what you want from your garden in the forefront is really important but it's not always something people spend much time thinking about. People grow gardens for lots of reasons. Most commonly, gardens grow from a place of necessity. Kitchen gardens were just part of life for everyone not that long ago. Now gardening is a totally foreign concept to most people. I garden because I have a strong desire to grow my own food. Do you want a garden for food? Perhaps for beauty or enjoyment? Some people grow a garden simply to create a food source for our pollinators. Whatever your reason is, it's important for you to kno

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GREENVILLE – The College Band Directors National Association selection committee named two Greenville University band students to the North Central Intercollegiate Band. The committee chose Meghan Garmon of Hillsboro, Illinois, and Kennedy Gerton of Springfield, Illinois, both freshmen at GU. The two clarinet players, along with more than 70 other collegiate band members from the north central part of the United States, will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, in April, to rehearse and prepare a concert for the College Band Directors National Association Conference. Greenville University Band Director Alex Kirby says band directors across the country nominate students based on sight reading, tone, and overall musicianship. The selection committee then chooses a balanced ensemble and students audition at the conference for their chair placement within the section. “Membership into the intercollegiate band is hard to come by, especially for schools like GU which may not have

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Local residents say the proposed CO2 pipeline would endanger communities, landowners, and farmland. SPRINGFIELD - The Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines is raising concerns about a proposed CO2 pipeline that would transport high-pressure, liquified CO2 from industry clients across South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa to a location in Christian County, Illinois. The proposed pipeline will pass through 13 Illinois counties, including Hancock, Adams, McDonough, Henry, Knox, Fulton, Schuyler, Brown, Pike, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, and Christian. The 1,300-mile-long CO2 pipeline is among the first of many expected to be proposed across the Midwest as part of a developing technology called carbon capture and storage (CCS). The arguments of the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines are as follows: "This technology’s ability to reduce harmful emissions is not yet proven, and the construction and use of these pipelines raises serious safety and property value concerns for landowners

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will present the “You have a Voice!” Humanities Speech Contest at 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, in the Hatheway Cultural Center’s Ann Whitney Olin Theatre. The event lends a venue for L&C students to share their heartfelt stories and thoughts on what it means to be human. The contest returns after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I couldn’t be more excited to hear what messages this year’s speeches will hold,” said Speech Professor Elizabeth Grant. “With the many challenges our students and communities have experienced in recent times, I can only imagine the wisdom, empathy and resilience earned through their experiences. This event is designed to showcase just that.” Speeches will be 5-8 minutes in length. Topics will relate to the following Illinois Articulation Initiative: “What it means to be human – the struggles, aspirations, comedies and tragedies,

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SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) is issuing the following statement on the Illinois House lifting the mask mandate. “I, along with a several of my colleagues in the House, recently challenged the mask policy by refusing to wear a mask in the House chambers. After being escorted off the House floor several times, I asked to have a sit-down conversation with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch about finding a suitable agreement on the mask policy, which we did have last week. After our conversation, the House voted today to officially lift the mask mandate. There is no question the mask mandate would undoubtedly still be in place if it had not been challenged. The reason I challenged the policy is because we as leaders need to be helping – not hurting – the efforts to return to normal life. Mask optional is the norm in Illinois and the floor of the Illinois House should not be an exception to this policy. Those who want t

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WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Eagles of the Month” program at Civic Memorial High School. Senior students are selected each month by members of the Civic Memorial faculty to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. Two Seniors (1 female student and 1 male student) that were selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $500.00 “Eagles of the Year” scholarship each at the end of the school year. 2022 February’s Eagles of the Month winners: Math – Samantha Hamby - Fine Arts – Olivia Lyerla - Social Studies – Allie Lively - PE/Health -- Jorden Serafini-Brown - Choir -- Elliana Fiorino - Band-- Izabella Chester - Science -- Emily Williams - English -- Laura Hicks - C.T.E. -- Myah Lindley January’s Teacher of the Month winner: -English - Christiann Wiest Congratulations to all the Civic Memorial “Eagles of the Month”

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Underground Railroad Tour, originally scheduled in February as part of the college’s celebration of Black History Month, will take place this Thursday, March 10. This year’s tour will stretch into Jersey County, with stops at the Cheney Mansion in Jerseyville, a documented stop along the Underground Railroad, and Hamilton Primary School in Otterville. The original school was built in 1835 and is believed to have been the first free and integrated school in the United States. Local historian and educator J.E. Robinson will guide the two-hour bus tour, which will depart from L&C’s Campus Safety building at 1 p.m. The tour is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. Please contact Student Activities Coordinator Jared Hennings at (618) 468-6400 or jhenning@lc.edu . For current information regarding Lewis and Clark Community College’s operations during the pandemic, please visit lc.edu/coronavirus.com.

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ST. LOUIS - Virtue Vein and Lymphatic Center, a locally owned clinic with seven locations throughout Southwest Missouri and Illinois, is raising awareness about a condition that can cause tingling or weakness in your shoulders or arms. Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib are compressed. This syndrome can lead to various symptoms, such as shoulder and neck pain and potential numbness in your fingers. Thoracic outlet syndrome can be caused by repetitive injuries, pregnancy, poor posture, a traumatic event like a car accident, or anatomical defects , such as having an extra rib. “Patients experiencing these symptoms such as shoulder or neck pain are often unaware of this condition and may unknowingly be causing it to worsen by simple everyday activities such as wearing a heavy purse on your shoulder,” said Raffi Krikorian MD, owner of Virtue Vein an

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BETHALTO - At 1:25 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2022, Bethalto Police Officers were dispatched to the area of westbound Illinois Route 140, in reference to a purported road rage incident, which involved one subject reportedly pointing a gun at a family in another vehicle. The suspect vehicle was located and stopped by the Illinois State Police on Brakhane Road south of Worden. The driver, William E. Speed, M/W Age 70 of Hillsboro, Illinois, was arrested without incident and charged by Bethalto Officers with Aggravated Assault. Speed posted bond and was released on the offense. “I commend the officers who took part in all the efforts this past weekend and warn those who choose to commit criminal offenses in the Village of Bethalto that our officers take every call and their oath to serve and protect to heart,” Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said. It is important to remember that the issuance of charges is based only upon Probable Cause and is not an indication o

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BETHALTO - At 10:23 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2022, Bethalto Officers responded to a reported Carjacking in the 100 block of Wesley Drive. Officers met with the victim, who told them that an acquaintance had stolen his vehicle and ran him over as she fled the scene. Bethalto Officers worked with Wood River Police Officers and recovered the vehicle and identified the suspect. The case is under investigation and will be presented for charges in the coming days. The victim suffered from what was reported to be only minor injuries.

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