Riverbender 🕸

GRANITE CITY - Kaylyn Wiley, a senior outside hitter in volleyball, and also an outstanding basketball player in the winter is leaving her part in Granite City High School athletics. Grace Hurst coached Wiley in volleyball and said she could always rely on Kaylyn for her contributions to the team. “She was one of the most consistent players on the team if not the most consistent,” the coach said. “She led through her play in every aspect. She is also super positive and lifts all of her teammates up. She mixed her game up and continuously improved each game.” Kaylyn is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. Wiley was extremely versatile and also played back row for her as well. “She always goes after balls and made great plays, she read the hitters well, and also has a very high volleyball IQ.” Granite City head girls basketball coach Greg Vaughn said he was fortunate enough to coach Kaylyn (Pennie) Wiley throughout

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that the CDC is reporting 73 counties in the state are at an elevated level for COVID-19, compared to 65 in the previous week. Of those, 28 Illinois counties are at a High Community Level and 45 counties are at Medium Level. IDPH is reporting 16,281 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending January 1, and 20 deaths. “As we enter the new year, IDPH continues to closely monitor levels of COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory illnesses in communities throughout Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “After the holidays, we are once again experiencing a rise in counties at elevated COVID-19 community levels, with 28 currently at High Level. As we monitor emerging variants, including a new more transmissible strain spreading in the northeastern U.S., I continue to recommend our residents take steps to prevent the spread of infection, protect those

Continue Reading

MACOUPIN COUNTY - A missing/endangered man was located alive in Henderson County and has been checked by EMT, Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday. A Macoupin County man - Craig Winters - was reported missing Sunday and was driving a 2006 blue Honda Ridge Line. Winters was last seen at his residence on Goshen Road in Palmyra, IL. The sheriff’s office said he is suffering from dementia. The sheriff’s office thanked the Henderson first responders for their assistance in the situation.

Continue Reading

ROXANA - Chase Allen has been a special athlete for Roxana High School. He played the tackle position for the Shells’ football team and is also a wrestler. Coach Wade DeVries said Chase has been a leader in the weight room, which has played a large part in his success on the gridiron and in wrestling. Allen is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Shells. “Chase has been an essential part of our defense for the past three seasons,” Coach DeVries said. “Because of his position, nose tackle, he does not often have the stats or get the recognition that he deserves. He is also an outstanding wrestler.” At the end of December Allen had an 18-5 wrestling record with 15 pins, so he is also having an extraordinary season in that sport and should be strong in the post-season.

Continue Reading

PIASA - Garrett Beuttel is an up-and-coming Southwestern High School runner as a junior and will be a key member of the track team in the spring. Garrett is an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Piasa Birds. Garrett has been a standout for Southwestern since his freshman year and had solid cross-country and track-and-field seasons since he started. He recorded a time of 18:30 in the IHSA cross-country regional. Garrett will be one of the Piasa Birds’ top track and field athletes in the spring and will run both the 1600 and 3200-meter runs. Garrett’s coach Gary Bowker said the talented athlete has always enjoyed running. “When Garrett stays focused, he is really hard to beat,” Coach Bowker said. “He ran really well this past cross country season and I expect great things from him when track and field starts in March.” Garrett and his younger brother, Bram, push each other all the time, Coach Bowker says. “Th

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE - This is the Good Shepherd Lutheran School Second Quarter Honor Roll. High Honor Roll with Distinction (Gr. 7&8 - GPA 4.00+) 8 th Grade: Isaak B., Grayson G., Dean H., Grace P., Kaitlyn Pe., Kaitlyn Pi., Alex R., Ben S., Connor S., Natalie T., Autumn W. 7 th Grade: Marion H., Lauren K., Dylan L., Calista S., Lily W., Bradley W., Josie W. High Honor Roll (Gr. 5&6 - GPA 3.51 to 4.0; Gr. 7&8 - GPA 3.51 to 3.99) 8 th Grade: Anna A., Bradley D., Lilly G., Emily K., Hayden S., Jacob S. 7 th Grade: Conner L., Ryan P., Owen T., Teagan W. 6 th Grade: Robert A., Matthew B., Brayden B., Rory D., Liam D., Brodie F., Caroline F., Kaleb G., Cooper I., Elle J., Prabhgun K., August K., Sydney L, Meghan M., Caleb M., Reeve M., Jake R., Hunter S., Alyssa S., Chance S., Noah W., Cali W., Jack Z. 5 th Grade: Will B., Isabella B., Caleb, B., Matti C., Owen C., Zion C., Ella F., Myla G., Agnes H., Sydney H., David K., Alexis K., Jacob K., Elise L., Natalie M.,

Continue Reading

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College has teamed up with area high schools and fire departments to form the Fire Science Academy (FSA). The purpose of the FSA is to help incoming high school seniors take the initial steps needed to become a volunteer, on-call or full-time firefighter. L&C Fire Science Program Coordinator Ed Burnley says the idea came from Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut and East Alton-Wood River High School Superintendent Rob Miller. “The motivation was a recent decline in recruitment and fire department applications across the area,” Burnley said. “The hope is area fire departments will see an increase in the number of people interested in becoming a firefighter.” According to Burnley, the FSA will serve as a first step to an Associate in Applied Science in Fire Science for those considering a career in a fire service-related field. “These students will complete the cognitive and psychomotor components of

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Colleen Callahan will step down from her post on Jan. 16 after nearly four years leading the state agency charged with managing, conserving and protecting Illinois’ natural and cultural resources. Callahan has served as director since March 1, 2019, when she was appointed by Gov. JB Pritzker. During that time, she guided the agency through a global pandemic, which resulted in millions of visitors seeking to nurture their physical and mental health in the outdoors at Illinois’ nearly 400 state parks, natural areas, and historic sites. During her time at IDNR, Callahan oversaw efforts to develop a strategic plan for the agency, with a focus on positioning IDNR as a leader on reducing the state’s carbon footprint and mitigating the effects of climate change. A climate action plan is currently under review and set to be released in early 2023. Callahan also ushered the agency into a new era o

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton Knights of Columbus has a fundraiser event in February to raise money for the Ss. Peter & Paul Church Capital Renovation Campaign. The Celebrity Dinner will feature Frank Cusumano, the Sports Director for KSDK and talk show host on KFNS. The dinner will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Alton. Doors open at 6 p.m./dinner begins at 7 p.m. By the time Cusumano was in high school, he was a DeSmet Spartan and was a part of a historic basketball run. Led by fellow Hall of Famer Steve Stipanovich, the Spartans won an astounding 63 games in a row, including the 1979 Missouri state championship. From there it was on to UMSL, where Frank played four years for the Rivermen. Frank started his broadcasting career in Kingsport, Tenn., and then Lexington, Ky. There, he covered sports passionately, but he always had his eye on coming back to St. Louis, where he could “live sports.” After six years, he was hired by KSDK.

Continue Reading

ALTON - A vehicle crashed into a power pole and a parked vehicle in the 1400 block of Pearl around 1 p.m. on Saturday. Ameren Illinois was called to the scene after about eight customers close to the crash were without power. It took Ameren Illinois workers about two and a half hours to fix the situation. Alton Police and Fire responded to the accident. It was not known yet if there were any injuries to the motorist, but the accident is under investigation.

Continue Reading

EAST ST. LOUIS – At 9:46 a.m. on January 7, 2023, at approximately 9:46 a.m., the Illinois State Police Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) responded to the 7400 block of State Street to investigate a homicide. The victim, a 35-year-old male from East St. Louis, was fatally injured when he was struck by gunfire. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477 (TIPS) or PSEG Agents at 618-343-5239. Witnesses can remain anonymous.

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton Police and Fire Departments were busy at 3:38 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, with a report of a traffic crash involving two vehicles on College Avenue at the intersection with Fosterburg Road. "Upon arrival, one vehicle was on fire so Alton Police Officer, Jen Doty, used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire," Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. "One person suffered an injury as a result of the crash and not as a result of the fire. That person was taken to a local hospital via Alton Fire Department ambulance. Injury is not considered serious. The accident remains under investigation at this time." Chief Ford said he was proud of Officer Doty for using her fire extinguisher to help put the fire out.

Continue Reading

ALTON - Growing up, you hear the expressions, “rub some dirt on it” or “suck it up” when trying to express emotions through pain, sadness, or fear. For some, these expressions have been passed down from previous generations as a way to encourage men to be strong and resilient. From an early age, men are often forced to repress and express emotions very differently than women, and this can lead to emotional challenges. Men feel the same emotions as women but have traditionally expressed only the emotions more accepted by society. Men often experience their feelings more restrictedly, which might make it challenging to unlearn and create more emotional awareness as they grow older. “Men are not often exposed to mental health or discussing emotions. So having conversations where there was no exposure before might be fearful or unfamiliar territory,” says Dr. Shane Kuhlman, Chief Psychology Officer at Centerstone’s Research Institute. While it migh

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - With New Year’s celebrations behind us and the promise of the new year ahead, it can be a great time to talk about the relationship between alcohol and our health. While the dangers of regular heavy drinking and binge drinking (drinking a lot in a short period) are fairly well known, less understood by many are the health risks from regularly drinking more modest amounts of alcohol. This may be in part because of the dominant message of the possible “heart health” benefits of moderate drinking, which have appeared for decades in media and in many health guidelines. We know now more than ever that when it comes to drinking there are many other conditions that need to be considered beyond just heart disease. “Alcohol is associated with increased risks of developing cancer - specifically, cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colorectum, liver and breast,” said Yin Cao, ScD, an associate professor of surgery and medicine at

Continue Reading

MARYVILLE - Millions saw Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills collapse from cardiac arrest earlier this week. “This was traumatic for everyone, especially Hamlin’s family and teammates but also for so many others involved and witnessing the event. More than 70% of cardiac arrests that do not happen in the hospital, occur in a home where access to medical professionals and an AED is not as readily available,” said Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association. “Recognizing a cardiac arrest, calling 911 immediately, performing CPR and using an AED as soon as it is available are critical for survival. Statistically speaking, it is likely that the person will need to be helped by a family member or a friend in order to survive.” There are so many timely lessons to be learned after this tragic event, but most importantly, the lesson of timely CPR. “As you can imagine, despite the best efforts of our EM

Continue Reading

LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO – This Christmas season, the leading bariatric supplement provider, ProCare Health , fulfilled the Christmas lists (and then some) and provided a Christmas Eve dinner for 27 children at the Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, Illinois. On Thursday, December 15, ProCare Health assisted in delivering the gifts to the orphanage, whose mission is to aid, protect, and care for the needs, education, and welfare of dependent, neglected, abused, or otherwise hurting children and families regardless of economic status, race, religious beliefs, and nationality. Established in 1879 by the Precious Blood Sisters of Ruma, Illinois, the Catholic Children’s Home has a 143-year history of providing care for those in need. Professional services available include: Therapy Counseling Social Work Specialist Care Education For more information, please visit http://www.catholicchildrenshome.com/professional-services . Programs available include: Special

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - A new Jersey County Board member and owner of a prominent heating and cooling company died this week. Alan Womack, 56, of Jerseyville, died on Jan. 3, 2023. Alan is survived by his wife, Dawn of Jerseyville, and two daughters Samantha (Robert) Merkle and Abigail Womack of Jerseyville, and granddaughters, Isabella and Everleigh Merkle, and siblings, Edward and Nancy. Alan's visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at Alexander Funeral Home and the funeral will be from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, at the funeral home. Alan was recently elected to the county board. Gary Krueger, a fellow county board member, said he was looking forward to having Alan on the board and he and other board members were shocked at his sudden passing. "It was very unexpected," Krueger said. "Alan was appointed as chairman of the building and grounds committee because of his knowledge of heating and cooling. He was my personal heating and cooling person. I was looking

Continue Reading

ALTON - A man has been charged after an investigation into the shooting that occurred at 5:06 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, in the 1600 block of Washington Avenue in Alton. Alton Police and Fire responded to the scene and discovered one person had been struck by gunfire. Immediately, detectives from the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) were at the scene to investigate this incident, and Chief Jarrett Ford said they have done so "exhaustively throughout the week." As a result of their efforts, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office today charged Nekemar K. Pearson with the following offenses in relation to this incident: Count I: Aggravated Battery with a Firearm Count II: Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm Count III: Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm Count IV: Unlawful Possession of Weapons by a Felon Count V: Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons Chief Ford said the victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, and ultimately

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House of Representatives has passed a modified ban on high-powered weapons and large-capacity magazines early Friday. The bill passed along party lines in the House Executive Committee Thursday afternoon. The assault weapons legislation quickly advanced to the full House and after late-night debate passed on a 64-43 vote. The bill is scheduled now to head to the Senate. Some legislators are hopeful it is voted on before the new set of legislators is sworn in on Wednesday. The bill would ban the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines with more than 12 rounds. Anyone in possession of those magazines would have 90 days to convert, dispose or sell them. Those who already own assault-style weapons would be grandfathered in, but have 300 days to enter the serial number of those weapons into the FOID system. A spokesperson for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said: "These are critically important issues, and the Senate Democratic Caucus

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - A black Pontiac four-door sedan caught on fire in the Jerseyville Walmart parking lot on Thursday, Jan. 5. Jerseyville Fire Chief Keith Norman said while his department was able to contain the fire and put it out relatively quickly, the vehicle suffered extensive damage to the front end. Norman said the incident was called in at 4:51 p.m., and he happened to be driving nearby, allowing him to be on the scene just 28 seconds after the call. Firetrucks arrived seven minutes later and firefighters spent 20 minutes putting out the vehicle fire. “It was absolutely totaled,” Norman said. “We kept the fire out of the passenger compartment, but the engine compartment was 100 percent destroyed.” While the exact cause of the fire wasn’t determined, Norman said he expects it was a malfunction in the engine compartment. “I would make an assumption that it did start in the engine compartment of the vehicle, so it was obviously some kind

Continue Reading