Riverbender 🕸

EAST ALTON – Join the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRRECsm) for the first screening of “Kids on the River” a film showcasing high school students exploring the Mississippi River watershed. This event is taking place from 6 - 8 p.m. on Oct. 18, at the NGRREC Field Station, 1 Confluence Way, East Alton Illinois. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussing how different community members view and experience the river. “What I enjoyed most about Waterschool was how broad the exploration was,” TRIO student Xyla Nixon said. “We not only got to learn facts about the Mississippi River, but also about the connections it has to surrounding organisms. My experience made me realize the Mississippi River is something that gives and also sustains life and is not only a body of water I happen to pass by.” In June, 15 high school students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Higher Education

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis City Family Court—Juvenile Division, issued 7 counts of Burglary on a juvenile suspect, 15 years of age, who resides within the jurisdiction of the City of St. Louis. According to the Missouri Law Enforcement Juvenile Justice Guidelines , “…jurisdiction may be taken by the court of the circuit in which the child or person resides.” The juvenile suspect is connected to the following cases which occurred between August 2, 2022, through August 5, 2022. Several of the businesses that were burglarized are located within the St. Lous County Fenton and South County precincts. 08/02/2022 – 5:05 AM, Dominos, 8814 Gravois Road, Saint Louis, MO 63123 08/02/2022 – 12:45 AM, Subway, 4305 Butler Hill, Saint Louis, MO 63128 08/05/2022 – 3:00 AM, Olde Town Donuts, 67 Fenton Plaza, Fenton, MO 63026 08/05/2022 – 3:30 AM, Denny Dennis, 1 Gravois Rd, Fenton, MO 63026 (9 guns stolen) 08/05/2022 – 7:00 AM, Subway,

Continue Reading

ALTON - The YWCA Southwestern Illinois Get Out the Vote Project is hosting a Madison County Candidate’s Forum on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the YWCA Gymnasium, 304 E Third St., Alton. Candidates for the following races have been confirmed: Illinois State Senate District 56, Illinois House District 111, and Madison County Clerk. A moderator will ask questions of each candidate pair and, time permitting, take questions from the audience. “Candidate forums help us get informed. They provide us with an opportunity to ask hard questions. Our democracy thrives when all of us are engaged. Attending a candidate forum is a great way to empower yourself and do your civic duty for democracy. The candidates that we elect make important decisions that affect our lives and we are pleased to host this year’s forum.” said Dorothy Hummel, YWCA Executive Director. "You may access the gym through the parking lot on George Street in Alton which

Continue Reading

CARROLLTON - Several individuals have been arrested on charges of violent, child-related, and property crimes over the past few weeks in Greene County, according to the latest Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Department. Tammy E. Wurtsbaugh, 40, of Hardin, was charged with child pornography in the form of photography. She was arrested by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 30 and has since been released on bond. Donald C. Kassing, 27, of Roodhouse, was charged with telephone harassment of a child. He was arrested last Monday, Oct. 3 by the Greenfield Police Department and has since been released on bond. Ronald E. Mielke, 40, of Roodhouse, was charged with criminal damage to property, resisting a peace officer, and disorderly conduct. He was arrested by the Roodhouse Police Department last Friday, Oct. 7, and has since been released on a combination of bond and days credit. Roy M. Mielke, 39, of Hillview, was arrested for aggravated

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas A. Haine announced Wednesday that his office is seeking the forfeiture of 287 catalytic converters that investigators seized from the premises of a scrap-metal dealer in East Alton. Haine filed a forfeiture case that alleges proper records were not kept when the catalytic converters were purchased. The forfeiture case alleges that an undercover investigator from the Illinois Secretary of State, acting on information from Wood River Police, sold three catalytic converters to an employee of the business, Summit Processors, on Sept. 26. The employee of the business failed to require proof of ownership for the parts, failed to photograph the sellers, and paid cash for the parts, according to an affidavit from the investigator. A check is required when the purchase exceeds $100. Haine’s office then assisted the Secretary of State Police investigator in obtaining a warrant to search the premises, resulting in the discovery

Continue Reading

GRAFTON - Grafton Police Chief Eric Spanton and Officer Jim Wetzstein were honored by Crime Stoppers at a ceremony in Hardin on Monday evening, October 10, 2022. Each officer was presented with a Lifesaving Award in recognition of their vital role in saving the life of a man who suffered a heart attack on August 25, 2022. “We were in the right place at the right time as part of a coordinated team effort,” Chief Spanton said. The Grafton Officers were instrumental in blocking traffic and providing a police escort to the hospital. The President of Hardin County Crime Stoppers, Terry Woefel, presided over the awards ceremony and recognized several other officers, deputies, and a dispatcher for their roles in helping with this and other lifesaving events. Hardin County Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community organization that makes Hardin county safer. Mayor Mike Morrow and a contingent of Grafton residents attended the ceremony and showed their support and appreciation

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Fire Department is hosting its long-running annual open house on Saturday, October 15. The public is invited to attend the event, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 333 S. Main Street. The open house allows visitors to get an up-close look at the Fire Department’s operations and equipment. A helicopter landing, live fire demonstration, Technical Rescue Team exercise and visits from Sparky, the Fire Dog, also are planned. Free refreshments also will be provided, and kids bicycle helmets will be given away. In addition, Edwardsville Police Department members will display their equipment and be available to answer questions. The City’s police and fire headquarters are both housed at the Public Safety Building, which opened in 2017. The majority of the time, the Fire Department is coming to residents, not the other way around. That’s what makes the open house such a terrific occasion, said Fir

Continue Reading

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Board of Trustees is seeking a candidate to serve the remainder of a vacant trustee term, to end in April 2023. The vacancy comes after former Board Chair David Heyen’s resignation, effective Oct. 11, 2022. The full Board includes seven trustees and a student trustee, who casts an advisory vote. “Trustees should be knowledgeable about the communities we serve and demonstrate a strong commitment to uphold the college’s mission of educating the people of Lewis and Clark Community College District 536,” said Board Chair Julie Johnson. District residents, age 18 and up, who are interested in serving the college, should submit a Letter of Interest explaining why they want to serve on the Board, along with a biography/resume to board@lc.edu now through Oct. 27, for consideration. Lewis and Clark’s district encompasses parts of seven counties in Illinois, including all of Jersey County, Calhoun

Continue Reading

CARROLLTON - Several individuals were charged with drug and alcohol-related offenses in Greene County over the past few weeks, according to the latest edition of the Greene County Jail Booking Report. Dale A. Smith, 34, of Jerseyville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration. He was arrested by the Roodhouse Police Department on Monday night at 8:02 p.m. and remains in custody. Kyle G. Hoffman, 29, also of Jerseyville, was arrested Sunday at 1:32 a.m. by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and possession of 15-100 grams of methamphetamine. He has since been released on bond. Two individuals from Carrollton were arrested on meth-related charges by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police. Shanie G. Tittsworth, 33, and Nathine W. Walker, 39, both of Carrollton, were each charged with possession

Continue Reading

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – October 1 is the deadline for St. Clair County residents to make the second installments of their real estate property taxes. Unfortunately, Illinois continues to have the second-highest property tax rate in the nation , behind only New Jersey. Specifically, St. Clair County has one of the highest median property taxes in the United States and is ranked 328th of the 3143 counties in order of median property taxes, according to tax-rates.org “It is really discouraging that our hard-working Illinois families have this extra property tax burden along with record inflation, grocery prices, and energy costs,” said Jennifer Korte, candidate for the 112 th District Illinois House. “Our elected officials are failing us, especially here in the Metro East where businesses can easily plant their roots across state lines where they are taxed less. If elected I will make one of my top priorities supporting legislation to freeze and outright reduce

Continue Reading

ALTON - Gumbo 2 Geaux, located at 1808 Washington Ave. in Alton, had its grand opening Wednesday morning. The location will be primarily drive-thru and carry-out only, however outside dining areas are in the plans moving forward as well as a few tables inside the building. The restaurant ironically opens its doors on National Gumbo Day. Kyndra Green runs the business with her husband, Troy. They moved to Alton from Louisiana six years ago. The two of them do a lot of the authentic-cajun cooking as it's something Kyndra loves to do. "I've always enjoyed cooking," Kyndra said. "I've been a server for 13 years." Kyndra and Troy took a huge risk when they decided to leave everything behind in Louisiana and start anew in Alton. "When I moved to Illinois in 2016, we had just lost everything to a flood in Louisiana. So, we moved up here to kind of restart our lives. When I started working around here I started cooking food for my coworkers and friends, gumbo mainly." She mentioned

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - A downtown property that served as Edwardsville's first City Hall and was the longtime home of public safety services is being transformed into The Station on Main, an estimated $20 million mixed- use development with residential, office, retail and restaurant space. The property includes parcels from 400-420 N. Main Street, which are owned by Fireside Financial, an Edwardsville-based company that is overseeing the development project. Interior work is underway, and demolition of a former residence within the footprint of the development began this week. Once the project is finished, which is expected in 2024, the multi-level property will include about 38 single- bedroom apartments and townhomes, four restaurants, office space for up to five businesses, and five boutique retail sites, along with on-site parking. “This is an exciting project, and we’re very hopeful that it’s just the beginning of the kind of growth we’ll see in this area,”

Continue Reading

The Granite City High School Guidance Department is hosting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m. in the GCHS Media Center. Professionals from Trio Educational Opportunity Centers will be there to assist students and families in completing their FAFSA that night. The event is open for two hours and families can attend at any time during that window. Spots are limited, so students will need to sign up in the guidance office ASAP. For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – If you’re looking to strike it rich - the Illinois Lottery has a couple of life-changing jackpots up for grabs this week, with a combined prize total over $900 million. The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing is now at an estimated $420 million, and the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday night’s drawing is at $494 million. As both jackpots climb, Illinois Lottery players will be hoping that their numbers come up. Just a few months ago, an Illinois Lottery player won a historic $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois, and the third largest lottery prize ever won in the U.S. Another Illinois Lottery player will be celebrating that winning feeling this week after matching all five Powerball numbers to win $1 million. The winning numbers in Monday’s draw were: 3-6-11-17-22. The winning ticket was sold at K N R Candy, located at 15 River Oaks Drive in Calumet City.

Continue Reading

Name: Paul "Buck" Rintoul Hometown: Godfrey KIA: No'Branch: Army Wars: Word War II Message: Tall Gunner in WWII Submitted By: John Hill

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - As summer turns to fall, and we pull out space heaters, clean gutters and hang holiday lights, it is important to recognize potential safety hazards inside and outside our homes. Home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year in the U.S. In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, Ameren Missouri encourages customers to identify any potentially hazardous electrical or natural gas safety issues at home. "As temperatures start to cool, it's a great time to start home projects, which can introduce some new safety hazards for customers," said Tim Frankenberg , fire safety engineer for Ameren Missouri. "Spending a few minutes to understand potential electrical, natural gas or general safety issues and being prepared can help customers keep their home and family safe." Electrical Fire Safety Tips Keep space heaters away from furniture, drapes, electronics and outside high-traffic areas and on a level, hard, non-combustible floor surface – not

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Monday, October 10, 2022, St. Louis County Police Colonel Kenneth L. Gregory announced the promotion of Sergeant Devin Rose to the rank of Lieutenant and Police Officer Tucker Schnerre to the rank of Sergeant. Lieutenant Devin Rose joined the Department in 1998 with prior law enforcement experience. Lieutenant Rose previously served in the West County Precinct, the Central County Precinct, the Homicide/Robbery/Sexual Assault Unit, the Child Abuse Unit, and the North County Precinct, and is currently assigned to the Bureau of Professional Responsibility. Lieutenant Rose earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Lindenwood University. Lieutenant Rose has received 11 Department awards and/or commendations. Sergeant Tucker Schnerre joined the Department in 2012. Sergeant Schnerre previously served in the North County Precinct and is currently assigned to the Tactical Operations Unit. Sergeant Schnerre earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement

Continue Reading

GODFREY – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office, will temporarily close the Piasa Access Area parking lot and boat ramp to both vehicle and foot traffic beginning Sunday, October 16, 2022. The closure will last for a duration of approximately one week during which time asphalt improvement work of the parking lot will occur. Further information will be made available when these areas are again accessible for recreation. For more information, please contact the Rivers Project Office at 636-899-2600.

Continue Reading

GRAFTON - After the news broke in December of 2021 that Aerie's Winery and Resort in Grafton was receiving the first-ever alpine coaster in the state of Illinois, anticipation grew wildly about what it was going to be like. Well now, as of the soft opening on September 29 and the ribbon cutting ceremony on October 11, the ride is officially open for business. Media was encouraged to take a ride on the brand-new attraction and were encouraged to shoot some pictures of the ride after Tuesday morning's ribbon cutting. "I can say that when I was in Europe I saw alpine coasters, and this is the best," Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said during the opening ceremony. Corey Jobe, President of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, was at the ribbon cutting and was thrilled for Jeff and Sandy Lorton, owners of Aerie's Winery. "We want to congratulate the Lortons for creating another great product that we can continue to drive tourists from around the Midwest and beyond to the Great River

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE - The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that both lanes of Old Chain of Rocks Road from Illinois Route 157 to Illinois Route 203 will be intermittently restricted to one lane during daytime hours only on Wednesday, October 12, weather permitting. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all traffic signs and refrain from mobile devices while approaching.

Continue Reading