Riverbend August 2023

George’s Local Brew brings Nashville atmosphere

By Frank Prager Big Z Media

You cannot help but like Chris and Brenda Lorton the minute you meet them.

Chris’ hearty handshake and friendly manner along with Brenda’s cheerful, upbeat energy make you immediately aware the couple brings something special to everything in which they are involved. That friendliness and energy are evident in the Jerseyville business they own and operate, George’s Local Brew.

The couple started the bar and restaurant in 2017, having been the entrepreneurs of many businesses throughout their 36-year marriage. “Our four kids were in their 20s and encouraged us to open it. They helped with getting it started,” says Chris. Chris and Brenda have extensive experience in the food and beverage service industry.

They previously owned and operated Lorton’s Hotel, Restaurant, & Bar, which was prominent in the area during the ’90s.

George’s Local Brew

occupies the building in Jerseyville which formerly housed the Eagles Lodge.

Chris’ extensive background and experience in the construction industry allowed him to completely renovate the building, bringing a similar style and atmosphere to it as that found in many Nashville bars and restaurants.

205 South State Street, Jerseyville 618-639-2739 georgeslocalbrew.com

The bar is equipped with slot machines, a state-of-the-

OBITUARIES

David Osborne

67 | Piney Flats, TN July 9, 2023 arrangements by Sunset Hill Funeral Home

David Randal Osborne, 67, passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023 in Granite City, Illinois. David was born in Dungannon, Virginia on May 11, 1956 to parents, David Litchfield and Thelma (Dooley) Osborne. He married Rhonda Jordan on November 16, 1996.

David worked for Air Product for 22 years, and as a pipe fitter for 10 years. He loved traveling and spending time with his kids and grandchildren. David enjoyed being outside, working in his yard and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Thelma Osborne; sister, Ruby Osborne; brother, Steven Osborne; father-inlaw, Jerry Jordan; brotherin-law, Jerry Jordan, Jr.; and many other family members.

Those left to cherish David’s memory include his wife,

Rhonda Osborne; children, Matt (Laurie) Osborne, Lindsay (Chico) Orlando, Nicholas (Shannon) Bonk, and Kenneth (Kassie) Bonk; grandchildren, Sophia and Luca Osborne, Adrianna and Nico Orlando, Jayden Bonk, and Amelia Grace; siblings, Nancy Osborne, Kathy (Ralph) Odell, and Derwin (Sherry), Virgil, and Michael Osborne; father-in-law, Bob Holmes; and many special nieces and nephews.

David was a very special husband, father, grandfather, and uncle.

Services for David were held at Sunset Hill Funeral Home in Glen Carbon, Illinois on Saturday, July 15, 2023, with Pastor Karla Frost officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Rhonda Osborne to fulfill David’s final wishes.

Marks Mortuary

Funeral Directors

Since 1901

Celebrating 122 Years

art-sound and lighting system and a small stage for live performers.

The clean, spacious indoor seating is complemented by a large outdoor patio area ideal for relaxing to music on warm summer evenings. Exposed brick walls, a large wooden bar and a vibrant outdoor neon front sign make the venue both relaxing and exciting at the same time.

Brenda oversees the preparation of the food served at George’s and says she comes from a long line of family members who cooked excellent food. “We have only the highest quality food,” she says. Chris notes they purchase their meat products locally and that it is always fresh. They note that despite the variety and quality, the food is still reasonably priced.

The menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees, sides, pizza and pastas. “We make all of our pasta on site,” notes Brenda. The entrees include hand-cut New York

strip steaks, eight-ounce filets and kabobs, ten-ounce butterfly porkchops, Boursin chicken and grilled Alaskan salmon. In addition to indoor and patio dining, the business provides carryout and curbside service.

Along with soft drinks, the beverage menu includes cocktails, frozen cocktails, mules, various wines and a wide variety of draft beers. Mules are fizzy alcohol drinks and come in a variety of flavors, including blueberry, watermelon, cranberry, among others.

George’s hosts live entertainment Thursdays through Sundays. A stage and sound system in the main barroom allow musicians to plug in and provide music throughout the entire venue. A large wheel of chance up on the performance stage provides anyone celebrating their birthday a chance to come in, have a drink and spin the wheel to win a prize. Slot machines let patrons try their luck during their visits. “There is always something going on,” says Brenda. The Lorton’s explain the atmosphere is appropriate

for any type of social outing, including date nights, work group get-togethers, casual gatherings of friends, and family meals. “It’s a lively place but a safe atmosphere,” says Chris. “People know they can come here alone, with their families or in a group and have a safe, enjoyable time.” They explain that patrons are greeted at the door and helped to find seating. “It can be confusing walking into a place with a lot of activity,” says Brenda. “We help them get settled in and

get comfortable.”

An upstairs event room is available for gatherings of up to 80 people for private events. The Lortons say it is perfect for birthday parties, anniversaries, wedding rehearsals, bridal and baby showers and business events. An upper private deck is also available for smaller parties. When weather permits, musicians use the upper deck to perform as the people in the patio below enjoy their food and beverages. 3

Brake steps down after more than 25 years on city council

By Doug Jenkins & Mark Ellebracht Big Z Media

After more than a quartercentury of serving on the Alton City Council, 5th Ward

$3,500

Alderman Charles Brake has stepped down. Brake made it official at the Alton City Council meeting on July 12.Brake is 4 months away from his 92nd birthday and addressed the council one last time, saying he needed to step down for health reasons. He asked Mayor David Goins to appoint John Meehan as his replacement.

“I’ve known John for many years and he has been involved in many civic events and activities in our community. I know he’ll do an exceptional job for the city and for the residents of the 5th Ward and has expressed an interest in serving as alderman.”

Meehan was approved on a unanimous vote of the council. 3

“Our family loving and caring for your family in the time of need has always been our motto.”

George’s Local Brew is owned and operated by Chris and Brenda Lorton.

Mayor Goins presenting Brake with a plaque for his years of service to the city.

Theodora Farms has seasonal produce throughout the year

By Frank Prager Big Z Media

The importance of purchasing and consuming locally produced organic food and consumersafe products cannot be overstated. Locally grown food and produce are often much fresher than that shipped long distances.

The reduction in the need to process, package and transport goods leads to less pollution and a healthier environment. Buying local supports the local economy and local employment, and consuming organically grown produce provides the consumer peace of mind in knowing whether pesticides and herbicides were used in growing it.

Theodora Farms in Godfrey grows and sells USDA certified organic vegetables and herbs for the Illinois Riverbend and St. Louis metropolitan regions. Their onsite FarmStore is open to the public for grocery needs and stocked with fresh seasonal produce and other safe, healthy local food and products.

Megan Tyminski is the farm operations manager at Theodora Farms. She, along with the farm production manager Jeff Adams, oversees all activities related to crop production, sales and outreach at the farm.

Tyminski holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri in Agricultural Strategic Communications with a minor in Sustainable Agriculture and brings experience to the operation from her work at several farms across the state of Missouri. Adams has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Public Policy and a minor in Nonprofit Management.

Organic production emphasizes natural processes and ingredients.

The USDA organic certification requires strict compliance to standards for the growing, processing and handling of products.

“The set of practices we are required to follow means the USDA organic certification is something you can trust,” says Tyminski. “It’s agriculture that is based first and foremost in soil and ecological health. It also extends to human health because it means you are not getting herbicides and harsh chemicals on the food you eat.” She notes organic farming is a trend that is growing in agriculture and that it is something people want.

The spacious, wellmanicured acreage of Theodora Farms includes greenhouses, produce fields and the FarmStore. Most of the vegetables grown at the farm are started from seed in the greenhouses early in the year, then planted in the fields when the weather is ready. The equipment used to till, plant and cultivate the farm is extensive as round-the-year operations keep vegetables available within each’s seasonal timeframe. The farm was started in 2019 and began offering produce for sale both wholesale and to retail customers in the FarmStore

in 2020.

The farming operations require detailed, year-round planning in order to keep produce available during the various harvest seasons.

Adams oversees sowing, cultivation, tractor work and crop maintenance. Tyminski handles harvest operations, sales and distribution.

The two work together to do extensive planning during the winter months in preparation for the growing and harvest seasons.

All the crops are harvested by hand. While the farm employs a staff of regular employees, Tyminski explains that volunteer opportunities are available for anyone wanting to help with harvesting and maintenance in order to learn more about how to successfully grow the vegetables or to simply get fresh air, exercise and experience.

The FarmStore sells fresh seasonal produce from the farm itself directly to the public in addition to a variety of other healthy foodstuffs. Free range chicken eggs are available as well as pasture-raised chicken, pork and beef, all purchased from local farmers.

The FarmStore also sells cheeses, milk, yogurt, sauces, fruit butters and jams, hummus and kimchi. Rice, pasta and bread are available as well as coffee, teas, tinctures, salsa, pickles, chips, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream and kombucha. The store also offers body care products, nontoxic cleaning supplies

and vegan-friendly items. All products sold in the FarmStore are either raised on site, purchased locally or curated for the best flavor, quality and sustainability. Elisabeth Millar is the retail FarmStore manager. She emphasizes that the products available are locally sourced and organic. “The store focuses on reselling items from local businesses,” she says. She points out the nutritional benefits of items like the mushrooms, humus and microgreens sold there.

“Microgreens are nutrientdense and can be added to your regular diet and meals to provide concentrated nutrition,” she says. Environmentally friendly items in the store such as

laundry powders, soaps and surface brighteners are noted as having “People friendly ingredients” and “Planet friendly packaging”. Millar explains that in addition to providing healthier items which are free of artificial hormones and chemicals, another benefit of these types of products is the environment provided for any animals used in food production. “They’re not raised in cages or pens,” she explains. “The animals have a quality of life.”

Upick periods when customers can pick their own produce are available every year for strawberries. Customers can find out when produce is available

for picking by calling or going to the farm’s website. Tyminski also notes the farm is open to any additional wholesale opportunities. Interested businesses can contact Theodora Farms through their website or by phone. Theodora Farms is a unique and valuable resource to the community, providing healthy, environmentally safe, and locally-sourced produce and products and enhancing the local food economy. The complex and challenging operations of the farm require the passion and dedication of the knowledgeable and dedicated personnel who work there. “I definitely love what I do,” says Tyminski. 3

Megan Tyminski is the farm operations manager at Theodora Farms. [photo by Frank Prager]

More information about the RiverBend Growth Association and all these events can be found at growthassociation.com

Reservations are requested for all of our events so that we have adequate accommodations for our members. Call us at 618-467-2280.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH Karen Wilson State Farm

The RiverBend Growth Association has chosen Godfrey-based Karen Wilson State Farm as the July 2023 Small Business of the Month.

As its business name suggests, this local State Farm Insurance office is owned by Karen Wilson. Located at 225 Tolle Lane in Godfrey, Wilson has been in business for 20 years and currently has three employees.

“I downsized to two team members for a while,” Wilson noted, “but realized that a third person is crucial to an efficient and customer-focused office. We feel this has been beneficial to all. She said that continuing education is required because of the licensing her team members must have. “However, coming from the world of education, I always encourage continuous learning. Seminars, trainings, self-help books, webinars are a very important part of our culture. “We are a woman-owned and operated business and proud of it. Although we are all familiar with the company I represent, I am the business owner. I make decisions on how the business is run, whom I hire, and how I market. When I started in this business there were fewer women agents than there are today. There have been many years of building people’s confidence in the Karen Wilson Agency. I am extremely proud of

225

our accomplishments,” Wilson further noted.

Wilson also shared that she had grown up in an insurance family. “I worked in my dad’s office in high school and college, and also in my brother’s office for a short time when he first opened his agency,” she said. “I went on to raise my three children and teach middle school and loved every minute. But one day, an opportunity came along to go back to insurance, and I grabbed it.

“I felt my experience as a teacher and administrator would serve me well in helping people manage the risks of everyday life and recovering from the unexpected. It also gave me more freedom to be involved in the community. I liked that idea,” Wilson said. She said that her agency is continually changing strategies based on customer preferences for doing business. “Even though we have less foot traffic in the office, we endeavor to make our phone, email, and text interactions personal and helpful. We want our customers to remember that we are here for their needs and not just their payments,” said Wilson.

“One of my biggest opportunities has been, first and foremost, being able to represent the largest insurer of cars, homes, and life insurance in the country. The State Farm brand is something I take pride in,” she further shared. “Other opportunities include being in a community that provides incentives and has organizations that have helped me thrive. Being close to thriving educational systems at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels has helped me grow as a business owner, as well as doing business with a population of consumers with whom I enjoy being a part.” As for challenges, Wilson said there will always be, no matter what the business. “Costs have skyrocketed for rebuilding destroyed homes and repairing or replacing damaged vehicles, which then causes the price of insurance to go up.

“People monetarily have had to struggle with the compounding of all this, which all feels so unfair to them. Patience has been tested as it now takes longer for things to get done at one end or another because of low staffing or low supply chain. We have learned to adapt, be proactive, educate our customers on what to expect, and be patient and caring. Our biggest challenge is explaining circumstances that we understand

to those who do not understand,” Wilson said.

Wilson also noted the importance of her team staying connected with customers and with the community. “We understand the needs of the residents, our customers. We can call people by their names, we value them as family, and we try to help them understand a complicated product. In a world full of online, just push a button and buy, we feel we have a little something extra that sets us apart.”

Community service is an important part of her team staying connected, and Wilson understands that, as the agency’s leader, it is important for her to lead by example.

“I am committed to doing business locally whenever possible,” said Wilson. “I was born and raised in

Rachel & Co. Coffee House celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting

The RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 21, to officially open the coffee house on the corner of Ferguson and 1st streets in Wood River. Owners Jonas and Rachel Cathey were joined by their children Alex, Miranda, Aubrey, Kaylynn, and Hunter, for the special celebration. At Rachel & Co. Coffee House, they brew to order; offering globally-sourced beans from our counter to your cup. They also offer pastries, cold brews,

iced coffee, soups, salads, sandwiches, and Lotus refresher drinks in a variety of flavors. Seating is available inside or on the patio or get your drinks to go.

Rachel & Co. Coffee House is located at 84 E Ferguson Ave., Wood River, and can be reached at 618-216-2525 or rachelscoffeehouse.com. Rachel & Co. is also on Facebook and Instagram. Hours are Monday – Saturday from 6am - 1pm.

Sloan’s This & This celebrates its grand opening

The RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 7, to officially open the newest resale shop in Bethalto. Owners Bill and Diana Sloan opened their family-owned resale shop in mid-March 2023. What started as yard sales has grown to a storefront. Diana loves giving her customers the best deals in the

RiverBend area. Store hours are TuesdaySaturday 9-6. The women-owned, veteranowned shop sells everything from vinyl records to furniture to craft items and much more. Sloan’s This & That is located at 401 W Bethalto Drive in Bethalto (near Liberty Bank). They can be reached at 618-717-6053 and found on FB @Sloan’s This & That.

the Riverbend and want to do what I can to make it a place in which people want to live.”

Wilson serves on five boards and participates in or supports many other organizations. She serves on the boards of RiverBend Growth Association and is a former chair; Pride Incorporated; Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation; North Alton Godfrey Business Council; and Asbury Village.

“It is a passion of mine to help others elevate their success. I have been blessed through my life with great mentors and role models and would like to help others have that experience, as well. I encourage all my team to be involved in the community. I give them time away from their desks for their involvement,” Wilson said further.

NEW MEMBERS:

Art Henry Tours

arthenry.com • Alton

573-239-9250 • 800-223-4581

FLOCK & Food Truck Park flockalton.com

210 Ridge Street, Alton 618-208-7988

Fia Wood Fired Pizza fiapizza.com

618-685-0551

Joyful Jumpers

joyfuljumpers618.com • Godfrey 618-631-4982

Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity - Alton Area lchabitat.org

618-301-7057 • 618-343-0301

State Senator Erica Harriss senatorericaharriss.com

120 N Main Street, Suite 1B, Edwardsville 618-307-5789

Tolle Lane, Godfrey 618-466-5774 karenwilsonins.com

RBGA page sponsored by 1st MidAmerica Credit Union

The Karen Wilson State Farm team, from left, Diana Tibbits, Karen Wilson, Jake, Meredith Elfrink, Katie Pritchett

SECRET DINER

By Bill Roseberry

All about home-cooked comfort

I was stoked to visit this comfort food mecca in northwestern Madison County. It’s been on my radar for awhile, but limited hours hindered my availability.

It was worth the wait.

This quaint, homey place is tucked in the back corner of a large shopping center in town. You won’t see it from the road, but travel to the corner of the complex and you will see the sign prominently displayed near the inconspicuous restaurant. There is a large patio out front for dining on nice days, which is shared with the restaurant next door.

There are two entrance doors with a white brick partition between them. Once inside the space is larger than expected. It features a concrete floor with a hodgepodge of different tables throughout the dining room. There is a menu chalkboard next to the counter to see what’s available, a drink cooler and an ice cream freezer.

Grab yourself a drink and head to the counter to order. There is no alcohol here.

The chalkboard changes regularly so take note of food availability. There are daily regulars, but also specials and it’s all made to order. You won’t see microwaves or freezers in the kitchen. It’s all fresh all the time.

I went with a regular on my visit with the meatloaf, while taking a side of macaroni and cheese. It also included a slice of garlic bread. My mom was with me and chose the chicken pot pie with green beans. It’s all about home-cooked comfort here.

The customer service is outstanding also. The food

Overall:

Each numbered row contains two clues and two 6-letter answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MA STER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

TRIVIA TEST

is delivered to you at your seat and there are no trash cans, so don’t buss your own table, it will be taken care of for you. Now I wasn’t much of a meatloaf kid growing up, but as an adult I’ve grown to enjoy it on occasion and I really enjoyed it here. It was served piping hot and when I took my first bite it was almost creamy in flavor. It was classically topped with tomato sauce, but conservatively so it didn’t take away from the taste of the meat, it complemented it. The fresh ground beef melded with onions, celery and green peppers had such a hearty taste and the slight sweetness of the sauce added to the overall sensational flavor. It was comforting indeed.

The mac and cheese was also very good. It was super creamy with tender noodles to provide a perfect sidekick. Even the bread was tasty. It featured a nice crispiness and was not overwhelmingly garlicky.

My mom was fired up for her choice. She raved about the freshness of the pot pie and the green beans were spiked with sliced ham to gussy it up for another awesome side.

The pot pie featured slow braised chicken blended with fresh veggies and a veloute sauce tucked inside

Cleanliness:

Service:

Food:

Price:

Any idea of the name of this restaurant?

Check the puzzle solutions to see if you are right.

a sensational pie crust. Veloute is a roux mixed with a light stock used in French cuisine.

It’s what I love about the concept here, it’s simple but with a subtle culinary elegance.

Some other daily regulars here include, roasted chicken quarters, chicken and sausage gumbo, beef tips and roasted turkey breast. Also look for the pot roast, Italian beef sandwich and chicken and steak kabobs when they’re available. Soups and salads routinely rotate on the menu, too. Like I mentioned in the beginning, the hours are limited. It’s closed Sunday and Monday and only open 11am to 7pm TuesdayFriday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. 3

By Fifi Rodriguez

1. WEATHER: What is the name of the hot wind that blows from the Sahara Desert to the southern coast of Europe?

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the name of the condition of seeing human faces in random or ambiguous objects or patterns?

3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the only country that borders the United Kingdom?

4. THEATER: Which Broadway play features a helicopter on stage?

5. LITERATURE: Who wrote the novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude”?

6. MEDICAL: What is the common name for the ailment called epistaxis?

7. TELEVISION: Which TV comedy popularized the phrase “Yabba Dabba Do”?

8. MOVIES: What is the nickname that Steven Spielberg gave the

mechanical shark in the movie “Jaws”?

9. HISTORY: When did the Boxer Rebellion take place in China?

10. MATH: Which number doesn’t have a corresponding Roman numeral? (answers in puzzle solutions)

Today’s Special by Mike Ostresh

Crossword

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!

Go Figure

Arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

CryptoQuip

DIFFICULTY H

What do they do at the teddy bear factory? Stuff.

I cracked a joke at a Zoom meeting and nobody laughed Clearly I’m not even remotely funny. What is Snow White’s least

favorite store at the mall?

The Apple Store. NASA is launching a mission to say sorry to all the aliens. They call it Apollo G. Why should you take an extra pair of socks when you go golfing? In case you get a hole in one.

This is a simple substitution cipher in which each letter used stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Solution is accomplished by trial and error.

Dad Jokes.

FLASHBACK

By Mick Harper

1. Name the singer who released the most popular version of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

Sudoku

DIFFICULTY H

2. Which artist released “Run to Him”?

3. Where were The Proclaimers from and when did they get started?

4. Name the song Richard Marx wrote to his wife while she was in Africa on a film shoot.

Word Search _ HOOD

5. Name the song that contains these lyrics: “I’ve cried through many endless nights just holding my pillow tight, Then you came into my lonely days with your tender love and sweet ways.”

What’s The Difference?

Find the listed words in the diagram. They run forward, backward, up, down and diagonally. Unlisted hint: Little Red _ Hood

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Puzzles sponsored by Mid America Audiology

By Gary Bost Bethalto Mayor

Here’s what’s going on in Bethalto

You can tell it is summer in Bethalto, it’s very hot but the fun is in high gear. Before we know it, we’ll be turning our thoughts to back to school—and for students in Bethalto, that day comes August 16.

But summer isn’t over just yet. There’s still plenty of time to get out to Bethalto Splash Landing, our splash pad, which is open daily from 10am-5pm through August 13 with free admission. The park will be open Saturdays and Sundays only from August 14-27, with the last day of the season on August 27. Be sure to bring the family out for a day of fun and a splashing good time! Concessions are available on-site, and you can enjoy our newly upgraded playground just outside the splash pad as well. All private splash pad parties are sold out for this season. For more information about our Splash Pad, visit our website and the Splash Pad quick link at the bottom of the page.

Bethalto Spirit’s Music in the Park has once again been drawing great crowds every Thursday in Central Park. This year has seen the return of Elvis, Flip the Frog, and a visit by the Scott Air Force Base band as well as many other great entertainers. Be sure to follow Bethalto Spirit on Facebook for more details on all their events. Their weekly Farmers Markets run from 9am-1pm each Sunday through October 15--we enjoy seeing the abundance of fresh produce, plants, meats, crafts, and more and hosting all their great local vendors!

Construction repairs of the Stadium Drive Bridge on Stadium Drive west of Steve Bryant

Park have begun, and unfortunately, completion of these repairs will cause a road closure and detours for a short period of time. The contractor estimates the work will be completed close to the beginning of the school year. We know this is inconvenient for our residents who travel frequently north of town, and we appreciate your patience as we complete this project.

Our July board meeting was bittersweet, with the board accepting the resignation of Police Chief Mike Dixon after nearly 4 years at the helm of the Bethalto Police Department. Chief Dixon’s career spanned over 33 years in law enforcement, and we all appreciate and have admired his dedication to his career, his fellow officers, his community, and the residents he served. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

With Dixon’s resignation, we are pleased to appoint Jason Lamb to the position of Chief of Police. Chief Lamb started his law enforcement journey as a youngster in the Bethalto Explorer Scout program and has worked his way through the ranks over the past 25 years. Lamb has served as patrolman, sergeant, detective and Deputy Police Chief during his tenure with our department, and we know he will do an outstanding job as our new Chief.

The Bethalto Volunteer Fire Department stays busy not only working to help keep Bethalto safe, but also with planning the annual Labor Day Homecoming celebration, set for September 1-4 in Central Park. Affectionately known by locals as the “Bethalto World’s Fair,” this year is shaping up to be full of great food, rides, games,

and fun for everyone. Those interested in being a vendor at the Homecoming should visit our website, under “Important Notices” for a link to the vendor application. Be sure to follow the Bethalto Fire Department’s Facebook page for more details closer to the event. We appreciate all our emergency responders who help make Bethalto the great place it is to live and raise a family.

Seniors—don’t forget about our Senior Bus Program. Through a collaboration with Fort Russell Township, Wood River Township, and the Village of Bethalto, anyone aged 62+ can catch a free ride on the Senior Bus to doctor’s appointments, hair salons, grocery shopping, and more. The bus will pick you up at your door,

safely drive you to your destination (specified distances within Bethalto, Alton, Godfrey, Wood River, East Alton), and get you home quickly and efficiently, all at no cost to the rider. All you need to do is call one day in advance between 9am-11:30am to schedule a ride; the dispatch number is 618-377-5263. The program is always

seeking volunteer drivers & dispatchers—anyone interested can contact Bill Ambrose at 618-7928971.

As a reminder, all Village Board meetings are open to the public; regular meetings are the second Monday of the month beginning at 7pm and are held in our Council Chambers inside Village Hall. Monthly committee

Tom Lane Ins and Fin Svcs, Inc

meetings are on the fourth Monday of each month, as needed, and begin at 6pm in our Council Chambers. We encourage residents to attend and to stay informed of all the happenings in town. Also be sure to follow our Village Facebook page (Bethalto Village) and visit our website bethalto. com.

Village of Bethalto page sponsored by Allstate - John Standefer and Tom Lane Ins and Fin Svcs, Inc

ENTERTAINMENT

DANCE STUDIO

Jennifer Bishop’s School of Dance

FAMILY FUN CENTER

Funky Planet Toys & Gifts

FESTIVAL

Mississippi Earthtones Festival

GAMING ESTABLISHMENT

Mac’s Downtown

GOLF COURSE

The Woodlands Golf Club

MUSIC VENUE

Alton Amphitheater

PARK

Glazebrook Park

FOOD & DRINK

APPETIZERS

Martin’s Tunes & Eats

ASIAN FOOD

China Wok

BAKERY

Duke Bakery

BBQ Carver’s BREAKFAST

Joe K’s BUFFET

Chinese Buffet

BURGER

Martin’s Tunes & Eats

CATERING

Chef Bob’s

COCKTAILS

Flock & Food Truck Park

COFFEE

Shiver’s Frozen Custard

CRAFT BEER

Old Bakery Beer Co.

DESSERTS

Shiver’s Frozen Custard

DOUGHNUTS

Mister Donut

FINE DINING

Gentelin’s on Broadway

FRIED CHICKEN

Castelli’s at 255

HOT WINGS

Alton Sports Tap

ICE CREAM / FROZEN CUSTARD

Shivers Frozen Custard

ITALIAN FOOD

Santino’s

LUNCH

Brown Bag Bistro

MEXICAN FOOD

Mr. Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant & Grill

OUTDOOR DINING

Martin’s Tunes & Eats

(cont.) 10

Mississippi Earthtones Festival returns

CALL FOR EXHIBITORS, VENDORS, ARTISTS, SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS AT ANNUAL EVENT

Alton Main Street, the Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project and Jacoby Arts Center are announcing the return of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival to Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, September 16, from noon until 10pm. The organizations are seeking exhibitors, vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers for their 17th annual event. The festival attracts thousands of community members and tourists to Downtown Alton every year to celebrate our river through art, music, and conservation.

Wind-powered live music will fill the air throughout the day. The entertainment line-up on the main stage will feature: Mattie Schell & Friends (Americana) from noon-2pm, Loftys Comet (Alternative Indie Jazz) from 3-6pm, Jake’s Leg (Grateful Dead Tribute) from

7-10pm, and between each act will be a performance by Jason “Gordo” Gordon (1-Man, 10-Piece Band) from 2-3pm and 6-7pm. New this year, ARTICA STL will team up with the Joia World Percussion Marching Band for two rousing performances through the festival grounds. Attendees are welcome to check in at the ARTICA booth and participate in these boisterous parades, one during daylight hours and one after dark.

Dozens of local artists will offer nature-inspired, handmade, and environmentallyfriendly wares. Jacoby Arts Center is lining up an amazing day of performances and interactive art experiences, and all local artists are welcome to participate. Many creatives are being commissioned to design art installations that will enhance the festival

SALOME’S STARS

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Information you need might be coming in sporadically, but at least what you’re getting is valuable. Continue to wait until more is available before acting on that career move.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You continue on an upbeat cycle, and with that strong Taurean energy, you should see favorable results from your hard work. A pleasing surprise awaits you in your private life.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A misunderstanding needs more time to be worked out. Don’t give up on it just yet. Remain open to providing explanations, if called for. Another friend offers good advice.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Fast action can correct a seemingly minor problem that has taken on some unexpectedly difficult aspects. Stay with it until it’s resolved. News on a more positive note is due soon.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Some snags could cause delays in those plans you’re eager to see put into operation. But be patient. The Clever Cat will soon have good reason to celebrate a job well done.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Be careful not to let that Virgan sensitivity dissuade you from being the hardheaded realist you should be at this time. Your goals are in sight. Stay focused on them.

SAVINGS

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A more positive aspect opens up, allowing you to make some important changes in a personal situation. Remember to seek balance and avoid extremes as you proceed.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good week to get out and enjoy the fine times you missed while you were so deep in those workaday projects. Be sure to share it with that special person in your life.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Work and play are in balance this week. However, expect news that could tip things toward the workplace for quite a while -- but all to a good end.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) You’re more productive on the job than you have been in some time. That’s good, but be careful not to overlook some situations developing in your private life.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You’ve been doing a lot for others (as usual). But now it’s time to focus on your needs, including finally going on that long-delayed trip you’ve been hoping to make.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) It’s all smoothly going on ‘twixt you and that very special person in your life. But a colleague causes some disruption on the job that you might be called on to help settle.

101 Wesley Drive • Wood River 618.254.0605 midmembers.org

grounds. The festival is free to attend, and delicious local food and beverages will be available for purchase. A variety of fun and educational activities are planned for families from noon until 6pm, and there will be several agencies on hand to teach consumers how to incorporate more sustainable practices into their daily

lives. Conservationbased organizations and environmentally conscious businesses are invited to apply for booth space or sponsor the event to showcase their products. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to promote their services to a large crowd while also supporting broad community commitment to protect the Mississippi River—our region’s most

important natural resource.

Volunteers are needed on September 16 at the festival grounds, and anyone who pitches in will receive a free festival t-shirt. Volunteers can also participate in the MEF River Clean Up, which will take place the following Saturday, Sept. 23; to date over 46 tons of trash have been removed from the river at MEF clean ups.

“The theme of this year’s Mississippi Earthtones Festival is ‘Love Joy Flow’, and we will fill Alton’s riverfront with art that interprets these subjects. We can’t wait to introduce attendees to the various entertainers and exhibitors who are committed to celebrating and protecting our beautiful Mississippi River,” says Sara McGibany, Executive Director of Alton Main Street.

This event is held annually on the third Saturday in September as part of the State of Illinois’ “It’s Our River Day” initiative to celebrate Illinois watersheds through education, recreation and conservation activities. To register as an exhibitor, vendor, sponsor or volunteer please visit downtownalton.com/ events. To stay up-to-date on announcements, please follow facebook.com/ earthtonesfestival. 3

Buehrle Foundation donates

$30,000 to Hope Animal Rescues

By Brad Choat Big Z Media

St. Charles County, Missouri, native Mark Buehrle, a former pitcher with the Chicago White Sox, his wife, and children were the guests of the Alton River Dragons & Hope Animal Rescues of Godfrey at the July 16 “Bark at the Park” game against O’Fallon. The Buehrle family is a regular supporter of Hope, not only donating money but also its time in helping with whatever is needed. Prior to the game, the Buehrle Foundation donated $30,000 to Hope Animal Rescues. 3 See more photos from the game and hear an interview at advantagenews.com under the Sports tab.

Chicago White Sox legend Mark Buehrle meets with some youth baseball coaches and players. Jennifer Godar with Hope Animal Rescues accepts a donation check from Brooklyn and Jamie Buehrle at the “Bark in the Park” game.

Finding time

In college, I had a friend who made time for nothing but studying. What a waste of college, right? Why study when there were pick-up games of basketball to play, pizza joints to visit, and campus havoc to raise? But my friend studied.

Until.

Until the day he fell in love with a campus cheerleader.

Voila! He now had time— time for her, for basketball games (at which she was cheering), for pizza, even for dates at swanky restaurants. He wasn’t in his room much after that. I occasionally saw him in the library … with her … sitting way too close to effectively study … staring google-eyed … and doing that kind of soft, seductive talk that is so not studying.

That’s when it hit me: We have time for what we want to do; it’s what we don’t want to do that we seldom find time for. At least for the most part. Certainly concerning our free time. As a pastor and lifeobserver, I know we have a tendency to be controlled by, rather than to control, our time use. That’s part of the problem with living in a clock-punching, deadline-

LIFE HESTON ON

By Pat Heston

meeting, appointmentkeeping, schedule-filling, overtime-seeking world. But, if we don’t seize some measure of control over such things, life too quickly zooms out of control. It’s the nature of the beast. It seems that even when we are not on the job, we are still tied to the clock.

Years ago, Max Gunther wrote in The Weekender: “One blustery weekend I was strolling with my little boy on an Atlantic beach. We were scaling clamshells into the onshore wind and watching them curve back to us. I don’t know why this was fun. But on that morning, scaling clamshells seemed like the best of all possible things to do.

After a while, I looked at my watch. It was lunchtime. We left the beach reluctantly. Only after we sat down to eat did I wonder why I had stopped the game. What is so important about noon? Why must we be hypnotized by the clock? My boy and I went back to the beach after lunch, but the mood was gone. The clamshells and the wind did nothing for us now but blow sand in our eyes.”

We can control time; we just don’t. That’s how we end up the losers.

Fill a bucket with baseballs. It is full; but will hold more. Pour in all the M&Ms it will hold. It is full; but will hold more. Pour in all the sand you can. It is full; but will hold more. Then pour in water to the brim.

When schedules are full, there are choices we can make, moments we can seize, things we can do to fill life with meaning and joy. Where big doesn’t fit, little does.

So, instead of blaming things we can’t control, why not start controlling things we can? We might find more time on our hands for the important things. 3

Pat Heston is co-host of Let’s Talk on Tuesday and Thursday on WBGZ 107.1FM/1570AM. He’s also the author of the book “Journey Into Newness: The Soul-Making Power of a Wilderness,” and a retired pastor.

Core memories are those memories that for whatever reason are burned into our brains, our hearts, our lives.

A song, a smell, a person can bring those memories back in an instant. For me, most are positive and are connected by music, food, and odors.

A few weeks ago I was talking to someone about old video games, the ’80s arcade kind, and was asked if I ever hung out and played. I did like to play video games but never really did more than play occasionally at the mall or at local pizza joints.

I can remember an arcade at Six Flags over Mid-America (currently St. Flags St. Louis) where two games were very popular one year during a junior high field trip. Track and Field and Dragon’s Lair. The former being one where you could compete with another player in several track and field games where pressing the buttons with lightning speed was the goal. The other game was very unique in that it was an interactive game played on a Laser Disk in the system. It looked like a cartoon but you controlled the action. So while others were lined up for the roller coasters, a group of us had a serious competition to worry

By Mark Ellebracht

about.

To go along with that memory are two smells from Six Flags…the waffle cones from the ice cream shop in the front of the park and the overall smell of hot asphalt on a clear and sunny day. To this day, if I smell either it reminds me of the park.

In grade school, I rode the bus for a few years and remember the bus driver liked to listen to a country music radio station. Now, most buses in the late ’70s, early ’80s didn’t have great sound systems, usually, one or two speakers in mono. But I still recall two songs that were played all the time, “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit and “Queen of Hearts” by Juice Newton. While country music isn’t my first choice, I can still remember most of the words to those songs. Two other songs that take me back, Styx and “Come Sail Away” remind me of going on a field trip to the Arch, and “Follow You, Follow Me” by Genesis always seemed to be playing on the radio on my way to swim lessons. During a few high school swim parties, the entire album by U2, “The Joshua Tree,” was played many times. And my wedding’s first dance song was by

Allison Kraus and Union Station, “When You Say Nothing at All” which I still like to listen to from time to time. I will never forget the kids group, The Wiggles because that reminds me of my girls growing up and us going to see them in concert. (the best part was Murray… the red Wiggle…playing the intro to “Stairway to Heaven” for all the dads in the audience!)

I keep thinking of more songs and smells as I write, but food is a good way to end this article. Grandma Brown’s fried chicken and the taste of it has been hard to match, but every once in a while a restaurant can get close. That taste reminds me of their house. My Grandma Ellebracht made wedding and birthday cakes (and icing) and my aunt can get close to the taste. But the core memory of eating out of the leftover icing bowl with a butter knife and some saltine crackers and watching cartoons.

Those were the days. 3 Mark Ellebracht has been news director for Big Z Media since 1997, is co-host of the Morning Show on 107.1FM/1570AM and hosts Let’s Talk, weekdays from 10am-noon.

BEYOND THE

By Sam Stemm

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Web, which we know and love as the internet. How do I know this? I looked it up online, of course.

A recent event got me thinking about how the internet has changed our lives. It’s one of those things that has happened over a long period of time, so the changes haven’t really hit us as earth-shattering, but if you reflect back you realize how astounding the changes are.

Recently, I became aware that I was down to just a few checks and probably ought to order more. Then I began to wonder, just when was the last time I had to order checks? I have no idea how long it’s been, but it’s at least eons. Because, you see, I rarely write a check. I use online bill pay, a debit card, and even Zelle. Not much occasion to write a check, but being the dinosaur I am, I didn’t want to run out.

I’m pretty sure the last time I ordered checks, I sent an order form in the mail, or did I drop it off at the bank? It’s been so long I don’t remember. But this time, I ordered the checks online. Yup! Just tapped

MCT donates bikes to Sheriff’s Office

In an effort to encourage law enforcement bicycle patrols on the MCT Trails, Madison County Transit (MCT) donated two RECON Interceptor battery-powered bicycles to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The new ruggedized bikes will allow Sheriff’s Office employees to patrol the MCT Trails as well as other unincorporated areas of Madison County. In the last five years, MCT has donated patrol bicycles to police departments in Alton, East Alton, Edwardsville, Granite City, Maryville, Highland, Troy, South Roxana, and Venice, as well as to campus safety officers at SIUE and Lewis & Clark Community College. 3

my banking app and found the tab for ordering checks, verified all the info, and was all set.

Except, the order screen pre-filled the number of checks at 80. There’s no way in the world I’m gonna write another 80 checks even if I live to be 100. So, I clicked the drop down menu to enter a different quantity and discovered 80 is the minimum order. What? This is the 21st century. Who writes that many checks?

So, for the last time in my life, I’ve ordered checks. But that got me to thinking about how the internet had changed how we pay bills and move money. I wondered what else had changed so drastically since the invention of the internet, but had occurred so gradually we just hadn’t noticed.

And I remembered hearing in the past month or so that the cost of first class postage had increased. I think they said the new price was 66 cents. And I wondered how much it was the last time I bought stamps. I have a roll of forever stamps that might

last me till I’m 100. Because, except for the occasional greeting card, I never mail anything. Again, that’s the result of email, social media messaging, online bill pay and the like.

Who owns a set of encyclopedias? And why? All of that knowledge is available with a simple online search. It’s amazing how much our lives have been changed by that innovation that began to take shape just a short 30 years ago.

What new innovations will change our lives even more over the next 30 years?

Artificial Intelligence? Or something new we can’t even conceive of right now?

I really hope I live to be 100 so I can see how those changes evolve and what their impact is on our lives. Luckily I’ve got the checks and forever stamps to get me through until then. 3

Sam Stemm is the former owner of Big Z Media and when he’s not paying bills online can still be heard each Friday from 10amnoon during Let’s Talk Special Edition on WBGZ 107.1FM/1570AM.

Rock the Hops returns August 12

After a few years off, Rock the Hops returns for “a celebration of music, art, and craft beer” taking place on Saturday August 12, from 2 to 8pm at multiple venues in downtown Alton.

Attendees can “hop” around between the five official venues and catch as many as 25 unique and creative music performances. The lineup will include a wide variety of genres such as rock, jazz-fusion, indie, folk, singer-songwriter, Americana, psychedelic jam bands, ambient, electronic and more. There will also be artisan booths featuring visual artworks and handmade goods available for purchase. Each of the venues this year will play host to all three creative elements noted in the

festival’s tagline, creating a fun and celebratory atmosphere throughout the day. Ticket holders can choose from over 25 styles of craft beverages to sample, from seasonal summertime craft beers and citrusy IPAs, to refreshing ciders and seltzers.

Not just a festival, the event brings awareness to, and heightens engagement with, the burgeoning art and music community in the region, while also showcasing the area’s beverage and culinary scene. According to Rock the Hops co-founders Hope and Drew Mader, their mission is to uplift, engage, and encourage local creative culture, and honor musicians’ and artists’ contributions

to the renaissance of our community at large. More information about this year’s festival can be found at facebook.com/ RockTheHops.

Tickets are available online at: rockthehops.bpt.me or at participating venues while they last. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors for their commitment to supporting the music and art scene in our community: Simmons Hanly Conroy, The Lodge at the Lovejoy, Alton Mission, Cope Plastics Inc., and Colman’s Country Campers. 2023 PARTICIPATING

VENUES:

Old Bakery Beer Company, Flock & Food Truck Park, The Conservatory, The Lodge at The Lovejoy, and Ragin’ Cajun Piano Bar 3

Annual event to give free school supplies to first 500 students

Thanks to the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural event, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center will host their 2nd annual Back-to-School Celebration on Saturday, August 5, 10am to 1pm. Due to scheduled parking lot construction at the hospital, this year’s event will be held at Alton Square Mall on the upper level.

This year’s Back-to-School Celebration, sponsored exclusively by Dwight and Cheryl Werts, and Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc., will distribute school supplies

including (but not limited to) paper, pens, pencils, and crayons to the first 500 kids ages 4 to 12 – last year’s event provided school supplies to 300 students.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public. A hot dog lunch complete with chips, cookies, and bottled water will be available while supplies last.

“Last year’s Back-toSchool Celebration was an overwhelming success, so we wanted to make this year’s event bigger by providing

free school supplies to the first 500 students,” says Jerry Rumph, president, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “Plus, we’ll have more vendors this year, along with prize and gift basket raffles, and fun games and interactive activities provided by OSF Mission Partners (employees).”

So far, a cumulative group totaling more than 22 that encompasses local dignitaries, businesses, service agencies and organizations have pledged their involvement. 3

Alton-Godfrey Rotary presents scholarships to Lewis & Clark students

The Rotary Club of Alton and Godfrey President

Antione Williams presented the William E. Moyer Vocational Arts and Science Scholarships to three students attending Lewis & Clark Community College. Each student received a $1,500 scholarship. In addition, the scholarship is renewable for a second year.

This year the awards were presented to Savannah Alexander, James Vaughn, and Masen Day. Lewis and Clark Community College Director of Development, Debby Edelman, introduced Savannah and James, announcing they were the recipients of the William E. Moyer Vocational Arts and Science Scholarships for the 20232024 academic year.

Savannah Alexander, of Hamburg, graduated from Jersey Community High School in May 2023. She is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology. She looks forward to learning more about the industry from her instructors and through an internship in order to decide on her career plans after graduating in the spring of 2025.

James Vaughn, of Godfrey, graduated from Alton High School in 2018. He is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Process Operations Technology and plans to

graduate in the spring of 2024. He is looking forward to an internship with Flexsys America in the fall. This will help him determine whether he chooses the chemical or petroleum industry for his career.

Masen Day, of Brighton, graduated from Southwestern High School in May 2023. He is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology. He looks forward to learning more about the fabrication industry and applying to companies after graduating in the spring of 2025.

Savannah and James are unique examples of how the Alton Godfrey Rotary Club is investing in the region’s future. The club understands the importance of vocational training, now often referred to as career and technical

education (CTE). Industries like welding, fabrication, automotive, drafting, industrial electricity, process operations, and truck driver training are directly impacted by Lewis and Clark Community College as well as the local high schools with CTE programs. These partnerships result in a highly skilled workforce of people doing the handson labor required to keep communities safe, healthy and functioning day after day.

Edelman said, “This Rotary Club stands alone in its investment in our CTE students. No other civic club has a scholarship at Lewis and Clark that targets students who will be fixing our cars, producing our gas, building our infrastructure and, basically, manufacturing our future.” 3

Alton Godfrey Rotarian Bill Moyer and Lewis and Clark President and Rotarian Ken Trzaska congratulates James Vaughn and Savannah Alexander.

EAWR High to honor 2023 Hall of Fame class this fall

By John Pearson for Big Z Media

Recently, the Oiler Alumni Hall of Fame Panel selected eight highly respected alumni for its 8th biannual Induction Class. This award was begun in October 2007 and, with this new induction group, will include 66 of the best of the best alumni of EAWR High School. The awards ceremony will be held on October 21 in the East Building Courtyard on the EAWR campus in Wood River. Tickets will go on sale later this fall. Candidates are nominated by members of the community and are selected by the Panel, whose members are all EAWR alumni.

Below are the short bios of the eight new inductees to the Hall of Fame, with a condensed version of their accomplishments and contributions.

Mark Burris (Class of 1971) enjoyed a 28-year meritorious career with the Wood River Fire Department, where he retired as Chief. During his career with WRFD, he received the Heroes of the Midwest Award for giving medical aid to a student who collapsed at an EAWR football game in May of 1997. Mark also chaired the WRFD food basket program for the needy

at Christmas. He was also a 16-year elected member on the Madison County Board (1998-2014), representing his district in the East Alton and Wood River area. Mark’s baseball success at EAWR led him to being drafted in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins and played in the Gulf Coast League starting in its All-Star game as a 17-year-old.

Steve Haug (Class of 1971) enjoyed a long and eventful career in the area refineries, with Amoco, Clark, Premcor, and Valero, serving in several capacities as an operator and/or terminal manager over 42 years in those industries. Steve also spent many years as an amateur athletic coach in many sports, but most significantly baseball. He coached decades worth of spring and summer baseball programs, involving hundreds of EAWR and other Metro East kids. His love and talent for baseball and his great career as an Oiler led him to being the highest signed catcher in the 1971 Major League Baseball Draft for the Chicago Cubs at the age of 17.

Dr. Marvin Havens (Class of 1966) had a distinguished career in Chemical Engineering. Although his formal

education finished with a PhD from the University of Missouri - Rolla, his curiosity and “dirty fingernails” combined to provide many opportunities for life-long learning in how to make things work. He designed and built several pilot plants. As a result of the materials and process experience gained, he was granted 41 US patents and wrote several technical papers, one of which was awarded Best Paper at the symposium. After retirement, he was inducted into the UMR Academy of Chemical Engineers and is still involved with technical work as a teacher and consultant.

Starlin Haydon-Greatting (Class of 1976) serves through SHG Clinical Consulting as the Illinois Pharmacists Association’s Director of Clinical Programs and Population Health, which establishes community-based chronic disease and comprehensive medication management programs. As the Network Coordinator, for diabetes, diabetes prevention, and cardiovascular health programs, she sees patients in the pharmacist-based chronic care management programs for self-insured employers and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). She is active as a

Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and Lifestyle Coach and serves on the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (ADCES) Board of Directors. Starlin specializes in pharmacoepidemiology and health economics and is an expert in the field of healthcare outcomes research, drug-use analysis, and reimbursement, with over 30 years of experience in medical-pharmacy claims analysis and population health management, especially in quality care and underserved populations.

Robert Kasten (Class of 1966) has provided such a long, memorable, and distinguished association with EAWR. Over the course of 31 years as a business education teacher, coach, Athletic Director, Dean, and Principal, Bob left his mark on academics and athletics through his leadership. Bob also role modeled to staff and students by being involved in all aspects of EAWR life: In coaching; through his countless hours of beautifying the campus; his service on the EAWR Foundation Board; his leadership in helping to bring the computer network into use; and by his volunteer work with youth sports as a coach. While at EAWR, Bob was an outstanding athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and especially as a baseball player. He received a baseball scholarship to Eastern Illinois University, where he starred as a pitcher, making All-Conference in his senior year.

Ernie Maguire (Class of 1939 - Posthumous) was a highly decorated naval combat pilot, who fought in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. After about a year of training completed, he was commissioned in January 1944 and was shipped to the Pacific Theater to fly torpedo and dive bombers off of aircraft carriers. Ernie flew 21 missions in numerous sea and island battles, launching torpedoes and strafing enemy ships and later flew 16 missions as a dive bomber pilot, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After the war, Ernie remained in the Naval Reserve and was stationed at the reserve unit in St. Louis. When the Korean War erupted, he was called back to active duty and was transferred to Korea in 1951, as a naval bomber pilot. He earned two major medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Naval Air Medal for scoring direct hits against two important bridges in September 1951, which became the inspiration of the James Michener novel, “The Bridges at Toko-Ri,” and the film used some of the actual gun-sight camera footage in the later movie.

Erin Phillips (Class of 1994) is a local attorney with Unsell, Schattnik & Phillips, PC. Ms. Phillips joined the firm as a law clerk in 2006 prior to graduating from Saint Louis University School of Law. Erin passed the Illinois Bar that year and became an associate with the firm and later a partner in 2013. She concentrates

her practice on litigation arising from injuries, wills and estate matters, and representation of local municipalities. Ms. Phillips was previously recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and was recommended by her peers as a “Leading Lawyer” from 2017 to 2023. Ms. Phillips has resolved cases for her clients exceeding a million dollars in value and has tried matters before the Southern District of Illinois Federal Court as well as multiple venues in Illinois State Courts.

Capitola (Cappie) Stanley (Class of 1963) has enjoyed a distinguished career in the field of public health administration and nursing. She has served various county health departments in Illinois and North Carolina. In all of these positions, she has led public health efforts through family and social programs and initiatives, administering programs dealing with all the concerns of public health, including maternal health and prenatal care, child care and wellness, chronic disease, aging, communicable disease, etc. For 18 years, Cappie was the Director of Health Services for Cabarrus County, NC, a county with over 178,000 population. In that position, she was responsible for supervision of a $9 Million budget and over 120 staff members. During that work, she also served as a liaison to the North Carolina Board of Nursing and Division of Public Health. 3

•

Schedule

A 70-mile transportation corridor is the epicenter of the historic surge in new construction in the St. Louis regional industrial market. More than 24 million square feet of new industrial space hit the market over the last five years, and nowhere is this construction boom more evident than along the Interstate 70 corridor running from Foristell, Missouri to Marine, Illinois. The major logistics corridor is home to a wealth of national manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, with room to develop even more. The activity in the corridor and anticipated direction of future growth was the focus of the final session of FreightWeekSTL 2023 in late May, which was moderated by Doug Rasmussen, CEO and Managing Principal of Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners, and featured panelists Ed Lampitt, Vice Chair of Cushman & Wakefield, and Matt Hrubes, Senior Vice President of CBRE.

Steadfast City recently completed in-depth research on the 70s corridor, which includes Interstate 70 and portions of Interstates 170, 270 and 370. Regarding this corridor, Rasmussen noted that in 2022, eight million square feet of new space

was delivered and about six and a half million square feet was absorbed. The top six leases in the market in 2022, which represented about 2.4 million square feet, were all signed with companies in this 70-mile corridor. He noted that Procter & Gamble was at two million square feet, Unilever at 1.7 million square feet, and Walgreens with a half million square feet, and the corridor also recently attracted other companies that are new to the market, including Tesla. Overall, the corridor is home to about 30 companies that each occupy more than a half million square feet, and there are approximately one billion dollars of infrastructure improvements underway or planned along the corridor.

“What I like to say as a site selector, is it’s basically 70 miles of beachfront property,” said Rasmussen. Lampitt said it is noteworthy that 85% of all institutional product in the St. Louis area is along the 70s corridor and agreed that it is where they are seeing the bulk of regional industrial activity. In discussing recent trends in the corridor, he said one of the biggest, especially in 2022, was the shift from e-commerce and 3PL tenants to manufacturing tenants.

He clarified it was still a lot of distribution space being leased, but it was being leased by manufacturing companies.

“Also, we continue to see service deliveries continue to go up, meaning they have to be closer to their customers. We’ve seen a significant increase of new tenants, new users to St. Louis,” said Lampitt. “We used to quote that 17% of all deals were new to St. Louis, meaning they didn’t have a presence here. That’s doubled. It’s in the 30, 30-plus percent range.”

Those trends are reflected in the diversity of the deals being done in the 70s corridor, from spaces of 200,000 sq. ft. or less being snapped up by companies that want to be closer to rooftops for their distribution, to the new 800,000 square foot manufacturing facility being built by American Foods Group in Warren County, Missouri.

Hrubes talked about the changes he has seen related to tax abatements and the impact that has had on the market and along the 70s corridor, as the types of tax abatements that originated on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River many years ago and drove industrial development

local

there, have made their way into Missouri.

“That’s what really spearheaded a lot of that development along Highway 70, especially in the Hazelwood market,” Hrubes said, pointing to developments such as Hazelwood Logistics Park and Hazelwood TradePort, both developed by NorthPoint, the old Ford plant that Panattoni redeveloped and the former Mills Outlet Mall that is now being converted into industrial space after receiving an almost 20-year tax abatement. “Without those kinds of economic incentives, who knows where we’d be. That was really a driving force, I think, that added to the success of those developments.”

Hrubes said, “in the Southwestern Illinois market, it used to be a 10-year sliding scale tax abatement, and now on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, the industry is seeing 18 or even 20 years of tax abatement being offered and the same thing occurring in St. Charles County, where other types of incentives, such as Chapter 100s, are adding to the success of developments such as the Premier 370

Business Park.”

“Finally we’re able to compete and challenge other states. If it’s a multi-city search, St. Louis now looks a lot better compared to where it used to be just five to 10 years ago,” Hrubes said.

The labor pool was discussed, with Lampitt highlighting that retaining workers is as important as finding them, while Hrubes said the areas attracting industrial investment along the 70s corridor are the ripe areas for the types of workers needed. He said one of the first things a lot of companies do when exploring different site locations is to check the box on the labor study.

“If they can see that there’s a readily available workforce, whether it’s a skilled workforce or a warehouse workforce, they need to have those things in place before they decide to either lease space or build property in those locations,” Hrubes said.

The demand for labor is what Hrubes said will continue to drive development further west along the 70s corridor, where there’s not only a good existing labor pool in St. Charles County, but also the potential to draw from

nearby Lincoln, Franklin and Warren counties. Rasmussen said he also expects further growth on the eastern edge of the 70s corridor as companies have the ability to draw workers from nearby Bond and Clinton Counties in Illinois.

Lampitt highlighted that some of the significant growth in recent years has been internal growth, with existing companies expanding their presence in the bi-state region, underscoring the need to make sure developers are taking care of the companies already invested here. He cited as examples Procter & Gamble, which started with 800,000 square feet and now has three million, and Worldwide Technology, which started with 200,000 square feet in 2005 and now is at 3.6 million.

Looking forward, Rasmussen called attention to the fact that industry experts are estimating there may be about three million square feet of space coming back on the market as second generation space, and speculated if that might be a cause for concern.

Both panelists said they saw that as a plus for the continued 29

region at this time, given the historically low vacancy rates and the need to have flexible product offerings to meet market demands.

Hrubes said that just three of four deals would be all it would take to absorb the entire amount of second generation space by the end of the year.

“I actually think that there needs to be more spec built right now; there’s not enough product out there,” said Hrubes. “To Ed’s point about the vacancy rate, it’s probably too low. And I think that we need more space because you get below 6% to 8% vacancy rate, it’s time to build. If you don’t have it, then you’re not going to see the activity.”

The need to have available product was further highlighted by Rasmussen, Hrubes, and Lampit, who talked about Tesla’s decision to locate its newest Midwest facility in the St. Louis region. The company was initially targeting the Kansas City market, but couldn’t find the 700,000 square feet of space it needed there. Tesla found exactly what they needed at Gateway TradePort, a planned industrial park in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, which is one of the newest industrial parks in the 70s corridor. Hrubes said that infrastructure investment

has been key to spurring development all along the 70s corridor.

“Before Highway 370 was developed, that land was worthless, you know, it was just farm ground and floodplain, and then, all of a sudden, 370 comes along.

Now look at all the industrial development that’s been spurred along there,” said Hrubes. “Then comes the Page Extension Bridge. Now look at all the development that’s going on along 141 and the improvements that were done there, to actually have a connector that goes all the way from South County to North County through ground zero for our industrial real estate sector, which is Earth City. And you follow 141, there’s probably a lot of decision makers that live in that zip code. It just makes sense. When you add that infrastructure and you invest dollars in it, it opens up other opportunities for development that makes a lot of sense to a lot of people.”

Rasmussen asked the panelists if they were seeing any reshoring activity along the 70s corridor. Hrubes pointed to the General Motors (GM) plant in Wentzville, which is likely the largest manufacturer in the bi-state St. Louis region, noting that GM master leased a supplier warehouse.

“I think when you have large scale manufacturing like that, then it does increase

the demand for suppliers to that company or that facility,” said Hrubes. “They all need to locate close to there, obviously, because the transportation cost to get those items, on demand, on time is significant. So yes, you can call it onshoring. I think it’s been happening here for years, and I think that it will just continue to ramp up.

Panel session host Mary Lamie said, “We appreciate you providing some great insight that will be helpful as the Freightway continues to promote the 70s corridor and its incredible concentration of industrial warehousing and distribution operations that make it a prime location for existing businesses and future industrial site selection and economic

growth.” Lamie is the Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, which operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway as one of its enterprises.

To view the 70 on 70 panel session, visit freightweekstl. com. It was the final event of FreightWeekSTL 2023 which featured a variety

of virtual panel sessions with industry experts and leaders in freight, logistics and transportation. The week-long freight and logistics expo was presented by the St. Louis Regional Freightway and Bi-State Development. To learn more or watch earlier sessions for FreightWeekSTL 2023, visit freightweekstl.thefreightway. com. 3

LOCAL EXPERTS

BANKRUPTCY

Can a bankruptcy stop a garnishment?

YES.

You go to work every day, you work hard for your paycheck and it still doesn’t go as far as you need it to.

Gas prices are rising, groceries prices are rising, the cost of living for everyone is more expensive than it used to be. In this economy, every penny counts.

INSURANCE

When should I buy Life Insurance?

This is a very good question. Many people realize the need for life insurance but for many it is too late. Here are the three most common incorrect assumptions I see:

Shari Murphy

Then your employer notifies you that they have received a wage garnishment order and will begin garnishing your already-stretched-too-thin paycheck.

Can bankruptcy stop the garnishment?

Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding designed to give you a fresh financial start by allowing you a “discharge” of most unsecured debts, including credit card debt, medical bills, and past due utility bills. Once bankruptcy is filed, all collection efforts by creditors, including garnishments, must stop.

Your paycheck will be restored and, without the burden of other, now-discharged debts, will go even farther than it did before the garnishment.

SHARI L. MURPHY

Attorney at Law • FREE CONSULTATION

P.O. Box 136, Wood River 618-797-8888

1) I’ll always be able to buy life insurance. This is not necessarily true. Health conditions could arise that may render a person uninsurable or make a policy costprohibitive.

Tom Lane

2) My family and I are covered by the life insurance I have through work. To best meet the future financial needs of your family it is suggested to have coverage for 7-10 times your annual income. Very few work insurance policies meet this need.

3) Life insurance is only for those who are raising a family. Life insurance may be needed at ALL stages of life. Whether married, single, male, female, with children or without, you may still have financial obligations that need to be met.

There is an old saying that states “the best kind of life insurance policy is the one that is in force on the day it is needed.” The best plan is to meet with your agent and evaluate your situation. Waiting too long could be financially devastating to those you love and care about.

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Helmkamp Construction named top workplace in St. Louis

Helmkamp Construction has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by The St. Louis PostDispatch Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO.

“That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re

FREE REMOVAL

of anything metal, appliances, mowers, autos, etc.

Tips appreciated.

allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

Helmkamp’s President and Owner, Rob Johnes said “Helmkamp is a great place to achieve your long-term career goals because most of

618-917-2620 OR 618-259-6798

CATHOLIC WOMAN

29 years of experience. Medical, daily living activities, rehab, hospice, respite, in-home nursing home visits, hospital stays, doctor appointments, errands, social outings, meals, light housekeeping. Excellent references.

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our customer relationships are long-term, some of them going back 40+ years. If you have long-term personal goals, you can build those at Helmkamp better than almost anywhere else. We have employees that tell us they only wish they had started their career here sooner. That is the ultimate

compliment as an employer, to have employees value how they’re treated and the quality of the work you do together then advocate for the company, our clients, and each other.” 3

St. Jude Novena

May the sacred heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever.

Sacred heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say prayer nine times a day. By the eighth day, prayer will be answered. Say it for nine days.

It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank You, St. Jude. BJM 8/1/23

618-977-5089

All types, all makes. Paying high prices.

From left, Kyle Ogden, Kyle Runge, Brian Bechard, Rob Johnes