Riverbend bids goodbye to community fans

Telegraph - 12/30/2021

Dec. 30—ALTON — While 2021 brought new businesses, it also allowed some work to be finished, such as Alton's new splash pad.

The summer of 2021 also brought sorrowful moments, including the loss of community standouts and a somber 20th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

Here is a look at some of the events in the Riverbend during July, August and September this past year.

July

—On July 2, officials announced that South Roxana Fire Chief William "Todd" Werner had died following a massive heart attack while visiting his mother in Wood River. He was 48.

—On July 6, Christina M. Milien was approved as the new member of the Alton school board to fill the vacancy created when Rosetta

Brown resigned from the school board in May after being elected as Alton's 4th Ward Alderwoman.

—On July 9, former Alton Middle School teacher William C. Ingersoll, 53, pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a student between 1998 and 2000. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

—On July 11, Traci Lynn Martin — a competitive kayaker from Kansas City, Missouri — set the world record for the fastest time for a solo female kayaker to travel the Mississippi River.

—On July 17, The anticipated Alton Splash Pad at Riverfront Park officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a test run by young volunteers.

—On July 19, a black bear reported a village parks employee on the grassy area at LaVista Park, located off Illinois 3. Some residents reported what they believed to be bear scat, but no other sightings were made after that day.

—Kayleigh Pollock, 11, of Godfrey placed 9th in the All-American Soapbox Derby World Championships in Akron, Ohio.

August

—On Aug. 3, the Godfrey Board of Trustees voted to cancel the Godfrey Corn Maze after this year's crop had come up shorter than in previous years. Last year's maze was canceled out of COVID-19 precautions.

—On Aug. 4, the River Dragons, charter members of the collegiate Prospect League, wrapped up their regular season with a 5-3 win against their cross-river rivals and closed out the 2021 campaign at 27-32, falling short one game of the 60-game season due to a rainout against the Quincy Gems that was not made up.

—On Aug. 8, longtime community advocate Norma Jean Glazebrook of Alton died at the age of 89. She worked 21 years at The Telegraph before retiring in 1973. After the death of her husband, Bob, in 1995 she threw herself into volunteer work and joined Make-A-Wish Illinois. She helped fulfill nearly 300 wishes and donated more than 90 acres to Godfrey which became the Robert E. Glazebrook Community Park.

—On Aug. 16, Sen. William R. Haine, 77, died. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2018, but he said he had already made up his mind he was not going to run for re-election when his term is up that November, before he was diagnosed.

—On Aug. 19, members of the Alton High School National Honor Society put more than 2,000 individual sticky notes with handwritten inspirational quotes on each locker lining the hallways during the first day of school.

—On Aug. 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Illinois would return to a statewide mask mandate indoors. He also said all educators and

health care professionals would be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

September

—On Sept. 3, crowds swarmed Bethalto Park for the annual Bethalto Homecoming. With carnival rides by Luehr's Ideal Rides, bands every night and a diverse variety of food, people flocked to Bethalto Park this weekend for a good time and a release from their pandemic worries, if only for a few hours.

—On Sept. 6, long-time Jersey County Coroner Larry Alexander died at age 67. First elected coroner in 1992, he was the longest serving coroner in Jersey County's history.

—On Sept. 11, the Riverbend paused to remember the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, including about 100 people gathered by the large flag pole on the riverfront in Grafton.

—On Sept. 16, members of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first meeting in 1921. The centennial coincided with the announcement of a new park planned in Alton.

—On Sept. 16, Charley "Joey" Moyer, known by many as the "Can Man of Alton," died in North Carolina at the age of 76. Legally known as Charley Kevalis, Moyer was born with cerebral palsy and moved to Alton in 1968. He began collecting discarded aluminum cans and rejected Social Security disability.

—On Sept. 24, Argosy Casino Alton celebrated its 30th year on the riverfront. In three decades it has had name and ownership changes, introduced new games and gambling options, and handled not one but two historic Mississippi River floods.

dylan.suttles@thetelegraph.com

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