Madelaine Gerard is a Staff Writer and Photographer for RiverBender.com.
Born in Alton, Gerard has always been a native of the Riverbend. After attending Bethalto Community District No. 8 schools, she went on to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she received her BA in Mass Communications. She is currently working toward her Master's degree.
In her free time, Gerard loves to binge-watch television shows on Netflix, go to the movies, and look at funny cat pictures on the Internet.
ALTON - Christmas Eve has finally arrived here the River Bend and for the first time all year, children of all ages are actually excited to head to bed tonight so they can wake up to mounds of gifts stacked neatly under their trees courtesy of Dear Ol’ Saint Nicholas .
Before Sant...
ALTON - Rain or shine, Salvation Army of Alton’s Kettle Coordinator Greg Gelzinnis is taking to the skies.
In a last-ditch effort to help the Salvation Army of Alton reach their $99,000 goal before the Red Kettle Campaign ends on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Gelzinnis will...
EAST ALTON - A local woman’s generosity put smiles on kindergarten and first-grade students last week at Eastwood Elementary School in East Alton.
After collecting Barbie dolls for a number of years, long time East Alton resident Vickie Merwin realized she had acquired more than...
A local woman’s generosity put smiles on Kindergarten and first grade students last week at Eastwood Elementary School in East Alton.
After collecting Barbie dolls for a number of years, long time East Alton resident Vickie Merwin realized she had acquired more than she could possibly...
EDWARDSVILLE - Those who argue that cheerleading is not a sport surely did not attend this Sunday’s Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association’s Region 5 Invitationals .
In the day-long event, junior and senior high schools cheerleading squads from around the region all gathered...
Those who argue that cheerleading is not a sport surely did not attend this Sunday’s Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association’s Region 5 Invitationals .
In the day-long event, junior and senior high schools cheerleading squads from around the region all gathered at Edwardsville High...
BRUSSELS - There is an old saying that “birds of a feather flock together.” Sometimes, unforeseen factors cause some of these birds, in this case a young bald eagle, to need a little help along the way.
In early July of this year, a young eagle was presumably hit by a car o...
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5 STARS
EDWARDSVILLE - Thousands of moviegoers flocked to AMC Showplace 12 beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday night to feast their eyes on the new film Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The film, which some say could become the biggest box office smash of all time,...
EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - Throughout his high school basketball career, East Alton Wood River High School senior Blake Marks always had a goal to reach 1,000 points.
This past Wednesday , in a battle against the Brussels High School Raiders on the Oilers’ home court,...
BETHALTO - Highland and Civic Memorial are always tough opponents in girls basketball and Thursday night was no different at Bethalto, with the Bulldogs slipping by the Eagles 52-46.
Highland’s head basketball coach Mike Arbuthnot is excited that his group of athletes walked away...
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