Sydney Sinks grew up in the Riverbend area and graduated from Southwestern High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University in 2022, where she majored in English-Writing with concentrations in journalism and professional writing and a minor in editing.
At Millikin, Sydney wrote and edited for The Decaturian and BURST Magazine. Her writing has also been published in Decatur Magazine, Gateway Journalism Review and others. She has received recognition from the Illinois College Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists for her work.
ILLINOIS - Community members have the chance to receive assistance on their Ameren Illinois electric bills. The Warm Neighbors Cool Friends program provides energy assistance to people between 200–300% of the Federal Poverty Level or 80% of the county’s Area Median Income. For...
WATERLOO/SAINT LOUIS - One family is making a difference for kids in the hospital this Christmas, and you’re invited to help. Three years ago, Angie Fouste and her daughter Mercedes Eberlin stumbled across an organization in Tennessee that provides Christmas trees to decorate children’s...
GODFREY - King Air Conditioning and Heating is collecting toys for the Community Hope Center, and you can win big while giving back. From now through Nov. 26, 2025, you can drop off new, unwrapped toys at King Air Conditioning and Heating in Godfrey, or purchase a toy from their Amazon wishlis...
ALTON - Riverbend residents might notice activity at the Grand Theatre over the next few days as construction crews work to stabilize the building after spring storms. On Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, crews were busy at the theater fixing the roof following storms earlier this year. Located at 230 Marke...
ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School invites the community to come out to their fall play. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, you can catch “Alice in Wonderland” at Marquette in Alton. Madison Foreman, music and theater teacher, expressed her excitement t...
EDWARDSVILLE - Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski stopped by the Glen-Ed Pantry in Edwardsville to hear from local leaders about food insecurity amid cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, Budzinski met with Jane Ahasay, Executive Director of Glen-Ed...
GRAFTON - The Grafton Country Music Festival invites the Riverbend community to enjoy a weekend of local bands in Grafton. From Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, the City of Grafton will host several bands complete with contests, drink specials and more fun at their local bars....
ALTON - Community members are invited to downtown Alton for the First Friday shopping experience. From 5–8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, downtown shops will stay open later and a shuttle will be available to transport participants to stores and restaurants throughout the downtown district....
WOOD RIVER - A local organization is seeking donations to support sexual violence survivors. Metro East Every Survivor Counts provides resources, counseling, advocacy and more support to survivors. Executive Director Ella Barrett noted that they need donations to continue their work in Madison...
ALTON - Attorney Holly Marcum is here to demystify workers’ compensation cases for both employers and their employees. Marcum, a partner with Keith Short & Associates in Alton, explained that workers’ comp is “a very nuanced area of law.” She often deals with acute...
Did you know Riverbender.com is free for you thanks to our awesome advertisers? We noticed you're using an ad block software. Please give our sponsors some exposure by disabling your ad blocking service for Riverbender.com.
