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Thieves targeted another public garden in Illinois

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ALTON, Ill. There’s been another bizarre case of repeated thefts from a public garden.

Last week, FOX 2 reported about expensive planted flowers being pulled up and stolen, along with leaf blowers and weed eaters, from the Wilson Park botanical garden in Granite City, Illinois.

This time, it’s a ceramic frog called Fernando in Alton. Fernando is part of a water feature/fountain, the centerpiece of a large garden in the median at the State Street, Belle Street split.

The median was not much to look at before Alton residents Laura Wallendorf and Cheryl Seniour transformed it about five years ago.

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“We just started working up here,” Wallendorf said.

They added flowers, hostas, and ornate grasses in place of waist-high weeds.

The Alton Public Works Department was so taken by the volunteer transformation, it added electric service and water service during a nearby streetlight project. One worker then added the “frog” fountain.

Wallendorf named the frog, Fernando, and a celebrity was born.

“It took off like nuts,” Wallendorf said. “People are going by (yelling), ‘We love the frog! We love the frog!’ So, it became our mainstay!”

Last Thursday, someone cut the water lines and stole Fernando. It’s the fourth time he’s either been smashed by vandals or stolen in four years.

“We never said anything before,” Seniour said. “We just replaced him, didn’t tell the kids when he got beat to death (vandalized). We told them he went to Florida.”

This time around, people were stopping to donate money for a new Fernando. Hundreds of dollars in donations have poured to Wallendorf’s sister, Sara Geison of Godfrey, who posted about Fernando on social media.

“Unbelievable! That’s what the response has been,” Geison said. “That’s what’s so crazy about this whole thing.”

People can donate via Venmo at @frogfund2023 or via mail: North Alton-Godfrey Business Council, P.O. Box 306, Godfrey, IL 62035.

Donations will go to the North Alton – Godfrey Business Council for the upkeep of the roadside oasis and the replacement cost for Fernando. They’re hoping to have the fountain this weekend along with new security cameras.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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