🌱 A closer look at Wood River’s firefighter pension funding gap
Wood River, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min readWhat's up Wood River! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- A closer look at Wood River’s firefighter pension funding gap
- Stalking charge follows alleged surveillance of woman in Wood River
- Remembering Shane Cole, 52, a devoted father and creative welder
Today's riddle: What are the two sides of a circle? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 67 and low of 41 degrees.
- Thursday: Rather cloudy; breezy, cooler, temps: high: 49, low: 32.
- Friday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 47 and low of 27 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Wood River firefighters retirees paid $1.1 million into their pension fund and have collected an estimated $6.1 million (metroeastsun.com) — Wood River’s firefighters pension fund has $5.1 million in promised benefits not covered by assets, with funding at 60.9 percent in the cited valuation. A Metro East Sun analysis estimates 11 retirees collected $6.1 million through April 2025, compared with $1.1 million in employee contributions, though its calculation may overstate some payouts. 
• St. Louis man charged with strangling pregnant South Roxana woman (thetelegraph.com) — A 69-year-old Bethalto man faces a felony stalking charge after allegedly following a woman to work and to the Wood River Police Department. Court documents describe repeated surveillance and efforts to obtain her personal information in September. He was ordered held in jail, and prosecutors sought additional pretrial release conditions.
• Shane Cole (–2026) of Edwardsville, IL (riverbender.com) — Shane A. Cole, 52, of Edwardsville died Nov. 4, leaving family including daughter Makaylah Cole of Wood River. His family remembers his love of quiet time together, welding and creative work. Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River is handling cremation arrangements, and memorial contributions are suggested to the family.
📸 Around Wood River
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Wood River
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Laugh 4 A Cause / Because EVERYONE Needs A Laugh →
Wood River Moose, 730 Wesley Drive, Wood River
5:00 pm
Friday November 13
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Basketball: Girls 7th Game vs Roxana Junior High School vs. Jers
Roxana Junior High School
3:30 pm -
Basketball: Boys 7th Game vs Roxana Junior High School vs. Madis
Roxana Junior High School
4:00 pm -
Intermediate: Chior Concert
Elementary West School, 1105 N, 1115 Hunt Club Rd, Gurnee
4:30 pm -
PTA: Signature Chocolates Fundraiser Pickup
Woodland Ccsd 50, 7000 W Washington St, Gurnee
8:00 am -
Primary Playdate: Walk in the Woods
Woodland Ccsd 50, 17801 W Washington St, Gurnee
1:30 pm -
PTA: Signature Chocolates Fundraiser Pickup
Woodland Ccsd 50, 7000 W Washington St, Gurnee
8:00 am -
Varsity Girls Basketball (Away) at Dupo Tournament
Dupo Jr.\/Sr. High School, 600 Louisa Ave, Dupo
6:00 pm -
PTA Fundraiser at Chipotle
Woodland Ccsd 50, 6040 Gurnee Mills Circle E, Gurnee
4:00 pm
Thursday November 12
Friday November 13
Saturday November 14
Monday November 16
Tuesday November 17
📣 Wood River Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Chair Exercise @ Rox Arena →
Rox Arena, 2 Park Drive, Roxana
10:00 am -
Bowling: Boys Varsity Match vs Steeleville (Home)
Airport Plaza Bowl ,
3:00 pm -
Gobble Up a Good Book Reading Challenge →
Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, 132 Alton Square, Alton
Wednesday November 11
Thursday November 12
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries posted a job opening for Job Coach in Alton. Apply here.
- SunAuto Tire & Services posted a job opening for Lube and Tire Technician in Edwardsville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Wood River here.
🗞 Nearby News
East Alton
- East Alton Veteran William Roe Recalls Four Years In Navy (riverbender.com)
- Highway Patrol Arrests November 7-9 (blogspot.com)
- Enhancing Customer Experience in a Data-Driven World (ainonline.com)
Bethalto
- Thomas Tendick (–2026) of Cottage Hills, IL (riverbender.com)
Ok Wood River! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What are the two sides of a circle?" — The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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