Record entries for Best of Best

ALTON — Stars crammed the night time as among the many years favourite celeb personalities made cameos to assist announce the 2020 Better of the Better of Madison County and Riverbend winners, as voted on by readers of the Telegraph and the Edwardsville Intelligencer, on the annual “Better of the Greatest” occasion — just about.

Not like final 12 months, the celebrities weren’t the one ones going digital. All the Better of the Greatest occasion was held just about and a YouTube video of the tropically themed awards ceremony is on-line at thetelegraph.com.

This 12 months’s Better of the Better of Madison County and the Riverbend garnered greater than 280,000 votes, which was 40,000 votes larger than final 12 months.

“It’s been fairly a 12 months, with so many adjustments, however one factor that hasn’t modified is the thrill and enthusiasm of the ‘Better of’ contest,” stated Hearst Illinois’ Carole Fredeking, promoting director, in the course of the introduction of the occasion.

“This occasion is all about you,” she stated. “We recognize and we help all of our native companies.”

Two fortunate individuals received three-day, two-night journeys to Margaritaville at Lake of the Ozarks: Kim Reiniger, of Worden, and Tracy Sharpmack, of East Alton.

Highlights included particular appearances by Don Johnson, Bo Derek and an actor portraying Robert DeNiro.

“Hey, Bob De Niro right here, you talkin’ to me? Huh?” he stated by the display, resurrecting his character from “Taxi Driver.” “No, I’m talkin’ to you. Yeah, you bub, the one sittin’ there, consuming your frozen meal watchin’ this, yeah you, ya’ filthy rotten scum. Do your self a favor, huh, stand up and go get yer’self some good grub and whenever you do, you higher go to the most effective Italian restaurant round, Bella Milano!

“Keep in mind this, I’m watchin’ you.”

One particular visitor, who couldn’t keep away after final 12 months, opened and closed the present.

“I had a lot enjoyable final 12 months, I begged them to let me come again this 12 months,” stated Carson Kressley, who got here on the scene first in 2003 within the Bravo sequence “Queer Eye for the Straight Man.” “I see a few of you carrying your pajamas as a result of it’s a pandemic, I’m going to let this one slide. Benefit from the present!”

He closed the present with a hope for normalcy for subsequent 12 months’s Better of the Better of Madison County and the Riverbend occasion.

“What an amazing night time everybody, hope to see you again subsequent 12 months — within the flesh.”

Different shock friends included actor John O’Hurley, in character as J. Peterman from “Seinfeld,” St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, Jan Pol from the truth present “The Unimaginable Dr. Pol” on Nat Geo Wild, martial arts professional Chuck Norris, and actors Jamie Farr, Jackie Mason, Steve Guttenberg, Penn Jillette and Erica Lugo from “The Largest Loser.”

Congratulations to all who acquired awards! And the winners are:

Folks:

• Greatest Automotive Salesman, Brent Marburger, Federico Kia

• Greatest Chamber Director, John Keller/RiverBend Progress Affiliation

• Greatest Coach, Derek Jarman/Civic Memorial Excessive Faculty

• Greatest Firefighter, Ben Hamberg/ Godfrey Fireplace Safety District

• Greatest Nurse, Stephanie Ponce/ OSF Saint Anthony’s Emergency Room

• Greatest Photographer, Carrie Carpunky Pictures

• Greatest Place to Work, OSF HealthCare

• Greatest Police Officer, Jeff Shank/Bethalto

• Greatest Principal, Adam Miller/Trimpe Center Faculty

• Greatest Trainer, Nancy Holtorf/North Elementary, Alton, and Roxana Junior Excessive Faculty

• Greatest Volunteer, Karen Wilson

Automotive:

• Greatest Auto Physique Restore, Freer Auto Physique

• Greatest Auto Detailer, Auto Butler Automotive Wash and Categorical Lube

• Greatest Auto Restore, Tucker’s Automotive Restore and Tire

• Greatest Automotive Wash, Auto Butler Automotive Wash and Categorical Lube

• Greatest New Automotive Seller, Roberts Motors

• Greatest Oil Change, Tucker’s Automotive Restore and Tire

• Greatest Tire Store, St. Jacob Automotive

• Greatest Towing/Roadside Help, Bower’s Towing

• Greatest Used Automotive Seller, Good Alternative Auto Gross sales

Magnificence/Leisure:

• Greatest Barber Store, Comfortable Hour Barber Cease

• Greatest Day Spa, Lauren Strickland at Meraki Studio

• Greatest Eyebrow Shaping, Lauren Strickland at Meraki Studio

• Greatest Hair Salon, Kristen’s Hair Studio

• Greatest Hair Stylist, Kristen Meyer

• Greatest Nail Salon, EXO Nail Bar

• Greatest Tattoo Store, Empire Ink Studio

Leisure:

• Greatest Leisure Venue, Wild Pickins Vineyard

• Greatest Golf Course, Belk Park Golf Course

• Greatest Native Dwell Theater, Alton Little Theater

• Greatest Native Park, Glazebrook Park

• Greatest Out of doors Patio, Laux Brickhouse

• Greatest Sports activities Bar, Roper’s Regal Beagle

• Greatest Wedding ceremony Venue, WOW Occasion Middle

Meals and Beverage:

• Greatest Asian Restaurant, Wang Gang

• Greatest BBQ, Fireplace and Smoke

• Greatest Cookies, Cookie Manufacturing facility Bakery

• Greatest Donuts, Mister Donut

• Greatest Superb Eating, Gentelin’s on Broadway

• Greatest Fried Hen, Castelli’s Moonlight Restaurant at 255

• Greatest Hamburgers, King Louie’s Drive-In

• Greatest Ice Cream, Shivers Frozen Custard

• Greatest Italian Restaurant, Bella Milano

• Greatest Native Espresso, Germania Brew Home

• Greatest Native Desserts, Josephine’s Reward Store and Tea Room

• Greatest Native Vineyard, Wild Pickins Vineyard

• Greatest Regionally Brewed Beer, Previous Bakery Beer Co.

• Greatest Martinis, Bossanova Restaurant and Lounge

• Greatest Mexican Restaurant, El Mezcal

• Greatest Pizza, Roma’s Pizza

• Greatest Seafood, Grafton Oyster Bar

• Greatest Sushi, Wasabi

• Greatest Wings, Alton Sports activities Faucet

Well being and Wellness:

• Greatest Most cancers Care Middle, OSF Moeller Most cancers Middle

• Greatest Chiropractor, Bemis Household Chiropractic

• Greatest Dentist, Humbert Highway Dentistry

• Greatest Fitness center/Health Middle, Alphas Fitness center

• Greatest Well being Coach/Weight Loss Coach, Shawn Crocker / CrossFit Edwardsville

• Greatest Listening to Middle Skilled, Listening to Associates

• Greatest Hospital, OSF HealthCare

• Greatest Imaging Middle, OSF Healthcare Saint Anthony’s Well being Middle

• Greatest Native Yoga Studio, Riverbend Yoga

• Greatest Martial Arts Studio, Alton Household Martial Arts

• Greatest OB/GYN, Dr. Joseph Talsky MD

• Greatest Orthodontist, Haug Orthodontics

• Greatest Pharmacy, Alton Walgreens

• Greatest Bodily Therapist, Alton Bodily Remedy

• Greatest Doctor, Dr. Craig Harms, MD

• Greatest Podiatrist, Dr. Kyle Wilmes, DPM

• Greatest Pressing Care, OSF Immediate Care

• Greatest Imaginative and prescient Middle, Rose Optical

Residence Providers:

• Greatest Carpet Cleaner, TK Carpet Gallery Inc.

• Greatest Carpet/Flooring Firm, TK Carpet Gallery Inc.

• Greatest Cleansing Firm, Annointed Palms Cleansing Providers

• Greatest Electrician, Bickle Electrical Contracting Co.

• Greatest Heating/Cooling, Pruitt Mechanical Providers

• Greatest Residence Builder, Grey Brothers Building and Excavating

• Greatest Residence Inspector, Madewell Inspections

• Greatest Residence Reworking Firm, Eagle Residence Enchancment

• Greatest Landscaper, Jim Murphy’s Full Landscaping

• Greatest Garden Care, Jim Murphy’s Full Landscaping

• Greatest Garden Mower and Tractor Gross sales, Bertel’s Gross sales and Service

• Greatest Portray Firm, Kaid Portray and Drywall

• Greatest Pest Management, Allied Pest Management Inc.

• Greatest Plumber, Inspector Plumber

• Greatest Propane Firm, Senger’s Gasoline

• Greatest Roofer, Ryan Building and Roofing, LLC

• Greatest Trash Firm, Robert Sanders Waste Techniques Inc.

• Greatest Waterproofing, Midwest Basement Tech

Pet Providers:

• Greatest Canine Coach, Fortunate Canine Coaching

• Greatest Groomer, Fortunate Canine Grooming

• Greatest Kennel/Boarding Facility, Membership Paws

• Greatest Veterinarian, Bethalto Animal Clinic

Senior Providers:

• Greatest Assisted Residing Facility, Asbury Village

• Greatest In- Residence Well being Care, Absolute Well being Care Providers LLC

• Greatest Reminiscence Care Neighborhood, Cedarhurst Senior Residing

• Greatest Senior Middle, Senior Providers Plus

• Greatest Senior Residing Neighborhood, Asbury Village

• Greatest Expert Nursing Neighborhood, Alton Memorial Rehabilitation & Remedy

Providers:

• Greatest Animal Rescue, 5 A’s

• Greatest Auctioneer, Cody Hanold Auctioneering

• Greatest Financial institution, 1st MidAmerica Credit score Union

• Greatest Chamber of Commerce, RiverBend Progress Affiliation

• Greatest Credit score Union, 1st MidAmerica Credit score Union

• Greatest DJ, DJ Nick

• Greatest Monetary Advisor, Rachael Beckemeyer — Thrivent Monetary

• Greatest Funeral Residence, Pitchford Funeral Residence

• Greatest Insurance coverage Agent, Karen Wilson — State Farm Insurance coverage Agent

• Greatest Regulation Agency, Schrempf Kelly and Napp Ltd.

• Greatest Native Faculty, Lewis and Clark Neighborhood Faculty

• Greatest Native Non-public Faculty, Zion Lutheran Faculty Bethalto

• Greatest Mortgage Firm, City and Nation/Sue Cress

• Greatest Non-Revenue Group, 5 A’s Humane Society

• Greatest Actual Property Dealer, Mary Beiser/Tarrant and Harman

Purchasing:

• Greatest Vintage Retailer, Alton Change

• Greatest Bridal and Formal Put on, Frew’s Bridal

• Greatest Comfort Retailer, Quik Journey

• Greatest Florist, Jeffrey’s Flowers By Design

• Greatest {Hardware} Retailer, St. Peters {Hardware} and Rental Inc.

• Greatest Native Equipment Retailer, Alton Refrigeration and Residence Furnishings

• Greatest Native Artwork Truthful, Jacoby Arts Middle

• Greatest Native Boutique, Rustic Roots

• Greatest Native Furnishings Retailer, Pure Bliss Residence Decor

• Greatest Native Grocery Retailer, Aldi

• Greatest Native Jewellery Retailer, Maneke Jewelers

• Greatest Native Shoe Retailer, Cleary’s Sneakers and Boots

• Greatest Meat Market, Sever’s Meat Market

• Greatest Pawn Store Sam’s Pawn Store