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JERSEYVILLE – Jerseyville Police Officer Nick Woelfel was recently commended by his department for his role in rescuing two people from a house fire on Dec. 22, 2025 in the 500 block of Pine Street in Jerseyville. Police Chief Danny Green presented a Department Commendation award to Officer Woelfel at the Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 Jerseyville City Council meeting. “Officers and firefighters for the City of Jerseyville were dispatched to a structure fire , where dispatch advised residents

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) pressed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on her access to sensitive materials in the Epstein Files, as well as her role in the Department of Justice’s bungled, partial release of the files in violation of the December 19 deadline in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act . In a letter to Wiles, Durbin and Whitehous

ALTON – Thanks to a deliberate investment by OSF HealthCare to bring the latest health care technologies to the Riverbend region, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center has installed two new advanced diagnostic imaging systems, a state-of-the-art CT scanner and MRI system designed to deliver faster, clearer and more accurate imaging for patients and empowering providers with life-saving diagnostic precision. The installation represents the latest significant investment toward

EDWARDSVILLE - After 42 years of law enforcement service, Director Robert Rizzi has retired from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, officials have announced. Director Rizzi concluded his career after serving as Director of Special Operations at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office for the past 11 years. Rizzi has been a definite Difference Maker in his region in his different law enforcement capacities. Prior to joining the sheriff’s office, he worked as an

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is reminding employers and employees about a new amendment, Public Act 104-0171 , to the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) which clarify that employees may use an employer-provided device to document or record evidence of violence affecting themselves and or their family. The amendment ensures that workers who use a business-owned device—such as a computer, tablet, or cellphone—to record or

BUZZ MAGAZINE – I opened Docs Just Off 66 because I believed the city of Girard needed someone to save the oldest operating business, keep the little bit of history in place. We also wanted to give families a place where they can gather after ballgames, where kids could order a milkshake and feel like it was a special occasion, and where travelers along Historic Route 66 could experience something real, not manufactured, not corporate, but authentic. Docs began as a dream rooted in nostalgia

WOOD RIVER – At the Jan. 5, 2026 Wood River City Council meeting, Trisha Shrewsberry of CJ Schlosser & Company LLC presented a few highlights of the audit report for the city’s past fiscal year ending April 30, 2025. The city received an “unmodified opinion,” sometimes known as a “clean” audit, with a few notable items given major projects completed in recent years. “You guys received an unmodified opinion again this year – it just meant no

BUZZ MAGAZINE – I want to talk to you today about something very important. Something HUGE. Yet strangely enough, almost no one is talking about it. For decades the CDC has told the American public - with absolute certainty - that vaccines do not cause autism. This was presented as settled science. End of discussion. Case closed. Well apparently not so fast, because now that statement had to be retracted under a federal law called Data Quality Act. That law requires government agencies

ALTON - An Alton native is releasing his memoir. On Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, you can purchase your copy of “Mountains Within: A Life of Achievement, a Quest for Meaning, and the Mountain that Changed Everything” by Dr. Jack Groppel. Raised in Alton, Groppel is a world-renowned tennis coach, businessman and speaker. But his story is one of humility, faith and learning to foster relationships. “I’ve had this fairly outlandish career, and I’ve had people for

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy January ahead. Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that the library is eager to jump back into the swing of things and host several exciting events and programs over the next few weeks. All of their events are free to attend and promise plenty of fun for patrons of all ages. “It is a busy season. The holidays are over and everybody’s back,” Cordes said. “That just means we’re offering really good things.”

GRANITE CITY - Sydney Houston emerged as a key player for Granite City High School’s girls golf team during the fall 2025 season, demonstrating consistent performance and skill on the course. The senior golfer, recognized as the Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month, is praised by coach Ginger Harrison for her strong drives and strategic play. Harrison described Houston as a "consistent player" who averaged drives of about 200 to 215 feet. “She was a smart player i

GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Toby Clements and Lily Meyenburg as Students of the Month for December The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character,

BELLEVILLE – Belleville officials are moving forward with $2.5 million worth of street maintenance over the next fiscal year, while tabling a joint funding agreement with IDOT to construct a roundabout amid maintenance concerns. Belleville City Council members unanimously approved a Resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 in the amount of $2,546,098.50 with no further discussion. Under th

SHILOH — The Shiloh Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating 30-year-old Sahab Bashir, who was reported missing on Monday, Dec. 9, 2026. According to police, Bashir left her residence on foot around noon on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2025, and has not been seen since. Authorities noted that she is known to frequent the Washington Park, Illinois, area. Bashir is described as 5-foot-5 and weighing 235 pounds. At the time she was last seen, she was wearing a cheetah print shirt and

ALTON — Marquette Catholic’s Chase Jones scored 33 points to lead the Explorers to a 67-64 overtime victory over No. 9-ranked Columbia on Dec. 29, 2025, during the Columbia-Freeburg Holiday Tournament. The win marked Marquette Catholic’s 11th of the season under head coach Steve Medford. Jones, a sophomore, was named to the All-Tournament team alongside teammates Carson Jones and Cam Golike. Additionally, Chase Jones was recognized as Tucker’s Automotive Repair & Tire Mal

GODFREY — The Godfrey Fire Protection District welcomed a new member on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, adding Probationary Firefighter John Kloss to its team. Kloss, who joined the department on his first day, comes from Gillespie ambulance service. He is a resident of the village, married, and has one daughter with another child expected soon. Kloss has been assigned to Shift 2 and is scheduled to begin training at the Illinois Fire Service Institute Fire Academy in March.

COLLINSVILLE/O’FALLON - The Collinsville and O’Fallon communities have rallied to show their support for Terrie “Tracy” Nguyen, a nail salon owner who was murdered on Dec. 27, 2025. Nguyen owned and operated Magic Nails in Collinsville. Visitation will be held from 1–5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at Lake View Funeral Home in Fairview Heights, followed by a religious ceremony until 8 p.m. Another religious ceremony is planned from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Jan.

January 6th is a date steeped in remarkable events that have shaped history across the globe. Moving back in time, on this day in 1838, Samuel Morse demonstrated the practicality of the telegraph for long-distance communication. This invention revolutionized how information was transmitted, shrinking the world in ways previously unimaginable. The telegraph laid the groundwork for the communication technologies we rely on today, from telephones to the internet, forever changing commerce, journalism,

This morning starts off chilly with clouds blanketing the sky and temperatures near 31 degrees. As the day progresses, skies will clear occasionally with intermittent clouds giving way to some sunshine by afternoon. The high temperature will reach 56 degrees, but a brisk west wind gusting up to 26 mph will keep it feeling cooler. Evening brings clear skies and colder air moving in with temperatures dropping again. Overnight, look for clear and crisp conditions with a low near 31 degrees, with light

WOOD RIVER – Wood River City Council members passed multiple items at Monday’s meeting to fund the latest phase of the Edwardsville Road Water Line Improvement Project. Public Services Director Michael Velloff said the scope of the project’s third phase includes improving the water main from Whitelaw Avenue to 3rd Street. The current 4-inch cast iron water main will be replaced by a 12-inch PVC water main, with Velloff estimating a completion date of around June 30, 2026.