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EDWARDSVILLE — Determination, perseverance and the pursuit of brighter futures took center stage Thursday as Madison County Employment and Training recognized individuals, businesses and community partners making a difference in the local workforce. The recognition ceremony celebrated individuals who overcame challenges to achieve educational and career goals, along with employers and organizations helping create opportunities throughout Madison County. Madison County Employment and Training

ROXANA - Roxana’s girls cross country team won its second consecutive Madison County small-school championship Oct. 6, 2026, at Alton High School, with five runners earning medals and all-county honors. Gianna Stassi led the Shells, winning the individual county championship in 19 minutes, 58.1 seconds. Elizabeth Clouse placed third in 20:55.8, and Savannah Cline finished seventh in 21:36.9. Bailey Schallenberg-Decker took 10th in 22:16.6, followed by Leah Newton in 11th at 22:35.9. The

COLLINSVILLE — A 40-year-old Collinsville man faces attempted first-degree murder and four other felony charges after police investigators presented the case to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Stephen R. Vasser II was charged in connection with offenses committed Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. The state’s attorney’s office reviewed the facts presented by Collinsville Police Department investigators before filing the charges. Thes

I’m proud to endorse my friend, Circuit Judge Patrick King, for retention as Madison County Circuit Judge. Pat is an intelligent, hardworking, and disciplined man whose commitment to his family, his faith, and our community speaks to his character. He is dedicated to making Madison County a safer, stronger, and better place for all of us to call home. I encourage you to support Judge Patrick King in this upcoming election. Nick Novacich Opinions expressed in this section are solely

EDWARDSVILLE – An 18-year-old from St. Louis was charged last week by SIUE Police after allegedly forcing entry to an occupied vehicle and stealing a backpack with items from one of the occupants. Mario A. Thurman, 18, of St. Louis, was charged on Oct. 8, 2026 with a Class 1 felony count of vehicular invasion and a Class 2 felony count of robbery. The SIUE Police Department presented the case to Madison County prosecutors. Two days prior on Oct. 6, Thurman allegedly entered an occupied

East Alton, IL — The Helmkamp Cares Foundation, the charitable arm of Helmkamp Construction Co. , is proud to announce it has surpassed $1 million in charitable giving since its establishment in July 2019. This milestone reflects the collective generosity and commitment of Helmkamp employees, industry partners, and the local community, and highlights the company’s ongoing dedication to making a difference where it matters most. The Helmkamp Cares Foundation was established in 2019

ALTON — State Representative Amy Elik’s re-election campaign has earned endorsements from several prominent labor and business organizations, including the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150, Technology and Manufacturing Association, and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. These endorsements reflect Elik’s efforts to strengthen Illinois’ economy, support employers

ALTON – An incident report from the Alton Police Department sheds new light on alleged behavior by certain striking members of the city’s Public Works department which may lead to future firings. This follows the City of Alton cutting health insurance and threatening to fire certain Public Works employees on strike over alleged behavior on the picket line. In one instance, the city’s legal representative claims striking members obstructed an Alton Police vehicle from responding

CARLINVILLE — Carlinville has been named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town of 2026, winning a nationwide contest that will bring a Hallmark Christmas movie production to the central Illinois community for a 2027 release. Hallmark announced the selection Thursday during a surprise celebration on the town’s historic square. The Macoupin County seat beat 24 other finalists through a selection process combining public votes and judges’ assessments of community spirit, holiday

KINLOCH, MO. — St. Louis County Police on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, identified a man killed in Kinloch as 50-year-old Aaron Emery, four days after prosecutors charged a St. Louis man with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the case. Police said they believe Emery was unhoused. A motive was not provided in the information that was released. Isaac Arman, 53, of the 7200 block of Canterbury Avenue, was charged Oct. 12, 2026, and is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond,

ALTON - The Alton Middle School administrative team works hard to help their students be successful. As the Alton Community Unit School District #11 celebrates National Principals Month this October, the Alton Middle School group is as eager as ever to collaborate and support their kids. Principal Dr. Brian Saenz is joined by Alex Pulido, Casey Hansen, Jalen Williams, Amy Kaiser, Amanda Beiser and Claire Gorman, and the team works hard to engage with students and grow together. “It’s

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA-08) along with 29 colleagues in a letter to Dr. Erica Schwartz, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to call out efforts to reject settled vaccine science and demand answers about the CDC’s efforts to implement President Trump’s childhood vaccine Executive Order (EO), underreport measles-associated deaths

GODFREY – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) welcomed more than 50 students from a dozen area high schools to Lewis and Clark Community College on Thursday for her Fall Youth Advisory Council, an initiative designed to give students a firsthand look at state government while developing leadership skills and sharing ideas with their peers. “This is one of my very favorite events that we host each year,” said Senator Harriss. “We bring students together from hig

COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced upcoming lane and ramp closures on eastbound Interstate 55/70 in Madison County to allow for pavement and structure repairs. Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, traffic will be reduced to one lane on eastbound I-55/70 between Black Lane and Illinois 157. In addition, the ramp from Illinois 157 to eastbound I-55/70 will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, Oct. 19. The lane and ramp closures are expected to reopen by the en

SPRINGFIELD – As one of the lead investigators of child deaths, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is recognizing October as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Tragically, sleep suffocation is the leading cause of reported child deaths in Illinois and hundreds of infants die each year because they are placed in unsafe sleeping environments. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) affects families of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. “Many times when an infant dies,

VIRDEN, Ill. – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Virden, Illinois man who possessed child sexual abuse material has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. In July, Jacob Monty, 29, pleaded guilty in Macoupin County Circuit Court

JERSEYVILLE – Jersey County residents protested plans to build a data center south of Jerseyville after speaking out at a recent County Board meeting . Over a dozen passionate community members gathered along State Street near the intersection of Highways 67 and 109 in Jerseyville on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. By 4:30 p.m., the group had grown to about 15 people who were met with several supportive honks from drivers passing by. Grafton resident Paula Jameson said her research shows

How Pumpkins Became Symbols The first jack-o’-lanterns were not pumpkins. In Ireland and parts of Britain, people carved frightening faces into turnips and other root vegetables. The pumpkin’s familiar grin came later, after an American crop met an older tradition. That unlikely pairing helped turn an everyday food into one of the world’s most recognizable holiday symbols. But the glowing face tells only part of the story. Pumpkins also stand for harvest, abundance, home,

Elvis Presley's first appearance on the Louisiana Hayride on Oct. 16, 1954, helped put an emerging sound before a wider radio audience. The Shreveport, Louisiana, program gave the young singer a platform as he developed the blend of musical styles that would help transform popular music. It stands among the most consequential events associated with this date, alongside Little Richard's recording debut and a hometown celebration of Chuck Berry. The story begins three years earlier. On Oct. 16,

This Day in History: October 16, 2026 Eighty years ago, on October 16, 1946, ten senior figures in Nazi Germany were executed after their convictions at the first Nuremberg trial. The proceedings followed a war that had devastated Europe and exposed the systematic murder of millions of people. Their lasting importance lay in establishing that government officials and military leaders could be held personally responsible under international law. Although the trial’s procedures and its organization