TROY - Chris Coyne, a Community Service Officer with the Troy Police Department, presented a Heroin and Prescription Drug Awareness program to students in the Triad School District this week at the Success Center at Silvercreek. The Troy Police program aimed to educate students about the dangers of drug misuse and its effects on individuals, families, and the community. Coyne’s presentation is part of an ongoing effort by the Troy Police Department to promote awareness, prevention, and
GLEN CARBON - Ben Sink, who is a senior pitcher and outfielder for the Father McGivney Catholic High School baseball team, signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Illinois-Springfield to play baseball in 2027 in a ceremony held at the Griffins Den, the school's student lounge, on Oct. 29, 2025. Sink had a successful junior season in 2025, hitting .344 with two home runs and 37 RBIs, and also had a great season on the mound, going 6-0 in eight appearances as a pitcher, starting
JERSEYVILLE - Amelia Jumper, a freshman cross country runner for Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100, qualified for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Sectional meet. She also accomplished a goal of breaking 20 minutes at the 2A Cross Country Regional in Taylorville with a time of 19 minutes, 51.2 seconds. Jumper, recognized as the Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month for Jersey, has shown strong performances throughout the season. Jumper, the No. 1 runner on her team, se
ALTON - On November 6, 1925, 16-year-old Helen Hamer gave a recital to mark her completion of a course in expression and elocution under Mrs. Margaret Slifer-Lancaster, head of the Lancaster School of Oratory. Hamer had been “a favorite reader in Alton for a number of years,” and several hundred people attended the recital at Spalding Auditorium. All seats in the auditorium were filled, “as well as the passage ways and halls, and many people had to return to their homes for
EDWARDSVILLE — Metro East Lutheran High School sophomore Lucy Doyle set a personal three-mile cross country record at the 1A sectional meet at Trenton Wesclin on Nov. 1, 2025, finishing with a time of 18 minutes, 59.7 seconds. Doyle also recorded a time of 19:32.0 at the 1A Trenton-Wesclin Regional on Oct. 25, 2025, securing her advancement to the state finals at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Doyle’s season has been marked by steady improvement. She placed second at the Granite City
GRANITE CITY - Kailyn Lowe, a senior outside hitter for the Granite City High girls volleyball team, had a good season for herself, even if the Warriors' final record doesn't reflect how hard the team worked in the 2025 campaign. The Warriors wound up with a 5-19-1 record, but it doesn't truly reflect how resilient the team was, or how hard the players worked to improve and get better. Lowe herself had a good season, having 77 kills, serving up 17 points with seven aces, coming up with three
ST. LOUIS — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has announced that her office is adding a new count to its ongoing quo warranto case seeking the permanent removal of Alfred Montgomery from his position as St. Louis city sheriff. The additional charge alleges Montgomery violated Missouri statute § 106.220 by failing to personally devote his time to performing the duties of sheriff while incarcerated miles outside the city he is charged with protecting. Hanaway said Montgomery’s
GRAFTON - The Grafton Country Music Festival invites the Riverbend community to enjoy a weekend of local bands in Grafton. From Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, the City of Grafton will host several bands complete with contests, drink specials and more fun at their local bars. Mary Jo and Jan, members of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, invite people to come out and enjoy the good vibes. “Hopefully, the town will be hopping,” Mary Jo said. “Everybody in
PIASA — Addy Walden, a senior setter for the Southwestern Piasa Birds girls volleyball team, played a key role in the 2025 season, earning recognition as the Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. Walden, who also competes in girls' soccer for Southwestern in the spring, was praised by her volleyball coach, Derek Dempsey, for her performance throughout the Piasa Birds volleyball season in 2025. She is a mid fielder in soccer. “She was a good player
EDWARDSVILLE – A lawsuit filed on behalf of a 14-year-old Madison County boy and his mother alleges the companies behind Roblox and Discord are “accountable for creating breeding grounds for predators.” The suit claims both companies enabl ed the sexual exploitation of the anonymous teen victim while prioritizing profit over child safety . Roblox is an online game platform self-described as “the ultimate virtual universe,” while
SMITHTON — Raegan Davis, a student at Freebird High School, attended the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Preview Day on Nov. 1 with her parents, Chris and Lindsey Davis. The event took place at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on the UT Martin campus. Preview Day is designed to give prospective students an opportunity to explore the university, meet professors in their chosen fields, and gather information about academic programs, financial aid, scholarships, housing, and student
PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that a weekend lane closure of eastbound Interstate 270 from Illinois 203 to Illinois 111 in Madison County will begin, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. The closure is necessary for pavement striping and is expected to be lifted by midnight Sunday, Nov. 9. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this lane closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert
ALTON/GODFREY - The North Alton-Godfrey Business Council will host its 21st Annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Godfrey. The event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., offers a festive morning of holiday activities for all ages, including live music, a magic show, face painting, balloon creations, and an opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Located at 1713 Stamper Lane in Godfrey, the Knights of Columbus Hall will serve a holiday
GRANITE CITY – Local authorities have charged two individuals in felony cases of fraud, including a Granite City man accused of wire and mail fraud and a St. Louis woman charged with identity theft and more. Cody L. Vivod, 30, of Granite City, was charged on Oct. 27, 2025 with one count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, and use of account number or code with intent to defraud, each Class 3 felonies. From June 2-23, 2025, Vivod allegedly knowingly devised a scheme to defraud Carpet City
ALTON - Community members are invited to downtown Alton for the First Friday shopping experience. From 5–8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, downtown shops will stay open later and a shuttle will be available to transport participants to stores and restaurants throughout the downtown district. Alton Main Street organizes the First Friday events. Executive Director Sara McGibany encouraged people to shop local as the holidays approach, highlighting opportunities on First Friday and Small
COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville's Jenni Smith is seeking financial assistance for her husband’s medical care and family expenses following a severe staph infection that led to emergency surgery and partial amputation of his foot. Smith explained that her husband’s condition deteriorated rapidly, necessitating surgery and resulting in an expected recovery period of six to eight months during which he will be unable to walk. The family faces mounting hospital bills, medication costs, and
WOOD RIVER - A local organization is seeking donations to support sexual violence survivors. Metro East Every Survivor Counts provides resources, counseling, advocacy and more support to survivors. Executive Director Ella Barrett noted that they need donations to continue their work in Madison and St. Clair Counties, and they have started a GoFundMe to facilitate donations amidst the federal government shutdown. “It’s always so beautiful to see when our community gives bac
GRAFTON - Scott Isringhausen, a park ranger at Pere Marquette in Grafton, expressed surprise at the vibrant fall colors persisting into November, noting it is likely the latest in the season he has seen such a display. However, he emphasized that those who want to see fall colors at their best should visit the region this weekend. “It is getting so late in the year, into November, and the fall colors are pretty now,” he said. He attributed the prolonged foliage to an unusually mild
STAUNTON – As part of their annual Employee Appreciation Week celebration in October, the employees at Madison Communications took part in a friendly team challenge to collect non-perishable food items for local food pantries. The initiative not only encouraged teamwork but also highlighted Madison’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities they serve. Through their collective efforts, Madison employees gathered an impressive total of twelve milk crates and multiple boxe
ALTON - Attorney Holly Marcum is here to demystify workers’ compensation cases for both employers and their employees. Marcum, a partner with Keith Short & Associates in Alton, explained that workers’ comp is “a very nuanced area of law.” She often deals with acute injuries, where someone is injured in an instant, but she also sees a lot of repetitive injuries, like the development of carpal tunnel syndrome over time. “It’s anybody who’s been
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