This Day in Music History: Aug. 22 — Led Zeppelin’s Last Studio Album Reaches America On Aug. 22, 1979, Led Zeppelin’s In Through the Out Door received its official U.S. release, bringing a seven-song record of surprising new colors from one of rock’s defining bands. It became the group’s eighth and final studio album. Its importance became clearer after drummer John Bonham died the following year and Led Zeppelin disbanded rather than continue without him. The
WOOD RIVER – Alton Police have charged a Wood River man with firing a weapon from inside a vehicle, fleeing from an officer on foot, and more. Michael R. Boda, 35, of Wood River, was charged on Aug. 20, 2026 with one count each of felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 3 felony), reckless discharge of a firearm (a Class 4 felony), and resisting a peace officer (a Class A misdemeanor). Boda is accused of recklessly discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle while in close proximity to
JERSEYVILLE – A day of remembrance for those who lost a family member during their military service will be held later this fall following city approval of an official proclamation and related road closures. At their Aug. 18, 2026 meeting, Jerseyville City Council members unanimously approved a request from Greg Breden, superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Jersey County, regarding a proclamation and road closures related to this year’s Gold Star Mothers and Families
ST. LOUIS - A man in his 30s died after a shooting late Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in the Fairgrounds neighborhood in St. Louis, where District 6 officers responded to the 4100 block of North Grand after a call for a shooting, police said. Officers arrived around 10:20 p.m. and found the man on Penrose beneath an older brown F-150. He was conscious and breathing and had suffered a gunshot wound. EMS took the man to a hospital for life-saving treatment, but he later died. Homicide detectives wer
GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Police served a search warrant at about 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in the 200 block of Glen Carbon Road after a report and investigation into animal cruelty, finding more than 20 animals, both living and deceased, inside a home, authorities said. Responding officers removed all of the animals from the home and brought them to the Glen Carbon Police Department. Hawthorn Animal Hospital assessed the animals, and various rescues provided emergency care and placement.
GODFREY - Community members can learn more about property fraud and how to protect themselves. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at the Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club, Madison County Clerk and Recorder Linda Andreas will present information about Property Fraud Alert. This free service is available to Madison County residents and aims to alert them when there is fraudulent activity affecting their property. “It’s free to Madison County residents, and it could save
ALTON - A few Alton High School students were recognized for their participation in a national competition. During the regular Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2026, the Board honored Lily Burns, Lillian Fazio, Carter Stahl and Trenton Wilson for their success in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program. Kelsie Davison, who teaches Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) at Alton High School, introduced the
ALTON - Community members who want to learn more about taxes in retirement can join an upcoming free lunch and learn. At 12 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, Stephens Planning will host a free informational lunch and learn at The Wedge in Alton. Financial planner Curtis Stephens will answer common questions about retirement planning and taxes. He encourages people to come out and learn more, adding that there’s no right or wrong place to start. “It’s always one day at a
GODFREY – More than 600 guests, including 365 incoming students, converged on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey Campus on Thursday, Aug. 20, for Trailblazer Welcome Day. The annual event is a chance for students and their families to learn about student services, clubs and activities, meet instructors, and find their classes in preparation for the semester, which begins Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. "It was great welcoming so many students with their friends and family
ALTON – Two people charged in separate cases involving damage to AT&T cables face felonies in Jersey and Madison Counties. Robert C. Kenshalo, 50, of Alton, was charged on Aug. 14, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of theft and a Class 4 felony count of tampering with communication services for remuneration (a Class 4 felony). Kenshalo allegedly stole over $500 worth of telecommunications wire or cables belonging to AT&T on April 7, 2026 before using, concealing, or abandoning the property.
ALTON — Club Car Wash has begun demolition at the former Auto Butler site on Homer Adams Parkway in Alton, where it plans to build a new car wash facility with the latest technology after Auto Butler closed permanently following 20 years in business. Auto Butler owners Lisa Heims-Stout and Gary Stout retired and Club Car Wash purchased the property, Lisa Heims-Stout said Saturday, June 20, 2026. She said Club Car Wash purchased the property where Auto Butler had operated, but not the business
EDWARDSVILLE — A Madison County jury found an Alton man guilty of attempted murder after prosecutors said he shot another man four times outside a Locust Street residence in Alton, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. The jury found Samuel J. Chatman, 31, guilty of attempted murder, a Class X felony; aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony; possession of a firearm by a repeat felon, a Class X felony; and aggravated discharge of
HARDIN - The Calhoun County Fair promises a fun weekend featuring a carnival, live music, 4-H displays, pageants, a parade and plenty more. From Sept. 10–13, 2026, community members can stop by the Calhoun County Fairgrounds for a weekend of “classic” fair entertainment, said organizer Patrick Simon. He added that the greater community is welcome to join the fair and check out what they have to offer, and he hopes all attendees enjoy visiting Hardin and experiencing the fair
GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City has been charged with various financial crimes stemming from an alleged fraudulent scooter purchase using an elderly victim’s personal information. Jeffrey F. Pointer Jr., 38, of Granite City, was charged on Aug. 11, 2026, with one count each of continuing a financial crimes enterprise (a Class 1 felony), aggravated identity theft, identity theft (both Class 2 felonies), financial institution fraud, and misappropriation of financial institution
BETHALTO - Community members can help Civic Memorial High School students by donating their unused calculators. Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 is hosting its first Calculator Drive. People who have calculators they no longer use can connect with Civic Memorial to donate these tools. The goal, explained Principal Justin Newell, is to ensure no student lacks the supplies they need to learn. “That’s one of the biggies that kids need,” he said. “Getting calculator
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is joining Facing Fentanyl , to unite families, communities and organizations across the country in recognizing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, Friday, August 21. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the national observance which honors and remembers the lives lost to fentanyl poisoning. This year’s theme, “Power of the Parent,” recognizes the critical role parents and families play in shaping
The mind often gets louder just as life starts getting quieter. That shift helps explain why late summer so often sparks reflection. The calendar has not fully turned, yet something feels as if it is already changing. Long plans begin to wind down. Vacations end. School routines return. Gardens fade. The days still hold warmth, but there is a subtle sense of narrowing. In that in-between space, many people find themselves looking back as much as they look ahead. Reflection during late summer
On August 21, one of the most important events in world history is the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, where Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III and took the English crown as Henry VII. At the time, this battle ended the long and damaging Wars of the Roses, a struggle between rival royal houses that had weakened England for decades. It mattered immediately because it brought a new ruling dynasty, the Tudors, to power and restored a measure of political stability. It still matters today because
ALTON - Riverbend residents will have a chance to watch most of the moon slip into Earth's shadow next week as a partial lunar eclipse crosses the night sky. The eclipse will take place Thursday night, Aug. 27, into the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, and will be visible across much of North and South America as well as portions of Europe and Africa. NASA lists the event as a partial lunar eclipse. For viewers in Alton and the surrounding Riverbend area, the eclipse will begin
This Day in Music History: Aug. 21 On Aug. 21, 1935, Benny Goodman and his orchestra opened at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, a date widely recognized as the start of the swing era. The engagement was a decisive reversal for a band that had spent months on a difficult cross-country tour after its coast-to-coast radio run on NBC’s “Let’s Dance.” At the Palomar, Goodman’s tightly arranged, hard-driving dance music found the young audience it had been seeking.
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