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GODFREY - At the recent Breakfast With Santa event, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick reflected on a great year in Godfrey. On Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, community members gathered for the 21st annual Breakfast With Santa event, sponsored by the North Alton-Godfrey Business Council. McCormick, a former business owner, emphasized the importance of groups like NAGBC and their efforts to support the community through events like this. “Anybody that has small kids that did not come to Breakfast

GODFREY - As the Alton and Godfrey communities prepare to celebrate the holidays, one North Alton-Godfrey Business Council member is reflecting on the year. On Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, NAGBC hosted their annual Breakfast With Santa event to bring families together for a meal with Santa Claus. Gerard Fischer, a Village of Godfrey trustee and member of NAGBC, expressed his excitement to be a part of the event. “It’s great to see the community come together,” he said. “Wha

GODFREY - Magician John Johnson recently performed at the North Alton-Godfrey Business Council’s annual Breakfast With Santa event. On Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, NAGBC hosted the Breakfast With Santa event to spread holiday cheer and bring families together. Johnson served as the event’s main entertainer, and he noted his excitement to perform in front of the many families who were in attendance. “It’s a family event,” he explained. “I love just seeing the

EDWARDSVILLE – The holiday season is filled with celebrations. To help make sure those celebrations don’t end in tragedy, the Edwardsville Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across Illinois in a major traffic safety effort. From Friday, December 12 through Monday, January 5, our officers will take part in the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High. Get a DUI.” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns. These supplemental

ST. LOUIS – The 2025 Take Flight Forum, hosted by Bi-State Development’s St. Louis Regional Freightway, brought together aviation leaders, educators, and students to explore the region’s dynamic aerospace ecosystem and the expanding opportunities for youth in aviation and STEM careers. The event, themed “STEM to Sky!,” featured a compelling panel discussion with Dr. Jennifer Kephart, Superintendent of the School District of Washington, Missouri, and Yolandea Wood,

ALTON - Chestnut Health Systems is providing free NARCAN® and training sessions on how and when to use the opioid overdose reversal medication. The virtual training, conducted via Zoom, allows participants to attend anonymously from their homes. The sessions are designed to be user-friendly, easy to follow, and engaging, with no tests or quizzes involved. Trainings are held every third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the next scheduled session on Dec. 18, 2025. In addition

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Virden man for allegedly disseminating child sexual abuse material. 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. The Attorney General’s office charged Jacob D. Monty, 28, in Macoupin County Circuit Court with two counts of dissemination

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS ROUNDUP GIRLS BASKETBALL MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 44, ALTHOFF CATHOLIC 32: Marquette Catholic rallied from an 18-7 first-quarter deficit to tie O'Fallon 30-30 at halftime, then outscored the Panthers in the second half 34-27 to take the win at the Marquette Family Arena. Laila Davis had 19 points for Marquette, Allie Weiner had seven points, while Jami Jones and Delaney Ortman added six points apiece. Caylee Rhoades had two points and Chayse Strickland

GRANITE CITY – Madison County court filings shed new light on a pending child pornography case involving a Granite City woman linked to a Kik account that shared Child Sexual Abuse Material. Alice Pierce, 28, of Granite City, was charged on Nov. 26, 2025 with four Class X felony counts of child pornography after two cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) prompted an investigation by the Madiso

ST. LOUIS – U.S. News & World Report has named eight BJC Health hospitals as 2026 High Performing hospitals for Maternity Care—the highest award a hospital can earn as part of its Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study. Barnes-Jewish Hospital , Memorial Hospital , Alton Memorial Hospital , Missouri Baptist Medical Center , Parkland Health Center , Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City , Saint Luke’s East Hospital , and Saint Luke's North Hospital–Barry

ROXANA — Troy Rahn, a senior at Roxana Senior High School, has been selected for the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Honors Chorus for the third consecutive year. Rahn, who will sing Bass 1 in the ensemble, is among the top-scoring vocalists from across Illinois chosen to participate in the prestigious program. The ILMEA All-State Student Programs will take place in Peoria from Jan. 29 to 31, 2026. This event brings together 1,500 students selected for various ensembles,

COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department, in partnership with the Caseyville and Maryville Police departments, hosted the annual CUSD #10 Cops and Kids Shopping Event on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, providing local children with a memorable holiday experience. The event began with a breakfast with Santa, organized by the American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion. Following the meal, about 20 police squad cars transported the children in a parade-style procession, complete

SHILOH - The Shiloh Police Department announced the graduation of Officer Arkim Lewis and Officer Landon Tourville from the Southwestern Illinois Police Academy. The announcement was made recently, with both officers set to begin their field training. Officer Landon Tourville was recognized for his physical fitness, receiving the award for best overall in that category. The department expressed congratulations to both officers on their achievement. The Southwestern Illinois Police

SWANSEA — KeyShawn G. Smith, 24, has been charged with multiple felony counts related to the online exploitation of minors following an investigation initiated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Swansea Police Department. The investigation began on Oct. 9, 2025, when the ICAC Task Force notified Swansea police of a possible adult suspect involved in child exploitation and possession of child pornography. Swansea Police detective Alex Wilken, an ICAC member

EAST ALTON — The Village of East Alton announced the winners of its "Night of Christmas" Christmas Tree Contest, held recently in the community. Based on votes cast during the event, the first-place winner was "Merry Stitchmas" by Larissa and Lona Heeren. The East Alton Fire Department took second place with their tree, "Ring the Bell," while the Eastwood Student Council earned third place for "A POSITIVELY Great Christmas." Judges also selected winners in several categories. "Best Creativity"

BELLEVILLE — The Belleville Police Department announced the graduation of Officer Kaysia Dean from the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy. Dean, who recently completed the academy’s training program, has joined the Belleville Police Department as a probationary police officer. The Belleville Police highlighted that Dean’s accomplishment is the result of “countless hours of effort, determination, and heart" and said they have strong expectations for her

GODFREY – The Village of Godfrey is set to continue its Concrete Pavement Replacement Program, with Mont Vista Avenue and other areas set to get new concrete slabs over the next two years. Members of the village’s Finance Committee and Village Board of Trustees last week unanimously approved the continuation of the Annual Concrete Pavement Replacement Program for 2026 and 2027. Village Engineer Rich Beran outlined the expected concrete work to be completed in 2026 and 2027

ALTON/GRANITE CITY - Community members have the chance to see an enchanting Christmas-themed magic show. Alton Little Theater will host “The Magicians of Christmas — A Holiday Spectacle of Wonder and Illusion!” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12 and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. The Mill in Granite City will host the same show at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Magicians Tony Loving and John Johnson promise all shows will be a spectacular experience for families,

Did you know that watching holiday movies as a family can significantly boost emotional bonds and create lasting memories? According to a study published in the Journal of Family Psychology , engaging in shared leisure activities such as movie watching strengthens familial relationships and improves communication across generations. But what makes a holiday movie truly “family-friendly,” and which titles stand out as the best choices for a cozy, joyful gathering? This article explores

December 9 has long been a date marked by pivotal moments in history, spanning politics, science, culture, and more. In 1775, during the American Revolutionary War, King George III formally declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. This declaration was a crucial step that escalated tensions between Great Britain and its American colonies, eventually leading to the colonies' fight for independence. The king's proclamation underscored the deepening rift and set the stage for the struggles