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ALTON – Two men from Alton face felony charges in unrelated cases of domestic battery. Ahmad M. Gerhardt, 23, of Alton, was charged on June 20, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery, and a Class A misdemeanor count of domestic battery. On June 17, 2025, Gerhardt allegedly caused great bodily harm to a family or household member by striking them in the head with a piece of wood, causing a severe laceration to the victim’s forehead. He was additionally accused of striking the same victim about the body with a belt. The victim reported that Gerhardt began striking them about the body with a belt during an argument before hitting them in the head with the piece of wood. Officers documented the victim’s injuries, including the forehead laceration and abrasions to the victim’s body. Gerhardt fled the scene, but was later located and claimed he had “hit the victim with the piece of wood

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ST. LOUIS - A heat advisory remains in effect through Thursday evening, June 26, 2025, for the Alton area and the Metro East region, following a heat warning that lasted until Monday night, June 23, 2025, according to National Weather Service in St. Louis meteorologist Brad Charboneau. Residents can expect heat indexes ranging from the upper 90s to 105 degrees Tuesday through Thursday, he said. The forecasted high for Monday is 95 degrees with a low of 77 degrees overnight, then a high of 95 is predicted for Tuesday and 94 degrees on Wednesday. Thursday is again predicted to have a high near 95 degrees. On Friday, a high of 93 degrees is predicted, so the weather will be a repeat nearly every day this week. Charboneau said the persistent heat is due to a high-pressure system settled over the Ohio Valley, creating a stationary dome of heat typical for summer months. This system, combined with significant humidity and limited air flow, is causing hot and humid conditions to continue

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SAINT LOUIS - Rachael Sage doesn’t apologize for her art. Sage, a Billboard-charting independent artist, will perform at Riviera STL on July 8, 2025, as part of her “Joy = Resistance” tour with Kristen Ford. As she prepares to tour and release her 17th album, “Canopy,” later this year, Sage looks forward to getting back onstage and enjoying the “bliss” of sharing her voice with other people. “It’s as close to Zen as I think I ever get,” she said. “For me, it’s this absolute freedom to get up on stage, have this connection with the community and the moment, and just celebrate life and joy and our collective humanity.” As an independent artist, it’s up to Sage to manage the writing, mastering, scheduling, marketing and press for her work. While it’s a lot of work, it’s also exciting for her to share her message with the world. She loves performing and always looks forward to returning

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ALTON – An Alton resident has been charged with burglarizing a Delmar Avenue business and stealing a wide variety of products from within. Devon A. Pierson, 23, of Alton, was charged on June 18, 2025 with one count each of burglary (a Class 2 felony) and theft (a Class 3 felony). Pierson is accused of knowingly entering Cloud Buster Smoke Shop, located at 508 W. Delmar Ave. in Alton, without authority on Feb. 9, 2025 with the intent to commit a theft. He reportedly stole “three boxes of ‘Perk’ pills, approximately 40 to 50 jars of wax, approximately 30 pre-rolls, and United States currency from a tip jar,” according to court documents. The stolen goods had a total combined value of more than $500. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Pierson, who was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - For the first time, the live sounds of classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach floated through the air in the Multipurpose Room of Building D on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus (WHYHEC). Bringing the melodies of the German composer to life at 12 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, via the clarinet, double bass, viola, violin and cello was the partnership between the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music and the SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts (ESLCPA) program. The collaboration is part of the SIUE Department of Music Summer Chamber Music Festival. The free, hour-long concert, performed by Chamber Project Saint Louis (CPSTL) for students and staff on the WHYHEC, opened the project that is offering a classical music concert for all, and music and dance workshops for ESLCPA students. SIUE Jazz workshops will be held Thursday, June 26. “This is my first time working with the student

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MADISON COUNTY — Deputies from the Madison County Sheriff's Office participated in the Alton River Dragons First Responder Night event recently in Alton. Deputies Chris Alfaro and Maricela Williams represented the sheriff’s office during the event, which also included a tribute to Alton Police Department K9 Odin, who was killed in the line of duty. The First Responder Night event was aimed at honoring first responders and recognize their service to the community. The Madison County Sheriff's Office expressed sincere gratitude for the opportunity to pay tribute to K9 Odin, acknowledging the sacrifice made by the K9 and the police department.

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CENTRALIA - Friends, family and supporters of Staff Sergeant Josh Melton have launched a fundraiser to repair a memorial statue honoring the fallen soldier in Centralia, organizers announced Monday, June 23, 2025. The campaign, created by Alex Pracht, a former Army comrade of Melton’s, and Mike Melton, Josh’s father, seeks donations to cover the cost of repairing damage recently sustained by the statue. The memorial stands as a tribute to Melton’s service and sacrifice and holds deep significance for his family, friends, and the local community. “Josh was not only a brother-in-arms but a remarkable friend, and his memory continues to inspire all of us who knew him,” Pracht said in a statement. He added that the damage to the statue has been “heartbreaking,” but expressed hope that with public support, the statue can be restored to its original condition. Funds raised will be used for materials, labor and any restoration work necessary to retur

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EDWARDSVILLE — A Parkinson’s support group at the Edwardsville YMCA has been providing resources, activities, and social connection for people living with the disease and their caregivers since summer 2019. The group meets at 2 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Edwardsville YMCA Niebur Center, located at 1200 Essic Drive in Edwardsville. It is open to individuals with Parkinson’s, their caregivers, and anyone interested in learning more about the condition. The support group continues to add people with each session. Jean Price, a retired nurse who has volunteered as a facilitator for two years, described the group as a place where participants “do some fun things” and share practical tips to make everyday life easier. The program often features guest speakers, including healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, physical therapists, and dietitians, as well as instructors offering yoga and spinning classes on stationary bikes. Past session

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GREENE COUNTY - The Greene County Economic Development Group (GCEDG) met recently with Frontier Communications to discuss the timeline and permitting for the fiber internet projects in the county. Over 1 million feet of fiber cable is expected to be installed in Greene County by the end of 2025, covering most of the county. The remaining projects are expected to be completed in the first half of 2026. When all the projects are complete, over 500 miles of fiber will provide available service to over 4,500 locations across Greene County. Frontier recently installed fiber in and around Carrollton providing fast, reliable internet to residents of that community. A significant number of residents in that area are experiencing great internet service with significant cost savings. Work has begun in both Roodhouse and White Hall to prepare the switch hubs for fiber installation in those communities and the rural areas across the northern part of the county. In addition, the engineering design

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ALTON - Lee and Dottie Graham of Alton celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Lee and the former Dorothy Harlan were married May 29, 1965, at First Baptist Church where Rev. Gilbreath officiated their wedding. Lee retired from Guy’s Chips and Madison County Transit and Dottie is retired from Dierberg’s, Park and Shop and Kroger’s. They are the parents of Julie and Todd Heinemann of Bethalto, Holly and Michael Bunch of Godfrey and the late Christopher Graham. They have six grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE – The US Air Force Band of Mid-America's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble will present a series of July 4th concerts in the St. Louis area: Wednesday, July 2, 7:00 p.m. – Logan University, Purser Center (1851 Schoettler Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017) Thursday, July 3, 5;00 p.m. – Shiloh Community Park Pavilion (14 Park Dr, Shiloh, IL 62269) Friday, July 4, 6:30 p.m. – Bond County Square, as part of the Bond County Fourthfest (Downtown Greenville, IL 62246) Concert and venue information: All concerts are free and open to the public. Venues for July 3 and 4 are outdoors. Ticket reservations are required for the July 2 and 3 performances at afbandtix.org . Shades Of Blue Jazz Ensemble The Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble performs a variety of styles, ranging from traditional big band jazz to bebop, swing, and modern jazz. At one of their concerts you are just as likely to hear the music of contemporary composers as you would the classic

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School has been awarded a Readers’ Choice Grant from the Association of Illinois School Library Educators/LBSS Endowment Fund. This competitive, annual, state-wide grant is available to school and public libraries that have registered for the Monarch (Pre-K-2), Bluestem (3-5), Caudill (6-8) or Lincoln (9-12) reading programs. Fifty-nine libraries around the state were awarded this grant. GCHS library/media center specialist Jennifer Connolly applied for the grant. This grant is designed to encourage students to read books on this year’s Readers’ Choice lists and generate excitement for library programs. GCHS media center will receive a full set of the books for students to read and enjoy. As an added bonus, GCHS students will vote for their favorite book from the set and results will be submitted for the state-wide award winner. Part of the application process included: State who and how the program would

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EDWARDSVILLE - The children made it look easy. They hustled and bustled without any talking – only intense concentration – as they industriously pulled weeds, removed brush, sticks and other debris from the over-run Community Garden beds on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis. Seven students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Project Success Program participated in the Green-Thumb Project, made possible by the SIUE Learning Resource Center. “The idea for starting an LRC Gardening Club came to me after attending Reaching Forward South, a conference for library staff hosted by the Illinois Library Association,” said LRC Coordinator Amber Davis. “One of the sessions focused on integrating STEAM education through sustainable gardening, which inspired me to explore ways to bring low-cost, engaging STEAM programming to the LRC. The concept of sustainable gardening resonated with me because of the desire to help

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GRANITE CITY - State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik have partnered to host a free Kids Fair Event this weekend. The event will feature free resources for parents and their children, free vison/hearing tests, face painting, food, touch-a-truck, a foam party, and so much more! The Kids Fair will be held this Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Mill (Former Niedringhaus United Methodist Church), located at 1311 20th Street, Granite City, Ill., 62040.

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EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - Fallyn Sanders, a rising senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, has been named a Midwest Members Credit Union Athlete of the Month for her achievements in cheerleading and soccer. Sanders has been involved in cheer since sixth grade and has played soccer throughout her high school career. Sanders credited her family for their continuous support and highlighted the influence of her coaches, Alison Beachum for cheer and Diane Cox for girls soccer. Among her notable accomplishments, Sanders was named cheerleader of the day during her sophomore year at cheer camp and earned the title of “Ultimate Flyer” in her junior year. She and a teammate were recognized as “Ultimate Athletes” and invited to a parade in Rome. Additionally, she was co-MVP of her cheer team last year and received the most improved award for soccer during the 2025 season. Reflecting on her athletic experiences, Sanders said, “My involvement in sports shaped m

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WOOD RIVER — The Wood River Fire Department, along with East Alton and Roxana fire departments, responded Monday morning, June 23, 2025, to a fire alarm at East Alton-Wood River High School. Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut said units discovered smoke in a shop building caused by a minor electrical fire in a heater. Firefighters ventilated the area and isolated the problem, containing the smoke to the shop room. No injuries were reported. The school plans to investigate any further issues or concerns related to the incident.

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ALTON - After nearly five decades of safeguarding the memories of one of America's most legendary music festivals, Lyle Ward is bringing his treasure trove to Alton. As a former director of the Mississippi River Festival (MRF), which hosted The Grateful Dead, The Who, and Bob Dylan in its heyday – Ward’s personal collection of irreplaceable memorabilia will be on display during the revived festival weekend, Saturday, June 28, between 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Wedge located at 620 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002. Ward, who launched the legendary festival in 1969 on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus, is bringing his irreplaceable collection of memorabilia, photographs, posters, and archives to the current MRF team, who will maintain the collection for future public enjoyment and preservation. "Alton will benefit from the New Mississippi River Festival in many ways. BE A PART OF IT!" said Ward who is also the current President of the MRF Preservation

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is awarding over $1 million in new grants to assist public libraries in underserved communities with needed technology enhancements, Secretary and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced today. According to the Secretary of State’s office, 88 public libraries are receiving a grant – totaling an amount of either $27,500 or $12,500 – depending on the size of the population they serve. “Libraries play a significant role in our communities, providing a place for every Illinoisan to connect, learn and explore,” Giannoulias said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that all libraries, regardless of their community’s location or wealth, have the resources to meet the needs of residents and expand their offerings, particularly when it comes to technology.” To qualify, the libraries must have a low tax base in relation to the population of their service area. In applying for th

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites: “I ran for Congress so that when the drums of war started beating in Washington again, I’d be in a position to make sure that our leaders fully consider the true costs of war—not just in dollars and cents, but in the sacrifices and blood of our troops. The Trump Administration illegally bombed Iran tonight, putting American troops and citizens at risk of retaliation and threatening to draw us into yet another Middle East war without Constitutionally-required Congressional approval. I have long said Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. But this goal could and should have been pursued through diplomatic means first. “In this dangerous moment, my top priority is—and the Trump Administration’s top priority should be—ensuring the safety and security

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ALTON, IL – Something electric is happening in downtown Alton. The Wedge, powered by SIUE, is turning up the energy this July with a lineup of dynamic events that bring together entrepreneurs, visionaries, and changemakers from across the region. “At The Wedge, we’re not just hosting events—we’re building a culture of possibility. July’s lineup is about giving people the tools, connections, and momentum to move their ideas forward,” said Stephanie Schrage, Community Manager at The Wedge . “Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or just curious about what’s next—we want you in the room.” From rooftop networking and expert-led business courses to storytelling labs that reimagine how we see and shape our communities—every event this month is designed to spark collaboration and increase impact. “At The Wedge, we’re building more than just a space—we’re building momentum for bol

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