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100 Years Ago: Famous Ventriloquist and Alton Native Dies

3 days 5 hours ago
Actor, ventriloquist, letter carrier, and Panama–California Exposition gatekeeper George Mold died on April 25, 1926. An Alton Evening Telegraph article the next day announced the news. At the time of his death, Mold resided in Coronado Beach, California, but he grew up in Alton and frequently came back to the area to visit family and friends. George Mold moved to Wichita, Kansas, as a young man, and made “quite a success in amateur theatricals” there. In 1893, he played

Ryne Sandberg, Ken Griffey Jr. and Nolan Ryan Trading Cards, Gold Ingot, and More Available at Treasurer Michael Frerichs' Online ICash Auction

3 days 5 hours ago
Auction catalog available here . SPRINGFIELD – Collectible baseball cards of Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg, Nolan Ryan and Ken Griffey Jr., a gold ingot, and an 1868 French coin bearing the image of Napoleon III are just a few of the notable items available at the online ICash auction April 24-May 3, 2026. “Our online auction offers something unique and memorable for everyone,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in

Five Bethalto Students Awarded Mercy Hospital Scholarships and Jobs

3 days 5 hours ago
BETHALTO - Five senior students from Civic Memorial High School have been offered an impressive scholarship and job opportunity through Mercy Hospital. These five students — Brock Green, Grace Burton, Mia Suarez, Emma Moore and Ava Fassler — have been “blessed with an opportunity beyond belief,” said teacher Angie Parish. The students will join Mercy’s Win From Within program, where they will work as Patient Care Associates at Mercy Hospital and then attend colleg

Standoff Ends with Suspect Surrendering Peacefully

3 days 16 hours ago
EAST ALTON — The East Alton Police Department responded to an domestic disturbance that led to a brief standoff Saturday evening in the 600 block of Valley Drive. Police blocked off Valley Drive as several officers surrounded the home. Officers were heard over a loudspeaker calling for a suspect to exit the residence with his hands up. Authorities were also seen speaking with a woman outside the home before the suspect came out. After the brief standoff, a man exited the house and surrendered

Gallipoli Landing, First Guillotine Execution and Hubble Launch Mark April 25 in History

4 days 4 hours ago
On April 25, 1915, Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire, opening a campaign that quickly became one of World War I’s most costly and influential struggles. The plan was to force a sea route to Russia and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war, but difficult terrain, strong defenses, and flawed coordination turned the operation into months of trench warfare. It mattered then because it tied down enormous resources and reshaped strategy on several fronts.

Midwest Members Credit Union Sponsors March 2026 "Shell Of The Month"

4 days 5 hours ago
WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Shell of the Month” program at Roxana High School. Students from each grade level are selected each month by members of RHS faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a “Shell of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. March's Shell of the Month winners are: Senior- Kylee Slayden

Wood River Police Charge Alton Man With Firing Weapon, Causing Crash While Under Influence

4 days 5 hours ago
ALTON – A local man accused of firing a weapon towards an occupied vehicle and causing a traffic crash while under the influence of alcohol remains in custody on felony charges. Mylen T. Felton, 23, of Alton, was charged on April 20, 2026 with one count each of aggravated discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated driving while under the influence, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, each Class 4 felonies. The day prior on April 19, Felton allegedly

Jersey Community High School Announces 2026 Prom Court Members

4 days 5 hours ago
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 introduced the 2026 Jersey Community High School prom court, naming 14 students to the group, according to a district announcement. Those named to the 2026 JCHS prom court are Grace Russell, Taylor Woodring, Sophia Fraley, Abigail Chin, Madalyn Bodenbach, Adrian Blasa, Meredith Gray, Noah Borkowski, John Greathouse, Brandon Kennedy, Paul Slusser, Brady Maxeiner, Abe Kribs, and Connor Talley. Jersey's prom is from

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Welcomes Quรฉbec Government Delegation to Advance Global Partnerships and Innovation

4 days 5 hours ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Québec Government Office in Chicago, reinforcing its commitment to international collaboration and economic partnership development. The visit focused on identifying opportunities for cooperation across key industries, including transportation, logistics, aerospace, and professional services. Coordinated by the SIUE Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade

Calhoun County Sheriff Arrests Missouri Woman on DUI, Fentanyl Charges After Traffic Stop

4 days 5 hours ago
HARDIN - Calhoun County Sheriff Zach Hardin arrested a 37-year-old Louisiana, Mo., woman on multiple drug- and driving-related charges after a traffic stop Tuesday afternoon near the Joe Page Bridge in East Hardin, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. The stop occurred March 31, 2026, at about 1:43 p.m. on Illinois Highway 100, the sheriff’s office said. Following the stop and a subsequent investigation, Chelsi N. Griffin was arrested on charges of: • Aggravated

Illinois State Police Welcomes New Troopers Of Cadet Class 152

4 days 5 hours ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) welcomed 20 new Troopers today from Cadet Class 152 at a graduation ceremony at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield. The new Troopers will report to three ISP Troop locations throughout the state on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Cadet Class 152 marks the 25th cadet class graduation under Governor JB Pritzker and ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. Since 2019, 741 troopers have joined ISP. “On behalf of the State of Illinois, I’d

Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley High Schools Take Top Spots in Statewide Financial Literacy Contest, Win Bright Start College Savings Scholarships

4 days 5 hours ago
NAPERVILLE, Ill. – A team of four students from Naperville Central High School will compete in the National Personal Finance Challenge in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 31-June 1 after winning a statewide financial literacy contest sponsored by Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Naperville Central students Harsh Patel, Krish Patel, Taran Nathan and Rohan Jain outscored nine other teams in the finals of the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge. The contest is designed to provide students with

SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE Assists Physical Therapist's Transition to Entrepreneur

4 days 5 hours ago
EDWARDSVILLE - After more than two decades in physical therapy, licensed physical therapist and movement educator Alex Schaefer opened Recovery Through Movement in O’Fallon. By applying a brain-based approach, Schaefer’s practice is centered on education, empowerment, and long-term outcomes rather than short-term symptom relief. The therapist received guidance in his new role as entrepreneur from the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern

LC to Host Student-Led Discussion on AI in Education

4 days 5 hours ago
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will host a discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on education at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2026, on the Godfrey Campus. Hosted by LC President Ken Trzaska and the President’s Student Advisory Council, the event will feature a joint student and faculty panel promoting open dialog on campus around AI and its involvement with teaching and learning. “The idea is to have both sides of the coin represented — those

ISP Arrests Belleville Man For Attempted First-Degree Murder

4 days 16 hours ago
WASHINGTON PARK — Illinois State Police special agents have arrested a Belleville man in connection with a shooting that left a victim with life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Charles E. Little Jr., 40, was arrested by Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Major Crimes Unit special agents. The charges are as follows: Attempted First Degree Murder (Class X Felony), Aggravated Battery (Class X Felony), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Repeat

Mayor David Goins Proposes Changing Residency Requirements for City of Alton Employees

4 days 21 hours ago
ALTON - Alton Mayor David Goins today proposed a change to the city code, which would allow non-union employees the same rules for residency as city union employees. Currently, non-union employees who work for the City of Alton must have their primary residence within Alton School District 11. Goins has proposed that this be changed to encompass a broader area to include the counties of Illinois- Madison, Jersey, Macoupin, St. Clair; Missouri-St. Louis, St. Charles. This specific geography wa

O'Fallon's Jadii Castillo Elevated to Key Executive Position

4 days 21 hours ago
ST. LOUIS — The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis has promoted Jadii Castillo of O’Fallon, Illinois, to assistant executive director, the organization announced. Castillo has been with the association for three years and most recently served as director of membership and development. In that role, she managed the Sustaining Partnership Program, oversaw advertising in the association’s print and online publications, and served as staff liaison to multiple sections and

Student Innovation on Display at Jersey County CEO Annual Trade Event

4 days 21 hours ago
JERSEY - The Jersey County CEO program will hold its annual student trade show Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Farm & Home, where high school juniors and seniors will showcase businesses they developed in four months, according to program facilitator Liz Duggan. The event is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. and will feature student-run ventures including hand-painted press-on nails, a tech golf accessory, hand-crafted fishing lures and glide baits, baked goods, pocket-sized books, hot pepper jelly, custom-painte

Free Estate and Tax Planning Workshop Planned in Alton

4 days 22 hours ago
ALTON - An upcoming lunch and learn event aims to make estate and tax planning accessible, complete with free lunch, door prizes and plenty of information. At 12 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026, community members can stop by The Wedge in Alton for the lunch and learn with Stephens Planning and Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. Fiduciary advisor Curtis Stephens and attorney Liz Heller will team up to share basic information about how to take care of your estate. They promise “a

Rock Spring Golf Course Reopens for the Season Under New Management

4 days 22 hours ago
ALTON – The City of Alton is pleased to announce that Rock Spring Golf Course will officially reopen for the season on April 25, 2026 , welcoming golfers back to one of the community’s most cherished recreational amenities. The City is also excited to introduce Redbird Golf Course Management as the new operator of Rock Spring Golf Course for the 2026 season. With a strong background in golf course operations and a commitment to quality service, Redbird brings fresh energy and