ALTON - Over 800 Alton Community Unit School District #11 staff members came together for a back-to-school breakfast. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, teachers, staff members and administrators connected at Alton High School for the second annual Welcome Back Staff Breakfast. Attendees chatted about their summer and the upcoming school year, and the group celebrated retiring educators and new teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Wendy Adams-Watkins highlighted the breakfast
EDWARDSVILLE - Dennis and Jan (née Stelloh) Reilly of Edwardsville are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Their lives together began on August 20th, 1966, when they were married at Immacolata Church in Richmond Heights, Missouri. Over the past six decades, they built a life centered on faith, family, friendship, and a love of adventure. Dennis and his bride, Jan were blessed with three wonderful children: Becki Reilly of Edwardsville; Erin Reilly Logan(deceased); Jim Logan of
ST. LOUIS - World of Outlaws race car drivers brought joy, smiles and thrills to patients at Shriners Children’s St. Louis. In town for the Ironman 55 at the I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely, drivers made time for local patients and signed autographs, showed off racing gear and even gave patients a look at the sprint cars and a McLaren GT up close. Five different drivers from World of Outlaws helped patients get in and out of the cars and answered questions about their
HAMEL/EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 has officially issued a request for qualifications for the construction project at Hamel Elementary School. During the Board of Education’s regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan explained that the district is seeking an architecture firm to complete the necessary construction at Hamel Elementary School. “Basically, they’re giving us their pitch,” he explained.
DUPO - State Representatives Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) recognized Sugar and Sage Cafe in Dupo as his ‘Business of The Month’ for July. Rep. Schmidt met with the owner Debra Bockrath to present her with an official certificate of recognition from the Illinois House of Representatives. “This family-owned café prides themselves for their hard work, faith, and commitment to bring people together in the community,” said Schmidt. “Debra and her team have
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pritzker celebrated the renaming the historic Illinois State Armory in Springfield as the Governor Jim Edgar Executive Office Building. The designation honors Governor Edgar's legacy of integrity and dedication to public service. Once renovations are complete, the building will serve more than 870 employees across multiple state agencies that work on behalf of the people of Illinois. "I can think of no more fitting tribute to Governor Jim Edgar than a building
CHICAGO – Ahead of Veterans Day at the Illinois State Fair Aug. 16, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Illinois Department of Veterans (IDVA) Affairs Director Terry Prince encourage Illinois service members, veterans and family members to review recent updates to the 2026 Benefits for Illinois Veterans Guide . “We are proud to have worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs to update the only comprehensive benefits guide designed for Illinois veterans, which combines federal,
ALTON – Alton may soon establish a dedicated fund for capital improvements as city officials look to improve their short and long-term infrastructure planning. Committee of the Whole members unanimously approved two resolutions related to capital improvements at their Aug. 10, 2026 meeting. The approved resolutions include the disbursement of $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create a designated Capital Projects fund, and a resolution to introduce an ordinance creatin
EDWARDSVILLE - During their regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education heard an update on summer construction. Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan outlined the summer’s completed projects and the upcoming projects that will be completed in the coming months. Duncan explained that phase one of the Central Office construction is complete. The district budgeted between $700,000–750,000 for the project and only spent
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt sponsored a newly signed law that will expand the workforce pipeline to get more Certified Nursing Assistants working in the long-term care industry. “Nursing assistants are a vital cog in our health care system,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Expanding the workforce pipeline for Certified Nursing Assistants will not only reduce the time-to-hire for trainees, but it will also provide trainees with more opportunities to learn and adapt.”
EDWARDSVILLE - In recognition of National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on August 11, Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas is encouraging residents to consider serving their community as Election Judges for the upcoming November General Election. Madison County currently has approximately 700 Election Judges in its pool, but additional judges are needed—particularly individuals who can serve as Republican Election Judges. Illinois election law provides for bipartisan staffing of polling
ALTON - A movie has been filmed in Alton, and community members are eager to see their small town on the big screen. During the North Alton-Godfrey Business Council’s regular meeting on Aug. 11, 2026, the three people behind the movie’s creation spoke about the film and its production in Alton. “Herbert West: Reanimator” is a psychological horror film starring Joseph Morgan and Katie Cassidy. The story takes place in Alton, and the crew spent the past eight weeks filmin
EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville police will join more than 200 law enforcement agencies across Illinois from Aug. 14, 2026, through the early morning hours of Sept. 8, 2026, for statewide enforcement campaigns aimed at stopping impaired driving, enforcing seat belt laws and reducing other dangerous driving behaviors. The Edwardsville Police Department will participate in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High. Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket”
GRANITE CITY – A sex offender from East St. Louis faces a felony in Madison County after allegedly soliciting a minor near a school. Rashad V. Lumpford, 32, of the 400 block of Wimmer Place in East St. Louis, faces a Class 3 felony count of indecent solicitation of a child. The charge was filed Aug. 5, 2026 in Madison County court and stems from an alleged incident two days prior on Aug. 3, 2026. Lumpford is accused of knowingly soliciting a 13-year-old child to perform a sex act with th
FERGUSON, MO. — Two 17-year-old suspects are facing adult criminal charges in connection with the Jan. 30, 2026, shooting death of ride-share driver Shannon O’Brien, an Edwardsville High School graduate, in Ferguson, Mo. after investigators said rival groups met for a planned shootout in the 1700 block of Windward Court. The St. Louis County Family Court certified Lamarkus Van, 17, of the 2500 block of Haber Drive in St. Louis, as an adult Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. The St. Louis County
VENICE - A Venice, Illinois, man was sentenced Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in St. Louis to 154 months in prison for the 2024 armed robbery and carjacking of one man and for shooting at another man about an hour later. Harry Moore, 21, pleaded guilty in April in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of carjacking and one felony count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. On Sept. 4, 2024, Moore was driving a Cadillac that had been stolen in
ROXANA - Max Autery gave Roxana baseball a steady presence behind the plate and production throughout the lineup, recently concluding an athletic career at Roxana with another strong baseball season as a catcher, infielder and pitcher before heading to Quincy University to play baseball. Roxana baseball coach Jerry Wheaton said Autery, a four-year starter, also had tremendous success on the football field. “Max was the leader behind the plate,” Wheaton said. “He’s going
JERSEYVILLE – Felony charges have been filed against a Godfrey resident accused of injuring an officer and fleeing police on the same day. Caleb M. Hudson, 22, of Godfrey, was charged in Jersey County court on Aug. 4, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class 4 felony count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Hudson is accused of causing bodily injury by failing to bring his vehicle to a stop after being signaled by a law enforcement officer
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to watch for suspicious activity near churches and outdoor A/C units after reports that individuals have been stealing copper piping from A/C units at local churches near the St. Clair County/Henry County line. The Sheriff’s Office said the reports involve copper thefts. No additional details were provided about when the thefts occurred or why the churches were targeted. “Please keep
O'FALLON, Ill. – HSHS Medical Group welcomes John M. Kaschke, MD, a family medicine and sports medicine physician, to HSHS Medical Group Family and Sports Medicine - O'Fallon at 670 Pierce Blvd. Dr. Kaschke offers comprehensive family medicine for patients of all ages alongside specialized sports medicine and orthopedic care, addressing everything from routine primary care to muscle, bone and joint pain, sports injuries and movement issues. As a family medicine physician, he serves as
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