ALTON – Alton officials recently approved an additional $100,000 to help the Alton Amphitheater attract quality talent next year. Alton City Council members on Sept. 9, 2026 unanimously passed a resolution allocating $100,000 to the Alton Amphitheater Commission from the city’s Marina Development Fund, also known as the Hotel Tax Fund. The commission’s ability to book quality entertainers to perform at the venue requires an additional $100,000 at least nine months prior
ALTON – A 26-year-old from Alton faces a felony after allegedly shooting a teenager at the Godfrey McDonald’s with a water gel gun. Darion L. Patrick, 26, of Alton, was charged on Sept. 1, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery. Patrick allegedly shot at a 16-year-old victim using an Orbeez gun, striking the victim about the body with a water gel ball projectile on July 22, 2026. Charging documents state the incident occurred in a public place, the McDonald’s
JERSEY COUNTY – A local transit agency is hoping to build a new office and dispatch facility and upgrade its equipment pending approval of state grant funds. Stephanie Stahlhut, executive director of the Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation, requested permission from the Jersey County Board to apply for a Transit Capital Grant for Tri-County Rural Transit. Illinois Valley operates Tri-County Rural Transit , which is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Stahlhut
BETHALTO/EAST ALTON - The 30th Annual Fly-In will take place on the weekend of September 26th & 27th. The two-day Fly-In is a family-friendly festival of airplanes, wheels, food, and fun hosted at the St. Louis Regional Airport. The event is full of activities, including tours of numerous types of aircraft, offering a “behind the fence” experience on the airport tarmac. For car enthusiasts, the Speed Demons Car Club will host the car show, plus plan to visit the family-friendly Kids
CHICAGO – Landmarks Illinois has announced the winners of the 2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards . The annual awards program honors exceptional preservation leaders and community-led preservation efforts that spark economic development, contribute to a sustainable built environment, and improve the quality of life in communities across the state. This year’s nine award winners are in Alton, Alto Pass, Champaign County, Chicago, East St. Louis,
GODFREY, IL – Beverly Farm Foundation is pleased to announce that its annual fireworks display, postponed twice this summer due to severe weather, has been rescheduled for the evening of Saturday, September 26, on its campus in Godfrey, as part of Beverly Farm’s Fall Family Weekend. The fireworks display is free and open to the public. Event Details: • Date : Saturday, September 26, 2026 • Time : Arrive as early as 7:45 p.m. Quick Bite Frozen Treats ice cream truc
ALTON - Alton Pride will host their fifth annual festival this weekend to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and allies. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, the community is invited to Belle Street in Alton for a day of vendors, food trucks, live music, drag performances, karaoke and more. Juliet Steele, the president-elect of Alton Pride, noted that the event promises to be a fun day of acceptance while supporting local LGBTQ+ community members. “We need a judgment-free
TROY, IL. – This September, Tri-Township Library is joining the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month. To make this year extra special, the library has partnered with local businesses to launch their " Show Your Card and Save " campaign, offering exclusive discounts to library cardholders all month long. Throughout September, community members who show their Tri-Township Library card at participating local businesses will
HARDIN — A Calhoun County grand jury on Aug. 17, 2026, indicted Richard J. Large, 34, of Kampsville, on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault involving a victim under 13 years old after a sheriff’s office investigation into a child sexual assault complaint in Kampsville, authorities said. The charge is a Class X felony, according to a Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office press release. The investigation began April 21, 2026, when the sheriff’s office received a complaint
SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has eliminated an additional fee for notaries who provide electronic notarization services, making it easier and more affordable for Illinoisans to have documents notarized. As a result, Illinois notaries public can become commissioned electronic notaries without paying the additional $25 commission fee. The waiver, which took effect July 27, is already helping expand access to electronic notarization. As of Sept. 9, 137 applications for
EDWARDSVILLE – The offices of State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) and State Senator Jason Plummer (55th-Edwardsville) are partnering with the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office to host two ICASH events in the Metro East, helping residents search for unclaimed money or property that may be waiting for them. “Earlier this year, a constituent stopped by one of my ICASH events and discovered they had $94,000 waiting for them,” said Senator Harriss. “That’s
GRAFTON - Community members are invited to “sip, savor, and celebrate” the region’s local flavors at the third annual Craft Beverage Festival. From 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at the Grafton Winery Vineyards, the festival will feature over 20 vendors with wine, beer, spirits, coffee, soda and food samples. All of these vendors are local makers who are eager to share their products with the community. Hosted by Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, the event
DUPO, ILL. – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is hosting a Tire Recycling Event and Food Drive in Dupo and encourages constituents to attend. The event will provide residents with a safe and secure way to dispose of tires. Rep. Schmidt’s staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items to deliver to local food pantries throughout the 114th District. “I’m excited to host this event and help the community safely recycle unused tires,” said Schmidt.
ALTON – The Alton Amphitheater may get an extra $100,000 to help book quality acts for the 2027 season. Committee of the Whole members on Sept. 8, 2026 approved an amended resolution allocating $100,000 from the Marina Development Fund, also known as the Hotel Tax Fund, to the Alton Amphitheater Commission. The resolution states the commission’s ability to book quality entertainers to perform at the venue requires an additional $100,000 at least nine months prior to the event. T
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is asking for the public’s help as it continues investigating a Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, shooting in the 800 block of Saint William Drive in Cahokia Heights involving 17-year-old Darvel Thomas and a second teen. Thomas, of Cahokia Heights, has been identified as the 17-year-old victim in the homicide investigation, according to the Major Case Squad. A second victim, a 16-year-old from Cahokia Heights, was treated and released
GODFREY — A 41-year-old East Alton man was found dead early Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, after being struck by a train on railroad tracks between Tolle Lane and Pearl Street in Godfrey, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred about 5:31 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Timothy W. Freytag, of East Alton. The sheriff’s office responded to the scene with the Godfrey Fire Protection District,
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Cahokia Heights Police Department has added two new officers, Nyah Ford and James Matthews, who graduated last Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, from the 16-week Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy Session No. 159 and have begun field training in the community. Ford and Matthews are the department’s newest officers, according to information from the Cahokia Heights Police Department. The department encouraged community members to welcome the officers as they
O'FALLON, ILL. - Two O’Fallon Police officers graduated today from Session 159 of the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy, completing months of training before returning next week to begin field training, the O’Fallon Police Department said. Madison Ashford and Logan Schermesser officially completed the academy and will have “a well-earned weekend off” before reporting back, the department said. “We’re excited to have them back and ready
GODFREY — The Village of Godfrey is asking residents to help shape the future of recreation in the community by participating in a Recreation Center Needs Assessment Survey. The survey is designed to gather resident feedback about the programs, services, and amenities they would like to see included in a potential recreation center. Survey results will help the Village establish community priorities and determine whether development of a recreation center is feasible. The Village has hired
Fair Fun, Festivals and Community Gatherings Fill The Riverbend Calendar From live music and local fairs to family activities, art, markets and fundraisers, the Riverbend calendar is packed with upcoming ways to get out in the community. For the complete calendar, visit RiverBender.com Events . Leadership Development: Setting Expectations That Align Performance brings a 90-minute monthly lunch-and-learn to The Wedge Innovation Center in Alton on Friday, Sept. 11. Sponsored by RiverBend Growt
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