On September 2, 1945, World War II formally came to an end when Japanese representatives signed the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The fighting had already been halted by Japan’s acceptance of Allied terms in August, but this ceremony mattered because it marked the official close of the deadliest war in human history. At the time, it signaled relief for millions after years of global conflict, occupation, bombing, and mass loss of life. It still matters
Upcoming Events Bring Festivals, Music and Markets to the Riverbend The Riverbend calendar is packed with Labor Day weekend traditions, live music, markets, family activities and community celebrations. Find even more upcoming happenings on the complete RiverBender.com Events calendar. First Fridays in Downtown Troy returns Friday, Sept. 4, in Downtown Troy with entertainment, live music, bar and restaurant specials from downtown businesses, local shopping, street vendors, food trucks an
ALTON — Voters will have an opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking three important public offices when YWCA Southwestern Illinois and the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) host a Candidate Forum on Tuesday, September 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the YWCA Gymnasium, 304 E. Third St., Alton. The forum is free and open to the public and will feature candidates in three races that will have a direct impact on residents of Madison County and the Metro East: ·
JERSEYVILLE – A full day of family fun comes to Jerseyville this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 for Jersey County’s 250th Jubilee, bringing the city’s first-ever watermelon eating contest, a pickleball tournament and much more. Wock Lake Color Run The festivities start early at 7 a.m. with a Color Run at Wock Lake. Runners may arrive wearing white, but are sure to leave more colorful as they get showered in colored powder and cheers from the sidelines. The first 40 adult entrants
BELLEVILLE - Deputy David Frisse has retired from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department in Belleville after 25 years of service, the department announced. Frisse began his career with the department as a patrol deputy on April 1, 2001, after previously serving as a police officer in Caseyville, East St. Louis, Shiloh and Alorton. After joining the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Frisse was assigned to the patrol division, where he remained for most of his career.
WOOD RIVER — For the second straight year, Jersey’s boys soccer team left Wood River with the East Alton-Wood River Soccer Tournament Invite championship, defeating Gibault Catholic 3-1 in the title match Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at the Soccer Park in Wood River. The Jersey boys are Sparklight Male Athletes of the Month for their early efforts on the season and 3-0 overall mark. Aden Brunaugh put Jersey ahead against Waterloo Catholic with the first goal at 37:10 in the first half,
EDWARDSVILLE — A Cross-River Crime Task Force deployment on Thursday, Aug. 27, in Madison County resulted in 21 arrests, the recovery of four stolen vehicles and the seizure of two firearms, as officers targeted violent crime, illegal firearms, drug trafficking and other criminal activity. The deployment included 37 officers from 11 law enforcement agencies throughout the region, including local, state and federal partners. The operation resulted in nine arrests on outstanding warrants,
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — A 45-year-old St. Louis man was charged Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, with two counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, according to St. Louis County Police on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges Aug. 31, 2026, against Kyle Blair, of the 4100 block of Passport Lane. Blair is being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond with no 10% option. According to the probable cause
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Three women were arrested Aug. 25, 2026, after Fairview Heights police said they stole 49 fragrance items valued at about $3,800 from Ulta Beauty at 6621 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights and fled officers in a vehicle pursuit through multiple communities. Officers with the Fairview Heights Police Department responded at approximately 6:22 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2026, to Ulta Beauty regarding a reported retail theft. Police said three female suspects entered the
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating more than 30 property crime incidents at churches across the city since July 1, 2026, including thefts and attempted thefts involving air-conditioning units, copper, water meters, pumps and other items that may have monetary or scrap value, the department said Aug. 31, 2026. The incidents have affected 30 different houses of worship in St. Louis Metropolitan Police Districts 4, 5 and 6, with several locations targeted
EAST ST. LOUIS – An East St. Louis woman accused of stealing over $22,000 by using an elderly victim’s debit card without consent faces felonies in Madison County. Tiffani D. Hobson, 41, of East St. Louis, was charged on Aug. 26, 2026 with one count each of theft of property over $5,000 by deception from an elderly person (a Class 2 felony), wire fraud and unlawful use of debit card (both Class 3 felonies). From June 17 to Aug. 28, 2026, Hobson allegedly used another person’s
SHILOH - Kids in Shiloh have a new way to learn coding and computer skills at Code Ninjas. Located at 3780 Green Mount Crossing Drive in Shiloh, Code Ninjas offers hands-on coding experience through games and robotics. Kids ages 5–14 can learn how to code and utilize technology in innovative ways. Owner Kay Cavataio looks forward to sharing her love for tech with the next generation. “Coding is an incredibly important skill for kids to have for the future,” she said. “It
GLEN CARBON - Three Glen Carbon residents were arrested without incident Aug. 31, 2026, at a motel in West Sullivan, Mo., on animal cruelty warrants issued after authorities said 18 neglected dogs were rescued Aug. 21, 2026, from a home in the 200 block of Glen Carbon Road in Glen Carbon. The Glen Carbon Police Department said Sullivan, Mo., police officers located Hannah Perry, 25, Donna Perry, 77, and Melanie Norem, 31, on the evening of Aug. 31, 2026, and took them into custody. All three
EDWARDSVILLE — Ben Schilbe, the quarterback for Metro-East Lutheran’s eight-man football team and a BJ’s Printables Male Athlete of the Month at MELHS, is helping lead the Knights into the 2026 season after a 7-3 campaign in 2025 and opened the 2026 season with a 78-36 win over Martinsville on Aug. 29, 2026. The Knights have their home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, against Oblong. Schilbe said during a break in preseason practice Aug. 20 at Martin Luther Field
BETHALTO - Foster’s Light in the Dark will host their second annual Suicide Awareness Candlelight Vigil to honor those lost to suicide. From 4–8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Bethalto Park in Bethalto, the vigil will feature mental health resources, speakers and more. The goal, said organizer Christina Foster-Beegle, is to support those who have lost a loved one and others who are struggling. “We lose a lot of people to suicide in our area,” she said. “We
JERSEYVILLE – A 71-year-old man from Jerseyville accused of sexually abusing two children has been released from custody. Robert E. Ehlers, 71, of Jerseyville, was charged on Aug. 28, 2026 with two Class 2 felony counts of criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13 years of age. Ehlers is accused of committing acts of sexual conduct with two different victims during the summer of 2024. Charging documents state both victims were under the age of 13 at the time of the offenses. The Jersey
JERSEYVILLE – The second 18-year-old charged for his role in a video-recorded Jerseyville mob attack recently pleaded guilty. Lucas C. Roberts , 18, of Jerseyville, entered the guilty plea in Jersey County Court on the morning of Aug. 31, 2026. Roberts pleaded guilty to each of the charges against him, including a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery/video/audio recording, a Class 4 felony count of mob action and a Class C misdemeanor count of assault. Roberts was released from
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — St. Louis County detectives are investigating an officer-involved shooting Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, 2026, in the 300 block of Weidman Road that left an adult male with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries after police said he pointed a weapon at officers. Officers from the St. Louis County Police West County Precinct responded at about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, to a call for service for a subject flourishing a weapon at vehicles in the 14000 block of Mancheste
GRANITE CITY — Illinois State Police said on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, it continues to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Granite City that left a 40-year-old man dead after officers responded Aug. 24, 2026, to a report of an armed suspect in the 2000 block of Edison Avenue. The investigation is being conducted at the request of the Granite City Police Department and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, state police said in an update today. According to Illinois State Police,
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement on Donald Trump’s upcoming attendance to the Presidents Cup tournament in Chicago: "Donald Trump has attacked Chicago and Illinois at every turn of his term, like joking about the smell of deportations in the morning and sending masked agents into our neighborhoods. Now, he wants to come here for golf. "He is neither wanted here nor needed here. But if he is going to spend time in DuPage County, he can leave the
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