MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Regional Office of Education recently hosted a ceremony to recognize the recipients of the first ever Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship for Madison County Students. Ten students from across Madison County were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship based upon their applications that detailed their high school careers and future plans. The winners were chosen from over 50 extremely qualified applicants. The scholarship is named after Alma Irene Aitch who was a former teacher at the Lincoln School in Edwardsville. It was funded through a collaboration between Mr. Manny Jackson, Dr. Ed Hightower, and Dr. Robert W. Werden that was designed to reward hard work and excellence in education. The scholarship will continue in the future and will continue to be open to all Seniors in any Madison County High School who will be continuing on to a university, college, or trade school. Mr. Jackson, Dr. Hightower, Dr. Werden, and the entire Madison County Regional
SOUTH ROXANA — The American Legion Post 1167 in South Roxana received a complete replacement of its heating and air conditioning system at no cost, thanks to efforts by local officials and a veteran-owned business. The issue began when the post’s central air conditioning unit stopped working. On July 2, 2025, South Roxana Mayor T.J. Callahan personally reached out to Mike Barton, commander of The American Legion Post 1167, after learning of the problem. Callahan used personal funds to purchase a window air conditioner for the post as a temporary solution. Following that, Terrah Bevelo, a village employee, suggested Barton contact American Heating and Cooling, a veteran-owned company. The owner, Mr. Spearlock, inspected the existing unit and determined it was beyond repair. He then offered to replace the entire heating and air conditioning system free of charge. American Heating and Cooling was a definite "Difference Maker" in the region with this heartfelt donation
EAST ST. LOUIS — The East St. Louis Community Tennis Association has had an incredible summer. A ribbon cutting in May 2025 unveiled the six brand new courts at East St. Louis Senior High in May 2025. East St. Louis has hosted tennis tournaments, free lessons, and school outreach events over the summer. "Whether you are a player, parent, or community supporter, there is something for everyone," the East St. Louis Community Tennis Association said about the new tennis courts. East St. Louis School District Superintendent Arthur R. Culver has emphasized the importance of the new courts in fostering student engagement and athletic development. “We believe these courts will spark a love for the game and inspire a new generation of student-athletes to explore tennis, build confidence, and stay active both on and off the court," he said. The East St. Louis project was made possible through financial support from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO),
Residents of Venice, Madison and Granite City will again be stuck waiting to be included in the fund for people with radiation-related illnesses tied to Manhattan Project-era nuclear bomb making.
at Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park in Spanish Lake WildCare Park, our safari park and conservation center under development in north St. Louis County, launched the park’s first multispecies pasture in June. Many species will live side-by-side in expansive pastures at WildCare Park, much like they would in the wild. But creating such a large […]
12th Annual Charity Golf Outing to Benefit Valley Industries Sept. 15 The Golf outing will be Monday, Sep. 15, 2025 at he Florissant Golf Club, 50 Country Club Lane, Florissant Golfers and sponsors are needed for the 12th Annual Valley Industries Golf Tournament! Your support helps us to provide gainful employment for 170 adults with […]
The band, led by Warren Haynes, has shared details for Island Exodus 16, which will be held Jan. 15-18, 2026, in Trelawny, Jamaica. Gov’t Mule will perform three two-set shows during the…
Six Flags St. Louis will reinstitute its chaperone policy this Thursday as part of a nationwide implementation at all theme parks under the Six Flags banner.
GODFREY - Freer Auto Body will once again sponsor their Christmas in July event with the goal to raise over $75,000 for Community Christmas. From 10:30–1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, you can stop by Freer Auto Body in Godfrey to purchase raffle tickets and enjoy a sloppy joe lunch. All proceeds go to 17 local agencies that participate in Community Christmas to supply toys, clothing, hygiene products and more to area families. “On Christmas Day, you get a warm feeling knowing that you helped. You really do,” said Margaret Freer. “If people haven’t been, they need to come and experience it. It’s a fun day. Little kids wait on you. It’s kids helping kids. The sloppy joes are the best you’ll ever have.” For a donation, you can receive a sloppy joe, chips and a slice of Margaret’s cheesecake. You can also purchase raffle tickets for $10 each. The raffle prizes include $3,500 cash, several vacations and experiences,
Last week, Elon Musk’s Grok AI started spewing extreme antisemitism, calling itself “MechaHitler” and pushing conspiracy theories about Jewish people. But that wasn’t the most revealing part of the story. The real smoking gun came courtesy of AI researcher Simon Willison, who discovered something far more insidious: when you ask Grok controversial questions, it quietly […]
The Coding with Python Bundle is great training for aspiring developers. The 6 courses cover Python basics, how to build web apps, how to work with APIs, how to automate software testing, and more. The bundle is on sale for $50. Note: The Techdirt Deals Store is powered and curated by StackCommerce. A portion of […]
ALTON — Six Alton Middle School cheerleaders have been selected as All-American Cheerleaders at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Cheer Camp, earning an invitation to perform at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2025. The cheerleaders, recognized on June 18, 2025, will represent their school and community in what organizers describe as a “once-in-a-lifetime event.” Sarah Crause and five others are coordinating a fundraiser to support the cheerleaders’ participation. Each cheerleader faces a cost of $1,000, which does not include travel expenses. The organizers are seeking donations from the community to help cover these costs and ensure the athletes can take part in the parade. “Any amount is greatly appreciated,” the fundraiser organizers said, emphasizing the importance of community support to enable the cheerleaders to attend this honor. Click here for the GoFundMe.