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Alton Man Dies After Being Struck On Motorized Bicycle

4 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON — A 58-year-old man from Alton, was killed Sunday evening, Dec. 29, 2024, after being struck by a vehicle while riding his motorized bicycle on Humbert Road. The Madison County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Steven J. Coryell. The incident occurred at approximately 6:26 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2024, when Coryell was riding northbound on Humbert Road, just north of Randolph Street in unincorporated Alton. He was struck from behind by a vehicle. Coroner’s Office Investigator Shelbi Frakes pronounced him dead at the scene at 7:05 p.m. The coroner's office said preliminary findings indicate that Coryell died from blunt head and chest trauma. A final cause of death will be determined following a forensic autopsy examination and routine toxicology tests. The crash is currently under investigation by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison County Coroner’s Office. Funeral arrangements for Coryell are pending and are being handled by Paynic Funeral

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Train Incident Claims Life Of Alton Resident

4 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON — A 28-year-old man from Alton died after being struck by a train on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Godfrey. Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich identified the victim as David A. Sproull, who was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. that day on the scene. According to the Madison County Coroner's Office, Sproull was walking along the railroad tracks in the 500 block of Big Arch Road when he was hit by the train. The incident was reported to 911 at 8:30 a.m. "Preliminary investigations indicate that the cause of death was blunt head trauma, with a final determination pending the results of routine toxicology tests," the Madison County Coroner's Office said. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison County Coroner’s Office are conducting an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Funeral arrangements for Sproull are being handled by Gent Funeral Home in Alton, Illinois.

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Lunchtime Photo

4 months 3 weeks ago
Saturday was astronomy night, so I headed out to the desert to take a picture of the Heart Nebula. I've done this already, but my telescope has too long a focal length (900 mm) to capture the whole thing. All I got was a part of the nebula and you couldn't really tell that it ...continue reading "Lunchtime Photo"
Kevin Drum

Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete Of Month: Running Passion Drives Cummins and McGivney Cross Country Team

4 months 3 weeks ago
GLEN CARBON — Father McGivney Catholic High School's girls cross country team has made a significant mark in the sport, with seniors Elena Rybak, Jane Cummins, and Isabella Harris contributing to the program's success. The team has qualified for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) 1A Cross Country State Championships in Peoria for four consecutive years, a feat that head coach Jim Helton attributes to their dedication and talent. In a recent statement, Helton praised the seniors, saying, "Our seniors Elena Rybak, Jane Cummins, and Isabella Harris were part of 4-straight IHSA 1A Cross Country State Championship qualifications; excellence in the making." Cummins, who has been recognized as a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month for the Griffins, expressed her enthusiasm for the sport in an interview earlier this season. "I always looking forward to running in Peoria," she said, highlighting the excitement surrounding the upcoming competitions. As one

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Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month: Coach Colona Praises Isaiah Kolmer's Tenacity

4 months 3 weeks ago
WOOD RIVER — Isaiah Kolmer recently wrapped up a noteworthy cross-country career with the East Alton-Wood River Oilers, demonstrating resilience and determination following the death of his mother last year. Kolmer achieved a personal record time of 17:36.2 on October 26, 2024, at the IHSA Class 1A Regional Meet held at Trenton Wesclin. His performance in the meet marked a significant highlight in a season that also included a fifth-place finish with a time of 17:46.4 at the East Alton-Wood River Invite and a 21st-place finish at the Cahokia Conference Meet, where he clocked in at 17:42.0. Kolmer is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of the Month for the Oilers. He was also the Alton Road Runners' Club Male Runner of the Year for East Alton-Wood River. Russ Colona, the head boys cross-country coach for the Oilers, praised Kolmer's tenacity. "He overcame a lot. It is very tough for a kid to lose their mother when they are so young," Colona said. Although Kolmer narrowly

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Alton Little Theater Reschedules "Sing in the New Year" Concert

4 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - Alton Little Theater has rescheduled their “Sing in the New Year” concert, and they can’t wait to welcome audiences to the performance in February. At 2 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2025, at ALT, community members can enjoy Broadway hits, from the Golden Age to the contemporary stage. The show will feature local singer Thomas M. Taylor IV. Lee Cox, the theater’s business manager, expressed her excitement to host the concert and share Taylor’s voice with the Riverbend region. “We decided we wanted to ‘Sing in the New Year’ and just really start it out with a bang,” she said. “Of course, the theater has some plumbing issues right now, so we need to sell a lot more tickets.” ALT recently announced that they will be closed for four to six weeks as they work to completely replace their sewer system. They are trying to raise $50,000 to replace the sewer system and make up for lost revenue; you can donate here

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Johnson wins Trump’s endorsement to continue as U.S. House speaker

4 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson vies to keep his gavel, President-elect Donald Trump on Monday gave the Louisiana Republican a major boost with his “Complete & Total Endorsement.” Trump’s coveted backing — just days ahead of Friday’s House vote to elect a speaker — came as Johnson sat in the hot seat […]
Shauneen Miranda

41 Percent of Americans Live Under Age Verification Laws Targeting Porn

4 months 3 weeks ago
Age verification laws saw an unfathomable renaissance in 2024. It’s quite frightening to see a political class of predominately far-right Christian nationalists implement the anti-porn vision of Project 2025 without President-elect Donald Trump yet entering the White House. These laws coming out of state legislatures are scripted like how Russell Vought, a controversial architect of Project […]
Michael McGrady Jr