GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will celebrate its 54th annual Commencement, May 21, 2025, featuring 2016 alumna Brittney Lehr as the event’s keynote speaker. The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at the Hatheway Cultural Center’s Ann Whitney Olin Theatre. “Commencement is a time to honor the hard work and achievements of our students,” said L&C President Ken Trzaska. “We are thrilled to welcome Brittney Lehr back to campus to share her inspiring journey with our graduates.” Lehr, a Carrollton native, graduated from L&C with an Associate in Applied Science degree in 2016. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security from MacMurray College in 2018 and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2022. She currently serves as a felony assistant state’s attorney and DUI attorney in Sangamon County. "Lewis and Clark had the hardest class that I ever took throughout
by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature. The […]
ALTON - The M.O.T.H.E.R.S. Unique group - Moms Obligated To Healing, Encouragement, Recovery and Support - hosted a moving and meaningful ceremony on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at James Killion Park to honor mothers who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child. This solemn and supportive event brought together nearly two dozen mothers to commemorate the lives of their children through a Bench Dedication and a White Dove Release. The organization donated a new bench to the park to offer a quiet, peaceful space where grieving mothers and family members can sit in remembrance and reflection. The ceremony was emceed by Mrs. Vernetta Caffey, introduced by Shirley Ann Thomas, and featured opening scripture and prayer by Minister Annette Campbell, a welcome by Ms. Rita Young, and heartfelt remarks from Ms. Mary Jason, President of M.O.T.H.E.R.S. Unique. Mayor David Goins offered words of comfort during the bench dedication, followed by a moving poem read by Mrs. Michelle Rounds, Hospitality
Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems, has broken ground on Mercy Hospital Wentzville, Missouri’s first brand-new, acute care hospital campus in nearly a decade. McCarthy Building Companies is overseeing construction of the 400,000-sq.-ft. hospital, which is expected to include 75 inpatient acute care beds and a 26-bed emergency department with two trauma areas […]
FOX 2’s investigation into the St. Louis Sheriff’s child transports has taken a twist, as we discovered the latest transport happening in an unmarked sheriff’s car.
HIGHLAND - Melissa Perkes has been honored as the CTE Teacher of the Year in Madison County. Perkes has taught business and technology at Highland High School for the past 22 years. She teaches a variety of computer classes, including Computer Concepts, Photo Manipulation, Electronic Publishing and more. She noted that while she is grateful for the CTE Teacher of the Year honor, she is mostly proud of her students. “I truly appreciate the recognition, but the credit belongs to my students,” Perkes said. “Their creativity, dedication, and hard work are what make the program what it is.” Perkes teaches traditional semester-long classes, but she also oversees students who take courses independently in her classroom. The Media Production class has four students who work independently to create the stadium video board graphics and animations, as well as any graphic or video work that the school needs. Perkes noted that these are “truly exceptional students”
Weinand Park in Troy, MO is now home to a new and improved Storybook Walk, a community-driven project celebrating literacy, creativity, and outdoor activity. Made possible by a collaborative effort between local organizations and students, the Storybook Walk features a rotating selection of stories and artwork displayed along a walking path. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was […]
GRANITE CITY - Junior Antonio Dean aims to break the 50-second barrier in the 400-meter dash by the end of the season, building on a series of strong performances for the Warriors. Dean recently set a personal best of 50.71 seconds at the Collinsville Invite, where he placed seventh, and earlier won the Granite City Invite with a time of 50.92. Dean's ultimate goal is to break 49 seconds in the 400-meter run. He is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. “I just drive strong and work the last 200 meters in the 400-meter races,” Dean said of his approach to the event. In addition to the 400 meters, he competes in the open 4x400 relay and high jump, where he cleared 6 feet 2 inches most recently. His previous high jump best was 6 feet 1.5 inches, achieved when he won the O’Fallon Boys Relays. Dean is considered an integral member of the Warriors’ 4x400 relay team as they continue their season.
This summer's weather conditions have been ideal for an increase in mosquito populations. St. Louis County Public Health Vector-Borne Disease Prevention employees are actively working to control mosquito numbers.
GLEN CARBON — Mia Range secured first place in the high jump at the Gateway Metro Conference meet held recently at Althoff Catholic, marking a nearly unheard of fourth consecutive year winning the event. Range cleared a height of 5 feet 2 inches, continuing a strong season that includes a personal best of 5 feet 2.25 inches at the Edwardsville Invite on April 25, 2025. The senior athlete from McGivney has set clear goals for the remainder of her final high school season. “My goals are first or second at sectional, then past prelims at state," she said. "My main goal is to get 5-4 at state. I have worked hard this season.” In addition to her high jump accomplishments, Range has posted times of 13.74 seconds in the 100 meters and 28.93 seconds in the 200 meters this season. She is also a key member of the Griffins’ 4x200 relay team, which has performed well throughout the spring. Range’s achievements have earned her recognition as the Byron, Carlson, Petri
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) provided pomp, circumstance and a chance for graduating seniors to revel, strut and shine during the school’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony. CHS graduated 28 seniors on Friday, May 9 in the middle of campus at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Center. The commencement speaker was Nate Williams, PhD, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Teaching and Learning in the SIUE School of Education Health and Human Behavior. The SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized
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