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Blog: Richard Baird Jr.'s Voice and Community Spirit Will Be Remembered Forever In Alton

3 weeks 4 days ago
ALTON - Richard Baird, Jr., is a person who will live on in the annals of time in the Alton area and will not be forgotten for his boundless acts of community service. Richard died on April 19, 2025, after a long battle with liver complications. Known locally as "the Voice of the Redbirds," Baird was the public address announcer for most Alton Redbirds home sporting events, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer and track. His presence was still heard at the girls' track and field meet hosted by Alton last week, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the school and community until the end of his life. Baird graduated from Alton Senior High School in 1971 and was a member of the school’s undefeated football team that year. He later arranged a display case at the school commemorating that historic season and helped found the Alton High School Wall of Fame. A Navy veteran, Baird served in Vietnam in the sonar division aboard the USS Towers DDG9, spending much of his

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Valley of Flowers Festival in Florissant May 2,3,4

3 weeks 4 days ago

Valley of Flowers in Need of Substantial Financial Support   This is a pivotal year for the Valley of Flowers Festival the Festival Activities are being reshaped. The Festival Committee is working on the 2025 activities in conjunction with the City of Florissant and the Knights of Columbus.  The theme for 2025 is “Mary, Mary […]

The post Valley of Flowers Festival in Florissant May 2,3,4 appeared first on flovalleynews.com.

independentnws

Harvard Goes To Court To Stop Trump Nonsense

3 weeks 4 days ago
Last week, we wrote about Harvard showing a bit of institutional courage in telling the Trump administration to fuck off with its demands that the university fire certain professors, change its curriculum, and allow government oversight of campus activities. In response, Trump escalated things, as he tends to do, cutting off over $2 billion in […]
Mike Masnick

George Hruza (2025)

3 weeks 4 days ago
On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis County, returns to the show to talk about his first impressions of the Missouri House. Hruza also talked about his capital gains tax cut bill, his legislation aimed at curbing anti-Semitic behavior at schools, and why he voted for a ballot item that could repeal constitutional protections for abortion rights.

McGivney Community Gathers With Love In Candlelight Vigil For Beloved Coach Brandon Ahring

3 weeks 4 days ago
GLEN CARBON — A moving candlelight vigil was held Monday night, April 21, 2025, to honor the memory of Brandon Ahring, a 22-year-old assistant track and field coach at Father McGivney Catholic High School. Ahring, also a McGivney graduate and cross-country and track participant, died last week in a car crash on Interstate 55 near Hamel. A large gathering of students, faculty, family members and community supporters turned out and poured out love and prayer to remember Ahring and offer support to his loved ones. Ahring, a 2021 graduate of Father McGivney, was returning home from track and field practice on April 16, 2025, when the fatal accident occurred. He had been serving as an assistant coach under head Coach Jim Helton for the past three years, working closely with student-athletes. He inspired the student athletes with his quiet strength and kindness. One McGivney student, also a member of the track and field team, came up with a brief message that perfectly described

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Local Nurse Credits God for Three Life-Saving Miracles

3 weeks 4 days ago
ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust , Nancy Tiek shared several stories about how God has moved in her life. Because of the miracles that God has performed, Tiek has made it her mission to share her testimony and encourage others to develop a relationship with Him. She spoke about how God has seen her through a suicide attempt, a career change, a terminal diagnosis and more. “God is the big hope factor and sometimes He just brings people along to help Him,” Tiek said. “We’re all helpers, me and you. In this big world, we are the helpers, because He saved us. And man, when He saves you, you’ve just got to do something for Him.” On Easter Sunday in 1977, Tiek was standing on the edge of a bridge preparing to take her own life. She remembered it felt like she had an angel and a devil on her shoulders, telling her conflicting things about her worth. Thankfully, Tiek did not die that day.

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Oilers' Haley Pratt Makes History With Three Home Runs In Single Game

3 weeks 4 days ago
WOOD RIVER - Haley Pratt, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School (EAWR), has been recognized for her outstanding performance in softball, marking a significant milestone in her athletic career. Pratt, who has played softball for nine years, made history this spring as the first Oiler to hit three home runs in a single game. Haley is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. Pratt credits her success to hard work both on the field and in the classroom. “I’ve always been a hard worker, whether it be for sports or school,” she said. Under the guidance of coach Mike Beachum, Pratt has developed not only her athletic skills but also leadership qualities, which she values deeply. “I enjoy what it feels like to be a leader and a part of something,” she noted. Her parents have played a crucial role in her journey, providing support by taking her to extra lessons, tournaments, and practices, and ensuring she always had

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Gray Design Group Completes New BHMG Engineers Office in Metro East

3 weeks 4 days ago
Gray Design Group proudly announces the completion of BHMG Engineers’ new office in Collinsville, Illinois—a bold, forward-thinking workplace that reflects the firm’s continued growth and commitment to innovation, collaboration and community impact across the Saint Louis Metropolitan Region. The new 25,000-square-foot office is located within a recently developed, 75,000-square-foot office/distribution facility. Strategically located at Eastport […]
Dede Hance

Alton High School Presents "Into the Woods" On April 24 to 26, 2025

3 weeks 4 days ago
ALTON - Alton High School’s Theatre and Music Departments will present the musical “Into the Woods” on April 24 and 25 at 7 p.m., and April 26 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The performances will take place at the school’s auditorium at 2200 Humbert Road in Alton. The production features the work of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, known for their acclaimed contributions to musical theatre. The show is directed by a team including Anne Davis, Laura Plummer, Leah Galbraith, Rachel Brady, Derrick Davault, Julia Frazier, Michael Frazier and Kristi Doering. “Into the Woods” draws loosely from the Grimms’ Fairy Tales, weaving together the stories of several classic characters who venture into the woods and become entangled in each other’s lives. The narrative explores themes of wish fulfillment, personal responsibility, love, forgiveness and the complexities of life’s choices. The cast includes Marvin Short as the Baker, Nadja Kapetanovich

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