ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District is preparing for the Summer Reading Program, and they can’t wait to welcome kids and teens to the library. From June 2 to July 10, 2025, community members can enjoy special programs, events and activities every day to celebrate the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme, “Level Up,” has a gaming feel and reminds kids that they can level up their lives by reading. “There’s programming seven days a week,” said Mary Cordes, Hayner’s executive director. “We have a really good staff.” The staff has been preparing for the Summer Reading Program since January, said Megan Dees, who oversees most of the teen programming at the library. Dees has been busy decorating the library with retro gaming icons, from Pac-Man to Sonic, in preparation for the “Level Up” theme. Each week begins with “Press Start for Art,” a program from 10–11 a.m. on Mondays
The Delmar Loop is celebrating Cinco De Mayo with its 3rd annual Taco Crawl, featuring eight restaurants with a wide range of unique taco options, and attendees can get their tickets for $35 to enjoy five tacos and redeem a free margarita at the Moonrise Hotel.
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial junior Taylor Brooks recorded a personal best in the 3,200 meters at the Lady Kahok Invite on May 2, 2025, held at Collinsville High School. Brooks finished 10th with a time of 14:13.28, marking a 13-second improvement in her performance. “That was a 13-second P.R. I am going to try to get under 14 minutes. I love running. Our coach Jake Peal is such a good coach and trainer,” Brooks said following the race. She is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete of the Month for the Eagles. Earlier in the season, Brooks placed second in the Civic Memorial outdoor opener on March 25, 2025, with a time of 6:40.7 in the 1,600 meters. She also took third in the 1,600 at a triangular meet against Columbia and East Alton-Wood River on April 9, clocking 6:49.2. In addition to her individual events, Brooks occasionally competes in the 4x800 and 4x400 relays for the Eagles. On April 28, 2025, she set a personal record in the 800 meters with a time of
EDWARDSVILLE - Grant Huneke, a senior forward for the Edwardsville club hockey team, was an important player in the Tigers' run to their 16th Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association Class 2A championship, which was won by the Tigers over O'Fallon 4-0 in February 2025 at the RP Lumber Center in Edwardsville, sweeping the final series in two straight, after having come from behind to defeat the Panthers 6-5 in game one on Feb. 25 at the East Alton Ice Arena, Edwardsville winning a shootout 1-0 to take game one. For the season in league games, Huneke scored seven goals, and had seven assists for 14 points, while taking 14 minutes in penalties. He was a part of one of four potent forward lines which helped guide Edwardsville to the title. Grant is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. In a postgame interview after Edwardsville won its championship, Huneke felt very happy and proud of his team's championship. ""I think our team worked really hard, we had
GLEN CARBON - Spencer Sundberg, a defensive midfielder for Father McGivney Catholic's boys soccer team, signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Illinois-Springfield next season in a ceremony held inside the Griffins Nest student lounge on April 30, 2025. Sundberg contributed four goals and two assists to the Griffins this past fall in helping McGivney to a 19-5-2 record and advance to the IHSA Class 1A Murphysboro sectional final, where the Griffins lost to Columbia 3-2 at Gene Baker Field in Granite City. Sundberg is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. When asked why he chose UIS to play soccer, Sundberg had some help from former Prairie State player and current Griffins assistant coach Brett Schubert. "Actually, my assistant coach went there," Sundberg said, "and he introduced me to it. I got hooked up with the coach (Graham Shaw). I reached out to him, he said he had a spot, and I went up there, toured, and practiced wit
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that the agency will provide $1,000 in what it called “travel assistance” to people in the United States without permanent legal status if they self deport. It’s the latest attempt by DHS to try to meet the Trump administration’s goal of removing 1 million migrants […]
With prom season underway for most schools in Missouri, one district is celebrating the tradition by honoring one of its beloved students in the community.
ALTON — Officer Dalton Archer and his canine partner, K9 Rico, have officially completed the K9 Academy and are set to begin active duty this week with the Alton Police Department. The department announced the certification of Rico, its newest four-legged officer, who will assist in various law enforcement tasks including tracking suspects and detecting narcotics. The team is expected to contribute to neighborhood safety across the community. “We’re proud to announce that Officer Archer and his partner, K9 Rico, have officially completed the K9 Academy,” the Alton Police Department said in a statement. “This duo will hit the streets this week, and we’re excited for the incredible work they’ll do together.” K9 Rico’s addition marks a continued effort by the department to enhance public safety through specialized units. The new addition marks movements forward after the Alton Police lost K9 Odin, who was shot and killed in