WOOD RIVER - Taven Wardein, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for his dedication and achievements in cross country. Over the past year, Wardein has worked diligently to improve his personal record times while balancing rigorous summer practices and maintaining a grade point average above 4.0. Wardein credits his success to consistent effort and the support of his coach, Russ Colona, as well as the camaraderie of his teammates. “Running alongside a great team has made me want to stay, as without these friends I would probably be a totally different person than what I am now,” he said. Taven is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. Having started cross country at the beginning of his junior year, Wardein appreciates the social aspect of the sport and the discipline it has instilled in him. In addition to cross country, he competes in long-distance events for the track and field team. Academically, Wardein
WOOD RIVER - Somona Acheson, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High, has been recognized for her achievements in volleyball. Acheson has played the sport for nine years and appreciates its unpredictability, saying, "You never know what is coming and nothing ever happens twice." Acheson credits her success to the support of her family, friends, and coaches. "I want to thank my grandma Kathy, my sister Paulina, and my mom JoAnn for helping me with expenses and pushing me to be the best I can," she said. She also expressed gratitude to her friends who encourage her and her coaches, including head coach Bethany Hoyland, for their ongoing support. Somona is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete Of the Month. Her involvement in volleyball and high school athletics has contributed significantly to her personal development. "It has helped me in a lot of different ways, but the most important one is that it helped me be mentally strong. It has made me push myself to do things I didn’t
EAST ST. LOUIS — In a superseding indictment unsealed today, high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into southern Illinois and laundering the proceeds to Mexico. “The Sinaloa Cartel relies on drug trafficking to finance its terrorism against the American people while spreading poison in our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment is a significant blow against this terrorist organization’s infrastructure as we carry out President Trump’s mission of dismantling and destroying the cartels.” “The Sinaloa Cartel is a vicious international criminal organization that spreads terror through intimidation, torture, and murder. The entire enterprise is financed through a drug distribution network that includes southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Steven
WOOD RIVER – A Granite City man with a history of domestic violence faces new charges after allegedly battering a previous domestic battery victim and invading their Wood River home. Trymaine J. Davis, 36, of Granite City, was charged on Sept. 15, 2025 with one count each of home invasion (a Class X felony), his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery (a Class 4 felony), interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, and violation of pretrial release (both Class A misdemeanors). On Sept. 14, 2025, Davis allegedly entered a Wood River residence without lawful authority, knowing the home to be occupied, and injured one of the home’s occupants. He is additionally accused of striking a household or family member about the body with his hands and taking the victim’s cell phone to prevent them from calling 911. Charging documents state Davis had previously been convicted of domestic battery in case from 2022 out of Peoria County, Ill. He also reportedly
Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford got married to his longtime partner, Thomas Pence, in 2024, and in a new interview he shares that it’s something he’s been wanting to do for years.During part two…
PIASA - The Southwestern eighth-grade football team, led by head coach Adam Peipert and assisted by a dedicated coaching staff, has compiled a 5-1 record this season while allowing only 20 points against and scoring 190. The team’s success has been attributed to a new offensive scheme, increased physical conditioning, and a roster of talented players. The Southwestern boys are Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athletes of the Month for the Piasa Birds. Coach Peipert said the team has adopted a brand-new offense that incorporates the Wing-T and spread formations, designed to maximize the skills of the players. “The kids absolutely took to it,” Peipert said. He also noted that the players have significantly improved their strength through weightlifting, a commitment that typically does not occur in the offseason. “The junior football players are bigger, faster and stronger than many in the past,” he added. Quarterback Brayden Watson has bee
Paul McCartney is taking fans behind the scenes at his three February club shows at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.The Beatles legend just released Paul McCartney Rocks The Bowery, an 11-minute…
ALTON - Brad Jacobs and Max Mashburn teamed up to win the gold medal in the 75-79 doubles division at the Illinois State Senior Games held recently in Springfield, Illinois. The pair, both in their 70s, credited their success to consistent practice, strong local competition, and a shared dedication to the sport of pickleball. Jacobs, 77, and Mashburn, 76, have been active pickleball players for years. Jacobs noted that he invited Mashburn to join him in the tournament after his regular partner, Bob Biarkis of Edwardsville, was unable to compete due to his wife’s knee surgery. “Bob and I played last year and won. Bob could not go back; his wife had knee surgery. I asked Max if he wanted to go up and play in the age group in Springfield and try to win a gold medal again,” Jacobs said. Mashburn, who plays pickleball almost daily and leads a local group of about 65 players in the Riverbend area, described the competitive environment as key to their development. “We
Brendan Carr is fairly typical of a far right wing zealot, in that he has absolutely no compulsion about lying, constantly, about everything. The latest case in point: Brendan Carr is trying to pretend he didn’t abuse FCC power and break the law to try and censor a comedian critical of our mad, idiot king. […]
Today on TAP: Argentina will get U.S. help despite its perverse economic policies, only because fellow economic pervert Trump and Argentina’s Milei are soulmates. It won’t work.
As negotiations have stalled between Boeing and striking union workers, the aerospace giant announced Wednesday that it will relocate its F/A-18 Super Hornet upgrades program from the St. Louis area over the next two years.
Three workers have filed a lawsuit against St. Louis-based utility company Ameren, claiming the company knowingly failed to pay them and others for overtime hours and off-the-clock work.
A majority of children in the United States rely on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program at some point by their 18th birthday, and many experience periods of coverage loss, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA. By their 18th birthday, about 3 in 4 children nationwide relied on Medicaid, CHIP […]
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts are set to headline the Harvest Moon benefit concert in California. This is the second year in a row that Young has performed at the event.The afternoon…
Boeing wants to make room for work on the nation's new fighter jet at its site in north St. Louis County. The local machinists union called the move "deeply disappointing."
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) - The Illinois State Board of Education is looking for feedback on the first draft of a plan to strengthen math learning, and they're planning a series of listening sessions across the state to receive this feedback. The aforementioned plan is the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan. Modeled on the state's successful and [...]
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