GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police officers responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Leonard Avenue and Myrtle Avenue at 12:07 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Granite City Police Major Gary Brooks said upon arrival, officers encountered a subject who had sustained at least one gunshot wound which is non-life-threatening. A suspect was developed in this case and has been identified as Andrew J. Walker, 27, of Granite City. The case was presented to the Madison County State's Attorney's Office. Walker has been charged with one count of Aggravated Battery With A Firearm. Major Brooks said ..read more

GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School freshman Carson Williams placed in the top-10 of the 2023 Fall Qualifier Microsoft Office Specialist Illinois State Championship, as announced by Certiport. Williams was ninth in the Microsoft Office Specialist Word Office 2019 category. Also recognized was freshman Lacey Clark for a qualifying score in the Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint 2019 category. Williams and Clark competed against students from across Illinois to earn this recognition. To compete in the Fall Qualifier, students aged 13 to 22 were eligible to participate in one of six comp ..read more

BETHALTO - The Civic Memorial High and Trimpe Middle School dance squads recently completed outstanding competitive seasons. The CM Pazzaz school members were Izzie Ackerman, Sierra Branch, Ava Fassler, Abi Fischer, Vivienne Frew, Maicey Markle, Milla Munsch, Ashlyn Perkins, Kennedi Staggs, and Ella Toner. Jazzers members included Kynlee Boner, Kena Breyer, Reese Brueggeman, Emma Coffman, Kaylea Falk, Annabelle Kincaide, Bailey Kinkel, Elsie Lively, Frankie Newton, Emersyn Olmstead, Cecelia Silkwood, and Adelynn Spurgeon. Coaches for both teams were Joy Brueggeman, Jenny Spurgeon, Tatum Darr ..read more

ALTON - The 91st Season at ALT officially launches on March 1st, 2024, but here is a sneak peek at the plans to "Sparkle" with so many choices of true Entertainment! Yes, there will be new, familiar, beloved plays and stories of inspiration (that also tickle the funny bone)......and given the National divides and polarization, ALT re-states its mission to create a safe space where people can just cast aside the worries of the world for a few hours and enjoy themselves. Kevin Frakes (Artistic Director) and Lee Cox (Executive Director) focus on giving patrons enjoyment and producing works that ..read more

BETHALTO - A man from Bethalto charged with stabbing two of his family members in the neck is facing multiple felony counts of attempted murder and battery, according to Madison County court documents. Austin C. Ferrell, 21, of Bethalto, was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder (both Class X felonies) in addition to aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony) and aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony). Each of these charges were filed on Feb. 15, 2024. According to a petition to deny Ferrell’s pretrial release, he was identified by “multiple witnesses as the person who s ..read more

SPRINGFIELD – Chuck Martin, a lifelong upland bird hunter, conservation advocate and local author, is the Illinois Recreational Access Program's (IRAP) 2023 Landowner of the Year, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced today. Three area land owners were also recognized: Jonna Krueger, Macoupin County, Gary Kronable, Jersey County and Steve Zaubi, Macoupin, Christian and Menard Counties. Others recognized were: Craig Walter, Lee County Brad Petersburg, Jo Davies County The Landowner of the Year award is presented to a landowner enrolled in IRAP who has demonstrated outstanding ..read more

EDWARDSVILLE – It’s a “line” that not everyone can cross. But for those who are able and willing, what causes them to do so? Is it the belief someone can leave behind adversity and bias to walk into a life of comfort and opportunities? Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Donavan L. Ramon, PhD, explores these questions and looks at various analyses and more in his book, “Striking Features: Psychoanalysis and Racial Passing Narratives.” Ramon, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of English, Language and Literature, is one of three authors who will be part ..read more

GLEN CARBON – Defying the aging process and deepening one’s well-being has never been simpler or more accessible. At the new Infinite Vitality Lifestyle Medical Center in Glen Carbon, Metro East residents can now optimize their overall health and wellness holistically through collaborative, patient-tailored care. Infinite Vitality offers a wide range of services, including hormone replacement therapy, medical weight loss, regenerative skin aesthetics, and IV therapy, to help patients live with more energy, strength, and a greater capacity for life. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Ryan Cleland and th ..read more

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Friday that his office has filed Class X felony drug-trafficking charges against a California man who is alleged to have had more than 13,000 grams of cocaine in his possession. One of the charges is punishable by up to 120 years in prison. Haine’s office also has filed a petition seeking forfeiture of the defendant’s 2022 BMW X4, along with a petition seeking pretrial detention of the defendant. Richard J. Davis, 58, of San Clemente, Calif., is charged with one Class X felony count of controlled substance trafficking for alle ..read more

WOOD RIVER - Jason Woody has officially resigned from his post as the director of the Wood River Parks and Recreation Department, submitting a letter of resignation which was read aloud at the City Council meeting earlier this week. City officials expressed their sadness to see Woody leave the department but wished him the best of luck in his future endeavors with the Village of Roxana. Woody wrote in his letter of resignation that he received an offer from Roxana to be their Village Administrator, an opportunity he said was too good to decline. Woody had been Wood River's director of Parks a ..read more