This Illinois City Park Becomes A Dazzling Christmas Wonderland With Millions Of Lights

Four million lights. That’s the number, and a group of retired volunteers called the Grandpa Gang puts them up by hand every single year. They start in September, long before most of us think about holiday decorations. By the day after Thanksgiving, a quiet city park in Illinois glows like a giant snow globe.

Metro East St. Louis: High Stakes in Metro East: General Election Races Decades of Dirty Sewage in Cahokia and Fatal I-255 Collision

As unofficial returns settle key leadership contests across St. Clair and Madison counties, regional focus shifts to longstanding municipal infrastructure upgrades in Cahokia Heights and urgent safety evaluations on Interstate 255 following a tragic collision. Overview: Voter turnout shaped high-stakes county board races and judicial referendums across the Metro East,...

IDOT to resurface Route 162 in Troy from I-55/70 to Dewey Street next spring

Editor • While it was not contained in his bi-monthly city engineer’s report, Tom Cissell had news to share during the Nov. 2 Troy City Council meeting. “I did hear some really exciting news,” he said. “I went to the mayors’ meeting last week and the IDOT District 8 Engineer said IDOT will resurface Route 162 from the Interstate 55/70 interchange east to Dewey Street next spring.” Bid the orange pavement good-bye! Cissell estimates the current overlay was put down in 2005.

Haberer Retires From Sheriff’s Department

Bond County Sheriff Josh Hill congratulates Chief Deputy Keith Haberer on his retirement, effective November 4. Haberer has spent 49 years in law enforcement, more than 17 of them with the Bond County Sheriff’s Department. In Bond County, he has been a deputy, investigator, member of the St. Louis Major Case Squad, and most, recently, chief deputy the past year and a half.

The Telegraph's Alton area headlines for Nov. 7 over past 100 years of history

Nov. 7 headlines include Elijah P. Lovejoy descendant retraces his final days in 2006

Madison County Historical Society presents ‘A Christmas Memory’ Nov. 19

• On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) and Alumni Players! (AP!), will offer up an evening of entertainment they hope will set the tone for the coming holiday season. The centerpiece of the evening will be a performance of “A Christmas Memory,” a short story by...

The Rock invites Edwardsville family to ‘Jumanji’ premiere

Brooklynn Keppler’s Halloween costume catches The Rock’s attention, leading to an invitation for the Edwardsville family to attend the “Jumanji: Open World” premiere.

Mettler Development awarded contract for Glen Carbon PD remodel

By Kathy Turner • The Glen Carbon Village Board on Tuesday, Oct. 20, approved a bid from Mettler Development LLC for renovations at the police department. The bid came in at just under a total of $1.5 million. Included in the project will be construction of locker rooms for...

Free Santa Photos and the Historic Teller Room 1925 in Downtown Alton

Veterans Caring for Veterans golf tournament honors local veterans

“He was very proud of his service to the Navy, very proud that he went to Vietnam and served there,” John Phillips’ brother-in-law said. “And he was a brother.”

Wine & Whiskey for the Watershed returns Nov. 12

Proceeds support conservation, habitat restoration and environmental education at the Watershed Nature Center.

Granite City Students Win Madison County Recycling Poster Honors

GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 is proud to announce that Granite City High School students Addison Courtney and Kylie Selph Stratton have been named winners in the Madison County Green Schools Program’s 2026 America Recycles Day Poster Contest. Courtney and Selph Stratton were...

Highland Elementary’s ‘Boo Grams’ promotes communication, inclusion

Reporter • Highland Elementary School’s first “Boo Grams” fundraiser raised more than $1,000 in less than a week, ensuring every student received a Halloween surprise. Highland Elementary School Principal Brooke Krey said initiatives like “Boo Grams” let students develop communication and social skills outside traditional lessons while creating an environment where everyone feels included.

Edwardsville girls cross country makes history with fourth-place state finish

MacKenna Kerpan and Morgan Popelar become Edwardsville's first state medalists in the same race, leading the Tigers to a program-best fourth-place state finish.

Blackburn Annexation Passes Maryville Village Board

The Maryville Village Board meeting opened at 6pm on November 4 with Trustee Rod Schmidt absent. The meeting began with public comments. Page Durham, a resident of Collinsville, was the first to speak, and she began by handing the board an informational flier. She came representing the Madison County Farm Bureau, a non profit representing 1,300 land owners and farmers within the county. Durham spoke on behalf of the annexation of the Regal property, which the Farm Bureau opposes for various reasons stated on her handout. The annexation itself is for the Blackburn Manor subdivision and the surrounding area. She acknowledged the annexation is working within state limits, but the bureau would like the board to adopt an agricultural zoning area for the property. Their intention is to keep farmland as farmland. Allowing the farmers to use that land as they always have. She then offered her services to the board and the staff in the creation of said agricultural zone. Dwayne Regal spoke next. His property is the one in question regarding the annexation. He isn't ready to hook up to city water yet, and he currently prefers his well water. Regal wanted to know if the annexation will

'Team 102' gets Jersey football back in playoffs, raises bar for future

With senior Trevor Tucker posting the third-best rushing season in Jersey football history, the Panthers overcame a 1-5 start to make the playoffs and finish 5-6.

GU Volleyball Women Champs Again

The regular season dominance by the Greenville University womens volleyball program has continued with the Panthers claiming their 16th regular season SLIAC championship in 17 years. The title gives GU the number one seed in the upcoming St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. The Panthers are 10-0 in league play...

According to Jama and Nikki: Nicole Dabbs on Volunteerism and the Junior League of Greater Alton

Nicole Dabbs, president of the Junior League of Greater Alton, joins Jama and Nikki to discuss what draws people to volunteer service and how the organization offers friendship, community connections and opportunities to develop leadership skills. The conversation explores the challenges of finding time to volunteer and rebuilding membership, as well as how volunteers can support one another and respond to local needs.