Dorchester, IL

ST. LOUIS — Ahead of the Independence Day weekend, many residents are looking forward to entertainment and fireworks. Parades, food, music and fireworks are all part of many Fourth of July festivals this weekend. Two communities suddenly canceled their celebrations. Millstadt, Illinois posted on their community website on Friday...

EDWARDSVILLE - A Madison County grand jury indicted an Alton man in murder of a pregnant woman who was found decapitated by her mother. Deundrea S. Holloway, 22, of Alton, was indicted June 30 on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child, all Class M felonies; dismembering a human body, a Class X felony; offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; and concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony.

EDWARDSVILLE - A Cottage Hills man faces multiple drug- and weapons-related charges filed Wednesday by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office. William C. Forbes, 63, of Cottage Hills, was charged June 29 with armed violence, unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, all Class X felonies unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony; two counts of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, both Class 3 felonies; and escape, a Class 3 felony.

Friday's court appearance for a Collinsville man charged with murder was brief, but it served as a segue as to what comes next. Robert "Bobby" J. Tarr made his first court appearance with his new attorney, Montgomery County Public Defender Erin Mattson, and set Friday, July 22, for his first in-person court hearing. It is scheduled for 11 a.m.

ALTON - Alton Man Street is announcing its new Eat Shop Play Alton promotion to support Alton's locally-owned businesses and help customers find their new favorite places to shop small. To take part, simply stop by the information booth at the Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market to pick up a free reusable Alton-branded shopping bag. The market is located at the corner of Landmarks Blvd. and Henry Street in Downtown Alton, and takes place every Saturday morning between 8 a.m.- noon through Oct. 15. Customers can then present their bag at all of the stores, restaurants and service businesses found at www.DowntownAlton.com/EatShopPlay to redeem their perks and special offers through Dec. 31.

LITCHFIELD – Edwin and Kathy (Isaacs) Hardt are celebrating 50 years of faith, love, family, challenges, dedication and friendships. They were married July 1, 1972, at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Litchfield.

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School will once again be hosting the Edwardsville Futures Tennis Tournament. This tournament has been part of the Pro Circuit since 2011 and is one of, if not the only, professional tennis tournaments in the St. Louis area. EHS tennis head coach and Futures Tournament Director...

EDWARDSVILLE - An Alton man was charged Thursday with robbery and aggravated battery by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office. Jerome A. Clark, 18, of Alton, was charged June 30 with robbery, a Class 2 felony; and aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

With the scoop of a shovel, construction on a new Madison County Transit administration building has begun. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the MCT Base of Operations facility in Pontoon Beach this week. The new building will consolidate all administrative staff, currently spread out over four aging structures, into a single, secure facility.

GODFREY - When LCCC went looking for someone to take charge of the women's soccer program, officials only needed to go to Room 5314 in the Caldwell Building on the Godfrey campus.

Aidan Loeffelman, an East Alton-Wood River High School cross country and track athlete, has been awarded a full scholarship to attend the Bowerman Track Club track camp in Oregon. on July 5-10. Loeffelman will be in Bend, Oregon learning from some of the best coaches and athletes in the country. He was the first EA-WR Oiler to receive the Bowerman Scholarship and to attend the prestigious track Camp. (Submitted photo)

ALTON – With all the boxes checked off from a record-setting and goal-achieving career with Marquette Catholic Explorers girls golf, Gracie Piar is going off to college. “I’m ready for it,” she said.

EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser is reminding taxpayers that the first installment of their tax bill is coming due. “With the holiday weekend approaching I want to remind everyone that the first of four tax installments will be due July 7,” Slusser said. “Our office is closed Monday, July 4, but will otherwise be open for business from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Tuesday-Friday.”

John Badman|The Telegraph Elliot Jones, 6, of Alton puts some moves on his fishing rod Friday as he fishes from the shade of two trees on the lake at Glazebrook Park in Godfrey. Elliott and his grandfather were getting July off to a good start and enjoying some peace and quiet. Lots of people were playing, walking and jogging at Glazebrook Friday morning before the humidity had a chance to rise too far. Chances of spot showers are in the forecast for the entire holiday weekend but there will be plenty of dry time. (John Badman)

SAT, 6:35 - Alton vs. O'Fallon (15-14) SUN, 5:35 - Cape Girardeau (MO) @ Alton. The Prospect League's first half schedule will wrap up on Monday (July 4), and the first-place teams in each of the 4 divisions will receive an automatic bid to the 2022 playoffs. Going into the weekend, the first place teams were: Alton, Danville, Quincy, and Chillicothe (Ohio).

RESULTS – Greenville Country Club Wednesday Night Golf League – WEEK 8 – Played on Wednesday, June 29th. Bradford National Banks Blue Team moves into 2nd place in Wednesday Night League play at the Greenville Country Club. WGEL falls one spot to 3rd but will face 1st place Donnewald Distributing in week 9.

A man was arrested in Litchfield and charged with murder for allegedly beheading a pregnant woman who would have given birth to her first baby this July. Deundrea Holloway was accused of beheading Liese Dodd, 22, also causing her unborn child to die. Her head was found inside a rubbish bin outside her apartment, according to court documents obtained by the St Louis Post-Dispatch. The two are said to have an on-and-off dating relationship, but it was unclear if Holloway is the father of Dodd's child.

ALTON - Put the champagne on ice, at least for one night. The Alton River Dragons were on the cusp of qualifying for the Prospect League playoffs. A win Friday over O'Fallon would have clinched the first half title of the Prairie Land Division.

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. (KMOV) - A plane with two people on board crashed near St. Jacob, Illinois late Saturday morning. Firefighters tell News 4 the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. in the 2000 block of Triad Road, which is near St. Louis Metro East/Shafer Field, a small airport. Firefighters confirmed...