By Stephanie Malench, Reporter Illinois Department of Transportation will begin the first leg of its $64 million rehabilitation project of both north and southbound Interstate 255 from Collinsville Rd to Illinois Route 15 on Saturday February 1, 2020 with closure of the portion from Collinsville Rd to Interstate 64. The project entails rehabilitating and resurfacing…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor Weather this past week in the Metro East was all over the place, with heavy rains throughout much of the weekend, followed by snow on Sunday and a drop in temperatures on Monday typical for this time of the year. Even with the rain and snowfall, many area residents found time…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor The opening day of recreational cannabis sales in the Metro East came with huge expectations in terms of demand, an expectation that was realized Wednesday morning, Jan. 1, with a line at the dispensary in Collinsville estimated to be 1,000 people long by 7 a.m. One man, the earliest to stand…

By Stephanie Malench, Reporter Freddie Novosel is not your average adult who enjoys helping children make snowmen. Thirty years ago, Novosel became tired of making basic snowmen and started making elaborate snow sculptures that draws people from around Collinsville to his family’s house at 609 N. Keebler after each snowfall. Almost six years ago, his…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor Andre Belibi-Eloumou, 33, of France made his way through the Metro East last week, on Dec 14, on a cross-country run. The run began on Nov. 1 in Brooklyn, New York City, and is expected to end on March 7, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. Belibi-Eloumou is a French citizen born…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor The Gateway Chapter of the Iron Motorcycle Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Belleville  stepped up to the plate again this year to help foster kids have a great Christmas. The club and Big Bother Big Sisters have collaborated over the past several years, organizers, said, to help local families…

Times-Tribune Staff Report Seventeen year old Philip Coulby of Highland completed his Pilot Training on November 16 at the St. Louis Soaring Association club in Highland and is now a Private Pilot rated in Gliders. Phillip was the recipient of the Larry Mills Memorial Aviation Scholarship and is following in Larry’s footsteps as a member…

Chris and Julie Tracy of Troy received the Congressional Angels in Adoption award this past week in Washington D.C. for their work as founders of the Equipping the Call Foster Closet. Julie and her oldest daughter, Summer, traveled to Washington DC and met with Congressional leaders on the hill about issues related to foster care…

The Times-Tribune presented a check for $2,125 to Kahok Strong at the Collinsville School Board meeting this past Monday, representing the proceeds from a subscription drive that ran this summer. The newspaper donated $5 for each new subscriber in the Collinsville area that signed up. The Times-Tribune appreciates everyone who has subscribed to the paper…

By Stephanie Malench, Reporter Soup-n-Share Outreach Program in Madison is preparing to launch its new “No Child Wet Behind” Diaper Bank for the 4200 families in Madison County who receive WIC benefits through the state of Illinois. Soup-n-Share began in the basement of a church in 2009 by Edwardsville resident and small business owner Sherrie…