The Genl George Rogers Clark Chapter Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) held its 23rd annual Flag Award Ceremony at the Madison County (Illinois) Court House in Edwardsville on Nov. 7. The ceremony is part of the chapter’s efforts to promote patriotism and love of country. This year’s recipients were Gary and Linda Henson, Pin…

By Stephanie Malench, Reporter Cool Cities Group In Collinsville  Organizes Event  At Woodland Park If you’re anything like this reporter, when you hear the word honeysuckle, you think about a sweet smelling flower used to make perfumes. Unfortunately, much of the honeysuckle we have here is not so innocent or sweet. Asian bush honeysuckle is an invasive…

By Stephanie Malench, Reporter The Illinois Department of Transportation recently released its Fiscal Year 2020-2025 Proposed Highway Improvement Plan (also called the Multi-Year Plan or MYP).  The plan budget for the entire state highway program for the duration is $23.49 billion with program costs statewide for 2020 at $3.76 billion.  The budget for local projects…

By Steve Rensberry More than $2 million in grant money is being awarded for 12 different park and recreation projects in the counties of Madison and St. Clair County, according to a recent notice from the Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD). Projects to receive funding include $300,000 to the city of Troy for…

Police and fire crews from Troy and surrounding communities are currently working an accident scene involving a box truck at an exit ramp near the I-55/70 and U.S. Hwy 40 interchange near Troy. Traffic on east bound I-55/70 is backed up to the the Route 159 overpass, with many motorists taking frontage roads to bypass the…

By Stephanie Malench Over 1,000 students from 7 area high schools participated the in the CMC Rotary’s 2nd annual Metro East Teen Driver Safety Days at the Gateway Convention Center October 8-10th. Two of the presentations that had the most impact with students, according to Collinsville Police Chief and CMC Rotary member Steve Evans were…

During the recent Southwestern Illinois College Manufacturing Day celebration, Haas Automation, Inc., donated $20,000 to SWIC for funding of the Manufacturing Day event and for technology education scholarships. Pictured are Haas Factory Outlet Sales Engineer Dean Koskolos, SWIC PMT Instructors Ashley Robinson and Jerry Bonifield, SWIC Industrial Technology Program Coordinator Mark Bosworth and SWIC PMT Instructors…

By Stephanie Malench, Reporter When Elisa D’Antonio of St. Jacob decided to go solar to reduce her carbon footprint, she was also looking for a way to store the energy for times when the electricity goes out. For the first time this year, local homeowners had the option to incorporate Tesla Powerwalls into their home’s…