Area Breaking News
New Highland author hopes new book becomes spark for series
By Charles Bolinger Editor • “It’s a Jeep Thing…you wouldn’t understand.” Bella Sparks is trying to overturn that popular advertising tagline from 20 years ago. She wants people to understand Sparky the Jeep. Sparks, a Highland High School alumna and life-long Madison County resident, has recently penned her first children’s book, “Sparky Makes Friends.” In…
Read MoreViola Thompson Scholarship Fund invests in next generation of local health care professionals
GREENVILLE — Applications are now open for HSHS Holy Family Hospital’s Viola Thompson Scholarship Fund for the Fall 2026 semester. The hospital is accepting applications through March 1, 2026. Students pursuing a career in health care can apply and learn more at hshsholyfamily.org/scholarships. The Viola Thompson Scholarship Fund was established to recruit, train, educate and retain…
Read MoreTroy to buy downtown property with eye toward future parking needs
By Charles Bolinger Editor • Even though Rya covered it last year, I prefer Amy Grant’s 1994 cover of Joni Mitchell’s song, “Big Yellow Taxi,” with the famous lyric, ‘So they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.’ With a 8-0 vote at its first city council meeting of 2026, Troy councilmen passed an…
Read MoreMascoutah man fights Chicago ticket tied to UPS Vehicle
By Zachary Daum [email protected] • A Mascoutah resident says he is being repeatedly cited by the City of Chicago for an automated parking violation involving a UPS delivery truck, despite not having been in Chicago since 1988 and not owning or operating a commercial vehicle. Rodger Long, a retired…
Read MoreRicheson tax fraud trial against Illinois moved to April
By Charles Bolinger Editor • Someone connected with Guideon Richeson’s tax fraud trial keeps kicking the whole can down the road. Richeson, who was a former Village of St. Jacob Trustee, was originally indicted by the Illinois Attorney General’s office on 11 charges in July 2025—10 counts of tax fraud and one count of poor…
Read MoreKnights claim third place, highest finish at Prairie Farms Classic in school history
By Ray Popkess In the 41 years that the Prairie Farms Holiday Classic has been hosted at Virgil Fletcher Gymnasium at Collinsville High School, the Triad Knights finished with their highest placement ever in the 2025 edition of the tournament. Triad’s 31st appearance in the tournament was their best effort to date, defeating Quincy,…
Read MoreFormer Troy Police Chief retires after 42 years in law enforcement
More than one-third of Christmas tree home fires occur in January
By Tribune Staff • If you’re struggling to part ways with your Christmas tree, consider this: More than one-third (35%) of U.S. home fires involving Christmas trees occur in January. With this post-holiday fire hazard in mind, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) is strongly encouraging prompt removal of Christmas trees after the holiday season.…
Read MoreTroy man, 27, gets cited twice in same day for multiple offenses
By Charles Bolinger Editor • If Jacob Niebrugge had a good Christmas, fate or karma or something made sure the next day was far from positive. Niebrugge, 27, was cited by Troy Police twice on Dec. 26 for an array of offenses. First, he was stopped that afternoon while piloting a white 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.…
Read MoreIDPH urges flu shots, other preventive measures as influenza rates climb statewide
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging residents to take precautions against the spread of influenza (flu) and other seasonal respiratory illnesses, as rates continue to climb across the state. Flu activity in the state has climbed to “Very High” in recent days, the most severe of five categories of respiratory…
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