Madison County
Madison County felony prosecutions so far in 2025 exceed 2024 total
by Randy Pierce • Prosecutions of criminal offenders by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s staff during the first 10 months of the current calendar year have exceeded those occurring in all of 2024. In reporting this information to the county board judiciary committee earlier this month, State’s Attorney Tom Haine was quick to note, “That’s…
Read MoreMadison County officials discuss unfunded state mandates
by Randy Pierce • Unfunded mandates generated by the state legislature, with requirements, regulations, programs and directives that units of government like Madison County must implement and pay for, were cited at a recent meeting of its elected board’s finance and government operations committee where the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget was discussed. County Board…
Read MoreCircuit Clerk Partick McRae announces employee honored for outstanding pro bono work
EDWARDSVILLE — Circuit Clerk Patrick McRae announced a deputy clerk recently received recognition for outstanding pro bono work. McRae said in recognition for her outstanding work on expungements, Deputy Clerk Sarah Wallace earned the Judge Barbara Crowder Pro Bono Champion Award. He said Associate Judge Maureen Schuette and Law Librarian Angela Wille nominated Wallace for her…
Read MoreMadison County’s 2026 budget totals $180 million
Property tax levy at $30.7 million • by Randy Pierce Following a review late last month of the proposed Madison County budget for the fiscal year that begins Dec. 1, members of its elected board are expected to approve it next Wednesday, Nov. 19. To be presented for a vote at the regular monthly meeting…
Read MoreCounty program benefitting seniors with disabilities to get OLGA Award
by Randy Pierce • Administered under the leadership of Tony Fuhrmann of Collinsville, the Madison County Employment and Training apprenticeship program for high school seniors with disabilities is being recognized this month with a special award from the East West Gateway Council of Governments. The Outstanding Local Government Achievement (OGLA) award will be presented at…
Read MoreMadison County may mark 10 years without property tax increase
EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County is on track to keep property taxes steady for the 10th consecutive year as officials reviewed the proposed $180 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget and real estate tax levy on Oct. 29 The finance and government operations committee discussed the budget proposal during its Oct. 28 meeting. The full county board…
Read MoreAs America Approaches 250: Halloween in our region during late 19th Century
By Kathy Turner • It seems only appropriate on this last week of October to take a look at how everyone celebrated Halloween in the late 1800s. The holiday itself actually began more than 2,000 years ago. It was the Celtic Festival of Samhain. The Celts believed that Oct. 31 was the night where the…
Read MoreMadison County loads up on COVID, influenza, other vaccines
by Randy Pierce • Expenses for the purchase of various vaccines not to exceed $300,000 were approved by the Madison County Board at its regular monthly meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, after having been brought forward on the basis of unanimous recommendations from two of its committees, one being that related to finance and…
Read MoreMadison County awards mental health scholarships to four SIUE students
by Randy Pierce • Three students from Glen Carbon and one from Collinsville who attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and are preparing themselves for careers in mental health, have been awarded scholarships by Madison County. As presented at the regular monthly meeting of the Madison County Board held on Oct. 15, by one of its…
Read MoreKratom continues to create concern in Madison County
by Randy Pierce • Upon sharing a positive bit of information about how the number of opioid overdoses is going down in Madison County, its mental health board executive director, Deborah Humphrey, also expressed concern over the availability of another substance that can result in similar negative outcomes. Reporting to the Madison County Board Health…
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