What’s Happening… In and around the Area
Thursday, July 2 Grafton’s Music in the Park at Grove Memorial Park. Every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 4 Jerseyville Independence Day Fireworks at the American Legion starting at 9 p.m. Sunday, July 5 Grafton Fireworks on the Riverfront at 9:30 p.m. Monday, July 6 Founding Mothers of America with Laura…
Read MoreNew signage greets passersby of Lincoln-Douglas Square
While Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton has stood as a historical landmark in Alton for decades, it has not been readily apparent to thousands of motorists passing through the Landmarks/Piasa/Broadway intersection. But thanks to the efforts of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club, it is now hard to miss the significance of the site. New signage has been…
Read More‘A real farm crisis’: Illinois farm bankruptcies rise for 3rd straight year
By Tara Sun and Medill Illinois News Bureau With the growing season well underway in Illinois, farmers once again are struggling to turn an abundant harvest into survival. In 2025, family farm bankruptcies surged 46% nationwide — reaching 315 filings and marking the third consecutive year of increases. The Midwest recorded 121 filings in 2025…
Read MorePrediction market Kalshi sues Illinois over its push to regulate sports bets
By Maggie Dougherty Prediction market Kalshi — which offers trades on everything from the World Cup top goalscorers to the winners of the reality show Love Island and the 2028 Democratic primary — sued Illinois on Tuesday over its latest push to regulate sports bets on the platform. The most recent move in the ongoing…
Read MoreTruck fire causes tense moments for fire departments
By BETH ZUMWALT Pike County 9-1-1 dispatch began getting several calls about 9 p.m. Thursday, June 25 about a truck traveling south-west on Highway 106 and then on U.S. Route 54 heading to Missouri.
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Carrollton School Board approves ‘balanced’ amended budget
By Carmen Ensinger Carrollton School Board passed the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget at the June 21 school board meeting. At the end of the day, despite a $855,200 deficit in the Operations and Maintenance Fund, according to the State, it is a balanced budget.
Read MoreHoliday weekend closure hours at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office, will temporarily close overnight access to Riverlands Way, Maple Island, Ellis Island, and Lincoln Shields Recreation Area in West Alton for the Fourth of July Weekend. Riverlands Way will be closed each of the following timeframes: July 3rd from 10:00pm through July 4th at 7:00am July…
Read MoreRIDGE RUNNER CHRONICLES: Here’s an Update on the United States vs. Hemani Case
Last February, I wrote a column about a criminal matter pending before the US Supreme Court in which the defendant, Ali Hemani, was being charged with a felony because, by his own admission, he was a casual user of marijuana who also owned a firearm. (He said that he smoked marijuana every other day).
Read MoreOUTDOOR TRUTHS: Leaves or fruit
July is the month when the fruit of sowing begins to show. Gardens begin to produce their harvest, and trees begin to reveal what has been hiding behind their leaves.
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