Sydney Sinks grew up in the Riverbend area and graduated from Southwestern High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University in 2022, where she majored in English-Writing with concentrations in journalism and professional writing and a minor in editing.
At Millikin, Sydney wrote and edited for The Decaturian and BURST Magazine. Her writing has also been published in Decatur Magazine, Gateway Journalism Review and others. She has received recognition from the Illinois College Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists for her work.
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 families will register their children in person this year as an opportunity to connect families with school resources. In late July, parents and caregivers will stop by the Alton High School gymnasium for in-person registration. Families must...
ALTON - Church members and leaders from across Alton gathered for the Alton Area Church Women United organization’s May Friendship Day. On Thursday, May 14, 2026, community members met at Main Street Methodist Church in Alton for the program. Church Women United is a national movement...
ALTON - Community members have the opportunity to celebrate renowned jazz musician Miles Davis’s 100th birthday. On Friday, May 22, 2026, the community will gather for a free kickoff event at 6 p.m. at the Miles Davis statue on West 3rd Street. This will be followed by the main event, th...
ALTON - Alton High School’s Class of 2026 is prepared for their graduation this weekend. The commencement ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and can be livestreamed here . On Thursday, May 14, 2026, graduating seniors stopped by the high school to pick up...
GRAFTON - It’s a busy weekend in Grafton as the first phase of the National Memorial of Military Ascent is completed. Starting on Friday, May 15, 2026, crews were on the bluff preparing to install the 500-pound bronze statues that will be featured in the memorial. Mayor Mike Morrow, a veteran...
LITCHFIELD - Julie Tieman is the first to tell you she is not a perfect mom. But after raising three kids and preparing to foster teenagers, her community agrees she is more than worthy of the Super Mom title. Tieman, a Litchfield resident, is competing in the Colossal Super Mom contest t...
GODFREY - A local pastor is sharing his story in support of Vitality Women’s Clinic. Vitality Women’s Clinic is a faith-based, pro-life organization that provides free pregnancy and STI testing and ultrasounds. They do not refer for or perform abortions. They offer parenting classes...
HARTFORD - A crowd recently gathered at the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower for their grand reopening ceremony. On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Village of Hartford and Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau came together for a ribbon-cutting to mark the end of construction at the tower. Cory...
ALTON/GODFREY - The Irish Soccer Club will host tryouts next week. This soccer club invites kids in kindergarten through high school to develop their skills and play advanced soccer. Robert Stephan, the club’s founder, expressed his excitement to start another season with his teams. “I...
ALTON - The Alton High School Junior ROTC will share information about how to respectfully fly and retire a U.S. flag at an upcoming event. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Alton High School, students will explain how to take care of the flag. They will also accept flags that are no longer...
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