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.
WOOD RIVER - Wood River Main Street looks forward to celebrating the town’s growth with several upcoming events. Executive Director Kristen Burns jokes that the downtown district is “like dumpster city” right now as several construction projects are underway. But she emphasized...
EDWARDSVILLE - For Grace Lane, helping kids is at the center of education. Lane teaches fourth grade at Columbus Elementary School in the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is reflecting on how much she enjoys working with the kids and supporting...
BETHALTO - Deana McDonough always knew she wanted to work in special education. It took some time, but her life led her to where she was meant to be. McDonough is the District Behavior Interventionist who works closely with students at Wilbur Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit...
ALTON - Meme Evans loves building relationships with her students. This is one of Evans’s strengths as a fourth grade teacher at West Elementary School in the Alton Community Unit School District #11. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she remembers why she started working in the education...
ALTON - Joy Sawyer didn’t always expect to become a teacher, but she has definitely found the right path for her. Sawyer is a K–1 Special Education Instructional Class teacher at Lovejoy Elementary School in the Alton Community Unit School District #11. This Teacher Appreciation Week...
RIVERBEND - As spring storms pick up, Ryan Darr encourages community members to speak to local, licensed contractors about hail damage. Darr, with Michael Ryan Exteriors , noted that the past few weeks have been riddled with hail and heavy storms. A lot of people aren’t sure what to do...
EDWARDSVILLE - Emily Ottwein didn’t always plan to be a teacher, but she’s so glad life worked out the way it did. Ottwein is a choir teacher at Edwardsville High School in the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is reflecting on the...
BETHALTO - Brianna Wooley has always had a passion for helping others, and teaching was an obvious next step. Wooley is a special education teacher for eighth grade students at Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is proud to...
ALTON - For Gina Frye, school has always been “a positive place.” Now, she’s creating that space for her students. Frye teaches second grade at Eunice Smith Elementary School in the Alton Community Unit School District #11. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is remembering...
ALTON - Anjanette Baumgartner cares about supporting her students. Baumgartner teaches kindergarten at Gilson Brown Elementary School in the Alton Community Unit School District #11. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is reflecting on how much she loves working with students and her colleagues...
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