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 - The Alton First Responders Springfest will run throughout the next week. On April 10, 2026, the Springfest carnival opened at 5 p.m. and drew a small crowd for its first night at the Alton Amphitheater. The carnival will continue through April 19, 2026, and community members are encouraged...
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 students came together for a celebration of neurodiversity at Autism Sports Day. On Friday, April 10, 2026, elementary and middle school students traveled to Lovejoy Elementary School for a day of bounce houses, snacks, games and fun. This event...
GRAFTON - Several excited community members boarded the new Grafton Ferry to celebrate its inaugural crossing of the river. On Friday, April 10, 2026, Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow and members of the Grafton ferry taskforce led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the ferry. Attendees then boarded the ferry...
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 invites all incoming kindergarteners to attend kindergarten enrollment, where families can tour the schools, meet the teachers and more. All families with children who will be 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2026, are asked to attend if you are living within...
ALTON - Students at Eunice Smith Elementary School in Alton learned what it means to be courageous this month. The students learn about a different character trait every month, but most recently, they were asked to write about “courage” and a time they were brave. Principal Christina...
GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic will host its annual fundraiser this weekend, but there are other ways to support the pregnancy center. Vitality will welcome nearly 400 community members to Lewis and Clark Community College on Friday, April 10, 2026, for their dinner fundraiser. While...
ALTON - Community members are invited to learn their neighbors’ stories at an upcoming “Heartbreak to Hope” showcase through 3 Purple Coats Productions, the YWCA, and Healing Illinois. From 1–3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, the YWCA will host the “Heartbreak t...
BELLEVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE - CASA of Southwestern Illinois needs volunteers who are willing to be “a voice” for children in the foster care system. On Saturday, April 25, 2026, CASA will host an annual dinner and fundraiser at The Leclaire Room in Edwardsville. Community members are...
ALTON/GODFREY - Oasis Women’s Center will host a trivia night fundraiser to build up essential services in the Riverbend community. On Saturday, April 25, 2026, community members can join Oasis at the Alton Wood River Sportsman’s Club in Godfrey for an evening of trivia, a 50/50 raffle...
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 has a unique program that allows community stakeholders to provide input to administrators. The Reimagine Alton project asks community members to come together and brainstorm ways to improve Alton schools. Over the past year, the group has...
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