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.
GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic will host their annual fundraising dinner next weekend, but their work continues all year long. On Friday, April 10, 2026, community members can attend the banquet at Lewis and Clark Community College to raise money for Vitality. Executive Director Jackie...
When I walked into my second training session with Precision Point Armory and Ben Julian, I was ready. In my first session , I wrote down the four universal safety rules. I dry-fired a few guns. I learned the difference between revolvers and Glocks and what semi-automatic means. In the...
ALTON - JoAnne Curvey is “a Redbird through and through.” Curvey, who currently serves as the principal of Gilson Brown Elementary School, jokes that she started in the Alton Community Unit School District #11 as a kindergartener in 1971. A few decades later, Curvey is preparing t...
ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole will vote on a resolution to amend city code affecting business taxes and the amount of money that will go to different organizations. On Monday, April 6, 2026, the Committee of the Whole will cast a vote that has the potential to adjust the Hotel Room...
ALTON - The Wedge will mark its first anniversary in Alton, and they have a few events and deals prepared to celebrate. Throughout the month of April, there are several deals available for those who wish to utilize the building’s coworking and office spaces. On April 24, 2026, community...
BELLEVILLE - A local volunteer with CASA of Southwestern Illinois shared her experience to encourage others to join the CASA mission and help kids navigate the judicial system. CASA, or Court-Appointed Special Advocates, work with kids who have experienced abuse or neglect, most of whom are in...
WOOD RIVER - The local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has named a new executive director. NAMI Southwestern Illinois is located inside Riverbend Family Ministries in Wood River. Last month, they named Jason Farley as the nonprofit’s executive director after he served...
WOOD RIVER - Local organizations gathered for the annual Child Abuse Prevention Month Kickoff event. On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, stakeholders and community members came together for speeches and a resource fair hosted by Refuge 4 Kids at Riverbend Family Ministries . The goal was to encourag...
BETHALTO - Tullio Zampieri is a dedicated student athlete. For his commitment, Tullio Zampieri is a DD Homes Network Student of the Month for Civic Memorial High School. Zampieri, a senior, has run cross country and track since his freshman year. It takes a lot of hard work to balance sport...
EDWARDSVILLE - An Edwardsville High School student received second place out of nearly 200 entries at the SIUE 2026 Annual High School Art Exhibition. Maya Hatch, a senior at EHS, fell in love with ceramics earlier this year in Cassie Flynn’s art class. She then took an independent study...
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