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’s North Elementary School has raised over $5,000 for the Light the Night campaign. This three-week campaign encourages students and families to donate to Blood Cancer United, previously known as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As they finish up their third week of fundraising,...
EDWARDSVILLE - Administrators and volunteers at Columbus Elementary School in Edwardsville have come together to offer an art club for third grade students. When Principal Cole Kringlen assumed his role last year, he felt there was a need for more extracurricular activities for the kids at Columbus....
GRANITE CITY - The Madison County Board has voted to block a Commercial Solar Energy Facility from building near Granite City. During their regular meeting on March 18, 2026, the Madison County Board was asked to approve a Special Use Permit for Arena Libra Solar, LLC, to develop a Commercial...
EAST ALTON - Community members can support local first responders at the upcoming Guns and Hoses hockey game. On Saturday, March 21, 2026, local police officers and firefighters will compete in a hockey game at East Alton Ice Arena. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the game kicks off at 4 p.m. Admission...
ALTON - Students throughout the Alton community had the opportunity to present their business plans to bankers. Every year, students from Alton High School and surrounding schools participate in the Riverbend CEO program, which teaches them about entrepreneurship. As a culmination of the program,...
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 has a prestigious music program. Band Director Matt Chesner and Orchestra Director Laura Plummer share more about the work behind the scenes. Students begin playing instruments in fourth grade and can continue throughout high school. Chesner and...
ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company will partner with the local Sierra Club to host the Buzz’d Beer Festival this weekend. From 1–5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026, community members can stop by The Old Bakery Beer Company for a day of small bites, live music, and over 50 drink samples....
ILLINOIS - Rosetta “Rosie” Brown will face Amy Elik for the Illinois House of Representatives 111th District. Incumbent Amy Elik, a Republican, has served in this role since 2021. Brown, a Democrat, currently serves as the Fourth Ward alderwoman in Alton. The general election i...
ILLINOIS - Mary Miller will face Jennifer Todd in the race to represent Illinois’s 15th Congressional District. During the March 17, 2026, primary, Republicans Judy Bowlby and Ryan Tebrugge challenged incumbent Mary Miller for the Republican nomination. Democrats Paul Davis, Kyle Nudo,...
ILLINOIS - Charles Meier will run unopposed to represent the 109th District in the Illinois House of Representatives on Nov. 3, 2026. During the primary election on March 17, 2026, incumbent Charlie Meier ran against his challenger Zachary Meyer for the Republican nomination. Meier took 62.2%...
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