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.
GRANITE CITY - The Historic Route 66 Flea Market encourages community members to come out and see everything they have to offer. Located at 3121 West Chain of Rocks Road in Granite City, the flea market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They share space with The Route...
ALTON - Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu recently celebrated their grand opening, and owner Adam Marburger can’t wait to see what happens next. On Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, community members came together for the business’s grand opening party. Marburger expressed his excitement for the relocation...
ALTON - Oasis Women’s Center has a new executive director. Following long-time director Margarette Trushel’s passing in June, the center has hired Jenna Giess to fill the role. Giess currently works at Hope Haven in Kansas City and is looking forward to continuing the mission to...
It’s fall, y’all. Actually, it’s starting to feel more like winter as the days get shorter. It’s cold, it gets dark early, and this week’s forecast promises rain and gloom all day long. So far, this weather has zero stars from me. However…the leaves. Right...
PONTOON BEACH - The City of Pontoon Beach is home to an exciting new business. On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, TIG: The Integration Group celebrated the opening of its new warehouse at 1401 Tradeport Parkway in Pontoon Beach. CEO Mike Schoenfeld expressed his excitement to move into the new facility...
EDWARDSVILLE - Roughly 3,000 households can receive free food next week. From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. or until supplies run out on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, the St. Louis Area Foodbank will distribute groceries to community members at Ralph Korte Stadium on the SIUE campus in Edwardsville. There...
ALTON - Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu is officially open in Alton, and owner Adam Marburger couldn’t be more excited. “It's a blessing,” he said. “There's been so much work by so many different people. It's taken several months, a couple setbacks, but we came together as a team....
ALTON - Community members who smoke are encouraged to stop by the OSF Moeller Cancer Center for a low-dose CT lung cancer screening. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, community members are invited to OSF Moeller Cancer Center in Alton for lung cancer screenings, door prizes,...
TROY - Local food pantry Ministries Unlimited hopes to build a new building soon, but in the meantime, they’re serving the Troy community with heart and compassion. Ministries Unlimited started in 1978 as a homebound Bible ministry. They quickly realized the families they were serving...
MARYVILLE - The Village of Maryville came together to celebrate the upcoming installation of a new entertainment pavilion at Firemen’s Park. On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, community members gathered at Firemen’s Park for a groundbreaking ceremony. The entertainment pavilion will encourage...
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