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Letter from the editor: Metro Independent temporarily ceasing operations
Dear Readers The Metro Independent is temporarily halting operations. As many of this digital newspaper’s wonderful supporters know, the Metro Independent has essentially been a one-man operation since its inception in July 2013. I have been aided by amazing support from the communities the paper serves and many people have kindly provided pictures and content. […]
Read More →Glen Carbon Police solve two home invasion cases, seeking one of three suspects
The Glen Carbon Police Department announced today that two recent home invasion cases in the town have been solved and charges filed against three suspects. The first incident occurred in the 4500 block of S. Illinois Route 159 at about 12:07 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15. Two suspects reportedly forced their way into the home, attacked […]
Read More →Caseyville Police seeking Christmas Eve armed robbers
Two men reportedly broke into a Caseyville home at about 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and robbed the occupants at gunpoint. Four people were at the home in the 2000 block of Webster Circle when the suspects forced their way into the residence, Caseyville Police reported. The two African-American male suspects used semi-automatic handguns, wore […]
Read More →Collinsville’s giving heart on display during the holiday season
Collinsville is not a wealthy community, but its residents continue to open their hearts and wallets to those less fortunate. The generous spirit of the community is evident throughout the year, participating in fund raisers, contributing to the needy and responding to emergency situations, such as the displacement of a family by a house fire. […]
Read More →Former Police Chief Alvarez not guilty on two misdemeanor charges
St. Clair County Associate Judge Chris Kolker on Tuesday found former Caseyville Police Chief Jose Alvarez not guilty on two misdemeanor charges brought by a special prosecutor. Alvarez was charged with disorderly conduct and battery following a Feb. 19 Caseyville Village Board meeting in which Alvarez raised his voice and gestured angrily at Mayor Leonard […]
Read More →Collinsville Police searching for brazen purse snatcher
Collinsville Police are asking for the public’s help identifying a man who stole a purse from a woman in the Aldi’s parking lot Sunday evening. A man took the purse from the victim’s shopping cart at approximately 7:20 p.m. Sunday as she loaded bags into her truck. The suspect can be seen getting out of an […]
Read More →Caseyville and St. Clair County announce increased traffic enforcement
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Caseyville Police Department recently announced they have started increased impaired driving and seat belt enforcement and will continue through Jan. 4, 2015. Caseyville Police are participating in the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program, funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. STEP is focused on specific times […]
Read More →Fire destroys Collinsville home, community collecting to provide necessities for family
A father, 2-year-old boy and two 17-year-old girls lost their home and everything in it nine days before Christmas. The Collinsville area is rallying to help the family. Collinsville, Maryville, Troy and Fairview Heights fire departments all responded to a house fire in the 6900 block of Loyet Road in rural Collinsville Tuesday afternoon. A […]
Read More →Caseyville mayor appoints twice-bankrupt resident as village treasurer
Undeterred by a 4-2 vote Wednesday by the Board of Trustees against his choice for Caseyville Treasurer, Mayor Leonard Black appointed a resident to the post who has twice filed for bankruptcy. Black appointed Lola Cline as interim treasurer, which he can do without Board approval. Reached for comment Thursday, Black called the votes against […]
Read More →Sports View All →
Kahok wrestlers impress coach with solid tournament finish
The Collinsville wrestling team placed 10th at the prestigious William Red Schmitt Holiday Wrestling Tournament this week, a finish that pleased Head Coach Tom Blaha. “After losing seven seniors to graduation and facing a rebuilding year, I am quite happy with this team’s performance,” Blaha said. “To place two places higher and beat Granite City […]
Read More →Lincoln derails Kahoks roll in Schnucks Holiday Classic championship
Collinsville, Ill. – The improbable run by the Collinsville Kahoks at Schnucks Holiday Classic ended when Lincoln topped the hosts 47-34. The Kahoks (6-7) got off to a promising start, scoring the game’s first two buckets, before the Railsplitters (11-2) tacked on five quick points. Collinsville Head Coach Darin Lee called an early timeout and […]
Read More →Kahoks top #1 seed Althoff, play Tuesday night in Holiday Classic championship
Collinsville, Ill. – Collinsville handed Althoff its first loss of the season Tuesday afternoon to advance to the championship game of the Schnucks Holiday Classic. The Kahoks (6-6) took control early and lead 15-7 after one quarter. Top-seeded Althoff (11-1) closed out the second quarter on a 19-3 run to take a 30-23 led into […]
Read More →Kahoks win big, move on to semifinals of Schnucks Holiday Classic
Collinsville, Ill. – The Collinsville Kahoks jumped out to a quick 6-0 Monday night and cruised to a 64-29 victory over Granite City in the Schnucks Holiday Classic. The Warriors (4-6) upset fourth seeded Decatur MacAurthur Saturday but were thoroughly dominated by the Kahoks (5-6) from the opening tip. The game started with Emondre Rickman […]
Read More →Kahoks topple Hazelwood East in Schnucks Holiday Classic
Collinsville High School won big Saturday in the opening day of the 31st Collinsville Schnucks Holiday Classic. Behind a strong all-around game by Anfirnee Wilkinson, the Kahoks (4-6) downed Hazelwood East (2-4) by 40 points, beating the St. Louis school 73-43. Wilkinson led all scorers with 17 points on 7-10 shooting from the floor. The […]
Read More →Wrestling Kahoks take third at Mascoutah Invitational
The Collinsville High School wrestlers placed third in the 27-team Mascoutah Invitational Friday and Saturday. Nine Kahoks placed in the 45th edition of the tournament. Alton took the top spot with 277.5 points, followed by Quincy with 214. The Kahoks rounded out the top three with 209 points. Kahok placers were: Patrick Grzywacz, – second, […]
Read More →Basketball Kahoks losing streak reaches six
Collinsville, Ill. – The Collinsville High School boys’ basketball season is following a familiar script this year. The 2013-2014 version of the Kahoks opened the season with three straight wins before losing seven straight. This year’s team opened the season with three straight wins, and has now lost six consecutive contests. The host Kahoks (3-6, […]
Read More →Lady Kahoks rally to run past Redbirds
Collinsville, Ill. – Leading by a scant point at halftime Thursday, few would have predicted that the Lady Kahoks would go on to a romp over the visiting Alton Redbirds. Alton (2-7, 2-3 Southwestern Conference) ran out to a 16-9 lead after one quarter, before Caity Brombolich and the Lady Kahoks took charge. Behind Brombolich’s […]
Read More →Alton defeats Wrestling Kahoks
Alton, Ill. – The Collinsville Kahok wrestlers fell 45-24 to Alton Thursday in a Southwestern Conference meet. Winners for the Kahoks were: Jevon Pargo, Patrick Grzywacz, Zach Schaefer, Derrion Miller and Jarod Estes. Collinsville is back in action at 3 p.m. Friday at Mascoutah. Results: 126 – Tim McCarvey (Alt) dec Jake Blaha (CHS), 13-11 […]
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Sun watchers to gather at Woodhenge Sunday for solstice sunrise
Sun watchers will gather at 7 a.m. Sunday to celebrate the winter solstice and watch dawn break over Woodhenge at Cahokia Mounds. Collinsville’s Woodhenge sits about 1/2 mile west of Monks Mound. Reconstructed in 1985, there were originally five iterations of wood pole formations at the site, probably constructed by the Mississippians between 1100 and […]
Read More →Collinsville Charities for Children helps more than 265 needy children
Submitted content Collinsville Charities for Children gave shoes and socks to more than 265 Collinsville School District children on Dec. 10. Organizer Grant Koentz, along with 12 volunteers from the organization and Jack Schmitt employees, provided shoes and socks to the students at Jack Schmitt Ford Lincoln in Collinsville. Submitted content
Read More →Free action movies at Collinsville Library in January
The Collinsville Library invites the community to beat the winter doldrums with free action-packed movies in January. Two movies will be shown at 2 p.m. each Saturday in January. The Children’s Floor will feature rated PG movies. The Community Room titles are rated PG-13. The schedule of January movies is: January 3 – Teenage Mutant […]
Read More →Christmas in Collinsville this weekend
Christmas in Collinsville, sponsored by the Collinsville Main Street Community Association, is happening this weekend. The two-day event starts with the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday Dec. 5 at the township office, located at 307 East Main St. Carolers will join Santa Claus at the ceremony. Donations for Toys for Tots will be […]
Read More →The adoption journey; why not?
By Sarah Gafford, in recognition of November as National Adoption Month “What made you decide to adopt?” I have been asked this question hundreds of times. My answer is almost always the same, “why not?” The seed of adoption was planted in my heart since…well, since forever. The funny thing is that it was growing […]
Read More →Free holiday movies coming to the Collinsville Library
Submitted content Families are invited to watch free movies at the Collinsville Memorial Library Center this December. On Fridays in December, starting at 3 p.m., get cozy with some hot chocolate, compliments of the library, and enjoy these classics: Dec. 5 – White Christmas (Community Room) and Arthur Christmas (Children’s Floor) Dec. 12 – Miracle on 34th Street (Community Room) […]
Read More →Collinsville’s premier social and fundraising event to benefit Unit 10 literacy program
The premier social event each year in Collinsville is also the premier fundraising event. For 20 years, people have put on their finest clothes and mingled with friends and community leaders at the annual Festival of Trees, while raising more than $500,000 for local charities. More than $30,000 was raised in 2013 for Collinsville Charities […]
Read More →The Nutcracker returns to the Wildey Theatre
The Turning Pointe Academy of Dance will bring the Christmas classic ballet, the Nutcracker, back to the Wildey Theatre this December. The family classic, first performed in St. Petersburg, Russia on Dec. 18, 1892, is the story of a Christmastime dream world with a nutcracker come to life. The ballet features the music of famed […]
Read More →Local author meet and greet at Collinsville Library
Nov. 22 marks the 51st anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas. Local author Timothy Fleming tackles this topic in his historical fiction book “The President’s Mortician.” A young man witnesses his neighbor’s gruesome murder and the woman’s husband is wrongly convicted of the crime. As he grows older, Conrad “Con” Reese, Jr. tries […]
Read More →Events/Announcements View All →
January computer classes at Collinsville Library
The Collinsville Memorial Library Center offers free computer classes every month. The month of January 2015 includes: Tech Q&A- Wednesdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21, & 28 at 1:30 p.m. Computer Basics 1- Wednesday, January 7 at 5 p.m. Computer Basics 2- Thursday, January 8 at 5 p.m. Microsoft Word Basics- Saturday, January 10 at 3 […]
Read More →Video game tournament at Collinsville Library
Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog and his SEGA friends are invited to join a video game racing tournament at the Collinsville Memorial Library Center. On Thursday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m., join Sonic, Tails and more as they race cars, bikes, and hovercrafts in this fun all-ages racing game for the Wii. The tournament is […]
Read More →Finding your roots at the Collinsville Library
New and experienced genealogists are invited to join the History and Genealogy Club of Collinsville. The club is a friendly group of people who share an interest in genealogy and local history. All are welcome to share findings and resources. Each meeting focuses on a different topic such as immigration or family stories. Meetings are […]
Read More →Notice of municipal letting, Collinsville, three Ford Utility Police Interceptor Vehicles
The City of Collinsville, Illinois, will receive sealed bids for furnishing and delivering three (3) 2015 Ford Utility Police Interceptor Vehicles, Project #EQP-578-15, until 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at City Hall, 125 South Center Street, Collinsville, IL, 62234. Bids will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposal forms and bid specifications […]
Read More →Craft group at Collinsville Library
Crafters of all skill levels and types of crafts are welcome to join the “Yarn Paper Scissors” craft club at the Collinsville Memorial Library Center. Regardless of whether you sew, knit, crochet, scrapbook, stamp, embroider, paint, woodwork, quilt, or bead, you are invited to be a part of this supportive group of DIYers. Share your […]
Read More →Job assistance workshops at Collinsville Library
The Collinsville Memorial Library Center is hosting a series of monthly job assistance workshops in 2015. A representative from the Madison County Employment & Training Department will be at the library on the second Monday of each month (first Monday in October) at 2 p.m. to help you with the various aspects of finding the right […]
Read More →State seeks nominations for Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards
Submitted content The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is accepting nominations for the sixth annual Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize individual volunteers to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois. For-profit businesses that support service will also be recognized. “Illinois is fortunate to have […]
Read More →Senior art competition looking for entries
Submitted content Don’t miss the chance to enter your piece of art in Life Experienced – A Senior Art Competition. Southwestern Illinois College and the St. Clair County Office on Aging are once again partnering with the Gateway East Artists’ Guild and Art on the Square for this unique art competition and exhibit. Artists 60 […]
Read More →Caseyville’s 50th annual mouse house to be held this weekend
Caseyville will hold its 50th annual Mouse House this Friday and Saturday. The two-day event runs from 5-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It will be held at the Caseyville Community Building, 909 S. Main Street, Caseyville. Mouse House gifts will be on sale in a kid area and an adult area. Pictures […]
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Keene on Your Finances: Giving thanks as an investor
Still hoping for a few warm days this fall, we were rudely greeted by a blast of cold air from a polar vortex last week that quickly reminded us that winter is not far ahead. Combine the cold air with shorter days and predictions of a frigid winter by the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and it […]
Read More →A hidden gem, 529 College Savings Plans offer big benefits
Many parents in the past few months have faced the daunting task of writing a sizeable check to universities to cover their child’s fall semester tuition. While writing the check, I am sure many were asking themselves why they did not save more money for this event. According to College Illinois!, a prepaid tuition program, […]
Read More →Keene on Your Finances: Strategies to maximize Social Security benefits
Every day thousands of Baby Boomers turn age 62 and become eligible to receive Social Security benefits. The dilemma they face is taking the money immediately or waiting. For those who can afford to wait, doing so could result in hundreds of thousands of extra dollars over a lifetime. There may also be unique strategies […]
Read More →Keene on Your Finances: How well do you know your financial advisor?
It is fairly typical for financial advisors to be nice people with warm smiles and engaging personalities. It is also not uncommon for them to appear financially successful by living in upscale communities and driving luxury cars. But does it qualify them to give you prudent financial advice and manage your investments? What are their […]
Read More →Think you’re not paying fees for your 401(k)? You’re probably wrong
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” This widely used adage essentially communicates the idea that it is impossible to get something for nothing. Although this is intuitive for most people, when it comes to 401(k) plans, far too many participants think they are getting a free lunch. According to a recent survey by […]
Read More →“Keene on Your Finances” – Roth 401k and Roth IRA, a lifetime of tax free earnings
A well-respected tax and estate planning attorney recently told me he had no idea he could contribute to a Roth 401k. He was sure there was an income limit. He and many others are missing a great investment opportunity. For years we have been wired to defer taxes and pay only when it is absolutely […]
Read More →Coming soon: “Keene on Your Finances”
Brad Keene, vice president and partner at Meridian Financial Group, and lifelong Collinsville resident, will be a Metro Independent featured columnist, starting Friday. Brad’s “Keene on Your Finances” columns will appear every two months, providing valuable information about managing your personal finances. Keene is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM), holds an MBA from St. Louis University […]
Read More →Opinion View All →
Letter to the Editor: Mayor out of line to sign name to letter
Dear Editor, On June 30, Ready Nation Illinois director Sean Noble messaged Collinsville Mayor John Miller and Mr. Kevin Weinacht stating the BND never printed their letter this spring. Ironically, the Post-Dispatch has not printed my rebuttal to the July 12 letter Noble drafted captioned, Illinois’ cut in childcare hurt families and businesses. My rebuttal […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: Fairness for Fairmount Park
Fairmount racetrack has been in business since 1925. At one time, the racetrack was one of the largest job creators in the Metro East and sent more tax dollars to Collinsville than most, if not all, businesses in Madison County. Today, the racetrack is a shell of what it was, what it could be, and […]
Read More →Marleen Suarez: “Prenzler should turn his attention to his own office”
My name is Marleen Suarez. As a candidate for Madison County Treasurer in the November Election, I promise to talk about issues that matter. I am a successful small business owner with more than a decade of professional investment industry experience and a plan for how to make the Treasurer’s Office work better for you. […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: Stand with Steelworkers
A battle is on to protect American-made steel and the livelihood of those who make it. U.S. Steel in Granite City is the second-largest property taxpayer in Madison County. The steel mill pays more than $6.65 million to 10 local taxing districts, and provides jobs to more than 2,000 employees, most of whom live in […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: Revisiting the mayor’s role in the flower sculpture acquisition
The Metro Independent published a great article about the flower sculpture at the corner of Clay Street and Route 159. It should serve as a reminder of our very unusual weak Mayor form of government that Mayor Miller fails to respect. But for being Liquor Commissioner and chairing meetings he is simply one of five […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: National Day of Prayer
In 1952, the U.S. Congress established a day to remember the religious heritage of this country and to celebrate the rights to freely exercise our faith, and yes, to pray to God. As a nation, we unite on the first Thursday in May for the National Day of Prayer. In Madison County, religious beliefs also […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: When taxes go up, do you have a say in it?
To the Editor: The number one complaint the Madison County Treasurer hears is about tax increases. People say, “I didn’t vote for an increase, so why do my taxes keep going up?” They’re right. The public often doesn’t have a say in the matter. How does it happen? First, let’s make it clear that the […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: Madison County Jail referendum, “the time for action is now”
Letter to the Editor: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “the time for action is now.” The French novelist who penned “The Little Prince” believed “It’s never too late to do something.” He’s right. Early voting started in the Primary election and many of you will make the trip to the polls to cast your ballot. However, […]
Read More →Letter to the Editor: Historically low rates at Madison County tax sale
To the Editor: People usually don’t associate good news with taxes, but the annual Madison County Tax Sale, held this past Thursday, did result in good news for late taxpayers. Property taxes in the amount of $4.4 million were sold at a weighted average penalty interest rate of 1.59 percent. I’m not aware of any […]
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