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Letter from the editor: Metro Independent temporarily ceasing operations

By   /  December 31, 2014  /  Caseyville, Collinsville, Maryville, News  /  10 Comments

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. […]

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Kahok wrestlers impress coach with solid tournament finish

By   /  December 31, 2014  /  Collinsville High School, Sports, Wrestling  /  No Comments

Kahok Wrestling Logo

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 […]

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Lincoln derails Kahoks roll in Schnucks Holiday Classic championship

By   /  December 30, 2014  /  Collinsville High School, Sports  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Kahoks top #1 seed Althoff, play Tuesday night in Holiday Classic championship

By   /  December 30, 2014  /  Boys Basketball, Collinsville High School, Sports  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Kahoks win big, move on to semifinals of Schnucks Holiday Classic

By   /  December 30, 2014  /  Boys Basketball, Collinsville High School, Sports  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Glen Carbon Police solve two home invasion cases, seeking one of three suspects

By   /  December 29, 2014  /  News, Region  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Kahoks topple Hazelwood East in Schnucks Holiday Classic

By   /  December 28, 2014  /  Boys Basketball, Collinsville High School, Sports  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Caseyville Police seeking Christmas Eve armed robbers

By   /  December 25, 2014  /  Caseyville, News  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Collinsville’s giving heart on display during the holiday season

By   /  December 25, 2014  /  Collinsville, News  /  No Comments

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. […]

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Former Police Chief Alvarez not guilty on two misdemeanor charges

By   /  December 23, 2014  /  Caseyville, News  /  2 Comments

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 […]

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Wrestling Kahoks take third at Mascoutah Invitational

By   /  December 23, 2014  /  Collinsville High School, Sports, Wrestling  /  No Comments

Kahok Wrestling Logo

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, […]

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Collinsville Police searching for brazen purse snatcher

By   /  December 22, 2014  /  Collinsville, News  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Caseyville and St. Clair County announce increased traffic enforcement

By   /  December 20, 2014  /  Caseyville, News, Region  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Basketball Kahoks losing streak reaches six

By   /  December 20, 2014  /  Boys Basketball, Collinsville High School, Sports  /  No Comments

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, […]

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Lady Kahoks rally to run past Redbirds

By   /  December 19, 2014  /  Collinsville High School, Girls Basketball, Sports  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Alton defeats Wrestling Kahoks

By   /  December 19, 2014  /  Collinsville High School, Sports, Wrestling  /  No Comments

Kahok Wrestling Logo

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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Fire destroys Collinsville home, community collecting to provide necessities for family

By   /  December 18, 2014  /  Collinsville, Maryville, News  /  No Comments

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 […]

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Caseyville mayor appoints twice-bankrupt resident as village treasurer

By   /  December 18, 2014  /  Caseyville, News  /  3 Comments

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 […]

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Collinsville Police to increase traffic enforcement from Friday through Jan. 4

By   /  December 17, 2014  /  Collinsville, News  /  No Comments

The Collinsville Police Department announced Wednesday that it will increase traffic enforcement Dec. 19 through Jan. 4, 2015. The increased enforcement is to reduce traffic accidents and injuries during the holiday season, police said. In conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Collinsville Police Department will enforce DUI, seat belt, and mobile phone usage violations […]

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Notice of municipal letting, Collinsville, three Ford Utility Police Interceptor Vehicles

By   /  December 17, 2014  /  Events/Announcements  /  No Comments

 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 […]

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