CAVC Health Occupations Students of America go to Nationals
Eight students from the Collinsville Area Vocational Center traveled to Orlando, Fla., June 24 – 28 to participate in the 2014 Health Occupations Students of America National Leadership Conference. The CAVC students were part of a group of 106 Illinois students representing 15 schools at the conference. To be eligible, students were required to complete […]
Read More →Illinois’ ACT score second among states that test all students
Staff report The Illinois State Board of Education announced today that Illinois ranks second among 12 states that provided the ACT to all graduates. The Class of 2014 achieved a composite score of 20.7 on the ACT, trailing only Utah’s 20.8. In addition, the percentage of students meeting all four of ACT’s College and Career […]
Read More →First human West Nile Virus case of 2014 confirmed in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the state’s first case of human West Nile virus. A woman in her 70’s became sick in July, the Chicago Department of Public Health reported. Last year, a total of 117 cases were reported, including 11 deaths. West Nile virus has now been reported in 32 Illinois […]
Read More →The Metro Independent celebrates one year
The first story posted on metroindependent.com was at 9:55 p.m. on Aug 14, 2013. Twelve months later, more than 1,200 stories have appeared. The support The Metro Independent has received in the past year has been staggering. From the first day, community leaders, police and fire departments, elected officials, school officials, coaches, players, parents, business […]
Read More →Fairness for Fairmount continues fight to bring gaming to Fairmount Race Track
On a recent evening about 15 people gathered in the Collinsville Township Senior Center to discuss how they can help save Fairmount Race Track. Spearheaded by the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce, those gathered for the Fairness for Fairmount meeting included officials from the City of Collinsville and Collinsville Township, horse owners and concerned citizens. For […]
Read More →State to host medical cannabis town hall meeting in Collinsville Thursday
Eight months after the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act went into effect and eight months before the first dispensaries are expected to open, the State of Illinois is hosting three town hall meetings to answer questions about the program. Collinsville will host the first town hall, at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 […]
Read More →Collinsville considered as possible site for medical cannabis dispensary
A group interested in opening a cannabis dispensary in Collinsville approached the City last month to initiate discussions, officials have confirmed. The discussions are in the very early stages, City Manager Scott Williams said. “We have had preliminary discussions with a vendor who contacted us,” Williams said. “We responded to questions about zoning and licensing.” […]
Read More →Man gives false name following parking lot melee, faces felony charges
A State Park man is accused of running from police following an afternoon parking lot brawl in Fairmont City, then providing a false name when he was captured. The Madison County Sheriff’s Department responded to a large fight Saturday at about 2:16 p.m. in the parking lot of Perez Cantina, 5903 Collinsville Road, Fairmont City. […]
Read More →Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge closing delayed by almost a year
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the work previously planned to start in August on the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge has been postponed. The bid submitted to rehabilitate the bridge deck was considerably higher than IDOT had budgeted. The planned work will be revised and the work put out for bid later this […]
Read More →New Collinsville Unit 10 policy allows advanced students to skip grade levels
Gifted students in the Collinsville Unit 10 School District can now skip grade levels if they meet certain criteria. The grade acceleration policy for elementary and middle school students was adopted by a unanimous vote of the School Board Monday and was put in place because some parents and staff have identified at least two […]
Read More →New Collinsville High School principal hired
The Collinsville Unit 10 School Board voted unanimously Thursday to hire David G. Snider as the new Collinsville High School principal. Snider comes to CHS from Staunton, Ill,, where he spent two years as the high school principal. The Carlinville, Ill. native made previous stops in Paxton and Palos Hills after starting his teaching career […]
Read More →Eric Flohr, 2008 Illinois Principal of the Year, leaves Collinsville High School
The man who helped coin the phrase, “high school of champions,” has left Collinsville High School to become the principal of a high school in Rockton, Ill. During the eight years Eric Flohr was the principal at Collinsville High School, he was named the Illinois High School Principal of the year (2008) by the National […]
Read More →Man allegedy enters Fairmont City home to pick fight, charged with two felonies
Not happy with the results of a fight earlier in the day, Pedro J. Orozco entered a home in Fairmont City at 8 p.m. Saturday to challenge the same man to another fight, Fairmont City Police allege. The fight ended with Orozco, of the 1900 block of Benton Street, Granite City, and the victim at a local […]
Read More →No internet, no problem: New concealed carry application process announced
The Illinois State Police announced Monday a way for residents to obtain a concealed carry permit if they do not have access to the internet. Applicants can contact the department’s Firearms Services (FSB) Customer Service Center phone line at 217-782-7980 and provide the same concealed carry license application information that is currently required through the on-line process. […]
Read More →Madison County treasurer referred for investigation, calls charges political
It is still not clear what Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler hoped to accomplish when he held a press conference in front of the St. Clair County Administration building on May 30. Prenzler presented results of an analysis that at least two of his staff members helped compile while working in the Madison County Treasurer’s […]
Read More →Escaped prisoner captured in Colorado
***Updated at 4 p.m. Friday, June 20*** Turhan Robinson’s escape lasted less than 12 hours and ended only a few blocks from where it started. The prisoner, charged with murder and armed robbery in the killing of Kenneth Deal on May 19 in Madison, Ill., was on his way back to Madison County from Las […]
Read More →Fairmont City woman intoxicated when car smashed into Alton building
Christana M. Martinez had a blood alcohol level more than four times the legal limit when the car she was driving struck the Con-Agra building in Alton on March 9. In addition to a blood alcohol level of .365, Martinez had cocaine metabolites and citalopram (an antidepresent) in her system, according to a statement released […]
Read More →Prenzler used taxpayer money to investigate fellow treasurer, says part of duties
When Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler stood in front of the St. Clair County Administration Building at 1 p.m. Friday, he strongly insinuated, but stop short of accusing, St. Clair County Treasurer Charles Suarez of wrongdoing while in office. That Prenzler and some staff members compiled the information distributed to the media using Madison County […]
Read More →Collinsville School Board votes down fence intended to secure CHS campus
With security more of an issue today than it was when Collinsville High School first opened its doors in 1972, school board members have been grappling with two projects that would offer more security at the campus. At its general meeting in May, the board voted down both plans. One would have added fencing around […]
Read More →Gaming expansion bill on hold, future of Fairmount Park in limbo
Senate Bill 1739, the gaming expansion bill that had many in the Collinsville area concerned about the future of Fairmount Park, will not be voted on in the spring session. The proposal would have allowed for video gaming at horse racing tracks in Illinois, but there has been no clear consensus on how to include […]
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