SPARTA, IL – Sparta Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Dr. Umar Daud, a board-certified rheumatology specialist, to the Specialty Clinic at North Campus Healthcare—expanding access to expert rheumatology care for patients in the region. Dr. Daud will begin seeing patients two days per month mid-January, with plans to increase his time in April, helping meet […]
Sparta Community Hospital welcomes Dr. Umar Daud Read More »
by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. — When Southern Illinois University Carbondale throws out the welcome mat, it does so in style as evidenced by Winter Weeks of Welcome, a special time to greet new and returning students as they come to campus for the spring semester and get them acquainted and connected with SIU and one
SIU’s 2026 Winter Weeks of Welcome help students start the semester off right Read More »
SIKESTON—Route 51 in Perry County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge maintenance on the Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River. This section of roadway is located from County Road 946 near Claryville, Missouri to E Kaskaskia Street in Chester, Illinois. Weather permitting, work will take
Route 51 on the Chester Bridge reduced for maintenance Read More »
by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. — If you’ve ever wondered what all Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Student Recreation Center has to offer, here’s your chance to find out. Community Day at the Rec includes access to cardio equipment and weight rooms. (SIU Carbondale photo) Everyone is welcome at the Community Day at the Rec, set for 1-4 p.m.
Everyone is invited to explore SIU’s Rec Center during Jan. 11 Community Day Read More »
CHESTER – The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has released its latest report of arrests. Arrested were: Starla S. Balsom 33, Sparta, arrested December 30, 2025 by Randolph County Sheriff’s Office on a Perry County MO warrant for probation violation. Transported to Perry County MO. Freddie R. Brimmage 31, Chester, arrested January 1, 2026
Randolph County Sheriff reports arrests Read More »
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Columbia College recently announced its dean’s list for the Fall 2025 Semester (August-December 2025). To be named to the dean’s list, a student must have completed 12 undergraduate credit hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Among the local students named to
Three locals named to Columbia College Dean’s List Read More »
by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. — Immigration law and policy scholar César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández will discuss federal courts and President Donald Trump’s immigration policies when he presents the Hiram H. Lesar Distinguished Lecture on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Southern Illinois University’s Simmons Law School. Garcia Hernández’s free, public presentation, “Immigration Law in Turbulent Times,” is at 6
Immigration law, policy scholar to present SIU Simmons Law School Lesar Lecture Read More »
CHESTER – The City Council of Chester, Illinois will meet in regular session this evening at 6 p.m. in the municipal building, 1330 Swanwick Street, Chester, Illinois. The meeting is open to the public. The tentative agenda was released Friday, January 2, 2026. CHESTER, ILLINOIS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA January 5, 2026
Chester City Council meets this evening Read More »
CHESTER – The Chester Cemetery and Finance Committee meets this evening at 5 p.m. in the Chester Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street, Chester. The tentative agenda was released Friday, January 2, 2026. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF CHESTER CEMETERY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE Notice is hereby given that the Cemetery and
Chester Cemetery, Finance Committee meets this evening Read More »
Honorees include David August, Addison Gottschammer, Trevor Keeton, Erin Liefer, Rylie Myers, and Camryn Wolff By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer CHESTER – Chester High School Principal Jeremy Blechle and School Counselor, , are pleased to announce that six students from the Chester High School graduating Class of 2026 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars.
Chester High School has six Illinois State Scholars for the 2025-26 school year Read More »
