Community
New restaurant enjoying success in Hecker
At the eastern edge of Monroe County lies a village with a population of less than 500. Hecker boasts fertile farmland as a center for agriculture. Short of that, passers-by…
Read MoreProud Pirate: memories from a Class of 1946 grad
A lot has changed in 70 years, especially in the flood-ravaged town of Valmeyer. But the memories remain. Fred Meister of Waterloo is one of 25 graduating members of the…
Read MoreHelping Strays facility now open
Last Tuesday marked the final day of open hours at the old Helping Strays animal shelter in Red Bud. “We were able to find thousands of pets their forever homes…
Read MoreColorful cakes help celebrate county’s birthday
Monroe County was chosen to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of St. Louis in 2014 with two colorful ceremonial cakes that were displayed prominently in Columbia and Waterloo. Those same…
Read MoreLawmakers leaning toward budget stopgap
In the midst of a financial crisis, Illinois Democratic leaders and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner failed yet again this month to reach a compromise on the budget. Now, the end…
Read MoreMonroe County Fair Schedule of Events
Click on image to view and print…
Read MoreValmeyer man always knows the score
Valmeyer honored one of its most dedicated sports boosters last week, celebrating his more than 55 years of keeping an accurate reflection of games and teams that have helped shape…
Read MoreLarge donation funds Helping Strays kennel
Dieter Mosler of Columbia died last September at age 75, leaving few living relatives but a lasting legacy as an animal lover nonetheless. His $220,000 donation for the new Helping…
Read MoreCounty blindsided by cut to Violence Prevention Center
Monroe County Board members and other local officials were shocked to learn of the loss of expected federal funds that support the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois office in…
Read MoreLocal barber retiring as last of his kind
The Flood of 1993 washed away a lot of memories, prized possessions and community pride as Old Valmeyer drowned under the crashing waves of the Mississippi River. Thousands of people…
Read MoreCampaign sign controversy in Monroe County
It’s simple math. The country is five months away from the November elections; there are as many as 10 Illinois political candidates for Monroe County registered voters to choose from;…
Read MoreRoute 3 project could hit road block
Since construction began on the Route 3 improvement project in Waterloo, residents have kept a watchful eye for its completion. The Illinois Department of Transportation most recently predicted that construction…
Read More