Community
Waterloo connection to historic East St. Louis Riot
Waterloo and East St. Louis may be separated by a 30-minute drive, but the history of these two communities is intertwined by a very crucial event in the aftermath of…
Read MoreA new fair queen is crowned
As Sunday night’s pageant closed the first of many fun-filled fair days, it also brought an end to 2019 Monroe County Fair Queen Lexi Ruemker and Little Miss Gabi Rae…
Read MoreWaterloo woman, 62, gives birth
As Kathy Blattner gazes into her 5-month-old’s big blue eyes, her face lights up just like any other mother. Yet, the journey that led to this precious mother-daughter moment is…
Read MoreLess than half of locals vaccinated
A total of 54 shots were administered July 8 during a COVID vaccine clinic at the Monroe County Health Department office in Waterloo. Some of those were second doses, Monroe County…
Read MoreMeth remains a concern in Monroe County
In 2020, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department made 26 controlled substances and 45 methamphetamine arrests. Based on the numbers seen so far, Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing predicts the county…
Read MoreColumbia woman pitching in to help East St. Louis
Over 100 years after the 1917 East St. Louis Riot, one Columbia resident is joining calls for reparations for that city, stating it would reduce gun violence and in turn…
Read MoreColumbia annexation aggravation
The Columbia City Council met for more than three hours in regular session on July 6. Nearly one third of that time was dedicated to discussion of a proposed annexation…
Read MoreSouthwest Illinois Connector sees some progress
After being talked about for decades, the massive Southwest Illinois Connector project is getting closer to starting construction, as it recently secured new funding and the Illinois Department of Transportation…
Read MoreSo far, so good with this year’s corn
It’s almost impossible to miss it even at highway speed as one drives through Monroe County, but the second crop of the summer’s big three is maturing. The gold…
Read MoreIt’s county fair time
With last year’s event canceled due to COVID-19, Monroe County Fair Association President Don Schrader is proud to proclaim this year’s fair will be business as usual. “Naturally last year…
Read MoreWelfare of horses a priority for Columbia woman
By EDEN STRATTON For the Republic-Times Nancy McLean, who lives a peaceful existence on her Columbia-based farm, was initially skeptical that her work would make a good story. However, the…
Read MoreRed Bud author’s message: It gets better
Fifteen years ago, a young Jess Anderson submitted a story idea to her English teacher. Now, she has turned this fictional world into her debut novel. “I actually came up…
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