Operation Snowball keeps rolling
Students at Columbia High School have been busy over the past year, participating in statewide leadership conferences and pushing for substance use awareness among their peers. The Monroe County Coalition…
Read MoreCrawford case not yet closed
Following multiple delays in the federal bank fraud case involving Columbia developer Gregg Crawford, even more questions have arisen after the latest sentencing date was removed from the Jan. 22…
Read MoreFriess pushes SAFE-T Act reform
State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) introduced legislation last week to address issues with what he said is a “flawed” SAFE-T Act. If passed, House Bill 4907 would require a…
Read MoreRobust pig supply to start year
With more profitable hog prices, lower feed costs and higher production efficiency compared to recent years, the U.S. has an ample supply of pork to start 2026. USDA’s quarterly hogs…
Read MoreFarm to food bank grants offered
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek Applications opened Feb. 6 for Illinois’ new $1.5 million Farm to Food Bank Capacity-Building Grant Program designed to strengthen the state’s local food system and expand…
Read MoreIllinois again tops in soybeans
Illinois soybean farmers are once again the top producers of soybeans in the U.S. In 2025, Illinois farmers harvested more than 639 million bushels of soybeans, securing Illinois the No.…
Read MoreFree tax prep assistance offered
Several programs offer free income tax preparation for low-to-moderate income families and older adults who may need assistance in filing their 2025 income taxes. The Internal Revenue Service, American Association…
Read MoreGirls jump into hoops regionals
The postseason begins this weekend for many high school girls basketball squads, with local teams hoping all those hours spent practicing and playing in the gym can result in some…
Read MoreRockin’ rim action in local gyms
The regional pairings won’t be announced until Friday, but local high school boys basketball squads have most certainly begun preparations for the postseason road ahead. Columbia (21-6) saw its 12-game…
Read MoreHockey rivals down to the wire in playoff clash
The Freeburg-Waterloo Raging Bulldogs and Columbia Eagles are adding another chapter to their rivalry by facing each other this week in the second round of the Mississippi Valley Club Hockey…
Read MoreCHS cheerleading | Team of the Week
The Republic-Times Team of the Week is the Columbia High School cheerleading squad. The Eagles ended their season with a ninth place showing Saturday at the IHSA Class 1A state…
Read MoreJack Holston | Athlete of the Week
The Republic-Times Athlete of the Week is Gibault Catholic High School basketball player Jack Holston. The junior guard is averaging 12.4 points per game this season to lead the Hawks,…
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