Bethalto News

“We knew it was an eagle, but we couldn't tell whether it was mature or immature”

The annual count of American bald eagles in The Telegraph area tallied 510 birds last month -- more than double the previous year. via Alton Telegraph

Raymond Anthony Torrez, 70, went home to be with the Lord at 4:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. via Alton Telegraph

“I show the guys what it feels like to be in a certain situation”

He'd always been interested in self-defense. He took karate classes as a child and enhanced his training as a Bethalto police scout in his teens. via Alton Telegraph

Authorities are investigating after a small plane crashed in central Illinois that was carrying a passenger from Missouri. via Alton Telegraph

“Only about 10 percent taken there get out. There's just too many.”

An animal organization today will rescue a pair of dogs that were slated to be destroyed after they mistakenly wandered into a Bethalto credit union. via Alton Telegraph

“We can talk to people all over the state. I could use it to talk to someone in Chicago right now, and it would be crystal clear. The radios that we have currently do not allow for that type of communication. They're more limited in range.”

Several Madison County police departments will receive emergency service radios that can access the communications network used by other responders during emergencies. via Alton Telegraph

“We got a call on Monday, and by that night they called my wife, who runs the theater, and she went over there and gave the Secret Service a tour.”

Although his stop in the Metro East was a little less than three hours Wednesday, former President Bill Clinton's time here required the work of several police agencies and a few members of the Clinton team. via Alton Telegraph

“We're all dog people here and we were upset when the dogcatcher told us they only keep them five days and then they put them down.”

A pair of clueless canines captured after they wandered into a credit union on Thursday morning face euthanasia if their owners aren't quickly found. via Alton Telegraph

Congratulations to Joann from Bethalto, IL who was our FREE MOViN MONEY winner of the day! Joann is planning on spending her $1,000 on College Tuition--learning for free! Don't forget to listen to Steph & Eric ... via WVRV-FM Saint Louis

A firefighter hoses down a metal container containing flammable materials that apparently were set afire Tuesday in an abandoned house behind Fertile Ground Organic Gardening and Lawn on West MacArthur Drive in ... via Alton Telegraph

The Bank of Edwardsville has announced that Donovan Ehrman has joined its Financial Management Group as a financial consultant. via Alton Telegraph

At the River Bend Growth Association's annual dinner, retiring Growth Association Chairman Melissa Erker, right, and 2008 Chairman Kent Scheffel, left, presented, from left, Harold Johnson of SCORE, Dwight ... via Alton Telegraph

“He's at work, and we've not been able to reach him”

Bad electrical wiring sparked a blaze at an unoccupied house in the 200 block of Poag Avenue on Monday. via Alton Telegraph

“Really, this whole thing, it was totally outside my comfort zone”

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Nicole Churchill will find out Monday whether her dream of having her father and stepfather walk her down the aisle on her wedding day will come true.

Churchill and her fiance, Jesse Roberts, who is from Granite City and now resides in Florissant, Mo., are one of the two remaining couples battling it out for the planned and paid for Y98/T-Mobile mega-wedding competition valued at over $20,000.

Roberts, who has about one year left at Logan College of Chiropractic, said if he and Churchill do not win, they might have to elope. They have too many student loans and not enough finances to afford a wedding. Read more

“It makes sense financially to build in communities with low fees, because you're saving about $6,000 to $7,000.”

The housing market was down last year in most of the area, with some cities seeing 40 percent drops in new single-family residential construction permits, but Alton was one of the few that bucked the trend. via Alton Telegraph

The Growth Association of Southwestern Illinois' annual banquet Thursday evening will include the announcement of a new name and logo for the organization.

The organization serves as both the chamber of commerce and economic developer for the 'River Bend' communities: Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Elsah, Foster Township, Godfrey, Grafton, Hartford, Roxana, South Roxana and Wood River.

The dinner will be held at 6:15 p.m. at the Commons at Lewis & Clark College in Godfrey. Registration and social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Annual awards will also be presented. Read more

Warmer weather has been rather balmy for those who live out in it, such as this gray goose, who didn't seem to have a care in the world Friday as he tucked his beak into his feathers for a little nap time. via Alton Telegraph

“The hay inventory as of May 1, 2007, was the lowest in 50 years, so the combination of the early freeze and the extended drought really put a damper on the availability of good-quality hay”

Horse and cattle owners around the country can expect to see a continuation of the hay shortage and rising hay prices this year. via Alton Telegraph