Area News
Man Walking Across America for Children’s Hospitals Passes Through Mascoutah
MASCOUTAH — A Tennessee man walking across the United States to raise money for children’s hospitals passed through Mascoutah on Saturday, May 16, along Illinois Route 177. Elliot Smejkal, of Tennessee, began his trip 21 days ago at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville and is making his way west toward Seattle, Washington. He said he hopes…
Read MoreZero excuses: ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign underway for Memorial Day
Mascoutah, IL — The Mascoutah Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the 2026 “Click It or Ticket” campaign running May 15-26 during the Memorial Day travel period. “Buckle up every trip, every time,” said Lt. Matt Steinkamp. “Seat belts save lives, and we are committed to keeping our roads safe.” Officers…
Read MoreRep. Schmidt Donates Pay Raise to Mascoutah Food Pantry & Concerned Christians
MASCOUTAH – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has pledged to donate the legislative pay raise he voted against to local organizations across the 114th District to help families in need. For the month of April, he donated essential food items, including sugar, brown sugar, cooking oil, and egg noodles, to the Mascoutah Food Pantry &…
Read MoreLebanon Girl Scout Troop 676 Gets Hands-On in the Kitchen While Earning Simple Meals Badge
LEBANON — Girl Scouts from Troop 676 recently spent time in a very different kind of classroom, trading notebooks for cutting boards as they worked toward earning their Simple Meals badge. The troop partnered with Lynda Ott, co-owner of Smitty’s Pizzeria, who opened up the kitchen and guided the girls through the basics of preparing…
Read MoreMidAmerica St. Louis Airport Hosts Second Airplane Pull Event
By Bruce Darnell Have you ever pushed a car while it was in neutral? Even with a few people helping, it can be a hard task. Now imagine pulling 13 cars combined—about 52,000 pounds or 26 tons—as quickly as possible and you’ll have a good idea of what contestants had to overcome on April 25…
Read MoreWish Home Raffle to Award $800K Mascoutah House or $300,000
Mascoutah — A major regional fundraising raffle will award a newly built home in Mascoutah or a $300,000 cash prize this spring, with proceeds supporting children facing critical illnesses across Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. The 2026 Wish Home Raffle benefits Make-A-Wish Illinois, Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas and the Home Builders and Remodelers Charitable and Educational…
Read MoreRep. Schmidt’s ‘Business of The Month’ Highlights Mascoutah Community Lanes Bowling Alley
MASCOUTAH – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has recognized Mascoutah Community Lanes as his March ‘Business of The Month.’ Rep. Schmidt visited with Jen and Dan, operators of Mascoutah Community Lanes, to present them with an official certificate from the Illinois House of Representatives. “Jen and Dan have operated this local bowling alley for fifteen…
Read MoreTimeline: Key Events in the Leu Civic Center Situation in Mascoutah
MASCOUTAH — The future of the Leu Civic Center has developed over more than a year of discussions, decisions and, at times, differing interpretations between city officials and Civic Center leadership. The following timeline outlines key events that have led to the current situation. On Feb. 18, 2025, the Mascoutah City Council discussed a boiler…
Read MoreClock Exhibit at Mascoutah Historical Museum Honors Collector and Craft
By Zachary Daum [email protected] A new exhibit at the Mascoutah Heritage Museum is giving visitors a chance to step back in time through the steady tick of antique clocks, many of which once belonged to longtime local collector Roger Grodeon. The exhibit features dozens of working clocks, most dating to the late 1800s, and highlights…
Read MoreSchool board addresses bullying concerns, petition sparks community response in Mascoutah
By Zachary Daum [email protected] MASCOUTAH — Allegations of bullying at Mascoutah High School, brought forward through a student petition and amplified on social media, prompted a lengthy discussion at the Mascoutah Community Unit School District 19 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, March 24. District administrators defended their response to the situation, while students and…
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