LOUISIANA —  The Louisiana R-2 School District is welcoming a new face into its schools this week as Officer Kaitlyn Alexandro officially begins her first day as the district’s School Resource Officer . District and city officials say the addition of a dedicated School Resource Officer has been in development for some time and represents a significant step forward in supporting the safety and well-being of students  across the Louisiana school system. School leaders emphasize

PITTSFIELD —  A West Central Illinois man with a history of missed court appearances and multiple felony cases has been sentenced to state prison following proceedings in Pike County Circuit Court. Forty-year-old Jonathan Well , formerly of Jacksonville, was sentenced Tuesday to two and a half years in the Illinois Department of Corrections  by Pike County Judge Frank McCartney. The sentence follows a series of felony convictions and repeated failures to appear in court. Well

Monday night featured limited but notable high school basketball action across the Twin Pikes region. In boys basketball , Paris with Faith Walk defeated Silex 64–55 , handing the Owls a home loss in a nonconference matchup. In girls basketball , Pittsfield edged Camp Point Central 41–39  in a close contest decided late. Bluffs earned a 54–42 win over Carrollton , while Brown County defeated Macomb 67–45 . Midwest Central also picked up a win, topping Spoon River Valley 49–35

The New Philadelphia National Historic Site  in Pike County, Illinois, has recently gained wider national prominence as one of the newest units of the U.S. National Park Service  — a historic milestone for local residents, descendants, and scholars alike. Located just two miles east of Barry, Illinois , this site preserves the story of New Philadelphia , the first known town in the United States platted and legally registered by an African American , Free Frank McWorter , in

Groundhog Day brought a familiar question to the Twin Pikes this year: is winter preparing to loosen its grip, or do several more weeks of cold still lie ahead? While the famous groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, draws national attention each February 2nd, weather watchers locally say conditions in the Twin Pikes would likely have led to a shadow sighting if a groundhog had been on duty here. Clear overnight skies, cold early-morning temperatures, and light winds create

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins, a Republican from Bowling Green, is sponsoring legislation that would significantly limit the use of so-called “red flag” gun laws in the state. House Bill 2176 would prohibit state and local authorities from enforcing any red flag gun orders, including court actions that temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed to pose a risk to themselves or others. The proposal would also block cooperation with any future federal red

Woodrow Polston says collaboration, transparency, and economic growth would define his leadership if elected mayor of Louisiana. Polston, who moved to Louisiana in 2019 with his family, is president of Polston House Publishing and a published author and journalist. He currently serves as president of Louisiana Concerned Citizens, worship leader at Belong Church, and a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, where he has served for three years. He says those roles

Mark Haddock, a longtime Louisiana resident and community volunteer, is seeking the office of mayor with a focus on steady leadership, civic pride, and moving the city forward. Haddock moved to Louisiana as a sixth grader, graduated from Louisiana High School in 1970, and later served two years in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. He earned an associate degree in cardiopulmonary studies and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri before building a career in sales and m

A longtime Pittsfield business suffered a devastating loss over the weekend after a massive fire destroyed Wright Place Auto Body at the corner of Adams and Memorial Street. Owner Peter Wright, who spent 35 years building the business and five years at its uptown location, said the building was lost in just a matter of hours as firefighters battled the blaze in subzero temperatures. Despite the destruction, Wright says he is determined to move forward and keep the business al