Republic-Times

12/08/2025

12/06/2025

🌟Get excited Columbia because TONIGHT is the Annual Bright Night Christmas Parade — the magical night that brings SANTA himself into town to kick off the holiday season!

Bundle up, grab some hot cocoa, and get ready for glowing floats, sparkling lights, and festive cheer all throughout Main Street. Columbia knows how to shine bright!

🤶We'll see you tonight at 5:00 PM on Main Street to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus into Columbia!🎅

Here is the link to vote for your favorite float! The voting will open at 5:00 PM on the dot.
https://forms.office.com/g/KzEV8rj4XV?origin=lprLink

12/06/2025

12/5/25, 8:50pm update:
The repair has been made to the water main, but the boil order is in place until further notice.

12/5/2025, 7:37pm:
Water Main Break along Grand Avenue between Illinois Avenue and East Grand, as shown in the map above. Residents in the area may experience little to no water pressure.

Due to a water main break, the City of Waterloo, Illinois has issued a BOIL ORDER UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE for its water customers at the following locations:

Grand Avenue: 305-317, & 400-412

Illinois Avenue: 607, 609, 611, 701, 703, & 705

**click on the photo to see the full image**

Water which will be used for DRINKING and/or COOKING purposes should be brought to a full rolling boil for at least five (5) minutes before use. Also, please turn off any ice makers and discard any ice produced.

If you should have any questions please contact Public Works at 618-939-8600.

Residents are currently being contacted by phone or by door hanger.

12/06/2025

12/05/2025

Press Release
(For Immediate Release)

CHESTER, IL.

Friday, December 5th, 2025, – The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 43 year old, Carrie J. Kelley of Sparta, Illinois. Kelley was arrested on warrants for 2 counts of Theft of Property over $1,000,000 (Class X Felony), 1 count of Wire Fraud (Class 3 Felony), and 4 counts of Fraudulent Filing of Illinois Income Tax (Class 4 Felony)

Randolph County Investigators were notified in February 2024 of a potential theft pertaining to MedStar Ambulance Inc. Through a lengthy investigation, it was discovered that monies totaling a value over $1,000,000 were taken over the course of several years. Kelley was an employee of MedStar Ambulance Inc. during this time.

Illinois Department of Revenue Investigators along with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office assisted in the investigation.

On Friday, December 5th, 2025, Members of Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois Department of Revenue arrested Kelley on her warrants without incident.

Kelley was transported to the Randolph County Jail and released to Correctional Staff.

I want to credit the Investigators who continued to work on this case and bring a closure to it. Their continued hard work and determination led to the arrest of Kelley.

I would like to encourage anyone with information concerning this case or any related case to contact my Detective Division at 618-826-5484 extension 506 or 507.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Randolph County Sheriff,
Jarrod Peters

12/05/2025

A three-hour planning commission meeting took place Thursday night on the matter...

After months of waiting and two delayed meetings, the matter of a proposed solar farm just outside Waterloo finally came before Monroe County officials, garnering a largely negative reception. The…

12/05/2025

The WHS Madrigal Dinner is just two weeks away! Saturday December 13th and Sunday December 14th. There are plenty of tickets left, be sure to place your order this week in the high school office!
Email me with any questions regarding ordering tickets, or to receive a copy of the order form: [email protected]

12/04/2025

A St. Clair County native was charged Thursday following an online underage s*x predator sting conducted Wednesday night in Waterloo. This is the second such arrest in Waterloo initiated by…