Good morning, Belleville.

Brooklyn's mayor Trenton Atkins said he is moving forward with local cleanup efforts and plans for a $2.5 million community center project despite stalled federal funds — he noted that state officials and community groups are documenting historic sites to preserve the town's legacy as America’s oldest Black town. Local archaeologists and volunteers are planning heritage programs and park upgrades to help ready Brooklyn for future redevelopment.

Cahokia Heights police arrested seven people in a sting after unlicensed contractors turned an abandoned lot near 74th and Oakland into an illegal dumping site with shingles, nails and an old boat — the case was turned over to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Grammy-nominated country star Eric Church will perform in St. Louis during his Free The Machine Tour on Feb.

21, 2026 — the show at the Enterprise Center will also feature alt-country band 49 Winchester. Tickets for the event will be available to the public on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m.

The City of Belleville paid a contractor $409,000 to repave 80 miles of alleys this month, but work stopped when the contractor ran out of materials—officials plan to spend another $50,000 to finish the project if funds allow.

Communities in Metro East and St. Louis will hold Out of the Darkness Walk events this fall to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.

The Belleville walk will be held at The Square on Oct. 18 with check-in at 8:30 a.m.—the St. Louis event at Creve Coeur Lake Park will start with check-in at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 28.

The Marquette Explorers won the Gateway Metro Conference boys golf title by one stroke over the Althoff Crusaders at Stonewolf Golf Course on Wednesday—finishing with a team score of 319.

The Explorers will play in the IHSA Class 2A Taylorville Regional on October 1 while Althoff hosts their regional the same day.

Father McGivney's Sarah Hyten shot a 5-under par 64 at Stonewolf Golf Course on September 24 to lead the Griffins to the Gateway Metro Conference title, winning by 15 strokes over teammate Riana Thakker—she was the only golfer to shoot below par out of 21 players.

The team will compete in the Waterloo Regional on October 1 at Acorns Golf Links.

Belleville Main Street Marathon

7 a.m. — Downtown Belleville — Registration fee required — Experience America's longest Main Street in a Boston Marathon-qualifying race.

Seinfeld Trivia Night

5-8 p.m. — Shoehorn Brewing — $15/person — Compete in eight rounds of trivia dedicated to the beloved comedy series Seinfeld.

Quail Club Ladies Auxiliary Wurstmarkt

11 AM - 4 PM — Quail Restoration Association — Adults $15, kids $6, under 5 free — Enjoy a delicious Pork Sausage Dinner in a welcoming community setting.

Monthly Meetup at Impact Gaming Center

6-8 p.m. — Impact Gaming Center — Snacks and drinks provided — Connect with other neurodivergent young adults in a friendly environment.

Chili Cook-Off

11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. — Belleville Square — Enjoy delicious chili and beverages at this beloved local food festival.

Trunk or Treat Halloween Celebration

4-7 p.m. — Belleville West High School — Free entry — Enjoy trunk or treating, contests, and health screenings at this family-friendly Halloween event.