🌱 Inside Alton's police pension funding gap
Alton, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min readHey there, Alton! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Inside Alton's police pension funding gap
- Redbirds lose unbeaten start in showdown with Columbia
- From Alton High to the Navy: William Roe's service story
Also on today's calendar: Books and Busy Bees Story Time and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What are the two sides of a circle? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Clouds and sun; breezy, nice, with a high of 65 and low of 41 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy; breezy, cooler, temps: high: 49, low: 32.
- Friday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 46 and low of 27 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Alton Police Pension Fund paid $5.6 million to 86 retirees and survivors; taxpayers put in $3.3 million (metroeastsun.com) — Alton taxpayers contributed $3.3 million to the police pension fund in the fiscal year ending March 2026, while it paid $5.6 million in benefits. Investments returned $11.1 million, helping assets grow, but the latest cited actuarial valuation, from fiscal 2024, showed a $34.3 million funding gap. 
2. MONDAY HOCKEY: Columbia tops Alton in early season showdown (thetelegraph.com) — Alton's unbeaten hockey start ended Monday with a 5-2 loss to Columbia at East Alton Ice Arena. Noah Meeks scored both Redbirds goals, each unassisted and shorthanded, but Columbia built an early three-goal lead and held Alton to six shots. The Redbirds are now 2-1.
3. East Alton Veteran William Roe Recalls Four Years In Navy (riverbender.com) — Just 20 days after graduating from Alton High in 1976, William Roe reported for Navy service that would take him overseas and put his welding skills to work on submarines. Now living in East Alton, Roe later spent 40 years at Olin and more than 25 years serving with the East Alton Fire Department.
4. St. Louis man charged with strangling pregnant South Roxana woman (thetelegraph.com) — A 19-year-old Alton man faces a felony firearm possession charge after authorities allege he had an AR-style pistol on Nov. 2. Court documents cite a 2023 juvenile delinquency adjudication, and he was ordered held in jail after the Nov. 4 charge. He remains presumed innocent.
5. Second Alton Felon Charged After Armed Altercation At Oakwood Estates (riverbender.com) — A second Alton man faces charges stemming from an alleged armed altercation at Oakwood Estates on October 31. Prosecutors accuse Radley D. Berry, 32, of threateningly pointing a handgun and resisting an officer's efforts to detain him. Berry, charged with felon in possession of a weapon and resisting an officer, remains jailed and is presumed innocent.
📸 Around Alton
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Alton
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Gobble Up a Good Book Reading Challenge →
Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, 132 Alton Square, Alton
Thursday November 12
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Books and Busy Bees Story Time →
Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, 132 Alton Square, Alton
10:00 am -
Branching Out 2026 Genealogy Classes →
Genealogy & Local History Library, 401 State Street, Alton
10:00 am -
Tobacco Free Group →
Centerstone Alton – Edwards Street, 2615 Edwards Street, Alton
11:30 am -
Gobble Up a Good Book Reading Challenge →
Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, 132 Alton Square, Alton -
Story Time at Lucy's Playhouse →
Haskell Playhouse, 1211 Henry Street, Alton
10:00 am -
Giving Thanks In Meaningful Ways →
The Wedge, 620 E Broadway, Alton
11:30 am -
YA Fridays →
Performance Room at Alton Square Mall, 225 Alton Square Mall, Alton
4:00 pm -
Upon a Midnight Dreary: A Night with Edgar Allan Poe →
Performance Room at Alton Square Mall, 225 Alton Square Mall, Alton
6:30 pm -
The Outsider →
ALTON LITTLE THEATER, 2450 N. HENRY, Alton
7:30 pm -
Gobble Up a Good Book Reading Challenge →
Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, 132 Alton Square, Alton -
Physicians Financial Wellness Conference 2026 →
2751 East Broadway, Alton
Thursday November 12
Friday November 13
Saturday November 14
📣 Alton Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- With the holidays ahead make sure your visitors know the importance of helping you save money.
A kitchen sink clog can be prevented 1. Always flush the system running water weekly for two minutes 2. Scrape your plates and bowls into the… (Nextdoor College Ave)
- White Castle posted a job opening for Crew Manager in Alton. Apply here.
- West Star Aviation posted a job opening for Interior Upholstery Technician in East Alton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Alton here.
Ok Alton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What are the two sides of a circle?" — The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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