Your community

Brianna Bosick is only 6 years old but in the past year has endured what most people won't face in a lifetime.

Fifth-grader Emily Berry has a new victory cry. "Doloris is no moris!" yelled Emily as she raised her hands in the air. She rolled into a backbend over a footrest in the family's living room.

It's too cold for Jenn Jarrett, of Belleville, to wear her favorite new piece of clothing -- a tank top designed by Reba McEntire.

The seventh annual Belleville Angel of Hope candlelight ceremony was held
 Dec. 6 at Bellevue Park.

Eric Kohn is never at a loss for words. The conservative Republican likes to argue -- in person and online in blogs, short for a Web log, a daily online diary.

Palmier Cemetery, just north of Columbia, has a long history dating back to the early settlers of the region, but now it is accepting burials again.

The Ambassador Club of the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce presented their quarterly Commitment to Community Award to District 118 on Dec. 4.

Theresa Wilson spends much of her time in a Granite City warehouse, helping poor people in Third World countries sell handmade baskets. She doesn't see herself as a mover and shaker.

Freeburg High School students spread a little holiday cheer Saturday morning when they delivered presents and entertained children staying at the Family Life Center in East St. Louis.

The Community Care Center, at 1818 Cleveland in Granite City, held
 its annual dinner Nov. 15 at St. Gregory Armenian Hall.

The Friends of St. Elizabeth’s raised more than $14,000 to renovate the hospice suite of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital at a Teddy Bear Tea Party November 9 at the St. Clair Country Club.

Ludmila (Luda) Lebedeva, 62, of Belleville, lived in Russia for much of her life, and her travels have taken her all over the world. But now she officially has adopted the United States as her home.

Trinity Lutheran Church, of Red Bud, is celebrating the 100th birthday of its mighty pipe organ by putting the organ to work.