Mark Kern

05/31/2026

Happy Sunday morning! Here are a couple items from Scott Air Force Base. A great honor for Capt. Nick Lopez on being awarded our nation’s highest honor for aerial achievement for his quick actions while flying in combat. And, Happy 85th Birthday to the Air Mobility Command.

05/30/2026

💯👍

🚨🚨Positive News Post🚨🚨

2018 OTHS grad Hayden Juenger has been called up to the Big Show for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Congrats to Hayden and his parents.

OTHS representing

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

Honored to attend the ribbon cutting for the Joint Operations and Mission Planning Center today at Scott Air Force Base! It was great to hear about all the collaboration that made this a reality, and to hear all the important work that will happen here to ensure our country is safe. Our region is so lucky and grateful to have Scott AFB here!

05/28/2026

Our thanks and appreciation go out to Senator Dick Durbin for his unwavering support of all things Illinois and St. Clair County. This photograph in particular from 10 years ago (April 22, 2016) shows his availability and willingness to listen and help deliver bipartisan support for issues that benefit his constituents.

05/28/2026

Here are a couple events and activities today. (Base access is required for the Food Truck Fest).

05/28/2026

FYI. The Sheriff’s Department posted this around 11pm last night. (It’s a little before 5am Thursday morning). ⤵️⤵️

Missing Person:

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Investigative Division is requesting information from the public in an attempt to locate:

Douglas “Scott” Litsey
64 year old White Male

On May 24th, Douglas Litsey was reported missing from his home in the Signal Hill Neighborhood of Belleville. An investigation determined Douglas was last seen on May 21st by surveillance in the area near his residence. Litsey was seen wearing light colored pants (possibly blue jeans) and a dark colored short sleeved t-shirt.

If anyone has any information about Douglas’ whereabouts, please contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department at 618-825-2051 and reference case #26-04907

05/27/2026

I enjoyed attending the Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan & Regional Planning Commission this morning. I was with our County EMA Director Herb Simmons who is also the Mayor of East Carondelet, County Economic Development (and Grants) Director Rick Stubblefield, and County Highway Superintendent Norm Etling. Herb is also the Commission President. Brent Donovan from the Kaskaskia Regional Port District was the main speaker. The Port District has a lot going on. More about the Planning Commission here: simapc.org

05/27/2026

Excellent. This might be behind their paywall. bit.ly/4vgMRVq