Latest The Telegraph Stories

By Hattie Bernstein, The Telegraph, Nashua, N.H. Jul. 13--HOLLIS -- People move here to enjoy the town's woods, meadows and farms. But while they value the undeveloped land that surrounds them, most residents say they aren't willing to pay extra to keep it that way. Recently, the town's land protection study committee called a meeting, inviting local farmers to explore ideas about how the town can support local agriculture. Buying local products topped the list, although those...

By Laura Griffith, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Jul. 15--EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third of a three-part series on the push to integrate more innovative technology into educational systems despite decreasing school district budgets. School districts' technology budgets vary, but one thing remains a constant -- there's more technology out there than money to pay for it. To deal with that reality, many cut where they can, do work in-house, seek out grants and support funding, and try to...

By Laura Griffith, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Jul. 14--EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of a three-part series on the push to integrate more innovative technology into educational systems despite decreasing school district budgets. As new technology becomes available, there is a push to utilize it in education. Various forms of technology can be used to teach students, who are willing and mostly able, said Keith Norman, director of technology for the Jersey Community School District....

By The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Jul. 12--SPRINGFIELD -- The founder of a successful East Alton law firm said Thursday the firm's gift of $10.2 million for cancer research demonstrates its commitment to doing good. "It's no secret that the legal profession gets a bad rap," said John Simmons, the founding partner of SimmonsCooper. "Titles aside, our ultimate goal as trial attorneys is the same goal of the doctors and nurses who will soon begin work inside the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute --...

By The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Jul. 12--ALTON -- Under the baton of SIUE's John Bell, the Alton Municipal Band struck it up a notch Thursday night at Riverview Park. The theme was "Conductor's Favorites," and the band was led through a wide-ranging repertoire that included pieces by Puccini and Holsinger. This hometown collection of musicians did wonderful justice to the readings, ranging from melodic and quietly spoken, to jaunty and forceful. An audience favorite was "J. S. Jig." A...

By Pete Hayes, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Jul. 11--FLORISSANT -- Members of the Summers-Port dive team take a back seat to no one these days -- including their swimming cousins. The Summers-Port Sharks divers rolled to a 37-26 victory over Wedgwood on Thursday in a Southwestern Illinois Swim Association dual meet. It was part of an easy double-dip. The S-P swimmers also won going away, 477-114. The swim meet ran late into the night. Complete individual swim results were not available at...

By Ashley Smith, The Telegraph, Nashua, N.H. Jul. 9--MERRIMACK--If there were any doubts that alternative energy has moved beyond the tree-hugging stage, Merrimack's GT Solar is about to dispel them: It wants to go public. The company, which makes equipment for the solar panel industry, has filed paperwork with federal regulators detailing plans to sell its stock for the first time on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol SOLR. GT Solar would become New Hampshire's 19th publicly...

By Maggie Borman, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Jul. 9--Mount Olive first-grade teacher Jane Hemann was surprised and proud to win the National Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award for 2008. Hemann, 54, who grew up on a farm north of Mount Olive and has farmed with her husband, Warren, near Litchfield since their marriage in 1974, has always had a passion for farming. That passion led her to develop a comprehensive 10-week farm unit to help her students learn how agriculture is a part...

By Matt Barnwell, The Macon Telegraph, Ga. Jul. 2--A private contractor hired by Macon has collected nearly 200,000 cubic yards of storm debris from the Mother's Day tornado, officials said today, and is only part way through the pick up process. It will probably be late August or September before the entire job is done, said Bill Causey, Macon's director of Public Works. He, Mayor Robert Reichert and representatives from the company hired to haul tree limbs away from city residents' yards...

By Ashley Smith, The Telegraph, Nashua, N.H. Jul. 1--MANCHESTER -- When it rains, it pours. As consumer woes continue to pile up, particularly due to increased gas and food prices in an otherwise weak economy, one more monthly bill is on the rise. Public Service of New Hampshire has announced it will increase electricity rates today by about 6 percent in order to offset the higher costs of fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, which are used to produce energy. "I don't think...