School is the largest middle school in Illinois, with approximately 1,500 students. The school system has a student program for 1st through 8th grades, covering the Middle School. This program gives participating students access to wider knowledge as well as special projects. Marquette Catholic High School, named after the French explorer, Father Jacques Marquette, serves the area as well. Its sports teams are called the Explorers. Alton was home to Shurtleff College from 1827 to 1957 and prominent military prep school Western Military Academy from 1879 to 1971. The Shurtleff campus is now the site of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Media Alton has one daily newspaper, The Telegraph, formerly the Alton Evening Telegraph. The Telegraph provides coverage of local news, as well as sports and relevant national news. Locally owned Big Z Media operates Radio Station WBGZ 1570AM and 107.1FM and Music Radio Station 94.3FM. In 2022, Big Z Media acquired AdVantage News, a free online (daily) and print newspaper, focusing on community features and hyperlocal news. Alton also has internet-based resource, Riverbender.com Named for the local bend in the Mississippi River, Riverbender is a portal serving local and national news, sports, obits, classifieds, and events. In 2007 it was the first company to broadcast the Alton High Schools' sports games live online. Film and television The 1979 feature film Dreamer, starring Tim Matheson, Susan Blakely and Jack Warden, was primarily shot on location in Alton. The McPike Mansion and Mineral Springs Hotel were featured on the Travel Channel series, Ghost Adventures. Alton was featured on the third season of the Hulu series Small Business Revolution. Notable people Jesse Anderson, murderer who stabbed his wife to death in 1992; murdered in prison alongside serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer by Christopher Scarver in 1994 David J. Apple, pioneer in ophthalmological research and ophthalmic pathology; medical historian and biographer; born in Alton Frank Ballard, puppeteer, professor at the University of Connecticut, and founder of the first puppetry bachelor of fine arts program in the United States Amos E. Benbow, Illinois state legislator Alexander Botkin, Wisconsin state senator George T. Brown, newspaper editor, mayor of Alton 1846–47, U.S. Senate sergeant-of-arms 1861–69 Joseph Brown, miller, steamboat captain, mayor of Alton 1856–57, mayor of St. Louis 1871–75 Samuel A. Buckmaster, prison warden, and state legislator Jonathan Russell Bullock, Rhode Island state legislator and US federal judge; served on the Alton city council