Salem Police are investigating a burglary that occurred at the ESI Steel and Fabrication Plant in the 1600 block of North Broadway sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Police report that copper cable wires for eight welders were stolen, amounting to several hundred pounds of copper. The burglary was discovered when employees came to work Thursday morning.

A 36-year-old Kinmundy woman, Vanessa Wooden-Wilkins of Fremont Street, was arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for alleged domestic battery. Sheriff's Deputies also arrested 20-year-old Zane Trout of Centralia for violation of an order of protection. A 62-year-old Kinmundy man, Wally West of West Case Street, was arrested by Kinmundy Police on a Marion County felony no bond warrant. Salem Police have arrested 26-year-old Kelby Firnhaber of Markland Street in Salem for possession of ...

There were 90 animals on the block at the Marion County 4H Auction at the Marion County Fairgrounds Wednesday night. The animals brought a total of $119,375. There were five fewer animals auctioned and the auction total was down from last year's $129,800. In addition, $1,175 was raised in donations to the 4H Foundation. It was noted the number was lower this year due to a separate fund raiser to assist a 4H family with emergency needs.

Three area law enforcement officers were among the bull riders at the Marion County Fair rodeo Wednesday night. Two of them, Marion County Correctional Officers Noah Jourdon and Hunter Horn, had never rode before and had challenged each other. Horn was thrown off as the bull came out of the gate. "Exciting, adrenaline rushing," Horn said. "I rode a steer a week ago, then I got on this bull. That's all the practice I had." Jourdan says once the gate opens things move fast. ...

The Tri-County Electric Cooperative has a new General Manager, but he's a familiar face. Director of Engineering and 19 year employee Danny Hopfinger has been selected as the next General Manager replacing Luke Johnson who earlier left for a position at another co-op. Tri-County Board President Sam Phillips says the board is confident that Danny will continue to serve the cooperative and its members as successfully as he has in his tenure here at Tri-County. Hopfinger says he is honored and ...

The City of Centralia will hold public hearings on two grant proposals that will be submitted for funding in the fall. A hearing has been set on Monday, August 24th, at 5:15 for a grant that would allow replacement of the water main from near the Walmart store on the city's west side to the Kaskaskia College Water Tower. The line has been the subject of multiple breaks causing water outages for both the Centralia Correctional Center and Kaskaskia College that receives its water through the l...

Kinmundy Police arrested 36-year-old Richard Higgins of East 4th in Kinmundy for violation of an order of protection. He was taken to the Marion County Jail. Salem Police arrested 26-year-old Dalton Crabtree of South Cherry in Centralia for criminal damage to property. Crabtree is accused of breaking a mirror off a car while it was parked in a downtown Salem parking lot in June. He was returned to Salem Police after being located in Centralia for Marion County Sheriff's Deputies.

by Jackson Brandhorst and Saluki Local Reporting Lab, Capitol News Illinois August 5, 2026 Article Summary Dozens, including union leaders and state and local lawmakers, rally in support of workers at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna. The facility, which has been at the center of controversy for years, is slated to lay off about half its staff, eliminate one program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and reduce the number of mental health beds...