A 40 by 60 foot barn in rural Iuka was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Iuka Fire Chief Kenny Eagan says the fire was on the Kathleen See property at 7101 River Road. He reports the fire started in the area of a heat lamp that was being used to keep some ducks warm. In addition to the barn, a pickup truck, side-by-side, riding lawn mowers and other items stored inside were also a total loss. No other buildings were threatened. Kell and Kinmundy-Alma assisted Iuka Firemen on the scene while ...

A 22-year-old Salem man has been charged with driving on a suspended license and aggravated battery to a police officer in connection with two early Wednesday morning incidents. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say they found a car driven by Clayton Whyers of Shuler Road parked in the middle of Alma Hatchery Road near Jezek Road when responding to a reckless driving complaint. He was ticketed for driving on a suspended license. The deputy handling the case was in the process of giving Whyers...

A 19-year-old Centralia man was arrested by Centralia Police for alleged domestic battery and interference with reporting of domestic violence. James Van Scoy of North Cherry Street was taken to the Marion County Jail to await a first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

A district judge sentenced Michael Oliver, 46, to 240 months in prison after he was caught with a firearm as a convicted felon after a police chase in Washington County. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft explains, "This 20-year sentence delivers an unmistakable warning: felons who arm themselves, flee justice, and threaten our officers' safety will confront the full, unwavering strength of our commitment to protect those who serve-accountability isn't just a word, it's our mission."...

The Salem City Council will have two new faces following Tuesday's election. Gerald Molenhour received the most votes, 422. Frank Addison also won a seat with 337 votes. Current councilman Royce Bringwald lost his seat with 311 votes. Molenhour is pleased with his win, but disappointed in voter turnout. "This is my first time ever in this position. I'd like to learn what council is about. I'd like to work with the people the previous council has hired and like to get to know them, t...

Marion 'Bunny' Garrett won an open seat on the Centralia City Council in Tuesday's consolidated election. Robert 'Rob' Jackson won a second term and was the top vote-getter. Andrew Heser went down in defeat in the three-candidate race to fill two seats on the council. Jackson is looking forward to another four years. "A special thank you so much for the voters who came out to support me. I'm looking forward to another four years and looking to continue to do some good work. We just a...

The candidates for the final open seat on the Salem Community High School and Centralia High School Board hold a slim lead in unofficial vote tallies. In the Salem High School race, Elisa Hourigan went up three votes over incumbent Michael McKinzie for the fourth open board seat, thanks to three votes received in the small section of the district in Jefferson County. The current unofficial results in the race show Eric Bandy winning a seat with 1,181 votes, Marla Tolliver receiving 1,113 v...

The two incumbents won election to another six-year term on the Kaskaskia College Board in Tuesday's election. With some small vote totals missing from small fragments of the college district in Metro East counties, Linda Stover has 7,541 votes and John 'Bill' Hawley 7,052 votes. Salem attorney Jon Meador sits in third place with 4,920 votes.