Category Archives: Local News
Salem Bowl reopening after August fire
Salem Bowl is reopening this week after being closed two and a half months for cleanup from an electrical fire. Owner Steve Ludwig says after a lot of frustrations and delays he's happy to be getting ...
Oct 27, 2025 Salem Bowl owner Steve Ludwig stands in front of a wall at his bowling alley. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry facing emergency situation as usage rapidly rises
The head of the Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry says they are facing an emergency situation as usage soars and is expected to get much worse. Carol Ann Short is asking for the public's help to ...
Oct 27, 2025 Food in storage at the Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Salem Community High School Band falls just 1.75 points shy of perfect marching season
The Salem Community High School Marching Band fell just 1.75 points short of finishing with a perfect season. The Marching Season ended with the Greater St. Louis Marching Band Festival help at Bellev...
Oct 27, 2025
Mobile home in rural Centralia damaged by fire
The Centralia Fire Protection District was able to confine a fire at a mobile home in rural Centralia early Sunday night to a bedroom and outside wall. The fire was at the Darla Conrad home at 6925 Se...
Oct 27, 2025
Centralia Fall Festival 2025 Results and Photos
Below are the results and photos from this year's Centralia Fall Festival. In the Mummy wrapping contest, New Horizon was this year's champion, defeating defending champ Central City. Dirk Brewer and ...
Oct 26, 2025 Halloween costumes and decorations in downtown Centralia for the 2025 Fall Festival. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Homeless Centralia Man Arrested for Residential Burglary
A 35-year-old homeless Centralia man has been arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for residential burglary. Kyle Owen is accused of entering a home on Route 161 east of Centralia and taking a...
Oct 26, 2025
Rural Mt. Vernon Home Heavily Damaged by Fire
Jefferson Fire officials say the cause of a fire at a rural Mt. Vernon home that appears to have started in a vehicle or attached garage and spread to part of the residence early Saturday afternoon is...
Oct 26, 2025 Robert Couse-Baker / CC
2025 Centralia Children's Halloween Parade results, video and photo gallery
The following are the results for the Centralia Children's Halloween Parade, by category: Tony Demijan Overall Winner Hailey Cullip, Central City Floats 1st: Haunted Gingerbread House with Frights and...
Oct 26, 2025 Participants march in the Centralia Children's Parade. Photo by Austin Williams.
Jolliff and Timmons Families Win Top Trophies in 98th Centralia Halloween Parade
The Jolliff Family's float, 'Trolls,' won the coveted Harley Queen Trophy, and the Timmons Family's entry, 'Carnival of Frights, ' won the Grand Marshals trophy in the 98th Halloween Parade held Satur...
Oct 26, 2025 The Jolliff Family Float 'Trolls' wins the Harley Queen Trophy at the 98th Centralia Halloween Parade. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia Man Escapes Serious Injury When Motorcycle Hits Deer
29-year-old Centralia man declined hospital treatment for apparent minor injuries sustained when his motorcycle hit a deer on Green Street Road near the Scout Road intersection Friday night. Prelimina...
Oct 25, 2025
