Category Archives: Local News
Over 300 students recognized at CHS Academic Pep Assembly
318 Centralia High School students were recognized with awards at this year's Academic Pep Assembly hosted by the CHS Renaissance Committee. This year's special award winners were as follows: Athlete ...
May 12, 2026 Students seated for the Academic Pep Assembly. Photo by Pat Hodges
Centralia High School Class of 2026 Receives Over $3 Million in Scholarships
This year's graduating seniors from Centralia High School have received a total of $3,059,868.00.
May 12, 2026 First Row: Luke Mayer, Lorren Niederhofer, Krimsen Thompson, Nora McKinzie, Audra Davis, Abbigail Sharp, Sabrena Johnson, Mackenzie Perez, Parker Russell, Natalie Borland, Alaina Mahlandt. Teya Knox
Second Row: Abram Miller, Tommy Farmer, Kaylee Bowdler, Emaleigh Davis, Hadley Marcum, Hailey Martinez, Hattie Castleman, Aurora Amason, Mercedes Allen, Ava Meier
Third Row: Demetrius Gipson, Ethan Samples, Landon Powless, Jordan Wiley, Carter Lorence, Justus Edson, Jackson Ashford, Devin Meier
Greenville University's Commencement Ceremony Celebrated 247 Graduates on Sunday
Greenville University's Commencement Ceremony Celebrated 247 Graduates on Sunday Greenville University (GU) celebrated a defining milestone for its Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 9, as 247 graduates c...
May 12, 2026
Former South Central High School Teacher Charged with Grooming; Held Without Bond
Former South Central High School teacher Shane Lother of Edgewood Road in Salem was ordered held without bond after being formally charged in Marion County Court Monday with grooming a 15-year-old fem...
May 12, 2026 Shane Lother (MCSO)
Rural Mt. Vernon Mobile Home Destroyed by Fire
A rural Mt. Vernon mobile home was heavily damaged by fire early Tuesday night. Jefferson Fire officials say the fire at the Vonna Lane home in the 15,000 block of East Nolan was reported a smoke comi...
May 12, 2026
Central City Man Gets Five Year Prison Term
A 33-year-old Central City man has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a stolen or converted vehicle and possession of under five grams of methamphet...
May 12, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Police Beat for Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested a 20-year-old Salem man for aggravated battery. Jacob Miller of Mills Cart Road is accused of throwing a knife at residents in a home on Maplewood Avenue...
May 12, 2026
Marion County America 250 Committee Donates Flag to Centralia
As part of this year's festivities around the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Marion County America 250 Committee donated a commemorative flag to the city of C...
May 12, 2026 The Marion County America 260 Committee gave a flag to the city of Centralia at Monday night's council meeting. Left to right: Mark Decker, Bunny Garrett, Izzy Fontanez, Luke Purcell, Tommy Henegar. Photo by Austin Williams.
Salem's New Police Chief Sets Training and Community Programs as Top Priorities
Salem's new police chief says his top priorities are getting the staff fully trained and specialty positions in the department filled. Tyler Rose was promoted to Chief from Deputy Chief last week with...
May 11, 2026 Salem's New Police Chief, Tyler Rose.
Unemployment in Marion County Drops Slightly in March
Unemployment in Marion County declined one-tenth of a percent between February and March. The March rate is 5.4-percent, which is seven tenths of a percent higher than a year ago. The Illinois Departm...
May 11, 2026
