Category Archives: Local News
Vacant Centralia home destroyed in early Wednesday morning fire
Centralia City Firefighters report a vacant home at 312 North Locust was fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival early Wednesday morning. Fire and police were told there had been two homeless resi...
Nov 19, 2025 Centralia City Fire Truck. File Photo.
Joint operation leads to seven drug arrests in Wayne County
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the Wayne County Probation Department, conducted a coordinated enforcement operation Tuesday evening as part of their continued efforts to combat...
Nov 19, 2025
Centralia PD reminds drivers: This Thanksgiving, buckle up and drive sober
The Centralia Police Department is joining the Illinois State Police and local partners to keep Thanksgiving holiday travel safe. Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says their "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive...
Nov 19, 2025
Arrest Made in Tuesday Night Stabbing at Home North of Salem
A 55-year-old Salem man was arrested less than 20 minutes after a stabbing was reported at a home just north of Salem early Tuesday night. Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says Bryan Hester of East ...
Nov 19, 2025
Salem High Canned Food Drive collects 23,625 cans of food
Salem Community High School students have responded to the greater need for food assistance in the community, bringing in nearly five thousand more cans of food in this year's canned food drive than l...
Nov 18, 2025 Student Council and NHS students stand with food collected in the food drive. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Salem Community High School receives Commendable rating on School Report Card
Salem Community High School received a Commendable rating on the school report card. Principal Clint Wolfe says that is the second highest classification a school district can earn, but he wants to do...
Nov 18, 2025
Salem High School Board approves 3.75% increase in tax levy
The Salem Community High School Board has approved a 3.75 percent increase in its property tax levy over what was collected last year. Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says the increase includes a 2.9...
Nov 18, 2025
Salem City Council looks to amend nuisances and building code ordinances
The Salem City Council agreed to ask the city attorney to draft ordinance changes that govern nuisances and building code. The nuisances ordinance would be amended to prohibit more than one camper, re...
Nov 18, 2025
Salem Grade School Board approves tax levy, does not approve TIF #4 agreement
The Salem Grade School Board of Education approved a 3.7% tax levy increase at the regular school board meeting on Monday. The levy is expected to bring an additional $104,112 to the district. The lev...
Nov 18, 2025
Salem Grade Schools receive ISBE School Report Card
The Illinois School Report Card for the 2024-25 school year gave Hawthorn School a "Commendable" designation and Franklin Park Middle School a "Targeted Support" designation. Franklin Park's Targeted ...
Nov 18, 2025
