Category Archives: Local News

Two Sentenced to Prison after Drug Court Probation Is Revoked
Two members of the Marion County Drug Court Program have been sentenced to prison after violating provisions of the program. Both 37-year-old Jessica Murray of North Maple in Centralia and 39-year-old...
Bruce Kropp May 31, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC

Unemployment Drops across Region in March
Unemployment fell by a tenth of a percentage point to 5.4 percent in Marion County in March. The rate is still seven-tenths of a percent higher than a year ago. The 5.4 percent unemployment translates...
Bruce Kropp May 31, 2026 vadimphoto1@gmail.com / Depositphotos.com

Minor Damage Reported to Taco Joes in Belle Rive
Jefferson Fire officials say an electrical fire in the wall of Taco Joe's restaurant on Route 142 in Belle Rive resulted in minor damage Friday afternoon. Those in the restaurant evacuated after smoke...
Bruce Kropp May 31, 2026

Pick Up Truck Destroyed in Friday night Fire
A pickup truck was destroyed by fire Friday night while parked in the 1000 block of North Lincoln in Centralia. Centralia City Firefighters say the truck owned by Neal Johnson of Centralia was parked ...
Bruce Kropp May 31, 2026 Fire engulfs a pickup truck parked in the 1000 block of North Lincoln in Centralia. Photo by Tim Ferguson.

State Sen. Dale Fowler says he'll step down at end of legislative session
The Harrisburg Republican has served his southern Illinois district for a decade. By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harri...
Bruce Kropp May 31, 2026 Sen. Dale Fowler on the Senate floor during the legislature’s fall veto session in October. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
SCHS Semester 2 Honor Roll & Cum Laude Honors
2025-2026 Semester 2 Honor Roll 3.0 GPA - 3.499 GPA Seniors Bechtel, Izaic D. Buchanan, Gavin L. Cain, Keegan J. Carroll, Payton E. Clegg, Jaden R. Collier, Valerie A. Doudera, Tristen J. Gambill, Hud...
WJBD Staff May 30, 2026

Ohio woman falls 15 to 20 feet at Jaycee Lake Spillway north of Mt. Vernon
A 19-year-old Ohio woman visiting with family for her birthday at the Jaycee Lake spillway north of Mt. Vernon lost her balance early Thursday night and fell 15 to 20 feet from a concrete beam support...
Bruce Kropp May 29, 2026

Centralia High School Board Approves Land Purchase and Bids for Summer Improvements
The Centralia High School Board has acquired 6 and a half acres of real estate adjacent to the school property. Superintendent Chuck Lane says they will pay $190,000 for the land. "Property right ther...
Bruce Kropp May 29, 2026

Three Democrats to Run for Marion County Board
Three Democrats have now filed petitions to run for Marion County Board. They are Kerry Hodge in District three, former board member Michael Reed in District four, and Patricia Dillow in District 5. T...
Bruce Kropp May 29, 2026 File photo: Marion County Board meeting. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

Centralia Man Receives Three Year Prison Term for Threatening a Public Official
A 28-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in Marion County Court to threatening a public official. Joshua Scott is accused of threatening bodily har...
Bruce Kropp May 29, 2026
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