Category Archives: Local News
Kaskaskia College Crisp Center hosting open house and fall registration Wednesday
Kaskaskia College is hosting an Industrial Trades Open House and Fall Registration from noon to seven Wednesday (today) at the Crisp Manufacturing and Trades Center at 2005 East McCord Street in Centr...
Aug 06, 2025
Illinois Attorney General: Texas law enforcement can't arrest lawmakers here
Attorney General Kwame Raoul has issued a statement clarifying that there is no legal basis for the arrest of Texas lawmakers in Illinois. A number of Texas Democratic house members have gone to Chica...
Aug 05, 2025 Attorney General Kwame Raoul listens to debate in the Illinois House in May 2023. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Wamac council approves water and sewer rate increases
By Steven Stilt The Wamac City Council on Monday evening approved rate increases for the community's water and sewer customers. Mayor Jackie "Butch" Mathus explained that the increases follow rate hik...
Aug 05, 2025 File photo: Wamac City Hall
Salem City Council approves 5-year SRO extension and creates non-profit organization
The Salem City Council, on a unanimous vote, has agreed to a five-year extension to the school resource officer contracts with the Salem Grade and High School Districts. Both Mayor Nic Farley and Poli...
Aug 05, 2025
Tornado warning siren behind Taco Bell in Salem to be replaced
The Salem City Council has approved a $48,000 bid to replace the tornado warning siren that was destroyed when falling to the ground during a storm earlier this year. Emergency Management Agency Coord...
Aug 05, 2025 The broken tornado warning siren behind the Salem Taco Bell in April. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia woman hurt in crash blamed on cat
A 43-year-old Centralia woman was injured in a Monday night single car crash at 7th and Brookside blamed on a cat. Centralia Police say Tyra Laffoon of Edgewood Lane was traveling northbound on Brooks...
Aug 05, 2025
Salem Police Arrest Three on Meth Charges Following Traffic Stop
Salem Police arrested three passengers in a car following a late Monday night traffic stop in the 2000 block of West Main Street. Police say they found the drugs after the Salem canine alerted on the ...
Aug 05, 2025 Salem canine Civka with drugs found in Tuesday night traffic stop.
Police Beat for Tuesday, August 5th, 2025
Two people were brought to the Marion County Jail on Monday on outstanding warrants. 36-year-old Avanta Lowe of Saddler Street in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on a Vermillion County no-b...
Aug 05, 2025
Salem centenarian receives Key to the City
Mayor Nic Farley presented Salem resident Charles Waller with the Key to the City on his 100th birthday, July 25, 2025. Farley says Waller was very excited and appreciative but more excited he was goi...
Aug 04, 2025 Charles Waller presented with Key to the City for his 100th birthday by Mayor Nic Farley.
Centralia home damaged in Monday morning fire
A bedroom of a Centralia home was gutted during a fire Monday morning. Centralia city firemen say the fire was visible through a bedroom window upon their arrival at a home occupied by Beau Bequette a...
Aug 04, 2025 Centralia City Fire Truck. File Photo.
