Category Archives: Local News
Raccoon Grade School Raises $23,025 for Shriners Hospitals in Own Shrine Week Activities
The Raccoon Grade School Booster's tripled the amount of money raised this year in its Shrine Week Activities in advance of Friday night's Shrine football game between Salem and Centralia. The announc...
Aug 31, 2025 Salem Mayor Nic Farley gets a pie in the face from Centralia Mayor Bryan Kuder after Kuder raised the most money for the Shriners Hospitals during the annual Shrine competition at Raccoon Grade School. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Two Salem Women Hurt When Bikes Hit by Car
Two Salem women were hurt after they were hit by a car Friday night while crossing North Broadway near the Boone Street intersection. Salem Police say the bicycles driven by 22-year-old Ashley Christi...
Aug 30, 2025
Home South of Mt. Vernon Heavily Damaged by Fire
A two-story home just south of Mt. Vernon was heavily damaged by fire on Friday. Jefferson Fire officials say it appears the fire at the Darlene Stalzer home at 12642 East Highway 148 started in a par...
Aug 30, 2025 liz west / CC
Salem woman arrested after allegedly hitting man in head with hose nozzle
A 26-year-old Salem woman was arrested by Salem Police for alleged domestic battery after allegedly throwing and hitting a male acquaintance in the head with a nozzle from a garden hose. Rayna Ramizre...
Aug 30, 2025
Police Beat for Saturday, August 30th, 2025
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested 47-year-old Michael Doran of Apple Ridge Road in Iuka for aggravated fleeing and eluding police. Reports indicate Doran was clocked on U.S. 50 in Sandova...
Aug 30, 2025
Chicago mayor defies Trump's immigration crackdown plan for the city
By MARGERY A. BECK Associated Press The City of Chicago pushed back Saturday against what he called the "out-of-control" Trump administration's plan to surge federal officers into the nation's third-l...
Aug 30, 2025 The Chicago city skyline is seen from Diversey Harbor, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
City of Centralia holds ribbon cutting for new playground equipment
Centralia city officials came out to Fairview Park on Friday to hold a ribbon cutting for the newly installed playground equipment. The new equipment, which opened for use in May of this year, was fun...
Aug 29, 2025 Ribbon cutting at Fairview Park Friday morning. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Start of School in Salem area brings rise in respiratory illnesses
Salem Township Hospital Chief Executive Officer Jim Timpe says the start of school has brought a big increase in respiratory illnesses, including an uptick in COVID-19. He updated the hospital board a...
Aug 29, 2025 Fusion Medical Animation / Unsplash
Centralia High School band teacher voices concerns about academic watch list restrictions
At Thursday night's regular school board meeting, Centralia High School band teacher and director Stephanie Aarons-Dennison urged the board to undo a recent policy change that forbids band students on...
Aug 29, 2025 Centralia High School band students perform to open this year's Balloon Fest. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Centralia High School principals and superintendent plan to retire in 2029
A large number of personnel items were acted on at the regular Centralia High School board meeting on Thursday, including the acceptance of letters of intent to retire from principal Reid Shipley, ann...
Aug 29, 2025
