Category Archives: Local News
Police Beat for October 1st, 2026
Salem Police arrested 56-year-old Eric Hout of Jones Street in Mt. Vernon for possession of 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine following an early Thursday morning traffic stop. Hout was initially stop...
Oct 1, 2026
Abuse was caught on camera at Choate Developmental Center. The prosecutor offered plea deals
by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois September 29, 2026 Article Summary Union County prosecutor Tyler Tripp agreed to reduce felony aggravated battery charges to misdemeanors in abuse cases agai...
Sep 30, 2026 A police document shows a Choate Mental Health and Development patient’s statement regarding abuse by a facility employee. (Capitol News Illinois illustration. Highlight added to police documents)
Pot left on stove fills Village Garden Restaurant with smoke
The Village Garden Restaurant on West Main in Salem was filled with smoke overnight after a pan with sauce was left on a stove burner. Salem Fire Protection District Assistant Fire Chief Bill Fulton s...
Sep 30, 2026
Amish teacher taking two students to school killed in Route 161 Extension crash
A 29-year-old Amish teacher who was taking two students to school Tuesday morning was killed when her Amish buggy collided with an SUV on the Route 161 Extension west of Johnsonville in Wayne County. ...
Sep 30, 2026
Walking in the middle of the street leads to multiple charges against Centralia man
A 20-year-old Centralia man was arrested on multiple charges after Centralia Police initially stopped him to request he not walk down the middle of the road. Ethan Saltsman of North Maple was eventual...
Sep 30, 2026
Actors announced for Sixth Annual Tales of East Lawn
The Salem Historical Commission has released details on the actors who will be portraying the lives of eight residents in the 6th annual Tales from East Lawn this Friday and Saturday night. Harper Swe...
Sep 30, 2026
Clothing match leads to arrest of Centralia man for aggravated robbery at Centralia Huck's
A clothing match from a recent traffic stop led to the arrest of a 36-year-old Centralia man for aggravated robbery of the Centralia Huck's store early Monday morning. Police Lieutenant Steve Whriteno...
Sep 30, 2026
Sandoval Student of the Month-September
Sandoval Grade School celebrated the Students of the Month for September. The students were chosen because of their outstanding display of the HAWK expectations: Have Respect, Act Responsibly, Work Ha...
Sep 30, 2026
Centralia hires former city manager as full-time city attorney
The Centralia City Council has hired Kory Smith to begin working full-time as city attorney. Smith previously worked for Centralia as city manager before departing in December 2024 and taking a job wi...
Sep 29, 2026 Centralia City Attorney Kory Smith.
Centralia High School passes budget with deficit
The Centralia High School Board of Education approved an annual budget at Monday night's school board meeting that shows a roughly $600,000 deficit across the four operating funds. Overall revenues in...
Sep 29, 2026
