Category Archives: Local News
Fire destroys three downtown DuQuoin businesses, 30 fire departments fight fire
Fire departments from at least five counties fought a fire that destroyed three downtown DuQuoin businesses on Wednesday afternoon. The fire began at the large Home Lumber Company and spread to BJ's G...
Sep 3, 2026
Ribbon cut for Monken dealership remodel
The Monken Chrysler Nissan dealership in Centralia showed off its finished remodel at a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. The remodel includes an updated interior and new showrooms. Wes Monken said employees...
Sep 2, 2026 Ribbon cutting in front of the remodeled Monken dealership. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Judge orders federal logging project halted in Shawnee National Forest
by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois September 1, 2026 Article Summary A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Forest Service to suspend a commercial logging project in southern Illinois' Shawnee Nati...
Sep 2, 2026 A 300-foot limestone bluff at Inspiration Point in the Shawnee National Forest. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Sonya Dymova)
Marion County Republican caucus objections set to be heard on Friday and Saturday (updated 9/2 4:30 pm)
The schedule for hearing objections to the Marion County Republican caucus that selected Anthony Decker as the party's sheriff's candidate has been set. The six original objections will be heard on Fr...
Sep 2, 2026 File photo: Marion County Courthouse.
Centralia man charged with harassment through electronic communication
A 24-year-old Centralia man has been charged in Marion County Court with three counts of harassment through electronic communications. Ethin Julian of Hickory Meadows is accused of threatening injury ...
Sep 2, 2026
Salem Fire and United Medical help woman with medical problems
A report of an accident on Lazy Acres Road southwest of Salem Wednesday morning turned out to be a woman who ran off the road into a ditch due to a medical problem. Salem Fire reports the woman was un...
Sep 2, 2026
Police Beat for Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026
A 31-year-old Centralia man has been arrested for alleged domestic battery. Fernando Calcutt of South Poplar was taken into custody by Centralia Police and later transferred to the Marion County Jail ...
Sep 2, 2026
Community Resources gather in Centralia for International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day was on Monday, and the Marion County Coalition Against Drug, Centralia Community Resource Center, and Take Action Coalition of Clinton County held a gathering in F...
Sep 1, 2026 Tribute table for victims of drug overdose at the Overdose Awareness Day event in Fairview Park on Monday. Photo by Austin Williams.
Centralia swears in new patrolman and police sergeant, honors retiring sergeant
The Centralia Police Department honored retiring sergeant Michael Peebles in a ceremony at City Hall on Monday. Peebles served in the department for 21 years. Police Chief Chris Locke said Peebles lef...
Sep 1, 2026 A Centralia Police retirement ceremony was held at City Hall on Monday. Left to right: Newly promoted Sergeant Blake Dukes, Police Chief Chris Locke, retiring Sergeant Michael Peebles, and new patrolman Josh Black. Photo by Austin Williams.
Cody Rose files as write-in candidate for Marion County Sheriff
There will be a write-in candidate for sheriff as Cody Rose still wants voters to have an opportunity to vote for him. After Sheriff Kevin Cripps announced he was withdrawing as a candidate for re-ele...
Sep 1, 2026 Cody Rose has filed as a write-in candidate for Marion County Sheriff. File Photo by Bruce Kropp.
