Category Archives: Local News

Lightning strike on home, roof partially lifted off business, and multiple tree and powerline issues left behind by severe weather in Marion County (updated 5:15 pm)
Severe thunderstorms that at times showed rotation on radar crossed parts of Marion County Monday night causing power outages, downed tree limbs, as well as removing about half the roof of the Pour Ho...
Bruce Kropp Jul 30, 2024 Multiple Ameren Illinois trucks are involved in power restoration outside the Marion County Law Enforcement Center in downtown Salem. (Photo by Bruce Kropp)

Heavy rains cause road flooding and delay Ruby Leigh Concert at Marion County Fair
Heavy rains hit part of South Central Illinois Sunday evening, flooding some rural roads and delaying the start of the Ruby Leigh Concert at the Marion County Fair. The National Weather Service issued...
WJBD Staff Jul 29, 2024 1st Runner Up of 'The Voice' Ruby Leigh performs on the Marion County Fair Stage after a rain delay as heavy showers and thundershowers resulted in flooding rains. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

Police Beat for Monday, July 29th, 2024
A 63-year-old rural Odin man went to SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia to get treatment for injuries he sustained after being hit with a baseball bat. The alleged victim told police he didn'...
Bruce Kropp Jul 29, 2024

Crooked Creek Winery hosts downtown summer concert series
Sunday afternoon saw week four of the summer concert series in downtown Centralia hosted by the Crooked Creek Winery. The Beaucoup Bottom Band performed for a crowd of hundreds in the street on East B...
WJBD Staff Jul 29, 2024

Briar Tate and Andrew Trinkle take first places in Marion County Talent Show
A 13-year-old rural Texico resident won the Junior Talent Competition and a Salem man took first place in the Open Division during Sunday night's Marion County Fair Talent Show. Briar Tate advances to...
WJBD Staff Jul 29, 2024 Marion County Talent Show winners. Left to right: Marion County Junior Miss Aubri Landreth, Open Division winner Andrew Trinkle, Junior Division winner Briar Tate, and Marion County Fair Queen Kaitlyn Banning. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

Maddox Robb wins Senior Master Showmanship Award
17-year-old Maddox Robb of Kinmundy is the winner of the Marion County 4H Senior Master Showmanship Award. The winner is judged best overall in handling beef, swine and sheep. Robb says he's been show...
WJBD Staff Jul 29, 2024 Senior Master Showmanship winner Maddox Robb with Reserve Hallie Borcherding and other contestants Kinlee Thompson, Chase Thompson, and Jonathan Wilkins as well as Fair Queen Kaitlyn Banning and Jr. Miss Aubri Landreth. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

1st installment of Marion County Property Tax Bills is due Tuesday
Marion County Treasurer Gary Purcell is reminding everyone the first installment of the 2023 Payable 2024 Marion County property taxes are due on Tuesday, July 30th. Purcell reports there are a number...
WJBD Staff Jul 29, 2024

Fire destroys vacant home in Wamac
Fire destroyed a vacant home in Wamac Sunday morning. Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Ross Boshera says flames were showing from all sides of the home at 101 South Wall Street upon their arri...
Bruce Kropp Jul 28, 2024 A vacant mobile home at 101 South Wall in Wamac is destroyed by fire Sunday morning. Photo by Tim Ferguson.

Mobile home damaged by fire in rural Ina
A fire at a mobile home in rural Ina on Sunday morning was confined to one bedroom and its contents. The fire was at the Luke Tennant residence in the 13,000 block of East Wheaton Road. Jefferson Fire...
Bruce Kropp Jul 28, 2024 liz west / CC

Kids Day at the Marion County Fair celebrates 20th Year Monday
Kids Day at the Marion County Fair is Monday. This is the 20th year for the program that offers free activities to kids who come to the fairgrounds between nine am and two pm. One of the organizers is...
Bruce Kropp Jul 28, 2024 Earlier Kids Day at the Marion County Fair.