Category Archives: Local News

Marion County Sheriff's Department investigating two burglaries and theft
The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating two burglaries and a theft reported to the department on Tuesday. The sheriff's department was told locks on a storage shed had been cut off and...
Austin Williams Jul 31, 2024

July a wet and cooler month compared to last July
The Salem and Centralia Water Treatment Plants have released the final rainfall figures for July, and they are up considerably from last year. The Salem Water Plant recorded 13.34 inches of rain durin...
Austin Williams Jul 31, 2024

Air fryer explodes in Centralia, but no injuries or fire
Centralia Fire Chief Jeff Day says there was no fire and no injuries when an air fryer exploded in a Centralia apartment during the noon hour on Tuesday. Carly Arnody of the Fairway Apartments reporte...
Austin Williams Jul 31, 2024 escapejaja / Depositphotos.com

Preslee Harris named 2024 Miss Marion County Fair
The 2024 Miss Marion County Fair Queen is Preslee Harris of Iuka. "I was like I don't know what to do, I've never been a Queen. I don't know what to say. I just looked at Kaitlyn [Banning], oh my gosh...
Bruce Kropp Jul 31, 2024 Queen Preslee Harris receives her crown from outgoing 2023 Queen Kaitlyn Banning as Junior Miss Aubri Landreth and others watch Photo by Bruce Kropp.

Cleanup continues; power restored following latest severe weather
While the cleanup will continue for some time, both Ameren Illinois and Tri-County Electric completed restoration of electricity in Marion County by late Tuesday afternoon. Many power lines were tangl...
WJBD Staff Jul 31, 2024 Part of the roof of the Pour House at West Main and Selmaville Road is ripped off and thrown onto the Selmaville Road during Monday night's storms. Salem Police say there were employees and customers in the bar, but fortunately no one was injured. Photo by Jessica Byars.

Centralia Chamber welcomes High Point Residence Centralia during Tuesday ribbon cutting
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce welcomed High Point Residence, an assisted living and memory care home, at a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. High Point Residence Centralia, operating in the building that...
WJBD Staff Jul 31, 2024

Marion County Fair to have delayed opening Tuesday night due to potential severe weather
There will be a delayed opening for the Marion County Fair Tuesday night due to the potential for severe weather moving through the area beginning around 6 p.m. The start of the Miss Marion County Fai...
Bruce Kropp Jul 30, 2024 FAIR QUEEN CONTESTANTS.
Pictured in order of contestant number is #1 Bailey Maas, #2 Gabriella Curtner, # 3 Abigail Evans, #4 Madelyn Dailey,
#5 Preslee Harris, #6 Katelyn Beigeleisen, #7 Mariah Williams, #8 Celeste Marshall, #9 Ella Douglas, and #10 Lydia Donoho. Also pictured is 2023 Marion County Fair Queen Kaitlyn Banning

Rain doesn't keep kids away for Kid's Day at the Fair
Kid's Day at the Fair drew a big crowd even with the rain during the first two hours of the event on Monday at the Marion County Fair Grounds. 632 kids and 472 adults registered for the event that gav...
Austin Williams Jul 30, 2024

Mt. Vernon swears in new Fire Chief
Mt. Vernon has a new fire chief. Assistant Fire Chief and 22-year Mt. Vernon Fire Department veteran Chris Yenne was sworn in Monday as the City of Mt Vernon's new fire chief. He began his career with...
Bruce Kropp Jul 30, 2024

National Weather Service warning of potential for severe weather Tuesday night
The National Weather Service says multiple rounds of thunderstorms are possible Tuesday with rounds possible late afternoon through tonight (20-30% chance). The main threat with any round of thunderst...
Bruce Kropp Jul 30, 2024