Category Archives: Local News

Water level drops in Salem Reservoir; all clear given for Starlight Mobile Home residents to return home (5:30 pm update)
Water levels topping the Salem Reservoir spillway continue to go down. After peaking at 20 inches above the spillway at noon, the water going over the spillway is now under 10 inches. With water level...
Bruce Kropp Jul 16, 2024 Flood waters being to surround some of the homes at Starlight Mobile Home Park where most residents have evacuated.

Selmaville Grade School's new administration settles in
The Selmaville Grade School has a new Superintendent and Principal. The school board hired Brittany Boldt as Superintendent this spring and Kristi Consolino was named Principal at a special meeting ea...
Austin Williams Jul 16, 2024

Major highways clear of high waters, some secondary roads still flooded (5:45 pm update)
Most of the flooded streets in Salem have reopened after water levels receded following the heavy rains Tuesday morning. High water levels on Airport Road, West Whitaker Street, South Hotze. West Kell...
Bruce Kropp Jul 16, 2024 Ricker Drive in Bryan Memorial Park is closed due to flood waters in Town Creek.

A dam fails in Nashville after rain, wind, tornadoes pound the Midwest
CHICAGO (AP) - Hundreds of people in Nashville, Illinois were ordered to evacuate Tuesday as water rolled over the top of the Nashville Reservoir, just one perilous result of severe weather that raged...
Bruce Kropp Jul 16, 2024 Area of flooding anticipated with complete failure to Nashville Reservoir Dam. Map By Washington County Emergency Services Agency.

Spillway fails, levy fractured on Hubbard Lake in rural Centralia
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says the spillway has failed and the levee is in fractured status at Hubbard Lake off of Lake Road in rural Centralia. He says the flooding area of concern is six-te...
Bruce Kropp Jul 16, 2024 Damaged spillway on Hubbard Lake in rural Centralia. Marion County Sheriff's office photo.

Flood watch in effect for Marion and Washington Counties starting Tuesday evening
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Marion, Washington, and Randolph Counties in Illinois along with several Missouri counties beginning Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning...
Bruce Kropp Jul 16, 2024

Westminster Drive bridge dedicated in Marion, featuring American flag theme
Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman was joined by state and local officials Monday to dedicate the new Westminster Drive bridge over Interstate 57. Funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital prog...
Austin Williams Jul 15, 2024 The newly dedicated Westminster Drive bridge with LEDs lit at night.

Two injured in Friday crash in front of SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital
Both drivers were injured in a Friday morning crash at one of the entrances to SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital. Centralia Police say a pickup truck driven by 81-year-old Ronald Jackson of Crestwood Lan...
Austin Williams Jul 15, 2024

City of Salem doing away with cut off warning notices before disconnection of city services
The City of Salem is dropping two warning notices before city utility services are cut off to delinquent customers. Effective with the July billing cycle, customers will only receive a notice upon dis...
Austin Williams Jul 15, 2024

Weekend Centralia fire believed to be electrical in nature
A Saturday night fire at a Centralia home is believed to be electrical in nature. Robert and Rhonda Owens of the 800 block of North Cherry Street returned home around nine Saturday night to find a liv...
Austin Williams Jul 15, 2024