Category Archives: Local News
Iuka Names Firemen of the Year; answers 165 calls in 2025
The Iuka Fire Protection District has named Bryan Smith as its Firefighter of the Year. The award was announced at the annual Firemen's Supper this week. The Firefighter of the Year is voted on by fel...
Jan 23, 2026 Bryan Smith presented with 2025 Iuka Firefighter of the year award.
Illinois Department of Revenue announces Jan. 26 start to 2026 income tax season
The Illinois Department of Revenue has announced it will begin accepting 2026 individual income tax returns on Monday, January 26, the same day the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) opens the federal fil...
Jan 23, 2026
Marion County Sheriff releases annual report
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says the sheriff's department handled 14,739 calls during 2025. That's an increase of 4,421 over 2024, but Cripps says at least some of the increase is due to better...
Jan 23, 2026
Centralia High School to bid health insurance
The Centralia High School Board of Education agreed to begin the bidding process for health insurance, looking for possible alternatives to the Egyptian Trust which currently provides the school's ins...
Jan 23, 2026
South Central High School students to have KC Now as option
The South Central School Board was told Wednesday night there is considerable interest from students in attending vocational class under the Kaskaskia College Now program. Incoming Superintendent Sara...
Jan 22, 2026
Former Scott airman pleads guilty to sex crimes against children
A former airman stationed at Scott Air Force Base appeared in district court to plead guilty to federal charges for sexually exploiting minors and distributing images and videos of child sexual abuse ...
Jan 22, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Fayette County woman sentenced to prison for committing identity theft, money laundering
A federal judge has sentenced a Fayette County woman to 30 months' imprisonment for working as a "money mule" within a foreign-based scam conspiracy to defraud victims out of tens of thousands of doll...
Jan 22, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Centralia city firemen fight two fires at the same time
Centralia City Firemen were handling two fires at the same time Wednesday afternoon with both of the accessory buildings destroyed along with a vehicle in one of the fires. Firemen report the first ca...
Jan 22, 2026 Centralia City Fire Truck. File Photo.
Fire destroys a barn south of Salem
A barn with a tractor inside was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon south of Salem. The Salem Fire Protection District reports the fire was on the Shannon Kell property at 4325 Levy Road just off R...
Jan 22, 2026
Police Beat for Thursday, January 22nd, 2026
Sandoval Police arrested 43-year-old Kevin Hawley of St. Louis on multiple drug charges following a Thursday night traffic stop. He was arrested for possession of under five grams of methamphetamine, ...
Jan 22, 2026
