Category Archives: Local News
Odin School Board makes number of hires before start of school year
The Odin School Board accepted a number of resignations and filled numerous openings during its meeting this week. The board hired one of its graduates, Blake Uchitjel, as the new agriculture teacher ...
Jul 16, 2026 File: Odin High School. Photo by Sam Snodsmith.
Centralia man arrested for DUI after crashing into garage and causing gas leak
A 73-year-old Centralia man was arrested for alleged driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident after crashing a pickup truck into a garage and setting off a natural gas leak. Cl...
Jul 16, 2026 The pickup truck crashed into a two-car garage near the intersection of Greenview and Airport roads. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Monster Crawl Acquired by Local Businesses, Securing Future of Centralia Halloween Tradition
The Monster Crawl event enters a new era as local establishments step in to preserve and grow its legacy in Historic Downtown Centralia. The Lobby 1924 and The Boiler Room Speakeasy have announced the...
Jul 16, 2026 File photo: A coffin and skeleton surprised visitors to a past Monster Crawl.
South Central School Board gets ready for start of school
The South Central School Board handled a number of start of school preparations at its Wednesday night school board meeting. There will be a $19 fee added to middle and high school students registrati...
Jul 16, 2026
Police Beat for Thursday, July 16th, 2026
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested 23-year-old Noah Meredith of Oak Road in Odin for criminal trespass to property. Reports indicate he had earlier been trespassed from the home and allege...
Jul 16, 2026
Payroll Jobs Up for Fourth Consecutive Month, Unemployment Rate Stable in June
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in June, unchanged from May, and up +0.8 percentage point from the same month, ...
Jul 16, 2026
Marion County Sheriff wants to ban Kratom and 7-OH
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps wants to ban the over-the-counter sale and delivery of Kratom and 7-OH in unincorporated Marion County. Cripps says he understands there has been one near death and ...
Jul 15, 2026 File photo: Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia City Schools approve one-year contract with faculty
The Centralia City Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved one-year contractual agreements with both the Centralia City Schools Teachers Association and the Centralia Education Association Educ...
Jul 15, 2026
New tavern proposed for rural Iuka
The Marion County Board's Liquor Committee tabled action on a liquor license for the new proposed Bottoms Up Tavern at 8472 Bottom Road east of Iuka. Owners Jacqueline and Jeremiah Lawrence said they ...
Jul 15, 2026 File photo: Marion County Courthouse.
Correctional center employees admit to depriving inmate of civil rights
A Lawrence Correctional Officer and Correctional Lieutenant have admitted in federal court to conspiring to deprive a restrained inmate of civil rights. Correctional officer 28-year-old Craig Muhs and...
Jul 15, 2026
