Category Archives: Local News
Salem City Council gives final approval to exhume grave of unknown train wreck victim
The Salem City Council gave final approval to asking for a state permit to exhume the body of an unknown victim of the 1971 Tonti Train Wreck. University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism Student Henry ...
Mar 18, 2025 Gravestone of the unidentified Tonti Train Wreck victim at East Lawn Cemetery. Photo by Henry Morton.
SCHS Superintendent shares concerns about TIF District 4
Salem Community High School Superintendent Brad Detering presented his concerns about Salem's TIF District 4 at Monday night's school board meeting. Detering shared a map of the proposed TIF, which he...
Mar 18, 2025 Brad Detering addressing the Salem City Council in January.
Franklin Park Middle School Soars Over Annual Can Food Drive Goal
The Franklin Park Middle School Student Council raised $7,573 in cans and monetary donations for their annual can food drive. Franklin Park's original goal was $4,000 worth of canned goods. the 8th gr...
Mar 18, 2025 Students at the Franklin Park Middle School Canned Food Drive.
Salem has new City Manager and Police Chief
The Salem City Council has approved a contract for a new city manager and learned of the appointment of a new police chief at Monday night's meeting. The name of the new city manager is being withheld...
Mar 18, 2025
Salem City Council told Fiscal Year 2026 Budget is Balanced
The Salem City Council reviewed the General Fund portion of the Fiscal Year Budget for the year beginning May 1st Monday night learning the budget is balanced. City Manager Annette Sola says some depa...
Mar 18, 2025 Salem City Manager Annette Sola.
Salem to have City Wide Spring Cleanup
The Salem City Council has approved a spring cleanup on a trial basis. The council agreed Monday night to accept a proposal from its trash collector Sunrise Sanitation to provide the cleanup in April ...
Mar 18, 2025
Salem High School Names new Assistant Principal
Salem Community High School has named Kelsey Pogue as its new Assistant Principal. Pogue will replace Clint Wolfe who was earlier promoted to Principal to replace the retiring John Boles. Pogue has 14...
Mar 18, 2025
Police Beat for Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
Central City Police have arrested 26-year-old Sharesa Houser of Howard Street in Centralia for waking in the roadway, resisting police, disorderly conduct, and possession of under five grams of meth. ...
Mar 18, 2025
Heavy damage in Sunday night fire at McGuire's Grill and Bar in Wamac
Fire caused heavy damage to McGuire's Grill and Bar at 730 James Street in Wamac Sunday night. The fire was already through the roof of the kitchen end of the building when seen by Wamac Police arrivi...
Mar 17, 2025 Firemen working in the damaged McGuire's Grill and Bar. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Nearly 700 people were killed 100 years ago this week in the deadliest US tornado
By JOHN O'CONNOR Associated Press MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) - From Logan School's top floor, 11-year-old Othella Silvey should have been able to see her house easily - it was less than two blocks away. B...
Mar 17, 2025 Mary Riseling, coordinator of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the March 18 Tri-State Tornado, shows how winds drove a board into the trunk of a maple tree on display at the Jackson County Historical Society on March 11, 2025 in Murphysboro, Ill. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)
