Category Archives: Local News
Central City prepares to seek new OSLAD grant for Lions Park
Central City public works manager Shane Swartzlander reported that the projects being worked on in Lions Park are progressing on schedule. Most improvements are funded by an Open Space Lands Acquisiti...
Jul 23, 2025 Work in progress by the playground at Lions Park. Photo by Austin Williams.
Police Beat for Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
Two people were taken to the Marion County Jail on no-bond Marion County major traffic warrants. 58-year-old Tracy Behringer of South Walnut in Centralia was arrested in Jefferson County and transferr...
Jul 23, 2025
Salem City Council approves water, sewer, and TIF projects
The Salem City Council has approved bids to complete water and sewer improvements. The City Council Monday night awarded Furlong Excavating a $332,000 contract to replace waterlines on Rotan, Jennings...
Jul 22, 2025
Salem swears in new experienced police officer
The Salem City Council Monday night swore in a new police officer. Nathan Eck has been a police officer in Flora for the past five years. As a result, he starts with the field training program for new...
Jul 22, 2025 Nathan Eck is sworn in as a Salem police officer. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Salem Community High School Board approves five-year extension of SRO program
The Salem Community High School Board has approved a five-year extension of the school resource officer program. Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says the officer has been very valuable to the school....
Jul 22, 2025 Salem Community High School Board. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia teen charged with robbery following April phone theft
A 19-year-old Centralia man faces four felony charges for his role in allegedly battering and stealing a phone from a juvenile boy as he was walking down a street. Dakota Bender of Melrose Avenue was ...
Jul 22, 2025 Dakota Bender
Salem teen charged with armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use of weapon in shoe theft case
An 18-year-old Salem man was formally charged with a Class X offense of armed robbery as well as aggravated unlawful use of a weapon following a Saturday incident where a victim was robbed of an expen...
Jul 22, 2025 Michael Shanafelt
Marion County Board Tuesday night to hear from upset taxpayers
The Marion County Board Tuesday night will hear from four persons upset with property taxes following the mailing of this year's property tax bills. Neal Smith, Roy Landers, Paul Jones and Dr. Ted Van...
Jul 22, 2025 File photo: Marion County Courthouse.
Three sentenced to prison in Clay County Court
Clay County State's Attorney Phillip Givens has announced three people have been sentenced to prison in Clay County Court. 52-year-old John Mulvaney of Kinmundy received a three-year prison term after...
Jul 22, 2025
Following state rep's encounter, Pritzker signs 'squatter bill' into law
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 21, 2025 Article Summary A new Illinois law allows police to remove squatters from a person's home for criminal trespassing. State law previously required ...
Jul 22, 2025 Pritzker signed the bill after Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, had a first-hand encounter with squatters recently. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
