Category Archives: Local News
Major Highways Reopened, 5.91 inches of rain recorded at Salem Water Treatment Plant
The Marion County Sheriff's Department reports all major highways are once again passable Saturday morning. However, low-lying rural roads remain flooded and the Green Street Road is closed at the Rac...
Apr 05, 2025 Flooding in Starlight Mobile Home Park which was under mandatory evacuation due to flooding along Town Creek. Photo by Henry Morton.
Salem Issues Emergency Declaration
The City of Salem has declared a local emergency effective immediately due to widespread flooding impacting many areas of the community. It remains in effect until seven Saturday morning. Only emergen...
Apr 04, 2025 The West Main and Illinois Street intersection is one of the numerous areas of Salem that has turned into a lake with the heavy Friday night rains. Photo by Henry Morton.
Sterling Avenue opens in new downtown location Saturday
Home and decor business Sterling Avenue opens in its new downtown location at 300 West Main Street in Salem on Saturday. Paul and Lynn Riehm have spent the past three months since buying the building ...
Apr 04, 2025 Inside Sterling Avenue's new downtown location. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia man charged with attempted aggravated kidnapping following incident at St. Mary's School in Centralia
A 30-year-old Centralia man has been ordered held without bond after making his first appearance in Marion County Court Thursday for attempted aggravated kidnapping and resisting or obstructing a peac...
Apr 04, 2025
Rural Odin man charged with sex offenses against underage girl
A 27-year-old rural Odin man has been charged in Marion County Court with indecent solicitation of a child and sexual exploitation of a child. Tyler Faith of Norton Road is accused of soliciting a chi...
Apr 04, 2025 Tyler Faith
Write in vote results announced for Tuesday's election
A number of school board seats have been filled by winning write in candidates, but those challenging candidates on the ballot for Kinmundy Mayor and Kinmundy Township Highway Commissioner were unsucc...
Apr 04, 2025
Three juveniles charged with mob action and battery in alleged fight with fourth student at Centralia Junior High
Three juveniles were arrested for mob action and battery following a fight in the Centralia Junior High School with a fourth student. The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon in the cafeteria. The Cent...
Apr 04, 2025
Unemployment falls across South Central Illinois
Unemployment was down across South Central Illinois in February. In Marion County the rate fell seven-tenths of a percent from January to 4.5-percent. That translated into 725 on the unemployment roll...
Apr 04, 2025
South Central School Board takes action on employment issues at special meeting
The South Central School Board held a special meeting to deal with personnel issues on Wednesday night. The board accepted the resignation of Blake Doehring as teacher, head basketball coach, and athl...
Apr 04, 2025
Barn heavily damaged by strong winds in Wednesday night storm
The most serious damage from the line of severe thunderstorms that crossed Marion County Wednesday night was to a barn on Jones Road north of Patoka. The barn appears to have been blown apart by stron...
Apr 03, 2025 Barn destroyed by the storm near Patoka. Photo by Angie Diss.
