Category Archives: Local News
Parents describe disabling impact on their son from kratom and nitrous oxide
The parents of a 26-year-old Sandoval man described to the Sandoval Village Board Tuesday night how synthetic kratom and nitrous oxide sold at a Sandoval business rendered their son unconscious for tw...
Aug 19, 2026 Angie and Steve Gordon show nitrous oxide containers to the Sandoval Village Board. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
About 100 volunteers meet Tuesday night to clean up before Balloon Fest
About 100 volunteers helped in the cleanup around Fairview Park and the Fairview Shopping Center Tuesday night ahead of Balloon Fest this weekend. The Executive Director of Keep Centralia Beautiful Mi...
Aug 19, 2026 Volunteers at the Keep Centralia Beautiful Balloon Fest cleanup. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Police Beat for Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
Salem Police arrested 18-year-old Alyssa Adkins of East McMackin in Salem for criminal trespass to property at Bryan Memorial Park. Police say Adkins had earlier been told she could not be in the park...
Aug 19, 2026
SSM Health in Southern Illinois Expands Cardiology Services to Region
A cardiologist at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon has introduced cardiac procedures commonly performed at St. Louis to Southern Illinois. Dr. Lincoln Shenje is now performing heart ca...
Aug 19, 2026
Salem Community High School sets tentative budget; looks at next year's improvements
The Salem Community High School Board approved its tentative budget Monday night. Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says the budget is flat. "We do show minor deficits in the education fund and the tra...
Aug 18, 2026
Repairs made to damaged gym floor at Salem Community High School
Salem High School Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering told the school board Monday night temporary repairs have been made to the floor at BE Gum gymnasium after a new basketball goal being put into place...
Aug 18, 2026
Salem City Council votes down creation of non-profit city foundation
The Salem City Council has voted down a series of motions that would create a nonprofit city foundation. Mayor Nic Farley said the action was to clear any intention to move forward with the foundation...
Aug 18, 2026
Salem to seek downtown streetscape and Bryan Park improvement grants
The City of Salem will be applying for two grants. A nearly $4,000,000 ITEP State Transportation grant would provide streetscape improvements downtown and a $484,900 grant would fund more improvements...
Aug 18, 2026
First day of school for students in Salem and Centralia
It's the first day of school Tuesday at Salem and Centralia area schools. Salem Community High School is starting the year with 672 students, up three from the start of school last year. SCHS is hosti...
Aug 18, 2026
Sandoval School Board member resigns
A member of the Sandoval School Board has resigned. Joe Lyons, who is also Sandoval Police Chief, officially stepped down at Monday night's meeting. The board went into closed session to interview fou...
Aug 18, 2026 Sandoval Junior-Senior High School. Photo from District website.
