Category Archives: Local News

Police Beat for Monday, March 23rd, 2026
Centralia Police arrested a 28-year-old Salem woman on an Effingham County warrant on Sunday. Sharesa Howser of Foxville Road was initially taken to the Marion County Jail and later transferred to the...
Austin Williams Mar 23, 2026

Gas Leak Causes Evacuation of Grace Church and Cancellation of Services
The Salem Fire Protection District evacuated the Grace Church on North Broadway in Salem Sunday morning after a strong smell of gas filled the church and drifted out into the parking lot. The fire dep...
Bruce Kropp Mar 22, 2026

Three Outbuildings Destroyed in Fire East of Kinmundy
Three outbuildings were destroyed in a late Saturday afternoon fire on the Gary White property at 6003 Sinclair Road east of Kinmundy. Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says White had been burning of...
Bruce Kropp Mar 22, 2026 liz west / CC

Police Beat for Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
Two people were arrested in separate domestic battery cases. Salem Police arrested 38-year-old Ricky Webb of Deer Path Drive in Salem early Sunday morning. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 31...
Bruce Kropp Mar 22, 2026

Centralia Names New Fire Chief
Centralia has a new fire chief. Captain Blake Perez is a more than 20-year veteran of the department and was one of three internal candidates for the position. "We're a great department, and I've alwa...
Bruce Kropp Mar 21, 2026 Incoming Centralia Fire Chief Blake Perez

Salem Man Hurt in Deer-Motorcycle Crash
A 43-year-old Salem man was injured in a deer-motorcycle crash late Friday night on Green Street Road near the Odin Road intersection south of Odin. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say Jason Lewis of...
Bruce Kropp Mar 21, 2026

Police Beat for Saturday, March 21st, 2026
A 53-year-old Junction City man was arrested by Salem Police early Friday evening for aggravated domestic battery and on a Marion County no-bond felony failure to appear warrant. Henry Rowcliff was ar...
Bruce Kropp Mar 21, 2026

Salem to Celebrate William Jennings Bryan's Birthday on Saturday
The Salem Historical Commission will celebrate William Jennings Bryan's birthday with an open house and program on Saturday. Bryan was born on March 19th, 1860. He was a three-time presidential nomine...
Austin Williams Mar 20, 2026 File photo: The William Jennings Bryan Home in Salem.

Fire Destroys Rural Odin Mobile Home
A mobile home at 2710 Queens Avenue in the Royal Lakes neighborhood south of Odin was destroyed by fire Thursday night. The fire was at a home engulfed in flames upon the arrival of the Odin Fire Depa...
Austin Williams Mar 20, 2026 Mobile home on fire in the Royal Lakes neighborhood near Odin.

Odin Village Board Raises Water, Sewer, and Garbage Rates
The Odin Village Board Thursday night gave final approval to water, sewer, and trash rates on bills that will go out at the end of the month. The base water and sewer rate will increase 35-cents a mon...
Austin Williams Mar 20, 2026 Odin Village Hall (credit: Odin Village Hall Facebook page)
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