Category Archives: Local News
Sandoval School Board narrowly votes to renew elementary principal's contract
At a highly attended board meeting on Monday, the Sandoval School District 501 Board of Education voted to approve a new 1-year contract for Sandoval Elementary principal Adam Hanks, with four members...
Mar 17, 2026 Sandoval School Board at Monday night's meeting. Photo by Austin Williams.
ISP Releasing Few Details About Investigation of Death of 26-Year-Old Woman At Central City Apartment (update 3:15 pm)
Illinois State Police confirm the State Crimes Scene Investigations Unit and the Division of Criminal Investigations Zone 8 are investigating the death of a 27-year-old female found deceased on Saturd...
Mar 16, 2026
New Bishop Designate Gets Standing Ovation When Returning to His Hometown of Salem
When Bishop Designate, the Very Reverend Godfrey Mullen, arrived at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Salem over the weekend, he received a standing ovation. The speaking engagement was already planned...
Mar 16, 2026 Bishop Designate Godfrey Mullen standing on the front steps of St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Salem. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Marion County Clerk Candidates Talk About Their Race at Marion County Republican Dinner
Marion County Republicans got to hear from a number of candidates during their annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building Saturday night. Statewide candidates Darren Bailey for Gove...
Mar 16, 2026 Republican Marion County Clerk candidates Greg Wright (left) and Zach Rose (right) speaking at the Lincoln Day dinner on Saturday.
Fire Destroys One Garage, Causes Damage to Two Other Buildings in Rural Centralia
An unoccupied garage on the Joe and Lisa Wagner property in the 2500 block of State Route 161 east of Centralia was destroyed in a Sunday afternoon fire, with some damage to two other structures. Cent...
Mar 16, 2026
Salem City Council to Consider New Natural Gas Purchase Program and Update on Electric Aggregation
The Salem City Council Monday night will be asked to approve a resolution authorizing the purchase of Natural Gas from PEFA, Inc. City Manager Lisa Peck says this is a long-term discount program provi...
Mar 16, 2026
Car Runs Through Wall of Jerry's Grill and Bar in Wamac
No one was injured when a car ran through the wall near the southwest corner of Jerry's Bar and Grill at 835 Wabash in Wamac early Thursday afternoon. Wamac Police say 80-year-old Marsha Hempen of Gre...
Mar 16, 2026
Marion County Farm Bureau's Free Breakfast to Celebrate Agriculture Is Tuesday Morning
The Marion County Farm Bureau's Annual Breakfast to Celebrate National Agriculture Week is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Not only is the breakfast once again free, but the Farm Bureau has added $750 ...
Mar 16, 2026
Sandoval Man Charged with Two Counts of Threatening a Public Official
A 31-year-old Sandoval man has been charged in Marion County Court with two counts of threatening a public official. Joey Evans of South Main was arrested by Wamac Police on Saturday following a serie...
Mar 16, 2026
Police Beat for Monday, March 16th, 2026
Salem Police have arrested a 24-year-old Salem man for criminal trespass to a building. Mason Becker of Julia Drive was taken to the Marion County Jail but later released on a notice to appear in cour...
Mar 16, 2026
