Category Archives: Local News

Wood River man arrested for damaging Sandoval streets
A 24-year-old Wood River man has been arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for felony criminal damage to property and driving under the influence. Tyler Lane reportedly popped both back tires ...
Austin Williams Jul 08, 2025

Salem Police Chief makes four conditional hires to replenish staff
Salem Police Chief Todd Boles has made offers to four new police officers who are completing the pre-hire testing process. One is a lateral transfer who will be able to join the department right away,...
Austin Williams Jul 08, 2025 Salem Police Chief Todd Boles.

Three downtown Odin buildings now on the ground
The final walls of the three downtown Odin buildings that were about to collapse have been brought to the ground before they fell. Pete Aydt of rural Centralia had the contract to take down the buildi...
Austin Williams Jul 07, 2025 Debris of demolished buildings in downtown Odin. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

Marion County Fair grandstand tickets now on sale
Tickets are now on sale for the grandstand events at the Marion County Fair in Salem. Tickets are available at the fair box office from nine to four Monday through Friday until Friday, July 25th. Tick...
Austin Williams Jul 07, 2025

Centralia High Superintendent says they have been invited to join Cahokia Conference
Centralia High School Superintendent Chuck Lane has confirmed they have been officially invited to be a full member of the Cahokia Conference beginning with the 2026-27 school year. Lane says that, as...
Bruce Kropp Jul 07, 2025

With updated codes in place, Centralia Fire Department begins business inspections
The Centralia Fire Department has started inspections of businesses now that the city council has approved the updated International Code Council codes for businesses, residential, and mechanical syst...
Austin Williams Jul 07, 2025

Police Beat for Monday, July 7th, 2025
Salem Police arrested 20-year-old Tristan Nix of Salem Mobile Home Park on Sunday night for aggravated domestic battery. He was accused of choking a family member during an altercation at his home. A ...
Austin Williams Jul 07, 2025

Centralia Police Waiting for Lab Results to Find Out More About Girl Found Unresponsive
Centralia Police are waiting for lab results to find out more about a six-year-old girl found unresponsive at a Centralia home Friday afternoon. Police were greeted by the mother outside the home in t...
Bruce Kropp Jul 07, 2025

Eight Centralia and Mt. Vernon residents facing new federal meth charges
Eight people from the Centralia and Mt. Vernon area have been arrested on methamphetamine related charges following a two-week coordinated operation led by the FBI. A federal grand jury charged: 35-ye...
Bruce Kropp Jul 07, 2025

Salem City Council Monday Night to Consider Approval of TIF-4 District
The Salem City Council Monday night, will be asked to approve a new residential and business TIF that stretches through a large part of the community, drawing concerns from some taxing bodies. There a...
Bruce Kropp Jul 07, 2025