Category Archives: Local News
SSM Health utilizes solar eclipse to dedicate solar field projects at St. Mary's and Good Samaritan Hospitals
As Monday's solar eclipse unfolded, officials with SSM Health held a dedication ceremony for the solar field project at St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia. According to hospital officials, phase one of ...
Apr 09, 2024 SSM officials hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday at the solar field located near St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia. (Submitted Photo)
Marion County Fair officials want to make BBQ challenge a regular event
Marion County Fair Board President Doug Telford is pleased with how the BBQ challenge they put together for the Eclipse weekend turned out. "Had seven competitors cooking BBW, we just got through with...
Apr 09, 2024 Marion County Fair Queen Kaitlyn Banning (left) and Junior Miss Aubri Landreth congratulate the Grand Champion and People's Choice winner Smokin J's.
Tornado confirmed on Marion-Fayette County line in Sunday night storm
The National Weather Service in St. Louis has confirmed an EF1 tornado with a top wind speed of 90 miles per hour in a severe weather system that moved over Southern Fayette and North Marion County ea...
Apr 08, 2024 Tornado damaged machine shed on Mark Payne property in rural Vernon. (Photo by Mark Payne)
Salem man injured in single-vehicle crash on Townhouse Road
An 18-year-old Salem man was injured in a single-vehicle crash late Sunday afternoon. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say Jake Rollins of North Hotze Road was a passenger in a car driven by a 17-year...
Apr 08, 2024
Heavy rains result in several crashes
The Marion County Sheriff's Department reports several wrecks blamed on the heavy rains Sunday night. Two people refused medical treatment when their car hit standing water on Route 37 North of Salem ...
Apr 08, 2024
'Totality' takes place across large part of South Central Illinois
The total solar eclipse was plainly visible as it crossed South Central Illinois Monday afternoon. Some residents from other parts of Illinois as well as other states joined local residents for the ra...
Apr 08, 2024 Total eclipse over the Bell Tower in Centralia. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Two young girls may have averted large downtown fire (updated 12:30 pm)
Salem Assistant Fire Chief Bill Fulton says two observant girls may have prevented a large downtown fire Sunday night as they spotted a fire burning out one of the back doors of Steve's Antiques at 12...
Apr 08, 2024 Area fire departments wait as a search is underway to determine if a fire had spread from an elevator shaft at Steve's Antiques in Salem Sunday night. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Wabash Communications receives $23.1-million grant to expand broadband service in area
Wabash Communications Co-Operative has announced it has been awarded a $23,197,592 grant through the Connect Illinois Program to expand broadband access in underserved rural areas. The investment will...
Apr 08, 2024
Area officials ready for influx of visitors Monday for totality
A large number of visitors are anticipated for the full solar eclipse across much of the area early Monday afternoon. Salem is one of three hubs set up by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and ...
Apr 08, 2024 Emergency vehicles set up outside IEMA warehouse in Salem's westside industrial park. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Toronto, Canada astronomer in Centralia for eclipse explains what will be happening
There is an astronomer who will be watching the eclipse from the Centralia Regional Library Monday afternoon. Mubbi Rahman of Toronto, Canada has relatives in Greenville. He notes the sun and moon are...
Apr 08, 2024 Mubbi Rahman (Photo from sidratresearch.com)
