Category Archives: Local News
I-64 Concrete Overlay Wrapping Up in Western Jefferson County
The Illinois Department of Transportation reports the concrete overlay project on I-64 in western Jefferson County is nearly complete. The new eastbound and westbound pavement is along an 11-mile stre...
Dec 27, 2025 I-64 construction project in Jefferson County. (IDOT Facebook Page)
60 attend Christmas Day Dinner at Salem Presbyterian Church
About 60 guests attended the Christmas Day dinner at the Salem Presbyterian Church. They were joined by more than 30 volunteers who helped prepare the meal and program, with a total of about 100 enjoy...
Dec 26, 2025 Visitors served Christmas dinner at the Salem Presbyterian Church.
Salem high school students help less fortunate during holiday season
Salem High School Principal Clint Wolfe says he's amazed by the amount of service projects students have participated in during the holiday season. He feels service is something important for students...
Dec 26, 2025 Members of Salem NHS wrapping presents for Adopt a Family.
Salem DAR Provides veterans gift bags
The Salem Daughters of American Revolution has provided gift bags to hospitalized veterans and those in area nursing facilities during the holiday season. Volunteers gathered last week to put 504 of t...
Dec 26, 2025 Salem DAR delivering bags to Jefferson Barracks and John Cochran VA hospitals.
Father of former Salem National Guard member keeps tradition alive of sending care packages to soldiers overseas
The idea of Steve Smith of Salem to send gift packs to soldiers overseas began 20 years ago when his son and other members of the Salem National Guard had been sent overseas. He continued the traditio...
Dec 26, 2025 Steve Smith holding one of the boxes to be sent to National Guard members overseas. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Adopt a Family program helps 450 kids this year
An increase in donations helped increase the number of children who were helped through this year's Centralia Youth Center and WJBD Radio Adopt a Family program. Josh Favors of the Community Youth Cen...
Dec 26, 2025 Members of Salem NHS wrapping gifts for Adopt a Family.
Salem Elks Lodge helps restock Marion V.A. veterans food pantry
The Salem Elks Lodge #1678 has received a $1,000 Freedom Grant from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission to purchase food for the Marion V.A. veterans food pantry. In addition to the grant, L...
Dec 26, 2025 Salem Lodge member Eddy Mulvany with a volunteer from the Marion V.A. veterans food pantry in front of some of the 900 cans donated by Salem Lodge #1678.
Road Rage Incident Ends with Man Getting Run Over and Stripped of His Pants
A Christmas Eve road rage incident on Old U.S. 51 in rural Sandoval ended with an upset driver being run over by his own vehicle and having his pants stripped off in the process. Marion County Sheriff...
Dec 26, 2025
Centralia Man Arrested Two Days in a Row in Separate Burglaries
A 38-year-old Centralia man released on a notice to appear in court after being found in a church early Christmas morning was taken back into custody early Friday morning for a separate burglary. Cent...
Dec 26, 2025
Single Car Crash in rural Ashley Claims Life early Christmas Morning
Washington County Coroner Mark Styninger says a 49-year-old Pinckneyville man has died as a result of an early Christmas morning single-vehicle crash in rural Ashley. Christopher Wright was involved i...
Dec 26, 2025 Jo Naylor / CC
