Category Archives: Local News
Minor injuries reported in two vehicle crash on south side of Salem
Salem Police say both drivers declined hospital treatment following a two-vehicle crash at South College and West Whitaker Street on Wednesday. Police report 70-year-old Brian See of Sandoval was trav...
Jun 18, 2026
Stubborn fire breaks out in scrap wood
Firefighters fought a stubborn fire in a 150 to 100-foot area of scrap pieces of lumber at a sawmill in the 16,000 block of North Campground Road east of Mt. Vernon Wednesday night. Flames could be se...
Jun 18, 2026
Police Beat for Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Salem Police arrested a 27-year-old Patoka man for possession of under five grams of methamphetamine. Following a Wednesday traffic stop, the Salem K9 alerted on the vehicle driven by Joseph Mengarell...
Jun 18, 2026
Mobile home and Camper catch fire in Wamac
Centralia Fire Department and Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a report of a camper fully engulfed in flames next to a mobile home which then caught fire in the 100 block of Apple St...
Jun 18, 2026
All Hours of Love calls on the community to aid the unhoused
Visitors to the Centralia American Legion on Wednesday had the chance to support those in need by participating in a fundraising sale, donating blood through an American Red Cross Blood drive, and by ...
Jun 18, 2026 Todd Glispie leads discussion on the impact of homelessness at the community workshop at Centralia American Legion. Photo by Austin Williams.
Plans in place for Balloon Fest in Fairview Park
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce's monthly lunch on Wednesday took place in Fairview Park, the location of this year's Balloon Fest. Executive Director Marcus Holland shared details with local busine...
Jun 18, 2026 Marcus Holland speaks to Centralia Chamber of Commerce members about Balloon Fest at Fairview Park. Photo by Austin Williams.
Effingham County and Charleston hit by large tornadoes
There were numerous reports of damage from tornadoes and strong winds in Central Illinois Thursday, including Effingham County and Charleston, but no immediate reports of deaths or life-threatening in...
Jun 18, 2026 The Effingham County tornado as it moved through the Shumway area around eight Wednesday night. Photo by Kerry Hirtzel.
Centralia man airlifted to St. Louis hospital following stabbing
A 33-year-old Centralia man has been airlifted to a St. Louis hospital for treatment of a stab wound to under his left arm during a brief early Thursday morning encounter on the Huck's parking lot at ...
Jun 18, 2026 James Case
Historic Sandoval Methodist Church Destroyed in Wednesday afternoon Fire
The more than 125 year old Sandoval Methodist church on Missouri Avenue was destroyed in a quickly moving Wednesday afternoon fire. Sandoval Fire Chief Scott Towler says a downed power pole may have s...
Jun 17, 2026
Pritzker signs nearly $56B budget with new business taxes as he seeks 3rd term
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 16, 2026 Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker signed the fiscal year 2027 budget, which totals $55.9 billion, making it the largest in state history - though h...
Jun 17, 2026
