Category Archives: Local News

Salem duplex receives minor damage in Saturday fire
A home converted into a duplex at 621 North Broadway in Salem received minor damage in a small smoky basement fire around noon on Saturday. The three occupants were alerted by a passerby beating on th...
Bruce Kropp Aug 27, 2023

Police Beat for Sunday, August 27th, 2023
Four arrests were made on Saturday following domestic disturbances. Salem Police arrested 24-year-old Alexander Russell of West Elm in Salem for alleged aggravated domestic battery. Marion County Sher...
Bruce Kropp Aug 27, 2023

SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital Laboratory Receives Accreditation
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital Laboratory in Centralia has been awarded accreditation from the College of American Pathologists. The accreditation was based on a recent on-site inspection. Recognized ...
Bruce Kropp Aug 27, 2023

State Fire Marshal investigating second suspicious fire in same Wamac mobile home
The Illinois State Fire Marshal's office is investigating a second suspicious fire to hit a mobile home in Wamac left vacant following a recent death. Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Ross Bos...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023 What remains of a mobile home that caught fire early Friday morning for a second time at 300 Sanders Street in Wamac. Photo by Tim Ferguson.

Salem man faces three counts of forgery
A 30-year-old Salem man faces three counts of forgery for allegedly forging and cashing checks on the account of a deceased person. Korey Brown of Lamar Street was formally charged in Marion County Co...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023 Blogtrepreneur / CC

18-year-old Centralia man pleads guilty to his role in Laura Leake Park shooting in Centralia
An 18-year-old Centralia man has pleaded guilty to the lesser of two charges pending against him in connection with an April shooting in Laura Leake Park that sent two to St. Louis hospitals for treat...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023 Davion Meredith (Marion County Jail)

Bond set at a $500,000 for Mt Vernon man arrested on sex abuse and child pornography charges
Bond has been set at a half-million dollars for a 56-year-old Mt. Vernon man who has been charged in Jefferson County Court with ten counts of possession of child pornography under the age of 13 and o...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023

Police Beat for Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Centralia Police arrested a 36-year-old Centralia man for robbery, assault, and disorderly conduct. Paxton Price, who told authorities he was homeless, was taken to the Marion County Jail. Centralia P...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023

Southern Illinois casino opens, sends $25 million to the state
Carterville casino was authorized by a 2019 law expanding Illinois' gambling industry By JENNIFER FULLER,MOLLY PARKER &ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com CARTERVILLE - G...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023 Gov. JB Pritzker (center) is joined by state and local leaders to cut the ribbon on Walker’s Bluff Casino and Resort on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jennifer Fuller)

Cairo port project gets additional funding, but construction timeline still uncertain
Long-delayed project moving forward under new leadership By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Both the state and federal governments are pumping additi...
Bruce Kropp Aug 26, 2023 Barges are pictured on the Ohio River near Cairo. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)