Category Archives: Local News
Bill targets zoning laws that block homes for adults with disabilities
by Rebecka Pieder and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois March 31, 2026 Article Summary Local zoning rules can create barriers for organizations seeking to provide community integrated...
Mar 31, 2026 Clear skies above an Envision Unlimited community integrated living arrangement, a group home for adults with disabilities, in the Chicago area. (Medill Illinois News Bureau, Photo by Rebecka Pieder)
Blake Perez Sworn in as New Centralia Fire Chief; Andrew Snedden Promoted to Captain
Centralia's new Fire Chief Blake Perez took the oath of office from Centralia City Clerk Kim Enke during ceremonies at Centralia City Hall Monday afternoon. "It's a great honor and a great privilege,"...
Mar 31, 2026 Blake Perez is sworn in as Centralia's next fire chief. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Fire Damages Centralia Home
Fire caused significant damage to the second floor of a Centralia home Monday morning. Centralia's new Fire Chief Blake Perez had arrived for duty for his first day as chief just moments before the fi...
Mar 31, 2026 Centralia home where firefighters responded to a second-floor bedroom fire. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Vacant Wamac Home Destroyed in Late Monday Night Fire
A home believed to be vacant was destroyed by fire late Monday night in Wamac. Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Ross Boshera says the fire was at 255 Gompers. It was fully engulfed in flames w...
Mar 31, 2026 Firefighters responding to the fire at a vacant house in Wamac. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Farina Fire Chief Says Home Where Two Brothers Died Total Loss
Farina Fire Chief Jed Goekner says flames were shooting from several windows when they arrived on the scene of a house fire at Hickory and Madison Streets where two brothers died on Sunday morning. Go...
Mar 31, 2026 Zdenko Zivkovic / CC
Salem Firemen Handle Field Fire and Electrical Box Issue
Salem Firemen handled three calls Monday night and early Tuesday morning. The first call was to an out-of-control controlled burn on the Denny Kuhn property on Cumberland Lane on Lake Centralia. The i...
Mar 31, 2026
Police Beat for Tuesday, March 31st, 2026
Salem Police arrested a 19-year-old Salem man for alleged domestic battery after he reportedly was involved in an altercation with a young brother. Tyree Wilborn of Charleston Road was arrested withou...
Mar 31, 2026
BCMW Looks to Partner with Summer Youth Programs
BCMW Community Services is now welcoming summer youth programs interested in partnering to support summer programming for youth across the four-county service area of Bond, Clinton, Marion and Washing...
Mar 30, 2026
Illinois State Police Announces Completion of Statewide Next Generation 911 Service Upgrades
The Illinois State Police (ISP) is announcing all 169 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) throughout Illinois, commonly called 911 call centers, have successfully transitioned to Next Generation 91...
Mar 30, 2026
1,200 Receive Free Easter Dinner
There were 1,200 free Easter dinner's served Saturday thanks to the work of volunteers in the Salem area. For the second year in a row, the free dinner was coordinated by Saved with Amazing Grace, the...
Mar 30, 2026 File photo: Visitors dining in at the 2025 Community Easter Dinner. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
