Category Archives: Local News
Community Expo at Kaskaskia College Draws Right Crowd for Exhibitors
The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce is happy with the results of the first Regional Business Expo held at the Kaskaskia College gym on Saturday. Chamber Executive Director Marcus Holland wraps u...
Mar 30, 2026 Businesses set up at the Regional Business Expo in the Kaskaskia College gymnasium. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
15-Year-Old Cisne Boy killed in Crash Involving Semi and Side-by-Side
A 15-year-old Cisne boy was killed when the side-by-side he was operating collided with a semi. Clay County Coroner Bryce Henry identifies the victim as Owen W. Bailey. He was pronounced dead at the s...
Mar 30, 2026
Salem Firemen Answer Four Calls Over the Weekend
This weekend was busy for the Salem Fire Protection District as they fought three fires and helped free a man from an elevator. Firemen were called at 4:19 Sunday afternoon to the Georgia Turner home ...
Mar 30, 2026
Vacant Farm House Destroyed in Fire on Shattuc Road
A vacant farmhouse on the Bob Grote Farm at 9002 Shattuc Road in rural Centralia was destroyed in a late Sunday afternoon fire. Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Ross Boshera says the fire star...
Mar 30, 2026 Firefighters respond to the farmhouse fire on Shattuc Road. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Police Beat for Monday, March 30th, 2026
Centralia Police arrested 19-year-old Hannah Berry of McKee Street in Centralia for domestic battery. She was taken to the Marion County Jail. A 46-year-old Jesse Blades of North Elm in Pana was arres...
Mar 30, 2026
Two Teen Brothers Killed in Farina House Fire
Two young brothers were killed, and a third escaped without injury after fire broke out at their Farina home early Sunday morning. Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris pronounced 19-year-old Brandon Ful...
Mar 30, 2026 liz west / CC
Kaskaskia College Foundation Awards More Than $407,000 in Scholarships to 271 Students
The Kaskaskia College Foundation recently hosted its annual Scholarship Celebration, recognizing both the generous donors who support student scholarships and the Kaskaskia College students whose acad...
Mar 29, 2026 John & Connie Cavaletto (pictured right), Scholarship Winner Jackson Althoff (middle), Jeff Althoff, and Miranda Kelly (representatives and recipient of the Michele Cavaletto Title III Scholarship)
Energy Assistance Foundation Has Money Available to Help with Ameren Power Bills
The Energy Assistance Foundation, through its Warm Neighbors Cool Friends (WNCF) program, is partnering with BCMW Community Services to provide energy bill payment assistance to eligible Ameren Illino...
Mar 29, 2026
Centralia Man Hurt in Car-Bicycle Crash
A 61-year-old Centralia man was injured when his bicycle collided with a car near the Beach and Rexford Street intersection in Centralia early Thursday night. Steven Walta of Johnston Street was taken...
Mar 29, 2026
Centralia Police Arrest Three in Weapons and Drug Case
Centralia Police arrested three people on Saturday on weapons and drug charges. 22-year-old Seyana Lockhart-Jones of Perkins Street in Mt. Vernon and 18-year-old Jayeron Adams of Park Forest in Centra...
Mar 29, 2026 Jayeron Adams of Centralia (left) and Seyana Lockhart-Jones.
