Category Archives: Local News
Centralia High School Class of 2026 Graduates
195 graduating students were honored at Centralia High School's 2026 Graduation ceremony on Sunday. This year's graduating class had 36 honor students and 26 members of the National Honor Society. The...
May 18, 2026 Centralia High School graduates throw hats in the air in celebration. Photo by Pat Hodges.
16 Graduate at Patoka High School
Patoka High School had 16 graduates get their diplomas during Sunday afternoon graduation ceremonies. The class was led by valedictorian Gwen Belcher and salutatorian Jackson Chappell.
May 18, 2026
Franklin Park Middle School Congratulates Class of 2026
Franklin Park Middle School recognized 86 graduating eighth graders at the graduation ceremony on Friday. Principal Tyler Lux said that this year's graduating class has lived up to the theme for the s...
May 18, 2026
Marion County Deputies Arrest Two When Breaking Up Burglary in Progress at Lucky Marble in Patoka
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says two people have been arrested after the sheriff's department responded to a burglary in progress early Monday morning at the Lucky Marble Bar and Gaming in Pato...
May 18, 2026
Heavy Thunderstorms Prompt Tornado Warnings; Cause Minimal Damage in Marion County
Heavy thunderstorms crossed South Central Illinois late Saturday afternoon, prompting tornado warnings for Marion, Clinton, Washington and Jefferson Counties as well as severe thunderstorm warnings fo...
May 17, 2026 Melissa Blackman Kirgan, N Marion St looking south
'Patriotic Pumpkins' to be Theme of Centralia Halloween Parade
A fifth-grade student at St. Mary's Grade School in Centralia submitted the winning entry for the 99th Annual Centralia Halloween Parade in October. Breez Buettner received the news as his class had g...
May 17, 2026 Centralia Halloween Parade Chair Butch Mathus, Jr breaks the news to Breez Buettner that his theme idea was selected for the 99th Annual Halloween Parade. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Fire Damages rural Texico home
A rural Texico home was damaged by an early Saturday morning fire. The Kell Fire Department received a report that the Ronald Shurtz home at 232 Garfield was on fire. He woke up when his CPAP machine ...
May 17, 2026
73-year-old Centralia Man Arrested After Set Up by Online Predator Intervention Group
A 73-year-old Centralia man was arrested at the Centralia Walmart Store, where he thought he was going to meet an underage juvenile with whom he had been discussing sexual relations. Centralia Police ...
May 17, 2026
Sunday, May 17th, 2026 Police Beat
Centralia Police arrested 28-year-old Gabrielle Ziems of Mercer Drive in Centralia for alleged domestic battery. She was taken to the Marion County Jail to await further court action. Salem Police arr...
May 17, 2026
Police Beat for Saturday, May 15th, 2026
A 26-year-old Salem man has been arrested by Salem Police for domestic battery. Austin Wright of Oglesby Street was taken to the Marion County Jail to await further court actions. 38-year-old Jody Woo...
May 17, 2026 Jobs For Felons Hub / CC
