Category Archives: Local News
No grant money to study consolidation of Sandoval, Patoka, and Odin school districts
There will be no state grant money available to conduct a feasibility study on the possible consolidation or additional sharing of services between Sandoval, Odin, and Patoka School Districts. The thr...
Aug 21, 2025 File: Odin High School. Photo by Sam Snodsmith.
Mt. Vernon man arrested for alleged child pornography
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department reports a 54-year-old Mt. Vernon man wanted on a warrant charging child pornography has been arrested by Palatine Police and returned to the Jefferson County ...
Aug 21, 2025
Police Beat for Thursday, August 21st, 2025
A 50-year-old Centralia man has been arrested by Centralia Police for unlawful restraint, domestic battery and resisting arrest. Jackie VanGilder of Jonquil Street was taken to the Marion County Jail ...
Aug 21, 2025
Main Street Flag returns in Salem
A large US flag once again greets motorists entering Salem on West Main Street near I-57. The original flag was flown from the other side of West Main but was stopped when electricity to light the fla...
Aug 20, 2025 The Salem Main Street Flag flies on its new flagpole. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Kaskaskia College Salem Education Center reopens for Fall Semester
The Kaskaskia College Salem Education Center has reopened this week for fall classes and other community activities. The center closed in the Spring due to damage caused by a flash flood fueled by ext...
Aug 20, 2025
Sandoval Village Board to Seek 12-year extension of its TIF District
The Sandoval Village Board will seek a 12-year extension to its tax increment financing district that is scheduled to expire at the end of next year. Village Administrator LeeAnn Speiser says the Sand...
Aug 20, 2025 Sandoval Village Board (file photo)
Fire destroys modular home used for storage south of Mt. Vernon
Fire destroyed a modular home used for storage at 15972 Bakerville Road south of Mt. Vernon early Wednesday morning. Jefferson Fire reports the owner Jared Whipple, who was staying in a camper nearby,...
Aug 20, 2025
Police Beat for Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
Centralia Police have arrested 40-year-old Joshua Gribbler of South Hickory Street in Centralia on an outstanding felony failure to appear in court warrant. He was taken to the Marion County Jail on t...
Aug 20, 2025
Billboard for Proud Boys hate group removed in southern Illinois after public pressure
The sign came down a day after the Clinton County Board passed a non-binding resolution By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois Mparker@apitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The recruiting billboard fo...
Aug 19, 2025 A Lamar Advertising representative on Monday moves an ad for the far-
right extremist group Proud Boys; the sign was taken down entirely around noon Tuesday.
(Capitol News Illinois photo by Molly Parker)
Salem American Legion to sell building
The Salem American Legion will be selling its building at 1001 East Main Street. Legion Treasurer Lonnie McDaneld says they cannot afford to keep the building. "It was really a hard decision for us," ...
Aug 19, 2025 The current Salem American Legion Building. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
