Category Archives: Local News
Vacant Doublewide Mobile Home Destroyed by Fire in Centralia
The Centralia City Fire Department says a vacant doublewide mobile home was destroyed in a late Thursday night fire. Firemen say the home at 109 East 12th was fully engulfed in flames when firemen arr...
Jun 19, 2026
Mt. Vernon man arrested for grooming and possession of child pornography
Jefferson County Sheriff's officials have announced the arrest of a 40-year- old Mt. Vernon man on two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of grooming. Matthew Smith was taken into...
Jun 19, 2026
I-57 through much of Marion County to be down to one lane this summer
The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that one lane in each direction on Interstate 57 through most of Marion County will be closed beginning at seven Monday morning, weather permitt...
Jun 19, 2026
South Central Illinois Nurse Honor Guard offers funeral Ceremony to Nurses
The South Central Illinois Nurse Honor Guard (NHGSC) offers honoring funeral Ceremony services for Deceased nurses free of charge. NHGSC of Illinois is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization formed by a...
Jun 19, 2026 Left to Right: Cindy Smith, Dr. Sheron Besley, Susie Robbins, and Georgia Lambert
Minor injuries reported in two vehicle crash on south side of Salem
Salem Police say both drivers declined hospital treatment following a two-vehicle crash at South College and West Whitaker Street on Wednesday. Police report 70-year-old Brian See of Sandoval was trav...
Jun 18, 2026
Stubborn fire breaks out in scrap wood
Firefighters fought a stubborn fire in a 150 to 100-foot area of scrap pieces of lumber at a sawmill in the 16,000 block of North Campground Road east of Mt. Vernon Wednesday night. Flames could be se...
Jun 18, 2026 File: The current Jefferson Fire station.
Police Beat for Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Salem Police arrested a 27-year-old Patoka man for possession of under five grams of methamphetamine. Following a Wednesday traffic stop, the Salem K9 alerted on the vehicle driven by Joseph Mengarell...
Jun 18, 2026
Mobile home and Camper catch fire in Wamac
Centralia Fire Department and Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a report of a camper fully engulfed in flames next to a mobile home which then caught fire in the 100 block of Apple St...
Jun 18, 2026
All Hours of Love calls on the community to aid the unhoused
Visitors to the Centralia American Legion on Wednesday had the chance to support those in need by participating in a fundraising sale, donating blood through an American Red Cross Blood drive, and by ...
Jun 18, 2026 Todd Glispie leads discussion on the impact of homelessness at the community workshop at Centralia American Legion. Photo by Austin Williams.
Plans in place for Balloon Fest in Fairview Park
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce's monthly lunch on Wednesday took place in Fairview Park, the location of this year's Balloon Fest. Executive Director Marcus Holland shared details with local busine...
Jun 18, 2026 Marcus Holland speaks to Centralia Chamber of Commerce members about Balloon Fest at Fairview Park. Photo by Austin Williams.
