Category Archives: Local News
Rural Kell home damaged by Thursday afternoon fire
The Kell Fire Department with mutual aid assistance from multiple other fire departments fought a fire Thursday afternoon in a home at 4873 Kell Road just west of Kell. No one was at home at the resid...
Dec 30, 2022
Breese man killed in St. Clair County crash
A 60-year-old Breese man has died in a two-vehicle crash on US 50 between O'Fallon and Lebanon Thursday morning. The victim, Keith Van Ness of North 11th Street, was pronounced dead on the scene by th...
Dec 29, 2022
Three injured in I-57 crash at Jefferson-Franklin County Line
State Police say three people were injured in a crash on I-57 at the Jefferson-Franklin County line where a car crossed the median and broadsided an oncoming vehicle. Preliminary investigation indicat...
Dec 29, 2022
Car destroyed by fire at Applebee's Restaurant
A car owned by a Texico woman was heavily damaged by fire late Thursday morning when it caught fire outside the Applebee's Restaurant. Salem Fire Protection District officials say the car owned by Meg...
Dec 29, 2022
Marion County Sheriff's Department investigating burglary at Haines Township Building
The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a burglary to the Haines Township building in the 5900 block of State Route 161 in rural Kell. A flatbed truck was stolen and a dump truck was d...
Dec 29, 2022
Police Beat for Thursday, December 29th, 2022
A 25-year-old Salem man was arrested by both Centralia and Salem Police on different issues Wednesday night. Johnny Skurat of East Olive was initially brought to the Marion County Jail by Centralia Po...
Dec 29, 2022
Circuit Judge rules part of the SAFE-T Act unconstitutional; immediate appeal planned to State Supreme Court
A Kankakee County Circuit Court Judge has ruled part of the Safety Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today or SAFE-T Act is unconstitutional. The ruling by Judge Thomas Cunningham late Wednesday ni...
Dec 29, 2022
Those getting their water from the City of Centralia asked to conserve water
The City of Centralia is asking all of its water customers as well as those on the satellite water systems that get their water from Centralia to conserve water. City Manager Kory Smith says the reque...
Dec 28, 2022
Marion County Board rejects Class A Liquor License for Lucky Barn Gaming Parlor
The Marion County Board on a ten to three vote has rejected a Class A Liquor License for the Lucky Barn Gaming Parlor on US 50 at Bannister Road east of Salem. About two dozen area residents filled th...
Dec 28, 2022 Jeremy Koch, who represents his wife Cheryl in seeking the liquor license for the Lucky Barn Gaming Parlot, speaks before the Marion County Board Tuesday night. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Marion County Board votes to implement county-wide Nixle emergency notification system
The Marion County Board Tuesday night approved a three-year contract to offer a county-wide Nixle warning system. 911-ESDA committee chair Steve Whritenour has been pushing for the service. "The Nixle...
Dec 28, 2022 Whritenour sitting as ESDA Committee Chair. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
