Category Archives: Local News
Commonwealth development continues with unveiling of five new apartments
The Centralia Commonwealth Development on East Broadway downtown continues with the unveiling of five new upstairs apartments. An open house of the apartments and a ribbon cutting by the Greater Centr...
Jan 16, 2026 Ribbon cutting in front of the Commonwealth. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Centralia City Manager says no hunting on Raccoon Lake or the city
Some who live along the portion of Raccoon Lake near Raccoon Creek are concerned about guns being shot near their homes by hunters. Raccoon Lake Association President Tom Hawkins told the association ...
Jan 16, 2026 File: Centralia city manager Galen Mahle. Photo by Austin Williams.
Raccoon Lake Association sets action plan for 2026
The Raccoon Lake Association has set an action plan for the coming year. President Tom Hawkins told the membership at a Thursday night meeting that focus areas will include lake cleanup, advocate for ...
Jan 16, 2026 File photo: Balloons over Raccoon Lake.
Salem Elementary School Board receives FY25 audit
The Salem Elementary School Board of Education heard the district's audit report at its regular meeting on Thursday, which showed the district remains in review status with a financial Profile Score o...
Jan 16, 2026
Police Beat for Friday, January 16th, 2026
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 29-year-old Dillon Webster of Cross Road in Salem for violation of an order of protection. He was taken to the Marion County to await a first court appearance...
Jan 16, 2026
Vandalia Statehouse to host Lincoln birthday celebration
The Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site will celebrate President Abraham Lincoln's birthday and America's 250th anniversary with a free public event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 in the House ...
Jan 16, 2026 Vandalia Statehouse. Photo by Art Davis.
Open house celebrates end of 30-year real estate career for Chris Tanner
A large crowd was on hand to wish Chris Tanner of Salem well as his 30-year real estate career at Somer Real Estate came to an end on Wednesday. Tanner, who earlier retired as a Salem Police Sergeant,...
Jan 15, 2026 Stacey Russel and Chris Tanner at Tanner's retirement celebration. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Fire calls in Salem Fire Protection District up by 60 calls, led by grass and brush fires
The Salem Fire Protection District responded to 384 fire and rescue alarms last year, up 60 from the prior year. The department responded to a total of 42 structure fires, either within the Salem Fire...
Jan 15, 2026
Illinois unveils plan to transform state into national leader for older adults
The Illinois Department on Aging has released a decade-long blueprint to ensure the growing population of older Illinoisans can live dignified, engaged, productive, and meaningful lives at every stage...
Jan 15, 2026
Marion County Coroner waiting for further results to determine cause of death of two-month-old
Marion County Coroner Claude Howell says initial results from the autopsy completed on Wednesday were not conclusive on the cause of death of a two-month-old Salem girl who was pronounced dead in the ...
Jan 15, 2026
