For the eighth consecutive year, the Isaac Hull Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is coming together to make Christmas a little brighter for the men and women who have served our country. The local chapter is currently raising funds and collecting supplies to prepare 520 Christmas gift bags for local veterans. This December, a small army of volunteers will gather to assemble the bags, which will be delivered during Christmas week to veterans in hospit...

SSM Health is expanding access to specialized prenatal care in Southern Illinois with the opening of a new Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Clinic at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon on November 16th. The clinic will provide expert care for expectant mothers experiencing high-risk pregnancies, offering advanced maternal-fetal medicine services closer to home for families across the region. The clinic's team will include Dr. Judith Mead, MD, and two nurse practitioners dedicated t...

A 31-year-old Centralia man has been formally charged in Marion County Court with aggravated battery, misdemeanor battery, and criminal sexual abuse after allegedly inappropriately touching a Centralia woman and putting his hand over her mouth. Torry Williams of South Maple is accused of committing the acts while at the Point on Raccoon Lake November 5th. He reportedly had delivered alcohol to the woman when working earlier for Door Dash and later text her to see if she wanted to hang out. T...

An 18-year-old Centralia man who allegedly fired shots into a car and home near the McKee and Gragg Street intersection on June 20th has been charged with a Class X felony charge of attempted murder. Sincer Rogers of McKee Street was also charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and two counts of criminal damage to property in connection with the incident. The attempted murder charge states Rogers shot a firearm at a vehicle occupied by a female knowing such an act created...

This is the final week to make application for assistance through the Centralia Community Youth Center and WJBD radio Adopt a Family program. Applications are available through Friday at the Centralia Community Youth Center at 1224 East Rexford from noon to five Monday through Friday and at the Salem Library at 315 South Maple in Salem from ten to seven Monday through Thursday and nine to two on Friday. The number seeking help is expected to increase greatly since another Centralia program wi...

A fire confined to the living room damaged a home on Idlewood Lane between Mt. Vernon and Dix Sunday morning. Jefferson Fire officials say the owner Steven Wyant was asleep on the couch in the living room but wasn't aware of the fire until he was woken by a smoke detector. He was able to escape the home without injury. The fire was quickly knocked down and firemen checked for extensions into either the attic or basement and found none. Smoke was ejected from the home after the blaze was pu...

The Poplar Place will hold its 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day. You can dine in, pick up, or ask for delivery of the free meal. Those wanting delivery need to call from one to five Monday through Friday now through Monday, November 23rd. The phone number is 618) 532-1747. Donations are also taken to help pay for the traditional Thanksgiving meal. The program has been serving over 1,000 meals in recent years.

The Marion County Board will meet in special session Monday evening to review and approve the tentative fiscal year budget for the fiscal year beginning December first. County Board Chair Steve Whritenour says the projected deficit had been down to $46,000 but increased to about $100,000 after another review of revenue found some unrealistic numbers compared to the past few years. The goal will be to find a place to cut the $100,000 at the special meeting. The tentative budget will then be o...