Jefferson Fire officials were able to confine a fire that started from a flu in a wood-burning stove to one wall and part of the attic. The fire was at the Donald Fairfield home on Rees Lane southeast of Mt. Vernon. Fairfield discovered the fire early Saturday morning. Jefferson Fire had mutual aid on the scene from Webber Township and Benton, with Woodlawn and Wayne City staged at Jefferson Fire in the event of another fire. Firemen were on the scene for about two hours

A Jefferson County Jury found a 37-year-old Mt. Vernon man guilty of attempted murder and other charges in connection with an October incident where three people were shot. The jury deliberated about two hours before finding Timothy Boyd guilty of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. He faces 31 years to life on the attempted murder conviction and six to 30 years on the two aggravated battery convictions when sentenced on February 20th. The prosecution file...

The Salem Grade School Board has hired a new Assistant Principal for Franklin Park Middle School. Current fifth grade social studies teacher Ben Teriet was selected from the multiple candidates who applied. He has taught six years at Franklin Park and five years in the Mt. Vernon City Grade School Board that. Teriet explained his desire to join the administrative team. "One of the reasons is just supporting the students to change lives, build relationships, and as an administrator, h...

The Centralia City Council held a special meeting on Thursday to formally approve a contract with Galen Mahle to become Centralia's new city manager starting January 21, 2025. Mahle will the vacancy left by current city manager Kory Smith, who announced his resignation at Monday night's regular council meeting. Smith's resignation will be effective January 3. City Clerk Kim Enke will perform the duties of city manager during the time between Smith's resignation and the start of Mahle's employ...

by Cole Wimberly Santa made an appearance at the courthouse on Thursday. Families shuffled in as the children waited for Santa. The families circled the tree in a line waiting for Santa. The Grinch decided to make an appearance and attempted to steal Christmas. However, Santa arrived and all the children got a chance to sit on his lap and make their requests for Christmas.

Presenting the annual audit report at Thursday night's school board meeting, superintendent Chuck Lane reported that Centralia High School kept recognition status with a financial profile score of 3.8. This score shows the district in a strong financial position overall. Lane noted that the district used to receive audits that weren't nearly as positive. He said consistent state funding has been essential to the health of the district in recent years. "The way schools are funded now is s...

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved Ameren Illinois' refiled multi-grid plan with modifications. The Commission approved $356 million in investments and system improvements needed to strengthen power grid reliability and support the ongoing electrification of the state's power system. The decision cut the utility's proposed $1 billion in spending by approximately 66 percent. ICC Commissioner Stacy Paradis explains, "Grid planning is not a one-task. It is a dynamic, iterative ...

McKindley V. Allen, 32, and DaLeon J. Fontennet, 28, pleaded guilty to committing burglary involving a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempt to a burglary involving a controlled substance. The district court judge sentenced the two Houston, Texas, men to federal prison for burglarizing pharmacies of controlled substances in Casey, Illinois, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. According to court documents, Allen and F...