Organizers of the Salem Community Thanksgiving Dinner are pleased with the Saturday event. Chris Watkins of Saved with Amazing Grace is thankful to all those who helped make the 8th annual event a success. "It was a truly blessed day," Watkins said. "1200 fed today. We got rid of everything that we had, so it was awesome. Big shoutout to the Apostolic Church, all the volunteers came out. YMCA Region K helped out with all the turkeys and everything. We're grateful and thankful f...

The Salem Fire Protection District has received a donation of two new mattresses and frames for the engineers that work 24 hours a day. Fire Chief Jim Cerny isn't sure how long it's been since the beds have been replaced and says it's nice to receive the donation from Cindy Quinn Realty and Land Management and the Box Drop of Salem. "Tax caps create a big problem for us because pricing goes up every year," Cerny said. "All of our fire equipment is very expensive, so this always...

The Salem City Council Monday night will be asked to approve a redevelopment agreement with Riehm Renovations, LLC to renovate two existing buildings at 300 and 306 West Main Street for commercial operations. The total cost of the project, including acquisition totals $375,600. Of the $185,000 in estimated renovation costs, up to $110,000 will be paid from the Salem TIF District 3 fund. Paul and Lynn Riehm own Sterling Avenue currently located in the Westgate Shopping Center and had earlier...

A 29-year-old Wamac man has been charged in Marion County Court Monday with aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated resisting arrest. Wamac Police say Tyler Atchison of Wabash Avenue began fighting when they attempted to take him into custody Saturday night on a no bond Marion County warrant in a major traffic case. He had a public defender appointed to represent him and was released on pre-trial conditions following his first appearance in court. His conditions of release inc...

Salem Police say the victim of a domestic battery was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment early Monday morning. 49-year-old Michael Tomshack of South Maple was arrested for the alleged domestic battery that occurred at his home around 4:30 am. He's being held in the Marion County Jail pending a first appearance in court. Salem Police also arrested 19-year-old James Mancinelli of Salem Mobile Home Park for domestic battery to his girlfriend. She did not require hospital treatme...

Kell firemen found no fire at the Mike and Peggy Jones home in the 3200 block of Bernard Road in rural Walnut Hill after receiving a report on Sunday morning of smoke in the residence. Upon arrival, the firemen did not find any smoke or area of heat, so they checked the furnace and other appliances with thermal imaging cameras and also the attic space. Salem and Centralia Fire Protection District were called for mutual aid assistance until it was determined there was no active fire.

Wamac Police arrested a 24-year-old Wamac man on an outstanding Marion County failure to appear warrant in a major traffic case. Tyler Atchison of Wabash Avenue was taken to the Marion County Jail on a bond warrant. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a report of four gunshots heard in the area of Brandy Lane and South College Street Road south of Salem just before one Sunday morning. Deputies searched the area of College Street, Cross Road, and Hotze Road but did not h...

A rural Texico home was destroyed by fire early Friday night. Jefferson Fire officials say the fire was at the Greg Land home at 19,766 North Hail Lane about two miles south of the Field Grade School. Land was in the process of setting up a deer blind with some other people when he noticed a fire on the outside of the home. He was able to get his wife and elderly father out of the home without injury. Fire officials say the blaze spread through the single-story residence with a basement and ...