Marion County has joined the Downstate Major Case Squad. Sheriff Kevin Cripps asked the Marion County Board to approve the memorandum of understanding which sets out the guidelines of how the squad would be used in the event of a homicide or other major incident. "While acting as part of the Major Case Squad, if you would happen to go into Marion County and help me with a case, that county is actually responsible for that officer while he's here," Cripps said. "It takes a lot o...

As part of the vocational school program at the Centralia Correctional Center, approved inmates have been given the chance to receive HVAC certification by receiving instruction in a newly established classroom. HVAC is the prison's newest vocational program, and on Monday the second round of students completed the certification. Instructor Zachary Miller says the students have to put in the work to learn a variety of skills. While the first class learned while installing much of the equipmen...

Centralia Police are investigating an apparent sexual assault to a 15-year-old female resident of One Hope United who was found in Fairview Park with injuries consistent with a sexual assault. Police were initially called to the park at 1:50 am on December 1 to assist EMS. The girl told police she had consumed and was under the influence of Ibuprofen and didn't remember what happened. The juvenile was taken to SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital for treatment of injuries and to have a sexual ass...

The Village of Sandoval will celebrate Christmas in the village Friday night. The event will feature the lighting of the Christmas Tree and an indoor vendor market at the General Martin Building, Library, Village Hall and Fire Station. A number of free events will be featured between five and eight on Friday evening. They include meeting with Santa at the library, a live nativity at the Sandoval Community Church, Roast S'mores with the Sandoval Fire Department, Hot Chocolate with the Sandova...

A 39-year-old Central City woman has been charged in Marion County Court on Tuesday with six counts of aggravated battery. Leann Harding of Richmond Heights Mobile Home Park is accused of striking three EMTs, two police officers, and a fireman on Monday night. Centralia Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says emergency help was initially called to the 400 block of North Cherry, where a female was found lying unconscious in the ditch. As Harding was being treated, she allegedly became angry ...

An 18-year-old Central City woman escaped serious injury when her car left the 3400 block of Iuka Road and overturned Monday evening. The Marion County Sheriff's Department reports Jayden Kelly of East Marvin swerved to miss an opossum, overcorrected, struck the roadside ditch, overturned on the side of the road, and came to a stop on the right side of the ditch. Kelly was out of her vehicle when emergency helped arrived and declined medical treatment. The vehicle sustained substantial damag...

A machine shed has been destroyed in Alma. Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says the 30 by 40 foot pole barn on the Mary Shuler property at 609 Illinois was fully engulfed upon their arrival. The roof fell in a short time later. Day says the cause of the fire has not been determined. The building was full of clothing and household items. No other buildings were threatened. The fire was discovered at 12:10 Tuesday morning. Firemen were on the scene for about two hours.

One person was injured in a rear end crash on Elm Street at the Broadway Street crossing in Centralia Monday morning. Centralia Police say 23-year-old Jacob Little of East Second in Centralia was stopped at the red light when he was struck in the rear by a car driven by 60-year-old Patricia Salisbury of Poplar Street in Centralia. Salisbury was injured and transported to SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital by Lifestar Ambulance. She was also ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accid...