A pending Trump administration proposal would roll back the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prevents road construction and timber harvesting on millions of acres of federal forest land, including approximately 11,000 acres in the Shawnee National Forest. The proposal to rescind the popular rule triggered a harsh rebuke from environmental activists and nearly 170 members of Congress, the latter of whom signed a letter last week urging the Trump administration to abandon the plan. T...

Kaskaskia College President George Evans says the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has awarded the college $6-million to establish one of five new downstate Manufacturing Training Academies. Governor JB Pritzker made the announcement on Monday. Evans says that as part of the process to seek the grant the majority of design plans have already been developed for the new 35,000 square foot state of the art facility that will be constructed next to the nursing building at...

Centralia Police arrested 49-year-old Robert Canada of South Elm Street in Centralia for domestic battery. He was taken to the Marion County Jail to await further court action. Salem Police arrested 42-year-old Clinton Nix of South Washington Street in Salem for misdemeanor theft. He was accused of taking a weed eater from a home in the 900 block of West Main on Saturday. He was located on Sunday and taken into custody. He was later released on a notice to appear in court.

The Centralia Marching Showcase turned in an impressive performance at the Murphysboro Drums at Appletime Festival. The group earned first-place honors for Best Percussion, Best Music and Best Visual in the Silver Division, while finishing second overall in the division. The performance came on a hot day, but the Marching Showcase students pushed through the heat and delivered a strong showing. Congratulations to the Marching Showcase on a successful performance at the Murphysboro festival.

The Salem Fire Protection District was called to the Little League Park early Sunday afternoon when a fire was discovered in the creek bottoms that separate the complex with Salem Building Materials. The fire was extinguished before it caused any damage. The cause has not been determined.

Centralia Chamber of commerce Executive Director Marcus Holland is asking the city council to approve use of Fairview Park for Ballon Fest again next August and future years. Holland notes the request comes following feedback and the success of this year's event. The request includes use of the park for the week leading up to the event and the event feee of charge. The chamber will provide insurance coverage. The chamber moved the event this year from Foundation Park when differences over e...

The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a car found in a field off the 8500 block of Seavers Road in rural Kinmundy late Saturday night. Deputies went to the area after receiving a report from an area resident about what sounded like a fight or argument. No one was near the vehicle, which had light smoke coming from it. The Kinmundy-Alma Fire Department was called and determined there was no actual fire. The vehicle was then towed from the scene. The incident was first r...

A mobile home being moved broke down in the middle of Red Stripe Road east of Deadmond Road in rural Odin early Friday evening.' Marion County Sheriff's officials say special equipment required for the moving of a mobile home was not used and the vehicle sustained flat tires that left it stuck in the roadway for some time. Traffic was able to go around the mobile home. Because of the nature of the incident, State Police were called in to handle it. State Police eventually had the mobile hom...