By Cole Wimberly During the school board meeting on Monday, Salem Community High School Principal John Boles commended students for their participation in programs to help the less fortunate in the community. He reported projects have been underway throughout December, including one where the homeroom class of Pete Colclasure earned money to Adopt a Family through the WJBD/Centralia Community Youth Center program. "It truly is a group effort," Boles said. "We have separate home...

During his report at the end of Monday night's city council meeting, Centralia City Manager Kory Smith announced that he would be resigning as city manager and returning to private practice. Smith said he didn't take the decision lightly. "I want to thank Mayor Kuder and the council for their support," Kuder said. "The one thing that I did receive from this job is the solidifying notion that the people of Centralia are good, they want good, and they'll keep your feet to the fir...

The Centralia city council approved a new comprehensive plan at its regular meeting on Monday. The comprehensive plan's purpose is to guide development and planning for the city of Centralia and inform decisions about zoning, infrastructure investments, and other key policies. The last comprehensive plan was adopted in 2009. Luke Eastin of the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission helped to facilitate the new plan. According to Eastin, a comprehensive plan shoul...

By Steven Stilt The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees, during its meeting Monday night, approved the charter for a new student club, which will be known as the Wellness Club. According to college officials, the club will aim to foster a supportive community focused on physical health, mental resilience and emotional balance. The organization will be open to all students, with a targeted outreach to psychology majors. KC President George Evans says the club will be a welcome addition to the ...

Salem City Attorney Mike Jones is stepping down after 44 years as city attorney. Jones says he's very humbled to have served the city so long and being given the chance when first hired as a young man. He plans to shut down his law firm at the end of the year. Jones notes he served under nine city managers, six mayors and police chiefs and five city clerks. The city is currently searching for a new city manager. The council appointed Jill Combs as the city's new treasurer following an...

The Marion County Sheriff's Department received three complaints Monday night about drones flying over the area. None could be confirmed by responding deputies. A resident in the 1700 block of Green Street Road east of Central City reported a dozen drones flying close to her home. She reported they were white in color and flying at tree level. The drones were described as a continuing issue. She was asked by a deputy if they returned to try and get a photo of them. The department received...

Three people were brought to the Marion County Jail on Monday. 28-year-old Bryce Edward of South Perrine in Centralia was returned from the Jefferson County Jail on a no bond Marion County felony warrant. 27-year-old Alexander Brown of Maplewood Avenue in Salem was arrested on a no bond Wayne County felony warrant. 23-year-old Jamiel Franklin of Ashland City, Tennessee turned himself in on a Marion County traffic warrant. Bond is set at $2,500.

Centralia Police arrested an 18-year-old Urbana woman for an early Tuesday morning stabbing at a Friendship Party at a Marion County Housing Authority Unit in the 1,000 block of Maulding Drive. Veronica Dixon was taken to the Marion County Jail for aggravated battery doing great bodily harm and on a Champaign County misdemeanor failure to appear warrant in a battery case. Dixon is accused of stabbing another woman in the shoulder and forearm after a disagreement broke out over a vape. The v...