The Centralia City Council passed a resolution Monday night to withdraw from the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative at the end of June 2026 due to rising insurance costs. According to City Manager Galen Mahle, insurance rates increased 16.1% as of January 1, 2026 and are projected to increase at least 25% as of January 1, 2027. The city intends to enter an agreement with Assured Partners to broker a new insurance agreement. The city council approved two new Class A liquor license...

The Centralia City Council has passed a resolution allowing the Centralia Chamber of Commerce to hold this year's Balloon Fest in Fairview Park, but the chamber has yet to make the final decision on where to hold the event. Executive Director Marcus Holland said that returning to Foundation Park remains an option but would require an investment from the chamber to resolve technical issues in the park. "We came to the city as an alternate location, because once we knew there were some iss...

At the April 2022 meeting of Happy Hearts Quilt Guild, members voted to make and donate 10 twin size quilts to Sleep in Heavenly Peace for their project, making beds for children who needed a bed. Now, the guild is celebrating the completion of 400 quilts. So far, 357 quilts have been donated. 161 quilts have been donated to Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Quilts were also donated to other organizations, including The Amy Center, Family Life and Lifeboat Alliance, all in Mt. Vernon, Hoyleton's Ch...

The Centralia Business and Professional Women's Club Celebrated its 100th birthday at a reception at the Centralia Historical Museum on Saturday. The event included a reception, history of the club, a display of scrapbook items and photos as well as honoring members reaching their own significant years of membership. Co-chair Stephanie House says the club traces its history to a visit from a St. Louis businesswoman who came to Centralia in 1926 to see if there was interest in starting a club ...

The 40 to 50 people who turned out for the Keep Salem Beautiful Annual City-Wide Cleanup Saturday collected 71 large bags of trash in several hot spots. KSB Coordinator Kelley Predium was pleased. "We're glad the weather played in our favor," Predium said. "Our volunteers were a little bit down, but even though we might have been small in numbers, they have surpassed my expectations of the cleanup. We increased our goal from 150 pieces to 250 pieces to celebrate the 250th anniv...

Salem Police say one person was injured late Sunday morning in a rear-end crash on West Main at the Hotze Road intersection on the west side of Salem. Reports indicate 41-year-old Shawn Groff of Ashley was eastbound on Main Street when he failed to slow for an SUV in front of him that had stopped in traffic. That vehicle was driven by Mya Jolliff of North Broadway in Salem. Groff was taken to Salem Township Hospital by United Medical Response. Jolliff did not require hospital treatment. Po...

A Sandoval home is a total loss following a late Sunday afternoon fire. Sandoval Fire Chief Scott Towler says Danny Seats was at his residence at 912 West Missouri Avenue when he discovered the fire. He was able to get out safely. Towler says a State Deputy Fire Marshal has been called to determine the cause of the fire that appeared to have started in the breezeway area between the garage and the home. Towler says the fire rapidly spread in the attic and along the roofline due to the extrem...

The Marion County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition is asking the community to join them in two walks to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. They will be held at the Bell Tower Park in Centralia at noon Tuesday, April 14th, and the Marion County Courthouse at noon Wednesday, April 28th. You are asked to wear blue for awareness. With child abuse and neglect affecting thousands of Illinois children annually, the Marion County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition is committed to foster...