Centralia Police have arrested 19-year-old Davirgan Turner of North Hickory in Centralia for criminal sexual abuse and battery. He was arrested based on a June 17th incident where he allegedly made advances on a 15-year-old female juvenile. Turner is being held in the Marion County Jail pending a first court appearance. 40-year-old Kristy Butler of East 14th in Centralia for alleged domestic battery. She was also taken to the Marion County Jail.

The kid's day at the Marion County fairground happened on Monday with 850 kids and 1,300 people total in attendance throughout the day. The kid's day allowed kids to play different agricultural games, and win different prizes. Kids could receive the opportunity to get free ice cream and a sticker that got them a free hot dog. There were also many tractors kids could sit on to honk the horns. At the Antique Power Days Museum, kids got the chance to grind corn. The big attraction was the 4h you...

The 2026 Miss Marion County Fair Queen is Kallie Walsh of Salem. She was crowned at the conclusion of the queen pageant held Monday night in front of the grandstand at the Marion County Fairgrounds. What was she thinking when her name was announced as the winner? "Am I dreaming? This is surreal; is it fake? I'm so grateful; I'm just looking forward to representing my community and to serve a place I love so much that I just call home." Walsh explained why she first ran for fair q...

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department reports a man fearing deportation ran from the scene of a single car wreck on the Dix-Irvington Road south of Centralia late Sunday night. Police say Raul Vazquez was located west of the accident, and with the help of a translator, it was determined he was driving under the influence of alcohol, fell asleep, traveled through a bean field, and ramped his vehicle through a pond before it overturned. He had a blood alcohol level of .154, nearly twice th...

Salem Police took a total of eight to the Marion County Jail over the weekend, including two during traffic stops for possession of under five grams of meth. They are 44-year-old Christopher Decker of North Broadway in Salem and 57-year-old Christopher Craig of North Shelby in Salem. Decker was also arrested on a Jefferson County warrant and Craig for driving on a suspended license. Two others were arrested following an altercation at their home on East Senneff. 29-year-old Rachel Howard w...

An elderly Chicago area man was injured when a semi began switching into his lane on I-57 northbound just south of the Dix exit. To avoid the truck, the driver of the car identified as Samuel Talbert, went into the median where he hit guardrails designed to keep a vehicle from entering the southbound lanes. He was taken to SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon for treatment. Approximately 150 feet of the wire and posts were damaged. The crash occurred around 1:30 Sunday afternoon...

The Marion County Fair talent show winners are 17-year-old SCHS senior Emma Turner in the 15- to 21-year-old age bracket and 9-year-old Franklin Park Middle School student Annistyn Walsh in the 14 and younger category. The judges selected them in a tough competition in both age brackets. Turner sang a worship song "Peace Be Still" by Hope Darst which she called a personal declaration of faith, surrender, and spiritual warfare against fear, anxiety, and doubt. "I've been singing...

The Marion County Livestock shows over the weekend ended Sunday afternoon with the Master Showmanship competition. Winning the Senior Showmanship Award was Hallie Borcherding of Iuka. The 16-year-old Salem Community High School student grew up on a farm and has spent her life working with animals. "I normally show sheep and pigs," Borcherding said. "I've shown sheep since I was about three years old. I started showing pigs at 11 and absolutely fell in love with it. My cousin w...