Drew Sligar, a third-year student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, was recently honored with a scholarship. Sligar is the son of Ms. Kathy Reynolds of Central City, Illinois. Sligar received the Dr. J. E. Salsbury Scholarship, awarded on the basis of financial need to a student with superior academics, initiative, perseverance, and potential for leadership. At the College of Veterinary Medicine, Sligar served as a student representative for Royal Canin, Elanco, an...

Four Marion County Fire Chiefs came before the County Board's Law Enforcement Committee Tuesday night to address rumors and concerns over the future direction of the county's Emergency Management Agency. Board Chair Steve Whritenour quickly jumped in to try and alleviate the fears and explain plans for EMA under new director Andrew Strong going forward. The concerns were over the county Emergency Management Agency response when not being called and rumors of the agency planning to duplicate...

The Salem Township Hospital Foundation has named its hospital employee of the year. Director of Med Surge Sandy Smith was surprised with the award at the Employee of the Year Award Ceremony on Wednesday morning. "I'm very blessed," Smith said. "I'm appreciative. There are so many nominees that should have got it also, but I'm thankful." Smith started as a nurse at Salem Township Hospital after graduation in 2008. She left for a larger hospital but then returned nine years...

A 31-year-old Centralia man has pleaded guilty to unrelated charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and a reduced misdemeanor charge of cruel treatment of an animal. Jacob Linkon was placed on two years' probation, not allowed to have a gun or to own or care for any animal. Linkon admitted to discharging a firearm while standing in a yard near 16th and Hickory in a reckless manner by shooting it towards a parking lot near Arizona Joe's Bar at 1435 South Hickory Street. The shot passed t...

A 20-year-old Salem man has been charged with aggravated battery for allegedly throwing a knife and striking another man. Jacob Miller of Mills Cart Road allegedly threw the knife at Triston Nix in an incident that occurred on Monday at a home on Maplewood Avenue north of Salem. Nix was struck in the hand, which caused it to bleed. However, Nix did not require hospital treatment. Miller was released on pre-trial conditions which includes GPS monitoring and not possessing any weapons. If con...

A 44-year-old Sandoval man has been arrested by Sandoval Police on outstanding Marion and Clinton County felony failure to appear warrants. Chad Stanford of Old US 51 was taken to the Marion County Jail to await court action on the no bond warrant. Centralia Police arrested 51-year-old Tonya Pannell, who told them she was homeless, on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants. She was also taken to the Marion County Jail to await a court appearance on the no bond warrant.

The Centralia City Schools Board of Education approved several routine business items at its regular May meeting on Tuesday. The board authorized superintendent Christina Becker to create a tentative budget for the next fiscal year. The budget hearing is scheduled for September 8. Becker said the district is currently on track for this year's budget. The board approved hiring FGM Architects as the district's architectural firm. The firm will be used for upcoming Health Life and Safety project...

Southern Illinois conservation leader Dale Shumaker is urging state leaders to reach a bipartisan solution that fully supports Illinois' Soil and Water Conservation Districts before more local conservation capacity is lost. Illinois lawmakers enter the final weeks of budgets negotiations before the May 31 deadline. Shumaker, President of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) and a longtime District Director for the Pulaski Alexander County Soil and Water...