The Kinmundy Board of Aldermen has immediately put an eight pm curfew into effect until further notice for all kids under 16. Under the curfew, children will not be allowed to roam the community without a parent, guardian, or responsible person 18 and older. Mayor Angie Diss says the move comes as the board continues wrestling with vandalism and other problems from a group of 12 to 15 kids as young as eight who are vandalizing and harassing those in town. Diss says some of their parents d...

The Marion County Treasurer's Office has announced the mailing of 2024 payable 2025 Real Estate Bills. The total number of bills is 34,464. The total amount of Marion County Real Estate Tax billed is $46,740,744.98 plus $2,146,277.04 for Railroad Taxes. The amount of the tax bills is up $ 1.5 million from last year, or just over three percent higher. The due dates of this year's bills are July 24th and September 25th. County Treasurer Gary Purcell is encouraging everyone to make sure they hav...

Four Centralia businesses allegedly sold alcohol to a minor during a recent State Police Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement surveillance in Marion County. Illinois State Police Zone 8 Commander Holly Finney says 24 locations in all were visited during the surveillance. The ultimate goals are to enforce underage drinking laws and save lives by preventing impaired driving crashes and fatalities. Those cited for sale to a minor were 37-year-old Ismael Moises-Oropeza of Centralia at O.S. Tequil...

Centralia Police have arrested 20-year-old Dalton Watson of Marquis Drive in Centralia for sexual conduct with an animal. He was taken to the Marion County Jail on the Class Four felony charge. No other details have been released. Centralia Police arrested 39-year-old Ian Watson, who said he was homeless, for aggravated battery to a police officer and obstructing a peace officer. A 36-year-old homeless Salem woman has been returned by prisoner transport from Jefferson County. Jolee Graham ...

Judge hammers former speaker for 'willfully' lying on witness stand at trial By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO - The number of years former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spent in Springfield has often been used as shorthand to explain his outsized impact on state government and politics. His political career spanned 50 years in the General Assembly, 23 years chairing the Democratic Party of Illinois, and 36 years as House speaker - the lon...

Area Republican legislators are pleased to see former House Speaker Michael Madigan going to federal prison and fined $ 2.5 million on convictions for bribery and wire fraud. State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) says, although this is a step in the right direction for rooting out corruption in Illinois, the do-nothing Democrats refuse to take any real action that would stop this from happening again. "Madigan's hand-picked successor still operates under the Madigan Way, and t...

The City of Salem has announced the following streets will be oiled on Monday, June 16th. You are asked not to park on these streets after seven am Monday until the oil and chipping work is completed. Warmoth St. - Ohio Ave. to College Ave. Spruce St. - Roddy Rd. to Ohio Ave. Duffy Place - Roddy Rd. to End Salem Drive - Duffy Place to End Black Drive - Broom Ave. to Roddy Rd. Broom Ave. - Black Dr. to Schwartz St. Schwartz St. - Illinois Ave. to Roddy Rd. Pine St. - Ohio Ave. to Illinois Ave...

The team trying to determine the identity of the remains of an unknown victim of the Tonti Train Crash received a surprise Thursday when they began reviewing the contents of the body bag. Case Management and Operations Director of the DNA Doe Project Jennifer Randolph says there were parts of two bodies inside. "Two individuals are represented," Randolph said. "There appears to be more of a juvenile who has some teeth and other parts represented that we weren't expecting to see...