A 49-year-old Ashley man faces multiple charges after he was allegedly found in possession of drugs and a weapon after backing into a pole at the Casey's General Store in Wamac. Melvin Creps was taken to the Marion County Jail for alleged aggravated DUI, armed violence, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of 40 grams of cocaine, possession of 100 narcotic pills without a prescription, possession of a firearm by a felon, and aggravated unlawful use of a fir...

The Salem Fireman of the Year is Justin Burner. Burner was presented the award at the annual Salem Fire Protection District Ball Saturday night at the Salem Elks. He also received his five-year service pin earlier in the evening. "The biggest highlight, one of them, would be the chicken farm fire. That was a long night for sure. I would say the other thing is just being with the guys, working with them. There have been some things I've been going through in my personal life with my w...

Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps presented the Deputy of the Year and the Correctional Officers of the Year awards at the department's Christmas Party at the Salem Elks Saturday night. Cripps named two part-time correctional officers, Ed Rankin and Steven Burroughs, as Correctional Officers of the Year. "They never tell me no. They are always available at the drop of a hat, and we have literally been across the United States picking up inmates and stuff like this. They take our juven...

Jerry Costello II says latest aid package insufficient; warns of long-term impact By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Story Summary The Trump administration announced it will make $12 billion available for farmers who have suffered lost income due to ongoing trade disruptions with other nations. Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, says that won't come close to covering the losses farmers have suffered in the form of lost m...

The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting to welcome Modern Paw Pet Company to Salem. The business owned by Lauren Fox is located at 730 North Broadway in the former Paradise Flowers and Quinn Realty building. "We offer dog grooming services, small, medium, and large; it doesn't matter what size. We don't offer cat grooming, sadly. We do offer tons of retail for both dogs and cats." Shelves of dog and cat toys and treats, along with pet beds, fill the shop. [soca...

The Iuka Fire Protection District has purchased a new first-out engine for structure fires. The engine was purchased used from the Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District in Missouri. Fire Chief Kenny Eagan reports the plan is to have the new engine in service in January after some upgrades. One of those upgrades is being made possible by a donation from the Romine Prairie Presbyterian Church. The church is providing the money to cover the cost of an emergency lighting upgrade. The new ...

Split opinion allows consent decree to continue but says lower judge erred By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Article summary The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will continue to block the release of hundreds of undocumented immigrants that a lower court had ordered after they were allegedly arrested without a warrant. The split ruling also allowed a Biden-era consent decree governing warrantless arrests to continue during the Trump administration. It mark...

Centralia Police arrested 31-year-old Kyle Roe on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in Marion and Clinton counties. Roe was taken to the Marion County Jail where he is being held without bond until a Monday court appearance. Sandoval Police arrested 52-year-old Janie Lee of Mulberry Street in Farina on an outstanding Marion County felony no-bond warrant. Centralia Police are investigating a burglary at a home in the 800 block of Martin Luther King Drive. A neighbor reported seeing ...