The Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site in St. Clair County will host "The Language of Liberty," a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8. Community members will read portions of the Declaration aloud, while local historians provide insight into the document's origins, meaning, and lasting influence on American history. The program commemorates the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. The ...

Salem Police have arrested 20-year-old Levi Logan of North Washington Street in Salem for aggravated domestic battery. He was taken to the Marion County Jail. Centralia Police arrested 43-year-old Bradley Timmons of Trust Road in Centralia for alleged domestic battery and on a Grundy County major traffic warrant. He was also taken to the Marion County Jail. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a burglary and the theft of copper piping from inside a vacant home in the 1200 b...

A Marion County Jury deliberated about 40 minutes before finding a 50-year- old Vernon woman guilty of arson following a two day jury trial. Misty Podergois of Farthing Road was accused of setting a pickup truck on fire at a home in the 100 block of East 16th Street in Centralia on March 15th, 2022. Marion County State's Attorney Tim Hudspeth says Podergois faces 3 to 7 years in prison on the charge, which is also probational. Sentencing was set for August 19th at one pm. Hudspeth says video ...

Centralia Police say several stolen guns and suspected controlled substances have been recovered after several search warrants and four arrests were made last week in a combined effort with other departments. Those taken into custody include 41-year-old Antwan Poore of Centralia for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and a felon in possession of a weapon. 31-year-old Demarcus Jones of Carbondale was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of a felon in p...

The Centralia American Legion 93rd Annual Homecoming gets underway Wednesday night at Fairview Park. It continues through Saturday and is capped by an expanded fireworks display at 9:30. The event features a carnival each night from five to ten pm. There will be a $30 armband to ride all the rides you want each night. Saturday is a special day, with crafters, quilt making, and story time plus a display of revolutionary rifles planned to begin at ten am. The Veteran's 4th of July Parade steps ...

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged a baseball coach at Nashville Community High School with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. 54-year-old Chad Malawy of Nashville has been charged in Washington County Circuit Court with one count of Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and one count of Class 1 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Malawy was also charged with two Class A mis...

Governor JB Pritzker has included Jefferson and Effingham Counties in a State Disaster Proclamation following months of severe weather and flooding that caused widespread damage across Illinois. Beginning in March and continuing through June, Illinois experienced record-breaking severe storms, tornadoes, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hail, and straight-line winds, and currently leads the state with 173 tornadoes verified by the National Weather Service. In all, 11 counties that have been h...

SCHS senior Brenna Hays was selected to participate in the 2026 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. After representing Wabash Communications Co-op at Youth Day in Springfield this spring, Brenna was chosen through a competitive application and interview process for this prestigious leadership opportunity. The honor is awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate leadership, strong communication skills, and a commitment to serving their communities. Sponsored by Wabash Communications Co-op, Yout...