The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Detective Division has apprehended two child pornography offenders in separate investigations. They are identified as 49-year-old Ryan Taylor of Mt. Vernon and 28-year-old Anthony Powell of Opdyke. Taylor was arrested on April 20th after an investigation that started in January. The Sheriff's Office received multiple cyber tips through their membership with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The investigation led to search warrants fo...

Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps has announced Deputy Shane King will be the school resource officer for the Patoka and South Central School Districts. King will begin work with the two districts when school resumes for the next school year in August. King along with a second deputy who wants to be a school resource officer, Kevin Berry, are currently undergoing SRO certification training this week in Belleville. They will undergo additional training during the summer. Cripps expects Berry...

The Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District is selling the remaining trees from its Annual Tree Sale. Seven species of seedlings remain and the numbers are limited. The tree seedlings will be sold by appointment only. If you are interested in any of the remaining seedlings, please contact Burke Davies at 618-548-2230 extension three.

On Saturday evening, the 7th annual Odin High School Hall of Fame Ceremony was held at Ples H. Wilson Gymnasium. Here were the inductees. Glenn Benjamin: Glenn is highly regarded as one of the top pitchers the school has ever produced. He is listed 6 times in the IHSA Record Books: 9th for Career Wins (38), 12th for Season Wins (16), 8th for Career Innings (330), 3rd for Season Innings (148.2), 13th for Career Strikeouts (446) and 8th for Season Strikeouts (213). He was voted MVP of the MT...

The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees took action Monday night toward the construction of a new on-campus gymnasium that could be in place as soon as late 2025. Board members approved a design for the building and approved a motion to authorize KC President George Evans to solicit bids for the construction of the new gym. Evans says school officials hope to hold a bid opening no later than August and to start construction within 30 to 45 days after the bid opening. "We're looking to br...

A large tree fell onto a vacant home undergoing renovation in the 3100 block of State Route 37 just north of CJ Heck Road Monday morning. The Salem Fire Protection District was called as the electric service was pulled from the meter loop starting a small fire in leaves on the tree. The fire was put out without any damage. However, the tree crashed through the roof and continued through part of the ceiling. The home owned by Sosha Pruden was in the process of being renovated, but no one w...

An oven fire spread to the rest of the stove, range hood, and nearby cabinets in Centralia Monday afternoon. The fire was at the Danielle Stafford home in the 1400 block of East Third. Centralia Fire Chief Jeff Day says the initial fire was put out when a lid was placed on the pot where the fire started. Upon arrival, firemen put out the rest of the fire with a water extinguisher. The rest of the home was checked to make sure the fire had not spread. There were no injuries. The fire call ...

The Centralia City Council Monday night approved downtown street and sidewalk closures for the Crooked Creek Winery's Summer Concert Series. City Manager Kory Smith says the events are scheduled on Sundays from July 7th through August 18th near the Broadway and Oak Street intersection. "They will provide a certificate of insurance for the event listing the City of Centralia as additionally insured. The vendors will be required to get a vendor permit for the events. The closure will be ...