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 ...

A 34-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated criminal sexual abuse to a person under the age of 18 while in a position of trust. Jerad Peoples entered the plea to the new Class 1 felony in Marion County Court on Monday after the Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon had earlier thrown out his 35-year prison term on the Class X predatory criminal sexual assault charge to a person under the age of 13. Peoples had been found guilty of that charge during a 2017 be...

The Salem Police Department has announced approximately 45 bicycles currently in their possession will be given away on Saturday, May 4th. The bicycles were never registered with the police department nor has anyone who has reported a bicycle stolen or missing given a physical description or serial number that matched any of the bikes in the police department's possession. There are bicycles in good or fair shape, some need minor repair, and a few would likely only be good for parts. The bic...

A 21-year-old Glendale, Arizona man has been arrested by Centralia Police for alleged motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and criminal damage to property. William Allen was taken to the Marion County Jail.