By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — The Marion County Democrats’ Central Committee held a candidates’ Christmas dinner earlier in December at Castle Ridge in Centralia, hosting a variety of Democratic candidates for the 2026 elections. Speakers addressed a range of topics and government issues. Among them was Illinois U.S. candidate Kevin Ryan, who focused his…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — A disabled man in a wheelchair became trapped in his own home Sunday evening after high winds knocked a tree down onto his house. The Centralia Fire Department, alongside Centralia Police, responded on scene after a report of a fallen tree on a house with an entrapment at approximately…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — The Centralia Chamber of Commerce recently facilitated a meeting between TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) and the Centralia Police Department, which led to a partnership aimed at better helping the Centralia community and its homeless population. According to Detective Mickey Jader, the CPD’s point of contact for TASC,…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — Fifty-six-year-old Marcus Jones of Centralia was cited with additional charges recently by the Centralia Police Department following his alleged drunken adventure at Centralia Walmart on December 11. According to a previous article in the Sentinel, Jones was charged by Centralia Police with two counts of aggravated battery to an…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — Five months ago, Lucky, then a 7-month-old pit bull, survived against all odds after being abandoned on the side of the road following an accident in which he was struck by a motorist. Today, the young dog is thriving in his foster home. Lucky is being fostered by Lieutenant…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — Mission Centralia, a nonprofit organization that builds wheelchair ramps for residents within the Centralia High School district, recently announced that after six months of fundraising, it has reached the halfway point of its $15,000 goal for a planned building addition. According to Rob Schnicker with Mission Centralia, the milestone…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — Local businessman and President of Lifestar Ambulance, 74-year-old Roger Campbell, will be spending Christmas at home this year after being sentenced to one week of home confinement and two years of probation for two felony counts of violating the sex offender registry. Originally charged in February with nine Class…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — Estimated building costs took a dip last month compared to recent months but stay on track with estimated costs compared to last year. In the month of November, 14 total permits encompassed a total of $218,480.04 in estimated costs, which is on par with November of last year when…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — Centralia police, alongside Clinton County deputies, responded to a call for an intoxicated individual who caused quite a stir at Centralia Walmart last Thursday. 56-year-old Marcus Jones of Centralia was arrested by police at approximately 8:54 p.m. on December 11 on two counts of aggravated battery to an officer,…

By JO ALLEN jallen@morningsentinel.com CENTRALIA — The Centralia Police Department has announced their Thanksgiving enforcement campaign results that led to a total of 37 citations and five arrests, including the aggravated DUI arrest of a Centralia man. 47-year-old Anthony Vescovo was arrested at approximately 10:51 p.m. on November 28 following a traffic stop along East…