Morning Sentinel

08/27/2026

Centralia Balloon Fest hosted its first gender reveal Friday, as pilots Stephanie and Michael Maughan used their pink and blue special-shape balloons to announce they are expecting a girl.

Centralia Balloon Fest hosted its first gender reveal Friday, as pilots Stephanie and Michael Maughan used their pink and blue special-shape balloons to announc...

08/27/2026

Woodlawn School District and local law enforcement investigated a verbal threat by a student at Woodlawn Grade School, officials said. Safety and disciplinary measures were implemented.

Woodlawn School District and local law enforcement investigated a verbal threat by a student at Woodlawn Grade School, officials said. Safety and disciplinary m...

08/27/2026

A 77-year-old Mount Vernon man was charged after deputies said he fired a handgun during a domestic dispute. No injuries were reported.

A 77-year-old Mount Vernon man was charged after deputies said he fired a handgun during a domestic dispute. No injuries were reported.

08/27/2026

The Centralia Orphans moved up a spot to ninth in the Illinois Media Class 4A prep football poll in voting done by a statewide panel of broadcasters and writers. Central Community was sixth and Cahokia seventh in 4A with Lombard Montini a strong choice at the top followed by Rochester and Morris. Also ninth, in 2A and 3A, respectively, were the Nashville Hornets and Vandalia Vandals. Centralia (1-0) plays Friday at Civic Memorial HS in Bethalto in the Orphans' first-ever game in the Cahokia Conference.

08/27/2026

The Centralia Orphan Annies won the opening set 25-19 but host Pinckneyville took the next two 25-19, 25-18 Tuesday night in CHS' volleyball opener. Marley Edson had 15 kills and 11 assists for the Annies, Rorie Lambert nine kills and 16 assists, Zoee Coleman five digs and Annalynn Bass four kills and three blocks. Middle hitter Maggie Niedbalski had a dozen kills for the Panthers (2-0). Centralia plays this weekend in the Rosati-Kain Invitational at the Bradley Beal Center in Chesterfield, Mo.

08/27/2026

After winning the 1,500th volleyball match in program history in the season opener, the Mater Dei Lady Knights made it 1,501 Wednesday night in a 25-18, 25-9 victory over Freeburg on Fred Rakers Court at the Trame Center. Abby Kuhl had 22 assists in feeding six different hitters including Livia Goebel (7 kills), Marlie Haag (6 kills) and Adrienne Rakers (5 kills). The 9-time state champion Lady Knights' win total is topped only by fellow powerhouses Wheaton St. Francis and the Mighty Macs of Chicago McAuley. MD (2-0) hosts its invitational on Friday and Saturday.

08/26/2026

Congrats to the Centralia Library Summer Reading Program prize winners!

08/26/2026

Anthony Decker is the Republican nominee for Marion County sheriff after a contentious caucus that prompted calls for an investigation into the selection process.

Anthony Decker is the Republican nominee for Marion County sheriff after a contentious caucus that prompted calls for an investigation into the selection proces...

08/26/2026

Sponsor support has cut general-admission tickets from $75 to $45 for An Evening with David and Ashley Eckstein on Sept. 9 at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts

Sponsor support has cut general-admission tickets from $75 to $45 for An Evening with David and Ashley Eckstein on Sept. 9 at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts.