Mount Vernon, IL

John Robert Jacobsen, 35, of Woodlawn, Illinois, passed away at 6:16 pm on January 25, 2023, at his residence in Woodlawn. He was born in Mount Vernon to Robert and Lynn (Simmons) Jacobsen. In addition to his parents, John is survived by his brothers, Clint Taylor and wife, Kelley of...

Ricky Lee “Rick” Simmons, age 64 of Salem, passed away on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at his home. Rick was born on May 3, 1958, in Olney, Illinois the son of Donald and Rosa Joan (Atwood) Simmons. He married Cindy (McKibben) Simmons on March 15, 1980, in Fairfield, Illinois and she survives in Salem.

Shirley L. Phelps, 90, of rural Centralia, passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. She was born on June 26, 1932, in Jefferson County, the daughter of Troy and Grace (Mooney) Douthit. She married Louis R. Phelps on September 29, 1950, in Jefferson County, and he preceded her in death on October 13, 2006.

WAYNE CO., Ill. (WEHT) – The man convicted of murdering Megan Nichols has now been sentenced. Brodey Murbarger has been sentenced to fifty years without parole. There were several victim impact statements that were given in Friday’s sentencing hearing. Murbarger himself read a statement maintaining his innocence. Murbarger’s defense attorney told Eyewitness News they plan […]

Austin Ryan Witthaus, 25, of Centralia, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL surrounded by his family. Austin was born March 23, 1997, in Centralia, the son of Christine Witthaus. Austin is survived by his mother: Christine Witthaus of Centralia; 2 brothers: Blake...

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (KBSI) – A man faces drug and weapons charges in Mount Vernon after authorities found him hiding in a home. Roberto M. Roman, 34, faces charges of armed violence, armed habitual criminal, possession with intent to deliver 15-100 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Fire destroyed about half of a 60 by 100-foot pole barn in the southwest corner of Wamac Thursday night. Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Ross Boshera says flames were already coming through the roof of the building upon their arrival at 29,396 Kretzer Lane. He reports they were able to save about half the structure owned by Kenny Finke. In addition to the building, a motorcycle, zero turn mower, and a number of tools were also lost.

Imogene M. Silger, age 95 of rural Centralia, passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Carlyle Health Care Center. Imogene was born April 11, 1927, in Richview, the daughter of Frank E. Huck and Anna (Krietemeyer) Huck. She married Paul J. Silger on April 24, 1948, in Norris City, IL...

A 32-year-old Iuka man has been charged in Marion County Court with possession of methamphetamine under five grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a suspended license. Timothy Pomeroy of South Main was released on $5,000 recognizance bond after his first appearance in court on Thursday. The public defender was appointed to represent him.

WAYNE COUNTY — A 27-year-old former Fairfield man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for strangling his then-high school girlfriend to death nearly 10 years ago. Last November a Wayne County jury found Brodey Murbarger responsible for strangling or smothering Megan Nichols to death. Megan was last...

WAYNE COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) - Illinois Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, announced that a man from Evansville, Ind. was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of a teenager from Fairfield, Ill. 27-year-old Brody Murbarger was prosecuted for the murder of 15-year-old Megan Nichols that took place in 2014....

A 1998 Coachman Recreational Vehicle was destroyed by fire late Friday morning in Iuka. Iuka Fire Chief Kenny Eagan says the RV was parked near the home of Guy Lambert of 710 Thomas Street. Eagan reports flames were shooting from the RV as firemen arrived. Flames were also showing when a neighbor first spotted the blaze.

Monica Joyce Lash, 60, of Odin, Illinois, formerly of Ramsey, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Odin Health and Rehab in Odin, IL. Services will be held at a later date. Memorials: To the Lash family. Miller Funeral Home, Vandalia, IL, is in charge of arrangements. Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.millerfh.net.

The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees has awarded a contract to a Greenville firm. The board passed a motion to hire Bruce Unterbrink Construction of Greenville to work on the KC Vandalia Art Gallery. The bid price was $572,822. The project involves replacement of ceiling light fixtures with LED fixtures,...

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is awarding grant funding to dozens of communities for the development of lead service line inventories. The grants will range from 20-thousand to 50-thousand-dollars. Recipients include the cities of Carbondale and Du Quoin.

WAYNE COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) – An Indiana man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2014 murder of a Fairfield teenager. Brody Murbarger, 27, was convicted in October 2022 of first degree murder. The case was prosecuted by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. They say in...

Fairfield Memorial Hospital proudly announces that Steve Bruce in the Plant Operations Department has been voted the 2022 Employee of the Year by his peers. August – Jessica Austin, R.T. (R)(CT), Diagnostic Imaging. September – Justin Titzer, Security. October – Darian Kincart, RN, Orthopedics. November – Angela...

The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. On Friday, Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years in prison for...