Community Corner
🌱 What changes when Marion County runs Centralia’s animal shelter?
Happening soon: Breakfast With Santa at Centralia Recreation Complex — The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce on the Centralia Patch…
Greetings Centralia! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What changes when Marion County runs Centralia’s animal shelter?
- How Centralia teens turned a rivalry into hundreds of meals
Also on today's calendar: Sippin' With Santa 🎄🎅@ Castle Ridge and 2 more events.
Find out what's happening in Centraliafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Centraliafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Windy; rain and a t-storm, with a high of 57 and low of 23 degrees.
- Friday: Much colder, temps: high: 35, low: 31.
- Saturday: Partly sunny and windy, with a high of 55 and low of 24 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Marion County Board continues to prepare to take over Centralia Animal Shelter (southernillinoisnow.com) — Marion County is finalizing a deal to take over the Centralia Animal Control facility and assume animal control duties inside the city, with legal documents expected to wrap up around early January. County leaders are also preparing to hire part-time staff while still relying on volunteers at the Centralia shelter, and they reviewed county infrastructure, audit progress, and phone system fixes in their latest meeting. 
• Centralia Youth Commission wins 5th annual food drive challenge (southernillinoisnow.com) — Centralia Youth Commission once again topped Gaetti Sports Academy in their friendly annual food drive challenge, helping stock Feeding Centralia and Wamac Missionary Food Bank with trailers of food and cash donations. City leaders praised the students’ Thanksgiving-focused effort, local sponsors who supplied trailers and support, and the way this growing tradition strengthens the wider Centralia community.
📸 Around Centralia
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Centralia
★ Featured events ★
- Breakfast With Santa at Centralia Recreation Complex — The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce
Centralia Recreation Complex, 115 E 2nd St, Centralia
9:00 am
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Sippin' With Santa 🎄🎅@ Castle Ridge
Castle Ridge , Centralia
6:00 pm - Crochet Club February Meetings @ Centralia Library – Centralia, IL
Centralia Regional Library , Library Park , 515 E Broadway , Centralia
4:00 pm - Miss Rita's Story Time
Centralia Regional Library , 515 E Broadway , Centralia
4:00 pm - Darla's CRUSH
Arizona Joe's , 1435 S Hickory St , Centralia
8:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Monday December 22
Saturday December 27
📣 Centralia Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Boys Basketball @ Carterville
Centralia Jr High School Centralia, IL 62801
5:30 pm - Girls Basketball vs Marion
Centralia Jr High School Centralia, IL 62801
5:30 pm
Thursday December 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Ollie's Bargain Outlet posted a job opening for Retail Assistant Store Manager in Centralia. Apply here.
- Marketplace Chaplains posted a job opening for Chaplain - Part Time - Illinois - Centralia Bilingual Spanish Required in Centralia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Centralia here.
🗞 Nearby News
Carlyle
- Wildcats Overcome 9 Point Deficit In Final 83 Seconds To Win In Overtime (southernillinoisnow.com)
- US Attorney's Office Announces Results of "Operation Safe Christmas" - Effingham's News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3 (thexradio.com)
- Marilyn Rudolph (riverbender.com)
Mount Vernon
Ok Centralia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
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