Category Archives: Police

Marion Police Department

1979, The Cold Case Murder of Regina Costellia

Posted on by March 5, 2014

Years ago, if you drove out of town on South Market road, you would have crossed a steel framework bridge where Crab Orchard Creek crosses the road just on the south outskirts of town. Early on Sunday morning , June 3rd, 1979, two Chicago area fishermen were looking for a place to fish so they stopped to peruse the creek as a possible fishing hole.

The men discovered the body of 19 year old Regina (Oliver) Costellia of Herrin. Her belongings were found to have been dumped just north of the bridge and the body had attempted to be dumped in the creek but appeared to have gotten lodged in the steel framework of the bridge which left the body dangling by one arm. Continue reading →

1960-62, Old Marion Armory

Posted on by February 13, 2014

In early 2014, the old Marion Armory building at Vicksburg and DeYoung is being remodeled for use as the new Marion Police Department. The armory itself was vacated many years ago, when the reserve unit built a new armory west of the city close to the county airport property. The following is a series of articles related to the old armory land and building. Continue reading →

1967, City Annexes Right of Way West of Marion

Posted on by January 24, 2014

City Annexes Right of Way West of Marion

State right of way along New Rt. 13 westward from Interstate 57 to Broeking Road was annexed this week to Marion by the City Council.

Robert Hall clothing store is included in the annexation.

This council action paves the way for businesses along the highway that want city service to petition for annexation into the city. Continue reading →

Hunter, Lack B. “L.B.” 1930-2006, Marion Police Chief

Posted on by January 23, 2014

L.B. Hunter 1930-2006Lack Bradley “L.B.” Hunter, Marion Chief of Police from 1968 to 1985, was born June 21, 1930, in Marion to George Hunter and Lelle Bradley on N. Madison Street. Hunter attended Marion schools and graduated Marion Township High School. His father, George Hunter, was a full blooded Scotsman who came to America in 1902 to work the local coal mines.

When the 1930 census was taken, the Hunter family was living at 913 N. Madison Street which they owned and valued at $2,000. George and Lelle were both 33 and their only child, Lack, was an infant. George was working as a coal miner for the Wallace Coal Company. Continue reading →

Long, James D. 1875-1950, Marion’s First Fire Chief

Posted on by January 23, 2014

James D. Long was an early City Marshall, Marion Chief of Police and according his obituary, the first Fire Chief of Marion. He was born on June 17, 1875 in University City, Tennessee to Arthur R. Long and Louise E. Warren.

Five years after James’ birth, the 1880 census found the Long family living in Stewarts, Kentucky. His father, Arthur, was listed as a mechanic. The entire family was, oddly enough, only listed by initials Continue reading →