Calendar

Thursday, August 28

? The Fayette County Farm Bureau will hold its annual crop survey on Thursday morning, and its annual crop survey report and steak dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the Farm Bureau building at 1125 N. Sunset Drive in Vandalia. Tickets for the dinner are $5 each and may be purchased at the Farm Bureau office or from any Farm Bureau director.
? TOPS IL 2490 will meet from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is from 9-9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Dovie Heaton-Bergin at 283-1729.
? The Fayette County Retired Teachers Association meets at 10:30 a.m. at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Vandalia. All retired teachers in Fayette County are invited to attend. For more information, call 283-0492.
? CenterPointe Church, located at 1616 Veterans Ave. in Vandalia, is holding free Weekly Fit Club sessions at 6 p.m. every Thursday.
? TOPS IL 1872, Ramsey, will meet at the Christian Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is at 6:20 p.m., and the meeting is at 7 p.m.
Friday, August 29

? Evans Public Library in Vandalia will hold a Fantastic Friday at 4 p.m. Children ages 5-10 are invited to listen to stories and make a craft. Registration is required; to register, call the library, 283-2824, or stop by the library.
? The Patoka Fall Festival gets underway with a carnival at 5 p.m.; karate performance and bingo at 6 p.m.; and demolition derby at 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 30

? The Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold a one-time paint recycling collection in the city parking lot at the southeast corner of Fifth and Johnson streets. The collection will begin at 8 a.m. and end either at noon or when the recycler is full. All paint will be accepted, and the cost is $1 per gallon. People are asked to no leave paint in the parking lot prior to the start of the collection. Anyone seen doing so can be charged with a criminal offense. For more information, call the SWCD office, 283-1095, ext. 3.
? The Vandalia Lions Club's annual car show will be held at Vandalia Lake. There is no admission fee. Auto registration is from 8 a.m.-noon, and judging begins at 12:30 p.m.; awards will be presented at 4 p.m. The entry fee is $20, or $15 for vehicle display only. Attendance prizes will be awarded every hour from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and a 50/50 drawing will be held.
? The St. Elmo Labor Day Celebration gets under way. It includes a 5K run/walk at 8 a.m., city-wide garage sales and farmers market beginning at 8 a.m., Miss Labor Day pageant in the high school gym at 4 p.m., pet parade at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. at Tower Lake.
? The Patoka Fall Festival continues with a 5K race at 8 a.m.; parade at 11 a.m.; and various activities at the park, including a carnival and volleyball tournament at noon, pedal pull at 1 p.m., bingo at 4 p.m., music by Jamie Nattier at 4 p.m. and C-Bar Rodeo at 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 31

? The Okaw Saddle Club, located at Thrill Hill Road and Lakewood Drive, northwest of Vandalia off of Ill. Route 185, will hold an open horse show. Pleasure classes begin at 9 a.m., and speed classes begin at 1 p.m.
? The Patoka Fall Festival continues with a community church service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a brunch at the Legion Home.
? The St. Elmo Labor Day Celebration continues with music by the gospel band "Water to Wine" at St. Elmo Christian Church.
Monday, September 1

? The St. Elmo Labor Day Celebration continues, with a pancake breakfast from 6-9:30 a.m. at the firehouse, parade at 10:30 a.m., dunking booths and inflatables from noon-6 p.m., bingo from 1-5 p.m. at Fifth and Main streets, St. Elmo Lions cake walk  at 5 p.m., "Citizen of the Year" announcement at 6:15 p.m. and "St. Elmo's Got Talent" from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
? The First Church of God in St. Elmo will hold a bake sale and cookout. The bake sale will begin at 7 a.m., and the cookout will begin at 11:30 a.m., or after the St. Elmo Labor Day parade. The cookout menu will include pork barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, chips, and lemonade, water and tea. The proceeds will be used for missions.
Tuesday, September 2

? Evans Public Library in Vandalia will hold a story time at 10 a.m. Children of all ages are invited.
? The Vandalia Rotary Club meets at noon at Ponderosa Steakhouse.
? The Fayette County Hospital Auxiliary meets at noon in the conference room at the hospital. Members are urged to attend.
? The Grandparents/Relatives Children support group meets from 1-2 p.m. at Evans Public Library in Vandalia. The support group meets monthly and provides support, education and access to additional resources, including financial assistance. For more information, contact Trisha Katt at 1-888-560-8805, ext, 1062.
? A Caregiver Connection seminar, "Tips for Caregivers," will be held from 3-4 p.m. in the conference room at Brookstone Estates, 1607 W. Fillmore St., Vandalia. Refreshments will be provided.
? TOPS IL 2020 will meet in the Fayette County Hospital conference room. Weigh-in is from 5-5:30 p.m., with the meeting to follow.
? A Weight Watchers meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Vandalia; weigh-in is at 5 p.m. Visitors are welcome to attend the meeting free of charge.
? Rainbow Reflections, a grief support group, will meet from 6-7 p.m. in Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church, 127 N. Fourth St., Vandalia. Those planning to attend are asked to contact Mary Miller, 292-5366.
? Area residents who have quilts that have a story behind them are invited to attend the meeting of the Fayette County Genealogical and Historical Society, to be held at 6 p.m. at Evans Public Library in Vandalia. Reservations for the society's November dinner meeting will be accepted at this meeting; the cost for the dinner is $15 per person. The public is invited to attend the meeting.
? The Vandalia City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.

Wednesday, Sept. 3

? Fayette County Hospital and Long Term Care will hold a blood pressure clinic from 9-11 a.m. in the Gallatin Street lobby of First National Bank in Vandalia.
? The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce meets at noon in the Lincoln Room at Ponderosa Steakhouse. Tom Cross, the Republican candidate for Illinois treasurer, is the program.
? Evans Public Library's Home School Group meets from 1-2 p.m. at the library. Those interested in joining the group should contact Shawna Sprague at the library, 283-2824.

Thursday, Sept. 4

? TOPS IL 2490 will meet from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is from 9-9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Dovie Heaton-Bergin at 283-1729.
? CenterPointe Church, located at 1616 Veterans Ave. in Vandalia, is holding free Weekly Fit Club sessions at 6 p.m. every Thursday.
? TOPS IL 1872, Ramsey, will meet at the Christian Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is at 6:20 p.m., and the meeting is at 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5

? Evans Public Library's Teen Advisory Board meets at 4 p.m. Teens interested in joining the board should contact Shawna Sprague at the library, 283-2824.