Today's Features

About five years ago, the Rev. John McIntosh, former pastor of First United Methodist Church of Vandalia, expressed his dream for a fellowship group for guitarists.
The late Vera Durbin encouraged this idea and was one of the founding members. The fellowship grew into the group known as “Guitars for God.” The group is active playing and singing for  local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. By request, they have also taken their music to such public functions as local parades and celebrations.

By Edith Elliott
Each time I write for Evergreen Outreach, I think, "This is the best one ever.”
Truth is, they are all good. And often, when our well-laid plans go awry, others are willing to step in and take over. It has to be a “God thing." He allows the “show to go on,” and many hearts are warmed.

Local author Amanda Springer, right, last week donated three of her books to Evans Public Library in Vandalia. Accepting the books was Evans' Librarian Jessica Blain. Books donated by Springer are "Investigating the Paranormal," "Midnight Poems" and "The Military Support Group," the latter of which Springer wrote to help families prepare for military deployment.

Randi Evans, the daughter of Ronnie Evans of Vandalia and Tracy Evans of St. Elmo, will compete in the 2010 Miss Illinois Junior Teen Pageants on Sept. 5-6 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Evans, a 14-year-old freshman at Vandalia Community High School, was the 2009 Junior Miss Fayette County.