Business

Quality Diesel Service, a new company owned by Bill and Linda Overton of Altamont, has opened on Vandalia's north side.

Located at 2052 Wagner St., near OctoChem, the business offers services ranging from oil changes to engine overhauls for medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks and equipment.
Overton previously owned Illinois Southwest Trucking Co. in Altamont for 18 years, and has more than 23 years in the diesel truck industry. He previously started and owned a shop in Effingham, but has since sold his interest in the business.

St. Peter Insurance Agency of St. Peter was recently named to the Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co.'s "President's Club" for 2011 as a top agency for the company.
Recognized by Grinnell Mutual's president and CEO Steve Crawford, the agency ranks among the company's top 50 agencies and 15 farm mutual companies in a 12-state area for outstanding production during the past five years.
This is the fifth year that St. Peter Insurance Agency has been recognized for the achievement.

The Vandalia Rotary successfully defended a challenge by First Baptist Church of Vandalia in the latest round of the Rotary Challenge.

A fundraising raffle held recently by Maranatha's Salon of Vandalia raised $3,212 that will be split by two area charities, SAFE (Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies) and Lighthouse Pregnancy Center. Accepting the ceremonial check from Maranatha Cripe, left, are Becky Kerkhoff, center, of Lighthouse Pregnancy Center and Dorothy Schultz of SAFE. The "Spread The Love" promotion was sponsored by LOREAL, and only one salon in downstate Illinois was selected to participate.