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Local News

  • Area Halloween Activities

    Vandalia Lions Club

    Halloween Parade – This Thursday at 7 p.m.

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    Vandalia Trick or Treat Night – Saturday, 6-8 p.m.

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    Brownstown Trick or Treat – Saturday, 5-7 p.m., with party afterward

    in Brownstown Park.

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    St. Elmo Trick or Treat – Saturday, 6-8 p.m.

    Brookstone Estates Safe Trick or Treat – Saturday, 6-8 p.m.

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    Deken Park Haunted Trail in St. Elmo – 7-10 p.m. on Friday and 8-11 p.m. on Saturday.

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  • A roundabout way of handling traffic

    It’s been a little more than six years since Highland officials let residents of that city know that they planned to handle a congested intersection with a roundabout, instead of stoplights.

    Many of the residents responded with, to say the least, skepticism.

    But once they started using that roundabout, those same residents told city officials that it was the right decision.

    In fact, the roundabout went over so well that the city added a second roundabout late last year, one that replaced stoplights.

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  • Fayette Water Co. will hold public meeting nxt Wednesday at city hall

    Fayette Water Co. will hold another public meeting next week to present its plans for extending water service to residents northwest of Vandalia.

    At that meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday at Vandalia City Hall, Fayette Water officials hope to alleviate concerns of homeowners on City property about what their property will look like after water lines are installed.

    The meeting is primarily being held to discuss water line easements requested from the city to construct lines to homes on land owned by the city around Vandalia Lake.

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  • Motown visit postponed again

    The fate of the plan to build a $300-million sports and entertainment complex will now not be known until early December.

    Director of Economic Development and Tourism JoAnn Givens told the Vandalia City Council on Monday night that Kenneth Bardwell, chairman and chief executive officer of Motown Technology and Sports Facility Inc., plans to visit with city officials on Dec. 7.

    At the council meeting on that date, Bardwell will present a request for an extension on the deadline for providing proof to the city that Motown has obtained the financing for the project.

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  • Motown visit postponed again

    The fate of the plan to build a $300-million sports and entertainment complex will now not be known until early December.

    Director of Economic Development and Tourism JoAnn Givens told the Vandalia City Council on Monday night that Kenneth Bardwell, chairman and chief executive officer of Motown Technology and Sports Facility Inc., plans to visit with city officials on Dec. 7.

    At the council meeting on that date, Bardwell will present a request for an extension on the deadline for providing proof to the city that Motown has obtained the financing for the project.

    Click here to read more...
  • A team effort to battle the flu bug

    Rumors that there have been cases of H1N1 flu in Fayette County are just not true, according to local health officials.

    “We have had no confirmed cases (of H1N1),” said Kendra Craig of the Fayette County Health Department.

    But the FCHD, along with local school officials, are working to prevent and treat cases of both H1N1 and regular flu as flu season gets under way.

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  • School district has good audit, but still has some challenges

    The Vandalia Board of Education heard some good news on the financial and educational fronts Tuesday night. But those positive reports were balanced by several challenges that still face the district.

    On the positive side, the board heard an upbeat audit report from Joe Barth of the accounting firm of Luallen, Cearlock, Barth & Burnam. Barth noted the district’s “strong fund balances,” and said that the district “is on the right track” financially.

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  • Funk, Taylor are grand marshals for Lions' parade

    As it organizes its Halloween parade each year, the Vandalia Lions Club honors an individual who has made a commitment to community service. This year, the club is honoring two men, both of whom have never seen the parade

    Lifelong Vandalia residents Don Funk and Ed Taylor have never seen the Lions’ parade because they’ve been part of the club leadership organizing and pulling off the Halloween event.

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  • Motown officials to visit in November

    Representatives of the Michigan group that wants to build a $300-million sports and entertainment complex in Vandalia plan to come to town next month to request an extension on a deadline for presenting financial information.

    Mayor Rick Gottman said Wednesday morning that he was told on Tuesday that Motown Technology & Sports Facility Inc. plan to attend one of the two city council meetings in November.

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  • IDOT considering roundabout for Veterans and Sunset

    The Illinois Department of Transportation is studying the feasibility of a traffic roundabout at Veterans Avenue and Sunset Drive, city officials reported last week. Traffic often gets clogged at the intersection, Mayor Rick Gottman said. “It could make it more flowable,” he said. “[IDOT] has to do a lot of surveying, studies, public hearings. The idea is very much in the infancy stage now.” The circular road junction – popularized in Europe – is designed to slow traffic and redirect drivers in a one-way stream around a central island.

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