.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Local News

  • Governor finally releases state funds for school districts

    Local school officials received word late last week that state school aid payments for the final month of the fiscal year will be made.

    The decision by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to release about $390 million in General State Aid payments to the states school districts comes after he came under increasing pressure from education officials and the media.

    For the past several weeks, Blagojevich had indicated that he would address the state budget deficit by withholding the last two semi-monthly payments of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

    Click here to read more...
  • Vandalia, St. Elmo hold Memorial Day Programs

    The American Legion Posts in Vandalia and St. Elmo held Memorial Day programs over the weekend.

    In St. Elmo, the program included the dedication of the community's new Veterans' Memorial. The memorial, which is located just west of the Phillips Building on U.S. Route 40, includes the names of 466 local residents who have served this country since the War of 1812.

    The speakers at the St. Elmo program included Judge S. Gene Schwarm, state Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Greenville) and National Road Association Executive Director John Goldsmith.

    Click here to read more...
  • Mary Peyton Meyer dies Thursday

    Mary Peyton Meyer, a retired teacher for more than four decades and The Leader-Union's Frogtown correspondent for more than 85 years, died on Thursday morning. She was 102.

    Complete obituary information appears in the Obituaries section of our Web site.

    Click here to read more...
  • Three Memorial Day programs scheduled

    Three Fayette County communities will hold programs this weekend to honor the men and women who have died in military service to this country, and one will dedicate a new veterans memorial as part of its program.

    VANDALIA

    Crawford-Hale American Legion Post 95 of Vandalia will hold a Memorial Day program at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Legion Home.

    Braxton Denton will serve as the keynote speaker, and other speakers will include Vandalia Chief of Police Larry Eason and Vandalia student Britney Bennett.

    Click here to read more...
  • No word on when, or if, schools will receive monies from the state

    In spite of showing a $2.1 million positive balance at the end of April, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the finances of the Vandalia School District. That uncertainty springs from persistent rumors that the state will not be paying the state aid payments for the final month of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

    For Vandalia, that would amount to more than $500,000.

    Click here to read more...
  • Graduation Day

    Five area school districts – Vandalia, Brownstown, St. Elmo, Ramsey and Mulberry Grove – held commencement exercises over the weekend. Vandalia Community High School graduate Mitch Johnson switches the tassel on his mortarboard as he and other members of the class of 2008 officially become graduates on Saturday night. Patoka High School will hold commencement exercises at 7 p.m. this Friday, and South Central High School will graduate its seniors at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30.

    Click here to read more...
  • Residents help Legion create veterans' museum

    Old soldiers never die, they just fade away were the words of a famous American war leader and hero as he was retiring from active duty.

    Sadly, somehow the memories of the terrible sacrifices our service men and women have made in previous wars have faded, as we fail to teach and remind the young people of the devastating price of war, and of the respect and gratitude due to the American veterans.

    Click here to read more...
  • City hikes Vandalia Lake camping fees

    To keep its fees in line with other sites in the area, the city of Vandalia has increased its camping rates at Vandalia Lake.

    Approving the hikes recommended by the Vandalia Lake Committee, the city council voted in increase the nightly rate for camping spaces with electrical hookups from $12 to $15.

    The ordinance amendment also increases the nightly rate for sites without electrical hookups from $7 to $10, and the 20-night block from $220 to $260.

    Click here to read more...
  • Phone operators reconnect at reunion

    Many remember the good old days, when you picked up a telephone receiver, a pleasant voice asked, Number, please. The helpful operator directed your call to the proper destination with without further ado.

    There were no electronic voices recordings with options and directions to press this number or that, no instructions to return to the main menu if none of the options were suitable, no If you want to speak to a representative (meaning a real, live person) or Sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed.

    Click here to read more...
  • County's E911 committee ready to get to work

    A committee looking into the possibility of bringing Enhanced 911 phone service to Fayette County residents is planning to step up their efforts this month.

    Fayette County Board Chairman Steve Knebel said after Tuesdays county board meeting that the countys E911 committee plans to meet in the near future with Mike Schabbing, the E911 coordinator in Jasper County.

    Click here to read more...

Copyright © 2013

The Leader Union is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Vandalia, Il, and the surrounding area.