Local News

Though the Vandalia Board of Education dealt with a variety of issues at its monthly meeting Tuesday, an announcement by Superintendent Rich Well about the possibility of diminished state funding was cause for concern among board members and school officials.

Well told the board that hes hearing from other superintendents and others in the states educational hierarchy that theres a distinct possibility that the state will not make the final two state aid payments of the fiscal year in June.

For several years, Bryan Jennings' friends in Northern Illinois had been coming to them for support of their St. Baldrick fundraisers.

While Jennings was happy to support those events held in the northern part of the state to raise funds for the fight against pediatric cancer, he thought it was time to hold such an event in this area.

Jennings gained the support of his fellow firefighters on the St. Elmo Fire Department, then he invited the 22 departments that are a part of MABAS 54 (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) to also get involved.

About 50 area people have agreed to have their heads shaved as part of an event being held Sunday to fight pedriatic cancer.

The St. Elmo Fire Department is hosting the event for St. Baldricks Foundation, a volunteer organization that works globally to raise money for childhood cancer research.

The event is co-sponsored by MABAS 54 (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System), which is made up of fire departments in this region of the state.

As complaints about violations of Illinois new law prohibiting smoking in and near public facilities increase, Fayette Countys states attorney is among the growing list of prosecutors in the state who are challenging the legality of that new law.

Stephen Friedel said on Tuesday that he agrees that second-hand smoke is harmful and can be annoying.

Second-hand smoke annoys some people more than others, and to the extent that the law seeks to protect those who cannot choose for themselves, namely children, I believe the law has a legitimate purpose, he said.