Local News

The Vandalia City Council approved on Monday an ordinance amendment that requires a background check prior to the issuance of city business licenses.
The council also approved an ordinance change that increases the penalties for public decency violations, but did not act on a law change governing penalties for city code violations.
The law requiring background checks for business license applicants, and their employees, comes about four months after the council began discussing such a requirement.

Only one person showed up for a public meeting held last Thursday by Vandalia school officials to explain district’s new drug screening policy for all extracurricular activity participants.
But that person provided a little pushback on the policy passed by the board of education in April.
“I don’t think that the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities should come at the expense of sacrificing a personal liberty,” said Dave Hall, a Vandalia minister, who also is a substitute teacher in the district.

By Panzi Blackwell
The numerous American flags at the Brownstown Memorial Wall seemed to be waving victoriously against the white clouds and blue sky as the people from Brownstown, Sefton and surrounding towns gathered to pay homage to the fallen heroes and the ones still protecting our country.