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Today's News

  • British invasion as Challenger Sports hosts soccer clinic

    For the United States, it’s soccer. But for Ryan Elsbury and just about every other country in the world, it’s football.

    Elsbury, a native of Bristol, a city in south west England, was in Vandalia last week coaching the Challenger Sports Soccer Clinic. In addition to trying to say soccer instead of football, Elsbury worked with groups of kids 9 and under and ages 10-14 on soccer skills.

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  • City posts highway signs honoring athletic achievements

    Over the past few weeks, city officials have posted highway signs acknowledging Vandalia’s achievements in both junior high and high school athletics.

    This past spring, as an eighth grader at Vandalia Junior High School, Sierah Ruffner placed third in the high jump at the ISEA State Track and Field Meet.

    Ruffner qualified for state with a jump of 5 feet at the sectional championships. At the state meet in Peoria, Ruffner placed third with another jump of 5 feet. Her jump is also the school record in the event.

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  • Field of Dreams Committee outlines renovation plans

    Tuesday night, the newly formed “Field of Dreams Committee” held its first meeting regarding renovating and upgrading baseball and softball fields throughout the city of Vandalia.

    The committee outlined its proposed goals in a four-phase plan.

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  • Cowger takes home MVP honors at Rivals.com's Top 100 camp in July

    While most high school students pass the summer months working at odd jobs around town, playing video games or simply relaxing, Will Cowger has spent his summer trying improve his chances of playing college football.

    Cowger, entering his senior year as a defensive lineman for VCHS, finished last season with 36 solo tackles, sixth on the team and second among returning players. He assisted in another 32 stops. Cowger had a team-high 15 tackles for a loss, totaling 113 lost yards for opponents.

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  • It's up to us to save VCC jobs

    Once again, Vandalia officials are doing everything possible to preserve jobs at Vandalia Correctional Center. And, once again, local residents are encouraged to be part of that effort.

    This latest tussle between the state and our community comes about five years after a local effort, led by Mayor Rick Gottman, staved off then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s attempt to close VCC. The key player in that fight was the public.

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  • 'Those Were The Days' event stirs residents' memories of earlier times in Brownstown

    A week ago Sunday, on July 19, the Brownstown Library sponsored "Those Were The Days" history day at Brownstown City Hall.

    The event gathered in one place some of Brownstown’s older residents, who had been asked to pass on their knowledge and memories about early Brownstown to the younger generations.

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  • Sidewalks will have bricks

    The original plan for Vandalia’s downtown enhancement project called for brick pavers to be used to enhance the sidewalks. That plan was revised, with stamped concrete instead of brick, to cut project costs.

    But city officials have learned that it will actually be cheaper to use brick pavers for sidewalk edging and insets.

    And the advisory committee formed by Mayor Rick Gottman for the downtown enhancement project is hoping that the bricks used are ones taken from Gallatin Street.

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  • VCC fight petitions being circulated

    As the fight to prevent layoffs at Vandalia Correctional Center continues, Vandalia Mayor Rick Gottman is encouraging local residents to get involved.

    Gottman announced earlier this week that the city is providing petitions forms at city hall and numerous businesses that residents may sign. Employees at VCC also have petition forms, he said.

    The signed petitions will be passed on to state Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon), who will present them to Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois Department of Corrections Director Michael P. Randle.

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  • City will begin repairing sidewalks

    For several years, the city of Vandalia has talked about improving sidewalks throughout town. The process of doing that has begun.

    The Vandalia City Council last week authorized city officials to solicit bids for a considerable number of sidewalk repairs.

    John Moyer, the city’s director of public works, presented to the council a list of sidewalk repairs to be done in the near future. Moyer developed that listed after being asked by Mayor Rick Gottman to drive through town and find the worst sidewalk problems.

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  • Robbins helps kids in the classroom and at the pool

    Lisa Robbins wears more than one hat…and is more than happy to do so.

    She loves children and feels she has the best of both worlds, as she teaches kindergarten at Jefferson School during the school year and works with them in the summer as manager of the Vandalia Municipal Swimming Pool.

    She will begin her 24th year teaching kindergarten this year, and has worked at the swimming pool for 30 years.

    She began working at the pool as a lifeguard.

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