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Today's News

  • The Next Level: Graduated athlete roundup (March 14)

    Many athletes who spent their high school years in Fayette County have moved on to play for college or professional teams. Below are the athletes who recently made headlines.

    Jessica Earnest • Senior • Vanderbilt

    •Earnest, a Vandalia graduate, will bowl in the final regular-season tournament of her college career this weekend. Vanderbilt University will be hosting 28 teams – including 18 of the top 20 – on Friday-Sunday for the Columbia 300 Music City Classic.

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  • This week's schedule (March 14-20)

    The area’s spring sports season kicks off in full force this coming week.

    All games are subject to change in the event of inclement weather or poor field conditions. Reported cancellations are posted at www.leaderunion.com.

    Click here to read more...
  • PHOTO: Sixth-Graders Have Winning Season

    Due to recent cuts by the Vandalia school board, this season's sixth-grade boys basketball team will be the final school-sponsored sixth-grade team, and the boys went out on a winning note.

    Posting a 12-6 record, the team was led by Trevor Smalls (7.9 points per game), Blake Morrison (7.1 ppg) and Blake Barth (4.7 ppg).

    Bryce Dunn, Caleb Slater and Austin Weischedel were also regular contributors.

    The B-team went 9-4 and was led by Cole Forehand (5.6 ppg), Zane Steele (3.2 ppg) and Hunter Boren (3.1 ppg).

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  • PHOTO: Second-Place Finish for Jr. Vandals

    The Vandalia fourth-/fifth-grade boys basketball team recently placed second in the Centralia Community Youth Center Fifth-Grade Tournament.

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  • Sports Briefs (March 14)

    Jr. Vandals have tough go-around at IKWF state championships

    All three Jr. Vandals participating in Saturday's Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state tournament were unable to advance past the first round.

    Luke Francis lost a 3-0 decision to Benjamin Cottone of Sycamore in the Novice 177 division, and Jarek Wehrle lost, 2-0, to Enzo Silva of Martinez Fox Valley Elite in the Novice 62 division.

    In the Novice 89 division, Tanner Swain was pinned by Ja'Chun Smith of Little Huskies in 1:08.

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  • PHOTO: Area Players Inducted to KC HOF

    Members of the 1988-89 Kaskaskia College baseball team were recently inducted into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame.

    On the team were Vandalia's Robert Garrison and Mulberry Grove's Curt Thacker.

    Click here to read more...
  • PHOTO: Tumblers Compete in Edwardsville

    Members of the Triple A Tumbling squad recently participated in a competition in Edwardsville. 

    The tumblers are coached by Larry and Anita Merriman, Deb Richardson, and Ashley Sebright.

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  • St. Elmo, Mulberry Grove and South Central openers canceled

    Due to the rainy weather over the weekend, many area fields have non-playable conditions.

    Both the St. Elmo and Mulberry Grove baseball and softball games, as well as South Central's softball game, scheduled for Tuesday have been canceled.

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  • ExxonMobil Annuitants

    The ExxonMobil Annuitants Club met on Feb. 28 at the Ponderosa Steakhouse in Vandalia, with 24 members, two new members and four guests present.
    Guests attending were Kenneth and Angie Hagan, Millie Brooks and Pat Hamilton. Mike Mulhern introduced Henry and Raynette Sanchez, who joined the club at this meeting.
    The pledge to the flag was followed by the meal prayer, given by Brock Fisher. After the meal, Vice President Mulhern welcomed everyone. Everyone introduced themselves to the new members.

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  • Brownstown-Sefton

    A Heartwarming Sign of Spring Along the Lane
    As we were driving along our lane last Monday morning, we witnessed a sign of spring that was heartwarming.
    A mother longhorn cow had just given birth in neighbor Scott’s pasture. She was near the lane fence and had just delivered her baby, a cute little white calf with brown around its face.
    She was nuzzling and washing the baby and we stopped the car to watch the homey scene. However, when I got out of the car to take their picture, she stopped washing the baby to keep an eye on me.

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