Today's News

Nearly 3 million men were involved in the Normandy invasion June 6, 1944. Later known as D-Day, the simultaneous landings on beachheads code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword by United States, British and Canadian forces was considered the single-most decisive event in the 20th century.

Planning the invasion took more than a year, with 5,000 large ships, 4,000 small landing craft and more than 11,000 aircraft involved. It was actually scheduled for June 5, but bad weather delayed the offensive.

It’s not quite the project that Sandra Leidner first envisioned more than a decade ago. But the main focus of the downtown improvements she wanted are still there.

It was in February 1999 when Leidner, as Vandalia’s mayor, proposed that the city apply for a federal Transportation Equity Act grant that would provide 80 percent of the funding for downtown improvements.

Throughout the high school baseball season, scouts flocked to Kinmundy and rumors began to fly about right-handed pitching sensation, Tanner Bushue of South Central High School.

As the season went on, Bushue’s draft stock rose and many foresaw Bushue being drafted in the first three rounds of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Tuesday night, Bushue was drafted 69th overall by the Houston Astros in the second round.

Paige Dodson, 2009 graduate of Vandalia High School, has announced her intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Greenville College. Dodson, the daughter of Andrew and Michelle Vaughan, will compete in track for the Panthers while pursuing a degree in pre-nursing.

Dodson had an accomplished career earning several athletic honors competing in track, volleyball and basketball during her four years at VHS. She was a member of the 4x400 meter relay team that won back-to-back state championships.