Today's News

Entries are needed for the 19th annual IHSRA State Finals Rodeo Parade next Wednesday in Effingham.
The parade will start at 6:30 p.m., with entries to line up from 6-6:15 p.m. on North Maple Street between Evergreen and Temple avenues. Horse entries will line up at Effingham Equity.
The parade will begin at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital and go to the old courthouse downtown.
The theme for this year's parade is "Peace, Love and Rodeo," and the colors are neon.

Evans Public Library and McDonald’s of Vandalia announced that this year's summer reading program theme is "A Midsummer Knight's READ.”
Signup has begun for both the children and teen programs, which are for students entering kindergarten through high school.
The children's program requires reading five books for each prize level, up to 25 books. If they continue to read more books, there is a box with special prizes that they can choose.
McDonald’s will furnish a food or drink coupon for every five books, up to 25 books.

15 Years Ago

1996 – Jeff and Jennifer Hester of Vandalia were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. The Rev. Reinhold and Mary Dierks were also celebrating their silver anniversary.
Albert and Violet Johnstone of rural Mulberry Grove were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Fayette County Sheriff Michael D. Kleinik gave support for a new juvenile detention center in Southern Illinois.

We all know the old saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got 'till it’s gone.”
Such is the case with the Vandalia Main Street Program.
Also appropriate at this time would be the saying, “Look at all that we wouldn’t have had without it.”
Mayor Rick Gottman announced at Monday’s city council meeting that the local Main Street program would be dissolved at the end of this month.