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Today's News

  • Seeing world through grandmother's eyes

    After I reached my early 20s and opted for contact lenses, I realized that not only had I inherited by father’s big toe, I also had his eyes.

    The reason I hadn’t noticed before was because my eyes had been hidden behind thick black-framed glasses since the sixth grade. In those days, almost all light-haired and fair-skinned kids were fitted with those black frames. One style for girls came with tiny rhinestones in the corner.

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  • Shobonier man pleads guilty to federal meth charge

    A Shobonier man pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine charge in federal court on Thursday.

    Larry Tinker, 58, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

    See more in the next issue of The Leader-Union.

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  • Leader-Union Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Gotta Like Ike

     One of the top students in his class, South Central senior Isaac Grapperhaus has always been good with numbers.

    That said, the 6-foot-5 center knew that although his statistics from his junior season were good - 14.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game - they needed to be better during his senior year, as the Cougars were losing four varsity regulars, including team MVP Will Crain.

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  • Mahon throws no-hitter for KC

     St. Elmo grad Logan Mahon has yet to taste defeat on the pitching mound at the college level.

    The Kaskaskia College sophomore hurler has had close calls before, but in 11 decisions, which include eight from one year ago, he has not had to put any number besides "0" in the right hand column. But even Mahon can improve.

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  • Bauer Steps Down As Boys Hoops Coach, A.D. At MGHS

     Ryan Bauer tendered his letter of resignation as Mulberry Grove High School boys basketball coach and athletic director Monday night so that he can concentrate on his new duties as MGHS principal.

    "With the time it takes to coach basketball anymore, it's just better for myself, the district and my family as well," said Bauer, an MGHS alum who enjoyed a three-year stint as the head coach at his alma mater.

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  • Statehouse reopens, BUT.....

    A little more than a week before Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on federal charges, the doors of the Vandalia Statehouse – and other state historic sites – were closed as a result of Blagojevich’s budget cuts. On Saturday, the Statehouse doors were reopened.

    But just how long that’s the case is still up in the air, considering the budget address by new Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday.

    The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency held a ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the reopening of the Vandalia Statehouse that morning.

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  • City will study Gallatin Street parking limit again

    Vandalia’s mayor has asked a city council committee to again study the two-hour parking restriction on Gallatin Street.

    Rick Gottman turned that matter over to the council’s streets and sewers committee after a downtown developer complained about a parking ticket.

    The discussion on the issue started when Dennis Grubaugh told city officials that he received a ticket for parking on Gallatin Street overnight while staying in an apartment in one of his downtown projects.

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  • St. Elmo man gets prison for sex crimes

    A St. Elmo man found guilty of three sex offenses in January has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

    At a sentencing hearing in February, Derek M. Klincar was given two six-year sentences and one three-year sentence by Fayette County Resident Circuit Judge S. Gene Schwarm for the sex offenses.

    Those three sentences will be served consecutively, and consecutive to a three-year sentence for a 2007 offense.

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  • Sunshine Week's message needed

    If ever there was a year to observe Sunshine Week in Illinois, this is it.

    The week, which runs March 15-21, is set aside each year to raise awareness about the importance of openness in government.

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  • Vandalia School Board handles a number of personnel issues

    After an executive session lasting more than 90 minutes, the Vandalia Board of Education handled a variety of personnel issues at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

    Upon returning to open session, the board approved the resignations of Jeri-Lynn Burnam (Jefferson Primary School teacher), Cathy Houghtaling (Vandalia Elementary School teacher), Mike Butler (Vandalia Community High School girls basketball coach), Meggyn Sytar (Vandalia Junior High School cheerleading coach) and Todd Ehlers (VJHS boys basketball coach).

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