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Today's News

  • Adoption info searches not often fruitful

    I was 8 or 9 years old when my brother, Don, told me that I was adopted.
    The evidence was irrefutable: I was the only child in the family to have freckles, I was the only one (of six) who had to wear glasses at an early age and I didn’t have a baby book.
    I would say the absence of the baby book was the main proof of my birth outside the family. Also, Mom couldn’t put her hands on my birth certificate.
    When one adds up all the "facts," there are several good reasons why I believed what my older brother had told me.

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  • More than ever, we need the hope and peace of Christmas

    It’s Christmas time!
    With Christmas only days away, we hope the hustle and bustle of the holiday is largely behind us and only the warmth and wonder remain.
    Though the holiday is primarily a celebration of the birth of Jesus, it also is a time of giving and hope.
    And it’s an annual reminder of the generosity that makes Fayette County such a special place. As always, the citizens of our area have been amazing in their response to the needs of others.

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  • Maxey's career day leads to MVP award, team championship

    ST. ELMO – He dazzled a packed gym with his scoring, driving to the hoop to get his first several points and later showing off his brilliant outside shot for even more.

    It sure was a night to remember for St. Elmo’s Levi Maxey.

    Scoring a career-high 33 points in the championship game of the St. Elmo Holiday Tournament, the shifty junior guard propelled the Eagles to a 69-62 win against Altamont, capping off an outstanding individual tournament which earned him the Most Valuable Player trophy.

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  • Eagles again beat Altamont for tourney title

    ST. ELMO – It was just a two-point game heading into the final period of the championship game at the St. Elmo Holiday Tournament, and whichever team could battle the fatigue the best was going to win.

    Altamont and St. Elmo played at a furious pace for the first 24 minutes on Saturday night, and it turned out that they wouldn’t play any differently over the final eight.

    St. Elmo made 16-of-22 free throws in that final period to counteract Altamont’s hot fourth-quarter shooting to take its second straight tournament title with a 69-63 victory.

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  • City, laborers OK 3-year agreement

    The Vandalia City Council approved on Monday a new contract with city employees who are members of a laborers’ union.
    That three-year contract with the Southern and Central Illinois Laborers’ District Council and Laborers’ Local 1197 is retroactive to May 1 of last year.
    While the contract provides for salaries to be frozen last year, it gives city employees who are members of the union a 3-percent pay hike in each of the final two years.

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  • Tournament notes: Eagles win another big game

    ST. ELMO – With a victory in the St. Elmo Holiday Tournament, the Eagles notched another big win for their program.

    And that’s been happening quite a bit over the past three seasons.

    Coming into this season after winning back-to-back regional championships, the Eagles were thought to be in somewhat of a rebuilding year.

    But with seniors Connor Beasley and Garrett Bartels, and junior Levi Maxey leading the way, St. Elmo hasn’t missed a step.

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  • Wreaths Across America
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  • Vandals' comeback falls short at Carlyle

    CARLYLE – In the fourth quarter, it started to feel like it was February.

    The Vandals began cutting down a double-digit deficit in the final eight minutes at Carlyle, but unlike in last February’s regional tournament when they came back from 17 points down to beat the Indians in overtime, Tuesday’s bid would fall short.

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  • Sheriff's Arrest Log

    • Heidi M. Bridge, 20, RR 2, Mulberry Grove, was arrested on Dec. 17 on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle and improper lane usage. Bond was $3,000.
    • Brian G. Mey, 37, Herrick, was arrested on Dec. 17 on a felony warrant. Bond was $125 cash.
    • Timothy A. Bradley, 29, Effingham, was arrested on Dec. 16 for failure to appear in Effingham County court on a charge of aggravated battery. Bond was $1,000

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  • Lady Vandals beat Altamont, but lose to two others

    The Lady Vandals did not get off to a good start against Altamont on Saturday.

    But coach Michelle McNary called a timeout after watching her team commit three turnovers and score just two points in the first two minutes, pleading with them to play with more intensity.

    It didn’t happen right away, but the Lady Vandals certainly responded.

    Vandalia would force Altamont into 20 first-half turnovers, made 16 first-half free throws and had a good afternoon from the field in a 64-43 nonconference win.

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