.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Today's News

  • Monument honors 3 Mulberry Grove High School grads killed in Vietnam

    More than 35 years have passed since James Scroggins, Ronald Shipley and Michael Scott died in Vietnam. But their former classmates at Mulberry Grove High School have not forgotten about them, or about their service to this country.

    On Sunday afternoon, a large crowd – including family members of those three men – was on hand in front of the high school to dedicate a monument erected in their memory.

    Click here to read more...
  • Goggin's back in the race

    Dan Goggin is back in the race.

    Goggin, who was unsuccessful in two attempts to get on the November ballot as the Republican candidate for state’s attorney, is once again a challenger to incumbent Democrat Stephen Friedel.

    Goggin, a Greenville attorney, filed with Fayette County Clerk and Recorder Terri D. Braun on Friday the paperwork necessary to become a write-in candidate for state’s attorney at the general election on Nov. 4.

    Click here to read more...
  • Statehouse will close Oct. 1

    Vandalia officials knew to expect cuts at the Vandalia Statehouse after Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich cut about $1.4 billion from the state budget. But it was much worse than city officials could ever have imagined.

    The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency announced on Thursday afternoon that the Statehouse is among 24 historical sites and state parks that will be closed on Oct. 1 as a result of agency cuts by Blagojevich.

    “Our budget for historic sites was cut in half,” said Dave Blanchette of the IHPA, “so we had to decide how to address that.

    Click here to read more...
  • BREAKING NEWS – Vandalia Statehouse will close

    The doors to the Vandalia Statehouse will be closed to tourists in a month.

    A spokesperson for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency confirmed early Friday morning that the Statehouse is one of 12 state historic sites that are being closed as part of massive cuts implemented by the administration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

    The cutbacks include laying off 450 state workers, closing two dozen state parks and cutbacks in the state departments of Children and Family Services, Natural Resources and Human Services.

    Click here to read more...
  • Goggin officially a write-in candidate

    Dan Goggin officially became a write-in state's attorney candidate on Friday.

    Goggin filed the paperwork with Fayette County Clerk and Recorder Terri D. Braun that entitles him to be a write-in candidate.

    He is seeking to defeat two-term incumbent Stephen Friedel, a Democrat.

    Click here to read more...
  • Historic sites cuts listed

    The following cuts at Illinois' state historic sites are as follows:

    • Lincoln’s New Salem, Petersburg: Will open seven days per week starting in spring 2009 using funds from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The site is currently open five days per week, and received 432,176 visitors in 2007.

    Click here to read more...
  • Vandals hope to weather 'Storm'

    The National Weather Service is forecasting a slight chance of thunderstorms in the area Friday night.

    But you can rest assured, there is a 100 percent chance of a storm passing through Vandalia at about 7 p.m.

    The only question is whether it'll be of the severe variety or a mere thundershower.

    The Sangamon Valley Storm will be visiting Mark Greer Field for its first-ever meeting with the Vandals in both teams' 2008 season-opener.

    Click here to read more...
  • Earnest selected for Junior Team USA

    Patience has never been Jessica Earnest's strong suit.

    For years, people have been telling the VCHS senior bowling standout that her day in the sun was coming soon.

    "But I didn't want to hear that," Earnest said. "I wanted it now. I am very impatient."

    So after placing eighth last month at the 11th annual Junior Gold Championships in Detroit, Earnest was distinctly out of her element.

    Click here to read more...
  • Both sides win

    The agreement inked last week between the Vandalia Board of Education and the Vandalia Unit Teachers' Association marks a successful conclusion to an important negotiation process.

    Click here to read more...
  • Old family photos spawn identity question

    Helen Luster, of the Pinhook community, and I have corresponded for several years now. In her occasional letters, she has shared with me old stories passed down through the Luster family, several of which I have repeated in this column.

    Last week, I received a note from Helen, accompanied by two pictures. She wrote about a mild controversy in the Luster family over the identification of a couple in an old photo.

    Click here to read more...

Copyright © 2013

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