Features

Evan D. Burns grew up in Vandalia. He was a member of the Vandalia Community High School football and basketball teams, and also wrestled before he graduated in 2001.

Rev. John O’Dell is observing his 50th year in the ministry next month.
The two church families he pastors, Haley Chapel United Methodist and Mt. Carmel United Methodist, have survived through the generations, and have grown or sometimes diminished in number over the years, but the church doors are still open and life pulsing within to worship and serve the Lord.

It sounds rather like an oxymoron, but “grief” is something in life that everyone eventually experiences, and adding the word “good” can describe a healthy, healing realization and acceptance of the loss of a loved one.

Every Thursday, from two to 10 women gather at Haley Chapel to exchange recipes (and samples), share ideas, introduce different crafts and patterns, share food on their “break,” and, most important of all, enjoy their friendships and all the good things that involves.

Sharon Wilhelm enjoys the tranquility of sitting on her front porch in the evenings, watching the many hummingbirds flock to  her feeders, and hearing the constant whirring of their wings as they fly about.

The surrounding, scenic, view is also comforting and remindful of pleasant memories, as she was born and lived in a house in the woods nearby, until her father built the present house when she was 4 years old.

Meet Sharon as she shares her enjoyment of the hummingbirds and some of her childhood memories of her rural Brownstown home.

Charles Melvin “Chuck” Jones had always felt that he would like to sail, but never had the opportunity to even be on a sailboat until his wife, Patricia, won one in 1995.

When Julie Wollerman was sworn into office by Judge Gene Schwarm on July 18, she became the new superintendent of Regional Office of Education No. 3 (Bond, Fayette and Effingham counties), the first woman to serve in the position.

Marisa Thomason said she was shocked when she heard her name announced as the 2011 Fayette County Fair queen.  But those who know her well were probably not at all surprised.

Jeff Stone grew up in Vandalia, attended Bible college after graduating from Vandalia Community High School, and was later called to Israel to teach in a Christian school.