After 46 years in healthcare, Sarah Bush Lincoln Fayette County Hospital President & CEO Greg Starnes has announced his retirement effective at the end of November. Starnes has been the President & CEO of Fayette County Hospital for the last 16 years, and he said, “These last 16 years have been the best of my…

BY MARK HOSKINS With the retirement of Julie Healy as superintendent of St. Elmo Community Unit School District #202 effective on July 1, the school district needed to find a replacement. Back in March, the school board voted to hire Brownstown native Travis Portz to lead the district. Portz, 36, is no stranger to the…

Cross country trip to raise ability awareness makes stop in Vandalia   Story and photos by Leah Williams   When the guests arrived on Monday afternoon, there was a warm welcome waiting for them. Nearly 60 individuals associated with Fayco Enterprises had made posters and signs for when the visitors arrived. The Ability Experience included…

Story and photos by Leah Williams   Major had quite the journey to his forever home last week. It took two days and two drivers across several states to accompany the one-year-old German Shepherd to his final destination with his favorite toy, a green hippo, in tow. He arrived on the front porch of local…

The Illinois Department of Corrections Director issued a memorandum to Vandalia Correctional Center employees last Wednesday, stating that the prison is not closing. In the memo, IDOC Director Rob Jeffreys addressed concerns that had been circulating around the status of the VCC since earlier this year. With the release of a memorandum  from the Illinois…