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The Way We Were

20 Years Ago

1995 –  Brent Ellis, 31, joined the Vandalia Police Department as a patrolman, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of “Sonny” Banal.
Bill Donaldson was the keynote speaker for a Veterans Day program at Crawford-Hale American Legion Post 95.
John Burnam was re-elected president of the Vandalia Board of Education. John Gehrke took a seat on the board, succeeding Calvin Scott.
Fayette County began a search for a new animal control warden following the resignation of Max Pummill.
Kenneth and Pauline Daniels of Vandalia were making plans to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Erhard and Leona Gehle of St. Elmo were to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

25 Years Ago

1990 – First Bank Inc. purchased the financially troubled Fidelity Federal Savings Association.
VCHS Principal Robert McAllister announced plans to retire at the end of the 1990-91 school year. He had spent 33 years in education, 24 in the Vandalia district, with 11 of those as high school principal.
Tim Emerick was re-elected president of the Vandalia Board of Education.
Kenny Lewey, Fayette County Hospital paramedic and Vandalia volunteer fireman who saved a dog’s life after giving it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, was invited to appear on the Joan Rivers Show. Also asked to be on the show was Jean Carter, who notified Rivers of Lewey’s life-saving heroics.
Volleyball was added at Vandalia Junior High School.

30 Years Ago

1985 – Gene’s Red Fox in Brownstown was destroyed by fire on Nov. 18.
The Vandalia City Council amended an ordinance to the liquor ordinance that restricted the presence of minors in some places where liquor is sold.
Deer hunters harvested 313 deer during the first weekend of the season.
Three VCHS athletes earned all-conference honors, Judy McNutt in volleyball and Brent Doehring and Duane Dugan in football.

40 Years Ago

1975 – The Vandalia City Council and the Fayette County Board boosted the salary of the civil defense director to $10,200.
Don Brummet of Vandalia, state representative, was influential in getting federal aid for a coal conversion plant at New Athens.  
Santa’s arrival in Vandalia was set for Nov. 28.
Copple Contractors of Centralia received the Vandalia water line contract from Randolph to Johnson streets.
University Asphalt Inc. began pouring concrete on Randolph Street this week. This was part of a project to improve Randolph from the west edge of the city to the new proposed I-70 interchange.
Vandalia schools planned to evaluate reading skills of the elementary students.
Vandalia FFA served 700 at the annual chili supper Thursday night.
St. Peter Bank moved into its new modern building last Wednesday.

50 Years Ago

1965 – First Baptist Church approved proposed church building plans.
Six miles of Interstate 70 were opened up. Estimated cost of the section was $7 million. With only a few clean-up details left, the complex interchange into Vandalia was ready to be used.
Santa Claus was scheduled to arrive in Vandalia Nov. 26.
Todd McKeller was chairman of the flag project sponsored by Vandalia Jaycees in an effort to attach special couplings to parking meters for displaying of flags in business section.
The junior high basketball team opened its 12-game schedule Thursday night when they met Ramsey. Jim Littleford was coach. Team members were Stan Warden, Max Thompson, Jay Smith, Ty Ridgon, John Eckhardt, Tom Lawler, Bill Perry, Steve Wehrle, John Provinzano, Dwain Depew, Steve Fogler, Bob Wright, Dale Konrad, Gary Nevinger, Spencer Pryor and Gary Wyant. Managers were Randy Ober and Denny Gerkin. Assistant coach was Bill Schultz.
Newcomers Club sponsored a style show Nov. 21 at Vandalia Community High School.
A Soroptimist Club was organized in Vandalia.
Rowena Biellier, on behalf of Vandalia Woman’s Club, presented Otto Cuppy with a check for $65 to apply toward Christmas decorations for the city of Vandalia.  

60 Years Ago

1955 – A hailstorm left heavy property damage here. The Vandalia Greenhouse was riddled.
Betty Schneider was crowned queen of LaGrove Homecoming Friday night.
Nearly 300 persons attended a potluck dinner in the high school cafeteria Thursday evening when Sen. Paul Douglas outlined a program to help farm prices and industries in distress.
Fred Chappelear was to have 50 head of Hereford stocker and feeder heifers on sale at the Vandalia Community Sale.

70 Years Ago

1945 – Fayette County supervisors accepted state contracts of the county farm, in the future to be known as the Fayette County Nursing Home. They voted to employ a county veterinarian and set up a fund for a jail architect.
The county met only one-fifth of its quota in the Victory loan this far. School districts brought in several thousand dollars.
The Moose Lodge planned to move into the second floor of Armory Hall about Dec. 1.
McKinley School opened its season with a win of 29-4 at Effingham, Nov. 14. The high school was to have opened the season with a game against Sandoval Tuesday night.
John Frakes opened a new shop first door north of Vandalia Leader office.
The Illinois Department of Conservation restocked county lakes with fish.
Eight rural-schools reported perfect attendance for the month of October.

80 Years Ago

1935 – Superintendent of Schools G. Kenneth Greer reported two rural schools with perfect attendance, 47 with between 95 and 100 percent, and 24 with less than 90 percent.
Friday, Cumberland School celebrated the fact that it was rated a standard school.

 

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