LATEST NEWS

Today’s Schedule- 1 pm 4-H & Jr. General Projects. 4 pm to 9 pm-“A Splash of Color” Face Painting. 6 pm Kids Pedal Tractor Pull (Registration at 5:30 pm) See their full list of events at www.fayettecofair.org.

In the past month or so, there has been quite a bit of talk about folks finding out after the fact that a solar farm would be located next to their home. But, Fayette County is trying to stop that from happening in the future. During Tuesday’s Fayette County Board meeting, County Board Vice-Chairman Merrell Collins says they are working on a map that would have all the solar projects marked. Collins says they are hopeful this will help relieve this issue in the future.

A single vehicle accident in Fayette County early Friday morning resulted in the death of the driver. Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris pronounced the driver, David E. Drum of Brownstown, dead at the scene at 4 a.m. Harris reported the pickup truck operated by Drum left a county road, south of Brownstown, and hit a tree.

The Fayette County Board has cleared a hurdle for the Ramsey School District to have a School Resource Officer. At Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Ramsey Board of Education and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. Under the agreement, Fayette County will provide a vehicle and $7,500 while the Ramsey School District would 100% fund the Officer and would pay a lease agreement each month for the vehicle. Fayette County Board Chairman Jacob Harris talks about the agreement.

-The Fayette County Democrats will meet Monday July 15, 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1221 W. Fillmore St., Vandalia. -The Stein-Stine Reunion will be Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the Centennial Building at the St. Elmo Community Park. Drinks and table service will be provided for our 12:30 potluck...

A Brownstown man was fatally injured in a crash early Friday morning. David E. Drum was killed when the pickup truck he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. The crash happened on Fayette County Road 1625, south of Brownstown. Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris pronounced Drum dead...

The Fayette County Coroner reports handling another death in Vandalia on Saturday. In a report from Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris, it states the Vandalia Police Department dispatched the Coroner to a Vandalia residence on Saturday afternoon. After arriving, Coroner Harris pronounced 27 year old Blake M. Sefton dead. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office and the Vandalia Police Department are continuing their investigation and no further information is being released at this time. The Coroner also reports Deputies from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office also assisted at the scene.

Further discussion will now take place on the potential of the soon-to-be former Evans Public Library location becoming a Telecommunications Center for the Vandalia Police Department and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. On Monday, a joint meeting of the Vandalia City Council, the Fayette County Board and the Evans...

Fayette County authorities are investigating deaths that occurred in recent days. Late Friday morning, the Fayette County Coroner's Office responded to an in-home death north of Bingham. 73-year-old Donald J. Hart was pronounced dead. Just after 3pm Friday, Vandalia police dispatched Fayette County Coroner David Harris to a home in...

A Brownstown man died this morning in a single vehicle accident. Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris reports there was a single vehicle accident on County Road 1625 south of Brownstown early this morning. Harris says a truck driven by David E. Drum of Brownstown left the roadway and hit a tree. Harris reports he pronounced Drum dead at the scene at 4 am this morning.

The Fayette County Coroner handled two more deaths on Friday. Early Friday morning, Coroner Dave Harris handled a death in a one vehicle accident (story available here https://www.vandaliaradio.com/2024/07/05/brownstown-man-dies-in-single-vehicle-accident/) Later on Friday morning, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office responded to an in home death north of Bingham. Coroner Dave Harris says...

Following closing arguments on Friday morning by both the state and defense in the trial of 48-year old Robert V. Willenborg, the jury would retire for deliberations and after about three hours, announced Friday afternoon that they had come to a verdict. Willenborg was found guilty of count four for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, being a person who holds a position of trust, authority or supervision and having committed an act of sexual conduct with Victim 1 who was between the ages of 13 and 17. Willenborg was found guilty on count five for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, being a person who holds a position of trust, authority or supervision and having committed an act of sexual conduct with Victim 1 who w.

A large crowd was on hand for a City of Vandalia Planning Commission Meeting on Monday. The agenda for the meeting calling for the discussion of the potential modifying of Zoning Regulations in Agricultural Districts. A large crowd was on hand for the meeting and wanted to discuss a proposed solar farm that appears to be outside of Vandalia’s City Limits but within 1 1/2 miles of the city’s limit. At June’s Fayette County Board meeting, Zachary and Katie Ledbetter–who recently built a home at 1480 N. 425 Street–came to ask about a proposed solar farm that is proposed to be built around them. It was confirmed at the county board meeting that night that the proposed solar farm around their home was approved last May by the County Board. Those on hand for Monday’s Planning Commission Meeting were not pleased with the proposed solar farm and wanted to know if there was something that could be done about it. It was pointed out the proposed solar farm would be within 1 1/2 miles of the City of Vandalia’s City Limits, which City Attorney Ryan Connor said would give them shared jurisdiction with the county. Fayette County Board Vice Chairman Merrell Collins was on hand for the meeting and stated the county was not aware of the 1 1/2 mile issue. Mayor Rick Gottman wanted to give time for all those on hand who wanted to address the Commission to be able to do so. After the meeting, Mayor Gottman talked about the issue.

A Brownstown man is currently set for trial in Fayette County Court in August. 36 year old Tyler J. Roe is currently set for an appearance with counsel and final pre-trial on July 30th at 10 am in Fayette County Court. And, as of this time, Roe’s jury trial is set for August 19th. Roe is facing multiple Felony charges from an incident on December 30th of 2023 that involved an officer-involved shooting.

It is summer time and more and more road construction projects seem to be popping up. This week, a new project started on Interstate 70 from mile marker 63 to mile marker 67. The Illinois Department of Transportation’s website to expect lane restrictions for roadway improvement. The project is expected to continue until September 23rd.

A Vandalia man has been charged in Fayette County Court with Attempted First Degree Murder. 24 year old Robert Suchman was charged with Attempted First Degree Murder, which is a Class X Felony. Information on the charge says that Suchman is alleged to have struck an individual in the head with an aluminum baseball bat and allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the right shoulder. Suchman is also charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery, which is a Class 2 Felony. Suchman is alleged to have struck the same individual with a bat and allegedly stabbed him, and the charge says the individual is a family or household member of Suchman.

The Fayette County Fair is just a few weeks away. The 93rd annual Fayette County Fair is set for Thursday, July 11th through Tuesday, July 16th at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. The grandstand events for this year will include stock car racing, tractor pulls, the rodeo and the queen pageants and also a demolition derby on Sunday afternoon.

A Vandalia man has been charged in Fayette County Court with Attempted First Degree Murder. 24 year old Robert Suchman was charged with Attempted First Degree Murder, which is a Class X Felony. Information for the charge says that Suchman is alleged to have struck an individual in the head with an aluminum baseball bat and allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the right shoulder. Suchman is also charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery, which is a Class 2 Felony. Suchman is alleged to have struck the same individual with a bat and allegedly stabbed him, and the charge says the individual is a family or household member of Suchman.