S U MM E R 2 0 2 5 5 BUSINESS solutions “Under the previous ownership, VDI was a seasonal business that was closed from the end of October through February. But I’ve kept it open all year long, which people in our little town of about 1,800 really appreciate. This also means we can offer year-round employment for the 20-25 people on our staff,” O’Dell noted. What are the most popular menu items at VDI? He replied, “One of them would definitely be the Double Barrel burger, which has three patties topped with American and Swiss cheese, marinara sauce, and two cheese sticks. Customers also love the Philly Cheese Steak and Spicy Chicken Cheese Steak, and kids are crazy about the Chicken Baskets.” Local, Reliable Connections To keep VDI operating efficiently takes more than a well-equipped kitchen. It also requires reliable services from Madison Communications—500 Mbps Internet and Unlimited Voice. O’Dell said, “We simply couldn’t do business at VDI without a good internet and phone provider. More than half of our food sales come from customers who order online or by phone for pickup. Ordering online is especially popular, and our fast and reliable internet from Madison Communications makes it possible for us to offer this convenient option.” Downtime is rare. The only incident O’Dell could recall was when a truck accidentally pulled down the drop to their phone service. “Madison Communications is only about 20 miles away, and they came very quickly to fix the problem. They understood that without a phone line, we’d lose call-in orders,” he said. Summer Sizzles Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, summer is by far the busiest season for VDI. Many customers stop by to beat the heat with their favorite cool treat. Just for fun, VDI always creates an ice cream flavor of the month. For example, May’s was Dirt Pie Sundae featuring chocolate ice cream, crushed Oreo cookies, hot fudge, and gummy worms. What will the June ice cream flavor of the month be? Stop by to find out! Ordering online is especially popular, and our fast and reliable internet from Madison Communications makes it possible for us to offer this convenient option.” —DONNIE O’DELL, OWNER, VILLAGE DRIVE-IN Who’s Minding Your Business? Lexy Horton Marketing and Social Media Specialist As a child growing up in Highland, Illinois, Lexy Horton aspired to become a pharmacist. “Although this was always my goal, my perspective shifted after evaluating the duration of the educational timeline,” she said. Fortunately for Madison Communications, Horton earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Communication Studies with a focus in Public Relations and a minor in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She is now our Marketing and Social Media Specialist. “I oversee and maintain the company website, develop a wide range of marketing materials, oversee all marketing promotions, and regularly analyze performance metrics. I also coordinate all company-wide events—including our annual Employee Appreciation Week and our Teacher of the Year program,” Horton said. She added, “I’m especially looking forward to the Staunton Balloon Glow in August. It’s always fun to see the excitement on the children’s faces.” Horton got married in 2024, and she and her husband Chase have a rescue puppy named Boston. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and has trips planned to Utah, Colorado, and Florida. Hannah and Brynlee
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