.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Columns

  • Post Office building unchanged in 75 years

    Last week’s column centered on the mural in the Vandalia Post Office painted by artist Aaron Bohrod under the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.).
    This government program was created on May 6, 1935, to help provide economic relief to the citizens of the United States who were suffering through the Great Depression.
    On Aug. 27, 1934, Postmaster George L. Hausmann was notified that out of the 25 sites offered for construction of the new federal building, the corner location of the Schulte home at Fourth and Johnson streets was chosen.  

    Click here to read more...
  • Banks of the Okaw-Oct. 21, 2010

    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo were: Barbara (Austin) Randall, Betty (Francis) Schaub, Shirley (Davis) Jones and Anna Ruth (Radliff) Lilly.
    Identifying them were: Don and Ellen Willms, Howard Koester, Normalee Terry and Elizabeth Kasten.
    This week’s Scrambler:  fi ouy tel rafulie hobret yuo, uyo liwl veren dececsu.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.
    Last week’s Scrambler: Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. (Henry David Thoreau)

    Click here to read more...
  • The Way We Were-Oct. 21, 2010

    15 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.

    Click here to read more...
  • Modern medicine helps fight disease

    It has been 12 years now since I was told that I had breast cancer…a fast growing type they said. On a scale of two to nine, I was a seven – not a good number to be.
    Being the first in my immediate family to be diagnosed with cancer, I searched my ancestor charts for kin who may have died as a result of this particular immune system disease. I came up nearly blank. In fact, throughout the lives of my family members, the most common "disease" seemed to have been old age.

    Click here to read more...
  • Banks of the Okaw-Oct. 14, 2010

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: These young women were pictured during a physical education class at Brownstown High School more than 60 years ago. Two now live in Vandalia, one in Beecher City and one in Freeport.
    Do you know them? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374.
    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo was: Gary Stine.
    Identifying her was: Charlotte Bone.
    This week’s Scrambler:  cussesc lysluau mosec ot sehot ohw rea oto sybu ot eb glinkoo rof ti.

    Click here to read more...
  • The Way We Were-Oct. 14, 2010

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – The cost of extending sewer lines to Vandalia’s western Interstate 70 interchange was less than expected. Thus, Mayor Rich Walker was proposing additional infrastructure improvements, including new sewer lines and manholes along the river bottoms in the city.
    Judge Dennis Middendorff ruled that Stuart Heaton, a Bluff City man convicted of murder in 1992, could continue to use a Chicago law firm. Jenner & Block took on Heaton’s case on a pro bono (free) basis.

    Click here to read more...
  • Edward Beck – a quiet, earnest man

    We hear a lot about Paul Beck, who with his son, Guy, are credited with being the first white settlers in Fayette County, entering the dense virgin forest as early as 1805.
    There is another Beck – John Beck – who deserves a moment in the spotlight of history. He was Paul’s younger brother, and also came to Illinois before statehood, settling in neighboring Montgomery County.

    Click here to read more...
  • Banks of the Okaw-Oct. 7, 2010

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: This young man, pictured 60 years ago as a 13-year-old, is now retired from his job as a molder at Graham Packaging. He and his wife (who still works at Graham Packaging) have a daughter and a stepson.
    Do you know him? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374.
    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo were: Mary Greer Rendleman and John David Greer.

    Identifying them were: Carole White, Doris Wehrle, and Beeb and Billye Staff.

    Click here to read more...
  • The Way We Were-Oct. 7, 2010

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – The Interstate Commerce Commission and Clinton County officials touted Enhanced 911 emergency phone services as Fayette County voters were preparing to vote on an Enhanced 911 referendum.
    The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce’s downtown revitalization committee announced its City of Candles project. The committee was encouraging local residents and business owners to put electric candles in their windows during the upcoming holiday season.

    20 Years Ago

    Click here to read more...
  • Responding to emergencies takes guts

    We live on a road with a dangerous s-curve. Over the years, many vehicles have failed to negotiate that difficult stretch. Just before 3 a.m. Monday, another one ended up in the ditch.
    For some reason, I was awake enough to hear the vehicle approaching. Then came squealing tires, a thud and an eerie silence.
    I went to the window to confirm what I thought I’d heard…hoping that my sleep-clouded brain had manufactured the incident. No such luck; I could hear voices yelling for help.

    Click here to read more...

Copyright © 2013

The Leader Union is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Vandalia, Il, and the surrounding area.