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Columns

  • The Way We Were-Sept. 9, 2010

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – The Old Settlers Social, an event which featured an old-fashioned ham and beans dinner, music and a performance by the 175th Celebration Dancers, raised about $4,000 for the restoration of the old Presbyterian Church in Vandalia.
    Karen Chaplin, a native of California, was sworn in as the new postmaster at the Brownstown Post Office.
    Mr. and Mrs. Bob Timmons were planning to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.

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  • Trammel terrorized area with Clingmans

    The story of Joe Trammel is one I have visited before in this column. Along with George Welsh and Jefferson Hastings, he was charged with the murder of an Oconee farmer by the name of Morris.
    Robbery was the motive, but a little killing didn’t seem to upset Joe Trammel, as he fired through a window, shooting John Morris in the head as he sat "at table."
    Truths retained in the old family stories handed down from generation to generation never cease to amaze me. Finding supporting facts that bear out these stories is something else.

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  • Elijah Lovejoy martyred for freedom of press

    Elijah Parrish Lovejoy was born in Albion, Maine, in 1802, and died at the hands of an angry mob in Alton on Nov. 7, 1837.
    An editor and Presbyterian clergyman, Lovejoy was outspoken on the subject of slavery. He preached abolition through the pulpit and through the pages of the newspapers he edited.
    Elijah received his license to preach in 1832, and was ordained as an evangelist two years later. At this time, it was fairly new doctrine to condemn slavery, along with whiskey drinking and gambling.

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  • The Way We Were-Sept. 2, 2010

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – Historical Vandalia Inc., the operator of the Fayette County Museum, started selling engraved bricks, which will be placed in walkways around the museum.
    According to an Illinois State Police report, crime was down in Fayette County in 1994. The total crime was 257, down from 314 in 1993.
    Gene and Marette Durbin of Ramsey were planning to celebrate their golden anniversary, and Robert and Eileen Osborne of Vandalia were to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

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  • Banks of the Okaw-Sept. 2, 2010

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: This young woman, pictured more than 50 years ago, grew up east of Vandalia. She was the owner of a downtown Vandalia business for several years. She recently celebrated a special birthday.
    Do you know her? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374.
    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo were: No photo last week. More photos are needed.
    This week’s Scrambler:  eht amn how swive het dwolr ta tyfif eth mesa yaw eh idd ta tynewt sha dawtse tyriht sraye fo feli.

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  • The Way We Were-Aug. 26, 2010

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency gave Historical Vandalia Inc. $50,000 to use toward the restoration of the old Presbyterian Church, which houses the Fayette County Museum and Artworks Gallery.
    Vandalia School District officials and the Vandalia Unit Teachers Association agreed to a two-year extension on the contract for district teachers. The extension gave teachers a pay increase of 5 percent in each of the two years.
    Floyd and Lucille Bingaman of Brownstown were planning to celebrate their 65th anniversary.

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  • Banks of the Okaw-Aug. 26

    No Mystery Banks Photo this week. (We need photos. If you have old photos that are at least 20 years old and are of people who are still living, bring them in.)
    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo were: Marcia Curry Haslett, Deborah Curry Merrill and Tom Curry.
    Identifying them were: Dick and Joyce Paul, and Maxine Crager.
    This week’s Scrambler: meit si a targe hatrece, tub tralfunyounte ti slilk lal sti plipsu.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.

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  • Don Funk exemplified a 'life well-lived'

     When I received my copy of The Leader- Union in the mail this past Thursday, I learned that my longtime chemo buddy, Don Funk, had passed.
    My first thoughts were of the place he had in my life.  
    I met Don Funk in 1999 when I began the long haul of chemotherapy for breast cancer.  We visited from time to time as we occupied easy chairs in the treatment rooms at Fayette County Hospital.

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  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: These siblings, pictured about 55 years ago, all grew up in Vandalia. The girl on the left was an Army wife and now lives in Lebanon, the girl in the center has been a familiar face around Fayette County Hospital and the boy on the right deals in antiques.
    Do you know them? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374.
    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo was: Larry Peyton.

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  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – A ground-breaking ceremony was held for an addition to Fayette County Hospital & Long Term Care.
    The Vandalia Police Department received a $6,664 federal COPS MORE grant. The department was to buy up to six cages for squad cars.
    Ralston Edwards, a community leader and grocer in Vandalia for more than 60 years, died at the age of 82.
    Ann Schwarm of Loogootee was appointed coordinator of educational services for the Regional Superintendent of Schools.

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