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Editorials

  • Jobs are always welcome here

    The announcement this week that a Denny’s restaurant will be coming to the Fast Stop Travel Center at Vandalia’s western I-70 intersection is the kind of good news that we need to hear. And we’d like to hear it more often.
    The news ended a four-year search by South Central FS general manager Byron Sikma to find a suitable restaurant to fill that facility. As noted in a story on page 5A of today’s paper, he was committed to landing a well-known national brand restaurant.

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  • Those who have served deserve our thanks

    You can either stand on the sidelines all of your life, questioning and complaining about the decisions made by those who represent us on local governmental entities. Or, you can choose to get involved, either though an election or by appointment, by serving on one of those entities.
    On Monday night, Vandalia Mayor Rick Gottman honored several individuals who fall into the second category – Lisa McNutt, Larry Bennett, Bret Brosman and Larry Cable.

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  • Be cautious on rural roadways

    The signs of spring are beginning appear – the grass is growing, flowers are blooming and kids are outside playing. Add to that list the movement of farm equipment.
    Generally, the arrival of spring means more traffic on our roads. Motorcyclists are out on their bikes, and people are beginning to take more weekend jaunts. Rising gas prices – with some experts predicting that a gallon of gas will increase to $5 per gallon this summer ­­– could change that somewhat.

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  • Vital issues in Tuesday vote

    Though next Tuesday’s election is what could be termed an “off-year election,” there are many reasons why voters must take it seriously.
    First and foremost, we all have a responsibility – a privilege, really – to vote whenever we have the opportunity. It’s part of being a good citizen.
    Beyond that, there are many issues in this election that merit our involvement.

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  • Campaign sign thefts criminal

    In at least one way, unfortunately, it’s a typical election season. Campaign signs are popping up … and then, they’re disappearing.
    At least that’s the case in St. Elmo, where more than 30 campaign signs have reportedly been stolen.
    It’s unfortunate that we again have to remind people that removing campaign signs, as long as they are placed legally, is not only morally wrong, but also a criminal offense.

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  • Sunshine Week promotes more open government

    Nearly a century ago, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis stated that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”
    Though he was referring to the need for scrutiny into the corruption that was prevalent in the large business monopolies of that time, his sunlight reference has been adopted in recent years by the media and others concerned about the need for the sun to shine into the workings of our government.

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  • Across-the-board cuts are best way

    As Gov. Pat Quinn marches out one potential budget-cutting proposal after another, it’s becoming increasingly clear that he has no comprehensive plan to tackle the state’s dire fiscal situation.
     Instead, what we’re seeing is a series of trial balloons being sent aloft to gauge the level of public resistance. If the outcry is sufficient, he moves on to another target.

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  • Storm a wake-up call to get ready

    The storm that roared through Fayette County on Sunday night and early Monday morning should serve as a wake-up call that the spring storm season is upon us.
    Though no injuries or fatalities were reported, this week’s storm did cause significant property damage in a variety of locations throughout the county. Some appeared to be straight-line wind damage, others had some of the characteristics of tornado winds.

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  • Public notices vital to keep the public informed

    A bill has been proposed in the Illinois House of Representatives that – if passed – would significantly reduce the information available to citizens about the activities of the state’s governing bodies.
    That bill – House Bill 1869 – would eliminate the publication of all public notices in newspapers in favor of placing those notices on government websites.
    It’s a dangerous proposal that inevitably will inhibit citizens’ access to information that affects them.

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  • Remember Lincoln beyond this week

    If you are an Abraham Lincoln buff, Vandalia was the place to be this past weekend.
    From young to old – and everyone in between – there was some Lincoln activity going on. It’s a time rich in historical importance, as it marked the 150th anniversary of newly elected President Lincoln’s departure for Washington as well as the beginning of the events that launched the Civil War.

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