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Editorials

  • Openness at VCC helps public see challenges there

    For most area residents, the only view of the Vandalia Correctional Center is the one they get from driving past on Ill. Route 51.
    From that vantage point, they can see the fences, the buildings and the 1,500-acres of land on which the facility is located. They may occasionally observe inmates in the exercise area, when the weather allows. But those superficial glimpses are about the extent of the contact most residents have with the county’s largest employer.

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  • McCarter office site in Vandalia is good for area

    Going back to the days when Frank Watson (R-Greenville) represented our area in the Illinois Senate, Vandalia has maintained close ties with its state senator. We’ve had a similarly close relationship with state Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon), even though his home was farther away and his district was gerrymandered into an atrocious L-shaped mess that started in Madison County, came east through Vandalia and careened north to include Decatur.

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  • Legislators must address finances

    The Illinois General Assembly’s lame duck session ended Tuesday with a whimper, as legislators once again refused to deal with the state’s out-of-control finances.
    After failing to come up with a plan to begin fixing the $96 billion (billion!) pension shortfall, the house and senate adjourned – kicking the can down the road to be dealt with by the next legislative session.
    Or the next. Or the next.

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  • Vandalia enjoys time in spotlight

    Though Vandalia has had a number of local residents who have had their individual moments in the spotlight, it’s not common that the city itself has taken center stage.
     It happened 50 years ago, when writer-turned-sociologist Joseph Lyford came to town. After interviewing dozens of locals and observing the way things get done here, he wrote a book – “The Talk In Vandalia” – that described the community as it was in 1962.

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  • More than ever, we need the hope and peace of Christmas

    It’s Christmas time!
    With Christmas only days away, we hope the hustle and bustle of the holiday is largely behind us and only the warmth and wonder remain.
    Though the holiday is primarily a celebration of the birth of Jesus, it also is a time of giving and hope.
    And it’s an annual reminder of the generosity that makes Fayette County such a special place. As always, the citizens of our area have been amazing in their response to the needs of others.

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  • Attend hearing on water wells

    In August, when the Vandalia City Council first heard a proposal for drilling wells to supplement the city’s sources of water, we said that the well proposal has merit, but we need to make sure we do the due diligence investigation before launching out in that direction.
    Though we know more about the plan now than we did then, we still have concerns about giving it the green light without more information.

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  • Holiday activities now in full swing

    Looking for something to do to get you in the holiday mood? Look no further than the Vandalia Statehouse.
    This Saturday evening, the crown jewel of Vandalia’s downtown district will be decorated in its holiday attire, with period Christmas decorations and candlelight transforming the classic structure into a beautiful holiday experience.
    The Holiday Open House runs from 4-6:30 p.m. Saturday, with cider and cookies being served to guests. Additionally, the first 100 families will receive a unique Christmas ornament.

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  • FAYCO recycling a good addition

    Next Wednesday, FAYCO Enterprises will mark yet another milestone in its 36-year history of serving individuals with disabilities in our area.

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  • Shopping locally better than mall

    We've now survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and we've even been subjected to a new phenomenon  – Black Thursday. That's the name given to sales that start on Thanksgiving Day.
    The national media has fanned the flames of these new examples of commercialism-gone-bad by highlighting the crazy antics of rude shoppers at the malls. We've seen fistfights, mad dashes for prized products and general displays of rudeness. It's all in the name of  getting a certain gift at any cost.

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  • Santa to arrive this Saturday in Rotary parade

    Two weeks ago, Vandalia merchants officially kicked off the Christmas shopping season with the annual Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. It was a rousing success, with crowds of shoppers meandering through festively decorated stores in the downtown business district.
    Since then, Vandalia merchants have been putting their best foot forward as they've welcomed holiday shoppers.
    This weekend brings another landmark in the Christmas tradition in downtown Vandalia.

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