Today's Opinions

15 Years Ago

1998 – Dr. Phillip Good was the new emergency medical director at Fayette County Hospital.
First National Bank in Vandalia, Ramsey and Patoka handed out checks to 30 area organizations. In the first five  years of its Hometown Support Program, the bank handed out more than $50,000 to more than 50 organizations.
As they considered changing the city’s form of government, Vandalia officials discussed the roles of a mayor and city administrator under the city administrator form of government.

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.

20 Years Ago

1993 – Elvis Presley commemorative stamps went on sale at the Vandalia Post Office, and all were gone within an hour.
Maranatha Felmlee, the reigning Miss Fayette County, was competing in the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant in Springfield.
A logjam in the Kaskaskia River threatened to damage the city of Vandalia’s river intake and a United Cities Gas Co. Line.