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Today's Opinions

  • The Way We Were-Jan. 27, 2011

    15 Years Ago

    1996 – The Vandalia City Council accepted the resignation of Jeanne Gustafson, who had headed up the city’s economic development efforts for the previous 6 1/2 years. Gustafson accepted a similar job in Mt. Vernon.
    Vandalia Correctional Center Warden Mike Baker reported that the construction of a new work camp at VCC was “moving right along.” The work camp was to house 400 minimum-security beds and employ 155 staff members.
    Albert and Rena Torbeck were planning to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

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  • Lincoln Victory Ball planned for Feb. 11

      On Feb. 11, 1861, president-elect Abraham Lincoln left Springfield for Washington, D.C., for the inauguration. On the same day,  Jefferson Davis left his home in Vicksburg, Miss., for Montgomery, Ala., to accept the presidency of the Confederate states.
    For this reason, Feb. 11 has been chosen as the start of the sesquicentennial celebration of the Civil War. Many states have formed official commissions, and Illinois, for its part, is making an attempt to get into the  Guinness Book of World Records.  

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  • Lincoln events coming up soon

    It’s a good time to be a fan of Abraham Lincoln.
    This year marks the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s departure from Illinois to Washington, D.C., to assume the presidency at one of the most difficult times in our nation’s history.
    Though he left the Springfield train station on Feb. 11, 1861, with considerable trepidation, he carried with him the resolve that he could, indeed, make a difference in the nation’s capital. He carried, too, the support and prayers of his friends and family who remained in Illinois.

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  • Banks of the Okaw-Jan. 20, 2011

    This week’s Scrambler:  fi oyu nurt eth nogamiainti seloo keil a gintnuh ogd, ti liwl tonfe nurter twih eht ribd ni sti tomuh.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.
    Last week’s Scrambler: The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can not read them. (Mark Twain)

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  • The Way We Were-Jan. 20, 2011

    15 Years Ago

    1996 – At its annual banquet, the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce presented Abe Awards to Paul Zeman and “Beeb” and Billye Staff.
    Raymond and Betty Reiss of St. Peter celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

    20 Years Ago

    1991 – Hundreds of people attended a patriotic rally Saturday night in the South Central High School gym in Farina in support of local servicemen in the Middle East.
    If approved, Vandalia was to receive $75,000 in federal funds for work on Coles Street.

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  • Area will take part in record attempt

    Do you want to be part of some history making?
    Your chance, my friend, is coming up in less than a month. On Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at 11 a.m., a momentous occasion will take place in the Old State Capitol in Vandalia, as an attempt will be made to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the “Most People Reading Aloud Simultaneously.”  
    The text chosen is Lincoln’s Farewell Address, delivered 150 years ago at 11 a.m. on Feb. 11, 1861, before Lincoln left Springfield on his inaugural journey as president-elect to Washington, D.C.  

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  • Give the voters the choice at the polls

    In a story on the front page of today's issue of The Leader-Union, we report that the attempt by two incumbent aldermen in St. Elmo to stay on the ballot in April has failed. The question that remains is this: Did the municipal electoral board make the right decision?

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  • Banks of the Okaw-Jan. 13, 2011

    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo were: Danny Rubin, Tim Schaal, Keith Ehrat and Susan Williams.
    Identifying them were: Don and Emily Ehrat, Marian Rubin, Charles and Iris Kruenegel, and Sherry Courson.
    This week’s Scrambler:  eht amn hwo sedo otn dera odgo skobo sha on tagnavade revo eth nam how nac ton dare meht.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.

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