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Today's Opinions

  • Field key in construction of Statehouse

    This past Saturday evening, the Old State Capitol historic site was ablaze with candles and decorated with greenery in celebration of the annual holiday open house.
    It is one of three main annual events in which the stately building is featured, the other two being Abraham Lincoln’s birthday celebration and the Grande Leveé. The annual open house brings history to life.  

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  • County known for its generosity

    If there's one thing the people of Fayette County are known for, it's their generosity.
    Year after year, we witness that compassion in the way people respond to needs. We see it in events like Relay for Life. We see it in the outpouring of help to a family that has lost everything in a fire. We see it in projects undertaken by service organizations to improve the quality of life here.
    And – especially at this time of year – we see it in the generous response to those who are having trouble putting food on the table for their family.

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  • Letter to the Editor

    Editor:
    I wanted to tell those who have decorated the downtown area with Christmas decorations that it’s simply charming.
    It's elegant; it’s warm and it’s inviting.
    Thank you so much for your vision and the impetus to “make that vision come to life.” I love it and really appreciate your efforts.  
    Everyone have a very Merry Christmas.
     Sharon LaDage
    Vandalia

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  • Banks of the Okaw-Dec. 9, 2010

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: No photo this week.
    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo were: Cheryl Koehler Carpenter and Janet Cothern Eckhardt.
    Identifying them were: Danny and Patty Donaldson, Linda Schulte and the Betty Ruth Club.
    This week’s Scrambler:  eht den fo modswi si ot mader gihh gunhoe ot sole het merda ni teh giesnek fo ti.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.

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  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1995 – The Fayette County Board approved a five-year contract with Dr. Joe Ertel of Ramsey for animal control services for the county.
    Michelle Lach of Vandalia was a member of the Lake Land College girls basketball team.
    Local Girl Scouts Elizabeth Zeman, Tiffany Roberts, Jamie Davison and Aaron Williams were selected to represent the Shagbark Girl Scout Council at the Girl Scout World Center in Mexico.

    20 Years Ago

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  • Tour of downtown businesses continues

    In my last column, we followed a tour of the south side of Gallatin Street provided by the late Esther Mabry Hausmann Buckley.  
    Written at the request of Charles Mills for The Leader-Union newspaper, Mrs. Buckley was pleasantly surprised that editor Mills found her writings interesting and published them in the pages of the newspaper.
    This week, our tour again starts near the Kaskaskia River, but this time it follows the north side of Gallatin Street westward to Sixth Street.
    •     •     •

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  • Statehouse Open House is a step back in time

    About 170 years ago, when Abraham Lincoln was beginning his career in politics in what is now the Vandalia Statehouse, candles were the only way to light up the building. That’s what visitors to the Statehouse this Saturday will experience.
    The Statehouse, which is Illinois’ oldest existing capitol, will host its Christmas Open House from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
    The thing that draws most people to that holiday event is special Christmas ornament being given to the first 100 families to sign the guest register.

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  • Account takes trip down Gallatin Street

    In the late 1980s, the late Charles Mills contacted 83-year-old Esther Buckley, saying that he heard that she wrote stories.

    The daughter of Harry Mabry and Ida Fogler, Esther was at the right place to be an observer of Vandalia’s progress. When she was about 7 years old, her father moved the family from a farm to the big city. Esther referred to Vandalia as her “magic town.”

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