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Today's Opinions

  • Congratulations to graduates

    During the next few days, the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” will drift out of gymnasiums throughout the area.
    Graduates will don robes and turn tassels. Speakers will affirm and exhort. And parents will offer sighs of relief and shed tears of joy.
    It’s graduation time in Fayette County. It’s a time of endings and beginnings. It’s a time when students are making plans for their futures – whether that be in college, the military or the working world.

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  • End of school is dangerous time for teens

    Prom and graduation season, the Fourth of July and summer vacation give pause to parents of teenagers everywhere. Why? Because celebration paired with newfound freedom can trigger tragedy on our roads and highways.
    Indeed, young people themselves report that these times of the year are the most dangerous when it comes to driving. And alcohol and other drugs are primary reasons.

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  • Barbed wire helped civilize frontier Illinois

     It has been my good fortune to meet other "history minded" people such as myself during my forays into the history of Fayette County and her people.
    One of these was the late Emory Meador,  who, from time to time, would loan me newspaper clippings and books that he thought would interest me. One of the books was titled, “The Barbed Wire III Bible” by Jack Glover.

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  • Ray good choice for police chief

    Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the contributions and the capabilities of local people. Often those people are passed over in favor of outsiders when openings come up.
    Thankfully, that wasn’t the case when the city of Vandalia began its search for a police chief.
    In fact, Jeff Ray has been serving as sergeant and periodically as acting chief during the past year when Chief Larry Eason has been struggling with health issues. Eason said last month that he did not want to seek reappointment.

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  • Aubery family among area's early settlers

    To commemorate the War of 1812, a group was formed with one of its goals being to identify all known veterans of this war who died in the state.

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  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1998 – A display about Abraham Lincoln’s time as a legislator in Vandalia was installed at the Vandalia Statehouse.
    Fayette Water Co. officials announced that the completion of a 10-year project – a new water tower at Wright’s Corner, north of St. Elmo, and a new distribution system for about 1,900 county residents – was projected for May.

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  • L-U Tourism Guide to aid promotion efforts in area

    Editor:
    Thanks to The Leader-Union for another excellent Tourism Guide on the historical sites in Vandalia and Fayette County. Tourism is the second largest industry in Illinois (behind agriculture). And tourism week will be observed May 4-12.
    This guide will assist our motels, restaurants and gas stations in directing visitors in our community to the sites. The longer a visitor stays in our community, the more money they will spend.
    Sharing this information with family and friends also will increase the number of visitors to our community.

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  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: This young man, pictured about 43 years ago, grew up in Fayette County. He is married and lives near Brownstown.

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