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Today's Opinions

  • Banks of the Okaw-Feb. 24, 2011

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: These three siblings were born and reared in Fayette County and graduated from Vandalia Community High School. The two brothers live around Vandalia, and their sister lives in a Southern state.

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  • The Way We Were-Feb. 24, 2011

    15 Years Ago

    1996 – Mayor Rich Walker reported that the project to extend sewer lines to the city’s western Interstate 70 interchange was nearing completion.
    South Central was knocked out of postseason play with a 79-55 loss to Freeburg at the Vandalia Sectional Tournament.
    During a meeting of the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce, Fayette County State’s Attorney Rod Irvin and Vandalia Police Department Sgt. Fred Willms told local business owners what they could do to fight shoplifting and bad check offenses.

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  • Public notices vital to keep the public informed

    A bill has been proposed in the Illinois House of Representatives that – if passed – would significantly reduce the information available to citizens about the activities of the state’s governing bodies.
    That bill – House Bill 1869 – would eliminate the publication of all public notices in newspapers in favor of placing those notices on government websites.
    It’s a dangerous proposal that inevitably will inhibit citizens’ access to information that affects them.

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  • Banks of the Okaw-Feb. 17, 2011

    In last week’s Mystery Banks Photo was: Maurice Whitford.
    Identifying him was: Mary Cripe.
    This week’s Scrambler:  lewl-drimare, a amn si degniw; lli chetdam, eh si dleksach.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.
    Last week’s Scrambler: The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. (Bertrand Russell)

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  • The Way We Were-Feb. 17, 2011

    15 Years Ago

    1996 – A big crowd turned out on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 25, to welcome home the Vandalia Community High School wrestling team, the new state champions in Class A.
    South Central won the Class A Regional Tournament in St. Elmo, defeating Patoka, 80-55, in the championship game.
    Judge Harold Pennock III of Centralia took under advisement a request for a new trial for Stuart Heaton of Bluff City. Heaton was convicted the year before of murdering 16-year-old Krystal Lynn Naab of rural Ramsey.

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  • Lincoln is only president to hold a patent

    I learned something new about President Abraham Lincoln last week while reading the “Historical Sketch” section of the Mt. Pulaski Times. President Lincoln held a patent.
    He gave his invention the title, “A Device For Buoying Vessels Over Shoals,” for which he received Patent No. 6,469. It was recorded on May 22, 1849, in the U.S. Patent Office.

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  • Remember Lincoln beyond this week

    If you are an Abraham Lincoln buff, Vandalia was the place to be this past weekend.
    From young to old – and everyone in between – there was some Lincoln activity going on. It’s a time rich in historical importance, as it marked the 150th anniversary of newly elected President Lincoln’s departure for Washington as well as the beginning of the events that launched the Civil War.

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  • Who's the best?

    Included in today’s Leader-Union is a ballot that lets you vote. But this vote does not deal with politicians or political issues.

    Instead, it is a ballot that allows you to cast a vote for your favorite business or product in a wide range of categories.
    It’s called The Leader-Union’s Readers’ Choice contest. And, as the name implies, we want you – the readers – to let us know who gets your vote.

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