.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Today's Opinions

  • The check is not in the mail

    Two months after the Vandalia City Council granted an extension to the Motown Technology & Sports Facility Inc., our city’s relationship with that Michigan-based group is, unfortunately, starting to look like Motown’s connection to a community in Kentucky.

    In an agreement the council approved on Dec. 7, Motown agreed to present, under the terms of that agreement, a $17,500 check to reimburse the city for a traffic study performed as part of the group’s plan to build a $300-million sports and entertainment facility in Vandalia.

    Click here to read more...
  • Indian scout had connections in area

    Perry Commodore Oller was born in Bourbon County, Ky., on Feb. 4, 1819, and would go on to become one of the foremost Indian scouts in America.

    What would become his career began one day when Perry was 12. His parents, George and Elizabeth Taylor Oller, had moved to Illinois by this time, and were attacked by Indians near Swan Lake.

    It was Perry who traveled the 70 miles through an unknown wilderness to carry a message to the frontier village of Kaskaskia about the attack.

    Click here to read more...
  • Abe winners make others' lives better

    The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce each year picks two individuals to honor for their contributions to the chamber and the community. The two people picked this year represent what the Abe Award means.

    Sharon LaDage is probably most well-known as an educator. The Vandalia native taught English at the junior high and high school levels for 34 years, and also served as the Vandalia Community High School yearbook adviser and gifted coordinator for the Vandalia School District.

    Click here to read more...
  • Adelyn Connors returned to Vandalia roots

    It wasn’t a total surprise to see an obituary for Adelyn Meek Connors in The Leader-Union a few weeks back. Adelyn was 94 years old, having been born in Vandalia on Dec. 30, 1914, the youngest of six children of George and Dora Luker Meek.

    Ten years earlier, Adelyn had contacted me for information about her Meek family. Having left Vandalia when she was 18 to further her education at Northwestern University, Adelyn knew to whom she was related, but wanted to get the names organized so she could see the relationships more clearly.

    Click here to read more...
  • Abe Award a surprise ee" and a motivation

    There I was, minding my own business. Just doing my job.

    My task for the evening last Thursday was to cover the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.

    Several speakers took the stage. Outgoing president, Joanna Helm, talked about the accomplishments the chamber has made during the past year. Incoming president, Shaun Murray, outlined his goals for the coming year.

    And emcee Kevin Childers took on all comers with a barrage of jabs and jokes to keep the mood light – and to keep people running for cover.

    Click here to read more...
  • Important issues in next Tuesday's election

    Don’t let the fact that all county officer and county board candidates are running unopposed keep you from going to your polling place next Tuesday.

    For example, you can be a vital part of the process in deciding who will be on the ballot in the gubernatorial race – and in all statewide officer races – in the general election. The same is true for the state representative and state senator races in November.

    Click here to read more...
  • Family documents found in deed box

    My job that day was to clean shelves in my office. Among and amidst the papers, boxes and books, was a slim black metal deed box.

    I carried the box to the kitchen table, and with slight pressure, opened the lid. The 5-inch-by-10 l/2-inch box had last been the property of an uncle, Renatus (Noddy) Torbeck of St. Paul. It was given to me some years back by my cousin, Leila Dippold, who co-administered his estate.

    Click here to read more...
  • Make your mark; help with census

    Residents who feel that they are not valuable participants in the workings of local government can be just that this year.

    The federal government will conduct the 2010 Decennial Census this year in an effort to make sure that every person in this country is counted in the United States' population.

    Why does it matter whether you and I participate in the census?

    Click here to read more...