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Today's Opinions

  • The Way We Were

    20 Years Ago

    1992 – Fayette County’s Cooperative Extension Service’s executive council voted unanimously on Tuesday to form a three-county cluster with Effingham and Shelby counties.
    Births – Joshua Michael to Mr. and Mrs. Keith Perkins of Effingham; Kenny Robert to Jackie Richards and Kendall Pryor of Shobonier; and Hayley Beth to Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Jahn of Centralia.

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  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week’s Scrambler:  ghitsn yam moec ot shote how tiwa, tub lyno het gistnh flet yb setoh ohw letshu.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.
    Last week’s Scrambler: We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit. (Robert Shaffer)

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  • Reward great service by casting your vote

    They've earned your loyalty and respect every time you've set foot in their store – now it's your turn to return the favor to your favorite merchants by voting in The Leader-Union's annual Reader's Choice contest.
    For the past two weeks, we've included a ballot in The Leader-Union and The Leader-Union Extra. Those ballots give you the chance to reward those merchants whose commitment to excellence has earned your support.

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  • Congratulations to area athletes

    It's the time of year to step up. It's the time when champions rise to the challenges and leaders lead.
    And that's exactly what we've seen recently from athletes at Vandalia Community High School.
    Members of the wrestling team and the boys basketball team have shown such strength of character as they've competed in recent days.
    Five wrestlers qualified for the state individual tournament, with Levi Ulmer coming home with a fifth-place medal. And Tuesday night, the squad pulled out a close match with Herrin to return to state as a team.

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  • Persistance may pay off with intake

    Understandably, the city of Vandalia has kept a close watch on its spending the past couple of years. That has meant delaying some needed infrastructure projects.
    But one city alderman is making sure that one of those projects, the Kaskaskia River intake, is not forgotten.
    Terry Beesley announced at Tuesday’s city council meeting that, as a way of getting something done with the intake, he has contacted every state agency he could think of, looking for some type of free assistance.

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  • Letter to the Editor

    Editor:
    This is a letter to any parent who has or had a student at Vandalia Community High School. First, a couple definitions:
    Handbook – “A concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location.”
    Guideline – “A recommended practice that allows some discretion or leeway in its interpretation, implementation or use.”

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  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1997 – The Vandalia Main Street Board of Directors went to the Vandalia City Council to request $15,000, with the money to be used as startup funds for the program.
    Eleven members of the Vandalia wrestling team advanced to the individual sectional tournament. Of the 11, six won regional titles – Shane Graumenz, Michael Mabry, Hank Stout, Nathan Graumenz, Chad Wilson and Nick Cocagne.
    Gilbert Olive was installed is worshipful master of Vandalia Temperance Lodge No. 16, A.F.&A.M.

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  • Memories on tape preserve tale of family

    First off, I would like to thank all those who read this column and share with me their enjoyment of the stories that are told here. Many times, more facets of the stories I share come forward and become, as one popular commentator put it, "the rest of the story."

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