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Today's Opinions

  • VCC solution is vital to future of this area

    This area dodged a major bullet last week when a Johnson County judge issued a preliminary injunction that prevented Gov. Pat Quinn from laying off more than 2,600 state employees – including about 125 at Vandalia Correctional Center.

    The ruling sends the governor and the union representing the prison workers back to the bargaining table.

    Hopefully, by buying some time, the two sides can begin moving down a path that will lead to real solutions that work for everyone involved.

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  • Newspaper Week a chance to reflect on changes

    Given the roller-coaster ride that those of us in the media have been on this past year, it’s more appropriate than ever to pause and take a deep breath during National Newspaper Week.

    And as we do, it’s time to take stock of this always fascinating but sometimes maddening institution in which we toil.

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  • Cooperation key to halt VCC cuts

    It’s down to crunch time.

    One week from today, the state is scheduled to lay off 2,600 state workers, including 1,000 employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections. About 125 of those layoffs would be at Vandalia Correctional Center.

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  • Fayette County's War of 1812 veterans

    Last Tuesday evening, my friend Bill Wilson, president of the Hill’s Fort Society, telephoned to remind me that I had promised him a list of War of 1812 veterans buried in Fayette County.

    This sounded like something I would do, and the fact that Bill needed it for a talk on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Society’s “Living History Days” in Greenville, spurred me to begin my research right then and there.

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  • Fayette County's War of 1812 veterans

    Last Tuesday evening, my friend Bill Wilson, president of the Hill’s Fort Society, telephoned to remind me that I had promised him a list of War of 1812 veterans buried in Fayette County.

    This sounded like something I would do, and the fact that Bill needed it for a talk on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Society’s “Living History Days” in Greenville, spurred me to begin my research right then and there.

    Click here to read more...
  • Thomas Lakin recalls newspaper career

    Three weeks ago, I contributed a story for this column telling how I had been contacted by editor and publisher Mike Lakin of The Mt. Pulaski Times for permission to reprint an earlier column.

    Immediately, my antennae went up, because Thomas N. Lakin was editor and publisher of The Vandalia Union. I learned from Mike that his grandfather, William Lakin, and Thomas Lakin were cousins.

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  • Celebrate progress during Corn Days

    As construction work advances down Gallatin Street, the rebirth of Vandalia’s downtown is becoming more apparent each day. Much of the underground infrastructure work is now complete, and workers are preparing to pour the second block of concrete street surface.

    There’s a lot to be excited about as a new and improved downtown Vandalia gradually takes shape.

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  • Pro-business plan is best budget fix

    In his life outside his duties as a state senator, Kyle McCarter is a businessman. And he plans to keep his business ties to remind himself that his votes as a senator have a real-world impact on the state's businesses.

    It's a perspective some of his fellow legislators apparently have forgotten.

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