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Today's Opinions

  • Greenhead flies tormented early settlers

    In the 1908 memoir written by Presley Garner Donaldson of Hurricane Township, he wrote a first-hand account of what life was like in the Fayette County of his time.
    Presley was not the first to mention the varmints that infested the county, but he was one of the first to go into a little detail as to the problems they encountered from the greenhead fly.

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  • Plan enhances court coverage

    A recent decision to allow video and still cameras in most Illinois’ trial courtrooms is a move toward more openness and accountability in the state’s legal system.
    The announcement on Jan. 24 by Thomas Kilbride, chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, paves the way for circuit courts to apply to participate in the experimental program. If the circuit court is approved, then members of the media can request permission to cover certain cases.

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  • 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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