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Today's Opinions

  • The Way We Were

    20 Years Ago

    1996 – Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and Odie Washington, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, visited Vandalia for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new work camp at Vandalia Correctional Center.
    Jeff Bullard, 27, of Mt. Vernon, joined the Vandalia Police Department as a patrolman.
    More than 50 people attended a kickoff meeting for Vandalia Main Street.
    Sam and Evelyn Jolliff of Patoka were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

    25 Years Ago

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  • Vandalia Memories
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  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week's photo: This young woman is a lifelong resident of Vandalia.

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  • The Way We Were

    20 Years Ago

    1996 – A nationwide search was kicked off for Kelly McGinnis, a Greenville man who gunned down Greenville Attorney Tom Meyer in the alley behind the lawyer's office downtown.
    The Vandalia City Council approved a resolution prohibiting drinking outside bars in the city, after some bar owners asked for permission to have beer gardens.
    Bruce Clanton of rural Vandalia was recognized as a candidate for the American FFA Degree, the highest honor in the Future Farmers of America.

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  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week's photo: This young man has continued playing the drums into adulthood while working in the multi-generational family business.
    Do you know him? If so, call our office at 283-3374 by 5 p.m. next Monday.
    Last week's photo: Jason Hagy, Curt Braun and Bruce Yarbrough.
    Identifying them was: Dannie Donaldson.
    This week’s Scrambler: eth aeluv fo wdnelekog arf saepsruss eth stoc fo sit incisqtiaou.
    Can you unscramble it? If so, call The Leader-Union, 283-3374, by 5 p.m. next Monday.

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  • Vandalia Memories
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  • A woman got pushed into a well

    My son, Ethan, and I were picking blackberries the other day, and as we continued our conversation amidst the canes laden with berries and thorns, several stories came to mind.
    Of course, my first thought was of bears and their love of blackberries; however, their numbers are so depleted that they are not generally seen by the public. Several birds chortled at us, but with the idea that there was enough for all, we continued until we had a gallon pail full.

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  • Good news at city meeting

    Many local residents are often lamenting about nothing good ever happening in Vandalia. While it wasn't the landing of a large industry with a lot of jobs, there were two positive announcements at Monday's city council meeting.
    First, Mayor Rick Gottman announced that Schutt Sports, a company that makes football helmets, including those used by more than one-third of National Football League players, and other sports equipment, will be using part of the building that formerly housed Statewide Tire.

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