Opinion

Do you doubt whether a lot of people are excited about the reopening of the Vandalia Statehouse? If you would have seen the crowd last Thursday night at the Statehouse, you wouldn’t have such doubts.

More than 300 people turned out for the program held to celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln at the state’s oldest existing capitol.

It’s not unusual for many people to walk through the Statehouse for events such as the Christmas Open House. But it’s been a long, long time since there have been so many people in that building at one time.

He’s long been referred to as the most respected and beloved president in our nation’s history.

And now, as we pause to observe the 200th anniversary of his birth, Abraham Lincoln is once again front and center. Across the nation – but particularly here in Illinois – we’re celebrating the life and character of this remarkable man.

Last week, as our community prepared to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce presented two awards named after our 16th president.

Those Abe Awards, presented annually by the chamber, honor those who have made significant contributions to our community. This marks the 35th year that the awards have been given.

The Western Union telegram came late in the day of July 11, 1945, to Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Garner of Rural Route 1, Vandalia.

Dispatched by the Commanding Officer at Naval Air Station, Banana River, Fla., the standard tersely written telegram read: "Regret to inform you that your son Thomas Arthur Garner AMM3C missing since about 0215 July 10, 1945, while on a routine training flight search being conducted will keep you promptly advised.”

In last week’s column, we were introduced to Dr. James A. Black, born near Salem, and the keeper of a diary during his three years with Company D of the 49th Illinois Infantry.

It wasn’t so much the good doctor who caused my interest in Company D, it was the fact that author Benita Moore of Galesburg informed me that 20 men from Vandalia were assigned to this company.

After nearly a decade of planning and several rounds of seeking bids, it appears that Vandalia's downtown enhancement project is finally going to be launched this spring.

A bid opening last Friday produced a contractor whose price tag for the project is within 10 percent of the engineer's estimates. And that contractor has been involved in a similar – though much larger – enhancement project in downtown Belleville. It sounds like a good fit.

You almost have to wonder whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich is clicking his heels when he speaks publicly.

Remember Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”? Clicking her heels three times, Dorothy chanted, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

That’s been a Blagojevich theme.

In Vandalia for the first time, in 2002, Blagojevich said, “I want to bring jobs to Illinois. I want to bring jobs to Illinois. I want to bring jobs to Illinois.”

For a little more than two years, a dozen residents of the Brownstown and St. Elmo school districts have studied how a consolidation of the two districts would improve the educational offerings for their children. Now, they are anxious to share their findings with their fellow residents.

At a meeting on Tuesday night, the consolidation Committee of 10 hashed out at length just how they can best relay their findings to residents of the two districts.

As we prepare to close out 2008, we pause to remember the good, the bad and the ugly of the year just past ­– and to anticipate the year ahead.

For a few, 2008 was a banner year. Others, however, can’t wait to tear off the last month of the calendar and put the year behind them. For most, it was a mixed bag.

National Politics