The Way We Were

20 Years Ago

1993 – Vandalia resident Wallace Weicherding, who hosted a Ku Klux Klan rally at his lake home in September, was fired from his job as a sergeant at Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro for allegedly promoting his racial beliefs while on the job.
Local artists Kim Shanks and Matt Mayfield dressed up the Vandalia Historical Society room at Evans Public Library by creating a painting of Abraham Lincoln on one of the walls.
Winner of the Daughters of American Revolution Good Citizen Award were Joshua Robison from Brownstown, Seth McClure of Ramsey, Andra Wolf of St. Elmo and Lori Gerkin of Vandalia.
John Hopkins of Vernon celebrated his 90th birthday.
The organizers of Vandalia's 175th Celebration were in the processing of trademarking the celebration logo created by Vandalia resident Alice Hudders, to ensure that items bearing the logo help generate funds for the celebration and to have some control on celebration-related souvenirs.
The Vandalia Unit Teachers Association was holding a raffle to raise enough money to buy a car for Riitta Maunula, a Finland resident teaching in Brownstown through a teacher exchange program. She was trading jobs with Brownstown teacher Sandra Stine.
The staff at Kaskaskia College's Vandalia Center held a reception to honor Martha Robinson, who was retiring as the center's coordinator.
Lucas Clanton was among the four finalists for the Dairy Production Award at the National Future Farmers of America Convention.
Sandy Ricke of Fillmore showed off a 15-point buck she shot near Dry Fork Creek during the first firearm deer hunting season. At the Fayette County Check Station, Woolsey Brothers Farm Supply, 945 deer were checked in.
Cathy Chisholm was the new pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Vandalia.

25 Years Ago

1988 – Kaye Smith of St. Elmo was picked to serve as chief deputy of the Fayette County sheriff's department.
Nineteen area seniors were honored by the Vandalia Optimist Club and other local clubs and organizations at a Youth Appreciation Banquet.

35 Years Ago

1978 – The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce had raised half the funds needed for its downtown beautification program.
The dumping of trash along township roads was causing not only a mess but also a traffic hazard.
One span was in place and others were to have been installed in the near future for a new bridge over the Kaskaskia River between Shobonier and Pittsburg.
Men from Holy Cross Lutheran Church built a nativity scene for the Old State Capitol grounds.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett Rhoades of Ramsey were honored on their 40th wedding anniversary.
45 Years Ago

1968 – Harlan Medders and Tom Cocagne received the Jaycees of the Month award.
Anna Ruth Kains was rehearsing the VCHS Girls' Glee Club for the Christmas Messiah.
Denny Boley and Ray Radliff, along with Ray's sons John and Mike, were enjoying riding in Amphicats over the Kaskaskia River bottoms.
Paul Pittman of the Farmers Home Administration outlined provisions of the 1968 Housing Act at the Technical Action Panel gathering at the Holiday Inn.  
Leona Grandt was honored for 40 years of teaching at a special service at St. Peter Lutheran Church.
George Lawler, D.C., son of Nelson Lawler, began his general practice at Chiropractic Art Center in Tuscola.

55 Years Ago

1958 – The opening of a new department had doubled employment at the Vandalia Division of Crane Packing. Plans were released for a new addition that would cost between $125,000 and $150,000. In less than a year, employment had risen from 21 to 50 at the plant.
Funeral directors were guests of Shrine Memorial Mausoleum Co. and National Casket Co. at a dinner in the Evans Hotel.
Boys Scout Troop No. 141, sponsored by the St. James Lutheran men, received its charter from the Lincoln Trails Council.
E.R. Mikeworth received a watch for 25 years of employment with Shell Oil Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shively were installed as worthy patron and worthy matron at Melrose Chapter No. 243 of Order of the Eastern Star.
Dennis Matrix was elected captain of the Illinois Wesleyan basketball team.
The St. Elmo C.C. Club held its annual Thanksgiving turkey dinner at the home of Miss Rubye Jones.

65 Years Ago

1948 – Plans were being made for homecoming activities at VCHS in December.
A fire did minor damage to a home on West Johnson Street owned by Burr Mabry.
J.L. Heicher of Farina and John Quade of Pana, formerly of Brownstown, were injured when the Meadowlark streamliner of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad crashed into the rear of a suburban train in Dolton, just outside Chicago.

75 Years Ago

1938 – The first snow of the season fell on Nov. 22.
About 230 producing wells had been completed in Fayette County.
The Rev. Paul R. Brown, Methodist pastor here, was elected to membership in the Vandalia Rotary Club.
The senior class play at Vandalia High School was presented by Mildred Harris, Hazel Davidson, James Lawler, Gerald White, Joe Dees, Virginia Messex, Phyllis Beaver, Mary Beccue, Virgean Davis, Charles Sears, Harold Freeland, Harriet Ellicot, Roslyn Levin and Marie Bolt.