Proper Appreciation of a "Vandalia Leader": Gary Sosniecki

Wouldn't you like to find something interesting? Here, on this page? On another webpage somewhere? Inside a smalltown?

WELL...I'm not going to claim the most original thoughts. A few of my writings may be interesting, and many won't be all that original. But this isn't about me. This is (largely) about a man named Gary Sosniecki. He is a person with whom I am familiar, but have never met. Perhaps I will be able to remedy that sometime soon, after he goes into a "semi-retirement" mode following his departure as editor of the "Vandalia Leader", the town newspaper in Vandalia, Missouri. Before continuing, I'll point out that I have previously brought up - and on occasion will continue to bring up - this small town along U.S. Hwy 54 at the corners of Audrain/Pike/Ralls Counties in Northeast-central Missouri.

Gary Sosniecki and his wife Helen have been newspaper reporters and editors for virtually their entire adult lives. I did not know much about them until the past two years. Most of what I learned was through the award-winning editorial writings of Gary, printed online each week for the past few years at http://www.vandalialeader.com - some of his editorials told me more about what has been happening in Vandalia, MO, than if I had gone to town every week for the past two years --- something that "almost happened". The two of them have owned the publication for a few years and recently announced the sale of the newspaper to another group. There will be a new editor-reporter soon, and I sure wish him the best and hope he follows in the shoes of the Sosniecki's. I believe that Vandalia, Farber, and all of the surrounding communities will have been improved due to their common sense reporting, editing, and editorializing. And the latest, and his next-to-final, "Leader" editorial from Gary shows to me that an impact can be made just by speaking out. He wrote about the things that would make the town better. Not a harsh critique, but a gentle nudge to residents, officials, even people who no longer live or work there, to get things "fixed" or upon which improvements may be made. And although this blog/column is about Gary and Helen and their impact, I suppose it's time to put in my two cents, partially because of his call to discuss transportation issues which have a direct effect on Vandalia, MO, USA.

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Here's my perspective on something Gary has brought into focus: U.S. 54 and a four-lane highway in northeast-central Missouri going northeast from Mexico, MO:

A useful 4-lane route for traffic going northeast from Mexico, MO to U.S. 61 "toward Hannibal", even if not going TO Hannibal, should include Vandalia. In fact, taxpayers should demand this. I'm not speaking of taxpayers from Vandalia --- all taxpayers in Missouri and in the United States of America --- should vocalize their preference on this issue. If one seeks a "good" route to U.S. 61 from Mexico, MO, you'll see it exists: it is primarily along what is now the two-lane U.S. 54 which already goes through Vandalia. Although it may not be a perfect route to the view of many in Mexico, MO, it is - as I see it - the BEST POSSIBLE route for the price, largely due to the already existing right-of-way and the costs associated with building such a project. Indeed, there is already one project set to bid in 2009 which will spend at least $3-million on rehabilitating a nearly 8-mile stretch of U.S. 54 as it runs from MO 19 east to a point just west of Vandalia and another separate project set (bid in 2009) to improve U.S. 54 from east of Route 154 to Route U, a section of pavement five-and-a-half miles in length. That information serves as an agreement with my viewpoint. Does it match your view?
Certainly, I do not discount what many want - a route that connects Mexico to Hannibal. But, one can see that Missouri Route 19 already goes toward the Hannibal area - it lands along U.S. 61 at New London, MO. Sure, a four-lane highway may be preferable along that route should analysis show traffic volume demands MO 19 be widened. At this point, it is a revamped four-lane U.S. 54 that makes sense because of it's logical access as a southwest to northeast route to U.S. 61 and on INTO Illinois as an ALTERNATE route to Hwy 19/Hwy 154/U.S. 36/I-72 at Hannibal, especially should, heaven forbid, something happen to close that I-72/U.S. 36 bridge at Hannibal/East Hannibal. And let us not forget that there is a bridge across the Mississippi at U.S. 24 in Quincy, which already serves as a good northern alternate to the Hannibal bridge.
Please consider writing/calling/e-mailing MoDOT, Congressman Hulshof, Senators Bond and McCaskill, Governor Blunt, Lt. Governor Kinder, your state representatives, state senators, and local leaders to give them an idea of what you think.
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Surely, if I've learned one thing from reading editorial columnists - having a viewpoint can by handy, even if it is not popular.

Gary Sosniecki's column in the Vandalia Leader will be missed by many. If he hears of this blog post, I hope he heeds my request: please BLOG YOUR EDITORIAL. The world needs well written editorials. Your editorials are still going to be needed, even if you're not publishing a newspaper.

Good luck Gary and Helen Sosniecki as you continue your journey, whether concentrating on pressing family matters, to move on to run another publication or take a new set of jobs, or if simply to enjoy traveling this great world.
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Please discuss this and other posts from this blog in the "comments" section.
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Buzz Ullrich
editor of Morning Show Travel