Hopeful for a Great 2012

Here it is, my first column of the new year. Some who read this paper regularly know I don’t write many columns—not nearly enough according to many I hear from, particularly in my profession. I know, I should have one weekly. But…it just doesn’t happen.

Each year, I vow to do better. I don’t think I even did that this year. My new year’s resolutions don’t usually do much good, so I’m following some advice I read around that time to resolve to do better whenever the thought strikes…not just at the beginning of a new calendar year.

Frankly I was glad to welcome 2012 and say good-bye to 2011. 2011 was an awful year. My good friend Mary battled cancer from the beginning of the year until she died in August.

Then, in September, my father fell and broke his hip. That is not unusual for an elderly person, which I guess at 81 he could have been considered elderly. But, those who knew my father knew he was full of get-up and go and loved life. Somehow, my father ended up dying from a broken hip. And I have had a hard time coping.

So, you see, I am hoping for a better 2012.

And I know I am not alone, because besides those personal losses, 2011 saw a rough economy, evidenced here at The Monticello News and throughout our community.

This week’s paper, for example, has five pages of legal notices, most of them foreclosures.

We’ve seen several businesses close.

The cost of groceries seems to continue to climb, in spite of the fact cost-of-living or other raises seem to be a thing of the past. Many, many people have lost their jobs, or at least had their pay cut.

So, the atmosphere is not good. And, in this year of presidential and county commission elections, you would think the feeling would be upbeat and positive. But I haven’t seen that yet.

Locally, it almost seems that a poison permeates the atmosphere.

For eight years now, the Taxpayers’ Watchdog Group, under the auspices of watching that our governing officials do right, have filled this newspaper and the internet and wherever it can with negativity about Monticello and Jasper County.

The five commissioners serving now have been at each other’s throats much of their terms, and this year hasn’t started any better. They can’t even get a majority vote on who should serve as chairman (at this writing).

Three of the commissioners have the internet at their homes and know how to use it, and don’t hesitate to let their constituents and many more know how they feel. Sometimes that is good. Communication is almost always good. But negativity and constant bashing and blaming the other guy is not.

A new Monticello City Council was just elected last November. And, that was contentious. The election is being challenged in court.

State Rep. Susan Holmes, former mayor of Monticello, has spoken with several groups, including the Jasper County Commission and new Monticello City Council, and urged them to be leaders…to work together to improve our wonderful community.

Local economic development officials have a prospect very interested in moving to Jasper County. They are afraid the prospect will hear the negativity in the air and choose to locate somewhere else.

They are also working on a project that could capitalize on our top resource in the county—the great outdoors. Much of the county is national forest, and then we also have state-owned Charlie Elliott taking up a chunk.

We need to learn to make those things positive for Jasper County instead of lamenting the loss of tax dollars.

A new Leadership Jasper class is set to begin on Saturday, Jan. 28. I sincerely hope that each city council person who has not previously participated in Leadership Jasper will. I have the same hope for each of the sitting county commissioners, as well as people who are considering a run for commission.

It would also be a good place for those individuals who would like to seek other elective and appointed offices. You get to know others who care about the community, and learn a little about how government works. Mostly, you learn how to work as part of a team to lead the community.

Those of us who took the leadership class years ago are also invited to join in again.

Most of us who live here know what a wonderful, caring community we live in. It is amazing the way we can pull together when challenged. I was a recipient of that great caring when my father died, and people lavished my family with food, cards, words of comfort, and more. And, many came to the service to remember him.

And I’ve been reminded in many community and school activities through the years, both good and bad. When bad happens, we bond together to make it better. When good happens, we celebrate together.

I sure hope we can look back on 2012 as the year Jasper County leaders realized the importance of staying positive and looking ahead. After all, I believe in a Pollyanna truth—when you look for the good in someone, you usually find it.

Unfortunately the opposite is also true. So, let’s look for the good in everyone. Let’s use our varying skills to say Jasper County is going to be the best it can be. Let’s agree to disagree, and discuss conflicts civilly. It’s time to let Jasper County shine.