FROM THE DOGTROT: Happy new year

By DIANE JOHNSON

  I was able to enjoy a white Christmas this year…a really white Christmas.  Southeastern Michigan was hit with its most intense snowstorm in 25 years.  Twelve inches of snow fell in a matter of hours and carpeted the area in white.  While it caused myriad difficulties, the beauty was spectacular. Living in Washington County has shown me many kinds of natural beauty, but deep snow is not one that I’ve seen in my 10 years here. We get a lovely dusting of snow, and an occasional inch or two, but never the knee deep, can’t easily trudge through it, kind of winter storm. Unfortunately, the big city traffic quickly turned much of the Michigan white stuff into ugly, dirty piles of brown sludge.
    The snowstorm caused my being housebound and offered an opportunity to reflect upon 2008. I have observed many positives in our community.  Glade Spring sent a very direct message that the status quo will no longer be tolerated.  Ethical, accountable government is now the expectation. The three newly elected town council members have shown that they will step up to the plate to provide the kind of government that Glade Spring has needed for so long.  While the plan for a new town manager wasn’t successful, the error was corrected before too much time, energy and tax dollars were wasted.  Glade is on a very tight budget and the commitment to sound financial practices is currently shown in the day to day operations.  Town folks have waited far too many years for this turn around.  Too few knew exactly the sad shape this town was in. It was on the verge of collapse and the vultures were circling.
    Saltville also saw activism on the part of citizens.  Questions are being asked and answers are now being demanded. Closed, secret meetings, with no explanations of topics are not going to be tolerated.  Town business, the business of the people, has to be done in the open.  The response of, “Our lawyer told us to do it this way,” just doesn’t cut it any more. The lawyer doesn’t govern the town. He is an adviser. The buck stops with the people sitting in the big chairs. Two new council members were elected this year, and they, along with more vocal citizens, are demanding greater accountability. Expect to see more positive changes demanded in Saltville in the coming months.
    Citizens are expecting more sunshine from our local governments, the courts, and our officials. No more secrets. Fairness is becoming the expectation and the “good old boy” network is becoming intolerable. More and more citizens are contacting me about questionable practices and I am working at shining a light on these. There is much work to be done.  I believe that most officials want to do the right thing. And most do. Citizens need to be mindful of their own role in the mix. They are to be ever watchful and this is a never ending necessity and responsibility. Each of us must do our part and not become complacent. Never forget that people who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.
    As 2008 comes to a close, let each of us count our blessings. Let us focus on the positives in our lives while still addressing the various negatives.  We are a fortunate people and enjoy lives that most in the world envy. As Robert Burns wrote in the 1700’s,
     
    “And here’s a hand my trusty friend
    And gie’s a hand o’thine
    We’ll tak’ a cup o’kindness yet
      For auld lang syne”
    May each of you enjoy a healthy, happy, prosperous 2009. Happy New Year.