Thanksgiving Countdown

editorial-logo3It is that time of year. The day of dressing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie is nearly upon us and so it is time to remember the things that we have to be thankful for this year. Of course, most of us are thankful that election season is over and we can get back to normal daily living. It was a rather tense election season on the local, state and national level. In the end, it is over. Win or lose, kiss or cry, it is over and I, for one, am thankful. Perhaps the lovely aroma of what’s cooking in the kitchen will be enough to pull the protesters from the streets. Then again, maybe not. After all, won’t they get time and a half for holiday pay?

This year we have divided the Chamber of Commerce and EDOC, another action for which I am thankful. It is hard to know just who has the ball when all of the players are wearing the same uniform. Maybe now citizens can actually identify who is doing what with their hard earned tax dollars. My guess is that what is good for the goose may not be good for the gander, to use a fowl expression. The IDB is looking to buy some land so that it can be sold to some unknown company in an unknown land. I am not against owning property but I would be more willing to join the thankful express if the IDB were continuing to pursue some interest in the property owned by Norfolk Southern rather than taking another run at the White Pine location. After all, having at least one finger in the decision making pie is better than no pie at all, and it seems that the citizens at both end of the county are getting fed up.

I suppose that those of us that did not receive a letter from Nyrstar looking to exercise their mineral rights on our property should be thankful. I feel for those people who did receive that unexpected little gem. Like anyone needs that kind of stress in their life, especially this time of the year. Police lights, grid erections and possible future drillings are just the things that a fun holiday season are made of. Surface property ownership is a lot like eating dry turkey. It is all fine and dandy until you choke on it. Unfortunately, many of us don’t own the mineral rights to our property but few of us are aware that someone else owns what lies beneath our flower bed. Maybe we should be thankful that we got the wake up call before the mail runs.

I know that the parents and folks living in the White Pine community are thankful that the school is getting some attention in the form of renovation and addition. Apparently, what looked like an easy road for this project has now taken a $3.5 million dollar bumpy turn. While we all sit and scratch our heads, trying to determine just what happened to the $2.8 million dollar price tag for a complete project, I am wondering about the fine print. How is it that $3.5 million dollars only buys roof materials, not installation? Considering our history (see building 8) do we really want to forgo profession roof installation? And perhaps the most pressing question is can we even get insurance on the project if we install the roof? I really want the White Pine project for the teachers and students but I would be more thankful if it came with a professionally installed roof. Just sayin’.

The truth is that we do have some challenges that we have faced in Jefferson County, in the state and nationally this year. But, we are so, so fortunate that we live in a place where, at the end of the day, our neighbors share, or at least respect, our values. We can go to sleep at night feeling safe and we enjoy a way of life that many just cannot even fathom.

This Thanksgiving I am profoundly thankful for my family, friends, community and my faith. Some days are better than others and we all have a week of Mondays sometimes but when I count up the wins and the loses I know that I am blessed.

From my family to yours, have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Source: K. Depew, News Director