As the year nears an end, we are reflecting on what has taken place in the past 12 months - both good and bad - and are looking ahead to the future.
And new year's resolutions are being made, many of which include striving for a better quality - for ourselves and the community.
But before we can move forward, we have to remember the past year. Here are just a few notable occurrences.
In 2001, Greenwood had its share of bad news, from loss of jobs to loss of life. The city saw two key industries, Baldwin Piano and Uniek (formerly National Picture & Frame Co.) close plants, leaving hundreds of people without jobs. Several Leflore County homes sustained damage from a tornado in February, leaving families without a place to live. And a string of shootings left three people dead and several others injured.
Greenwood joined the rest of the nation in mourning the loss from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Several area residents had loved ones in or around the World Trade Center when the twin towers were hit by two planes, sending them falling to the ground in ruin and killing more than 5,000 people.
But things weren't all bad in 2001. There were several bright spots, including the announcement of Milwaukee Tool Corp. locating in Greenwood and Viking Range Corp. purchasing the historic Hotel Irving.
Both announcements hold promises of good things to come. Milwaukee Tool will provide much needed jobs and should help an ailing economy.
The Hotel Irving project is rejuvenating downtown Greenwood. When finished, the upscale facility should bring more visitors to our city. And with increased traffic, there should be more tourism dollars coming in.
What's more important, the Hotel Irving project has inspired other downtown business owners to upgrade their stores. Many merchants have added new awnings and painted their store fronts, thanks to a facade grant program sponsored by Main Street Greenwood.
Expansions at Heartland Catfish and the John Richard Collection also brought more jobs to help absorb some of those lost by the closure of other big employers.
With a high unemployment rate, the area is still a long way from coming out of an economic downturn. However, there are positive things taking place in the area to build on.
But to make the most of the positives in our community, people must work together - make an effort to get involved and share their thoughts and ideas.
Don't sit back and say, "I can't make a difference." You can.
And getting involved is easy. There are several organizations, such as the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Greenwood, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and many more, that are always looking for new members.
Remember, a city can only be as strong as the as the people who live there. If we don't make an effort to improve our community, no one else will.
So let's start out the new year by resolving to become better citizens. It will benefit not only us personally, but everyone around us.
