saying goodbye to 2007…

So, 2007 is winding down to a close–tonight is the last night of the year, and midnight will bring the dawn of the new year. I’m curious what this new year will bring. I am also curious as to what the old year will have left us.
On Wednesday night, The Cynthiana Democrat will have published and distributed the first of 2008’s fifty-two papers, and in the new year edition, they will review the top ten stories of 2007. I’m curious as to what the staff at the Democrat will say was big in ’07. Rick Chasteen will have Becky Barnes and Donald Richie on Thursday’s broadcast of Coffeebreak, and they will be discussing those stories.

One story on 2007 was published last week in the Democrat, where Donald spoke with Harrison County Judge-Executive Alex Barnett about the accomplishments that have been made during the first year of his term. In the article, advancements in joint government ventures were mentioned, as well as many cost reductions balanced with larger number of projects in the county’s road department were mentioned. The only negative report mentioned in the article was the acknowledgment of an issue with the employability of some Harrisonians:

Looking at the numbers, Barnett said while Harrison County’s unemployment rate is low – its citizens’ employability can be a problem.

The issue: drugs.

Barnett said there is a growing problem locally where employers have trouble finding help because job applicants cannot pass pre-employment drug tests.

“We need to work with addicts to treat them for their problem instead of locking them up and putting them back out” he said. “We need to work hard and treat them and help them return to being a viable part of the workforce.”

For that, Barnett has helped establish a task force on drug issues which is in its infancy. Although Barnett admits the drug problem has no easy solution, he hopes the efforts which have been started will continue past his administration and results will be seen down the road.

“I look for big things out of it,” he said. (Richie, 2007)

I expect this issue, and issues related to other criminal activity to be mentioned in the upcoming edition of the Democrat. Crime has seemingly been growing in Cynthiana, and Harrison County throughout this now passing year. Rick Chasteen noted on his radio program last Friday that there have been a growing number of domestic disputes in Cynthiana, and referenced one that took place earlier this year, behind Thrift Food Mart, that ended up in the murder of one person.
Other events that took place this year (that I recall) which may or may not be news-worthy are:

• the newly built Wal-Mart Super Center, and demolition of the original Wal-Mart structure
• the grand re-opening of The Rohs Opera House
• the audit of former Harrison County High School Principal Robert Barr, and findings thereof
• the tragic death of high school sisters, Sarah and Jennifer Riggs
• the accomplishments of the Harrison County Thorobreds Football Team
• the revocation of the Cynthiana Police Department’s home fleet program, and sale of half the fleet
• the progress of the project to replace the viaduct on US 27 North
• the planned removal of Ingles Stadium, which then became halted by the Kentucky Department of Education
• the decrease in officers working for the Cynthiana Police Department
• the opening of the new addition to Harrison Memorial Hospital, and HMH’s 100th Anniversary
• the Harrison County Tomorrow Survey

I’m sure there are many other stories that could be covered, but those are the only topics that come to mind at this time. I’m sure if I did some digging, and looked back through the archive of posts here I would uncover other stories that have some importance to the community, and how 2007 and the future of Cynthiana, Harrison County, and our citizenry have been affected.
REFERENCES
Richie, D. (2007) Judge reflects on first-year accomplishments. Retrieved December 31, 2007 from