Things are happening in Sweet Home.
We’ve got a vastly rejuvenated Chamber of Commerce planning an awards ceremony featuring a local homegrown country star, Trevor Tagle, on April 7.
We’ve got new city government leaders who are gaining experience and making things happen.
We have a new City Hall in the works (see story on page 1).
We’ve got renewed efforts, by people who already have demonstrated success in this area, in our school district to help our young people get prepared for life by (a) graduating from high school and (b) actually leaving school prepared to work (see story also on page 1).
There’s also the downtown beautification effort that is about to kick off (page 6). We’re producing the Christmas tree and decorations for our nation’s capitol this year.
Planning for improvements in local parks is under way.
The Junior High is about to get some significant renovations.
The high school auditorium, where the SHARC Showdown was held Saturday night (page 11), is vastly improved from what it was a year ago – but it has a ways to go, yet.
Young athletes are being taught physical fitness and game skills on our local fields by volunteers.
People are helping out at SHEM, Manna, Sweet Home Economic Development Group and the Oregon Jamboree, Gleaners, Sunshine Industries, Meals on Wheels and – OK, we obviously can’t name them all. Progress is being made on a lot of fronts.
What’s certain is that either a lot of people are making these things happen or a few really dedicated individuals are working really hard – and what we mentioned above is only really scratching the surface.
So here’s a question: Are you going to sit and watch other people drive these things or would you consider getting involved?
In recent years, we’ve seen Sweet Home go through what looked like and felt like a bit of a lull over the last few years as leadership changed and, frankly, we just got the sense that a lot of longtime volunteers were running out of gas – probably because they were becoming well advanced in years.
It’s been exciting to see younger people beginning to step up.
The fact is, though, things are humming right now, and there’s plenty to do.
The city still needs to figure out what to do with that 200 acres along the river that the county wants to give us. We still have problems with poverty, homelessness, blight – to name a few.
What we’re saying is this: If you have big ideas – or any ideas at all, now is the time to get plugged in.
Our staff has been doing community journalism for a long time, and we know how things get done. People do them.
In a community like Sweet Home, often even a few individuals can make big things happen.
If you want to see improvements to the parks, if you’d like to see something happen on the Knife River property, if you think you can help in any one or two of a myriad of ways – and needs – in the community, don’t just sit there.
Ask at City Hall (1140 12th Ave.) about ways to get plugged in. Ask at the School District (1920 Long St.). Ask at the chamber (1575 Main St.). Ask at SHEDG (401 Main St.).
Things are happening, but there’s still a need for energy, expertise, effort. Who knows what could be accomplished if you were to get involved?
One more little item: The chamber is continuing to accept nominations for its Community Service Awards through this Friday. For those of us prone to procrastination, the moving of the chamber awards banquet to April 7 has provided an extended opportunity to get the deed done.
We know it’s a chore to collect the information on one or more worthy individuals while keeping the whole thing under wraps, but it’s worth it when they receive the reward they deserve.
If you know someone who’s deserving, well, get busy.