Editorials

Here's hoping for a much better, more promising 2012

TBO.com
Published: January 1, 2012

Last year was full of news in Highlands County and across the globe. It's been a tough one for a lot of folks around here, and we hope this new year brings people who have been struggling an opportunity for better days.

Today's Top 10 list is a subjective idea, and there are stories that should have been on the list but didn't make it.

The ongoing story that has impacted so many people for several years now is the poor economy.

It's painful to know that so many people are struggling to put food on their tables and stay in their homes. Our food pantries and food reservoir have been doing amazing work keeping these people fed.

These tough times have brought out the best in people the past year and we believe that trend will continue.

Time after time, people have stepped up to help a widowed mother of twins after her husband was killed in war.

Local people also have opened their hearts and wallets to provide assistance to those in need throughout the year.

We've seen businesspeople close the doors on their stores. It hurts when this happens, because these folks put their money on the line with the dream of success, worked endless hours, and this relentlessly poor economy gave them little help.

The coming year holds promise, though. Home sales are doing better, but there's a big inventory out there.

We need more jobs, but as people feel more confident in the economy, we should see improvement all around. At least that's what we're counting on.

Too many people have been hanging on by their fingernails for so long, waiting for things to get better.

Almost every industry has been hit hard, and good, valued employees have lost jobs.

We must remain optimistic that things will get better. The alternative is to see more of the same, and we don't wish that on anyone.

Perhaps 2012 will be the start of a new and improved economy, where the people who work hard and persevere will be rewarded for that effort. We've had too many years where that wasn't enough, and we've lost some of our best and brightest people who moved elsewhere to make a living.

We believe this year is the turning point and we'll stick to that until something changes our minds.

Everything's in place for it to happen, and this place we call home will just get better and better.