Nothing dies as completely as the local news cycle in the period between Christmas and New Year's Day. The entire community takes a step back, refocuses on family and friends, while the news hounds twiddle their thumbs and stare disconsolately at their computer screens.
When all that fellowship and frolic comes to an end, those of us struggling to fill the pages of the newspaper do some serious head scratching and hand wringing.
As we welcome the New Year in the Battlefords we are pleased to report we have no major fires, crimes or natural disasters to report on, up to this point. What you will find are several opportunities to read and reflect on the year that was.
It was an interesting year, politically, on the business front - where all the news wasn't good news - and on the community development front.
The area of community development will be one to watch closely this year. Several organizations are going full steam ahead to improve facilities to help people in our community who need a leg up.
Fund raising activities by the Boys and Girls Club for a new building and Battleford Trade and Education Centre for a new day centre began last year and are ongoing. These organizations both warrant our support for the work they do in the community.
Already under construction are new group homes that will provide more independent living opportunities for a vulnerable segment of society.
While the Battlefords Indian Métis Centre is providing temporary shelter for the homeless, the organization's funding is limited and will need to be topped up so they can continue their operation until spring.
Just a block over Reclaim Outreach Centre is working to bring their building up to code in order to establish a permanent homeless shelter. Their work will also be in need of financial support from the community.
So, while we watch community minded projects such as the CUPlex and Battleford Opera House surge forward, projects that reflect our community pride and confidence in the future of the Battlefords, we need to keep in sight the smaller projects and their equal impact on what makes this a caring community for everyone.
