Top stories for 2002

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
Despite living under the cloud of terrorism warnings, rumors of war and a shaky economy, we managed to survive another year. Does anyone really want to get voted off this island of relative sanity we call Marion County? Didn’t think so.

But life wasn’t always idyllic here either. We had our share of ups and downs. But when you mix the good with the bad…well, it could have been much worse. And anything that hits close to home-good or bad-hits hard.

That said, here is our annual list of the Top 10 stories that left a mark during the past 12 months….

1. State budget crisis. Early in 2002, we watched this storm brewing under the dome in Topeka. By year’s end, though, it was rocking our world, too, with threats of significant budget cuts to cities, counties and schools, a reduction in programming and resources for the elderly and poor-and no sign of abatement. Think Kathleen Sebelius is having second thoughts?

2. Solid-waste issues. We bought a transfer station for how much? And we get to pay how much more this year for the privilege of using it? We’d ask for an explanation, but we’re afraid it’d be a solid waste of our time.

3. Drought. Dry weather hurt wheat yields but drove up the price of each bushel we harvested. The price of hay shot up, too, but eventually our alfalfa fields shriveled up like everyone else’s. Some farmers are probably wishing they were in the solid-waste business instead.

4. Reservoir reversals. We’re grateful Marion Reservoir didn’t dry up this past year-even though the funding did for a proposed $4 million expansion project at Cottonwood Point. So much for a boon in tourism dollars. By year’s end, employees were facing cutbacks and restructuring. Sheesh.

5. Father Emil Kapaun. Not long ago, many of us hardly knew ye. But efforts to make you a saint have made us all proud to call you a native son. You quietly left huge footsteps for all of us to follow.

6. Tabor’s football team. The last time we could say “winning season” and “Bluejay football” in the same breath, Ronald Reagan was preparing his first inaugural address. You won six for the Gipper, boys!

7. City buys AMPI property. We couldn’t argue the bargain-basement price, but to be honest we’d rather have seen a vibrant new industry move into those offices. Still, you did the right thing, council.

8. Main Street turnaround. A year ago we were despairing the vacant buildings. Now we can’t find any again. Is that a swagger we see in Mayor Dalke’s step?

9. Barkman Honey merger. Speaking of swagger…. “Hillsboro, home of the country’s third-largest honey producer.” Sounds sweet to us. It’s going to take us a while, though, to learn to say Golden Heritage Foods.

10. Hillsboro Management Board restructuring. It was awkward. It was confusing. It was painful. But in the end, the city’s budget-cutting strategy did prompt a needed review of the city’s economic development strategy. Now that it’s done, let’s look to the future.

Come to think of it, the same can be said for 2002…. Bring on 2003. -DR

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