We talked last week about changes and how sometimes they can be good and sometimes bad, but that they were inevitable.
That is definitely true for this week.

By the time you read this it will be known that I have been named the publisher of the Cass County Citizens Journal-Sun. Before you ask, no, I am not leaving my post here at the Tribune, but simply doing both.
Thankfully, the folks in Cass County have a native son in Tim Emmons who will be serving as General Manager over there and his capable hands will be in charge of most of the daily duties, and I will just have to split my time a little between here and there.
It is an exciting change that I am looking forward to and a challenge that will be met head on.

Like I said, change can be a good thing, and this is definitely a good thing.

You will also read in this issue about some good, positive changes coming to New Boston in the form of a set of plans to move the city forward. These plans will hopefully create a better downtown business district for the city, create more jobs, and more things for the young people of New Boston to spend their time doing.
If you will, picture a downtown area fresh with new flowers from one end to the other. New signage and paint reflecting the pride of the Lions. New, cleaner walkways, new businesses and a new, fresh attitude.

I have to tell ya, my friends Lee Elliott, the New Boston SIDC/CDC Executive Director, and Kayla Simmons, the president of the New Boston Chamber of Commerce, are two of the hardest working folks I know and they have a vision for their hometown.
The best thing I know to do is to jump on the train with them and help take New Boston forward.
I believe in my heart, and I pray, that a new, brighter New Boston is a good thing for all of Bowie County. I know for a fact that people from all over the west end of the county, and surrounding counties, come to New Boston to dine, play ball, and shop. So, it makes sense if New Boston goes forward, it provides a better place for all of those that go there.

Rivalries are for sports. I don’t ever want to see the rivalry between DeKalb and New Boston go away. The yearly football game is one of my favorites every year. When that game rolls around, you will see me sitting on the DeKalb side of the field. I am now and will always be a Bears fan. The town of DeKalb got in my blood years ago and I don’t expect that will go away.

But, I have been at the Tribune for a huge chunk of my life now. Eighteen years in all. And over that time I have come to love every single town we cover. There are good people, and many friends, in each of those little towns, and I would gladly call any of them home.

So, when I say that change is good and the changes coming to New Boston are good, I firmly believe that those changes are good for all of us.
You can be a dyed in the wool Bears fan like my friend Miss Mac, you can bleed maroon and gold like my friend Rip, you can love the blue of Hooks and Redwater like my friends Lisa Tullis and Kelly Burns, you can be a Pirate fan like my friend Eddy May or you can live in an ocean of maroon like my friend Sarah Worrell. Regardless of what school colors holds your allegiance, it is my hope that you can see past those school colors and see a brighter future for all.
In fact, every single one of those towns and schools are seeing positive changes too.

I recently went to a softball game in Hooks. Man, if you havent seen those new sports fields over there, you are missing out. Recent storms damaged the ball fields out in Simms. It was amazing to see how the community came together to get the damages taken care of so fast.
Redwater has a bond election coming up and it so needs to pass. The positive changes that it will enable will immediately improve life for everyone out there.

Even the war zone look of DeKalb with the new highway construction is starting to get better. And, as I said once before, you can now be driving by the Sonic and already see that big, beautiful flag waving in the distance at the industrial park.

I guess what I am trying to convey is that life is what you make it. No matter the circumstance, you can choose to look at the bright side, or you can choose to be a negative Nelly and look for the bad.
As the Book says, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
How about we all embrace our faith and lean on the hope that change for us…is a good thing for all.