Editorial

Hello, 2007

When 2007 rolls around Monday morning, we will all find out if we made useful resolutions that can be kept. Good luck to those who have every intention of being better and doing better things in the new year.

One thing we can all do with little fear of breaking any resolutions is to look forward to some important things every citizen of our area should be concerned about. Here is a brief list:

Cape Girardeau: The new federal courthouse will be opening in 2007. The new building on Independence Street is an imposing structure that can be seen, much like the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, from miles away. Once some of the offices and their occupants move to the new building, the fate of the old building will be decided. Cape Girardeau County is considering the possibility of moving some of its offices, currently housed in the historic Common Pleas Courthouse and its nearby annex, to the old federal building.

The River Campus for the performing and visual arts programs at Southeast Missouri State University, is scheduled to open in 2007. Included is a new performance hall that will be used to attract top-notch performers.

Jackson: One of the biggest changes in recent years will occur in April when the city's voters choose a new mayor to follow Paul Sander, who has ably led the community's growth and development.

Cape Girardeau and Jackson: The Cape County Transit Authority is attempting to provide services to meet the demand for public transportation. 2007 will be a year in which to measure the value and long-term viability of this much expanded and heavily subsidized service.

Cape Girardeau County: With the influx of additional revenue from a voter-approved increase in the sale tax, taxpayers will be watching to see how those funds are used. The value of the additional tax will be measured, in large part, by the additional miles of paved roads and employment stability at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Missouri: With surplus revenue being predicted for the current and following fiscal years, there is bound to be a grab for appropriations as the legislative session opens in January.

And watch for the possibility of a special legislative session to run concurrently with the regular session for the purpose of speeding up implementation of Gov. Matt Blunt's plan to use assets of the state-run student-loan program to finance construction projects at colleges and universities.

Nation: Americans will be watching to see what the Bush administration's plans are for the war in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Democrats, newly in control of Congress, will have an opportunity to show the nation what domestic-agenda course they intend to set. The solemn pledges of bipartisanship will be quickly put to the test.

World: The global war on terrorism as well as nuclear weapons, genocide, despots and immigration will continue to test the best diplomatic skills of all nations. At the same time, 2007 could be the year that worldwide polio immunizations finally end the threat of a preventable disease.

For most of us, the brightest aspect of a new year is the opportunity to hope for something better. Our communities and the world at large can rise to the occasion, as they have so many times.

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