View Point - Editorial

Thanksgiving is much more than a big meal with family and friends. It’s a time to reflect on, and be thankful for, all the good things you have. It’s important to be grateful, not just on  Thanksgiving,  but each and every day. Rather than lamenting what you feel is lacking in your life, begin each new day by developing an attitude of gratitude. Take inventory of your blessings and you will be surprised at just how much you have to be thankful for.
If you have enough to eat, a place to live, a way to get around, people who care about you, or people you care about, then you are wealthy. If you lack any of these elements, you must still be grateful for what you do have, while striving to obtain whatever is absent.   (more…)

Bringing order to city’s ‘cop chaos’
There’s enough blame to go around.
Given the softly-spoken regrets and hushed embarrassment, we trust that at least a few valuable lessons were learned, too.
Hillsboro’s recent “Cop Chaos” drama can be labeled with several telling subtitles: “How not to discipline an employee” . . . “Tell the truth — even if it hurts” . . . “Best of intentions or personal vendetta?”
Hillsboro’s embattled chief of police Ray Weber is back on the beat as of Tuesday night. As the top gun in the two-man department, he is expected to begin training a new patrol officer soon. By all outward appearances, things are back to normal. We suspect, though, the recent events will quietly reshape the police department and the city commission. We hope that both can say the changes are for the better. (more…)

In most circles, the press is not a generally popular institution.
From Fargo to Flagstaff, Bismarck to Baltimore, the press is said to be suspect by newsmakers, who by profession and nature are generally political.
Small wonder then, that we — those of us in Small Town America who still make it a practice to follow the movements of our city, school and county office holders while on the job — are similarly treated, and that is with disdain.
At first blush, it’s generally, “What are you doing here?” Or, “Is it really necessary, you being here?”
“You here again?” (more…)

Old should still count for something.
And in most places it does.
Just not in Traill County.
Contrary to popular belief that we take care of our old here in Traill County, there’s reason to think otherwise.
We either knock down or threaten to knock down old but historic buildings, case in point: Union Block in Hillsboro.
We simply let old bridges fall in the river or we sell them down river.
Some, we give away. (more…)

2007 is just a dozen days old, yet we feel quite safe making this prediction. This will be a year that changes Hillsboro — dramatically. Of course every year changes us, but we suggest that 2007 will be a year remembered for historic changes.
The reasons are clear. Developers want Hillsboro to be home to a new 32-lot neighborhood. Our medical center has proposed a $12.5 million construction project for a renovated hospital, a new nursing home and the community’s first assisted-living apartments. The county is still considering building a new jail and social services offices. The city is continuing improvement projects targeted at streets, water lines, storm sewers and related infrastructure. (more…)

In a Page 3 story three weeks ago that told of sheriff Mike Crocker’s search for a direction to take in regards to the proposed new Traill County Courthouse addition, readers were left wanting.
So were we.
In the Banner account of a meeting three days earlier, Crocker was quoted as asking, “Which direction should we go? Do we want a 22-bed jail?”
The sheriff needed to know, which was why he was at the Dec. 19, 2006 meeting.
“Should we proceed and which direction should we go?” Crocker asked Traill’s five commissioners.
Best the county’s highest panel of decision-makers could do was: “Show us how we’re going to fund this and we’re willing to listen.” (more…)

Dear Editor —
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon (more…)

Folks who have had a difficult time coming up with a Christmas gift idea for a friend or relative who has left the area may want to give serious consideration to a subscription to their community newspapers. Of course, I may be biased in making this suggestion because I once served as a community correspondent for local newspapers for several years, leading me to a major in journalism. (more…)

After visually reassuring the populace for 67 years that there was a plan to deal with an enemy attack, the official Civil Defense logo was laid to rest on November 30. I didn’t wear a black armband but I did feel a surge of nostalgia as I recalled my 18-month career as a Civil Defense planner. (more…)