Progress equals perseverance and giving a darn

 

For those looking to accomplish something, let us provide three good examples. Action takes perseverance, but most importantly, a force, to implement both.

This week, the Healthy Harvey County Drug Free Coalition announced it received a coveted federal grant that will provide $125,000, annually for the group to implement measures aimed at discouraging drinking and drug use among teenagers.

The large grant award could get much accomplished in the county. It represents specific resources that will be dedicated to local efforts to curb drug usage. It represents action that would not have happened, if not for a few motivated organizations and individuals.

Only a few years ago, headline after headline seemed to outline drug crimes in Harvey County. This paper noted that over a one-year period, Harvey County had a higher murder rate than Chicago and methamphetamine use and abuse played a role in nearly every crime. Members of School Administration spoke up about concerns of drug use from individual students.
Out of that tumult, eventually came action. On the law enforcement side, resources have been funneled to a drug task force and a coalition of local law enforcement has formed. But as, if not more, importantly, preventative efforts coalesced as well.

Through the guidance of leadership at Mirror and a grant from a wing of the Newton Chamber of Commerce, a wide variety of community members and leaders began meeting as part of the Healthy Harvey County Drug Free Coalition. Organizers had a plan. Once a coalition had formed, it would be eligible for grant money. Helping the coalition be more effective, it worked hand in hand with a drug free youth group – first YAR and then STAND, that Mirror sponsored.
Through the organization, the coalition created action plans to deal with drug use in the community, applied for and received state grants allowing it to hire staff and now received the large renewable federal grant we wrote about in this week’s paper. Such a grant will go a long way in extending the organization’s influence and its sustainability. We hope that such efforts will help discourage the youth of the community from undertaking risky behaviors and in the long term, turn them away from the usage of drugs like methamphetamine, that have ravaged our community. With a plan and dedication, a group of individuals have helped move that hope forward.

We also saw another community hope begin to move forward last week, in terms of ball field expansion. The city has been working persistently in recent years to upgrade and improve Centennial Park. One of the loudest cries for facilities improvement has come from those advocating for increased space on the city’s ball fields.
They made a good argument, noting that an increase in facilities would allow the city to host large scale tournaments, allow area teams to play more in Newton and all-in-all, represent a good amenity for the city.

Advocates continued that argument and pressure by showing up to city commission meetings, meeting with city administration and staying engaged. Now the city has given the nod for initial planning for the expansion of at least one field in Centennial Park. The park, with its updated restroom and continually improving facilities, is on pace to be a real jewel for Newton.
Now, ball advocates have their work cut out for them. The city seems to be on board. Those who wanted the amenity so bad will need to deliver tournaments and make sure Newton youth are using the improved fields enough to make the community investment worthwhile.
Finally we hope Newton will soon have a new mural.
A number of years ago, a resident, Constance Gehring had sought a way to beautify Newton. She met with city staff and discussed different ideas. Eventually, she became involved in a mural project. That project’s first mural should grace a building’s wall along Sixth St., just east of the Main St. intersection.

The mural will include clouds and sunflowers sketched by Virgil Penner, whose artwork is as pleasant, as it is ubiquitous, around the city. Now, retired art teacher Ray Olais will help oversee the painting of the project.

These three developments vary in their size and scope. But they all have a few important commonalities.
Motivated people worked together in order to improve their community. And these motivated people continued to work on their efforts for years, in some cases.
Readers, look at such efforts and take heart. You can fix things, too. You can make your community better, as well. Never discount the power of perseverance and simply giving a darn.

0 replies on “Progress equals perseverance and giving a darn”