A new year begins

A new year got off to a sunny but cold and windy start in the Union County area. Hopefully, the weather during 2012 won't be quite as exciting as what we experienced in 2011. Only time will tell.

As last year came to an end, we took the opportunity to look back at what happened in Union County during 2011. Some may say that "nothing ever happens around here." Such was not the case in 2011. And we fully expect that 2012 will be just as busy.

This year will feature a pretty important election in Union County. We will have an opportunity to help elect a president of the United States.

Locally, voters also will have a say in electing those who will serve on the new, five-member Union County Board of Commissioners. The county board currently has three members; voters already had approved adding two more commissioners.

It also looks like voters in four of Union County's seven public school districts will decide whether or not those entities should be reorganized into one district.

Along with 2012 primary and general elections, we will have the "usual" events in our community. A Peach Festival celebration will be held during August in Cobden. The celebration of the peach harvest (and we hope the harvest is a good one) will be followed by the Union County Fair in Anna.

Many other events will unfold during the coming year in 2012. We encourage everyone to be a part of the many activities which happen in our community. Most of all, we wish everyone a blessed, prosperous and happy New Year.