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Gazing into our crystal ball for glimpses of 2007
Our last year’s predictions were mostly accurate, so we decided to take another glimpse into our crystal ball. Longtime News Editor J.D. McRorie, who was never afraid to gaze into the newsroom’s crystal ball, established the tradition during his 30-plus years at the newspaper.
Before we look ahead to 2007, let’s evaluate last year’s effort.
We said there wouldn’t be a new library or post office in Sylva in 2006, and we were right.
With regard to the library, talks and committee meetings continue on a library, and an architect has been hired.
Prediction: Progress on a library will continue at its current snail’s pace, and we won’t see a library in 2007 either.
Turning to a post office, we have had no word since October 2005 when three sites were selected.
Prediction: Ditto last year.
On the other hand, we said Sylva would have a Lowe’s before the end of 2006, and we hit that nail right on its head. The home improvement giant opened its doors before Labor Day, bringing more traffic to an already busy intersection, also per The Herald’s prediction.
Our crystal ball told us Sylva officials would opt to add liquor by the drink to the May ballot, and that the measure would pass.
They did and it did, but the second part of our prediction, that a major restaurant like Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse or Olive Garden would come to town, has yet to come to pass.
With regard to elections, we predicted some spirited races in 2006, and we got them. We had the sheriff’s face-off in the primary, and the Heath Shuler/Charles Taylor competition in November. We said land-use planning was likely to be one of the defining issues in commissioners’ races, and we think the election of Tom Massie and William Shelton proves us right.
That brings us to the two local government conflicts that have simmered since commissioners’ controversial January 2005 action that suspended county participation in the Economic Development Commission and removed Tom McClure as chairman of the Airport Authority.
Prediction: County leaders will rejoin the EDC and once again take a leading role in that government responsibility. With regard to the Airport Authority, however, based on commissioners decision to postpone an appointment until January when Authority input would no longer matter, relations are likely to be less convivial.
We’ll look forward to reporting on it all.
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