Thumbs down to: The weather. Anderson and the rest of central Indiana has endured day after day of punishing cold, as well as a hearty helping of snow. After some fairly mild winters, we guess this was inevitable. Still, we don’t have to like it.
Thumbs down to: The shutting down of BorgWarner in Muncie. True, the action announced Thursday was an unavoidable continuation of a sad trend in Midwest economics, the disappearance of the auto industry. Still, as with the weather, we don’t have to like it.
Thumbs up to: The stellar work done by those who cleared the county’s roads after last week’s persistent blizzard. In a matter of a day or so, streets were navigable and safe, all thanks to some hardy workers who stayed the course. And to those residents who cleared off sidewalks to make navigation safer for pedestrians and delivery people. If the forecast holds true, we'll have to start digging out again today.
Thumbs up: To the Anderson City Council for granting a tax abatement to the State Theatre. If the plans for this regal structure are realized, then the city will have two dazzling venues for attracting entertainers and shows from all over the state, the Midwest, and even the nation. At the very least, the move helps to preserve a historic landmark.
Thumbs up: To the Leadership Academy of Madison County for its 25-year legacy of inspiring community leaders through a nine-session, 54-hour leadership seminar. Congratulations to the newest 35 graduates of the course.
Thumbs up: To the Anderson Municipal Airport tenants who will now join the Killbuck Concerned Citizens Association in its battle against the proposed Mallard Lake Landfill. The Board of Aviation Commissioners’ opposition to the landfill is now on record, and with the Federal Aviation Administration’s regulations that state an airport loses federal funding if it is within three miles of a landfill, this newest addition to the fight is a good thing.
Thumbs up: To the committee of volunteers who put together the 11th annual Dream Ball Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre Centre. A record number of attendees danced to the music of Endless Summer (hmmm, summer can’t come too soon) and bid generously on an assortment of donated items and services from local businesses to raise thousands of dollars to help Second Harvest Food Bank deal with the area’s growing problem of hunger. The highest bidding came for a private concert and dinner for 10 at the home of Don Peslis and Sandi Patty, who also served as emcees.
