Remember 4 years is nearly 6% of the average persons life expectancy… are you willing to give up 6% more of your life to get the same results you got the last 4 years?

I encourage you to get in your car and take a drive around Alexandria. Actually, leave town and come back, come from each direction into town, in every case you will find abandoned buildings, homes or businesses that should be condemned, yards that are overgrown, and in the mist of these, several people (residents and businesses) who are trying to put their best foot forward.

Ken Clark has made major improvements to his insurance business; one of the first businesses you’ll see as you enter Alexandria from the south, however, just next door is an abandoned gas station that is an embarrassment. Gaither Family Resources brings thousands on people to our town every year, but just next door a business opened and closed leaving signage, a shed and a weed field that is a major eyesore. The Elder House has been left unattended all summer and provides yet another poor visual attraction. There is a tractor tire in the creek just north of Eleventh Street that has been there for as long as I can remember.

That is just one side of the road in a mile or so stretch. Each entrance to Alexandria provides similar images.

Now, once you have made it in town, notice… almost every other building is empty.

What ever happened to “Small Town USA”, which was selected by the United State Government to be the picture that represents this great country of ours?????

I watched an issue with the Alexandria Schools literally divide our town and the mayor’s response was, “I don’t have anything to do with that!” As my grandma would have said, MALARKEY, as any elected official in any town it is your responsibility to get the facts, understand the concerns and take a stand. Find out what challenges keep progress from happening and work to find a solution. Leadership is leadership! If you ask for the role than you have to take all that comes with it.

We cannot survive as a community if we are unable to find common ground on which to work toward mutually beneficial solutions. We are blessed with many people that possess extraordinary talents in a broad spectrum of areas. With effective leadership willing to take charge and not offer excuses, we can identify what Alexandria really needs and what the people of Alexandria want… then, as a proud COMMUNITY we can stand tall, knowing that we are moving forward for the betterment of all. We cannot afford to risk the problems caused by citywide disagreements that paralyze us for years at a time.

Last year my father-in-law’s home was destroyed in a tornado just east of Alexandria. Within an hour over 30 neighbors and friends were helping him collect his belongings and move them to a neighbor’s barn to protect them from any further damage. Several people took turns staying at the property 24 hours a day, over the next few days until everything was removed in order to help look after his property. That’s neighborly!

In reality, when the chips are down, the people in Alexandria are some of the most generous, caring, and special people anyone could want to know.

Well, the chips are down. It’s time we take a good hard look around at the challenges we are faced with; identify the options we have available to overcome them and then pitch-in to make a difference.

• We need more and better jobs
• We need to clean up our town
• We need to provide a quality education for our children
  We need to take care of our senior citizens
• We need to help a neighbor in need
• We need to pray for one another
  and
• We need to make Alexandria a community to be envied around the world again!!!

JUST LOOK AROUND

DIVIDED WE FALL

UNITED WE THRIVE