Chronicle Editorial

Accentuating the positives
Last week’s development regarding the ill-fated 101 housing project came as good news to some and bad news to others. It’s unfortunate that the project became such a divisive issue within the community, but it’s time for everyone to regain a positive attitude as we look toward the future.
                There are plenty of reasons to be excited about developments in Franklin County right now. The front page of this week’s newspaper features two articles on recent economic development news – NEW Cooperative’s grain facility and FCDA’s Spec 4 building – but there’s so much more going on. Winnebago’s old plant was filled last fall when Taskmaster moved to town, other businesses in the Hampton Industrial Park continue to flourish, and many of the county’s large companies like Sukup Manufacturing have expanded their businesses in recent months. Not to mention our strong downtown business district. It’s great to have these thriving employers in our area and we can only hope they continue to excel.
                Projects like The 101 only add an extra layer to Franklin County’s buzzing development scene. KL Holdings should be commended for their effort and vision, because the amount of resources and time that went into the planning stages wasn’t small by any means. Maybe this was the right housing project for Hampton, maybe it wasn’t – we’ll never know for sure. What matters now is that the community keeps improving on the past by setting a clear vision for future growth and progress.
 
Take advantage of caucus opportunities
     Ted Cruz and Rand Paul were first, then Hillary Clinton jumped in, and now Marco Rubio has joined the party. The country is in the fledgling stages of a presidential race and nowhere is that more evident than here in Iowa.
     Candidates, potential candidates and news media have inundated our state during the past six months. Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus is to blame for this frenzied attention, but we shouldn’t shy away from the limelight. Iowans need to take advantage of the opportunity by acquainting themselves with the candidates and asking tough questions that need answering.
     It’s easy to take all this attention for granted. After all, it seems like there’s always a campaign going on in Iowa no matter the year or season. However, we’re lucky here. Many states throughout the country would love to get half the attention we do during presidential elections, and we must not take our role lightly. We have a lot of clout despite our relatively small population.
     There are going to be multiple opportunities to greet candidates from both sides of the aisle over the next eight months. These candidates aren’t stupid and they realize how much momentum they stand to gain by winning the Iowa Caucus. Whether it’s a town hall meeting, community meet-and-greet or a candidate debate, take the time to study the candidates and learn their positions. Iowa sets the tone for the rest of the nation, which is quite an obligation for such a small state.
     Iowans are known for their common sense and relatively purple political beliefs. Our progressive attitude is valued and our willingness to jump across party lines is well documented. As the candidate field grows, it’s important to keep an open mind and evaluate your choices. You may lean to the left or you may lean to the right, but we all have the same duty to stay informed and choose responsibly.