Anyone can spend hours thumbing through old newspapers to give you a look back at the year. At NewsCow, our preference is to look forward and keep an eye on the stories that are important to our readers.
With that in mind, we give you our 2008 Five to Follow ? a quick list of stories sure to dominate the headlines. Here they are, ranked in order of importance:
5. CASINO AND THE ECONOMY ? Don’t think for a second that the multi-million dollar casino project taking shape in Sumner County won’t affect surrounding counties. Look for discussion locally to start soon on how a casino in the region will affect the Cowley County economy.
If casinos in Oklahoma have attracted gamblers and workers from Cowley County ? and it’s obvious they have ? then it’s not a stretch to think a casino, especially one near Wellington, would do the same.
Since surrounding counties will share in a designated portion of the revenue generated by the regional casino, it’s important to ensure it’s built in a location that optimizes profitability.
4. BOND ISSUE ? If Arkansas City voters approve a $35 million bond issue to improve local schools in March, it will mean that the county’s two largest towns have spent $60 million on school facility improvements in the last five years. It’s a step in the right direction for Winfield and Ark City.
Other area cities have thrived by pouring money into education and making their schools centerpieces for their communities. Local school district officials have been wise to assess their own facilities and push for funds to make improvements.
3. THE ELECTIONS ? With so many county, state and federal positions on the ballot in 2008, it seems crazy to see this year’s general election rank third on a list of stories with impact. But that’s the kind of news year it’s shaping up to be.
Even if this year’s election season is mostly tame ? and that’s not a given in Cowley County ? we’ll at the very least have a new sheriff for the first time in more than 20 years. Bob Odell has recently announced he will not seek reelection and Undersheriff Don Read has filed to take his place. Randy Emerson, who ran against Odell in 2004, has said he is seriously considering another run for the post.
The county clerk, county attorney and commissioners Carmelita Clarkson and Gary Wilson also face reelection decisions. So do Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, and Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Ark City.
And we’ll pick a new president, too.
2. JAIL MIGRATION ? After years of talk and a lengthy construction process, Cowley County will open its new jail in 2008. Commissioners met in a new meeting room in the new jail area recently and it’s easy to see the building is taking shape.
Budgeted to cost $10 million, the jail has been creeping upward in price, but it was clear something needed to be done to address an aging jail of which the state fire marshal had expressed concern. County officials will still have to make decisions about what to do with a bank building they purchased as part of the jail project and that process could also be lengthy.
But just taking the step to a new jail that meets safety requirements and creates a safer working environment for law enforcement officers is a significant achievement.
1. JODI SANDERHOLM AND THE STATE VS. JUSTIN THURBER ? Watching the investigation into the disappearance and later learning of the death of Ark City’s Jodi Sanderholm in early 2007 was a heavy time for this county, especially those in Ark City.
Expect those feelings to come rushing back anew when Justin Thurber goes on trial this summer on a capital murder charge related to Sanderholm’s death.
There’s little doubt the Sanderholm family will display the same strength and resolve they have since this nightmarish episode of their lives began. Even when faced with the resignation of Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison ? who was to lead the prosecution of Thurber but is resigning after admitting to an extramarital affair ? the family has shown faith in the government’s ability to prosecute Thurber.
It’ll be up to County Attorney Christopher Smith and assistant Kansas Attorney General Vic Braden to pick up Morrison’s fumble and run with it.
Every prosecutor has strengths and weaknesses but Smith seems to fully grasp the importance of the Thurber case. He’s made public assurances that the prosecution will proceed unfettered and there’s no reason to not believe him.
The eyes of the media and much of this state will be on Cowley County when this trial strikes up in June. It will be interesting to see how this very important case plays out.