Our town

To the editor,

I feel a need to write my thoughts. After several years of reading about every little thing that is wrong with this community and the people in it, I am surprised anyone still lives here. And unfortunately people have left and some won’t come because of all the negative press they read.

It is no wonder no one really wants to run for office, unless they are upset about something. And the school board couldn’t even fill all the positions.

I am not saying this community doesn’t have its share of problems; we do. But pointing fingers, blaming everything and everybody doesn’t solve the problems.

The city, schools and hospital look like the worst organizations around. But let us take a closer look.

The city has maintained a balanced budget and people aren’t embezzling funds. The council isn’t taking lavish vacations and charging them to the general fund.

We have a good solid public works department, we are safe, the police department keeps us that way and the people on the council work hard to maintain a viable community.

The aging water system and dysfunctional sewer in our community needs to be improved for the people and businesses we support now so don’t get up in arms about future projects. It is the here and now that needs attention.

The schools, which are having funding difficulties, doesn’t every school in the U.S., but still they graduate kids every year that go on to be successful adults.

And last but not least the hospital, which has been serving this community since 1952 almost 60 years. The people who work there truly care about the community and the service they provide.

To be without it would be a sharp blow to the community and outlying area. The emergency services alone have saved countless lives.

We have so many good qualities, we forget. We should remember why we live in this small town. Don’t be a part of the problem be a part of the solution. Let’s throw a little positive in with all that negative. There needs to be a balance. Stop fighting and start fixing! It takes all of us.

Chris Cook, Ritzville