Thank you to those who saw what could be, before it was

Poplar Bluff has had a lot to be excited about this week, from the long-awaited announcement of Empire Comfort Systems making its new home in the industrial park to the opening of the Shelby Road extension.

It’s hard to imagine that the first time I traveled through Poplar Bluff, during a trip from West Plains to Cape Girardeau, large sections of Highway 60 and Highway 67 were still two-lane roads.

Oak Grove Road was still a narrow stretch of pavement barely wide enough to be considered two lanes, with some truly unsettling hills.

The town we see today has changed dramatically. It is something that can be attributed to the people who saw a need in their community and acted, both as private citizens, like Tom Lawson and the Boyers family, to the city managers, city councils, engineers and contractors involved in these projects.

They saw problems and they sought out solutions. Rather than wait for doors to open, they built, or bulldozed, their own entrances.

In the midst of the excitement of the week, I just want to say thank you to everyone who had the vision to see what could be long before it was. I wish I could name everyone here, but I know that amidst all the large and small contributions, there are more people than I can even imagine.

But I hope that what you have done shines as an example going forward of what a spirit of cooperation and a drive to see good things happen for everyone can accomplish.

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Donna Farley is the Associate Editor of the Daily American Republic. Contact her at dfarley@darnews.com.