Wednesday, May 05, 2010 |
Try and imagine a time when Teton Valley's roads have fewer pot holes, the hospital is not on the verge of bankruptcy, the schools are sufficiently funded to avoid annual cuts in service and there are motivated people with lots of money buying up all the foreclosed real estate for second homes. This could happen but it takes real leaders to spark a change in the discussion from blaming all our failures on the role of the federal government, taxes, immigration, and equal rights laws back to solving local problems. There are many Teton Valley residents who are having a positve influence on Teton Valley, a place we respect and desire. I can name three, and there are many more that you will likely identify with and admire. Kathy Rinaldi, a local business co-owner and first-term county commissioner has been a long time leader for sensible government and services for Teton County and Driggs. Cathy O'Connor has lead the Teton Valley Foundation in raising about $1.7 million for the valley's non profit organizations, benefiting every full and part-time resident. Lisa Smith-Batchen, a local business co-owner is on a mission to run 50 miles in 50 states to raise $1 million for orphans throughout the world. She is providing Driggs with positive national news coverage. Teton Valley is greatly benefiting from the selfless efforts of these three women. Teton Valley should directly support and pay a little more attention to their contributions and a little less to the endless politically charged opinion articles and letters to the editor filling the local papers for the past weeks. These divide the community and provide absolutley no benefit to Teton Valley. |
