For the week of December 24 - 30, 2003

Nice, not naughty

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Newspaper editorial pages are like Santa—without the presents. All year long, they keep track of who is naughty and who is nice.

The naughty, however, get a lot more ink. The reason for that probably lies deep in the psyche of newspapers and the fact that it’s harder for good to capture attention. For example, the fact that yesterday, millions of Americans went to work and did not commit fraud or embezzlement did not make today’s news. Nor will it make tomorrow’s.

So, just for a change, here’s a sampling of things people did right recently. The list is selective and far from complete, but it’s long. It makes it clear that in the long run, nice will outpace naughty, even if naughty is making more news.

For kids: The Works of Grace Foundation pledged a $1 million challenge grant to the proposed Ketchum YMCA, which is working on building a $16 million recreation facility in Ketchum.

For the environment: Sun Valley Company got a grade of "B" from the Ski Area Citizens Coalition based in Durango, Colo., primarily for not expanding Baldy into undisturbed forested areas.

For body and mind: Old Wood River High School is becoming a community recreation, education and arts center, courtesy of the Blaine County School District. It will soon be home to the Blaine County Recreation District, the Senior Connection’s Internet Café, Head Start, Wood River High school business and trade academies, and Footlight Dance.

For crime-fighting: "Gotcha," the drug dog who worked with Ketchum police until his recent death was responsible for removing $223,000 in illegal drugs and drug money from circulation during his lifetime. Goes to show what a good investment in dog biscuits can do.

For a family: More than 300 people contributed more than 5,700 hours to the five-day search for a local pilot who was killed in a November plane crash south of Bellevue.

For those in need: Many businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches and students collected food, gifts and greetings for those in need and for other worthy causes throughout December.

For seniors: Many organizations helped raise money for the Senior Connection with donations of time and materials to the Festival of Trees.

For guidance: The Company of Fools turned in a heartfelt presentation of O. Henry’s touching seasonal classic short story "The Gift of the Magi." The company presented the play to nearly 1,200 area students as well as large audiences this month.

For parks: The Hailey Parks and Land Board unveiled work on a plan for funding and developing a park in Woodside.

For the animals: Employees and volunteers of the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley work hard every day to stretch donations that house and feed abandoned animals and to find them homes.

For the injured: Every day, Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence counsel, house and aid families whose lives have been damaged by violence.

For the planet: Pushed and encouraged by the Environmental Resource Center, valley businesses, organizations and individuals recycled record amounts of materials last year.

More for the planet: In the face of thousands of protests from state government leaders, the Bush Administration actually backed off on a plan that would have endangered wetland protection nationwide.

For oppressed Iraqis: American soldiers found Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein and literally retrieved him from a hole without shedding blood. Hussein is responsible for the murder of thousands of his innocent countrymen.

For the sick and injured: Life flight helicopters keep flying people in critical need of specialized medical care out of the valley to the specialists who can help them. The middle of the night whop, whop, whop is the sound of a life being saved.

For art: Hundreds of adults and children volunteered to create holiday programs of music and crafts. The valley was treated to the Handel’s "Messiah and "The Promise" and "The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood." WRHS created its first madrigal dinner. Kids got the chance to makes gifts and crafts at the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.