The new year is upon us. What kind of year will it be? We have a chance to make it a good one. But will we do what it takes to make that happen?

2006 is an election year – a chance for us to make our future what we wish it to be. Will Shelby Countians get out there and vote? Will we exercise our right to be in control of our own state&8217;s destiny.

This election cycle is sure to be one filled with talk of taxes, our economy and even, possibly, the lottery.

Also uppermost in our minds will be education.

Shelby County continues to grow – outgrow, actually, the current school facilities. School officials will face more of the same in the year to come. How will we handle it?

County residents have come out against increased property taxes for the benefit of schoolchildren in the past.

Will our officials be willing to try again? Or will someone step up and seek creative ways to get out of an ever-widening hole.

Nationwide, we will hopefully see the decrease of troops in Iraq and other foreign lands. Recent successful Iraqi elections have given American citizens hope that our boys will soon be home.

When the U.S. Supreme Court goes into session in the new year, we will hopefully see a return to a strict interpretation of the law.

The time of the judge making the law, instead of interpreting it as our forefathers intended needs to come to an end. Hopefully, the new members of the court will make that clear.

Whatever 2006 holds for our county, our state and our nation, the Reporter will be here, looking out for you