Tomorrow brings a new year, one certain to be full of local news developments - positive and negative. Last week the Times featured the top news stories of 2008. Today, let's pull out the crystal ball and predict what some of the top stories of the next 12 months are likely to be.
• The Wal-Mart Supercenter remains on schedule to open next summer. It's certain to draw a large number of shoppers, and hopefully other new retail developments. It's impact on the community and some current businesses is certain to be newsworthy for the next few years.
• Another much-debated facility is scheduled to open in 2009, the new Green County justice center. The center will house a second circuit court judge, to be selected by election in 2009. It also will take the court services from the historic downtown courthouse. How that move impacts the downtown Square will be followed closely, but isn't likely to be known as soon as next year.
• Another development that may make news on the Square in 2009 is a planned streetscaping project. Work could begin as soon as next year on streets, sidewalks, parking meters, etc., that will change the face of the downtown. Whether that work begins or not will make news. If it does begin, it's certain to cause disruptions to downtown commerce. Hopefully, business owners and patrons see the streetscape project for what it is - a necessary upgrade that will be a short-term inconvenience but a long-term benefit.
• At the official groundbreaking ceremony on the Wal-Mart Supercenter, one man held a sign saying "Where's Menards?" It will be interesting to see whether construction begins on the proposed Menards megastore in 2009.
• The national economic outlook for 2009 is grim, indeed. Most experts expect the recession to last well into the next year. With the added local pressure of the closure of the Janesville General Motors plant, the economic impact on Green County jobs will remain a news items throughout the year. Economic development efforts will be more important than ever.
• Speaking of economic development, the position at Monroe City Hall created in great part to carry out those efforts in city government remains vacant as 2009 begins. Whether the City Council decides to reinstate a city administrator in its budget next fall will be another newsmaking item.
There no doubt will be dozens of impactful local stories in 2009 that can't be seen even in a crystal ball as the clock runs out on 2008. So it's time to say good riddance to the old year, and celebrate the new.
Happy new year.
• The Wal-Mart Supercenter remains on schedule to open next summer. It's certain to draw a large number of shoppers, and hopefully other new retail developments. It's impact on the community and some current businesses is certain to be newsworthy for the next few years.
• Another much-debated facility is scheduled to open in 2009, the new Green County justice center. The center will house a second circuit court judge, to be selected by election in 2009. It also will take the court services from the historic downtown courthouse. How that move impacts the downtown Square will be followed closely, but isn't likely to be known as soon as next year.
• Another development that may make news on the Square in 2009 is a planned streetscaping project. Work could begin as soon as next year on streets, sidewalks, parking meters, etc., that will change the face of the downtown. Whether that work begins or not will make news. If it does begin, it's certain to cause disruptions to downtown commerce. Hopefully, business owners and patrons see the streetscape project for what it is - a necessary upgrade that will be a short-term inconvenience but a long-term benefit.
• At the official groundbreaking ceremony on the Wal-Mart Supercenter, one man held a sign saying "Where's Menards?" It will be interesting to see whether construction begins on the proposed Menards megastore in 2009.
• The national economic outlook for 2009 is grim, indeed. Most experts expect the recession to last well into the next year. With the added local pressure of the closure of the Janesville General Motors plant, the economic impact on Green County jobs will remain a news items throughout the year. Economic development efforts will be more important than ever.
• Speaking of economic development, the position at Monroe City Hall created in great part to carry out those efforts in city government remains vacant as 2009 begins. Whether the City Council decides to reinstate a city administrator in its budget next fall will be another newsmaking item.
There no doubt will be dozens of impactful local stories in 2009 that can't be seen even in a crystal ball as the clock runs out on 2008. So it's time to say good riddance to the old year, and celebrate the new.
Happy new year.
