From my earliest days growing up here in Carroll County, I’m remembering New Year’s Eve — bringing in the New Year with the hope of the future as the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. Daddy and I would go to the courthouse in Carrollton to ring the old bell in the courtroom on the top floor. When Daddy would hold me up to grab that rope, I would have faith, holding Daddy’s hand, everything was going to be alright. It was a rather spur-of-the-moment gathering, really an informal event of some around the area just showing up. It was the late seventies in Carroll County. Internet wasn’t on the horizon, and coronavirus was decades away. It was a time of reflecting and optimism for the future. Looking back, yes there has been a lot of good work over the years with the challenges that come with time.
Reflecting back on 2021 and looking to 2022, many things stand out. People across this area and state have a lot more in common than some would think. We all want to keep our loved ones safe from danger and that includes COVID; we all want our children to have a better life than us and the generations before us. While there are challenges that will carry over from 2021 into the New Year 2022, there is also optimism.
Also there are new horizons. Coming in the spring of 2022 the construction of the new Big Sand Creek Bridge that joins Carrollton and North Carrollton is scheduled to begin. This will be an historic once-in-a-generation construction with the new bridge, as there have been other bridges dating back in history. In 2022, the area by Big Sand Creek may have even more added that will be beneficial in the future.
Coming with the New Year 2022, the Town of North Carrollton will learn if the Mississippi Department of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant is approved for recreation at Big Sand Creek. This will include bathrooms that will be beneficial to the Tabernacle, picnic tables, and lighting. If the town is awarded this funding, this will benefit the towns of Carrollton, North Carrollton, and Carroll County with recreation and tourism. Carroll County Board of Supervisors President Jim Neill has been very instrumental in this project; with a dream of this being an asset to this area. The Beat 1 Supervisor has spearheaded this effort.
On the horizon also for 2022 is redistricting, this past Monday at the Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting in Vaiden, Circuit Clerk Durward Stanton reminded those in attendance that redistricting is coming up in 2022 as a result of the 2020 census. Redistricting will redraw district lines on the local, state, and federal level. This redistricting of new lines in 2022 will be in effect for the next decade, making a difference as we head into the future.
With New Year’s Eve, I think back to when I was five years old, and Daddy held my hand holding me up to ring that old bell at that historic courthouse in Carrollton. I have the same feeling of keeping the faith just like I did in 1979 as I look to 2022 and the days ahead.
As we move into 2022, let’s see what all we can accomplish by building on our resources and using our experiences as an opportunity to move our area forward. With 2022 now upon us with all the optimism of the future, I am wishing you all the health and blessings of the New Year 2022.
