As is usually the case, there sure is a lot going on in Bowie County right now , some good and some not so much.It has been said that it is what we focus on that becomes the most important, so it makes sense to me if we focus on the positive, the world will be more positive.

So maybe instead of worrying who is to blame for all of the negativity, whether it be our ever sagging economy, the state of our national politics, the cost of gas at the pump, or Mother Nature going crazy, perhaps we should focus on all of the good stuff going on around us.

Ya know, stuff like all of the good kids we have in school here. Kids that work hard every day to make good grades, play a sport, act in a play, or march while playing a saxophone, might be better stuff to focus on. Or what about the students that just show up every day, do their best, make good grades and shine not only in the classroom, but in the community.

I can only imagine what it takes to be an active student in today’s world, but I do remember as the dad of teenage students not too long ago, the early morning practices, followed by late night practices, followed by later into the night homework sessions.

Students that are involved in any type of extra- curricular activity put in long hours every day, and not just during the school week.

I mean, what about the young ladies who have a 7 a.m. practice? That means they have to get up at 5 a.m. to do their hair, nails, makeup, pick out a wardrobe for the day, and then grab a pop tart on the way out the door. That is a scenario that I have witnessed myself, so I know it happens.

Then you have the parents of those students. Most of those students have to have someone wake them up, heat up that pop tart, nag them to get dressed, and then drive them to school. That means a long day for those parents too.

As another school year comes to a close, we would all be remiss if we didn’t give a huge amount of gratitude to all of the teachers and other school district employees that have worked their tails off to not only educate all of the aforementioned kids, but also worked to be positive role models.

Those are the kinds of things we should focus on. And other things like the good folks at CommunityKitchen, people who day after day give of themselves to make our communities better, and the accomplishments of all of the hard working folks out at Red River Army Depot.

There is just so much good going on around our area, why should we give so much attention to the bad?

Ya know, I have people call me or text me almost daily asking, “Did you hear what so and so did?” Or, “Hey, I heard ol’ John Doe was doing something bad. You should look into it.”

Honestly, it gets kinda old. It would be really easy for us here at the Tribune to fill the pages of your paper up with all of the dirt and mudslinging that is so readily available, but is that what you want to see week in and week out when you get your paper? A huge crowd of folks around here have told me otherwise.

So yes, there will always be negative news to print, and when it is important to our readers, we will. But I truly believe most of you would rather see the smiling faces of your elementary aged kids on the front page, or the elated smiles of those competing in Special Olympics, than the picture of a convicted criminal. I am willing to bet that most of you would rather read about the amazing boom in business out at the DeKalb Industrial Park or the efforts underway with Forward New Boston than the criminal activity in our area.

In this day and age of instant news on our smartphones and the endless garbage on cheers and jeers pages, wouldn’t it be refreshing if there was a conduit for positive news… the good stuff?

Oh wait, there is. Your hometown community newspaper that has been around since 1895.

As always, I am reachable if you would like to tell me I am wrong, or hey, maybe send me an email telling me I am right. Boy, that would be a great smile getter for my day. We want to be your paper and talk about what you want to see and read, so let me know.

My email is kmitchell@bowiecountynow.com