What would we do without them?

It Is so easy to be critical of everything from people to businesses and anything

else that may cross our path in the course of a day. We seem to think that things

should always be to our liking, and how wonderful that would be. But, that is not

real life. Businesses are run by people and people make mistakes. We mess up

big sometimes. Of course, there are those people who do not give their best to

their job, their employers, their customers and clients or patients. In this case we

just have to be on our toes and deal with these people the way we know we should

no matter how hard it may be.

I am saying all this to lead up to what I really want to talk about.

We are a small town, therefore, our businesses are small. But, I have come to re-

spect and appreciate them very much.

The first is our local hospital and since we are a small town, we have a small

hospital. No, they don't offer all the services that a large town or city offer, but in

my opinion, they serve their purpose very well and I, for one, am thrilled that we can

say, "yes, Dexter has a hospital."

My beloved husband has multiple health issues and most are life and limb threat-

ening. Twice in the last five years had we not been blessed with our hospital, according

to his 'big hospital' doctors, he would have died. But, thanks to the quick and professional

actions of our hospital staff we still have him. Also, today he has his leg which would have

had to be amputated had our wonderful staff not performed their jobs quickly and efficiently.

I have jokingly made the comment many times about my youngest daughter, Shelly, that

we didn't have an emergency room until she was born. Meaning, I think we helped pay

for the emergency room with her. She was sick at birth and had many illnesses, plus

she became 'accident prone'. In raising her, I am very thankful that we had a hospital to

care for my sick child at the times I was scared out of my wits with her many accidents

and illnesses.

Yes, I am so thankful that the leaders of our community saw to it all those years ago, that

we have a 'small town hospital'.

Another business I am thankful for is our local newspaper. Small town newspapers have

been around since the seventeenth century with the publications of the first colonial

newspapers. Today, nationwide, newspapers are in trouble, mainly because so many

readers are going to the web. But to me it is just not the same as having a 'real' newspaper

to hold. Remember how Ricky sat across from Lucy and read the morning paper? Also,

Warren, on Leave it to Beaver. I love going into restaurants all over and seeing people

pouring over the newspaper, whether it is the financial pages, sports pages, lifestyle

pages or even Kathleen's Korner.

Our Daily Statesman originally was called "The Messenger" and was later purchased

by a new owner, who then made it into a bi-weekly. I'm not certain about the dates,

but possibly somewhere in the late seventies, it became a daily paper.

Perfect? No. But, although small, thanks to the staff, our Daily Statesman has won many

awards in the newspaper field. This, as a community, we can take pride in.

Shut your eyes and think about our hospital and newspaper buildings not being here, or

worse, sitting empty. The most important to me is the number of people who have jobs

because of these two businesses. Just think of the importance these two businesses

lend to the economy of our little town and imagine our lives without them. Besides, where

else could you meet me in a 'korner' other than our own Daily Statesman?

I'm sure you know by now who my heroes and heroines are this week. They are the owners,

employers, employees, writers, doctors, nurses, volunteers, everyone who has a part in our

local hospital and newspaper. And yes, I include you, the subscriber, advertiser, patient,

whatever role you play in supporting our local hospital and daily newspaper. My hat is off

to all of you. You are true heroes and heroines.

See ya next time somewhere in a 'korner'.

kdover28@gmail.com - 573-820-2404 or blog with me at www.dailystatesman.com