With Shopko closing its doors and the economic hardships the Dickinson County Hospital has faced, it is difficult to be optimistic about this area and its prospects for future growth.

However, with an excellent Dickinson County Library, YMCA and community college, that being Bay, this area has some positive foundations on which to build.

Will it be easy? Of course not.

Public growth is no different than personal growth. It takes hard work and determination, as nothing in life worthwhile comes easy.

If we continue to focus on the negative, that mindset will only lead to negative results.

Focusing on the positives, such as those mentioned in this article, may not necessarily bring us to complete bliss.

It will, however, lead to a better community overall.