Our holiday wishes are for your safety, good health and stress-free time to relax and enjoy the stories and advertiser's messages in this issue.

Just for fun, guess how many local families might have connections to the movie industry before you read on. When Ed began his research back in the summer, he thought that Heart of Adair should have a film board. While at the moment we may only be famous for high unemployment, by this time next year we may be selling the rights to a movie about how Adair Countians took charge and solved their own problems.

Inside, you'll see notes and ads on the subject of leadership and the call to action by people with vision and determination.

There's a story about the high school's special Evening at the Arts, and the people who made it happen.

And a story about a mother and daughter celebrating having a street named in the mother's honor.

There's even a story about sex education at the Columbia Graded and High School.

Please thank the sponsors -public relations messages throughout this issue share what's happening in their businesses - for they make it possible to document the rich stories about our place and time. And make a statement with your money by trading with Adair Countians every time you can.

Gotta go now, I forgot to report that Mike Ellis says, "Tell Ed the bears are dead and stop writing all that nonsense."

-Happy holidays!

Linda Waggener