The community group Heart of Adair is prioritizing its goals for the future and asked the question in the last issue of Columbia! magazine: What is the real heart of Adair County?

The following essay was the favorite. Interestingly, instead of landmarks or scenic vistas that might need protecting, all the entries focused on the human resource and traditions that make for the real heart of Adair.

The real heart of Adair County is in the beauty of our citizens. It's not the beauty one would find in a fashion magazine or on a television show.

It is the beauty that comes from the innermost parts of our heart and soul.

This beauty cannot be seen as much as it is felt. It is the artery that leads us to show compassion and courage when a neighbor faces heartache and trouble. It is the channel that displays delight and happiness in a friend's success.

Adair county is where our children witness the true value of life in the veins of our citizens. The heart of our people is the lifeblood of our community. It is never more apparent than in the giving of time to help a worthy cause, such as WHAS Crusade for Children, Columbia Cares, fire department volunteers, Rescue Squad, and the list continues. In conclusion, it is the attributes of our community that makes it a distinctive vessel in a world that, at times, can seem harsh and uncaring, but the citizens of Adair County have the innate ability to always be able to keep first things first -- heartfelt love for mankind.

This winning essay is by Margaret Taylor, 77 Pinewood Drive, Columbia, 384-3399: