If ever the title fit the occasion the one above has been most appropriate for the past week. After a short introduction a day or so earlier, we awakened on the morning of January 7 to a delightful sight for many and a gruesome sight for just that many more. Six and one-half inches of snow had accumulated over the night and yes, it was beautiful. I would say without fear of contradiction that in the mid-south in general and in Baldwyn in particular, more wheels have been spun in the past week than were spun for the entire year of 1987. Although there has been quite a bit of melting, there is still plenty of the white stuff around on this Monday morning as I write this column. I, for one, am ready for it to go. I don’t know if I have outside pipes that burst; I’ll just have to wait for the thaw.
If, as many say, a good snow not only mellows the soil but it gets rid of many unwanted insects, then the entire South should be in good shape. Many area youngsters are, for the first time, experiencing enough snow to get out on makeshift sleds and have a wonderful time. Yes, if I could call back a few years, I would be right out there with them. I am old enough to remember a similar situation in the mid thirties and also another in the early fifties. The first one was a pure delight, but I can’t say that for the one in 1951. It put the entire area out of commission for several weeks.
While on the subject, a word of thanks to the street crew for the way they worked under the most difficult conditions to get the street in passable condition. They did a good job. In defense of the Highway Department for not getting the three-lane road through Baldwvn cleared, all those lane markers that are mounted in the pavement to control traffic would have been destroyed as there was no way you could see them before hitting them.
The 1988 legislature is in session. The new governor will have been sworn in by the time you read this column and we will just have to wait and see what the long range results of this session will be. I don’t often single out an individual and heap praises on them, but for once I am going to make an exception. A local citizen, one that I had the pleasure of coaching on my Little League Baseball program in years past, has been elected to the position of Speaker of the House. Congratulations Tim Ford. I’m proud of you.
I can’t help but wonder if it was the intent of the Legislature when they passed the massive highway construction bill in the last session of the legislature to have the money spent on roads that are outdated before they are even built. Anything less than a four-lane controlled access highway between Corinth and Saltillo is, in my opinion, a waste of money. Highways are built not only for the present generation, but for future generations. I believe that future generations have been dealt out of the picture in this situation.
About all for this time around. Have to get out and check on some outside hydrants and the like. For a few days there this past week I had some livestock that would have gone pretty cheap. Guess I’ll keep them for now.
Bernard Coggins was a longtime Mayor of Baldwyn.
