It has often been said that journalists write the rough drafts of history books.

Living in the small town that we do, it may seem like not a lot happens, especially compared to the news that constantly dominates the headlines in larger metropolitan newspapers.

The great thing about community journalism is that a lot of what we cover is positive — a 79-year-old receiving her high school diploma, a new business opening downtown, a local person retiring after 50-plus years of service — and are the kinds of things that make us happy we live where we live.

While it’s always great to focus on the positive, if we treat our newspapers as the historical records that they are meant to be, it’s equally (if not more) important to write about the other things that happen, too. The great thing about history books is that they allow us to learn from not only our mistakes, but our triumphs as well.

In 2014, there was no shortage of news in Michiana. So many positive changes happened in our community, but we had our share of tragedy and crime. Our hope as the informants of our community, is that we provided you with the information necessary to take advantage of some great opportunities and learn about some great people, but also remain aware and up-to-date on some important events and issues that impacted your lives.

In 10 years, I hope people can look back at the news produced in 2014 and use the tragedies and dilemmas the city of Michiana experienced this year to learn how to prevent history from repeating itself.

To wrap up another year of local news coverage, we plan to do a countdown of the top 10 stories of the year. We’re trying to determine the stories with the most impact on the community — stories that 10, 20, 30 years down the road the people living here will be able to learn from or remember.

To compile this list, we’d love some feedback from the people who experienced the events of the year. Which events do you think had the most impact on the city of Michiana?

Dowagiac nominations:

• Harding’s catches fire

• Wounded Minnow catches fire, closes for short time

• Dowagiac student denied lunch

• Changes in school leadership — superintendent changes, incumbents voted out of school board

• Cardinal Charlie dies

• Thunderstorms cause destruction

• Blizzards storm Michiana

• SMC marketing professional found guilty of fraud

• Dowagiac schools named Reward Schools

• Waterline extension on Newbauer Street

• New medical clinics open — Pokagon health center, Cass Family Clinic, dental clinic in Dowagiac

• Dowagiac police search for “missing” girl

• New chairman elected for Pokagon Band

• SMC celebrates 50 years

• Miss Dowagiac celebrates 75th anniversary

Niles nominations:

• Demolition of the former YMCA and Kawaneer buildings

• Blizzards storm Michiana

• Ethan Shelton dies at 110

• Niles superintendent resigns, is a bully

• River Valley Trail completed

• 12-year-old dies in ATV accident

• Buchanan dogs get loose, kill other dogs

• Cost of Freedom memorial wall comes to Niles

• Thunderstorms cause destruction

• Summer My Way launches

• Buchanan students win Mean Stinks Award

• Amtrak stabbing

• Long John Silvers armed robbery

• Arsonist sets fire in Niles Walmart, commits suicide days later

• Niles schools attempting bond issue

• Milton Township completes new hall

• Miss Buchanan named Miss Blossomtime

• 14-year-old dies in New Year’s Eve Crash

• Main Street Bridge closes

 

Cassopolis and Edwardsburg nominations:

• Ontwa Township recall election

• Smithfield Stable fire

• Thunderstorms cause destruction

• Blizzards storm Michiana

• Edwardsburg football team makes semi-finals

• Postile Aluminum expands

• New village president in Cassopolis

• Cassopolis raises money for queen and court

• Megan and Liz return to Edwardsburg

• Students make it to State Patriot Pen

• Cass Clinic opens

We’d love to hear your input and welcome other nominations. Feel free to email your top 10 list to me at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com, or drop it off or mail it to the office at 217 N. Fourth St. in Niles. You can also participate by commenting on our Facebook post, pinned to the top of our pages.

As we move onto an exciting new year full of great opportunities and growth for our community, help us reflect on another great year. Find the top-10 list in a three-part series beginning Dec. 29.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com