.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Editorials

  • We believe in words

    For more than half dozen years, the Williston Pioneer has committed to bringing the children of Bronson and Williston Elementary Schools the power of words through the nationally acclaimed The Dictionary Project.
    Each year, money and time are set aside to present every third grade student in the two schools with their own dictionary. The students are challenged to become lifelong learners and told the book they hold in their hands wields power.

    Click here to read more...
  • Back the fight

    The tragedy of breast cancer goes far beyond the thousands of lives it affects and ends every year.
    What makes the diagnosis of the disease especially heartbreaking is the fact that breast cancer is treatable.
    With that in mind, a lot of people are turning to pink to remind everyone that this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

    Click here to read more...
  • Of course newspapers are Number One

    Newspapers are the number one source of local news. That’s the theme of National Newspaper Week, October 2-8.Well, duh. Of course they are.
    Except for perhaps a few well-known papers that market themselves as national, every newspaper in the land considers local news its bread and butter. Consider all the newspapers in the country. Their combined news staffs dwarf those of any other medium.

    Click here to read more...
  • Harmony doesn’t have to be lip service

    We were the first to say it, and now it seems, some city council members are parroting it–there needs to be some kind of civility among our elected leaders as they tackle the important issues facing Williston.
    At Tuesday night’s meeting, Councilor Brooks Holloway called for harmony to be restored among the council.
    He also wondered what potential businesses would think about Williston if they read about city business in the newspaper.
    We think anyone would infer from news stories, it’s a council divided.

    Click here to read more...
  • Open government is the best government

    There isn’t a government body anywhere that can accommodate  its constituency when it comes time for meetings.
    Unless, of course, meetings are held in the Super Dome.
    That’s why newspapers, the Fourth Estate, are critical to bringing the news to the people who elect government leaders.
    Newspaper reporters are the eyes and ears of Joe the Plumber, who has concerns about what is transpiring in his city, county or state, but yet cannot attend meetings to learn how his tax dollars are being spent.

    Click here to read more...
  • Our View

    If  you thought that Mayberry was a meandering dream that lives only on TV Land, guess again. Last Thursday, for the 11th year, the city of Williston paid homage to our military veterans in its annual celebration at the pavilion in Heritage Park.
    Patriotic music, moving speeches and the sight of  our nation’s true heroes sitting in a row moved many to tears in the stirring 90-minute event.
    Rep. Larry Cretul summed it up best when he described the annual event as a picture of Norman Rockwell’s
    America.

    Click here to read more...
  • Silence is not golden

    When Williston City Council President Marc Nussel announced last week the elimination of public comment at council meetings, we were, at first, alarmed. After all, this country is based on basic freedoms–like speech, assembly, religion and the press.
    But then Nussel clarified, stating that residents can still speak on issues on the agenda, and if the need occurs, they can be placed on an upcoming agenda to have their concerns addressed.

    Click here to read more...
  • Lead by example

    At last week’s Williston Council meeting, Councilor Debra Jones admonished local candidates to adhere to a resolution the council passed in 2003 that called for proper conduct in public settings.
    We agree, but we want to see it taken one step further. We want the council to lead by example and challenge those who come to their meetings to do the same.
    The last several city council meetings have, at times, been chaotic.

    Click here to read more...
  • We can't hear you

    If the Williston City Council really wants to have its residents attend, and participate, in its meetings and workshops, it needs to take immediate steps to ensure that people are both comfortable and heard.
    The city council chambers can pack about 70 people in shoulder-to-shoulder–pretty much like economy seats on an airplane. That in itself is uncomfortable, and possibly unhealthy, as germs have nowhere to go in the stagnant air except onto a neighbor.

    Click here to read more...
  • Thinking out loud

    Today–Thursday–is my birthday. For as long as I can remember it’s something I have not looked forward to, mostly because I’ve always lived in colder climates. 

    As a SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) sufferer, the thought of my birthday only exacerbated the seasonal depression I fought. Moving to Florida has helped both–there’s more sunlight here, and instead of the three or four months of doldrums I once had, it’s usually only a couple weeks now.

    But I digress.

    Click here to read more...