Let's talk about the good news for a change!

With inflation at a 40-year high, focusing on what’s going wrong in the world isn’t hard to do.

Let’s take a moment to look at the bright side. Here are some good things happening in our area – and some things we can do to make our little part of the world better.

RAIN, RAIN, COME OUR WAY

Starting Wednesday, we should have about four days of significantly cooler weather. Now that’s something to be glad about.

The Midwest has been beleaguered by drought and excessive heat for the last several weeks, but starting Thursday, a change looks to be in order.

According to weather.com, northern Kay County has a 21% chance of rain Thursday, a 58% chance on Friday and Saturday, and a 35% chance on Sunday. Meanwhile, temperatures will range between a low of 65 degrees and a high of 94 from Thursday through Sunday.

Temperatures will ramp back up above 100 degrees starting Monday, but we can be thankful for the respite heading our way. Before long, we’ll have our customary week of fall weather before we delve into frigid arctic temperatures. It is Oklahoma, after all.

Let’s enjoy the cool front while we’ve got it and be grateful for it.

LET’S GIVE THANKS

As I drive around the county and look at drought-stricken crops, I can’t help but think about how local farmers deserve our commendations. Year in and year out, they plant crops and pray for rain so they can keep food on our tables. It’s no easy business.

We’ve all been impacted by the bad economy, but farmers have been hit harder. Costs for seed, fertilizer, fuel and equipment are soaring, and this year’s drought has left some in precarious financial situations. Agriculture is as much a boom-and-bust business as the oilfield, but there are fewer subsidizes for struggling family farmers.

This week, take time to thank farmers for their work. We literally couldn’t live without them.

While you’re at it, take time to thank our first responders, who have battled scorching grass fires amid skyrocketing temperatures. We’ve had a handful of brush fires across the county in the last several weeks, yet our firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers continue to respond quickly to keep us safe.

On Monday afternoon, the speediness of the Blackwell Fire Department likely prevented a small fire from turning into a big one and engulfing a dry corn field on Highway 177 south of town. Around 3:25 p.m., a small stretch of the ditch on the east side of the highway caught fire, and it was right next to a crispy, yellow field of corn.

Firefighters were quickly on the scene to contain and extinguish the blaze before it ripped through the crop. It burned only a few yards of grass in the ditch and a few corn stalks. That’s a miracle. Let’s show our gratitude to our first responders.

NEW BUSINESSES IN TOWN

Now here’s a bright spot for Blackwell: New business is coming to town. As you may have read in this week’s front-page story, we’ve got a new food truck opening on Doolin Avenue.

Blackwell has had limited food options for some time. But in the last two years alone, that situation has changed. The town’s Golden Chick and Cicarella Pizza, among others, have given locals more options than we’ve had in some time.

Of course, the restaurants we’ve always had continue to serve up quality food in our neck of the woods. Now, we’re just blessed with more fine dining establishments.

FLEA MARKET BOOMING

If you’re thrifty and looking for something nifty, Blackwell’s weekend flea market is just the place to go. Dorvin Constant, who helps operate the event, said turnout has been higher than normal lately. Vendors have increased in number, and patrons are taking notice.

The flea market takes place on Saturdays at the corner of Furguson Avenue and First Street. Drop by and check it out.

DROP US A LINE

If you’ve got good news to tell us, drop us a line here at The Journal-Tribune.

We’re eager to read your letters to the editor and hear your news tips. Serving our community isn’t just our job – it’s our passion. Help us tell the stories that matter to you.

You can call our office at 580-363-3370 or drop by at 523 S. Main St. You can reach us via email at news@blackwelljournaltribune.net. We’d like to hear from you.

That’s it for this week, Folks.

Enjoy the cooler weather. And as my good friend Dayle McGaha says, watch the person behind the one in front of you. That’s the one who causes most of your problems.