Dec 31, 2020

Community leaders offer wishes, hopes for the new year

Posted Dec 31, 2020 7:13 PM
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2020 is almost in the rearview mirror!

In anticipation of the new year, we asked a number of community leaders and officials what their hopes and wishes were for 2021. Not everyone responded, but those who did offered a glimpse of hope for a better new year.

Predictably, good health and well being were mentioned, as were kindness and caring about others.

Following are their comments.

Linn Exline
USD 305 Superintendent

In the thick of a pandemic we are pressing forward. As we find our way, one of my fondest wishes is that these challenges bring out the best in each of us. My hope is that we grow kinder, stronger, and more concerned about others.

Robert Vidricksen
Saline County Commission Chair

Yes, 2020 has been a rough year to say the least. My main wish for 2021 is probably the same as everyone else’s...put an end to COVID-19. Several challenges will arise from COVID in regards to the 2022 budget. As yet, those challenges have not been totally identified. Even though COVID took center stage in 2020, a great deal was accomplished during 2020 for the Saline County Commission. Signing of a lease extension for the Expo Center, approving a contract for emergency equipment updates and of course, getting a new jail approved and moving forward with the project.

Claire Mullen
Salina Area United Way Executive Director

My wish for the new year is that the Salina Area United Way hits their $550,000 Campaign goal so we can support our community partners during these tough times as they provide crucial services to our community.

Mike Schrage
Salina City Manager

I have been very thankful that Salina’s economic activity in 2020 has not been as significantly impacted as other communities and that there has been continued confidence to invest in development in Salina through projects such as the Kubota & Schwan’s expansions and the continued downtown investment. My hope for 2021 is that the Coronavirus vaccines are successful in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic and our community physical and economic health return to normal and we can resume social interactions and activities.

Roger Stumpf
USD 306 Superintendent

My wish for the new year is a return to normal activities for our youth. The strain and stress put onto our youth through this pandemic has certainly taken a toll. From sports to music performances to simply hanging out with friends, everything has become stressful for them and my wish is for the vaccine to finally get us back on the path to being able to happily restart our group activities and enjoy each other's company.

Matt Thompson
Kansas Wesleyan University President

My wish for the new year is a re-commitment to kindness, community, and learning. Our greatest hope as a community, a nation, and a world is through connections, learning from each other, and supporting our neighbors. May 2021 be the year of re-connecting, re-imagining, and re-membering with each other.

Phillip Smith-Hanes
Saline County Administrator

My wish is for good health in the community. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe it’s COVID-19 (most likely both), but I am just so tired of hearing about this person dying, that person being in the hospital, and this other person getting a diagnosis of cancer/coronavirus/you name it. I just wish everyone a HEALTHY 2021!