It’s time now to look — forward

Matt Pearl

It is natural to assume, I suppose, that rural towns like ours have a ceiling in terms of economic growth. We’re limited in population, resources, infrastructure, job opportunities — and when I listen to some folks, it sounds like they’re ready to pack it in and move to town.

By “town,” of course, they mean St. Joe or Kansas City. I wrote a few months ago about the legendary small-town Saturday evenings, when movie theaters sold out and grocery stores made their week.

Basically, folks, King City, Stanberry, and Union Star used to be the towns where everyone was headed to shop.

But when someone tells me that the thriving days of our little towns are all behind us, I want to know where he is hiding his crystal ball.

I’ve heard dozens of times, “We just can’t do that here.”

Why not? You want to tell me that our forefathers crossed the West and started settlements from nothing and grew thriving towns and cities, but you and I can’t find any way to cultivate growth in a town that already has streets, water, sewers, and power?

Those of you who can only view our communities by looking backward at what they used to be, I’m calling you out, and your neighbors are putting you on notice.

If your time of usefulness remains in the past, then you have excluded yourselves from being part of the rest of our proud future.

I operate a business on the main drag of each of Gentry County’s three largest communities, because I believe that the county deserves news coverage and needs a business presence in its major towns to get that done. My parents’ home often works as my Union Star office, and I live on Empire Prairie as a member of our Andrew County community.

I’m not the shining example of everything that is good and right, but I believe that when we demonstrate the patience and the contentment to live the modest small-town life, you and I contribute to what makes our little world so viable: the people.

But if you tell me that no business would want to land in Stanberry, I’ll tell you that you’re a fool.

If King City has nothing to offer, why doesn’t everyone just leave it? Union Star has been a wonderful home to my folks for over 25 years, many of which I spent living in the community.

I’m not delusional: I see what you see.

I see empty business buildings. I see bricks falling from once vibrant commercial spots.

I see that now. But I don’t see it forever, and when a few more of you learn to look forward instead of backward, more of you will see what I see in the days to come.

I don’t want to raise my family in St. Joe, or we would live there. I don’t want to work in Kansas City, or I would.

Small-town America is where the rural agricultural spirit of the early nation is making its final stand — your home and mine is the only part of this nation that Washington, Adams, and Jefferson would recognize if they could walk among us now.

I for one wish to keep it. But there’s a change that you and I must see in the coming years to preserve our world: we must begin more frequently to hear the words “We can do this, and we will.”

I’ve heard enough of “That won’t work; we’ll never get that done here.” I’m ready to hear from the people who care enough to make things happen.

I don’t have all the answers, but I trust that those of you who possess them will step up to the plate.

Our time is now.