“It was an awesome day,” Dr. Josh Deere told the Herald. “It gives us an idea that the pandemic is not ending tomorrow, but there is some end in sight.”
And that, folks, is incredibly good news in a year that hasn’t had much of it. Highlighted by the chaos, disruption and sadness brought on by the pandemic, 2020 is finally behind us. In two days, 2021 begins. With it comes the hope and optimism that the nation – and our community – will see better times.
What should we remember about 2020?
Foremost, we recall the efforts made by those in the health care field. Yes, many people have made great sacrifices during the pandemic, dealing with changes at schools, enduring negative business swings or seeing loved ones fall ill or die to the pandemic. But health care workers have been toiling throughout, and at great risk to their own health. It’s happening at Altru and at numerous other care providers throughout our region.
Their work – tireless, selfless work – deserves our praise, our thanks and our admiration. And their efforts really are the best good news in a year that, on the surface, seemed void of it.
A few other “good news” stories from 2020:
● Teachers and educators throughout Greater Grand Forks – from preschool all the way through higher education – worked to get education back on track. This was a massive effort and required so much planning. Most educators, meanwhile, went back into the classroom and risked their own health in doing so.
● The Myra Foundation distributed its largest amount of charitable cash donations ever (in its 79-year history) to charities and nonprofits in Grand Forks County. The UND Foundation also had a stellar fundraising year.
● After a disastrous 2019 harvest season, ag producers caught a break. Early last month, the Herald reported that farmers in the region were finishing the 2020 harvest, aided by steady weather throughout the year and a dry autumn. One farmer told the Herald that 2020 “put the fun back into farming.”
● And let’s finish 2020 with this one: Madi Pulk, of rural Strathcona, Minn., displayed some heroic fast thinking when she saved her 5-year-old brother, John, after he fell into a drainage ditch that had swelled during the spring thaw. Madi heard her younger sister, Emily, scream and found her brother floating in the culvert. She jumped into the water and revived him with CPR.
At the time of the incident, Madi was just 8 years old.
Certainly, there was plenty of other good news this year – too much to fit into the space constraints of this piece. But the strain of 2020 sometimes makes it hard to remember all the positives that occurred over the past 12 months.
Our wish for the coming year is more of these kinds of stories, and fewer pieces about death, illness and financial strain on local businesses and people.
The Link LonkDecember 30, 2020 at 07:00PM
https://www.grandforksherald.com/opinion/editorials/6819151-Our-view-Dont-forget-the-positive-news-of-2020
Our view: Don't forget the positive news of 2020 - Grand Forks Herald
https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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