As this year comes to a close, we are fortunate to have had good management of our county. We have been blessed with leadership over the year that has managed to ensure that, with all the fiscal uncertainties swirling around us here in Georgia, Newton County stands tall and secure.

We are losing some very good leaders on Jan. 1, leaders in county government in our court system, our law enforcement, education and even our coroner's office.

All of these men have followed the principles that John F. Kennedy set forth in his inauguration speech, when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country." When thinking of these men we can easily substitute the word county with country.

We salute Sheriff Joe Nichols, Chairman Aaron Varner, Commissioner Ester Fleming, Commissioner Monty Laster, Coroner Bob Wheeler and Judge Billy Waters.

We thank them for their service and we hope they will stay available if their services are ever needed again.

We also are looking forward to working with our new crop of leaders. We will expect nothing less from them as we did of their predecessors.