This New Year’s Day, like its predecessors,makes for a good time to look back on our accomplishments andponder our hopes and resolutions.

    Certainly, the economy has drawn a large part of our attentionthrough much of 2011. By now, most of us would have hoped to see asignificant rebound from the recession. But despite the continuedsluggishness, there are positive signals that may build into abrighter new year ahead.

    Some 250 area jobs were saved in July when the local Delphi plant’sunion approved a new contract after months of uncertainty. Thecompany’s approval of a $15-million investment in the facilityadded further assurance that the local plant is here to stay.

    Other economic bright spots in 2011 included the renovation of ahistoric building into a downtown hotel, a new bank building, newmedical facilities, construction projects at the Mississippi Schoolof the Arts, a new downtown restaurant and a number of other new orrenovated business facilities around town.

    Continuing stronger local sales tax revenues also are indicative ofan improving economy, although we still aren’t back were we werebefore the recession hit.

    As a result of last year’s election, we also will be seeing newfaces in county and state government. We hope that our new andreturning officials will do their best to build on the small signsof recovery and help bring even more growth in 2012.