Sunday’s front page of The Goshen News outlines the economic uncertainty Elkhart County continues to struggle with. Two years ago, when the bottom dropped out from under our seemingly invincible recreational vehicle industry, we knew it was going to hurt for a little while. Well, it’s been a little while and it still hurts.
This weekend, however, the Midwest RV Super Show in downtown Elkhart showcased how the RV industry does seem to be finding its traction once again. But it’s nowhere near back to highway speed just yet. If anything, the Super Show illustrates the chasm between what was and what is. What will be has yet to be determined.
According to the RVIA, a record 390,500 RV units were shipped in 2006. Last year a little more than 165,000 units were shipped, down 30 percent from 2008. Up through 2008, the RV Super Show was held in our area for 54 consecutive years. It was flat out cancelled in 2009 before returning this year in a much smaller scale to downtown Elkhart. The venue had routinely been the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds here in Goshen and included a large RV rally. There was no rally this year.
And that’s the good news. The Elkhart County Council essentially announced Saturday that it will lose about $3.5 million in revenue from option income tax sources. It doesn’t take an MIT economist to deduct that jobs and programs will be lost as a result. There is less money to go around and that must be dealt with appropriately by our local public spending units. Private money also continues to take a beating, as anyone who has been paying attention to the markets can tell you.
Unemployment numbers are trickling in the right direction, but there are fewer people looking for jobs and many more who are simply underemployed because of reduced hours, cut shifts and mandatory unpaid furloughs.
It is good to be optimistic, but it’s also important to be realistic. We’ve tried to look through our rose-colored glasses as much as possible when producing this page, but even then it’s impossible not to bear witness to the fact that job creation here continues to languish, unemployment is still substantial and our local governments are scrambling to protect basic services. Our financial belts must be tightened to get through this, because counting on waking up one day and having things like they once were simply isn’t logical thinking.
Opinion
Our economic reality still hurts
- Opinion
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Memorial Day an opportunity to honor veterans
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Gun owners should safely store weapons
This week has been designated National Small Business Week as a way to recognize entrepreneurs and risk takers who form the economic backbone of our country.
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Gun owners should safely store weapons
Gun violence is a daily occurrence in the United States and on Wednesday an advocacy group for gun control made a point and a few headlines by announcing 10 states, Indiana included, have higher rates of deaths by firearms than by motor vehicles.
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Clearing a path for future First Fridays success
Last week the Goshen City Council gave final, unanimous approval to an ordinance that will prohibit people from blocking public sidewalks within the city limits. Those who violate this ordinance face a fine of $200.
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13 turnarounds we can admire
Before trustees of Goshen Community Schools met this past Monday night, a reception was held to honor 13 deserving students. They weren’t valedictorians or salutatorians. They weren’t class presidents or all-state student-athletes.
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Recognition as bicycle-friendly city appreciated
Goshen is in the second year of its four-year designation by the League of American Bicyclists as a bike-friendly community. We congratulate city planners and bicycle advocates for this continuing recognition.
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A message that all children need to hear
Gayla Konanz is giving girls the message they need to hear — fitness begins early in life and is the foundation that self-esteem and confidence are built on.
Konanz is a fitness advocate for children and works through the Girls on the Run program. The Goshen News told readers in the May 2 edition how Konanz is working with girls at Bristol Elementary School and is encouraging them to get fit and stay fit. -
We’re No. 12, and No. 1,268! Way to go GHS
This has become a popular space for singing the praises of our local school corporations in recent years. That’s because we believe in the quality work and effort our educators and students are putting forth on a daily basis in and out of the classroom.
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Bill Bloss was a superb servant
Bill Bloss, a man who was always willing to step up and help his hometown of Goshen, died Wednesday. We know that everyone who had met Mr. Bloss and got to know him, will miss him plenty.
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Voters and candidates deserve a 'thank you'
In light of Tuesday’s primary election, we’d like to take a moment and thank two groups of people.
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