Our View….The eyes of the world are upon us

Talk about it

It seems Carlton County is becoming a household name these days – well beyond the boundaries of the county and state.

A cooperative program between the county and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College recently became the only one of its kind in the nation to provide educational support to teen parents. A troupe of amateur actors from the County Seat Theater gained international acclaim this summer by presenting their production of “Wiley and the Hairy Man” at the Children’s Theater Festival in Japan. This week, when the county received its third United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant in as many years, USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer commented that to her knowledge, it is the only county in the state ever to have achieved this accomplishment.

It seems that Carlton County is setting the bar in many different areas. And while the county has often been described as “largely rural,” its perspective is distinctly cutting edge. Many of these accolades don’t get broadcast beyond the bounds of a certain group or sector of the population, however, so it’s likely that a lot of us don’t fully realize how progressive a county we live and work in.

Unfortunately, the county has also gained widespread attention for the terrible devastation many of its cities and rural townships sustained during the June flooding. But along with the headlines once again came accolades for the county’s organized and timely response to the disaster and the expansiveness of its volunteer force.

In any case, the name recognition that Carlton County has achieved – and continues to achieve – is a reflection on all of those living and working here. Consider this a well-deserved pat on the back.

Wendy Johnson

Tags: our view, carlton county, opinion