Area residents look ahead to 2008

Published 11:27 pm Sunday, December 30, 2007

As the new year approaches, several people take the opportunity to reflect on 2007 — what’s happened and what needs to change. And with that, comes preparing for 2008.

Since 2008 is a presidential election year, many will help decide the direction the nation is headed, which is one thing Dalton resident Bryson Clark says he is most excited about.

“I’m looking forward to the presidential election,” said Clark, a 24-year-old student at Dalton State College, who plans to graduate this spring with a degree in management. “It’s time for a change. It’s time for people to stop being so apathetic.”

Clark said he is not sure which candidate he is going to support because “I am still doing some research on it.” With state caucuses and primaries just around the corner — Iowa’s caucus is Thursday and Georgia’s primary is Feb. 5 — Clark says he hopes other people are also doing research to determine the best candidate.

But other people around Dalton Sunday afternoon just didn’t seem as interested in the presidential election as Clark was, while others said they didn’t want to discuss politics.

Clark said he, like several others around the area, is ready to see the situation in Iraq resolved peacefully and to see troops return home.

Dalton resident Linda Montieth wouldn’t say much about politics or the war in Iraq.

“It’s sad all the people in Iraq couldn’t be home for the holidays,” she said, adding she didn’t want to say anything else about her concerns for the nation in 2008.

But Montieth said she is looking forward to 2008 on a personal level.

“I hope to have a wonderful year,” she said. “I had a trying one this year. So I hope for a good one.”

Montieth said she doesn’t make resolutions because “I always break them,” which seems to be a typical sentiment in the area.

“I don’t make resolutions,” said one man, who asked for his name not to be printed. “How about to drink less alcohol?” he asked laughing.

Another man said he didn’t make resolutions, but said he looks forward to a year of good health and blessings from God in 2008.

Just before refereeing a Dalton recreation basketball game Sunday, Tommy Pinson, director of the Dalton Community Center, joked that his resolution was to not referee basketball any more. But then Pinson said his real resolution is to “give more of my time to God.”

Clark shared Pinson’s resolution.

“I want to get closer to God and be an all-around better person — and help my men’s league basketball team win the championship this year,” Clark said.