Freezing temperatures means frozen water and sewer lines. A great deal of thanks goes to Alliance, LaDon, and his crews that repair these broken lines in subzero weather and then at the water plant. They work around the clock if needed to repair and replace breaks especially on older lines throughout the city. On behalf of the BG citizens, thank you for your service and dedication
What does it mean to have connectivity in a town or city. A big indication is SIDEWALKS. Sidewalks first make connection within a neighborhood more friendly and cohesive. A cohesive neighborhood has block parties, neighborhood BBQ’s, displays of loving concern for shut-ins and physically challenged neighbors. Sidewalks still provide access for wheelchairs, bicycles, and walking connectedness. When SIDEWALKS go beyond neighborhoods, they reach into other neighborhoods which reach into City Parks, City activities like Music and Movies in the Park. Sidewalks reach into pharmacies, dentist and doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics, grocery and clothing stores, and in Bowling Green’s institutions, resale shops and our NECAC, Hope Center, Pike County Development Agency, Pike County Health Department and Pike County Agency for Developmental Disability, SIDEWALKS connect people. SIDEWALKS connects you to our local businesses and services. Not everyone in Bowling Green owns a vehicle so their mode of transportation and “connectivity “ is walking, an electric wheelchair, or riding a bicycle. Without SIDEWALKS people, children, handicapped are forced to walk, bicycle, or wheelchair into our streets. I can’t tell you the number of complaints and concerns people have expressed to me about their near misses as drivers but especially near tragic accidents involving their children. Thank God that the Pike County Commissioners have reached into our Bowling Green City and have written and received grants for a “pedestrian walking bridge” over the railroad tracks on Business Highway 61 along with building sidewalks from there down to our Bowling Green Schools access points. We have had so many near misses of vehicles hitting adult walkers and our children going to school along the busy Highway Business 61. From many passed articles, I’m sure you know that I am big on Bowling Green having more connectivity through sidewalks.
School spirit is high at the Bowling Green High School where the boys basketball team has won 7 straight games. They are 8-3 at this point in the season despite a late start as the Bobcat football team was in the District and State playoffs. The 100th Annual Bowling Green Basketball Tournament started on January 27 and runs through February 1. Come and support the girls and boys basketball teams as they pursue their successful efforts for their own tourney and their season.
As mentioned, 2025 is going to be a year of changes, new innovations, expansions of old established businesses, AI Artificial Intelligence advances, new manufacturing and industrial ingenuities, and hopefully more money in your wallets and pocketbooks. Newness and changes bring challenges and different ways of maneuvering. Building on the past, let’s move forward for the future.
Written by: Mayor Jim Arico