While having lunch with a couple of out-of-towners one asked, “What’s the big news in Batesville this week?”

I told him about the football game on Friday night in Jackson, but I couldn’t think of any “earth shattering” news such as gang-style murders, shootings or child molestings to tell him about.
That brought to mind what many of my co-workers and I have been working on the last few days. While not earth shattering, it’s news that should be told.

News like Gale Bean and her group of volunteers — individuals, churches, families and even a motorcycle club, who spent their Thanksgiving holiday preparing, serving and delivering holiday meals to those throughout the county who might not have had one.

News like the Batesville Civitan Club holding its annual Radio Day fund-raiser when a bunch of men will get up early in the morning and broadcast their ignorance around the region while having a good ole’ time and holding an auction to raise money to support worthwhile causes that our Civitans have supported for decades.

News like volunteers with Helping Hand Ministry holding a barbecue dinner before auctioning items donated by individuals, churches, businesses, and civic clubs later that same day to benefit members of our local population who are in dire straights.

News like the STOP organization asking local churches to ask their members to donate and collect school supplies for students in our county who might not have the resources to keep current with tools for the classroom or who might have depleted supplies donated at the beginning of the school year.

There are probably many more individuals, churches and organizations working to benefit and better our local citizenry out of my little circle, and that’s news, too.

‘Tis the season to make a difference, ‘tis the season of good news.