The more advanced this world becomes, the more I love living in Batesville. I love the beauty of Church Street and bell towers that chime the hour with favorite hymns. I love going to the grocery store and being able to catch up with old friends. I love the accountability that comes with living here. Good deeds and bad are eventually found out. I love that I run into Mrs. Fay Hayden, my 11th grade English teacher, who is still as great an encourager now as many years ago.

I love living near the Square and walking to Springfest each May. I love that my pharmacist was also my classmate in high school and, with that comes, I believe, a vested interest in the well being of me and my family.

Sometimes, I believe progress can be misinterpreted. Yes, convenience is good in this fast paced world, but progress should start from within and should be balanced. We need to remember that our local merchants, those we go to church with, whose children go to school with ours, are an important part of who we are as a community.

/s/Susie Spencer VanDyke