Column: Chilton County makes their voices, support heard

Published 12:43 pm Friday, November 11, 2022

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

This week in Chilton County was a massive week for many reasons. Election Day on Nov. 8 was the important date that campaigns across the county had been worked towards since the spring. Being from right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, election days seemed to come and go without much dialogue on it, compared to election day in Chilton County.

I feel like election days in Chilton County, and all counties in states that have smaller municipalities in them, is a more important time than somewhere where I am from in North Carolina. It is a chance for their voices to be heard, and getting out to the voting polls I feel like means more in these smaller cities and towns to select leadership they will deal with on a daily basis. While voting everywhere is important, there seems be more of a connection to residents and their voting and the officials they are electing in local races like the ones here in Chilton County.

The week was bookended by Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and that is always a special time for everyone in the United States. However, there are some differences I have noticed between my experiences with Veterans Day in North Carolina to what I have observed this week in Chilton County.

There were different ways businesses and cities honored veterans in North Carolina, but not to the extent Chilton County has done this year. It seemed like every school from elementary to high schools put on a Veterans Day program honoring veterans in their school and across the county. Senior Connection held an event honoring veterans, and the Chilton County Commission presented their support of veterans by participating in “Operation Green Light for Veterans.” Operation Green Light is a nationwide event during the week where businesses, residents and leaders and officials illuminate their porches or storefronts with a green light. The operation is allowing veterans to know that they are seen, appreciated and supported, according to the commission’s press release.

Sports is my go-to beat and my passion, but I have gotten to dabble in local politics and policies and have learned a lot in my 10 months of covering those beats. One thing I have learned is the residents on Chilton County care deeply about both their local governments and the support for veterans in their communities. It speaks volumes of a community, and I am thankful I work in a place that has that type of passion for things that truly matter.