craigdailypress.com

With several blighted places across town and the expressed desire of many local residents to see these areas cleaned, the topic of beautification, particularly in Craig's warmer months, is one that comes up frequently.

A Craig couple - John and Sally Smith - has chosen to do something about it.

They have donated a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado to be the prize of a raffle, their way of raising funds for the Craig Beautification Committee.

Raffle tickets are $60 for a single or $100 for two.

All proceeds from the fundraiser go toward beautification projects, such as planting flowers across town.

To the Editorial Board, the Smith's donation is yet another example of conscientious residents selflessly stepping forward on behalf of a community cause.

It seems there is no shortage of this happening in Craig, a distinction that separates our city from many others.

Here, there are residents who volunteer to numerous organizations on behalf of a cause.

Many of our nonprofits feed off the lifeline volunteerism provides, and those nonprofits would most likely be the first to concede as much.

Later this month, we'll see an example of that at Moffat County High School where an outpouring of people will participate in the Craig Relay for Life, a fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society.

There also have been several episodes in recent weeks of local residents raising money for people in our community going through a difficult medical situation.

These fundraisers, like the Smith's donation, like Relay for Life, are reminders that Craig is a community, rather than a place people simply inhabit.

Although our community is not without its share of issues, concerns and problems, it is reassuring to Editorial Board members that it also is filled with residents ready and willing to lend a helping hand.

There aren't many towns that has that luxury.

So, today, on the Fourth of July, celebrate America and the life it affords all of us to live. But also appreciate your immediate community and the generous, caring neighbors we have.