A few issues that deserve attention (08/26/2008)

Success brings its own challenges.

While it was great news that attendance at the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association's 43rd show was up, even in the face of high gasoline prices, there continue to be some issues that deserve attention if the relationship between the show and Jay County is to continue to flourish.

A few come to mind.

•Traffic control. The whole confusing situation involving golf carts is probably going to have to be sorted out by the Indiana General Assembly. The current mess is ambiguous and unfair both to golf cart drivers and local law enforcement.

At the same time, golf carts aren't the only issue. Should the city of Portland strictly enforce parking ordinances when hundreds of garage sales are taking place simultaneously? Should merchants provide a special zone for golf cart parking in much the same way they do for the buggies of our Amish citizens? Should East Votaw Street temporarily be made one-way eastbound when several dozen flea markets are set up along the curb? At the same time, would it make sense for Morton Street to be, temporarily during the show, be made one-way southbound for those exiting the fairgrounds?

There are more questions than answers.

•Making a better community connection. There have been countless efforts to try to connect those attending the show to the larger Portland and Jay County community. The chamber of commerce runs trolleys, the quilt show at Arts Place aims at reaching that audience, and Boy Scouts deliver copies of The Commercial Review to campers at the show during the event.

But we don't seem to be making the kind of connection we'd like. How can Jay County offer up its other attractions to that temporary audience of visitors without undermining or distracting from the engine show itself? Again, it's not an easy question.

•Reaching the next generation. One of the fundamental characteristics of the engine show is that it is rooted in nostalgia, particularly nostalgia for the pre-REMC days on America's farms when clever little gasoline engines powered countless daily chores.

But that nostalgia may "age out," those who remember the era will pass on and may not be replaced in sufficient numbers. How does Tri-State pass the torch along to another generation? And, perhaps more importantly, how can the community help Tri-State in that task?

It's clearly in Jay County's interest for this event to remain strong and viable forever, but that's not going to happen automatically.

As we said, success brings its own challenges.

But the smartest thing we can do right now is to put those challenges on the table, start talking about them, start thinking about them, and even start arguing about them, because they aren't going to go away.

And if we don't address them, we'll regret it. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]