The year of 2013 is now officially behind us, and we hope that 2014 will be bigger and better than ever for Atmore and its citizens.

Certainly our fair city has its share of problems, as do a lot of American small towns. The economy is doing better, but still has a long way to grow, and there is concern about whether our moral fabric is eroding. However, we believe that the people of Atmore are resilient and good people, and our city will see brighter days in 2014.

Several major openings and announcements at the end of 2013 will continue to pay off dividends for us in the coming year. The recently opened entertainment center at Wind Creek Casino and Hotel will make Atmore a hub for family fun, drawing residents from not only this county but also several other counties. It is very possible that the Rivercane area will continue to expand with new businesses and economic opportunities, especially after the opening of Taco Bell and Fairfield Inn in 2014.

Also, the arrival of Walmart will make Atmore a shopping destination. We hope that the new retail store will be a positive for our area, creating new jobs and giving a boost to the local economy. Certainly there is some concern that the Walmart may lead to the closure of local businesses, but we believe that we can all work together to make this economy grow and prosper for all citizens.

We are also excited about the recent election of Bradley Byrne to the U.S. Congress. Byrne will take office on Jan. 7, and finally give our region a voice again in national government. We have not had a U.S. representative fighting for us since August. Byrne has family in Escambia County, and we expect that he be sure that our interests are handled in Washington.

The year 2014 is certainly filled with both great possibilities and worries, but we believe that our citizens are more than capable of making it a great year.