Kellogg discusses future

KELLOGG - The fight to return the city of Kellogg to its former glory is continuing.

The first of a series of town hall meetings hosted by Kellogg business owners and residents took place Sept. 14 to address vacant store windows and a struggling commercial community.

Two weeks later, business owners and residents gathered in hopes of going from discussion to action on re-energizing Kellogg.

"It's time to go beyond the idea stage, go forward," said Brenda Stinson, Kellogg business owner and town hall co-organizer. "I believe we need goals."

Setting goals through a mission statement - to revitalize and promote the community of Kellogg - was the first order of business.

"We've gotta do something, we've gotta make it fun to live here," Stinson said.

"When you see your town dying, how can you be positive about that?" asked Kellogg resident Michael Murphy.

He said he knows there is potential in the town, and that he has continued faith in Kellogg.

A new face to the series of town hall meetings stood to offer his suggestions.

"You are in the heart of one of the most dynamic bicycle environments in the country, let alone the world," said Bob McCarl.

A professor within the Department of Sociology at Boise State University, McCarl has spent three-and-a-half months in Kellogg researching how work is changing in terms of people's relationship with the environment.

Despite the negative feelings accompanied with the labeling of the Silver Valley as an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site, McCarl said history should not be lost in the cleanup efforts. Holding on to Kellogg's roots in mining despite the current controversy can help to maintain the valley's culture and draw tourism.

Four committees were formed with emphasis on government relations, marketing, events and transportation and communication and networking.

"You've gotta support local business, or they'll all be gone," Murphy said.