The national and international news is so depressing sometimes I’m tempted to not get up in the morning. Our congress has disgraced itself by inviting the President of Mexico to address a joint session of congress where he proceeded to lecture them on faulty laws that make life difficult for illegal immigrants from his country. The president of Mexico! Why does no one point out that Amnesty International has cited Mexico for its widespread abuse of its illegal immigrants and called it “a human rights crisis.” Oil gushes from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico at the rate of 80,000 barrels a day, the oil slick has now reached our Gulf Coast and is contaminating wetlands. Enough already! When all is doom and gloom, I focus my attention upon LaGrange and the good news about the city and why we are fortunate to live here.

We boast of our schools, colleges, parks, playgrounds, sports, theater and music, all the things that enrich our quality of life. But there is so much more about LaGrange that makes it such an attractive place to live that we pay less attention to than we should.

I know of no other city in Georgia that charges no property taxes to the citizens or businesses while continuing to produce a surplus, important for future projects and rainy-day reserves. Our utility rates are dramatically below those of our competitors in the region. The city provides top-rated services, continuously works to improve our roads and seeks ways to relieve the growing traffic congestion caused by the city and county’s growth.

Under Mayor Jeff Luken’s leadership the city’s health care and insurance costs are down significantly from five years ago when employees were given incentives for fitness and a healthy lifestyle; workman’s compensation costs are also down. There are initiatives to improve the city’s telecommunication, and creation of a biomass reactor, where methane is harvested from the landfill. In response to the nation’s financial crisis and unemployment, unnoticed by most of us, are the efforts to grow local jobs through the hiring of a director who heads an effort to increase job-creation.

The city has a website that connects resumes of local job seekers with local employers, provides information on job fairs, company hiring needs, skills required for the 21 century, training resources, education resources, and how to build an effective resume and interview tips.

I was unaware of the effort by the mayor to create internships and apprenticeship positions among local industries to provide experience for LaGrange’s young people who remain in school. The possibilities of this initiative are unlimited and will have far reaching effects for the city. In face of the recession, expenses continue to be carefully managed; city spending is up less than 1.5 percent despite extra obligations, including increased fuel costs. The city’s safety has been improved by the addition of four new police officers using stimulus money received from the federal government.

That the city is a safe place to live is one of the reasons most of us cite when asked by outsiders why LaGrange is so special. We have one of the most highly rated police departments in the nation. It has been shaped by Public Safety Director Lou Dekmar, who has been honored several times by state and national organizations for his excellence.

The crime rate in LaGrange is low, so is the murder rate, averaging slightly over 1.5 percent, and few go unsolved. Last year was unusual with five murders committed. However, arrests were quickly made in four of them and the one remaining is being actively pursued with an arrest expected soon. Like most cities, the LaGrange police has a cold-case initiative; last year a man was arrested and convicted of a rape committed 20 years ago. Imagine his shock when LaGrange officers appeared and read him his rights.

One of the unique actions taken by the chief was the creation of a Police Academy for kids 11 to 14. Those enrolled spend a week learning modern police methods, every thing from forensics, use of firearms to data on the dangers of speeding, drinking, drugs and much more. Getting a behind-the-scene look at a modern police department always receives an enthusiastic response from participants fortunate enough to be selected.

Recently the effectiveness of our police was highlighted when the Columbus department announced its average response to violent crimes and those in progress was reduced from 20 minutes to 15. The response time of the LaGrange police is, at most, three minutes. When a call is made to 911 reporting such a crime, an alarm is instantly sounded everywhere from patrol cars to headquarters and the desk of the chief.

Yes, we are justly proud of LaGrange’s charms, its culture, medical facilities and charitable organizations, but the everyday nuts and bolts workings of the city could be the most important of all.