Beech Tree News Network

Certainly, 2016 has been an event-filled year. The year may be remembered for (1) senseless terrorist activities around the world – a waste of human lives; (2) the U.S. presidential campaign and election; and (3) increasing financial inequality around the world and at home. Of course, some events were more important than others. The events below – randomly ordered – are memorable:

•    World: The massive influx of migrants and refugees into Europe that began in 2015 continued into this year, as more than 300,000 people, most of them from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, made the dangerous Mediterranean crossing (http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-updates-best-year-review-e...).
•    World: President Obama made the first visit to Cuba by a U.S. president since 1928 (http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-updates-best-year-review-o...).
•    Nation: In a grim milestone, the World Health Organization declared in November that Zika no longer presents a “public health emergency” and should now be treated like other established infectious diseases. Not that it’s not serious, Dr. Pete Salama, director of the WHO’s health emergencies program, said: “We’re sending the message that Zika is here to stay” (http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-updates-best-year-review-g...).
•    Nation: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, an eloquent conservative who was one of the court’s most ardent combatants against what he saw as a tide of modern liberalism, died in February at the age of 79.  His death left the court deadlocked on some important cases, including immigration and mandatory union fees (http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-updates-best-year-review-a...).
•    Business:  In October, AT&T reached a deal to buy Time Warner Inc. for $85.4 billion — a merger that would transform the telephone company into the nation’s largest entertainment company with a portfolio that includes Warner Bros., HBO, CNN and TNT (http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-updates-best-year-review-a...).
•    State: Kentucky legislators and Governor Matt Bevin worked together to pass a bi-partisan budget that begins to restore fiscal responsibility to state retirement systems.
•    City: Local governmental offices and businesses cooperated to make Morgantown more attractive and healthy by placing benches along sidewalks. (Thank you.)

Though our world is unpredictable, 2017 will be filled with opportunities. Brad Paisley said, “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.”  I am grateful for the blessings of 2016 and pray for God’s protection in 2017.