Opinion | Nelson: ‘Next person in’

Seasons come and seasons go. Rex McDowall decided it’s time for him to step away from Fontanelle’s city council.

On Friday, I gave him a call to talk about his decision. He talked fondly of his hometown, how he and his wife had moved away for several years and now have been back for several years. He talked about the “quiet life” we all know and love from getting to live in communities like ours here in Adair County.

So with McDowall out, there’s a spot to fill on the council. Next person in.

“Next person in” is a mentality often thrown around in the sports world. When a person gets injured, “next person in.” I saw it play out Saturday as the Kansas City Chiefs had a lead against the Cleveland Browns in the AFC divisional round of the NFL playoffs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes experienced a concussion after being brought to the ground on a quarterback run.

Enter Chad Henne.

Henne hasn’t won a game since 2013, had never thrown a postseason pass before Sunday and though he threw an interception on his first drive after taking over, the former Miami Dolphin led the Chiefs to hold off the Browns and make it to the AFC Championship game on their home field against the Bills that will be this weekend.

Chiefs fans I know were, of course, elated that they’re one step closer to making it to another Super Bowl, and they hope their team can win another. They did it using the “next person in” mentality and that person, Chad Henne, heroically delivered.

Someone will have to fill a seat on the city council. We need wise, level headed people willing to listen and willing to work with others to get to positive solutions for our towns to serve. From what I have experienced at city council meetings across the area before, we have those people, but we need one more.

I don’t know who that will be and how that spot exactly will be filled yet. While an NFL season won’t be on the line, it’s “next person in.” We should all be thankful there are people willing to do the hard work of city leadership because it’s a vital role within our community life.

A huge thank you to our community’s heroes as well after the recent blizzard. I know there were snow plow operators, law enforcement, medical professionals and others who had to be away from their families in conditions that weren’t great at all. It takes a village to make a village, so thanks to all those who played a part in cleaning up our towns after that. It was one of the worst blizzards our corner of the state has faced in recent memory.