We applaud Whitmire's never-say-die attitude. Jobs have drained away from the small town in the course of the last decade, and real estate prices have dwindled alongside.

But the town's leaders and citizens continue to fight to make their town a beautiful and interesting place to live.

Just take a gander at the evidence, so to speak.

In April the town mailed 115 letters to property owners about violations of an ordinance requiring homes and land is kept in good repair.

Most have taken care of the violations this summer. All but eight of the property owners have either cleaned up or contacted the town.

This is an important step in keeping the Whitmire community viable as folks move off to other jobs and leave houses behind that sit on the real estate market.

You cannot make a first impression a second time, so potential buyers must see the Pearl of the Piedmont as they first arrive.

Town council members quickly decided to lower the price of rental for the town's newly-revamped picnic area from $25 to $5.

Getting people into town and doing things is vital to its continued life.

This is one easy step.

Also a key to a lively downtown and continued growth is stimulating and retaining youth.

The town is well on the way toward creating a skate park at the corner of Golf Alley and Union Street. Instead of trying to legislate the teens off the streets, this town embraces them offering a place to play. That speaks volumes of the area's character.

To close our case for Whitmire's dedication to the future is the example of a citizen's plea.

Jimmie Seymore went before the town's council this month to ask for a renewed concentration on the town's Christmas parade.

Seymore had ideas, from a battle of the marching bands to better organization for the lineup procedure.

Important to notice was the ideas, the excitement among others that spark ignited and that, frankly, Seymore and others care deeply about their town and its future. We applaud, and wish them well.