Last Wednesday we witnessed the arrival of summer.

It does not seem possible that the first half of this year is behind us.

Summer should always be a fun season.

Across our lovely country, people schedule vacations so they can take their children to the beach, camping in the mountains, on a scenic trip to other states, or for time with the grandparents at the old homestead.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that you are creating memories.

Prior to moving to Newberry, I invested an entire career at E. I. DuPont, a very large chemical company that is deeply rooted in safety. When OSHA was formed, most of their structure was taken from DuPont safety manuals.

I tell you this because occasionally, everybody needs to be reminded that in every task we undertake, the first consideration should be safety.

Undoubtedly, accidents will occur in Newberry County this summer due to people choosing to be unsafe.

Will you be that person or family that becomes a statistic? I certainly hope not.

You can improve your chances of having a great summer if you will remember to think before doing. Just ask yourself, “Is this safe?”

Whether it is driving, swimming, boating, flying, working around the house, or playing, if you will just take a moment to consider safety, you may well ensure the memories you create this summer are fantastic, not remembered sadly.

Do not allow peer pressure to cause you to do something you will regret for the rest of your life.

God created this marvelous, beautiful world for us to explore and enjoy.

Let’s all do just that this summer.

The memories you create will be so much better if all of us choose to do it safely.