I can remember as a teenager hearing about how Nevada boys would travel to Fort Scott and vice-versa and have fistfights, just for the fact that each thought their town to be the best. Same went for football games. Tigers vs. Tigers. Big Red fighting Big Red. There were certainly some fierce battles on the football field. My memories are from the '70s, oh so long ago. There is still some competition between the two towns, and the two states, but as far as I know, not to the severity it used to be. Sure, there is some competition when it comes to sports teams, but that even happens within the same town.

Now, as an adult, I look to each town, and state, as a neighbor. Here at the Tribune, we're a combined force. Several of us Missourians work here in Kansas and get along great. The same is true for other businesses in both communities. People travel across the state line on a daily basis working at such places as Great West, 3M, Ward Kraft, and many others. Many of us spend at least eight hours every day with workers from the opposite state (or town).

When it comes to helping others, I've seen a coming together several times during my lifetime. I remember when the Nevada square has had a couple of bad fires--Fort Scott came to help battle it. I remember when downtown Fort Scott caught fire, Nevada also assisted. It's also quite common for people to go shopping or site seeing in each town (and state). The Good Ol' Days and The Bushwhacker Days are events both sides of the line go to enjoy.

I was really excited when our two towns started sharing The Sunday Herald-Tribune. We get the best of both worlds. Most of us have family or friends in both towns. What a great way to keep up on what's going on with them. Our advertisers can put their ads in this great edition and gain the attention from both areas. Who would ever have thought many years ago that this would ever be possible? Certainly not the Jayhawks or the Bushwhackers!

Even though I was born, raised, and have lived in the Nevada area for all of my 52 years, I very much enjoy working in Fort Scott. I feel I get the best of both worlds. I can do my shopping in both towns, have friends in both towns, and enjoy the sceneries and various events in both towns. Having spent several years in the newspaper business (mainly selling advertising), I've come to know many business owners and their employees in both Nevada and Fort Scott and the outlying areas. Each store is so unique in so many ways, however the hometown atmosphere is very similar.

We now have even more businesses popping up close to the Kansas-Missouri state line, such as Prairie Pride and MegaWest Energy. What a great opportunity for both the Nevada and Fort Scott communities. Who knows what the future may hold for even more businesses cropping up between our two communities? This kind of opportunity should create even more unity between our communities and states.

We've sure come a long ways since the good old days I call the 70s.