We are in the time of year where chief elected officials are in their annual state of the “blank” addresses.

Just last week, we saw President Obama deliver his final State of the Union address to Congress. Gov. Phil Bryant recently gave his talking points during a low-key inauguration in Jackson.

But, if an address were given in Warren County, in Vicksburg, what would be the talking points for our “State of the City,” or “State of the County?”

Would we tout industrial successes such as Tan Tec, Golding Barge and Ergon, among others, or instead focus on the continued impact of the collapse of oil prices on our oil-related industries and jobs?

Would we put our focus on the struggles in the retail business sector, such as the departures at the Outlets of Vicksburg and Vicksburg Mall, or instead celebrate and highlight the new and successful businesses in downtown Vicksburg?

Would we celebrate the collaborative spirit of our city departments, county agencies and state officials to the response to the Mississippi River flooding or instead continue to talk about the divide in trust and working relationship among city leaders and some of our city emergency departments?

Would we focus on some random low point of our education system, or would we scream from mountaintop about the countless successes, improvements and achievements that have been made by our students, our teachers and our administrators? Would we speak proudly of the Academy of Innovation, the development of new curriculum and the continued, amazing community support behind the Leader in Me initiative?

The new year is barely three weeks old yet and there are so many questions to answer and problems to solve, but the things we can celebrate, highlight and take pride in far outweigh those that might be negative.

The Vicksburg and Warren County community is — as it always has been — a community that is changing. It is a community that faces challenges and succeeds. It is a community built by people who are strengthened by the things they have in common, rather than divided by the differences among them.

So if there were to be an address planned by our leaders, talking about our community, it would surely include the following statement: “In Vicksburg and Warren County, the state of our community is strong.”