Our first battle and biggest concern has been to overcome the perception that the water quality is not safe. Long-term, the longer we're out of the market, the harder it's going to be to rebuild our market share.

We need people to recognize that each individual can impact water quality by making small changes in their everyday habits. This grant will increase exposure to our messages about proper used-oil handling and automotive fluid best-management practices.

As a prediction, I see Myrtle Beach starting an upward turn in perception, quality of vacations, and number of visitors. Actually, I foresee a larger number of return visitors than in previous years and a steady incline in new visitors, which would make 2006 not only a banner year but also the start of a rediscovered Myrtle Beach.

There is concern over the quality of the earnings, over how they got there.

The issue is to get the job done before high water season, ... That's when it would become a concern.

A major concern is stock water, particularly in the Flint Hills - almost all that stock water is from ponds developed in pastures, and those pond water levels are way down, in some areas 40 to 50 percent of normal.