First let me thank Shawn Summerford for her work in igniting the revival effort. Some may – actually I’m sure they will – fault her for many things but if they are knowledgeable of the revitalization history, they know that no one could have worked harder nor acted as a better cheerleader for improving downtown Marshall.

Time will tell if Venue is a pioneer lost on the trail to success or the first casualty in a long list of casualties resulting from Marshall’s failed attempt to revitalize downtown.

I have lived in many cities during the last 40 years but I never really heard the words – “That will never work here” spoken very often -- not until I moved to Marshall. During my three years in Marshall I have heard it enough to last a lifetime.

I hope that I don’t continue to hear it. Even if there are people out there thinking it, I hope they keep their mouths closed because if enough people say it enough, it will become a self fulfilling prophesy.

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