One of the most common things you hear about state, federal and, in some cases, local government is that our voices aren’t heard.

However, an important factor to consider as part of this thought process is asking if we are truly working to make our voices heard by our elected officials.

For many, and certainly for the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, that answer is a resounding “yes.”

For three decades, the organization, along with several local elected officials, business people and individuals, have made the trek to the Ohio statehouse in Columbus to meet with state leaders.

We applaud the effort of all those who have been involved in making this possible each year. Many other counties have now emulated what the chamber has done, and that means that we have done it the right way here in Lawrence County.

Not only does the event provide those the chance to hear about projects in areas including economic development and transportation, but also affords the ability to ensure those state leaders hear our collective voice.

While it is easy to say those in the statehouse don’t hear us in Lawrence County, events like the Lawrence County Legislative day ensure our leaders listen.