With the year coming to a close, we would like to take this space to highlight individuals and groups worthy of recognizing for accomplishments over the past year.

• Leaders in the villages of South Point and Coal Grove, particularly Mayor Jeff Gaskin and council member Andy Holmes, who secured much-need grants for infrastructure improvement. South Point will be installing sidewalks along several streets, while Coal Grove will be undergoing replacement of its water lines.

• Organizers of the Ironton River Ride and the Ohio River Revival. These new festivals launched this year, offering a chance to draw visitors to the city and show off the downtown and riverfront. They joined Wizardfest, which celebrated another successful year and massive turnout as boosts to our region.

• New entrepreneurs in our county, who took a gamble and decided to launch a business. Locations such as The Vault Market, Bellacino’s, the Armory Smokehouse, the Shake Shoppe and others are already adding to the communities in which they are located.

• Investigators with the DNA Doe Project, the Lawrence County Coroner’s office and state investigators, who were finally able to identify the “Belle in the Well” as Louise Peterson, bringing clues and a name to the victim in a 38-year-old mystery.

• Organizers with Project First Impression, who have organized clean-up and beautification efforts around the county throughout the year since the group’s launch.

• Similarly, the Lawrence County Land Bank, which has now demolished more than 200 abandoned and blighted structures, not only cleaning up the county, but offering needed land for sale and development.

• All of the student and community groups who more than stepped up over the Christmas season to provide for the needy. This year saw a constant stream of events and made a huge difference in the lives of countless children and families.