Over the past three and a half years that I have been in Bainbridge, I have grown to truly love this community and its people. This is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. My family and feel fortunate to call Bainbridge our home now.

One of the biggest honors and thrills that I have, in my role of publisher of The Post-Searchlight, is carrying on the traditions set by Sam Griffin and his family during their ownership and operation of this newspaper.

The newspaper sponsors the Peace Officer of the Year Award, the Bainbridge Community Band, and the Christmas Eve Caroling on the Square, annually. Over the next couple of months, we will have the pleasure to be a part of each of these great traditions.

Since 1983, The Post-Searchlight has been honored each year to recognize a law enforcement officer for exemplary service to, and for, the citizens of Decatur County. The Montford-Lynn Award honors the Peace Officer of the Year and we are now accepting nominations for the 2011 recipient.

Nominees should primarily serve Decatur County and should exhibit the highest personal and professional character. Please submit nominations to “P.O. Box 277, Bainbridge, 39817” or email them to jeff.findley@thepostsearchight.com. Or, you can drop a nomination off at our office at 301 N. Crawford St. in downtown Bainbridge.

The award’s namesakes are the late Capt. Wayne Montford of the Bainbridge Police Department, and Idus J. Lynn, former Bainbridge Police Chief and later a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The award will be presented during the annual Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce awards banquet on Jan. 26, 2012, at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center at Bainbridge College.

Previous winners include current Bainbridge Public Safety Director Larry Funderburke, Decatur County Undersheriff Wendell Cofer, Decatur Count Clerk of Courts Cecilia Willis, and retired Decatur County Chief Deputy Jim Morris.

Another great tradition that The Post-Searchlight has the honor of sponsoring is the Christmas Eve caroling at Willis Park on the square in downtown Bainbridge. The Bainbridge Community Band, led by Bainbridge High School band director Paschal Ward, provides the music, and hundreds of friends and neighbors sing traditional Christmas carols.

This upcoming Christmas Eve caroling will mark the 36th anniversary of this special community tradition. I have met several people in the community that have not missed any of the 35 previous years and I hope and you are making plans to attend this year. So, mark your calendars and plan to join us at Willis Park at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. If you have never attended, I promise you’ll have a good time.

Jeff Findley is the publisher of The Post-Searchlight. He can be reached at jeff.findley@thepostsearchlight.com.