GRAND ISLAND - Tragedies such as tornadoes and a deadly virus show a community’s resiliency. They’re also an opportunity for city leaders to make things better than they were, according to the president of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce. When you live through a tornado or a virus, “you can come out of them either better than you were before or you can come out of them a victim,” said Cindy Johnson.

Johnson is grateful for leaders like Wayne Bennett, who was Grand Island’s public works director when South Locust was widened. Sidewalks, lighting and greenscaping were added.

Sometimes it’s easy for a leader to “just hold the line” and keep things at the status quo. “It’s much more challenging to be a visionary leader” and “see what the possibilities are,” Johnson said.

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