As we head into a new year, the Journal has compiled a list of New Year's resolution we'd like to see the Black Hills consider adopting in 2008:

City road crews: That Mountain View Road not be torn up for at least one year.

Rapid City Council: Instead of paying the mayor a lofty $95,000 a year, take up serious discussions about hiring more experienced professional city management. Oh, and next time, buy refundable airline tickets.

Deadwood residents: Shop feverishly at your new grocery store, so it doesn't close its doors like the last one.

High school sports fans: Spend at least one high school sports year without discussing allegations of recruiting by St. Thomas More.

No Free Lunch group: Please don't call for a citywide vote on the new Super Target.

Central High School: No pranks by students this spring.

Glencoe Rock N The Rally: Survival. We like the competition and the choices for music.

Chadron, Neb.: That the city not be on the travel itinerary of any more gun-wielding interstate criminals.

Mother Nature: A wet winter and spring in the Black Hills, so that we have a much more subdued wildfire season next summer.

Belle Fourche and Sturgis high school football: Continued success, so that the Black Hills can root for more than just one school in the postseason.

Rapid City middle schools: That their athletic programs begin to allow the more talented athletes to play on the same team, and allow the city's sports programs to become more competitive.

St. Thomas More: That they pay closer attention to the eligibility of the woodwinds section, and stop recruiting brass.

Stevens and Central: Winning at least a combined six football games in 2008.

National Treasure II: Huge box office figures, so that there can be another sequel, National Treasure III: Hidden Gold In Deadwood

Dottie Poage: Speedy justice for the others who have been convicted in her son's slaying.

Rapid City Rush: Lots of wins in their first hockey season … or at least, lots of fights.

Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin: A name change to just Sandlin, from your headline-writing friends on the Journal copy desk.

Game, Fish & Parks Dept.: A nice, quiet, non-controversial mountain lion hunting season next fall.

Homestake Mine: Reach 4,850 feet.

Home builders: No more houses in flood plains, please.

Elton John: An open date at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

All those deployed overseas: A safe, quick return to your loved ones.

Rushmore Crossing: A lot of great new stores, open as soon as possible, but not at the expense of the Rushmore Mall.

Margaret Minkel and Bill Napoli: That two of the Journal's most prolific letter to the editor writers find new hobbies in 2008 - may we suggest needlepoint or crossword puzzles?

Alderwoman Deb Hadcock and Alderman Sam Kooiker: Resolve to spread world peace, and let it begin in the Rapid City Council chambers.

T. Denny Sanford: The Sioux Falls philanthropist funds a new lottery game for 2008 where each week he throws a dart at a map of South Dakota and then randomly chooses somebody in that town to award $100,000.

Electronic billboard advertisers: That these annoying things are just a passing fad (Can we hope the same for the billboards along I-90, too?)

South Dakota Legislature: A code of conduct policy with some teeth.

Buffalo Chip: AC/DC, Metallica, Linkin Park, Led Zeppelin … OK, we'll stop dreaming now.

State and local government: Open meetings, open records … OK, we'll stop dreaming now.

Chadron State College: The special seeds necessary to grow another Danny Woodhead.

Pro-life and pro-choice advocates: That 2008 will be the last year we discuss an abortion ban in South Dakota.

Sturgis Rally: Increased attendance, decreased rumblings from the community.

Downtown merchants: More store openings, fewer closings, 100 percent occupancy.

Big horn sheep, mountain goats: Lots of offspring, fewer encounters with predators.

Oglala Sioux Tribal Council: A drug-free, controversy-free year.

Happy New Year.