Monday, April 1, 2002, the Austin City Council decided to not take any action on regulating smoking in restaurants and bars within city limits.

It's the first time that city officials and local business folks have talked publicly about this controversial issue under one roof. And it's fairly obvious that people on both sides of this topic have something to say.

That's where we come in.

Part of our responsibility as this community's newspaper is to generate discussion, which is what we want to accomplish with our three-part series, titled "Air of Concern."

This title was chosen because people on both sides of this issue are concerned on what may or may not happen if Austin or Mower County ever decides to enact a smoking ban.

We can't predict the future. However, we can say this series will attempt to convey the feelings and attitudes of local citizens, and what their concerns on this controversial topic truly are.

Dan Fields

Managing Editor