As the new year approaches, many Oxford and Lafayette County residents are thinking about changes they can make to improve their lives in 2016.

Lafayette County resident Mae Marzette, 72, said she wants to be healthier this year, and she’d like for doctors to make a correct diagnosis about her health issues.

“Whatever is wrong, the doctor hasn’t told me yet, but I hope they can find out what is wrong.”

She is also thinking optimistically about her daughter, who was injured in a car accident.

“My daughter was a student at Lafayette,” she said. “She was in a car accident, and she’s in a nursing home. She stayed in the hospital more than two months.

“I’m hoping she gets where we can bring her out of there soon. The doctor said she could never walk and talk again, but she’s already moving her legs and moving her hands.”

Lafayette County resident George Bishop, 75, said he would like to figure out how to get financial help installing a storm shelter on his property.

“I’ve tried every way for five years, and I can’t do it,” he said. “I know people who got them and didn’t have any trouble at all, but this is five years I’ve tried.

“I live in a trailer. Everyone who lives in a trailer needs help with a storm shelter.”

Oxford resident Tim Woodard, 41, who is originally from Oakland, said he has several resolutions.

“I have so many this year,” he said. “My new year’s resolution next year is to eat more natural foods and to take more time for myself. Usually, I devote my time to others.”

He also wants to make Little Easy, the name of his food catering business inside Littlejohn’s store off Highway 30, better.

“We have some plans for that in the new year to grow it,” he said.

Tupelo resident Cindy Burnette, 42, works in Oxford at the Neon Pig and in Tupelo at Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen.

“The main thing I want to do is spend more time with my daughter,” said Burnette, who now spends a lot of time working.

Tupelo native Korie Truelove, 20, also works at the Neon Pig.

She said her resolution is to eliminate soft drinks from her diet.

“I think I’d feel better,” she said. “I would be healthier, obviously. And soft drinks just make you feel really bad. But I love them.”

Lafayette County resident Bobby Hudson, 71, said he has a positive outlook for the new year.

“I just want to do better next year than I did this year,” he said. “I want to be a little healthier, but I’m in pretty good shape anyway.”

Alvis Hudson, 76, said his resolution is just to “make it to a new year.”