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I started out writing a much different column this week, one you might get to read next week.
After the events of Monday in Winsted, I changed my mind and wanted to express something about our little community of Winsted, which extends to the great Herald Journal Publishing community.
I wanted to talk about the evils of this world and the fact that they exist in every part of our world. People struggle with these evils in huge cities and our small towns. That is a fact that we don’t like.
People make bad choices everywhere, not just in the urban sprawl. When an event like this happens in a place like this, people either can’t believe it, or they say that it was just an eventual reality that it was going to come this way.
Evil is all around us. But, it is what we do as a community that matters more. It is how we respond that makes a difference. Our community is strong, it is resilient, and it is one that bounces back.
The emergency response was immediate, it was coordinated, and, dare I say, it was compassionate.
Our emergency responders, police, sheriffs, state agencies, firefighters, and city government did an amazing job. I can’t express enough how proud I am of the professionals that we have at our disposal to serve and protect our towns, cities, and counties. These men and women have shown time and time again that they are level-headed and make good decisions when faced with incredibly stressful situations.
I felt it particularly important to stress the importance of the statements that McLeod County Sheriff Tim Langenfeld made. He expressed his sympathy not only to the sheriff’s deputies who were injured, and their families but also to the family of the person who was involved in this incident and ultimately was found deceased.
People struggle with all kinds of issues. Some of the issues are darker and cause so much pain. No matter your struggle, there is help. We have amazing people in this town who can help you. We have people in counseling and addiction centers, and clergy from several denominations trained to help with personal struggles.
There are hotlines to call if you don’t want to talk to people here in town. Don’t wait for a knock on your door to get help. A family in our community is forever changed because someone was struggling.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
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