Okay, let me be sappy for a minute: In the middle of all the terrible news in Lincoln, Lawrence and Copiah Counties lately, so many of you have reached out to keep me informed, correct me if my information was wrong, help me make contacts, and pretty much just remind me why I will always think of Brookhaven and Lincoln County as a place that I very much felt like part of a family. I can always count on you guys to help me write the best, most accurate story possible, and to trust me and treat me with respect. Its probably because you know that even though I dont live in that area anymore, yall, more than anywhere else Ive been in a very long time, are my people. I hope it is anyway. I really do value the relationship I have with these communities. Im really proud to say Im tied to that area, and please know that every time you all experience a loss like this, or the train wreck in Hazlehurst a few weeks ago, or like the loss of Nilkanth Patil in Lawrence County, or like Quan and Bud last week -- or like any of them, ever -- I remember what it was like going to that scene in the middle of the night as a responder or a reporter, and knowing every other responder on the scene, and knowing the families of those killed or injured in the wreck. I remember the brotherhood with my fellow firefighters, the trust I had with local officials, and how I felt like an actual important part of a community in several ways. And when something bad happens, I still feel like its happening to me, even though Im miles and miles away. Thank you guys for being something like home to the redheaded stepchild from a lot of places.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 17:18:30 +0000