If only the local economy could survive on rumors

We often find ourselves talking a lot about what it’s like to live in a small town. We don’t have any stoplights in Sanders County. You can’t just run out to Target and get a new basketball or a pair of jeans. You have to wait at least a day to get a part to fix your truck.

This is a good thing, most of the time. As the world becomes more connected and population increases, it’s hard to shelter ourselves from “big-city problems.”

Acts of violence in Sanders County seem to be few and far between. But recently Thompson Falls schools had to address a possible threat in the high school, and last weekend someone in Trout Creek injured one person and killed another before taking his own life.

Usually when something happens, you know someone who knows someone who went to school with someone’s uncle, and that’s how you find out information. It’s important in these situations to remember that not everything you hear third-hand is true.

Local agencies are investigating these recent incidents. But rumors fly faster than you can like a cat picture on Facebook. Local officials need to be able to do their jobs, and the public needs to be patient during the investigations. Many times, information isn’t released to the public because it’s important to the investigation.

The fact remains that though we many never get a stoplight in Sanders County, small towns will always be fuelled with gossip. People need to step back and wait for the facts before jumping to conclusions. While you may not be directly involved, friends and neighbors could be. And communities need to come together to address issues and keep working to make our communities better.