Our Viewpoint

Do you feel that? Can you sense that in the air? I wish I was referring to the chilly fall mornings that are greeting us in Sanders County these days. No, I'm talking about the tension, the negativity and the uncertainty. Any public event or meeting these days has the potential to become a contentious debate. Whether it's about COVID closures or politics or funding or mandates or the lack of mandates, everything seems to be a conflict.

The number of COVID cases in the county (120 as of Tuesday) is consistently higher than we've seen in the entire pandemic. Our school districts have had to make tough calls to go to remote learning and cancel activities. Our local hospital is at capacity. That doesn't sound very positive.

Our school and county leaders are making hard decisions. That's what we elect them to do. We need to be confident that we have elected people who are focused on the best interest of the county and its residents. No one is ever going to agree with every decision made. In fact, progress and change come when you have a variety of opinions. I often say that decisions shouldn't be unanimous 100% of the time. If they are, I'd say something isn't right.

Our leaders and school administrators are working to keep our communities safe. Our medical professionals are doing their best to treat the sick. We must do our best to support their efforts and decisions. So where is the positive? The definition of community is "a feeling of fellowship within a group as a result of common interests and goals." Our common interest? Returning to some semblance of normal. Our common goal? Doing that as quickly as possible. The best way to remain a community in definition and in spirit is to work together, encouraging each other and taking care of one another right now. When we do that, we will come away better and stronger. — Annie Wooden