Small community mindset

Empathy ( noun): the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Tuesday was a dark chapter in Noxon’s story. Residents were sad, angry, and anxious all at once. We were tired of the line of out-of-county gawkers who drove by to get a glimpse of our community’s misery. Monica Tranel asked, “How can I help?” She told the story of how her community came together during a fire. It was a childhood memory that made a searing impression. Although, like I said, I was tired of the “rubberneckers,” I selfishly invited her to come down, hoping to harness her vast network of contacts that resulted in her earning 115,000+ Montanan votes in her 2022 congressional bid. On the eve of her traveling to Helena to file to represent Montana’s 1st Congressional District in 2024, she came to Noxon.

She arrived with groceries she had purchased at Trout Creek’s Local Store. We dropped them at the food drive being held at the senior citizens center. She listened to “Toby’s” stories (we all have one) and how the food drive would help residents who relied on the Angry Beaver for groceries. Again, she asked, “How can I help?” We then went to Johnson Hardware, the only business left in downtown Noxon. After getting the fishing report from Austin, she had a conversation with Kevin. Again, she asked, “How can I help?” Our final stop was once the hub of our community. In front of a smoldering pit of soot, tin, and concrete, she simply said “I can help.”

During Monica’s visit there was no stump speech, no bumper stickers, not a single campaign button handed out. It was that childhood impression that sparked her innate need to reach out and help. Saturday she sent a senior staffer to the community meeting to stay in the background and hear about our needs. I know Monica will be there for our rural community as we rebuild.

Leaders have many traits. I’m glad that one of Monica’s is empathy.

Andrew Cabaccang, Noxon