Our Viewpoint: See you in 4 years

As you read this, the election is over and hopefully we know who the president is, we know how people voted on the constitutional initiatives, and life can get back to normal. Hopefully our mailboxes are less full of campaign materials that end up in the trash and the television ads are back to promoting medicines and the latest model of trucks.

I feel like I'm suffering from election overload, though it's till one of my favorite times of the year as a journalist. It's been interesting this year to see people get so involved as the election drew near. There were people waving signs and flags last week along Main Street. On Sunday, dozens of residents rallied for a convoy supporting Donald Trump. The vehicles went from Noxon to Plains, gaining supporters along the way, honking and waving. We saw one person hanging out the window of a logging truck to wave a flag.

The involvement and energy as the election drew near was incredible. It would be fantastic to see that much passion all year long. Soon we will go back to having just a few people at city council or commissioner meetings. No one will be waving flags on Main Street.

The Plains and Thompson Falls volleyball teams are getting ready to head to the divisional tournament and will have pep rallies and sendoffs. The Hot Springs football team is hosting a playoff game on Saturday. There are several fundraisers each month for local groups. All year, it's important to show the same support and passion for our local groups as we do for national and state candidates the couple weeks preceding the election.

People should be excited about the election. People should feel valued knowing they get an opportunity to case a vote for whatever candidate they choose. It would just be nice to see our communities get the same energetic support.

In a matter of days, signs will be taken down, people will hopefully be accepting of whatever the results are from election day, and we can get back to our normal routines of complaining about taxes and the price of produce. If you're in Hot Springs on Saturday to watch the Savage Heat, I look forward to cheering on the football team with you and not having to talk about how much political junk mail we had in our boxes.

— Annie Wooden