Responders deserve kudos

As we worked in the newsroom Wednesday afternoon, we heard alerts go out from various law enforcement agencies and first responders.

They were preparing for round two of the winter storm.

"Go now and top off the gasoline in your vehicles," one dispatcher directed. "Make sure that you have all appropriate equipment in your vehicle."

At The News-Star, we too prepare for inclement weather by having early deadlines to make sure our newspaper carriers have the best shot at delivering to your door in poor driving conditions.

But while we reveled in appreciation last week from those who loved walking out and finding a newspaper atop the ice and snow, our challenges are nothing compared to those of law enforcement and first responders.

These folks, along with representatives of our utility companies and essential personnel at our hospitals, put themselves at even greater risk when wintry conditions strike. We're not equipped to deal with icy roads and bridges, but they must be out in it.

People still try to drive when they shouldn't. Trees and limbs fall on utility lines and houses. Roads, bridges and overpasses need to be sanded or closed. People trying to stay warm start fires. People get sick and need an ambulance, and they need the emergency room to be staffed when they get there.

The temperature on Wednesday night has started to fall, but the anticipated storm has not yet struck. We'd like to give an early thanks for all of the dedicated people who are going to have to be out in the middle of it when dawn breaks on Thursday, and a late thanks for all you did for us last week when our community was virtually shut down.

You keep us safe. You keep us going. And you take on additional risk to your own safety by doing so.

Thank you.

The editorials in this column represent the opinions of The News-Star's editorial board, composed of General Manager and Executive Editor Kathy Spurlock, Business and Politics Reporter Greg Hilburn and Education Reporter Barbara Leader.