Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Letter To The Editor

Appreciation Expressed

I would like to voice my thanks to the people who worked long days to restore utilities to the families who lost power, water and telephone service during the recent ice storm.

My family was one of those whose lives were disrupted by the devastating ice storm. Even in the cold and dark, it was reassuring to know that so many people were getting out and doing all they could to help.

It's impossible to personally thank everybody. Employees of the electric companies worked long hours of overtime. Many of them came from other states, leaving their families during the holidays, to help us.

County judges, mayors and local elected officials, as well as county and municipal employees, all went the extra mile to make sure that fallen trees were cleared and normal services restored. Hundreds of volunteers pitched in to help in any way they could  by taking hot meals to the elderly, manning shelters and sharing their homes with anyone who was less fortunate.

I also want to thank local units of the National Guard, Arkansas Highway Department, law enforcement personnel and people who work for emergency services. They spent the holidays away from their families to try to make the Christmas season a little more bearable for the thousands of people who were without warmth.

It's hard to find a silver lining among all the instances of deprivation and hardship that we've just endured, some of them with tragic consequences. But there was one thing that lifted my spirits throughout the ordeal. It was the willingness of people to volunteer their time and their resources.

I have never been so proud of the people of my community. Everyone pulled together and looked after each other, with courage, with a willingness to work hard and with grace and good cheer in the face of disaster.

I would like to thank everyone who worked to restore order during the storm and to the many people who are still working to get things back to normal. Your efforts have been a comfort and a blessing to people who were truly in need.

Sen. Percy Malone