A message from Tim Hurst, SOKY Happenings Publisher
I have spent many years in the media… most of my life, I guess… as I wrote sports for the mimeographed newspaper at my grade school… Dishman McGinnis in the late ‘60s… boy, did our newspaper smell good! You kids won’t get that but Google what a mimeographed paper smelled like. Sadly, most of the time, the important news that must be covered is bad news, like the current unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic. Even at SOKY Happenings, where we work so hard to keep it all positive, we have reported the bad news of business and school closings on our website as a service to our readers. But we also worked equally hard to share a list of the many restaurants in the area which have continued to serve through take-out and delivery services even as they were forced to close their dining rooms.
One thing I have learned in my over 50 years in the media is that in many stories about bad things happening there are often related stories about good things to go with them. This current crisis is no different.
If you follow local news or hang out on social media you have likely seen a story here and there of someone making an effort to help a friend or neighbor… maybe even help a stranger. Many companies have converted their normal product production to producing needed medical supplies, such as hand sanitizer from liquor distilleries to face masks from t-shirt printers. I say all that to say I’m listing two “good guy” stories that I have seen only as examples of all the others I don’t have the space to share or just don’t know about.
Twila and I have a friend and client who owns and operates Shop At Home Carpets… Wade McCoy. Wade and his team are just “good folks,” as we say in the South. So, I am embarrassed to say that I was surprised when he mentioned off-handedly the other day about his folks buying lots of pizzas. Silly me… I thought it seemed like a bad time to be having an office party. Duhhhhh! Wade and his folks have been buying pizzas… lots of pizzas… and having them delivered to various groups at the local hospitals… from ER Shifts to the Maintenance Teams. Wade told me… after I knew enough to ask the right questions… that these folks are not getting the headlines and many are going above and beyond to try and help overcome this dangerous virus, and he and his folks just wanted to support them the best they can and also find a way to say “Thank You!”
Another example along the same lines came from Ben and Cyndi Crocker and their team at the Crocker Law Firm, as they provided the folks at one of the local ERs with a bunch of wonderful Mellow Mushroom pizzas.
Again, these are just two examples I came across and wanted to use to point out what a great place we live and work… well, will work again… soon, I hope. Speaking of work… I want to encourage you to please consider doing business with local folks as this mess begins to return to normal… whenever that is. I realize it is easy and often cheaper to do business online. I get that. But I also understand there are tons of very small, great businesses in our area that are not going to survive this mess if we don’t support them. Maybe you don’t care… but you should. Each of those businesses puts money into the local economy which, trust me, one way or the other, eventually helps you. They keep products and services available immediately to you instead of tomorrow or next week if you order it online. And, like the folks at Shop At Home Carpets or Crocker Law, they take the time, effort and resources to help their fellow citizens. Big online businesses can sell products cheaper but I don’t see a one of them sending pizzas to our local hospital staffs. Just food for thought.
One last thing… sadly, this current crisis is going to take a lot of focus off the celebration of one of the most important events in the history of the world which we celebrate at Easter. As I said above… it is important and wonderful that local folks are helping local folks. But if you want real help and comfort during tough times the best choice is Jesus. He died for your sins and then defeated death. During this challenging but special time may you remain healthy and happy and may God bless you and yours.
