Opinion : I see trees of green...what a wonderful world...

This week has given me all sorts of thoughts and feelings.

For the most part, this "job" has had such an "un-job-ish" feeling to it, that I forget people actually care what we put on here.

This week it's felt like someone has tromped the accelerator to the floor of our news machine.

For the first time since we first began, we went to bed exhausted from putting in 14 hour days, and then worried that we missed something.

I'd wake up in the middle of the night thinking I needed to tell someone somewhere that there is some help now available that could help them. Then I'd think of something we needed to ask or find out to pass along, and finally I'd think...I NEED to get some sleep already!

The massive amount of damage in our area, left us feeling like we had a little bitty camera trying to capture a full length feature movie. There was just not enough pictures that could capture it all.

Sometimes when I need some help with ads, I'll zap dear Bobbie at Monkeytown a note about a logo and I can usually tell if it has her design "fingerprint" on it, and I felt that way with my attempt to make movies with all the pics. I thought this DEFINITELY isn't Erin Horst :) I still watch the movies she puts together in awe.

The traffic to the website, WITHOUT power almost tripled, our subscribers and fans on facebook increased, and the whole time I'm thinking, "The town has no power???"

Then I realized, we were the only local voice available to everyone trying to get messages out, and folks now know where to go to find out what's happening.

I was then thankful that we were here to help out in that way.

When disasters happen, it seems like the aftermath creates all kinds of rumors, and the only way to end those is to have the facts. I hope Vinton Today was able to take care of the NOT knowing what's happening.

The leaders in Vinton were so quick to send information to us, and in reply we tried to put the information on within minutes knowing it was vital to everyone in Vinton.

I am still more amazed by the ton of trees that came crashing down that someone, someplace wasn't crushed. The strength of the wind, blowing debris and not one person hit? I don't think it was a fluke. The older I get, the more I believe that God does indeed protect us when we haven't got a clue that He did, but in storms like that, it's a no brainer, He was definitely looking out for us. No, I can't explain Joplin, but I am thankful He spared Vinton from a loss of life, I kinda like you all!

I've been touched by the generosity of folks in the surrounding communities as well. Today I talked to a gal from our local REC, the folks that power us, she told us that Bill's Pizza and Smokehouse in Independence had been catering to feed all the REC crews so they could keep working here in Benton County. (So if you are ever in Independence, stop by and thank them!)

These crews will be joining Vinton tomorrow, Saturday, to now help in town.

That touched me. I know while we have been covering this storm, I've seen trucks from various towns, and crews from out of state that came to the aid of Benton County. The fire departments from all the towns surrounding us have come to lend a hand.

While we think Vinton is resilient, it wouldn't be possible to bounce back so quickly without all these folks lending their strong backs and abilities.

I know we are still months away from getting back to normal, but I wanted to thank all of you out there, that came just to help out, and for doing the work you are doing...It makes me hum a bit of Louis Armstrong's...It's a wonderful world...