Community rocked by tragedies
Last week was one of the worst weeks in our community in a long time.
It started on Monday with an officer-involved shooting that left one Worland Police officer injured and one Worland resident deceased.
Not even 48 hours later on Wednesday morning a head-on collision about 2 miles south of Worland on US 20 ended the lives of two Texas residents.
Both tragedies, while vastly different, impacted our community. We are grieving for and with the family of Derek Fyffe. No matter the circumstances around his death he was a beloved son and grandson, father, nephew, cousin, friend. Those who knew him are grieving. We grieve with you.
While the two who passed away in the crash Wednesday were not local residents we grieve for their families and friends as well. It was a tragic accident on a curve that has many people concerned and speaking out.
There are questions that surround both tragedies, and while we at the Northern Wyoming News will work to answer those questions in the weeks and months ahead, this week we ask that people stop a moment and support our community through this.
While our community grieves and works through these tragedies in our own minds, we turn our attention to our first responders and medical workers who have had to work through these tragedies. Each day they go to work they never know what they may face. Some days the worst call our ambulance crews may have is lift assists or simple transfers. Other days it is responding to tragedies such as happened last week. We appreciate all that our first responders do day-in and day-out.
In reflecting on these two tragedies, while we can ask questions, this must also be a time for our community to come together and support one another. Reach out to Mr. Fyffe’s family and friends if you know them.
Let our first responders know you appreciate them.
Perhaps do a random act of kindness in memory of the lives lost last week.
Be kind to your neighbor, the person in line at the store or the food booth at the fair.
We never know when our time on this earth will end, but we can work to ensure our last act is an act of kindness.
In the words of Jennfer Dukes Lee, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Also, be safe.