Tragedy in Byron leads to community support
The tragedy in Byron is unbelievably sad, and I pray we at the Powell Tribune have treated what happened with as much care as is possible while still reporting as accurately as possible.
As a father, I cannot imagine what the two fathers who lost daughters are feeling, but I am sincerely sorry about what they and extended families are going through.
What has been heartening is the incredible amount of support shown for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic shooting that took the lives of a mother and her four children.
The support can be seen in how Cliff Harshman, the husband to Tranyelle and father/stepfather to the children, has been treated, with the hotel where he stayed as his house was cleaned refusing to charge him, and Murdoch’s donating clothes to him, as he left his work in California so quickly he didn’t bring clothes with him.
And the care and concern of the greater community can be seen in substantial financial contributions rallied to both him and the father of the two older children.
For people dealing with such tragedy in their lives, finances should be the least of their concerns, and hopefully the GoFundMe aid will take that worry away for the time being.
By midday Thursday, a $100,000 fundraiser for Harshman had already been met and a fundraiser with an initial goal of $30,000 for the father of the two older girls, had been more than doubled.
On Friday afternoon, people gathered in communities across the state, including Byron and Powell, for a candlelight vigil for Olivia, the 7-year-old who fought for her life in Salt Lake City until passing Saturday afternoon, according to her father in a Facebook post.
That people would stand out in the bitter cold for her and the families says a lot about what the people in our communities are willing to do to help people, whether they know them or not.
Seeing the response to this tragedy reaffirms faith in the goodness of the people in the Big Horn Basin, and beyond, who see someone in need and offer help.
For those who’d still like to help:
• A GoFundMe has been set up for Tranyelle’s husband Cliff Harshman, father of the two youngest children. The page can be accessed here: gofundme.com/f/help-cliff-harshman-in-his-darkest-hour.
• At Sunlight Federal Credit Union there is both a donation jar, or community members can ask to have money deposited directly into Cliff Harshman’s account.
• A GoFundMe has also been created for Quinn Blackmer, the father of Olivia and Brailey Blackmer. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/help-olivia-fight-after-tragic-loss.