Andy stepped outside after the recent huge snow storm in our city to meet our postman halfway. Our street was too clogged with snow and ice for him to navigate safely, so our mailman had wisely parked his van at the end of the street. Then this valiant servant of our U.S. Postal System gathered everyone’s mail in his arms and began the tedious job of hand delivering to each front door. He was working for the company known for its old slogan, “Neither rain nor snow, nor heat, or gloom of night stays these couriers from their appointed rounds.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: We are re-runniing one of Sarah Mears-Ivy's most popular columns. She talks about Independence Day but the theme really could be any holiday.

Numb. That was the one-word answer I submitted to a group call on an online meeting platform last week. The question, “How are each of you feeling?” was likely asked in a kind gesture with the expectation of a standard answer of feeling okay, frustrated, or some other comment made in passing.

Did you enjoy the recent free trial of living in Alaska? The subzero temperatures in the entire region challenged our families, our first responders, our churches, our nonprofits, and our energy infrastructure. The weather tested our resolve and our power framework.

Getting help. Talking to an expert. Seeking support. When we talk about doing these things in terms of seeking the help of plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and carpenters, there is little judgement about the people doing the reaching out.

How well do you know Washita County? Here’s a partial photo of something pretty recognizable. HINT: This photo was taken just outside of Cordell. Guess what it is and where it was taken. Send your guess to us at editor@cordellbeacon.com or call us at 580-832-3333. Several people correctly guessed the last photo of the purple martin bird hotel. Donna Skaggs was selected randomly and will be entered into the month’s end drawing for the February prize.

Over the past four and one-half years that I have been the chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, I have heard tragic stories regarding child abuse and neglect. I know it is frustrating for those who share these stories of their lives with us, and I can assure you it is heartbreaking for us to not be able to wave a magic wand and immediately fix these challenges.

Approximately 80 percent of all people who die by suicide are of working age, making the workplace the most cross-cutting system for suicide prevention, intervention and crisis response; and, more and more workplaces understand that they have a part to play in helping to address this issue.

My name is Gail Wilcox, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer, July 2019. What a way to start a story! If I were to rewind only a year, I would be telling you how I’d just began a new career as a nursing home administrator.

True winter cold set in over our region the past week and it brings to mind some memories of my childhood winters in cold southwestern Colorado. I remember the winters seeming to stretch out longer than they really did.