“Life is not a game of Solitaire; people depend on one another. When one does well, others are lifted. When one stumbles, others also are impacted. There are no one-man teams—either by definition or natural law. Success is a cooperative effort; it’s dependent upon those who stand beside you.”

― Jon M. Huntsman Sr., Essential Lessons on Leadership

 

The community of Pearl River County came together during Winter Storm Leon to meet challenges put forth with a team mind-set, a spirit of cooperation and sense of greater good.

Police, fire and sheriff’s departments worked closely with city and county leaders to ensure safety of residents was top priority.

I rode with the Picayune police through some of the weather events and I can say that they never stopped checking and looking for unsafe areas or conditions. They consistently drove bridges and other areas looking for ice and advised on their findings. They stopped to assist people who were either in trouble or who were looking for alternate routes to travel.

Business leaders came forward to donate services and materials to assist in meeting community safety needs. Companies like Huey Stockstill Incorporated sent personnel and supplies to ensure roads were as safe for traveling as possible.

City employees were out working on roads.

Highland Community Hospital had medical personnel on call to care for as many patients as needed assistance. They had the personnel come from other areas and police escorted them through roadblocks.

And then there were people in the community who did as they were asked and stayed home when the roads were at their worst.

Some employees lost pay hours and some businesses lost profit; almost everyone lost sleep. But the results of us all working together speak for themselves.

Things might have been so much worse had there not been cooperation, sacrifice and generosity in our community.

As Jon M. Huntsman Sr. said, “Success is a cooperative effort; it’s dependent upon those who stand beside you.”