There’s been plenty of big news here in Austin lately.

Thursday, July 13, 2000

There’s been plenty of big news here in Austin lately. Twice in just three weeks, we’ve made state headlines.

Both incidents that pushed the city into the limelight – the double homicide on June 30 and this week’s floods – are unfortunate occurrences.

However, both provided an opportunity to remind us that in order to survive, cooperation is vital.

It’s been said that the killings were solved so quickly thanks to some good old-fashioned police work and the cooperative efforts of local and metro law enforcement agencies.

More recently, volunteers were filling sandbags and helping their neighbors escape rising waters.

These two incidents will have a lasting impact on some members of the community. Two lives were lost last month, leaving behind grieving family, friends and co-workers.

Some residents have sustained extreme damage to their businesses or homes. Others have lost treasured, irreplaceable possessions.

But as a community, Austin will work together to help those in need.

It’s something that we’ve been doing all along.