Keeper of the SpringThe late Peter Marshall was the chaplain for the U.S. Senate. He loved to tell the following story:"There was once a quiet forest dweller that lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slope of the Alps. The old gentleman had been hired years earlier by the town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water. The village soon became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description. Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscured keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know, the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer." By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services. For several weeks, nothing changed. By early autumn, the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A few days later, the water was much darker, within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks, and a foul odor was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left, as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village. Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they rehired the old keeper of the spring, and within a few weeks, the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps." As a community we entrust our leaders with great responsibilities. Rock County and the city of Luverne have prospered because of the quality of people and the ability of our leaders to work together for the common good. Shining examples of this include Minnesota Veterans Home, Rock County Pool & Fitness and Red Bird Field.The question that keeps coming to mind is, can any lasting good come from our current situation? How does cutting a significant portion of our law enforcement at this time make sense? In addition to the everyday tasks of assisting our community members and keeping us safe, we are sure to face more challenges related to Meth. This drug is not made in the "big cities." It’s a rural drug. The people making money off Meth are seeking rural areas with weak law enforcement. Let’s not let our actions open the door to the subtle encroachment of these individuals. The effects of cutting law enforcement, like the "Keeper of the Spring" may not be evident in the first weeks or months, but with time we are sure to see the same results that plagued the little community in the Alps.Cary RadisewitzLuverne
