No one could have possibly imagined the changes coming down the pike this week with regards to the coronavirus outbreak.

Not even an inkling as to how our lives would be impacted over the course of seven days.

A week ago, we got up, kissed our kids good-bye as they boarded buses bound for school, went to work, came home to our families, went to bed and hit repeat the next morning.

Who could’ve ever expected the closure of schools through the end of the year? Or the cancellation of doctor appointments, church services, even hair appointments?

No one knows this rapidly moving target that has become the COVID-19 bull’s-eye better than those of us here at the Butler Eagle who strive to keep our readers up-to-date, educated and armed with the best possible information in order for them to make critical decisions for themselves and their families in light of these most unprecedented times.

But let’s not forget as a community that there is more going on out there on our streets, in our homes, in our organizations and churches, and our businesses than just COVID-19 coverage. Please remember we are not just here to inform the public, but also to serve as a beacon of light in what may for many feel like very dark times.

That said we want to encourage readers to serve as our scouts out there and keep us abreast of all of the good things still going on in our community.

Maybe it’s families pulling together for child-care needs. Maybe it’s volunteers delivering food and meals to elderly. Maybe it’s a wedding via social media celebrating the love of a young couple while maintaining those critical social distancing guidelines.

In times like these, stories like those moments in time serve as bright spots of hope for our community and our readers.

They are the stories that are more important than ever for us to tell. So please, keep us just as informed as we will keep you and let’s together tell those community stories that prove Butler County can’t be conquered — not even by COVID-19.

— ALH