This past weekend, the Butler community was shaken by the sudden disappearance of a young woman on Friday with some important social engagements that same evening and throughout the weekend.

Details are spotty as to just how and why she went off the grid for over 18 hours causing her to miss a close friend’s rehearsal dinner and wedding. The whys and wherefores are not important. What is important is, first of all, she showed up safe and in reportedly good condition, and secondly the community response to what could have been a much worse scenario was overwhelmimg.

As soon as the mother and sister of the missing woman made a few others aware of the situation, friends, neighbors, co-workers and strangers jumped into action. The police were notified, and a number of social media sites including the Butler Eagle Facebook page began sending alerts and requests for help out into the community.

More than 2,000 people became engaged in spreading the word or actively joining the search. Many had never met the person who was missing but dropped their Saturday afternoon plans and headed out to aid the other volunteers in the search. The weather was not awful but it certainly wasn’t pleasant either. That didn’t matter to these volunteers — they simply knew someone needed help. That is what happens in Butler County.

We know it can happen other places as well, but we know for sure it will and does happen here in this place we call home. It doesn’t matter where this story goes from here. We all wish the young woman and her family well.

If anyone was wrongfully accused or harmed by the social media comments that some people felt compelled to make, we are sorry for them. People love to speculate and jump to conclusions especially on social media.

We are proud of each and every one of the Butler County residents who did the right thing and tried to help.

No matter what the Facebook warriors have to say about Butler County, it is home to great people who care tremendously for their community.

— RV