HAINES -- When the Chilkat Valley News comes out on Thursdays, I read every word right through the "unclassified" ads section, and then re-read the best parts out loud to my husband.
Election results always make the front page. We have a new mayor. Jan Hill, who owns a bead shop, is active on lots of regional boards and has been mayor before, defeated incumbent Stephanie Scott, a retired teacher who has a flower farm, 551-473.
There were no headlines or commentaries about the significance of having two women vying for our top elected office, or that our new mayor is a Native woman. What's more, the brides in Haines' first same-sex marriage were bold-faced in the "Duly Noted" social column of the paper, just like any other wedding party. That's progress.
There are always one or two stories that keep us talking long after the paper becomes fire starter.
The S-word
A recent story by Karen Garcia about Police Chief Bill Musser's refusal to use the word suicide is one. Karen noted that the chief calls suicide "the S-word" in public meetings, and he responded that since he believes we live in a "Judeo-Christian society" and that taking your own life is "considered a mortal sin," and "frowned" upon, he won't say it.
We had three suicides last year. I write obituaries for the paper, so I know a little about this. The shock, sorrow, anger and "if onlys" reach way beyond family and friends when someone in the community kills themselves. It's just so sad and so hard.
Knowing that a death is a suicide is important, if only so we can respond to each other after it happens with extra kindness. At the very least, well-meaning people won't ask the family what happened. Public disclosure actually creates more privacy in a small town by closing down the rumor mill. Of course, knowing that hopelessness, alcohol, drugs and terrible woe can take the life of all kinds of wonderful people helps everyone take talk about suicide and depression seriously and openly -- and perhaps could prevent more.
The reason this has come to a head now is that in August, after it appeared that friendly mechanic George Edwards had killed himself, the chief wouldn't confirm or deny it. Recently, the state medical examiner ruled that the death was by a self-inflicted hanging, but Musser still declined to comment.
The chief is new to town. He may not have understood that plenty of people already knew what happened to George, and anyone in authority, from pastors to counselors to journalists, was just hoping they could quote him and have it right.
George was well liked. So grief may still be at work here. News and life are all mixed up. When the paper's editor, Tom Morphet, first heard about it, he said, "Georgie Edwards? No. Say it ain't so."
Until his death at 51, George lived alone in his parents' old house surrounded by cars that some would call junk but he dubbed "treasures." He walked with two aluminum crutches gripping his forearms. He had heart problems and cerebral palsy, was dyslexic and couldn't read or write as the result of a traumatic premature home birth.
'Sweet, sweet guy'
The last time we spoke was at the clinic about two weeks before he died. George was coming out of physical therapy as my husband and I were going in. He stopped and told Chip how sorry he was about his broken pelvis. George told Chip he was sure he'd be riding his bike again in no time. As he hobbled off, Chip's face softened and he said, "That George Edwards is such a sweet, sweet guy."
When I saw the physical therapist the day after George died, because we both knew what had happened already, she didn't have to explain her tears. She told me that George was so inspirational that if he had been in her office all day more people would have healed faster.
George's best friend, Michael, said George had a lot more troubles than he let on. They joked that he should write a book that was reversible; one side would be comedy, the other horror. "George's life was helping people fix their vehicles, for cheap or for free. His happiest moments where when he could help people in need. Because he had gone through so many hard times he wanted to do good for others, so they wouldn't have to. We are lucky we got to live with George at all. He had a tough life, but his happiness came from encouraging other people," Michael told me.
The other day I drove by George's place and was reminded how much we all have to lose by not communicating better. I said thank you to George, wherever he is, and that I hope he's found peace.
Haines author Heather Lende's third book, "Find the Good," will be published in the spring of 2015. Until then, check her blog or Facebook page.