Hampton Editorial

Always on our minds

     It's been one whole year since Ethan Kazmerzak went missing on Sept. 15, 2013. Monday's somber anniversary was highlighted by a press conference marking the unfortunate date, and it was no doubt a difficult day for the 23-year-old's family, friends and massive group of supporters here in Hampton and greater Franklin County.

     Ethan's disappearance remains a frustrating mystery. Not only is it unsolved, but there have been few, if any, developments since late fall 2013. Area fields have been combed, bodies of water have been checked, and wooded areas have been searched. It seems like every crack and crevice was put under the microscope this past year. The entire community has waited with baited breath for even the smallest bit of hopeful news surrounding Ethan's disappearance, but it just simply hasn't come. It seems like Ethan, his car and everything he had with him that night vanished into thin air.

     It's hard to imagine how trying and painful this whole experience has been for his family and friends. Not knowing where your son or daughter was for one night would be agonizing, let alone one whole year. Ethan's family has remained strong despite these unfathomable circumstances. Their perseverance and unwillingness to give up has been admirable.

     So what can Hampton and the surrounding communities do as the search for Ethan shifts into its second year? At the very least, we can continue offering support to his family in any way possible. We can also keep sharing the information detailed on his missing person poster via social media by and other means. As unfortunate as it is to admit, we have become very familiar with his friendly face plastered in every store or shop throughout Franklin County and north Iowa. However, others elsewhere have not. Facebook and Twitter are powerful tools, and it just might catch the right person's eye and lead to a helpful tip – you never know. Keep sharing and keep doing so frequently.

     Finally, we can continue keeping Ethan and his family in our thoughts and prayers. Our community is deeply rooted in faith and that's something we cannot lose. We don't know where Ethan is or what happened to him, but we can't forget about him either.

More safety needed in public offices

     Following last week's fatal shooting at the Jackson County Courthouse in Maquoketa, it's clear lawmakers at both the state and local levels need to revamp safety measures at public offices across Iowa.

     You’ve probably heard the story by now. On Sept. 9, a citizen upset about his taxes pulled a gun during a Jackson County Board of Supervisors meeting and fired a shot at the county assessor. Thankfully he missed and was subdued by the heroic efforts of one of the supervisors. During the struggle for the gun, it discharged and struck the disgruntled man, killing him instantly.

     The incident is extremely concerning on many fronts. Most notably, however, is that it could happen in nearly every rural county in Iowa. Security at public offices like courthouses and city halls is lacking on many levels – often times there’s no law enforcement officers or even metal detectors to ensure the safety for the people and elected officials inside the building. Security concerns have been brought up even at the state capitol building in Des Moines. This past year, State Sen. Brad Zaun admitted he occasionally carries a handgun into Legislative chambers for self-protection because he fears an angry citizen might enter and open fire.

     It’s unfortunate that the actions of a few unstable people have led to such widespread worry over safety, but it’s the world we live in nowadays. Public offices should be accessible to all members of the public and citizens shouldn’t have to fear for their wellbeing every time they enter the building. Implementing more measures to prevent incidents like the Jackson County Courthouse shooting are an obvious must. Be it added officer presence, more metal detectors or something else, our elected officials need to tackle this issue head on in the coming months. These things will cost money, but you can’t put a price on an innocent life.