To The Editor ... Doniphan Couple Thanks Ripley County Professionals

Dear Editor,

Good morning.

I write to thank the many professionals from various fields that have given their time and talents to make Ripley County a great place to live.

First, I want to thank and commend Jan Morrow and her professional staff at the Ripley County Health Center for the huge effort that took place at the high school gym three Saturdays ago to vaccinate 500+ people to protect them from COVID-19. The city police were helping with the effort by helping people from their cars into the gym.

Chief Rodgers was checking every person at the door, Mayor Cox was assisting those that were handicapped to the registering area where they were given a sheet of information/registration to fill out and then the individuals were escorted onto the gym floor where a staff of nurses and other professional staff finalized the information and took the individual(s) to the area where the vaccinations were given by professionals that explained possible side effects that could happen as with any vaccination.

We were escorted to the other side of the gym where we were met by David Joiner, Ripley County Ambulance staff that monitored our reaction to the gym door where we were met by Sheriff Mike Barton and staff that helped get Genie into the car, making sure that her seat belt was fastened.

I want to make very clear that everyone received the same professional attention by qualified staff.

This well-planned event was under the direction of Jan Morrow and staff from the Ripley County Health Center, as well as, the many others that protect us and give aid when called upon.

We are blessed as residents of Ripley County to have them. We will never know how many lived they might have saved or how much illness they have prevented through their efforts.

Moving right along to the last 10 days that we have experienced some of the coldest and most prolonged weather of subfreezing temperatures we have seen for several decades.

We have been very fortunate to have companies like Ozark Border that have kept us in electricity through the efforts of a team of local linemen and technicians backed by a co-op for which they work. Next time you see one of these professionals say thank you for a job well done.

I would like to thank the city maintenance crew and street department for their excellent work of keeping the city streets passable where it was possible to blade and a special thanks to Mark Rodgers and staff for the constant patrols and the city dispatch that worked tirelessly through this ordeal. When possible thank Dennis Cox and a city maintenance worker for their tireless efforts. Employees that really care.

Thanks to MODOT and their efforts for keeping our major roads open and passable. ‘Ya did real good.

A very special thanks to the professional and caring staff at Edwards Funeral Home for their compassionate and personal attention that was shown on a daily basis to families that need that personal loving touch in time of need.

We endured and will become stronger from lessons we have learned during this ordeal.

Dennis and Genie Smith

Doniphan