That small town is my beloved Newport, whose current and former residents have been dealt horrific pain these past two weeks.
That pain comes from the apparent abduction, rape, killing and burial of 25-year-old Newport resident Sydney Sutherland, the type of tragic event that no community, small or large, ever wants to experience.
Sydney, a registered nurse who was simply out walking or jogging near an area that that my family once farmed, was missing for two days before being found.
During that time, I watched the citizens of Newport and other Jackson County residents come together to search for her and spread news, tips and prayers via social media as the community and police searched for two days before finding her.