It's impossible to explain the sadness of a community's grief that comes following another in a series of tragedies here. First, the flooding of the Missouri River in May. Then came the grain elevator explosion which killed six workers in one of Kansas' most deadly agricultural accidents. Now, just yesterday afternoon, came the news that a police officer was shot and killed while on duty. Atchison police officer David Enzbernner, a 24-year veteran of the force, was assigned to assist a code enforcement officer on the northwest side of town. Complaints were filed against a man that had been using his yard as a scrap heap. Seemingly out of nowhere, a man appeared from across the street and shot Enzberner before turing the gun on himself. On the web, there's a memorial page set up now in tribute to the officer. Communities now longer gather at the grange or at the local bar. Today people pour out expressions of love and hope online. This morning on the Officer-Down Memorial website, fellow officer, Sgt. K.W. wrote, "Thank you brother for adding a smile and laughter to the squad room and the many times you said, "I got it", at shift-change so I could go home to my family on time. Prayers with your family. Rest in peace." Another sergeant, from Virgina, added, "My thoughts and prayers go out to Sergeant Enzbrenner, his family, friends, and the entire Atchison Police Department. Thank you for your service Sergeant Enzbrenner. We've got the watch from here." From across the nation, the tributes pour in.
We prayed last night at mass before little was known about officer Enzbernner's fate. People said they heard Lifeflight and watched as the helicpoter crossed over the Missouri to St. Joseph. There will be more remembrance to come.
It rained last week during the town's inannual Sights and Sounds of Christmas parade. The crowd was sparse, but the police were there. Traffic was blocked along Main Street as Santa made his way on the back of flatbed truck to the Commercial mall several blocks away. People dressed in santa hats held umbrellas. Cheers went up as the "old" man passed.
There are no Occupy Wall Street encampments here.
Unemployment here is 7.9 percent, below the 8.6 precent national average, but nearly double the rate of a decade ago. In June, Atchison's last old-style soda fountain and independent drug store closed its doors.
Atchison is a small community with a history of hard luck.
Drought and floods. Tornado Alley. Famed aviator Amelia Earhart was born here. Atchison is also known as the most haunted town in America. In the early days, going back to the mid-1800s, the town launched thousands of wagon trains out across the praire looking for the promised land. Many of the people who made the trek from the eastern states, however, never made it much further than Atchison. Disillusioned and broke, families made due scraping out a living by farming or providing services for others heading west. Nearly half of those who stayed in the area came from Germany and Ireland.
Atchison, for all of share of trouble, is not known for violent crimes, especially murder. Since 2002, there's only been one murder, until yesterday.
All communities have their share of bad luck, of course, but when it comes this close to home, especially is such a string of misfortune, the tendency is to turn inward, pray, and gather as much fortitude as possible to move on.
