After months of abusing the former sheriff during his campaign for commissioner, publishing wild accusations from late night email rants and even labeling Andy Jackson, known for his quiet reserve, a ‘mystery man’, the local paper manages to find kind words in his sudden passing. Jackson, the paper has discovered was no mystery and his popularity is crowned by the consistent opinions people held of him, that of a gentle giant and someone with a lot going on behind the quiet facade – if only the paper had searched sooner…
In an editorial entitled “Andy Jackson’s simple message: Be nicer” the paper writes “Jackson was widely known for his kindness, his approachability, and his reliability. He listened more than he talked. He kept his word. He cared about people.
One of the most memorable comments came from his friend and fellow commissioner, Bob Main: ‘He was always trying to teach other people how to be nicer to others.”
There was no apology, of course, in the paper’s eulogy but one can hope the paper’s editors will follow Andy’s creed and find it within itself to “be nicer”.
