The Best of Russell - On a Cold January Afternoon

Yesterday, driving home from the township offices, I turned into my subdivision and immediately knew something was wrong.

A car sat awkwardly in the ditch. Both driver-side wheels were buried deep, and the passenger-side tires were spinning uselessly on a snow-packed road. Winter had won this round.

I pulled over and checked on my elderly neighbor. She was okay physically, but understandably shaken. She’d left her phone at home, and thanks to modern technology doing what it does best, she couldn’t remember her husband’s phone number anymore. So I made the call to 911 and asked for the Russell PD to come out.

Before long, another neighbor stopped and tried to push her out. No luck. The snow was too deep, the angle too unforgiving.

Then another neighbor arrived, this one with a Toyota four-wheel-drive pickup and a tow strap. Hope arrived… briefly. But with the depth of the snow and the way the car was positioned, there was nowhere obvious to attach the strap safely.

Enter Officer Dylan from the Russell PD.

No drama. No lights-and-sirens theatrics. Just calm, steady competence.

He took one look at the car and said, essentially, “It’s a Subaru, I’ve got this.” He showed us exactly where, on the front bumper, the tow-point cover pops up. He went to the hatch, pulled the factory tow hook from near the spare tire, screwed it in, and made a secure attachment. One of the neighbors cleared snow from the front of the car with a shovel, gave the truck the go-ahead, and just like that—she was out.

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No pictures. No videos. No social media post. Just this blog post.

Just neighbors helping neighbors, and an officer who knew the vehicle, knew the moment, and did the job.

That’s the best of Russell.

Not flashy. Not performative. Just people showing up for one another on a cold winter day and quietly making sure everyone gets home safe.

And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of place I’m proud to serve,

and even prouder to call home.