The annual fishing rodeo held at Crenshaw County Lake provided an opportunity for special-needs students to have fun and participate in a common activity many people in rural Alabama consider a regular pastime.

The Luverne Kiwanis Club stepped up to the plate by hosting the event, while community volunteers stocked the lake with plenty of fish to enhance the experience for the participants.

Publishing photographs of our local students assisting the participants and guiding them through the fishing process brings delight and joy to all involved, including our staff members who were on hand to share this example of positive community journalism with our readers and community.

While there are many in our community working hard to offer experiences such as this to special needs children, at times these children get lost in the shuffle, which is why events such as this are important not only to the children, but to those who participate and get to know them through their service.

Thankfully, in more recent times, the practice of treating this group of human beings with the dignity and respect they deserve is more prevalent within our culture. Certain derogatory language and terms once used to refer to them are now considered unwarranted and unwelcome to the vast majority of people, us included.

Most children who fall into the category of special needs want to be able to have the same experiences in life as their peers, and all volunteers who put in the time and effort to make the fishing rodeo happen deserve recognition for their efforts.

We hope to see more examples of individuals giving back to the community and putting more smiles on faces, especially as we get closer to the holiday season.