Check on neighbors

If there ever was a reason to check on your neighbors, a story out of South Carolina should drive home the need.

A 72-year-old woman's decomposed body was found in her home, along with the body of her dog, after the home was sold for back taxes.

Neighbors and the reclusive woman's sister thought she had moved away, but no one bothered to check on her or on the property ... not even authorities when they put her house on the block for delinquent taxes.

Sad! Sad! Sad!

"We've lost the community," said the Rev. Neil Flowers, who plans to talk about the woman from his United Methodist Church pulpit and to remind listeners to be more involved in their community.

We all have friends, neighbors and relatives who need to be checked on and it should be both our duty and pleasure to make those frequent calls.

While we may not be "our brother's keeper," we certainly should watch out for each other and get back to being a community of friends and neighbors so tragic circumstances such as a forgotten 72-year-old woman and her dog don't happen here.