Living in a small town, has many benefits, one being, the crimes committed most often, are not as horrible as those that take place in big cities. That is one of the reasons young families seek out small town living while their children are young.

I remember when my three sons were young, two in elementary and the eldest in middle school, making the decision to relocate from a California metropolis to a quaint little town in central Oregon. At the top of our list, along with smaller schools, quiet, safe neighborhoods, was to find a place we would feel safe in letting them play like we did when we were kids. You know, innocently riding bicycles up and down the street, playing tag til all hours of the day, walking to school....alone, and going to our best friends house, without having to call once we arrived.

We now live in such a town, and I can tell you, I feel safe and that feels good!!!! Sure I always play it 'safe', by locking my doors at home and in my car, and if I am out and about in an area I am uncertain about, I keep alert and always scan my surroundings. I carry a cell phone, but here in northwestern Montana, cell phone coverage is iffy at best.

Just yesterday I looked on line to catch the local news from the city I had lived before moving here. My grown sons still reside there, so I like to stay atuned to their living conditions and environment. Most often, I do not want to really know, as it makes me worry all the more about their wellbeing.

Here are just a few of those "big city" crimes:

* Suspect Arrested in connection with killing during North Sacramento melee

* Colusa DA files 11 manslaughter counts in fatal casino bus crash

* Convicted California sex offender faces new charges in Cambodia

* Highway 680 sniper victims climb to 45

* Reward offered In beating death of 97-Year-old woman

* Man accused of shooting ex-con pleads not guilty

* Deliberations begin in Fairfield double homicide trial

* Jury trial continues in double homicide case

* Ten years later, accused molester is freed

* Man accused of killing cellmate in Sacramento main jail

* Three arrested in connection with slaying of man found in trunk

Scary....so many killings, so much violence!

Now, take a gander at our Crime Log, printed weekly in our local paper, which by the way is circulated twice weekly, on Wednesday and Friday:

* A woman on Colorado Ave. reported someone broke her clothesline

* Someone was apparently driving on the golf course last night. Subjects were "spinning brodies" and appear to have broke one of the benches

* A woman on Scenery Road reported someone tore her gate off the hinges and left it on the ground

* A man on Terrace View reported finding his dog tied up in the horse trailer

* An employee at the dam reported a hound dog roaming around the visitor center; The dog appears wounded

* Two deer vs 1994 Dodge Caravan on Hwy 2 mile marker 63

* A yellow curve ahead sign at Pipe Creek Road and Lodgepole Way is down

* A silver 1990 Ford truck ran over mailboxes on Riverside Ave

* A woman on 5th Ave. reported someone stole a knife from her kitchen

* A woman reported losing her checkbook; It's orange with ladybugs on it, and she last remembers having it in her car after church

* A man on Vicks Drive reported his neighbor keeps shooting at deer and neighborhood animals with a pellet gun

* A person on Hemphill Road reported someone stole his irrigation headpipe; It is 6 inches in diameter and 40 feet long

* A man reported losing his wallet somewhere in town

And, it was reported, over the police scanner: "A bird of some sort, we think it's a seagull, is flying around the Elks Lodge bar and we can't catch it, what should we do??!!"  ... within one minute, the police arrived, captured the wild creature and all was good at the bar again!!

Ah yes, small town living has many benefits.  Feeling safe and sound, knowing our police force can capture a crazed bird within a matter of moments, makes me feel safe....very safe!!

Post note: I think Mayberry even had more crime then we do.