Borders only separate us if we let them. That’s long been a known fact for our community that spans city, county, town, parish and state borders.

We see that play out from time to time. Often, the things that truly divide us are not our political subdivision, but the emotional and ego-driven subdivisions that live in our minds.

The community saw direct evidence of that last weekend when quick action and apparently excellent communication led to the arrest of two non-violent jail escapees within four hours of their self-created freedom.

Even the miles the two Concordia Parish escapees traveled — obviously with outside help — and the borders they crossed could not escape the long hand of the law.

With cooperation from agencies on both sides of the Mississippi River — which serves mostly as a state border, though it meanders in a few places — law enforcement officers managed to recapture the two men in Natchez.

Cooperation and teamwork works.

We’ve seen evidence of increasing cooperation from all parts of our community. The more we can work together, the more effective we will be — regardless of the area of focus.

What a great way to start off 2017, focusing on how to cooperate more and be more effective.