Try to stay cool despite the heat

It's not even really hot out yet, but the tempers are beginning to flare.

We have only the vaguest idea of how an argument between two tween girls ended up with one man dead and four others in jail.

But we do know that after a cool start, it's going to get hot soon and the mercury won't be the only thing starting to rise.

With money tight and jobs scarce, people will be working extra hours to try and make ends meet. Sometimes that's not going to be enough, especially as the economy seems to be the only thing that's not heating up.

The pressure has and will lead to arguments, conflicts, and possibly violence. Things are going to get pretty rough in our community.

But there's something each of us can do, besides curse, after being cut off by someone either literally figuratively.

We can count to 10, cool off or do whatever else it is people do in these situations. If needed, we can pick up the phone and contact the authorities. If there's one place where they'll answer, it's here. That's the definition of civilization, and it's up to us help protect it and ourselves from those who surrender to the urge for violence.

Whatever happened during last weekend's dispute, there's no way it was worth a man's life.