Other nearby Iowa communities have been there and done that and are working their way through such local economic upheavals: The Rubbermaid and Knight Rifles closings three years ago in Centerville; Maytag/Amana plant closing in Newton; and recently, American Tank and Welding closing in Bloomfield.

The whole Ottumwa area will be affected by this news. Some Deere workers travel for miles to work in Ottumwa.

It is the workers, though, who deserve our empathy. They and their families must decide what to do now, to wait it out, seek retraining, another job or move.

We must rally to their side and help when we can.

As a community, we must think of ways to endure this trial without losing sight of what’s been done before.

Ottumwa has endured a lot over the years.

Somehow, we make it through tough times.

This is one tough time coming up, folks. The layoffs will affect all of us in some way. Let’s keep our chins up. And stay focused on how to work our way through it and do what we can to help those who have lost their jobs.